As usual, too much time passed since my last blog...

...and it's roughly two years later.  Sigh...  I'm terrible at this blogging thing.  Attempting to blog again.  :-P

I'm alive and doing well.  Still struggling with my weight, but the good thing is, I still haven't had a stroke since my first one.  I tell ya...  this middle age thing is not so easy.  Ha...   My hubby?  He's kept his weight off!  Ugh...  LOL.

I'm one of those who gets bored with things easily, hence my need for SO MANY projects:  WIP's (work in progress), UFO's (unfinished objects), reading, and all that.  I've got quilts I need to finish,  I've been crocheting hanger covers (Because I have narrow shoulders, I don't like it when there's a hanger mark past my shoulders when I put my clothes on!), cross stitching, and currently attempting to crochet a basket using jute twine.  So far, I've enjoyed crocheting with the jute twine.  It does take some work, and I have to stop now and then.  However, this current project has gotten me thinking of so many things I can make with the jute twine: baskets, coasters, placemats, etc.   I also read A LOT.   I can tell you that this is driving my so very patient hubby crazy.  LOL!!!  

I've also been trying to get my storage room cleaned out so I can have access to my craft stuff, get rid of junk in there, and reorganize the "dining area" into my craft area, but not look like it's a craft area.  ;-)   I'd love to convert a desk that my Papau (with my daddy's help, I believe) made for me when I was 13 or 14, into a work table.  I want to add drop leaves with legs that can extend out; add casters to the legs of the desk part (so I can move it anywhere); add more shelves to where the shelves are; and on the desk and leaves part, get a self healing cutting mat glued to it.   All this is so I can make things I can sell.   Unfortunately,  this is something that will happen over a very long time.  SMH

Oh, yeah, in addition to all this, is starting a mini nursery of marigolds, using the empty egg cartons.  I love marigolds!  They don't smell good, but are SO resilient, and can re-seed themselves year after year.  They can be planted pretty much anytime from spring to early fall.  Also, I think I heard they help repel mosquitoes, but I dunno.  It'd be nice if it does, cuz mosquitoes are so annoying.  After the marigolds have gone from seed to seedlings, I'll transplant them into small styrofoam cups, until they are big enough to be planted into the flowerbeds, and not accidentally mowed over by our lawn mowers.  

Then comes this summer, after the boys get out of school later this week.  Vacation, church camp, band camp, possible mission trip for my hubby, visiting families, band practice...  

Yeah,  my life is sooooooooo boring...  ;-)

Ooops... Been gone too long!

As usual, I let things slide here.  No changes since my stroke over two years ago.  Haven't had a stroke since then,  made changes in my life.  Lost 25 lbs.,  still have quite a few more to lose to be healthier and fit.  Hubby has lost a lot of weight too, and looks great!  

I'm still a consultant with Jamberry Nails, but have switched to being a Hobbyist consultant, meaning I don't have my own website, and not as involved as before.  Jamberry has come a long way:  new nail wraps,  new gel polishes, and now they have a new product, which uses only nail polish by itself, no need to use base nail and top nail polish, with a curing lamp.  Awesome!  To order: http://marylynncauley.jamberrynails.com/.

I still do crafts, quilt, sew, cook, etc.  Planning on creating scarves to see if it works the way I hope it does.  It's fun to create something, even if it doesn't work.  Keeping your mind engaged helps with your overall health! 

Made Fig spread earlier this year.  That was fun to try!  First batch turned out good,  second batch?  Not so much.  That's what I get for fiddling around sometimes, but hey, I learned some things!  I even attempted watermelon rind preserves.  Not that impressed.  Plan to put them in a processor to make them into spread and see how it turns out.  Oh, before I forget...  a couple from church gave us cucumbers from their garden, so I made refrigerator pickles.  Oh............   soooooooo good!!  

I'm now down to two boys at home.  So proud of my two eldest boys for going out on their own after graduating from high school, working, going to school, and being involved in their local congregation.  My 2nd son occasionally texts me on how to cook some things! Love that he still needs his mama!  My SIL asked me how it is at home now that I don't have as many boys.  I said, that while I'm still busy, it definitely is a lot quieter.  This is funny because, for one thing, I am deaf!  LOL!  

Well,  I hope y'all have an AWESOME day!!!  

So...

...What has been going on this past year since my last post? Quite a lot, and not quite so much.  I know, I know, it doesn't make sense, does it?  LOL!!!

Church activities, school activities, summer activities, visiting our families, etc. Just the usual ordinary things you do on a daily basis.  Some days I do more, some days I procrastinate.  No surprise there.  Let's move on!  ;-)

According to the last post, I've joined Jamberry as a consultant back in May.  Not making a whole lot of money.  As long as I make at least $600 a year, I'll be fine. The main thing is that it helps me either buy or get free nail wraps or gel polish, etc.   I've come to the realization I may never be a savvy businesswoman. Know what?  That's ok!  I can keep searching for other venues that I may actually be savvy in.  Who knows?  :-)

That reminds me...  Jamberry has rolled out a new product called "TruShine" gel polish along with a curing lamp, and other stuff associated with it.  I LOVE the gel stuff!  Most nail wraps are fine, but those with metallic stuff, tend to do lifting at the tips, which can be frustrating.    Not with the gel stuff!  I can put it over the wraps, and I NEVER have to buff down the lifting or try to reheat and push down, plus it's durable!  Because of the gel stuff, I've finally been able to get my weak peely nails to grow longer!  I don't want them too long, just long enough to look, oh, so elegant!  WOW!    If that piques you,  go to my website: marylynncauley.jamberry.com, and try out the stuff!  :-D

Then.............................................................Comes this horrible thing that hit me a few days ago, on Friday, October 2nd.   Siiiiiiiiighhhhhh....

I was kind of mad that it happened the weekend of our Gospel meeting/marriage seminar at our congregation.  I thought,"While I wouldn't wish this to happen ever, why couldn't it have happened any other time?!?"  The sad reality is that we really do not have control over unforeseen things that happens any way.  Now that being said...this horrible thing could have been prevented, if I had taken better care of myself!!!  :-(

Without further ado.... this is what happened, starting on Friday, October 2nd (Warning:  it's rather lengthy, as it's sort of a journal.  I know I don't need to post a journal here, but it's been helping me stay sharp):  As stated before, we had a Gospel meeting/marriage seminar from October 2nd to 4th.  I was able to go to the sermon of the night.  After the 7 pm sermon sermon was over, we went to the fellowship room for dessert.  It was during then that I thought the room was brighter as usual, but maybe this time a little more brighter.  I don't know how long into this fellowship it was, but suddenly, I am seeing clear but blurry spots. Looked like an invisible nerve shocked amoeba floating around.  Weird.  I think it lasted about maybe 5-15 seconds, not very long.  I thought that was strange, but as soon as it was over, I just brushed it aside.   I went ahead and helped clean up, and walked home (because my husband is a preacher, the congregation provided a parsonage for us, and it's right next to the church parking lot).

