A year already??

 

Really hard to believe that this little bundle of energy will be a year old in 3 days!

She doesn't miss much, always on the go, and by the time she goes home on Sunday, I am seriously tired!! I can't seem to get in my scraproom, not sure how I'm going to work in the yard, the house is a mess and laundry needs to be done, but we sure have fun!!

She is watching a little Saturday morning cartoons here, while she has some cereal.  As you can see, the tv had her attention. (for all of about 6 seconds)

 

 

 

She sure does love her Papaw!  David had come home from golf, when he came in the garage door she looked up, got a grin on her face, went toddling over to him. He picked her up to hug her and it was just so stinking adorable, I had to get my camera! 

 

First she hugs him.

Then she looks up at him.

And then she would start this process all over again.  Hug, look up, hug, look up... she must have done that half a dozen times!  And if you were wondering, her Papaw sure does love her back!!

 

I've signed up for another go around in Karen Russell's photography workshop.  This time I am auditing it, and already I'm so enjoying it.  She has come out with a new Make The Shot issue, this one about focus, which I'm needing.  I'm telling you guys, I am going to get good at this photography thing before much longer!  I am I am!!!!

 

Wishing you all a sun filled week and many blessings!!

not an ordinary week...

 

my momma, she is young in this photo below, but I do like it.  I am thinking early 20's here, and could have been a model!  except she is short. 

 

 

it all started on Fri, Feb 28th.  my daddy called about noon, and handed her the phone.  they were admitting her to the local hospital with what they thought was diverticulitis. I went down, and stayed for a bit. after a few hours, in true mother fashion, she was telling me I needed to get on the road and get home before dark.... "so I didn't hit a deer".  talked to her the next morning, she was getting released.  talked with my brother, all was good.  then they were drawing her blood again because the first results looked funny and the dr thought they got mixed up, so she wanted to recheck.  got the second results, they did a CT Scan and then the dr called me.  said they were transferring her out because the radiologist saw what appeared to be a mass in her stomach area. while I was talking with the dr, my daddy called. while I was talking to him, my brother called. while I was talking to my brother, my aunt called.  everyone needed answers, myself included, and there were none yet.  so I grabbed some clothes and headed to Texas.  I did forget important pieces of clothing, including but not limited to a coat and boots.  it was 80 degrees when I left and by morning, it was 30, for the high!

 

after getting to the hospital I go in search of her room, only to be more than a little alarmed to discover they have admitted her to ICU.  I even asked the nurse, is this really ICU?  yes he said.  is it because all the other beds in the hospital are full????  no he said, as he gave me a reassuring look.  I was more than a little freaked by this discovery, thinking to myself something is going on that no one is telling me.  within the next couple of hours, a couple of drs came in, still no answers, including the fact that no one had told me as of yet why she was in ICU.  I did find out before leaving for the night that the reason she was in ICU was due to blood loss, and they had started giving her blood.

 

I don't know, maybe I was a little in shock over it all, it had happened rather fast, and honestly, I hadn't even had time to process what was going on.  my phone kept ringing, everyone was scared, myself included.  when they say there is a mass, it's not good.  mom kept telling the drs it was because she'd been taking so many ibuprofen. the plan was to do a scope in the morning, go take a look at it, and get a biopsy.  permits were signed.  Jessica and I arrived at 8:30 on the dot, that is what time they would let us in.  they were all set up in her room for the scope.  had the people there, the machine there, just waiting on the dr.  suddenly, a surgeon calls up and says STOP. do not do it. now we are really freaked out. within a short period of time the surgeon come up, says she believes it is a tear in a artery an that what they are seeing is not a mass, but a pool of blood instead, which would explain the blood loss.  that sounds better, right, a tear in the artery can be repaired.  so, instead they will do an angiogram to see if they can repair it.  and then we saw more drs.  they all agreed with Dr. Rizzo, which was reassuring.  she believed that possibly there had been a aneurysm in one of her arteries around the stomach area.  and then we waited, for the radiologist to come in.  it wasn't an emergency, it was Sunday, and there was snow and sleet out.  then all hell broke loose.

