Brief Break from normal posts: Medical Update

Hey all,
You know how I like to do these for you guys every once in awhile. I don't know if you care or if anyone's even reading them, but I don't know....guess it makes me feel better since you all know I have medical issues O_o

So I don't have much news actually. I feel like my doctors have been neglecting me for awhile. Things still aren't good, definitely aren't right. I try to be patient, but I'm losing that. No diagnosis still, playing a major waiting game.



It's not easy for sure. I know most of us can relate from some time or another. It's just tough because you're praying wisdom for the doctors yet everytime you have an appointment they tell you "I don't know" or "it's in your head" or "It's 'just' a pain condition, I bet" or "you're a very....special case". I'm tired of hearing that, darnit! Lol very tired of it. They just start to sound like excuses after a little while. Seems like even though I felt like I'd gotten to the hardest part with this....the hardest part is yet to come. That's a scary thought because every single day is SO hard lately.


Anyway, a couple weeks ago I had 18 vials of blood drawn :O I know, right!? Craziness. It felt awful after haha. Basically my rheumy is attempting to test for any random, obsure, uncommon test there is out there to see if maybe, just maybe I have....well THAT. I honestly have NO clue what he was testing for to be exact, but something...? Lol....I dno't have the results yet, but most likely it found nothing like everytime else.


Then uhhhh let's see this past Monday I went to see my neuro again. I had my third Nerve Conduction test and EMG. When I saw him, he told me I've had it two times too much in one lifetime lol...for the nerve test, you lay down on a table with one arm at a time extended straight off the table. They attach wires all up and down that arm, moving them around when testing different nerves. This test involves fingers, palms, and the entire arm. It is an awful test! Since they're messing with your nerves....you get involuntary movements, for lack of a better term. Your fingers move to your whole arm swinging and whacking the nurse! The electric shocks start out very mild, you cant feel it usually. However, when they finish it is as strong as a live barbed wire fence. It hurts....a lot.

Then you move onto the needle EMG. Normally they choose whichever side is bothering you more. In my case, it was the right arm this time. The neuro does this part lol. He takes a needle and sticks it in different parts of your muscle in your arm. This needle is not a normal one, it measures the pulses being sent through your muscle and the reaction times. It is hooked up to a machine, so when the muscle is moving, you can hear it. It's a loud, static sound. He will wiggle the needle around and whoa baby that HURTS! Lol! He did it two places on hand and two places in the arm for me, after the shocks! It's a long process :/

My results were kind of as I expected. It's my ulnar nerve, which runs through your inner elbow. At this point, it is not protected at all, so it can become stressed or damaged. I will need surgery, but they don't want to do it yet. It is still an extremely dangerous surgery and paralysis is still in the running for results after surgery. I'm only 19, he wants to prolong it as long as he possibly can. So now, I have to wear elbow braces 24/7. This is what they look like:

At night, I have to flip them over so that I cannot move my elbows at all. I usually have to stuff a sock in each one to get it to the way. These are SO uncomfortable. The bands are too tight on my arms and this is the big size. So I tend to veto wearing them sometimes. *Bad Hannah*, huh? Lol....

Anyway, that's basically my update. I'm going to try calling my rheumy tomorrow to see about blood tests. Everyone say a prayer that after losing ALL that blood, we find something!
Talk soon, more giveaways and fun posts coming up : )
Hannah

Step into My Kitchen.....and Giveaway!!!

Step into my kitchen, ladies and gentlemen.....



Well? What do you think?! I love to spend time in my kitchen....experimenting ; ) Or whipping up some concoctions. I have some stew on the stove right now as we speak! You're all welcome to some later, if you want! Can you guess my secret ingredient?
I've also got some other things around, but I wanted to make one of my favorite treats on a chilly, October afternoon!

Caramel Apples
Caramel apples are a favorite with our kids we babysit. They request them every year : ) This year we tried something different and it was the BEST technique yet soooooooo that's how we're doin' it, folks. We like to use Kraft caramels



And Cortland apples because they are so crisp. You do not have to use this type, however when picking out apples to use, especially for our technique, you need a firm apple so that the stick will stay in it!