I got to my bedroom, changed into PJ's, sat on the edge of my bed, and turned on the TV that was on my dresser.  About 5-15 mins (I am not sure how long, but it definitely was some time) later, the left half of my body, including my face, started feeling funny, kind of numb and tingly.  I didn't like it!!!  I thought,"I better get up and walk around to shake it off."  My bed is not very far from the door, about a good step or two away, so I got up to open the door, and WHOA!  I felt weak on that side and realized something was VERY wrong!  I opened the door and called for my two eldest boy to come help me walk. This happened about 9:45 pm. When they came to me, I was leaning against the door jamb to hold my self up. Second eldest son tried to get me to lay down, and I said,"No, I think I need to walk!"  So eldest son helped me walk, and we walked all the way to the kitchen, and I walked around the kitchen, slapping the left side of my face, shaking my left arm and leg. At that time, my husband, Kevin, walked in (about 10 pm), and I told him what happened.  He had that very concerned and scared look, and said,"Sounds like you may have had a stroke.  Let's go to the hospital now!"

The closest hospital is 25-30 mins away.  It usually doesn't feel like forever, but with this emergency looming,  it felt like an eternity!  We finally get there, to the ER, and Kevin tells someone at the ER that he thinks I had a stroke.  They get me in immediately, no waiting.    I go through the normal ER routines:  questions, slapping on the hospital band, signing papers,  vitals, etc.   ER doctor eventually comes in, and after discussing with me and Kevin, he definitely thinks I had a TIA (transient ischemic attack).   Some people think TIA's are mini-strokes, but it's really more of a stroke warning.  He wants me admitted to run tests to determine what I had, what needs to be done, etc.  He orders tests to be done.  He wants an MRI, and a ultrasound on my neck  and heart done.

The nurse proceeds to draw blood, and I tell her she will have a hard time finding a vein.  Sure enough, she does have a hard time, but she manages to draw blood from my right hand (which eventually causes an ugly bruise), an IV port into my left hand (which strangely enough doesn't cause a bruise).   By then, I'm already shivering, not because I'm cold (which I was, but probably from being scared too). Another nurse eventually wheels in a portable x-ray, and takes an x-ray of my chest.   I was very thankful I didn't have to go to an x-ray room!  I had a type of cat scan, but don't really remember when it happened, but it happened during this time period. 

Kevin finally leaves for home about 1:30 AM.   He tells me to text him my room number when I get it.  I tell him to text me when he gets home. Sometime after he leaves, a lady wheels in a portable ultrasound machine.  She does an ultrasound of the left and right arteries in my neck.  Kevin texts me he's home.  Sometime after that they inform me of my room number.   So I text Kevin the room number, in which by then, he's probably asleep.

I finally get to my room 2:30-ish AM.  I get settled in bed, they check my vitals, etc.  They ask me if I need anything,  I tell them no, and that I'm pretty tired and need to go to sleep.  W-H-E-W....

Saturday: I get woken up just to get vitals checked, go back to sleep.   Wake up again when my breakfast is brought in.  Kevin texts me to see how I am, and all that.   Nurse comes in and tells me they're taking me down for an MRI, and I let Kevin know about it.

I go down in a wheelchair for an MRI.  I've never had an MRI, and I've been told in the past that those things can be B-O-R-I-N-G and L-O-N-G.    I find it funny they have to put a big ear phone over my ears, considering I'm deaf and can't hear a thing.  Anyway,  they tell me I.  Cannot.   Move.  At.  All, once I'm in the machine, or they'd have to do it over again.  OY...!  They get me all strapped in, and cover my eyes with a dry washcloth.   The thing I'm strapped to starts sliding me into this big machine.   I wonder how long this will take.   Whiiiirrrrrr, rumble rumble, whiiiiirrrr, rumble rumble.... and it goes on droning.   Some of the vibrations felt like the vibrations of the Chaparral car rides in Six Flags.  I laughingly think of Six Flags, go through a whole plethora of Bible songs,  think randomly, etc., and after what seemed like an eternity (at this point I'm going stir crazy), I slide out.   I'm thankful that I didn't dare to move, because it did feel like an eternity, and I do not want them to have to re-do it!  The thought of having to go through those mental exercises and going stir crazy over and over again.... NO THANK YOU! They unstrap me, and before I get off, I stretch real good.  The nurse grins because she knows why.  I am wheeled back to my room.  Kevin's not there yet, so I text him to let him know I'm done with the MRI. I look at the time span between those two texts, so I'm guessing the MRI itself took about 30 mins or so.   Ugh....

Kevin still hasn't come in yet, and another nurse comes in to take me while I'm still in my bed for an ultrasound to my heart.  I text Kevin about it.  I'm wheeled into a room with an ultrasound in there.  A lady, who has her hair piled on high (looks like a modern version of a beehive - ha!), comes in and says she's going to do the ultrasound on my heart.  Not sure how long it took, but not too terribly long.  Kevin texts me while this is going on asking me where I am, and I tell him. He lets me know he's in my room waiting for me.

I'm wheeled back to my room, and there is Kevin.   We wait a while, I eat lunch, Kevin goes for lunch. Doctor shows up, so I text Kevin to get back here.  We discuss things.  We're told a Neurologist will come in either tonight or tomorrow. No news about the MRI, the ultrasound of my neck and my heart yet. Longest day of my life.  So bored.  A sweet old friend of ours brings our boys in for a short visit.  I was so happy!  Sad that they had to leave so soon.    My folks finally arrive, and we just get busy talking.   I think I've already had supper by then.   Kevin finally says he needs to go home, and my folks stay a little longer. My good friends from church show up with stuff I requested.   My folks finally leave to stay in the hotel.  I finally get the chance to go to sleep for the night.

As usual, I get woken up in the middle of the night to have my vitals checked,  and later wake up again for vitals and breakfast.   This is Sunday by then.  So that means Kevin cannot come until after Bible class, morning worship, and potluck, but my folks are able to come at about 8 am.   He does text me asking if I'm ok, if there's any news,  if the neurologist has come by.  I tell him I'm fine,  no news, and that the neurologist hasn't come yet.    Kevin finally comes in with the boys after all the church activities were over. I was delighted!  I missed them so much!  We all visit for a good  bit.  A doctor comes in (different floor doctor than the one that came in before), comes in to check on me.  He asks if the neurologist has been in, and we tell him he hasn't.   "Oh!  I'll make sure he does!", and out he goes.   Not long after that, the neurologist finally shows up.   Very interesting turn of events with this doctor.   He didn't realize I am deaf since birth, so he thought I turned deaf from the stroke!  Even asked if my voice changed too. Nope, my normal voice (according to what people tell me, I have a deep raspy voice, which to uniformed people, sounds like I have a sore throat).    Wow.   Anyway...He also tells me that the ultrasound of my neck does reveal some blockage, but that it is treatable.  He also tells me that the front of my heart is fine, but that they unfortunately weren't able to get a clear look at the back of my heart, and he wants me to have a special ultrasound called the TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) which is a specialized ultrasound probe that they would guide down my throat to see the back of my heart.   Then he has me doing a few things (which by then I've already been doing them with the ER doctor, floor doctors, and nurses).  The final thing he had me do was do a subtle smile, and bingo.  He says,"There it is, if you can see it..."  points to my left side describing to Kevin (my eldest son is behind the neurologist), and they see it too. Huh...   Kevin and the neurologist go off to look at the MRI.   Kevin later tells me that the stroke (including the dead area of my brain where the stroke happened), not the mini-stroke that we originally thought,  is about the size of the top half of the thumb, and it happened in my right rear brain, in the occupital lobe, which explains why I had those blurry spots.  Whoa...    Neurologist says, because of the stroke, I now no longer can take high blood pressure meds. (See below about my conversation with Kevin about it)  He will have me on Plavix and Lipitor instead.  Anyway, eventually  Kevin had to take the boys back in time for the evening service, and my folks needed to go to a congregation nearby , as they missed the morning services. I finally get some quiet (no offense!).