 

Jessica and I were in the waiting room, the radiologist comes in and says he was not able to repair the artery, and we know this will mean surgery, probably tomorrow.  Jess and I head back to mom's room in ICU, and discover a new dr in there, trying to find out why she is hurting so bad.  she is talking to us, they send her down for a cat scan, and when she comes back, 10 minutes later, she is not conscious.  nurses are scrambling, drs are rushing in.  it was instant! Jess and I stepped into the hall as they wheeled her in from the cat scan, everyone was running and yelling.  while they didn't come say anything to us at first, we heard a lot. too much.  you know the ICU rooms are not very private, and standing in the hall you can see in and hear all.  and they are yelling for blood, and more blood.  and more blood.

 

to be honest, I don't remember much now.  I think I blocked a lot of it out.  I did what I needed to do, talked to drs, signed surgical permits, stood by and waited, and the big one, I called my daddy and my brother to tell them they needed to get there, and get there now.  Thank God for Jessica, because I really had a couple of meltdowns, out in the hall.  I remember crying, the drs rubbing my shoulder and saying we are going to do what we can for her.  not everything is going to be ok, or we've got this, we'll fix it, just quietly, we will do everything we can for her. 

 

I had talked to so many drs my head was spinning!  the general surgeon, (who I swear saved her life!), vascular surgeon, lung specialist, kidney specialist, gastro dr, anesthesiologist.  I know there were 4 surgeons along with the vascular surgeons team in there, and that is a lot of people!  and still, we don't really know what happened, what went wrong, or what is going on.

 

by now mom is in surgery, and Jess and I are literally pacing the floor.  not only are we worried about mom, but daddy and Jeff haven't arrived yet, and there is ice on the roads. I'm not sure which was worse, being worried about my momma, wondering if my daddy and brother were safe on the ice, or watching my daddy worry about mom. they told us the surgery would take at least 2 hours from the time they got started.  I don't remember what time they took her back, but I do know it was 7:43 when Dr. Rizzo was finally able to come talk to us.

 

as it turns out, she did have a aneurysm burst, in her artery that supplies the blood to the spleen. when they did the angiogram, there was a clot, and I think they told us the wire pushed the small clot free, which then opened up the blood to flow/gush from the tear caused by the aneurysm.  she is so very lucky and blessed that is where the aneurysm was at.  because the artery went to her spleen, they were able to remove it, along with her spleen.  did you know the spleen is what helps your immune system??? I didn't.  I know people live without them, but didn't know what their function was.

 

mom told me today that not only will she need a flu shot each year, which Dr. Rizzo had already told us, but that I will too. WHAT?  this girl doesn't get shots, until now. 

 

while my story has a happy ending, I know so many do not.  so, if you still have your parents or parent with you, take a few minutes, spend some time together, and make a memory.  you will be glad you did!

 

 

and to end on a happy note, here are a couple of layouts, (with really bad sucky lighting during photography cause someone was in a huge hurry) from our time in KY last year.  yes, that is me in the top photo, in the top layout, hugging a tree like we are close!

 

and Sondra! she is so much fun!  love-love-love her!

I've got layout supply info somewhere, but didn't care to locate it this morning when I loaded the photos.  if you really want it, send me a email! 

 

blessings everyone!!

looking for xanax!

I know, strange title... but at 1am I was trying to think of anyone in driving distance that might have some xanax!  Then I remembered, last summer I had a house guest for a few days, someone I hadn't seen in 20 years, she had some, and even offered to leave me some.  I'm not real sure why she offered, I wasn't that stressed out!  This morning at 1am, I was kicking myself for disposing of what she felt the need to leave behind!  Not that any of that matters right now, my brain is just sleep deprived and that's how my brain works, or doesn't when it needs sleep.

Guess I should explain the need for xanax, it wasn't for me, although now that I think about it, I could have gone to the ER and faked a panic attack??? It was for Zoey, yes, sweet calm Zoey, who the vet put on xanax several months ago.  She seems to have panic attacks when a storm is approaching, or here, or just when the wind is blowing so hard that one would expect a storm to develop!  Yes, there was sarcasm there. I even remember thinking when Jess was telling me about the vet giving Zoey xanax, how silly is that!  The dog gets a little nervous when it storms, lots of dogs do, people too, but they aren't on xanax. 