Now, take a bowl or we used a mug and unwrap your caramels. I would suggest probably starting with half the bag, depending on how many apples you plan on dipping. REMEMBER: when you leave melted caramel out, it will cool off and more impotantly stick in whatever it's in. Therefore, as soon as it's warmed, USE IT. Then get it OUT of the pan! Lol truuuuuuuuust me :P It will not take too long to melt the caramels. Start with about 25 seconds and go from there. Yes, you can burn them and noooooo you don't want that. Here's our melted caramel:



Next, wash your apples, then cut them into quarters. Yep, you heard me. Cut them. They are sooooooo much more managable, especially if you're doing this with kids. Then using sticks of your choosing, stick them in on one end of the apple slice. We recommend finding the wide popsicle sticks because they stay a lot better in the apple. Dip the apple slice into the caramel. You have a choice of whether you'd prefer to dip the entire slice or just the peel side like a normal caramel apple. We only did the peel side because there's a lot of sugar in caramel and that's a lot if you did the whole thing! Lol...but your choice! Be mindful that the caramel could be really warm! How do you think ours came out?



We also recommend covering your cookie sheet (that you put the dipped apples on) with foil. The apple will come right off and it's easy clean up! Feel free to top off your fun apples with some sprinkles too : ) It's so fun for the kids or big kids too!

Now, time for the giveaway! You have the chance of winning a complete caramel apple kit made by....yours truly : ) It will include everything you need except the apples because those wouldn't be so good to ship! Lol! You will definitely have fun making these!!!

Requirements:
~ Be a follower of my blog
~ Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win
~ Tell me about one of your favorite fall or Halloween treats!

Good luck to everyone! Enjoy :D
Hannah

Special Video: Hide and Seek (kinda creepy!)

Welcome to the weekend!! Well almost :P Weekend for me anyway lol. Today, I have a video that my best friend, Josh, made! It also stars our friend, Jake, and Josh's lil brother, Caleb! Josh is in the white shirt and hat, whereas Jake is in the green Celtics shirt. Caleb is....well...you'll be able to figure that out!

I'm going to warn you, I can't remember if there's any swearing in this (sometimes these videos can get out of hand lol) but the content does involve a fake gun and shooting. I promise you it is hilarious though!!!!! And it's creepy too ; )

So....sit back, relax, and enjoy today's video!



If it does not play: Hide and Seek

Now, how was that!? Kinda creepy, right?! But I hope it made you laugh too : ) I know it does for me! Do you guys have any creepy hide and seek memories? I know I have one that I'll share if you all tell me yours :P
Can't wait to hear!
Hannah

Welcome to Hannah's Haunted October Party!!! Enter if you dare....

Walking up a long dark driveway, trees surrounding you on either side, you come across a house. The rickety gate opens slowly with a creeeeeeeeeak. Walking hesitantly up the walkway towards the spooky looking house, you see a figure in the upstairs window. Just a shadow floating by. At the bottom of the steps, you look up ominously at this house, yet again, chills running down your spine. The door opens, but no one's there. Gathering up the last bit of courage you are able to find, you slowly step up the stairs. Eeek, squeeeak, creeeak goes the stairs. Through the doorway you pass and into a room you step. A moth eaten rug lays under you feet. A long winding staircase ends (or is it begins?) in front of you. Turning to the left, you see a sitting room. A fire is crackling in the fireplace. It is a spooky house for sure, but nothing to be afraid of...or is there? Suddenly someone stands up from the chair whose back is facing you. The unhurriedly step, step, step until they come into the light.
"Welcome to my house," I say in a hushed voice. "I've been expecting you."

Here, ladies and gentlemen, friends and newcomers, all are welcome to my Haunted October Party. Please spread the word, as spooks and scares and giggles galore may ensue.

You are all welcome.....and I've been expecting you. The fun's about to begin.

Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down by Jeremy Kingsley Review

Hey all,
I finished this book over a month ago and just haven't written the review! Lol! *Bad Hannah* So here ya go, finally!

When I recieved the nonfiction books email of books up for review from Bethany House, I went back and forth whether or not to ask for one. Finally I decided that Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down by Jeremy Kingsley could be a helpful read for some people. If so, I wanted to make it more aware to others. I was shocked by how much it related to my own life. Yes, some chapters did not affect me much personally. However, others....it felt like Kingsley was talking directly to me!
Through inspirational quotes beginning each chapter, conversational language, an eye-pleasing layout throughout the book, and relateable examples, Jeremy Kingsley has written an extremely helpful guide. One thing I really liked was that this is a book I can keep on my shelf and whenever I feel it applicable, I can pull it out and reread just a certain chapter as a refresher. It is a guide. A guide that can help one throughout so many different circumstances and hardships in their life. It appeals to a wide audience, which means you really can keep it and more importantly use it.