Sometime after that,  they tell me I'm going in for a cat scan (the different kind I had than the one on the first day), so I text Kevin about it, then I'm wheeled into a cat scan room.   Like the MRI,  I can't move at all or they'd have to do it over again.  They tell me they have to inject me with something that will make me really hot.  They inject something in,  get strapped in, slide in just enough to cover my head.  Whoooooooooooooo.....  talk about being on fire (from whatever they injected in me)!!!!!!    I swear it's WORSE than a hot flash, so hot that my heart was racing! Thankfully, this didn't take as long as the MRI, I guess about 5-10 mins.  I am sent back to my room.

Monday, the usual waking up to check vitals, medicine,  breakfast resumes.   They also tell me I'll have the TEE done sometime that day, which means I cannot eat or drink until it's over.  Groan.... I'm going to be SOOO hungry and thirsty when it's over.  I go back to sleep, only to wake up and find I have breakfast on my tray. Had to call the nurse to take it away since I'm not allowed to eat or drink.  Boo Hoo!   Kevin finally comes in after taking care of our boys, and my folks come in too.  They eventually inform us that the TEE will happen at 12:30.   Thankfully, they'll sedate me for this.

They finally inform us that the TEE will be done at 12:30.  So, Kevin decides to go on for lunch, and my folks decide it's time to go home.  They've been wonderful about it, and besides, this being Monday, it was my step-mom's birthday.  She's been so gracious about giving up her special day to be with us. I love my folks!!!  <3

I recall a speech therapist coming by with some pudding, graham crackers, water. (She came to check on my swallowing capabilities - another one of those little things people have come by to see if I'm still able to do things after that stroke.) I look at her,  and then look at the nurse who was checking my vitals.  The nurse tells her I can't have food or water till after the TEE.  She understands and leaves.

It's almost 12:30, and they let us know they're getting me ready to go down.  I let Kevin know.  I'm still on my bed when they wheel me downstairs, Kevin tagging along.  This is where it gets really funny.  Love the nurses, the anesthesiologist, even the stoic cardiologist!  The anesthesiologist was just cracking us up, telling wisecracks, etc.  Sooooo funny!  He even had fun showing us the ultrasound probe.  Learned that the probe is worth $50,000, which is why they have this special mouthpiece to put in patients' mouths so they don't accidentally bite on it. In other words, they'd bill the anesthesiologist for the damaged probe! Stoic (but very polite and nice) cardiologist, while he wasn't trying to be funny or anything, it was how he is and what he did that was funny to us.  He walks right in,  and proceeds to explain what is to happen and anesthesiologist said we already explained, and he goes,"Oh, well, let's get started!" and out he goes. Boom.  We cracked up!  Finally time comes to get the anesthesia in me.  Anesthesiologist explains the procedure, and I joke to him,"I'll just simply have a good nap."  He laughs.  He then explains to me that the hand might feel funny when they put the stuff in, and I told him I've been injected before and nothing new to me.  LOL.   So he goes ahead and puts two different tubes. Not sure which one was anesthesia and the other one liquid to push it through, but I reckon the milky looking one was anesthesia. Nonetheless, as soon as it was injected, I started counting backwards from 10 to 1, and I think I went no lower than 6 when I was out.

When I finally "come" out of it, look around and get my bearings, first thing I ask Kevin is,"How is my heart?" He smiles, and gives me that wary but polite look,"It's fine, and that's about the 4th or 5th time you've asked me that."  "Huh? I don't remember asking before. I was awake all that time I asked???", I groggily ask incredulously.    He said,"Yeah, we figured you weren't out of it yet, and yes, you were awake."  Huh...   "Wow.  Did I say anything I shouldn't say?"  He laughs and said,"No."  Whew...  Later I asked how I looked when I was awake and not so awake.  He said my eyes were still red, and my eyes, while open, weren't all the way open, and my face had that drugged out look.  They knew what was going on, so they didn't worry.   Weeeeeeird....

Now this is where it gets a little murky.  I can't seem to remember if the cardiologist came after I "woke" up, but I was told my heart was perfectly healthy, probably better than Kevin and the anesthesiologist's. HA!  Back to square one. Still can't find what caused the clot that started the stroke.   Kevin tells me that the stoic cardiologist comes in and was out.  So funny!

However, I DO remember the anesthesiologist telling me, that I still couldn't drink until one hour after, and eat till 2 hours after I woke up.  Groan...  I was so hungry and thirsty when all this was over.   1 hour and 2 hours, hurry up! LOL! Anyway... I'm wheeled back to my room.

Time finally comes that I can drink water. Hallelujah! The ice water NEVER tasted so good till now!   LOL!!!   Another hour passes by quickly  (Shockingly, as the last few days seemed to have dragged on!), and I can eat!  Even the food tasted good!  The nurse asks me if there was anything I needed.  Up to this point, I was a little askeered to ask for chocolate.   Ha, ha, ha, ha...

They ask me what kind of chocolate I want.  I look funny (but politely) at them and said,"Chocolate!"  They laugh.   I don't care what kind of chocolate,  just get me chocolate!  Heh, heh...    Kevin has to get home to take care of the boys, so he leaves.   Later, I get sent a small bowl of good creamy chocolate pudding with whipped topping.   Ooooooh, la, la...  :-D

Eventually a physical therapist comes to check on my stability, etc.  They just have to make sure the stroke had no effect, which apparently didn't (thankfully). The Speech Therapist comes back in the middle of this, so the PT tells her she can do this quickly.  She hands me water and watches me swallow, asks me to chew on some graham crackers and swallow, and watches me.  She's satisfied that I can swallow just fine and says I'm doing well.  Lets me keep the pudding, cranberry juice, and the rest of the graham crackers.    I was giddy!  PT continues her testing on me, and is very pleased with how I am.  She doesn't think I need any physical therapy.   :-D

The rest of the day was just spent on resting, reading book, watching tv, till I was too tired, and went to sleep.  What a day!

