More blogging … good therapy!

Tags

Bliss, En Francais, INKspirations 4U! Challenges

Hello bloggies!

I have decided I need to do more blogging! It is good therapy for me as the days pass … and my dad still hangs in by a thread. Each morning I take my mum to the hospital … and sometimes … depending on who we have to see … I don’t get home until 3ish. But … I feel like as long as I can sit and chat with my friends here for just a little while … I can continue to smile a little! I also like to listen to sermons online … because this is a comfort and encouragement also. I know that might sound kinda “pious” to some … but truly … I do find it brings peace and strength at times when I start to wilt a little. Dad has been moved to a 4 bed ward today. Mum was not a happy camper … but truly … it is just a case of over crowding in a hospital that needs MORE BEDS & MORE NURSES!!! The NUM has assured us that they will find a private room again as soon as they can. They know it is not appropriate for Dad (or mum … for that matter) to be in a busy ward … during his last days. Anyway … I found another card to share with you all today …

This was another card from the last session of INK4U! I am a little sad that I have missed much of the fun over at the summer session that is running now … and must try and pop by to download all the wonderful tutorials before they close this session. (Still time to register if you would like to have access to all the projects & challenges!) This was a Colour Challenge … a little outside my comfort zone … but I was pleased with the result! I do love this Sale-a-bration set “Bliss”!  A little silver embossing always gives an elegant touch to a card, too!

Well … I am off to sit in my snuggly bed … (the weather has been atrocious here over the last two days) … and I am going to try and finish the power point for Gav’s camp talk. Then … if I have a little time … I might even treat myself to some blog hopping. I am having withdrawals from not visiting with my friends! I hope to see YOU soon!

I found a card!

Tags

I {heart} hearts, INKspirations 4U! Challenges, Punch Potpourri, Sweethearts, Whimsical Words

Hello my bloggies!

It has been a while since I posted a card … but … my mum has just phoned to say she is a little “slow” this morning … and could we maybe go an hour later to the hospital today. As I was all ready to get going … I just decided to sit … reply to all your lovely comments … and take the time to add a card. Yes … I did find a card to share!

This was a sketch challenge from the last session of INK4U! that I had hiding in my “vault”! (I still have a couple more to share!) This was an interesting colour combo … that I saw on someone’s blog (can’t for the life of me remember where!!! ) I wouldn’t have thought to put Cherry Cobbler with Real Red (+ Vanilla & Crumb Cake) … but I was pleasantly surprised with the result! I do have a heap of cards to show you from our Claytons Convention … I just need to get the card recipes done for those. So … even though I have been a little MIA lately … don’t worry … I have plenty to show you and will be back regularly asap!

Well … I had better keep moving! I hope you all have had a lovely weekend. I will pop back as soon as I can! Hugs xxaxx

28th Anniversary today!

Sorry … I have just not had a chance to get by … but thought I should add a quick update. I have three gorgeous handmade “thinking of you” cards to show you … but … sadly … I left my camera in Leonie’s car last week … and can’t photograph them for you to see. They will have to wait. Dad is very low. We had to make the decision on Thursday to go the “palliative path” as he was not responding to treatment. We are all very sad … but confident that God is with him … and soon there will be no more Parkinsons … no more infection … no more depression … no more pain … no more loneliness and he will be safe in God’s hands. I am okay … it is hard to watch him struggling for breath … but hopefully it won’t be too long now. It is Gavin & my 28th anniversary today. We spent the morning at the hospital … I went and watched Gav play soccer this arvo … and had more cuddles of Bree! Not really in celebrating mood … but we are going out to our favourite Thai restaurant for dinner. I will see you as soon as I am able! Thanks again for all your love and prayers. Hugs xxaxx 

Overwhelmed … in a nice way!

Tags

Blog Friends, Family Stuff

Hello my wonderful bloggies!

I managed to find a little time today to reply to all the sweet comments that my loyal bloggies have left for me over recent days.  I know you probably think that this was a little trivial of me to do this … but I wanted to let you know what a blessing you have all been to me … and this seemed to be the most practical way to say thank you!  So … whilst I might not get back for a few more days … I just wanted you all to know that I have been overwhelmed by your love, care, concern & prayers. I have felt every hug that has been left for me! THANK YOU!