~This book was furnished to me by Bethany House Publishers for my honest opinion.~

Overall, this book was wonderful. One of my pastors and I are currently trying to see if we can get Jeremy to come and speak at our church! How cool would that be!? Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery cool haha. I'll keep y'all updated about that!

If you want to learn more about Jeremy, check him out:
Jeremy's Website
Jeremy's Facebook
Jeremy's Twitter
Jeremy's Youtube Channel
xoxo
Hannah

Vlogs from Vacation (#2)

Back again, twice in one night!! LOL!
I was not able to upload these videos as we went on vacation so if everyone wants, I will now. Do you want me to? I will upload one every couple days or so probably so not to bombard you. It's just the two of us talking, but they're funny sometimes! And talk about our trip in more detail :) Let me know if you're interested! For now, here's vlog #2:



Happy watching!!
Hannah and Alicia

Back to School!

Hey everyone!
Been too long, huh? I'm glad I've been able to keep in touch with you one way or another, mostly Facebook lol. It seems that everyone's been busy, me included. Just wanted to update people on what's been going on! I know I keep saying this but *knock on wood* I'll be getting back into the swing of things now that I'm back to school.

So Monday I moved back into school. I had been dreading it sooooooooooo bad because last year was a nightmare. BUT so far....*knock on wood again* lol it's going well! I have a new roommate this year, Amanda, and she is really great. The first friend I made on campus and the best one too. She is so fun, but we get work done too lol! She's from Chicago, so I'm excited because she will be coming home with me some weekends :) As it happens she'll be coming home next weekend to go to Tunbridge Fair with me! This is a true New England fair, people. And Manda has never been to a fair before! So I am reeeeeeally excited to show her something so important to me. Hopefully some pictures will be taken and I'll post them :D

Our room is double the size of mine last year! It's awesome! And it actually feels like it's partially mineeeeeeee. Soooooo nice. Here's a picture, not the best and sideways but it was taken on my phone!



This is my half of the room. Furthest away is my bed, Meeko's home away from home : ) Here he is:



Then is my desk with my printer this year, flowers and chocolate courtesy of mom lol and my inspirational wall hanging. I read it everyday and it helps sometimes when I get down. I'll have to do a special post for that, ok? Next down is my bureau. We had to put the tv and dvd there, but that's ok with me! I don't really need that space anyway. Lastly and you can't see it is my closest. I didn't have a closest last year because my roommate took it lol....so it's nice because we both have our own this year! (Hanging on the wall for anyone who may care is my Glee Gone Wild poster LOL! It was a cover for an issue of Rolling Stone magazine.)

Classes started yesterday, yesterday morning at 8am as the case may be for soooooooome people *ahem* Here's my schedule for anyone interested :)

Monday: Children and the Media 2-3:15
Tuesday: Lifespan Development 8-9:15, Art History 9:30-10:45
Wednesday: Services for Young Children 11-12:15, US History through 1877 12:30-1:45, Children and the Media 2-3:15
Thursday: Same as Tuesday!
Friday: Services for Young Children and US History (same times as Wednesday)

I also have a practicuum for my Services class. Most likely I will be stationed at Dartmouth Hospital which would be awesome! That's about 15 minutes from home so since I go home on weekends to work I hope I can do it on Monday mornings at Dartmouth. We need to do a three hour once weekly shift working with children. I'm honestly so excited! Lol I miss working with my kids : ( and so I need to get back workin with some.

Oh well, earlier I worked on homework, then dinner with Cat and Shannon. Followed by hanging out in their room. It's freeeeeeeeeezing here!!! Rainy and cold. So we been bunking up at night, watching movies and TV lol. It's good : ) Watched Dance Moms, now Roseanne's Nuts with Manda and Tiffany came down. Chillin' and eatin Doritos.....this is what college is supposed to be like, isn't it?
Talk soon!
Hannah
P.S. SKYPE WITH ARIEL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!! Just sayin' ; )