Tuesday:  Nurse woke me up to check vitals, take medicine, and let me know my breakfast arrived.   Delighted that I'm having french toast, my favorite breakfast! :-D   Nurse also adds in "Today's Goal" box, "Home 2day".  I got excited!!!!  I text Kevin that, and he thinks the doctor's been seen.  I told him no, and explained how I knew I was going home today.  Told him I don't know when they'll release me, but it'll be sometime today.

A male nurse walks in, goes through the list of medicine I have to take, including the ones I take at home (except high blood pressure med).  Asks me where I go to get my prescription filled, etc.   A lady comes in asking me if I'd like a flu shot, and I decline.  Honestly, I rarely ever get sick with the flu.  I didn't think it was necessary.  Maybe when I'm really old, but not now.   Ha...

Kevin finally comes in after taking care of the boys and taking them to school. Not much to do here but to wait until a doctor comes in to talk to us before I can be released.   Waiting is hard!   Kevin finally says he's going for lunch, when my lunch is brought in.  Asks me to text when the doctor comes in.

A nurse eventually walks in, looks in the direction where she knew Kevin was sitting, sees Kevin's not there, looks at me, and announces,"The doctor is here."  I tell her I'll text Kevin to have him come here immediately.   He does, and I told him to inform the nurse he is here, so he does.  The doctor (the same one that got the neurologist to show up) comes in, talks to us.  Lets us know every thing looks good, and that the neurologist wants me to continue wearing a heart monitor (I had been wearing one since I got into the ER).  Groan.... just 24 more hours to wear one! This time, this is a lighter version that can be used at home.  The hospital heart monitor I had was of pocket size, but a little heavy too. Kind of annoying to try to sleep comfortably with all the wires attached to me.  LOL

We ask the doctor about my diet.   He says I need to be on a low sodium and low cholesterol diet.

Otherwise,  I'm being released.  I get a nurse to take the IV port off!!!!!  I HATED that thing the entire time, because it'd get itchy sometimes, and if I wasn't careful, it'd hurt.  I did think it was strange when at the ER, that they drew blood from my right hand, it caused a bruise, but no bruise on my left hand, when the IV port has been in there for 4 days!  Uhhhh...  makes NO sense....   Oh well...    Anyway, it's off!   Thank goodness, no wearing a glove with tape around the base of the glove over my IV ported left hand (couldn't get it wet then, when I wanted to shower), to shower!

I take a shower, and I find out I have visitors (I failed to mention I had a steady stream of visitors over the last few days, and enjoyed every one of the visits!), so I had to hurry up, get dressed (with ACTUAL clothes, not hospital gown - yeah!), etc.   It was this sweet family from a nearby town, and loved playing with their baby boy.  They eventually leave.

It's getting close to 3, so we knew we would have to make arrangements to have someone pick up the boys from school, and my 2nd eldest son would have to walk home.  Thankfully, we were able to get someone.

A different male nurse comes in to attach the home heart monitor.  Awkward.... Because he had to slide those sticky things that the wires were attached to, to attach to my chest, under my bra!  I'm thinking why they couldn't have just sent a female nurse?!  I look awkwardly to Kevin, who awkwardly smiles at me.   (We had a discussion later about that, and he reminded me that the male nurse must do that a lot, so it's nothing new to the nurse.  I tell him it's still awkward, and he smiles and says,"I know, dear.") LOL!!!!!! Anyway, when that was all done,  he looks at the time, and says to take it off at about 3:10 pm the next day.  I look so forward to having it off tomorrow!!

At this point, I really don't remember exactly what happened, because I was so ready to go home, and we went home! Sorry, it's such a long story, but it has helped me do a lot of thinking.

As I mentioned earlier in the post, that the neurologist says I can no longer take high blood pressure meds. I had a discussion about that with Kevin.  Kevin said the whole point of taking high blood pressure meds was to prevent a stroke. However he explained to me that now that I've had a stroke, the doctor wants me to have high blood pressure to prevent the dead area where the stroke happened from growing.   I still had a hard time grasping that.  So Kevin explained to me, that with the high blood pressure, more blood is pooled in around the dead area, sort of forming a shield to keep it from growing.   Think of a web of veins wrapping around it.  Aha, I get it now.  Interesting....  and amazed at God, because he KNOWS what he IS doing!!!

I have blogged in the past about my needing to lose weight to get healthy.  My struggle was that I just couldn't get a  handle on so many things.   I can tell you that this is the much needed gentle kick in the rear to get healthy.  The whole time I stayed in the hospital, my meals were of cardiac diet, no sodium, and portioned to fit the hospital sized plate!  I really didn't have a choice (except for once asking for chocolate), and it was good for me anyway.   When I got home, I made sure I stuck to those portions.  I am pretty sure I've lost some weight while in the hospital.  I'm also pretty sure that my tummy has shrunk since then, because after eating those portions, I am full, sometimes I don't even finish eating because I'm getting too full.   This time, I'm determined to not fall into the large portion trap again.

This brings up another issue with me.  Kevin told me that the neurologist said that the next time the stroke happens again in my occupital lobe, there's a possibility I could go blind.   YIKES!  No, no, no.... not happening!!!!   I'm deaf, and that alone is enough for me to handle.   This is also why I said it is the much needed gentle kick in the rear to get healthy.

Let this be a message to those of you who are not healthy to get HEALTHY, lose weight to get HEALTHY! As my husband is so fond of saying in the church bulletin,"God bless you, and I love you."  I mean it.  <3

I am officially...

...Now a Jamberry Consultant! If you want to host an online party, Facebook party, Skype party, Home party, let me know!  Depending on sales, the hostess gets free and discounted products!  Also, anyone can order from my website any time!  Here's my website to order or set up a party:   http://marylynncauley.jamberrynails.net.  Thank You!

It's been a struggle...

...to take the time to post on this blog.  I need to figure a way or time to write several articles and then insert an article one post at a time.    

GOODBYE, 2014...

...HELLO, 2015!!!

I hope you all have had a wonderful New Year's!  May this new year bring you happiness, love, and blessedness!

An Update...

...to what I mentioned in my previous post.  

We've moved back to good ol' TEXAS!  This time, somewhere up Northeast.  That's ok for this lady who tends to get a wee bit hot sometimes, as this area will get much colder than it would be in South Texas.  :-D

We still have the same internet plan (which includes iPhones), except hubby decided to add more data. However, because we've moved, we were able to pull wi-fi from a place, enabling us to have as much internet as needed, and not relying so much on the internet plan, which will help save us money.  

That being said, I hope to blog more often soon.  Right now, I'm still in the throes of unpacking, making my house a home, etc.  

Have a great day!

Long time, no see!

As I mentioned in previous post, we changed internet to include phone and computer, so we can save money.  I tell you it really is a pain in the rear, because the limited internet runs out each month, and they charge us extra if we go over the limit!  I'll be glad when I have unlimited internet again, and it won't cost so much either.  The best times for me to use the computer is when we stay at the church building, because they have unlimited internet, so it's rare for me to be blogging.  However, hopefully this will be changing very soon!

