A Mother's Love- Part 2

My quilt is finally done.  It took time and love on grandma's part and it is absolutely beautiful!  

The blocks were embroidered by my mom and great grandma.  See A Mother's Love- Part 1 for the back story.  
 

Grandma allowed me to design how I wanted the quilt to look.  I envisioned a garden.  The embroidered blocks I wanted surrounded by a stain glass inspired gate in memory of grandpa.  I wanted a wandering chain of flowers between the inner gate and outer border. When grandma completed the quilt, she had a local lady machine quilt it before sewing the binding on.

It was quite the project.  But I am so thankful that I have something to keep my mom, grandpa, and great grandma in my memories.  And one day when grandma goes to join them, I will also remember her love in creating this beautiful quilt.

May The Lego Be With You

The kids love new The LEGO Movie.  They like the action.  I like seeing the different Lego designs.  I also like the message that it is good to be different, to be unique and to be creative.

Of course, the song "Everything is Awesome!" is addicting.

We love to play with Legos afterwards.

Pumpkin's creation

Princess's creation

Pumpkin loves to destroy his creation before wandering off and Princess likes to preserve her creation.

We do have our own Lord Business in the house- Hubby.  After the kids go to bed he "follows" the directions to rebuild Pumpkin's Lego gatehouse.

The adventures never end!

When it Rains

I have been such a slacker and I have not really felt like write lately anyway.  So to get the white elephant out of the way, so I can focus on happier posts.  

I have been sick for 5 1/2 weeks now.  I have an interesting time of it and have been doing a LOT of laughing.  I have bounced between three doctors, although more are going to be added.  I have taken six different medications, one of which I ended up being allergic to.  I have had a CT scan, a CAT & PET scan, a MRI and two ultrasounds.  I have been fatigued, in pain, unable to regulate my temperature, and not the happiest mom on the block.

After 5 1/2 weeks this is what I know: 
I had originally been diagnosed with bronchitis by the doc in a box, when in reality I had my very first never ending acute bladder infection.  How fever and abdominal pain are associated with a bladder infection, you got me.  Anyway 5 1/2 weeks and three urine tests later I still am suffering with this infection.  In addition, I have my very first diagnosed ovarian cyst that went from 2" (size of a lemon) to the current size of .5", it is benign so no ovarian cancer.  This of course took 5 1/2 weeks to answer, too.  My platelets were elevated a few weeks ago, but now they are in the acceptable level.  The doctors have yet to rule out lymphoma in my abdominal region and apparently the abdominal lymph nodes are hypermetabolic, so the next step is a biopsy.  So 5 1/2 weeks later, I am waiting again.  I feel like a ping pong ball.  Every time I talk to one doctor's office, I call the other to make sure that they have the information.  Then if I have forgotten, I call the first office back and tell them to send their results to the second office and vice versa.

Alrighty then, I am exhausted from just thinking about it.  So I am going to hit the sack.  Tomorrow is another day.  God has a plan.  Good night.

Adventures at the Library

Well our family have had an extreme rash of not so good days in the last few week, but I thought that everyone would enjoy our library adventure yesterday evening.

Hubby and I picked the kids up from daycare yesterday and decided to get them signed up for the summer reading library program on the first day.  In route Pumpkin announces that he needed to use the restroom.  The restrooms in the children's department are a lot nicer than the main library restrooms.  So Pumpkin and I headed upstairs while hubby and Princess returned our previous library books.  Pumpkin raced up the stairs and ran into the bathroom.  

He must of really needed to go.  He came back out of one of the two children's department restrooms.  I noticed that he had not flushed (he also did not use toilet paper).  So I asked him to flush the toilet.  He ran over pushed the button and ran back out.  As he reached the door, waste water shot about three to four feet out of the floor drain and started spreading across the floor.*  Shocked I tried to tell one of the children's librarian at the desk while guarding the door so no children could enter.  We turn around just at the right time to see a flood of water snaking out of the other bathroom door that was closed.  It probably went a good five feet outward.  

I turn back around to let them know of the second problem and the head children's librarian (who is a real sweetheart) is calling into the radio "EMERGENCY!  Maintenance to the Children's Department!  EMERGENCY!"  Within minute staff are rushing towards the bathrooms.  Hubby hear the radio call downstairs and rushed up the stairs with Princess.  Of course we are in the middle of all the chaos.  We did find out that they had been having problems with the toilets earlier in the day, so thankfully we really were not at fault for the whole diabolic.

Now that I am sure that you are indeed laughing!  Have a great evening!  Don't forget to visit your local library and collect some of your own unique memories!

*Please note- No children were harmed during this misadventure at the library.

Gotta Have Faith

The last seven months have been rocky at times.  My faith has been tested and wavered at times.  I know that I should pray more.  Sometimes I just get so wrapped up in what is happening that I just forget, then later I think that it would of been best to pray at that time.  We have dealt with health issues, accidents, school issues, and medical bills.  As soon as something appears to slow down, wham!  We get hit again.  Sometimes I am at a loss for words and just do not know what to pray.  I need to get back to the basics, but life is so overwhelming at times that I seem to get blinded.  God has a reason for everything.  What we see is the underside of the tapestry of life, but when it is finished and turned over a beautiful picture emerges.  So I gotta faith that all is as it should be and that God is in control. 

At the current time I am the one having health issues.  I will be the first one to tell you that I do not like to take medicine.  I will take it if it is needed.  Unlike my mom, I will go to the doctor if things are not right.  I've been puny for two weeks now.  I basically got three diagnoses within eight days- of course each one seems to trump the next.  For the last diagnosis, I will be seeing a specialist this coming week.  I hope that it does not led to any more diagnoses.  I am pretty sure that I will most likely have to have surgery.  I am a bit apprehensive, but it will be whatever it will be.  I know that God is with me every step of the way, even though at times it does not seem so to me.  I am finding that I do not like the "hurry up and do this", then "oh, we need to wait" mentality of the medical field.   I am also discovering that I have to be my own advocate, trying to make sure that the upcoming appointment has all of the information they need from my primary doctor's office.

I have that "You have two choices either laugh or cry" attitude.  I have had a few tears, but mainly laughter.  So when someone backed into my parked car on Thursday morning with a SUV.  I just started laughing hysterically.  I know that it was a complete accident and the other person felt horrible about it.  But in light of everything else going on, it seems small peas.   

Music calms me when I feel lost and overwhelmed.  This morning "We Believe" by Newsboys was on the radio and it was calming balm.  "We believe in God the Father!  We believe in Jesus Christ!  We believe in the Holy Spirit!  And He's given us new life!  We believe in the crucification!  We believe that He conquered death!  We believe in the resurrection!  And He's coming back again!"  Another song that I have been listening to is "Worn" by Tenth Avenue North.  "I'm Tired.  I'm worn.  My heart is heavy.  From the work it takes.  To keep on breathing.  I've made mistakes.  I've let my hope fail.  My soul feels crushed.  By the weight of this world.  And I know that You can give me rest.  So I cry out with all that I have left.  Let me see redemption win.  Let me know the struggle ends."

To err is human and we are all human.  No person is without sin and in my opinion it takes a strong person to admit their failings.  So I trudge on and hopefully become stronger in faith as the days go on.  I appreciate the friends and family that are praying for me.  Hopefully in the next few weeks things will slow down and I will return to my normal self.  I know that I have fallen behind writing on this little old blog, but I have honestly not known what to say or what I should I write.  Life has definitely been overwhelming and I have not wanted to spend all of my blog time complaining.  I would prefer to highlight joys and fun and nature.  Until next time. . . . I bid you adieu.