My Sink is Shiny!

Well, sort of. I just have the dinner dishes to wash. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out: http://www.flylady.net/pages/begin_babysteps.asp. If you do know what I'm talking about, Hello to a fellow fly.

I feel such a sense of accomplishment just doing the first step. It seems that the busier we get, the more disorganized we can get. If you aren't a part of flylady and suffer from CHAOS, then this may be the site for you (and me).

New scrubbies are needed also. My fingers are poking through mine. Normally, I make mine. When I do get busy, then I do purchase them from a fellow Etsian (http://www.sallypowell.etsy.com/). She makes them double thickness and just the right size and price.

Now to go relax after all that hard scrubbing. Have a great evening!

Happy 2011!

2011! Are you sure? It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since I've posted.

This has been one crazy year. There has been much sorrow and happiness in this time period. I've lost 2 very loved family members. I've also received news that my cancer has not returned. I have had to take the time to re-evaluate what is important and what is trivial.

My husband and I have been very frugal. It always seemed as if we would never get ahead. After hearing some great preaching and teaching from people who have been there, we are getting back on track. Again, we evaluate things by what is important versus trivial. We have had our ups and downs, but have perservered.

There have been many times that my husband and I have gone to work and heard people talking about the "recession". During 2010, we got some things straightened out and I truly believe that we were protected during this time by the Great Protector.

Believe me, it wasn't easy. In the Fall of 2009, I suffered a great loss in the loss of my Great-Grandmother. The Christmas of 2009, she was supposed to meet 4 more of her great-grandchildren. Up until that point she had only met 1 (my oldest). I still have the picture of the 5 generations. All of us were looking at the camera except for Great-Grandma. She was staring at the 5th generation with the biggest smile on her face. I kept her updated with pictures and my mom kept her laughing with anecdotes of the great-grandchildren. When I learned of her death, there was one phrase that kept going through my mind and I'm not sure who/where I heard it. "Children will make you grand. Grandchildren will make you great." How true that is! She was such a fighter.

My grandfather passed just this past fall (2010). As I'm still going through the grieving process, I will refrain from sharing too much. The pain is still too sharp. I will, however, say that I'm glad my Dad, Mom, brother, sister, our children and I were there to spend his last Christmas with him. So many memories!

As for the cancer that is always looming in the shadows, I had a recent scare. When I went in for my 1 year check-up, the doctor told me that they found another lump and wanted to biopsy it right away. He pushed some appointments aside to do the biopsy. Sorry to the other patients. I then had to go through Christmas wondering what the results were. I tried to stay positive to not ruin the holidays for my husband or children. We had a good time as a family. I did tire easily that weekend, but made it through. The results came back as NORMAL. That little 6-letter word was music to my ears. I just wanted to stand on my roof and scream "Praise the Lord!"

I'm truly thankful for all the friends that I've been able to keep in contact with and reconnect with in 2010.

Update on the Thyroid Cancer

Well, I've met with the surgeon's assistant on Monday. I left there with more questions than answers. The short story is that they tested 4 lymph nodes. One came back positive for cancer. I'm not sure where I go from here. There is an appointment scheduled on Sept. 16th. Then I'll be sent to someone else for the radioactive iodine pill.

The phrase that they keep telling me is "This is the best kind of cancer to have." I'd like to hear them say that when they are on this side of the table. It just seems like the "medical feet" are dragging.

Everything is healing the way it should. I'm pretty much just waiting on answers.

Full Speed Ahead

I've been on my thyroid medication for a week now. I'm about ready to jump out of my skin. The question is: "Is this feeling from the medication or the ideas rolling around in my head trying to get out?" Not sure. From the time I wake up until I go to bed, my mind is running at full speed. It almost feels like how I imagine someone labeled with ADHD feels.

There is an appointment scheduled this morning with the surgeon's assistant. Maybe she will have an answer for me. I'm hoping that I get the ok to return to the gym. That should help release some of this energy.

I finished the blue train hat and posted it in my store, www.BPDesign.etsy.com. It turned out sooooo cute.

Hope everyone has a great day. I may just go for a run around the block a few times. :)

Fall is coming!

Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves turn and the weather cools. The air is crisp like a fresh picked apple. Piles of leaves waiting for some child/adult to jump into it. There is a smell for fall that is hard to describe. If you've ever experienced it, you won't soon forget it.

Many people have told me that they still pray for me during this recovery time. I just wanted to say THANK YOU! There have been many times where I've felt the presence and peace that only comes with being surrounded by the prayers of faithful people.

I did get to make a midnight run to the ER. This was for myself. The surgeon told me to call if I ever felt a tingling in the lips. Well, I did last night. So I went down, only to find out that I needed more calcium. :{ I got caught up on my sleep this afternoon. I was a zombie in church though. Very tired.

I've gotten the Boots-inspired hat and tail from Dora the Explorer done. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I also finished a Thomas the Train inspired hat. My children knew exactly who it was. Now they are bringing me every toy they own asking for a hat made to represent that toy. Some of the requests are just silly. Others have some merit. The excitement of children is contagious!

Day by Day

Here we are 1 week and 1 day after the surgery. Things are going better than I expected. Of course, you really never know what to expect. People can tell you what happened with them or someone they knew, but each person is an individual. That is the way that God made us.

The doctor told me after 3 days that I'd be up and about. The nurse, who had the same prognosis/surgery, told me it would be a good week or more. Well, I think I fell somewhere in between. I just wish that I had the OK to get back to working out. I really do miss it.

Things seem to be moving. I slept for the first 3 days. The nurse told me not to be a hero and take the pain meds when I needed to. So I have. I've only had to take 2. Yes, 2! On the bottle it says "take for incisional pain." There is no "incisional pain".

When I swallow, I do have to bring my chin down. For some reason the job of swallowing pulls at the stitches. Other than that, no pain.

As far as my creations are coming along, it is a fun and exciting time. I've had someone ask for me to make a monkey hat that looks like "Boots" from Dora the Explorer. So I've done my best. I like how it has turned out. Who knows maybe one of my children will end up being Boots also.

That's all for now. Have a great day and wonderful weekend!

One Day at a Time

I'm taking it one day at a time. That is really all we can do right.

Monday was a good day. There wasn't a single migraine to be found. Tuesday was busy and tiring. I fell into bed exhausted. Today is a take it easy and complete some orders.

I have been looking for the elusive remote. Not sure where it went to, but it will be found. We have no desire to pay dish $100 to come out and give us a new one.

The Clifford hat got finished, posted and paid for. It will ship out this morning. Then I finished and posted a monkey hat for another lady. By this morning I had orders for another 2 hats. 1 is the exact same as another that I posted. The other is for a monkey hat only it needs to be the colors of Boots (Dora's friend). Everyone is getting their costumes together early it seems. That is fine with me because I won't have such a large last minute rush. I hope! I hate to rush.

That is about all for now. I need to go find the remote and get to work. Hope you all have a great day!