Some of you already know why, but some of you don't.  However, for those of you who don't know why, you'll know soon enough, in about a month or so. This is one  big change ( and NO I'm NOT pregnant, nor will I ever be again!  I'm way too old and TIRED!), and I'm not really looking forward to it, but it's for the good.  Let's just say it is messing with my emotions as a preacher's wife and a mother of four beautiful boys.  

I just wanted to keep y'all updated as to what is going on.  I hope, within a month or so, to be blogging regularly, with hopes of making a little money to help my husband's salary.   Yes, I will post about the big change eventually.  Be patient!

Y'all have a blessed day!

(Forgive the really close lines... I can't figure out why it's doing that...)

Until Next Time...

Due to changing internet, and getting confused with how the new internet works, I have to wait until the next monthly internet cycle to be able to blog regularly.  We just don't have enough internet right now until then.  I promise I'll have new posts coming up when I am able to!  Thank  You all for your patience!

I used to drink sodas.  My favorite is Dr. Pepper.  Switched to Diet Dr. Pepper or Dr. Pepper 10, for losing weight purposes.  I do drink water too, but not as enough as I should.

Well, I when started coughing, and as usual, I’d go for my Diet Dr. Pepper or Dr. Pepper 10, because I love how the “fizz” feels down my throat!

That all changed one day, when I was coughing so hard that I threw up.  I went for my soda, as usual. To my surprise, it did not make my throat feel any better!               I was really repulsed by the soda, strangely enough.  So I got some water… AHHHHH!  So much better!

It, of course, did not cure me of my coughing right away, because I had reflux (see previous post), but it did help my body feel better.  So I started drinking more water and decaf sweet tea instead of soda!

I have had relapses, but not by choice.  Thankfully, I've tried to keep it to a minimum, and still remain on a soda free streak!  For the first time in years, I have not had cravings for soda, and I’m ok with that!     

I think we have also saved some money by not buying soda anymore!  Whoop!!!   

Seeing An ENT Specialist.

I had been coughing for some time, so I saw my regular doctor on January 23rd.  Although blood results revealed I "had" walking Pneumonia, the x-rays showed my lungs were clear, indicating the walking Pneumonia was already over.  So, why was I still coughing??

My doctor was pretty frustrated about this, so he recommended I see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist, because I had been coughing past the time I should have stopped coughing, so I saw him on February 3rd.

My husband and I had concerns that I may have polyps in my vocal cords again.  I have had them before, which resulted in two vocal cord surgeries, years ago.  Hence, the other reason to see the ENT specialist.

I met the ENT specialist, discuss concerns with him.  He sprays numbing nasal spray in my nose.  Those who know me, know that I absolutely abhor nasal sprays of any kind.  Yes, the kind used for allergies, etc.! Had to work hard to not gag!  Yuck!  Anyway,  after my nose and nasal passages were numb, he gently inserts a nasal scope through the left opening of my nose and down the nasal passages towards my voice box, to see my vocal cords.  The ENT said that my vocal cords were in good shape and looked clear!  Shocking...      He even shows my husband, who was pretty fascinated.   ENT says no vocal cord surgery was needed!  We were relieved!

The ENT gently pulls the nasal scope out and puts in the sink.  He then proceeds to explain that, the reason for my continued coughing, was due to reflux!  I was surprised and exclaimed,"But, but, but... I never have symptoms or rarely have symptoms of reflux!  Maybe heartburn, but reflux, no!"   He smiles and said that it's called Silent Reflux.  Huh...     He also said that as he was guiding the scope down my nasal passage towards my voice box, he could see reflux coming up my esophagus! Wow... I had no idea I was having reflux at the moment.   *eyebrows raised*

He then explains what happened is that the reflux would get to my voice box and inflame the back wall of the voice box between the vocal cords, hence it being a little bit swollen, which was preventing the vocal cords from closing properly. When the vocal cords don't close properly, things get into my lungs, and that causes coughing, even pneumonia.

He continues to explain something else.  He says the purpose of the vocal cords are to: 1.) To close up when I'm chewing/swallowing, 2.) To open up when I'm breathing, and 3.) To talk.   My husband and I exchange surprised looks, because we were taught, growing up, that there was a flap above the vocal cords for the first two purposes mentioned by the ENT! Reckon it's true, that we are never too old to learn anything new!

Armed with this new information, the ENT gives me a piece of paper explaining what needs to be done to heal the inflammation between my vocal cords, so that I could eventually stop coughing:

So.... for the next three months, I cannot have Chocolate (GASP!!!!), Cinnamon (GASP!!!), garlic, onions, carminatives (spearmint, peppermint, etc.), and all types of Caffeine (GASP!!!).  (Later, I did ask if it was OK to have caffeine free beverages such as decaf coffee, decaf tea, caffeine free sodas, and the ENT said it was OK!!   Oh, thank goodness...)  I have to avoid hot spicy foods.  That doesn't mean just Mexican food only.   No... it means any food that has hot spicy stuff in it, such as pepper, paprika, etc. Fortunately, I still can eat milder types of Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food.  W-H-E-W!

I also have to take antiacids (Tums, etc.), OTC medicine such as Zantac, etc. In severe cases,  prescriptions such as Nexium or Prevacid may be necessary.  Avoid all kinds of aspirin, which is not a problem, because I can't take them anyway.

Lose weight if overweight.   Yeah, I'm chubby.  Thanks for telling me! LOL...

I also have to have the bed elevated up about 6 inches, to keep the reflux down when I'm sleeping.  Avoid eating three hours before going to bed.

After 3 months is up, see my regular doctor, as told by my ENT, and work with regular doctor on this issue.  I'm hoping by then, that I can re-introduce those foods back into my life, probably by increasing my antiacids/OTC meds.  Chocolate is from a cocoa bean, which means it's a legume, therefore classified as vegetable, right?  RIGHT?!?!  ;-)

I confess that not having chocolate, cinnamon, and caffeine was hard! What, did you think it was going to be that EASY?!  ;-)     I've had small amounts of those things, but at least I'm trying.  Oy vey...

Losing weight is my biggest problem!  :-P   I have about 50 lbs to lose! U-G-H.......................

That being said, I am SO THANKFUL that I didn't need vocal cord surgery after all!!!  :-D

Here Are Many Of The Posts From My Other Blog

(I didn’t include the dates as to when those posts were created. Let’s just say they are from 2013 and back.)

Been Away Too Long....

Hello, Ladies and Cowboys! ;-) Sorry, this has taken me a long time to get back on here. We moved from Texas to Mississippi the first week in June, and even now, I STILL have things to unpack and rearrange, then rearrange again, until I'm satisfied where things go in their new places. However, we are mostly unpacked and things are looking like home. 

