Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

It feels like Christmas

green cast with angel devil

It feels like Christmas today! Although I broke three bones in my hand while bravely fighting evil or something, and cannot put my hair in a ponytail or clasp my own bra, I received wonderful news from the orthopedic specialist today. It will not require surgery. I’m beyond relieved. Also, I got this very pretty new cast. Its green! Like an M&M! I like green M&Ms!

I know, you’re jealous. Don’t be though, as not being able to touch your thumb to your finger is less cool than it sounds and basically removes half of the whole opposable thumb advantage that I have over kittens and other wild animals.

Know why else it feels like Christmas?  Look!

Tucker potty w Her Stories book

Notice Tucker’s WOW face?  The gorgeous book he’s holding?

The fabulous Jessica and Stephanie included my (never-before seen) words in their amazing new book on friendship. Each essay shares a deeply personal story about friendship – the bonds, memories, heartbreaks, and complexities. Here’s a brief excerpt from mine, which talks about how Tucker’s special needs changed a friendship:

“During younger, more extroverted and needy years, I was a really good friend. While I admit that I’ve never been the type to actively remember to call any of you each and every day, just to check in, I’ve been the one who is always there. I’ve been the one that you likely called during a crisis. I’m the friend who leaves work at 1:00 in the afternoon after dashing out a quick excuse to my boss because I know that you need me.

I’m the friend who drives an hour and 15 minutes to travel 15 minutes away through a tornado warning, flooded roads, detours, and angry people, while bawling, with you, also bawling, on the phone, so that I can be there when it’s time for you to say your last horrifying forever-goodbye to your dog. I am the friend who is there, even though we haven’t spoken in weeks.

I’m the friend who has…”

Intrigued? Well happy news! You can buy the book by clicking right here!  The HerStories Project: Women Explore the Joy, Pain, and Power of Female Friendship. Learn more about the project and other contributors on The Her Stories Project website.

While you’re shopping on Amazon, I hope you’ll also pick up this fab other book I’m in, either for yourself or as a gift for somebody who can use a reminder that even seemingly Super Moms lose their shit occasionally.

 

Thinking about the holidays makes me think about presents, Santa Claus, and Baby Jesus. Then, I remember how sick of holiday music I get by the day after Thanksgiving. I actually enjoy holiday favorites when I first hear them again after a year. This Snoopy and Red Barron one was my brother’s and my favorite Christmas song as kids. We played it over and over until my mom had to drink, which is pretty much a total kid success. As a mom myself now, I get how our tenacity may have been more tolerable to her while tipsy.

I like this song, but suspect that it’s mostly because the tune Greensleeves made me cry in music class when I was eight years old and heard it for the first time. To avoid shaming myself, I pretended that this kid Darryl stepped on my finger rather than admit that music made little-me emotional. You see, the kid who told me what a blowjob (forcing my young and inquisitive self to ask my poor dad about it later) was was also in that class, and there was no way I was anything but tough in front of that hooligan.

And, no holiday music collection would be complete without this gorgeous classic:

What about you? Do you love holiday music? Hate it and wish you could pull off your ears while trolling the malls each season? Do you have favorites?

Linking up with my pal Jen at My Skewed View for Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday!


