Sidetracked and Dreaming

Okay. I'm supposed to be sewing for the "National Quilt Day Sew Along" that Pat Sloan is hosting this weekend, and what do I do? I get online to check a blog or two and I found this! I am sidetracked by nature, and blogging doesn't help!

I'm a Mazda RX-8!

You're sporty, yet practical, and you have a style of your own. You like to have fun, and you like to bring friends along for the ride, but when it comes time for everyday chores, you're willing to do your part.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

That's me, and in my favorite color! Now that would be fun to get sidetracked in; just think of all the places I would go! I'm sure it would look adorable parked in front of my favorite quilt shop, the off to Starbucks to get my favorite drink.

It's so much fun to dream.

Have fun!

Amanda

I'm Still Here

I haven't had much to post about. To be honest, I really haven't felt like posting. Up until today it sort of hurt my brain to think, if that makes any sense. I think my brain is so determined to get this body well that it is just too much for it to think about posting, which pictures to post, etc. I have, however, been able to visit your blogs and see what you guys are up to.

It's been a nice break to be able to visit all of you. I can't visit for very long because I get tired, but it has been something that I look forward to.

Did you know that TV is the most boring, irritating thing there is? It's okay if you're well, you're busy, and like the noise. I always have the TV on. However, for me, when I am stuck in the recliner or on the couch watching the same thing day after day...it's just so boring to me. I try reading quilt magazines, quilt books, and a book that I started reading before the surgery, but my eyes don't focus that well. Then there's the "I can't lift anything over 5 pounds" rule that is constantly playing in my head. Do you realize how many things weigh 5 pounds or seem like they do? I am not used to being so dependent. At times I feel like a fly that has fallen to the floor lying on his back wiggling his arms, and he can't get up no matter how hard he tries. My husband and kids come to my rescue.

I am just glad that I know there is an end in sight; an end where I can move better or that I feel like sewing again. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't taken anything for pain today, so that's good. Maybe my brain won't be in such a fog and my eye's will focus better. Maybe I should wear those reading glasses I am supposed to be wearing! Naahh. They'll just irritate me, and when I take them off it will feel as if they are still on, and that would drive me absolutely crazy! I can just see me wrapped up in a flannel quilt, sprawled out in the recliner, pushing up imaginary glasses on my nose. I'm sure I would look funny. It's about as funny as when last week the sun was glaring on the snow so much that I had to wear sunglasses while I was inside the house, wrapped in my husband's flannel quilt, and sprawled out in the recliner. Thank God no one thought to take my picture. At least I don't think they did.

I'm just ready to feel better and feel like sewing again. Until then, I do have some pictures to share with you on projects that I finished when I went on my Christmas Sewing Retreat. I'll save that for the next post when I'm in a better frame of mind.

See you tomorrow!

You All Are So Sweet

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts, prayers, and kind comments about my surgery.


This is me and nurse Steve. This picture was part of a collage for our Christmas card picture. I guess I haven't shot any pictures of him lately. Hmmm. Steve can cook awesome food, clean, do laundry, is a hard worker, is a great dad, and he's awesome at wood working. He's also good at making me laugh, which has hurt a little more this week than it usually does! He's a great guy.

All went well during surgery (Thursday, February 7), and the Friday and Saturday afterward. I was able to go home on Friday since the doctor was able to do it lapriscropically. I was doing fine Friday and part of the day Saturday then things started to go downhill a little. First I was running a low grade fever. The doctor then prescribed me two antibiotics.

Sunday the fever got worse and I started getting sick. So, off to the emergency room where from 8:30 at night until 3:00 in the morning I find out that I am dehydrated and anemic. I then had to change antibiotics.

Monday afternoon at 1:00 I went to the doctor because she wanted to see me. I got sick in the waiting room and started crying because I was so embarrassed. It was bad enough going somewhere in public with no make-up on and looking as sick as I was without having to get sick in front of so many people.

The doctor was so upset. She said it wasn't supposed to be this way. I told her that I thought I would have a few days of recovery, but for the most part I would be enjoying Steve watching movies with me while he waits on me hand and foot! She said that's how she envisioned it, too!

In the meantime there's a big snowstorm/ice storm going on outside. Snow storms are great when your kids are little, but when they are grown, driving, and have babies...not so much.

The doctor ordered a CAT Scan. Well, 3 yucky, awful drinks and 9 freezing cold with no pain medication because I thought I would throw up the 3 yucky drinks hours later I find out that there isn't anything inside that's wrong. That's good!

Tuesday I had horrible migranes. All I wanted to be in was a very quiet, very dark room. I even wore sun glasses because there was such a glare from all of the ice and snow.

Wednesday it dawned on me I hadn't had caffiene because I was drinking so much water to keep from getting dehydrated, so Steve made me hot tea and the headaches went away.

The only thing I can figure out is that my body didn't like the pain medication. So instead of being on narcartics, I started doing 4 ibuprophen every 8 hours. Now I am down to 2 every 4 hours and I'm feeling better. In fact, I feel a whole lot better!

Some of you mentioned that I should allow the pampering. I do. I called my hairdresser today. She washed, dryed, flattened, curled, and smoothed my hair. I have really thick hair, and there's no way that I had the energy to do all of that. Afterwards, Steve and I went out to dinner.