We moved because hubby got a new ministerial position at a congregation in Mississippi. He is a 20/20 Vision Director. The congregation here is wonderful. Have made a few new best friends (I still have a best friend in Texas). 

I love our rental house! It's a three bedroom one story house. I'm just giddy that we have a ONE STORY HOUSE! The house we own in Texas is being rented out, and it is a two story house, and I learned quickly I ain't young anymore, because it was a pain to climb the stairs every day! While it was a good house to live in, I prefer this rental here so much better! Oh yeah, it helps when the owner of the house fixed this house up like new when he bought the property! Yes, it's definitely smaller than our house in Texas. We went from a 2300 sq ft house to an 1800 sq ft house. But I ain't complainin' one bit, no siree! The way it's laid out is just perfect, especially when entertaining guests! AND I HAVE AN ISLAND NOW!!! Whoop!

This house also sits on one acre of LAND! My boys love playing outside more because they have so much room to run around! Not to mention, it's out in the country, so there are forests around us. As a matter of fact, across the street from our house is all forest and is owned by the church that we attend. Needless to say, my oldest son has been going into the woods to make bike/hiking trails and a campsite to go to. Love it!

The weather? Just absolutely divine. Sure it gets hot and muggy, but not as hot and dry in Texas. I will always be a Texas gal, but I sure hate the heat there! LOL!! It rains almost everyday. I say, almost, because we do have a few sunshiny days. :-D Folks here say it will get worse. I say, bring it on! Why? I lived in Arkansas several years ago, and it would get hot and muggy up there just like here. Doesn't seem to bother me one bit. In Texas, I hated going outside in the summer, unless we were going swimming. ;-)

I haven't been able to get started back on quilting or crafts, because most of my stuff is in the garage. The Texas house had two living and dining areas, but this house has only one, so I had to store my stuff in the garage (as opposed to in the family room upstairs) I'm waiting for the day when the owner will have built in shelves installed in the garage. I also plan to work in my closet so that I can put some of my quilting and crafting stuff in there. I am SO itchin' to get back into quilting!!!

Y'all have a fantabulous day!!!

Wrap, Stuff, Tape...

...is what I've been doing a lot lately, in addition to trying to finish a quilt for a dear sweet lady before we move!  Two and half more weeks, and we are not even halfway done!  Aaaaaaaaaaaaack!   

The Magnolia State...

The Magnolia State, also known as Mississippi, is a beautiful state, with all the pine trees and Magnolia trees (hence it being the state tree/flower).  I love Magnolia trees (we have them here in Texas too, but not as prolific as Mississippi!).  Not only are they very beautiful, they smell awesome too! Here is a link to the picture of a Magnolia flower: http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=magr4_009_avp.jpg. I loved looking for them when we were going to Mississippi for my husband to try out for a ministerial type position there. 

Mississippi is also a hunter's/fisherman's paradise!  We went to a church member's property next to a pond, and went fishing.  You should have seen my youngest catch Perches one after the other.  He'd throw in a line, boom... he gets a fish.  Put new bait on (with help of an adult, as he's only 5), throw in the line, and boom, again, another fish.  On, and on...  Me? I only got four!   LOL... It used to be that I'd be the one who'd catch fish, and my daddy would catch very few or none at all.  Now that I'm a parent, guess it's my turn to be the one who catches a few and my kids get many!  LOL!!!!  

Now to the pinnacle of this post. Yep, you guessed it.  We are moving to Mississippi!!!  I have less than 2 months to pack!  Eeek....  

Things Kids Say!

Conversation with Gavin (he had been helping me hang some clothes up, running up and down the stairs) -

Gavin: Man, I'm sweatin'!

Me: Me too. Feel my scalp.

He feels my scalp and an, "Ooh!"

Me: But you seem to be sweatin' a whole lot more than I am though.

Gavin: That's because you are a girl and I'm a boy!

Not Exactly Tech Saavy...

...But will somehow figure out this uploading of pictures. I have FINALLY finished a quilt top. About to sandwich it with batting and backing and machine quilting it together before putting binder on. I , one way or the other, WILL get the pictures of the quilt I've been working on, uploaded to the blog!

I am so glad that first stage is over with. Whew...

Could Use...

...some encouraging here! It has gotten to the point where it's really ruining my health, and desperately need to lose weight, in addition to finding out why I'm so tired all the time (and while I get depression now and then, I think it's entirely unrelated to it. Not going to explain why), at that hot flash stage, etc. :-P

My biggest weakness is motivation, lack of energy, food, and portion control. I love C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E. Pasta. Rice. Y'know, all the starchy foods as well as some of the sweet stuff. :-o

I also do like healthy foods. It's just that I tend to eat more of those junk foods than the healthy. Not. To. Mention. Those. Forsaken. Words: portion control! I love broccoli, spinach, green beans, peas, carrots, corn, yucca.. :-D

I also like fruits such as peeled and cubed apples, peeled and cubed pears, sugar free canned peach, strawberries, raw sugar free applesauce, bananas, etc. Eh? Did somebody say bananas?! ;-)

I need to learn how to retrain my brain to reach for healthy stuff when I have an hankerin' for sweets such as chocolate, and know when it's ok to indulge now and then. Sigh... :-|

I also need to retrain my brain to NOT get bored with exercise. If I do the same exercise every day for a week, you can bet I'll be not exercising the next week. Except that I will gladly exercise on the elliptical more than anything else. I love that thing and would love to get my hands on one to use at home, but alas, right now they are too expensive. I have to have various exercises to do everyday, or I'd burn out. I'm not that creative when it comes to exercising, and though pinterest has great sites for various exercises, I just cannot think of a good plan to use. :-o

Another problem is that, other than my hubby, I don't know of any females who live close to me who would take their time to go walk with me, or even train to run, because many of them either work or are pregnant, or are too busy . :-( The upside is that, just one more year, my last child will start Kindergarten in the fall, and I can go walking any time of the day until they come home from school! ;-)

So, here goes with my weight loss journey! <3

You Know...

...it's not the end of the world, if you don't get texts from your friends! Don't go around saying you hate your life because you think your friends hate you, all because they didn't text back immediately. Good Grief...

This in no way does not mean I hate cellphones/iPhones/whatever. I would LOVE to have an iPhone or something similar, because I am deaf, as communication is important to me, but cannot afford one, not even a family plan (as I have four boys). However, whatever means of electronic communication, it is NOT the end of the world if they don't respond to you right away. If you wanted to communicate to them immediately, what is so wrong with a good ol' fashioned phone call?!

On the other hand... it could be that they were just too busy at the moment, different time zone, etc. They will respond in due time, and be patient. Gasp! You mean there is such a thing as patience?! Wow...

...now off my soapbox. Thank You.

Update... I now own an iPhone 3. Yeah, yeah, it’s not the latest iPhone, but I’m happy to have one. However, I still stand by what I said above. Patience is still the key here!!! ;-)

Welllll...