  • Kathy Radigan - Kristi I so loved your essay! I also really related to it!!! Congratulations!December 3, 2013 – 8:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Dang now I feel bad for laughing at you the other day. But you did give me permission. I hate it when my husband asked me how I “managed” to hurt myself like I did the stupidest thing. So I want to totally irritate you and ask how did you manage to break your bones falling off a cot. I’m giggling again. Please don’t hate me. Love that picture of Tucker – LOL! I downloaded the book the other day. Congrats for being in another one. I finally finished MOAM, I reviewed it on Amazon this morning. Anyhoo – going to go clip on the snoopy video to see which song.December 3, 2013 – 8:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Yes, I’m intrigued and can’t wait to read the rest of your essay — I have the book on my kindle, but haven’t started reading it yet. But congrats in the meantime — that’s awesome!! And I’d be excited about a green cast too – so glad you don’t need surgery either!December 3, 2013 – 8:27 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - I can only imagine how long that took you to type with one hand – that’s dedication! I think your cast is cool – wrap a red ribbon around it and you’ll be all Christmas-y. Or Kristi-y. Oh jeez, I am tired and punchy. Sorry to get all dorky on your blog.December 3, 2013 – 8:38 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Kathy,
    I haven’t yet read yours, but so look forward to it as it will be amazing.December 3, 2013 – 8:47 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Kenya,
    You continue to have my permission to laugh at me. It was beyond dumb. And yeah…everytime I tell the story, to docs, etc, they look at me really funny-like, wondering if I’m making it up. I should stick with the Caillou story.December 3, 2013 – 8:49 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Emily,
    You’re the bomb-diggity! Thanks for the excitement over my green cast!December 3, 2013 – 8:50 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Dana,
    I do really deserve an award for dedication…December 3, 2013 – 8:51 pmReplyCancel

  • Sarah | LeftBrainBuddha - So glad you don’t need surgery!! And excited to be in the book with you – congrats!December 3, 2013 – 8:55 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Sarah,
    Thanks! Me too!!December 3, 2013 – 9:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Alexa - You always crack me up! So sorry about the broken bones, but relieved there will not be surgery! Happy to join you again for our 2nd book together! 🙂 I am going to be reading the book soon and I can’t wait to read your essay!December 3, 2013 – 9:47 pmReplyCancel

  • Real Life Parenting - With a bum, broken hand, you managed to write a damn good post, m’lady!! Oh, Snoopy. How does a little dog make me so happy?!

    And I was cracking up that Tucker’s reading the book on the pot!! Such a dude! 😉December 3, 2013 – 10:09 pmReplyCancel

  • Galit Breen - Happy pub day to you! I really love that you included an excerpt of your essay! (And I love the green cast! :))December 3, 2013 – 10:33 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Alexa,
    I too, am relieved no surgery, and yay us, right???December 3, 2013 – 10:42 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Real Life,
    Snoopy IS happy… And yeah, such a dude!!December 3, 2013 – 10:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Galit,
    Aw thanks so much!!! you get points for digging the green cast!December 3, 2013 – 10:44 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - Ack, you’re in the HerStories book too. Well, everyone I know is!! (except my mom and her mom)
    I think the green cast is something to be desired. I better run to Wal-Mart soon so I can injure myself too!December 3, 2013 – 11:14 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Ha, yes, but only by the grace of the last minute!!!December 4, 2013 – 12:04 amReplyCancel

  • JenKehl - My Skewed View - What the heck??? I am such a sucky friend! That’s why I’m not in Her Stories! I am so sorry about your hand!
    And yet you still wrote a post, you are a miracle genius houdini!
    And kittens and other wild animals? I almost spit out my tea, but that would be bad cause then I would need a new laptop, so I choked on it instead.
    Grandma got run over by a reindeer is on rotation over here!
    And CONGRATS on the book! That is so awesome, you are soooo famous now!
    I am a fraud and a bad friend but I still love you TTTx10millionDecember 4, 2013 – 12:07 amReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Jen,
    Never a bad friend, sweets. Busy. Mom. Writer. TMTT host. It’s all good. TTTx million back and thank you!!!December 4, 2013 – 12:16 amReplyCancel

  • Beth Teliho - YAY to no surgery! That’s awesome! and loving your holiday cast…how very festive. It’s a yuletide log. Kind of.

    Congrats X 1000 on the book launching this week (today?)! So very thrilling and I’m over-the-moon for all the contributors! What a special collection of essays. Can’t wait to read it. << wish I could underline, italicize, and bold that last line.

