Happy Halloween!

The picture above is of my cat Ty showing off his best Halloween pose.

The link below is to an e-card that my sister sent me for Halloween. She used pictures of my dad, his dog, herself, me and Arnold Schwarzenegger to make up the characters. I tried to get the video on my blog but it wouldn't work, so you have to click on the link to view the video.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/dDjRtp813MVAl9ie

Jenni

Things To Think About

I found these to be quite funny. Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think:

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving probably isn't for you.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.

Under-Achievers Anonymous has an 11-step program.

Why do people park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?

Why is it that when we send something by car we call it SHIPment, but when we send something by ship we call it CARgo?

Why isn't there a mouse-flavored cat food?

Warning: dates on calendar are closer than they appear.

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.

No sense being pessimistic; it probably won't work anyway.

I thought about joining the Optimists, but then I had my doubts.

Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.

If quitters never win, and winners never quit, what fool came up with, "Quit while you`re ahead?"

Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

There are 3 kinds of people in the world: those who can count and those who can't.

Why is "abbreviation" such a long word?

Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it is pronounced?

Of course I believe in free will. Do we have a choice?

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

I went to a restaurant that had a sign, "Breakfast Anytime". So I ordered scrambled eggs during the Renaissance.

Never raise your hands to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.

I'm not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain.

A baby-sitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like teenagers.

Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.

Don't take life so seriously...it's not permanent.

Don't worry about the world ending today...It's already tomorrow in Australia.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.

Suburbia: Where they tear out the trees and then name streets after them.

The really nice thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise and is not preceded by a period of worry and depression.

99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavors, but dishwashing liquid made from real lemons?

OK, so what's the speed of dark?

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.

Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

24 hours in a day ... 24 beers in a case...coincidence?

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

Half the people you know are below average.

Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back.All those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Axe me about eubonics

Jenni

The Month for Birthdays

Happy birthday mom! I want to thank you for everything you do for me. You're the best mom anyone could ever have. I appreciate you so much and love you.

Jenni

Did You Know?

I get autonomic dysreflexia.

According to SCI-info pages, "Autonomic dysreflexia, also known as hyperreflexia, means an over-activity of the Autonomic Nervous System causing an abrupt onset of excessively high blood pressure. Persons at risk for this problem generally have injury levels above T-5. Autonomic dysreflexia can develop suddenly and is potentially life threatening and is considered a medical emergency. If not treated promptly and correctly, it may lead to seizures, stroke, and even death.

AD occurs when an irritating stimulus is introduced to the body below the level of spinal cord injury, such as an overfull bladder. The stimulus sends nerve impulses to the spinal cord, where they travel upward until they are blocked by the lesion at the level of injury. Since the impulses cannot reach the brain, a reflex is activated that increases activity of the sympathetic portion of autonomic nervous system. This results in spasms and a narrowing of the blood vessels, which causes a rise in the blood pressure."

Commen warning signs for autonomic dysreflexia include a fast, major increase in blood pressure, pounding headache, flushed or reddened skin, goosebumps, heavy sweating, blurry vision or seeing spots, anxiety or jitters, a stuffy nose, and tightness in chest or flutters in your heart or chest. When I get autonomic dysreflexia, the first thing that happens is my blood pressure increases. If it goes on for longer, I get goosebumps, a headache, and my skin becomes red and blotchy. I have never experienced any of the other warning signs listed above, but people with lower injury levels tend to get them.

If any of these warning signs appear, there are a few steps that have to be taken. Proper treatment of autonomic dysreflexia includes determination and removal of the triggering stimuli. First, sit up or raise head to 90°. This will bring the blood pressure down. Second, loosen or take off anything tight. Third, check bladder for drainage. Fourth, call your health care professional.

Causes of autonomic dysreflexia according to SCI-info pages:

"There can be many stimuli that cause autonomic dysreflexia. Anything that would have been painful, uncomfortable, or physically irritating before the injury may cause autonomic dysreflexia after the injury.

The most common cause seems to be overfilling of the bladder. This could be due to a blockage in the urinary drainage device, bladder infection (cystitis), inadequate bladder emptying, bladder spasms, or possibly stones in the bladder.

The second most common cause is a bowel that is full of stool or gas. Any stimulus to the rectum, such as digital stimulation, can trigger a reaction, leading to autonomic dysreflexia.

Other causes include skin irritations, wounds, pressure sores, burns, broken bones, pregnancy, ingrown toenails, appendicitis, and other medical complications."