I let time slip by me again.  It's just nuts, I tell ya!  Hubby traveling a lot.  Two eldest boys doing their band thing a lot.  Two youngest, though handsome, are wiggly worms, just can't sit still!  Aaaaack!  ;-)  (Seriously, I love them a lot, and yes that includes hubby. ;-) )

Anyhoo....

In order to paint our master bedroom, hubby had to take apart our "L" shaped desk.   He said,"Well, since I had to take it apart, I might as well put it in the family room."  So, now the family room is half office, and half sewing/crafting room.   When he finished painting our bedroom, he proceeded to paint the South wall of the family room.  He could only do half of it because my sewing/crafting room is in the other half.  Anyway, my storage cabinets were on the East wall, and in order to put the "L" shaped desk in the corner where the East and South walls meet, he had to move those storage cabinets to the middle of the room, therefore messing up my sewing/crafting room.   I'm still waiting for him to finish the other half of the South wall in the family room!  I finally decided that he wouldn't care if I rearranged my sewing/crafting area to make it work.   All he has to do is move the cabinets from the South wall back a little bit, paint the wall, and then push them back when the paint is dry.  Easy, right?!  LOL...

That being said, I plan to do that very soon, because I am SO anxious to get working on my numerous quilt projects,  create a new fall wreath, re-do the most forlorn Christmas wreath, scrapbook, make cards, etc.!  Yeah,  that's a lot to do, but what can I say?  I'm a gal who can do about anything with her hands.  ;-)

So, shall we try this again?  I'll have a new post up soon!  :-D 

Dr. Pepper!

Time for some Dr. Pepper!

Why?  

Because you'd think after almost 45 years, I'd have my body figured out!  I must be going through some kind of "pause" (as in perimenopause, etc.), because it's always changing (and that includes hot flashes)!  Ugh...  :-P

As I mentioned in the previous post, school started on Monday.   I had been getting up and taking a shower before everyone else.  Did the same on Tuesday.  Well, today, I got up at the usual time, but no shower until later.    I tell ya,  there was a big, big, big difference between the last two days and today!  I am naturally not a morning person (hubby can attest to that), and to see the big difference between the last two days and today, dawned on me that there might be a bit of a morning person in me!   If I don't get up and take a shower before everyone, and wait to take a shower later,  I will be sleepy!   Needless to say, I am sleepy today because I didn't take a shower this morning!!   :-0

So, without further ado, I'm going to make an effort to get up and take my shower before everyone else.  Oh, I'll be tired, but definitely not sleepy, therefore more energy.    More energy gives me a glimmer of hope that I'll have motivation to get things done!  

And enjoy some Dr. Pepper!  ;-)

(An update:  my body keeps changing.  Now taking showers in mornings does not keep me from being sleepy.   I am finding out what is going on with my body by seeing the doctor.   Groan...  That being said, I still prefer to take my showers in the mornings.  Gets my day started this way.)

(Another update: I no longer drink soda. After coughing for a couple weeks, in which some of them would make me throw up just a little bit, the sodas would not help make my throat feel better. Water seemed so much better. Turns out I have silent reflux which was prolonging the real coughing. I’ll discuss about this in one of my new posts eventually).

First Day...

...of School for three of my 4 boys today! I now have two high schoolers! Going to treasure my last year at home with my youngest before he starts Kindergarten (and oldest son will start his Senior year by then). Time is going way too fast for my liking! Oh well, nothing I can do about it, but enjoy every moment I can with each of my boys, because before you know it, they'll all have flown the coop! Ok, better stop here before my face is a mess! ;-)

Routines, Routines, Routines!!!!

Yep, it's that time of the year for three of my four boys to begin school, one week from today!  Some parents prefer to stick to routines all year around, but I reckon I'm one of those parents who don't mind if they sleep in late or go to bed later than usual during the summer break or holidays.   I don't let them stay up THAT late, unless they have friends sleeping over or if they are sleeping over at friends'.  I knew that when school was out, that I'd be ready for routines again when the summer break ends.  Sure enough,  I'm so ready for routines again!   (I would homeschool, if I wasn't so impatient with school preparation and paperwork!)  ;-)

I officially now have two High School kids, one Elementary kid, and one still at home.   Eldest begins his Junior year, and 2nd begins his Freshman year, 3rd starts 2nd grade.  Youngest has one more year before he starts Kindergarten.   Sigh...     They sure grow up too fast!  Waaaah!

Just when I am able to start sewing again after rearranging the family room and sewing/craft area, I have to halt it again.  Why?   Because we have been painting our bedroom, and just finished it.  The next room to do is the family room, where I have my sewing/craft area in.    Because we had to take apart our "L" shaped desk in our bedroom, hubby decided he might as well move it to the family room.    So I'm having to rearrange ALL OVER AGAIN!  That's ok, I don't mind.  It took us FOUR years to finish painting downstairs, and I don't want to wait another FOUR years to paint the upstairs!   Oy!

Now you know why I need routines again.   I need everything in order again!  Pbbbbt....

;-)

A Winter Wonderland!

This article was written February 2, 2007 (when I lived in Arkansas):

 Well, it started snowing Wednesday, stopped overnight. There’s still snow on the ground (we got about 3 inches). We are supposed to get at least one, if not two, arctic air fronts coming through over the weekend, keeping it cold up here. Because of the snow, school was let out early Wednesday, and still out today. Depending on the arctic air that is supposed to come through, it looks like the elder 2 boys will be back in school on Monday. The boys had so much fun playing in the snow yesterday and today.

 The snow is so pretty. That got me to thinking about modesty. The snow covered everything on the ground. I like to think that symbolizes modesty. 1 Tim. 2:9-10 “In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.” So, modesty can still be pretty (or in man’s case – handsome), compared to what the world thinks!

I Have An Excuse...

...for not having blogged lately.  ;-)    My boys' school year ended, my two eldest boys had band camp, then they went to church camp for a week.   It was during that week that I had an umbilical hernia repair surgery.    It was supposed to be an outpatient surgery, but it ended up being an overnight stay because my oxygen levels were not where they were supposed to be.  I am still recuperating from the surgery, but definitely a lot more mobile than the first day, even though I still have a bit of pain leftover.   Slowly getting back into the routine without hurting myself.  I want the "mesh", which was used to cover the hole that caused the hernia, to remain untorn, so I have to be careful until I'm fully recovered.   That means I can do anything I want to as long as it doesn't hurt and damages the surgery site.   So I can go walking,  do dishes,  fold clothes,  drive,  things like that as long as I don't do any heavy lifting or strain too much for a few weeks.   I go back for a follow up this coming Monday.   I hope I get a good report from the surgeon!

My craft/sewing area is a big mess AGAIN... but this time it's MY fault for not staying on top of it.  However, as I said before, the arrangement isn't working for me, and I think my area needs to be just a tad bit bigger if hubby will let me. ;-)   It's why it was hard to stay on top of it.  I need to keep rearranging until I find what works for me.  Oh well...