    P.S. just published the post where I reveal the TRUTH! 🙂December 4, 2013 – 12:46 amReplyCancel

  • Brittnei - Hahaha! This post cracked me up! As always. I didn’t realize you were in the Herstories Project book! I got it on my kindle to support Dana from Kiss My List. I’ll be diving into that very soon! We do like Christmas music. My son tries to sing songs with my husband so I think I’m going to enjoy the two of them this year single all types of tunes while they try to emulate the voices singing the songs. lolDecember 4, 2013 – 2:15 amReplyCancel

  • Yvonne - Congrats on the book Kristi and sorry to hear about the broken bones. I’m amazed you are managing to blog! Well done you.December 4, 2013 – 4:29 amReplyCancel

  • The Dose of Reality - So glad that you aren’t going to need surgery! Whew!!
    Congrats on the new book! You know you’re a big deal when your family has to decide which of your numerous books to read! Woot!!
    Love all the videos but especially the Snoopy! When I think of Christmas songs, it’s always the song they played when Lucy and Linus ice skated. I think it’s called “Linus & Lucy”. I can’t hear it without thinking of the Charlie Brown Christmas show and that poor little tree!! –LisaDecember 4, 2013 – 6:13 amReplyCancel

  • meeshie - Gratz on being published! 😉 And please… tell me you have a stunt typist or something!December 4, 2013 – 7:35 amReplyCancel

  • LInda Roy - The green cast is so festive! Your poor Dad! LOLOL “Um…Dad? What’s a blow job?”
    Congrats on the books Kristi! I have my copies of both. 🙂December 4, 2013 – 8:58 amReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Beyh,
    I saw that I was wrong in guessing which fact was fiction, and wish I knew you in high school!!
    Yay for friendship essys! Let me know what you think!!December 4, 2013 – 9:35 amReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Yvonne,
    Thanks so much!


    Dose girls,
    I’ll have to google the Linus and Lucy video to remember which it is. I love the little tree in Charlie Brown Christmas special!!


    Meeshie,
    I wish I had a stunt typist! I’m pecking away at the keyboard like a loser!!


    Linda,
    Thanks so much! And yeah, my poor dad. Amazing he kept me, really.December 4, 2013 – 9:39 amReplyCancel

  • Stephanie @ Mommy, for Real. - I’m so glad you don’t need surgery- what a relief! But that cast is a drag. I remember fracturing my elbow (I was 19 and fell down the stairs like a dumbass) and I couldn’t ponytail my hair. My boyfriend had to do it, and he sucked at it. Sorry, friend. Also, love the Tucker potty pic! Adorable! And you know how honored we are to have your amazing essay. It blows me away every time I read it. So beautiful.December 4, 2013 – 8:32 pmReplyCancel

  • Rachel - Your cast reminds me of Christmas…and Jesus and Santa Claus. Congratulations on the book. I loved, loved, loved your beautiful, powerful, honest and real look at female friendship.December 4, 2013 – 9:15 pmReplyCancel

  • catherine gacad - you are twice-published, what an accomplishment! i do like holiday music, but don’t really appreciate it being played before thanksgiving! i was listening the to the radio the day before thanksgiving and they were already playing christmas music. it made me ill because it’s just way too much, way too soon!December 5, 2013 – 7:42 pmReplyCancel

  • Nina - TWO books! That’s awesome. Love Tucker’s thought bubble.December 5, 2013 – 10:38 pmReplyCancel

  • A Morning Grouch - Hooray for not needing surgery!!! Great news. And how awesome on the books – you’re like, a real writer now! ;)Amazeballs.December 7, 2013 – 8:35 pmReplyCancel

  • Sandy Ramsey - Sorry to hear about your hand but I do like the green cast. Green is may favorite color 🙂
    I just downloaded HerStories this morning and am looking forward to reading it. Congrats on being published again!December 8, 2013 – 4:04 pmReplyCancel

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