 Oh my goodness, there is no way to describe the terror poor Zoey must have been feeling.  You know the chairs they have in nail salons, the ones you sit in when you get a pedicure.  The ones that massage you and vibrate, you know what I'm talking about, that is what my bed felt like last night from Zoey shaking!  I kid you not!  At first I didn't know what was going on, I was almost asleep, then when she climbed up my side, it started to make sense.  It was awful, all I could do was sit and hold her, for almost 3 hours!  We never had a thunderstorm, it was just crazy howling wind, and I think there was thunder off in the distance.  Honestly, by that time of morning, who knows what we were hearing.

It was well after 2am before I got to sleep.  I'm still not sure if it was because Zoey stopped shaking, or that I just passed out.  The alarm was buzzing bright and early, and on my way to the kitchen for coffee, I wondered what my boss would think if I called him and said my grandpuppy had me up half the night with a panic attack and I needed to sleep a few more hours.  Thunderstorm season is approaching, I think I need to keep some of Zoey's xanax in the house!

Here's a layout from when we all got together in KENTUCKY (for you Court) last year.  The great thing about us girls getting together, you get pictures of yourself that you normally wouldn't get.  I mean, when you are in a group of women, and they all have a camera, there are going to be some great shots.  Not just the standard pictures, but some that actually show of your personality, which I'll be glad to have one day!

This was outside of this really awesome restaurant, I can't remember the name so could some one help me out here?  We took so many pictures there!  It was great! This is me, loving on the Elvis bear!  I'm really looking forward to returning in October, well not the restaurant, it's no longer there. :(

Have yourself a great afternoon!  I'm going to see about getting some caffeine!

Go shopping!

Can you guys believe that it's almost February?  That means spring is getting closer!!  It also means it is tax form time.  All I can say is thank goodness for computers!

I've really gotten behind/slow/bad/ at blogging the last few months year, which is a bit odd for me. I've been creating, I had layouts stacked up to be photographed, I always have plenty to say, so I'm not sure what the deal is.  I have decided though, that if I had a laptop I would blog more, if I had a laptop I'd spend more time playing with photos, that if I had a laptop I could spend more time in the living room with DA, that if I had a laptop I would stop whining for one!  Can you tell I'm on a quest to get a laptop? 

It's a game we play, DA and I, except I didn't know it was a game until he let it slip, and he doesn't see it as a game, but more of, well I don't know what he calls it.  Anyway, I find something I really really want, and he figures if he gives in right away and I get it, then a week later I'll just be wanting something else. So, basically the longer he can put me off, the more money he can keep, or something like that, I really don't understand his reasoning and that's not the point.  The point is, obviously for his twisted pleasure, I have to whine for a certain length of time about wanting something before it happens.  I'm thinking I'm about there!

Don't think I have to have his permission before I buy anything, because that's not quite true, just big purchases of things that he would without a doubt notice...and a laptop suddenly entering the house would not go unnoticed by the mr.

My mojo seemed to be on Christmas break, and then didn't want to come back, but after a weekend spent at Kathi's Krafty Korner life is good and the mojo is back! And the really big news, a few of us went to a expo, and I spent $20.00!  But then I came home and started making a big huge long list of  everything I am wanting from CHA.  There is some AHHH-MaZing stuff coming!

Here's another layout for my imaginary peeps retreat album.  I just seem really drawn to all the photos from our get togethers right now, it seems to keep me from missing my peeps so much. :)  I really had fun with this layout and it came together quite quickly!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by! 

Hello 2013

2013- I can't believe it's here already, but I'm ready!  I'm just hoping the first few weeks of it will be a little quiet, because the last month of 2012 was some kind of busy/crazy/shocking/what just happened! 

2013 is going to be a good year!  I just know it.  We've got a lot of unknowns going on right now, mainly

with David's job, that was part of the what just happened last month.  His place of employment sold a few weeks ago and no one is sure right now what is going to happen. 

We got our Miss Jessica moved into her very own place last month.  A super cute loft apartment, that until just a few years ago was a elementary school, and has now been converted into apartments!  How perfect is that for her! 

And in a little over 3 months we will be welcoming a sweet baby into the world.  So the next couple of months will be spent shopping for car seats, strollers, adorable little baby clothes.

See, I told you 2013 was going to be a good year!

Here's a fun layout I created a few weeks ago, from our first imaginary friends retreat in Texas.  I loved Melissa's fuzzy socks, and while we were at Wal-Greens the next day, I bought myself some.  Now, I

have several pair and always think of our first retreat when I go to put a pair on!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and here's wishing you a Happy Happy Happy New Year!