In the meantime, I have finally gotten back into quilting!!!!   I'm working on my niece's quilt.   I purposely cut the strips wonkily (if that is such a word), because I wanted blocks with uneven strips.   It's going to look so awesome when it's done.   The only thing I'm nervous about is when it's time to do "long arm" work with my sewing machine on the top to the batting and backing, because the only thing I know how to do is straight lines on a quilt!  EEEEEK!  I've never stitched flower patterns, whirligigs,  etc... before!  I don't have a long arm machine, can't afford one, and can't afford for another quilter to do long arm work on it.   My option is to get a portable Flynn "long arm" kit, but even that I still can't afford.  So my best bet is to just get two tubes,  roll the quilt up and clamp it down so I can do "long arm" work on my sewing machine.  I am sure there are many of you quilters who have had to resort to things like that, and I'd appreciate any tips on that until I can afford my own long arm machine sooooooooooooomedaaaaaaaaay.   I might faint from shock if I ever get one!  LOL!

It feels so good to get back into quilting!!!  :-D

They’re Here!

As promised, here are the wedding cake pictures of Daddy and Beth's wedding:

Cake I Made And Decorated!

Cake Topper

Daddy And Beth Cutting Cake

Traditional Feeding To Each Other

Groom's Cake

I have never made and decorated a wedding cake before (though I've decorated birthday/shower cakes), so it was a new experience for me.  Also, it has been a while since I've decorated a cake, so it took me a while to decorate, and I'd have liked for the cakes to look better than that!   However,  they were delicious!!  ;-)

The pictures were taken by a beautiful young lady named Madeline Walker, so these pictures are her property.  Please do not use these pictures without permission, because that is considered stealing. Check out her photography website: http://www.justphotographybymadeline.com/!

I’ve Been Reading...

..."What To Say When You Talk To Your Self", by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D., who is a behavioral researcher, author, and lecturer in the field of motivational behavior.    I'm not finished reading it, but I'd say I'm almost 3/4 done with reading it.  I got this book to learn to reprogram my brain for the better.  I will have a review of this book when I'm done.   However,  I leave you with a quote from chapter 1, page 16 : "What if we could find what's stopping us and turn it around?"

P.S.  That quote got me thinking!  ;-)

P.P.S.  Will be reading another motivational book when I'm done with the other book.  Right now, off the bat, I can't remember the name of it and I don't have access to the book at the moment.  Look forward to the next book!  :-D

Welll...

To begin with, a lot of things has happened since my mother's death over a year ago. Fast forward (feels like that though!) almost a year later, this winter, my Daddy started dating again. He (as well as my siblings and I) didn't think he would fall in love again for a while, or didn't think anything like that would happen! :-o

The lady he was (grammatically, I should put "is", but you'll see why I didn't in two paragraphs down) dating is a very sweet lady named Beth. My Daddy and I have known her for about 20 years. Not long after my mother's death, my Daddy joked to her,"So you wanna marry me and move with me to Hemphill?" She said,"No, I gotta go take care of my Daddy and Mother." I piped in,"Well, as a matter of fact, I wouldn't mind if you dated and married him! I trust you!", with a wink. LOL!!! (On a serious note... I DO trust her, and love her a lot!!!!!) ;-)

 I did tell him that I had four (added a 5th one later) criteria when it comes to him dating again. ;-) I told him she has to be: 1) A christian, 2) Be able to cook (doesn't matter if she's gourmet or not), 3) Has to have crafting/sewing abilities, 4) Has to know some sign language (because I'm deaf), is willing to learn sign language, or both. She has ALL FOUR!!!! The 5th one I added was,"Beth, if you want to be a part of the family, you gotta learn to play 42!" Laughter all around! (For you Southerners, mainly Texas, you know what 42 is!) ;-)

However, this winter, he got to wondering if she was joking when he was just joking, and had to find out! The rest is history. Needless to say.... February 14th, he proposed to her! They decided to get married in April! Talk about a Whirlwind Romance! :-o ;-)

I do admit that it will take getting used to having a new mother, especially for one who's only 10 years older than I am! I really never thought about having a new mother to begin with, even before my mother was diagnosed with ALS. But because I've known Beth for so many years, I'll get used to it quickly, in due time. Besides my Daddy has been lonely since Mama died, and Beth deserves a second chance at marriage. Knowing my Daddy having been faithful to Mama for almost 47 years, I know he will love and remain faithful to her as well. :-D

Without further ado, here is a picture of both of them:

Daddy and Beth

The Grandchildren Quilt

This is the quilt that I started making almost two years ago for my parents, while my mother was still alive.  She never got to see the completed quilt but was able to at least see the top before it was sandwiched with the batting and backing, and binding put on.  This was a special quilt because it consisted of hand prints of all 14 grandchildren, starting with the oldest at the top left corner, and ending with the youngest at the bottom right corner.  Out of the 14 grandchildren, there are only two girls. Can you find those two girls' handprints? ;-)

I would have never started this if my mother hadn't instilled her love of quilting to me, so I was fairly new at quilting, even though I had been sewing for as long as I can remember.   Not trying to brag, but it dawned on me one day that I actually designed this quilt, and I've never done a thing like it before!    *shock*   My daddy says my mama was so proud as she was watching me work on the quilt every time we came to visit them.   Sigh... I miss my mama so much!!!! 

BRRRR...

...and I'm loving it!!!!!  Been drinking black coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer!  Mmmm! All we have here in South Texas are two seasons: Summer and Winter - HA!  And, I'm naturally hot, which is why I'm excited it's finally cold enough!  Weeeelllll... maybe there's a tad bit of spring and fall too.  LOL!!

Things have been crazy here, which is why, once again I have procrastinated posting here, especially with pictures.  I keep wondering if I will ever finish anything!  So, please continue to be patient and I will have pictures up of a lot of things!   8^D

On top of this, this Southern gal is also a sports fan (on some sports, not all), so we've been following the Texas Rangers in the World Series, and it's been a nailbiter!  We are now down to game 7, and I'm hoping they get to win their very first World Series!

Quilts And Numerous Projects...

...Oy Vey! But hey, that's what I get for signing up to do a lot of things that I love to do!  Recently I signed up for a sew-a-long that involves a Christmas Banner with stitchery from http://www.sewhappy.me/,  downloaded patterns from Mystery Mondays from http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/ and offered to make my niece a double sized quilt since she got new bedroom furniture.  Haven't even started on any of them yet, but hope to this week.  My late mother gave me a few boxes of my boys' quilts that she couldn't finish, so I'm trying to finish them.  Not easy when there's a houseful of active boys and hubby!  LOL..   On top of this, I want to make a Christmas tree skirt.   Ay, yi, yi, yi......!  ;-)

I hope to post pictures soon of my WIP's, and a project I had been working on for some time, and was so angry that I couldn't finish it in time before my mother passed away, but is now finished.   I just wanted to let y'all know what's been going on!   Hope y'all have had a great day!!

(Update: I never got to do the sign ups or finish any of the quilts I started.  Still working on them!)