The most common reason why I get autonomic dysreflexia is if my bladder is full. All I have to do is cath and it goes away. The next most common reason is if I am laying on a wrinkle or somethings too tight on my body. If there is any pressure inside or outside of my body, I will get dysreflexia. My blood pressure has never gotten to dangerous levels, and I have never actually called my doctor because of getting dysreflexia. I'm lucky that I can detect it soon enough and do something about it before it gets bad.

Jenni

Faith Story

Yesterday I went to my church and they videotaped me sharing my faith story. It will take about a week for them to edit it. They are going to show the video at all three services next weekend. I'm excited for people to hear my story. In the video I talk about my God and who He is to me and how He is my life. I also talk a little bit about the accident and what happened to me. I will be posting the video on my blog when they finish editing it for people to view if they please.

Jenni

"If you have faith you have hope and if you have hope you have everything."
-Anonymous

Today's Lesson

I received this in an e-mail and thought it was worth sharing:

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be
covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all
grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He
was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the
animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the
edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to
getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less

NOW .......

Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer
who had tried to bury him.

The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in
agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

Jenni

Pictures from My Birthday

Above are some pictures from my birthday yesterday when my mom, sister and I went to Benihana restaurant for lunch. I had so much fun! I hadn't been there for about five years or so. I had chicken and it comes with rice, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms. The chef cooked everything in front of us.

The first picture is of me when we first got there. The second one is our chef Aaron. The third picture is a chicken he made out of egg and the fourth is a heart he made out of rice. The last picture is of some of the waitresses singing happy birthday to me in Japanese.

Jenni

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 23rd birthday. I'm going to go out to lunch to a restaurant called Benihana. They cook the food right in front of you. I'll post pictures later today.

Jenni

I'm Back

I was able to get all of my homework done this week. I had a quiz in my Interpersonal Communication class on Tuesday and got 14/15. Last Saturday I went to the Twin Cities Book Festival for my Creative Writing class. I attended a book reading, which I had never done before. It was very interesting to listen to the author read a chapter out of his book. I also had a lot of writing to do that I finally finished this morning, including a detailed paper on the reading I attended.

I had a hard time staying away though. I think I'm addicted to my blog. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about it and want to write a post. Although I couldn't because every time I was on the computer I was writing for class. It did give me a chance to think about things that I want to post about, which is good.

Jenni

Blog Turns 1

Happy birthday blog! Today is the one-year anniversary of my first post. This blog has been the best tool for getting my feelings out and helping other people. Thanks for being a part of it.

I have a lot of writing work to do for my online class in the next week. Tomorrow I'm going to attend a book festival and listen to a reading. Then I have to write a paper about it. I also have to do my weekly discussion posts and two page journal entry.

I'm going to be taking a week off from posting on my blog so that I can keep up with my school work. It's going to be different because I have been blogging for the past year, but I need the extra time. Thanks for your understanding. I will still be checking my e-mails and any comments people make.

Jenni

October Birthdays

I had a really fun weekend. On Friday night my family celebrated October birthdays. There are so many of us with birthdays in October, that every year we have a party. On Sunday it was my aunt Sandy's 50th birthday (sorry I told the whole world Sandy). We had a surprise birthday party for her. We invited a bunch of people including college and high school friends. The only thing she knew was that we were having a "small" get together for her birthday. She had no idea exactly how many people were going to be there. It was very fun to see her reaction. I wonder what I should do next October for my mom's 50th.

Jenni

Without Help

The past three weeks have been long. I have nurses that work for me 24/7. They come for 12 hour shifts from 7 AM to 7 PM and 7 PM to 7 AM. Usually, I will also have a PCA from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM to assist in my morning cares and getting me out of bed. However, for the past few weeks we haven't had a PCA to help during the weekdays, only on Saturday and Sunday. I think we got a little too used to having help because it was very difficult and time-consuming for the nurses to do everything themselves. My mom came down to help out when I needed it so that the nurses wouldn't get burned out. Last Friday I met and interviewed three candidates. I chose two of them because the PCA that works on the weekend will be on maternity leave in two months. They are going to do a split schedule. One of them trained in on Friday and the other yesterday. It was very nice to actually have a PCA to help out. I can't wait to see what they're capable of starting tomorrow.

Jenni

Happy October 1

It's breast-cancer awareness month. My blog will be one year old in eight days. My birthday is on the 19th and I will be 23. Good month!


Jenni