Yesterday I was beginning to wonder when I would ever feel like blogging again. Now I am starting to feel like myself again. My kids will be so happy. They aren't used to seeing me sick. I was 15 when I took care of my Mom when she first had breast cancer and chemo. I wasn't as sick as she was, but I know how they feel. Mom's aren't supposed to be sick!

Thanks again for all the kind comments, thoughts, and prayers.

Oh, by the way...I have a patch now for the menopause part. I have had a couple of hot flashes, but the doctor said that it was probably because my body was so stressed out. I am always cold so when Steve came down stairs and I was in a sleeveless t-shirt and underwear with the fan going (and it's cold outside) he knew something was up (but not what he would be hoping for :)).

Hello, there. It's been a long time!

Last week I was in Books a Mill on looking at magazines, when I ran across a magazine called "Artful Blogging". Alicia had told us about it on her blog. It is a beautiful magazine featuring several blogs that I love to visit. Alicia's blog is one of them.

In the magazine it also talks about blog etiquette. Well, after reading the article I haven't used my manners when it comes to my blog. It said that if you are going to be away from your blog that you should let everyone know. Well, I haven't done that. I really haven't thought about my blog much since June 22.

See, I have had a huge family crisis that is of the nightmarish kind. There wasn't an illness. No one died. My husband and I are still together. None of the kids did anything bad. What we have been through has been horrible. Maybe one day I can talk about it all.

I will have to tell you this, though. Although we have been through an absolutely horrifying experience, my faith in God, my positive attitude, and the love my family has for each other has not wavered.

Through all things bad something good comes from it. I have seen the good already, and I can see the end. We will be forever changed, and I hope not in a bad way. Please keep my grandchildren, their parents, and us in your prayers.

Now, with that said, I hope you understand and accept my apologies for not letting you know I wasn't going to be posting for a while. Thank you.

Picture of Me

The best gift my husband ever gave me for Christmas is my digital camera. I just love it.

Well, now the reason for this post and the reason why I posted a picture of myself. Alicia at Posie gets Rosie posted a picture of herself. She's beautiful. I'm not posting a picture of me because I think I am beautiful, total opposite. However, after reading some of the 124 comments that were posted on her blog, I felt like I had to respond in my own way.

My Dad is a professional photographer. I was his subject many, many times. He would use me to practice a new technique, a lighting idea, or test out a new camera. Sunday evenings were his best opportunity to shoot pictures of me. I would be all dressed up for church that night, waiting on my mother to finish getting ready. I would just be sitting there and my dad would say, "Uh..Manda. Let's go outside for a second. I need to test out a new peice of equipment." Now, my dad didn't just shoot one picture, he shot many. There would be different cameras and umbrella's for lighting (not a rain umbrella). I just wish my mom had shot pictures of my dad shooting pictures of me because I am sure they would all be a hoot.

I never minded my dad shooting pictures of me. That's not to say that I enjoyed it and jumped up and down every time he called my name, but it was fun to get the pictures back from the photo lab. What was really fun was to help him develop them in the dark room we had at home for developing black and white pictures. It's so cool to see your face pop up on a sheet of paper when it is carefully dipped into a tray of chemicals.

I remember a picture of my dad when he was 12. He had gotten his first camera and was trying it out. He has several pictures of himself with his camera. I guess he shot them much like I did this one by using a mirror in the bathroom.

Over the years there have been times I haven't enjoyed having my picture made. All of it has to do with my weight at the time. Some pictures I have were during the time I had three chins. Really. I don't like those, but they were a part of who I was at the time. Some are of when I was a teenager and have acne really bad, but then there are some that I have when I am 43 with a huge zit right between my eyes.

As I have gotten older I learned about gravity, puffiness, and crooked teeth. To keep from looking like this
I need to have someone shoot my picture from above so my sagginess will go away like this
Believe it or not those pictures were shot the same day within minutes of each other. I'm sure my grandson won't like that puffy picture of him when he's older either, but it was him at the time.

As I have gotten older I have learned to accept the little laugh lines around my face. That's what I get for being happy and smiling all the time. I can accept the (what I thought was) occasional zit, but I can see it happens more than I have realized. I try to change the things I can such as the frikin beard that Alicia says she has discovered and my crooked teeth. My hairdresser takes care of the beard, and the kid's orthodontist fit me with retainers. I'll save the retainer information for another post.

There are lots of things that I don't like about me that a camera shows all too well. Notice I didn't post pictures of my butt and hips; you may never see that one! However, even though pictures show all of my little imperfections, they also show the fun life that I cherish so much. Thanks, Dad, for teaching me not to be afraid to have my picture made.

Just Checking In

Ugghh!! I feel red in the face because I haven't written since the 30th of April!

Well, as my blog says, I am a busy little quilter and more. Quilting isn't what I have been doing, though.

I have been working on buying a home for my daughter and the grandbabies. It's been exciting. I have learned a lot about real estate, banks, lawyers, percentage rates, and much more. That part of it has been work.

The fun part of it is that, not only do I love to quilt, I also love to decorate. My best friend, Terry, is like that, too. We have been thrifting for furniture, pictures, fabric, and little do dads to decorate with. This house is going to be decorated with such pizzaz and it won't cost that much.

Well, I know this is a teaser. I know you all love pictures. I don't have any, yet.

I did, however, want to let you all know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but I have been a busy little quilter, real estate extrodinnare, financial wizzard, and thrifty decorator.

By the way...my daughter has given us full control of decorating. She works full time and doesn't have time to do all of the extras. We just keep reminding ourselves that she is 22; not 43 or 47.