What a Difference

2 days can make!! And I do mean H-U-G-E difference!! But, normal for Texoma!

Tuesday...we had sunny skies, temps in the upper 60's, and I jokingly told David.. "think it's time to open up the pool!" To which he said I don't think so... hey, I said jokingly. Today... TODAY.. there are icicles hanging off the diving board! Me thinks a fire would be a great idea for tonight!

It does need to warm up though...not only am I so very over the cold...but I need some pictures.. of the kids and all of us together, some recent, not having a bad hair year, with green grass and trees in the background pictures! I'm wanting to put them on the mantel and on my sofa table. They are both looking a little bare right now!

Here are my pics from my 1 weekend 2 shots that I'm doing. Yes, I am still doing it... no I've not posted my pics for a few weeks. I could go into major explaining..but it'd really just sound like a broken record... so lets just say I had to do some prioritizing... while I took my pics still, I just didn't post them. I could go back and pull them up and post them now...but I'm trying to be so about living in the moment!

bahahahahaha......Talk about B.S.! I really just don't want to mess with it! Besides, they will be in the book. Yes, the book! I'm pretty sure this is week #30. Has it really been that many already? WOW!



My most favorite coffee cup! I got this about... oh my, back when Jessica was in Jr. High. She's a Sr in college now! How crazy is that! I think that came from my last trip to New Orleans. I love visiting there and hope to go back someday.
Shhhhhhh, don't tell Matt it's sitting on the laptop.



Batch like #42 of the choc chip cookies that David & Matt would devour within a couple of hours. There was no having a couple the next day!


I do plan to make a book with my weekend shots in it. I really think that will tell so much about me for the last year. It's on my list to do.. after the DD is done...which is close people! Anyway, I got to thinking earlier that it just might be smart to go back and send the pics I have already to Walgreens. Trying to print a year at once will be crazy stupid! I'll spend days trying to make sure I've got them all.

I've still got Jessica's album to finish.... yes bug, I haven't forgotten! And my mothers. Ya know, all kidding aside...just thinking about the albums I want to do exhausts me! I'd best get busy! Why oh why can't I be one of those people that will only scrap a few pics from each event? Why must it be so many that I scrap? I'm talking hundreds. Like if we go on vacation or to the races, or even Christmas.. I'll take 100's & 100's of pics, and scrap at least 100 of them. Well, I'll want to scrap them...most of them are sitting waiting! There's no point in crying over it... that certainly will not help any at all. I'll get done what I get done I suppose... and I'm thinking this is my year! There will be much accomplished this year!! This is the year of Lisa Accomplishments!

Alrighty, I've rambled enough I do believe... there's work to be done!

Thanks for stopping by. Send some sunshine my way if you've got it!

Almost finished.

Ahhh, last night I started getting out my Christmas Decorations. While it might be a tad bit earlier than I normally put them out, I need to get the totes emptied so we can put them up in the attic and out of the way. No need to take them up, only to bring them back down in a few days.

After I started unpacking I looked around and thought, I've never taken any photos of the living room and put them on the blog. I mean after all, Barb needs to know what the living room looks like in case she wants to color coordinate some clothes!

I'm really not yet finished with it, but I wanted to go ahead and post pics, I'm sure I'll post some of all Christmas decorations after I get them up.

And please, see the 3 piece picture on the wall. You can really tell me if you think it's a bit too much. I understand, really!! I think it's a bit too much with all of the blue, but David loves it... and when you are married you have to give a little. He's really so very good to me, so agreeing to this set was really a no brainer for me.

We are going to lower the pictures. I think that would help a bit if they are lower. Think I'll look for different pillows, not sure yet, but think that might help. I have a bit of mixed feelings on the pictures. While I do like them and really like the abstract, I just thought the colors didn't work with what I had going. But... they do keep the room from being so dark.... they do bring a bit of vivid color into the room, and we all know how I love color! I did add some blue flowers to the vase below the pictures, and am thinking perhaps if I put another vase with flowers and straw stuff over in the corner behind the table and lamp that will help take some of the color to the other side of the room. I've had mostly reds, golds, and browns going in there so far. I wasn't overly crazy about the gold at first, but it was what was used on all the fixtures. Unless you are very wealthy, you work with what you have, and if you don't like it, then slowly replace it. Although now, I'm kinda liking it. The furniture isn't leather. It's that microfiber stuff, but it's so comfy!

Here I'm standing over by the back door.

This wall paper was already there. It's another thing that I'm not so crazy about.. but David likes the 3D look of it. It does work with my colors and makes me think of the North Pole. With the holidays approaching it works perfect. However, it might just find itself replaced in a few years. We'll see. In these next two photos I'm standing in front of the fireplace.

Behind the couch is a tiled entry way I guess you can call it. You can see the gold light hanging down. In the picture it looks as if it might be hanging over the couch, but it's not. In front of the window there, I've put a sofa table.


Here I'm behind the couch. This is another area that needs a little more added to it. I'll have framed photos up on the mantel and top of the tv. David is wanting to get a new tv, a flatscreen I think along with a stand, so that will change. It's not going to be anytime soon, so until then I will have photos on top of the tv as well. I absolutely love the art work over the fireplace. I need to take a close up picture of it and post it so you can see it better. Of course the plant by the fireplace will be moved before long.
These next two pictures I'm standing over by the front door, next to the doorway going into David's music room. You can see the hallway, if you take a left you go straight into the guest bedroom.... which is now Matt's...but he's willing to give it up for Barb! Take a right down the hall and you will find the guest bathroom... keep going and you end up in my scraproom!

Behind David's recliner is a built in bookcase that I forgot to get pics of. I'll show you that after I get my Christmas decorations up.

Honestly, I'd love for you guys to tell me what you really think. I'm struggling a little with trying to get the picture to blend in. As I said, I think maybe different pillows will help, or possibly a vase behind that one end table. The pillows are what came with the furniture and I'm not attached to them. Part of the reason I've made this post is for your input. The pictures are there to stay, for several years anyway, David truly loves them, so I just need to find a way to make it work. If you think it's fine now, then you can say that. All I ask is that you don't tell me it looks fabulous if you are sitting in front of your computer saying... OMG, how atrocious! No smoke blowing up my rear!

I think it's really coming together. I've had fun looking for pieces to put in the house... just wish I had all the money to do it RIGHT NOW! I am not known for my patience. I do know that I've got to get as much of it done these next few months as I can....for when spring hits... all my monies will be being spent on the outside!! But then again, adding pieces here and there over the years is what normally happens in most homes.

I'm really looking forward to reading your comments... so please, don't be shy!

Slowly But Surely

That's my new saying for the week. Slowly but surely it's all coming together. Furniture has been delivered, appliances as well. Power is on, cable is hooked up, now all that is left is the gas company. They were to have been here Monday, ummm, never showed... and now will come today sometime between 7am and dark. They weren't here at 7am! Don't ya just love that window they give themselves! I have almost 3 rooms painted, with my scraproom left. I want to paint it before I unpack everything. But let me tell you, I am so itching to get it set up!

We still need a dining room table along with a coffee table and end tables for the living room. Think we will be done after that, for a few months anyway. We may possibly go in search of those tomorrow, it just depends on what flight David's in at the tournament. Since it's Labor Day Weekend we might just find some great sales!

Here's a few pics of Matt & Josh with Zoey in the pool. I so can not wait to get some flowers added to the beds so there is bursts of color around the yard! All greenery is just not my thing.





Needless to say, after they let Zoey out, Kiara wouldn't go near them! They'd call her and she'd just turn her back to them... like the spoiled little princess she thinks she is!

I must get back at it. Would be sad if I'd taken the entire day off and accomplished nothing! Have a great Labor Day Weekend everyone!

Week 10- 1 Weekend, 2 Shots- Part 2

Told ya I'd be back.... you didn't believe me did you! I've got my Sunday shot, well, I've got two Sunday shots! I know, shocker!

David's first jump into the pool... was a little cold at first. You've got to click on the picture to see the look on his face. Priceless!


Caught Matt in the middle of his dive.


Let's just say the guys loved the pool. I was actually inside working while they were playing. Except for the few times I'd go outside and snap pics of them in the pool with my phone so I could text them to Jessica. Just wanted her to see what she was missing. Poor child was at work, but as soon as she got off, she went home, grabbed Josh and Zoe, and headed this way. Then we all enjoyed a little pool time. Think we are going to like it there!

I'll be back later this week with more pics. Have some of Matt & Josh in the pool with Zoe!

Have a great Monday everyone!