We seem to be falling into a pattern for visiting Dad now. I take mum into the hospital each morning … and my sister takes her back each afternoon or evening. We don’t feel the need to be there for every hour now … as he seems to be more asleep and “away” somewhere most of the time. But … today he was responding to us talking to him. It was a little bizarre after so many days of non communications. It made me smile … because it was a little like talking to Sandy when he is sleep-talking. I love having conversations with him when he is asleep cos he says the funniest things. And … he responds to questions … but without making any sense whatsoever. That was how it was with Dad. He was asking for an ice-cream today … over and over and over!  But … after a drug cocktail … he seemed to settle and be more peaceful. So … no more news … no real change … we are still taking one day at a time.

I am going to have a nanna nap now … I think I am entitled to it … in more than one way. And … then I hope to spend some time working on a power point presentation for Gav for a church camp he is speaking at in June. He is so behind with all he has to do … it will help me to know that I am helping him. He has been my rock … it is nice to return the favour … and nice to feel like I am achieving something. So … no card for you today … but perhaps in the next couple of days?????

Thanks again for all you are doing for me!

My Make & Take for pretend Convention

Tags

Claytons Convention - May11, Faux Mother of Pearl, Sweet Summer, Thanks for Caring

Hello blog friends!

MEDICAL UPDATE: There is not much change with Dad’s situation at the moment. He was not responding to the 2 antibiotics that he has been on since Friday … and the doc is now trying another one. He has basically said that if we don’t see an improvement within 48 hours … he is unlikely to improve at all. So … we wait … for another 48 hours and pray that one way or the other we will know what to do! We are being realistic … but not giving up hope just yet. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! xxxxxxxxxxx

I have just popped by quickly … because I had this post sitting in my draft box from last week … and thought I could at least share a CARD with you during my 5 minutes at the computer. I am really tired … after spending the last 4 days pretty much full time at the hospital … so my plan is for an early night … but because I already had this ready … I thought I would hit the “publish” button for you all!  

This card is the Make & Take that I designed for our Clayton’s Convention (CC) weekend. I wanted to show the girls the new Faux Mother of Pearl technique that I showed you all recently … Bliss – Faux Mother of Pearl. 

The girls were very excited to try something new … and were really impressed how pretty the effect is … and how super EASY it is! They all decided to add the “Frost White Shimmer Paint” to their “wish lists” immediately! I think I have managed to capture the lovely shimmery mother of pearl look in the two “close up” photos. I hope you can see how gorgeous it is. And … super easy! Technique Details are on my card recipe below! I prefer to do this on glossy cardstock … but apparently it works quite well on Whisper White, too!

Well … I promised myself that I would make this a quick stop. My kids need some TLC and I am home tonight to do that … so I don’t want to get distracted here! Take care everyone!  Hugs xxaxx

Quick Update … Sunday morning!

Tags

Family News

Quick update (Sunday morning) … Dad deteriorated very suddenly on Friday afternoon … and the resuss team discovered he has a “massive” infection in his right lung (pneumonia). The doc said all they could do was hit him with super antibiotics … but she didn’t think he had the strength to fight the infection and didn’t expect he would pull through. So … his hip op has not happened … he is not strong enough to survive it at the moment. He is still hanging in there … but is extemely unwell. We have spent many hours at the hospital … and I will be going again soon. He has had no warfarin or any other of his Parkinsons medications since Thursday as they cannot get him to swallow. Clotting is now another concern for us. The lack of info is frustrating … because of the weekend. We cannot get to see a doc to ask questions. I guess that is God telling us that He has it all in his hands … and take comfort and in that thought. Thank you all soooooo much for your support, encouragement, prayers and love! I can feel all the hugs that have been sent my way! Thanks heaps. I have been reading through all your wonderful comments … you have no idea what a comfort they are to me! I will publish them all now … and … then … reply as soon as I am able! Hugs xxaxx

Back at Square 1???

Tags

Family News

Hi there!
I just wanted to let you all know … I may be a little MIA over the next few days again! Dad had a fall at the nursing home this morning and has broken his hip! Sigh! I just feel sooooo sad for him in his confusion and pain! We have not yet heard exactly what treatment he will have but we are expecting that this will mean more surgery for him. Sadly that will mean that we are back at square 1! He will need a few days to come off his warfarin … surgery … recovery & rehab … AND … once again we will have to settle him into the nursing home. He had been there 3 weeks and was still struggling with confusion and loneliness. So … I will pop back asap … but … am not sure what will be happening over the next few days. Take care! Hugs xxaxx

CAS-ual Fridays Challenges

Tags

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge, Love Defined, Warm Words

Hi there bloggies!

I had another post ready for today … but I quickly had to get this card up … before the deadline for the challenge closes. I am trying to rack my brain as to which of my blog friends has directed me to this BRAND NEW challenge blog … but I just can’t remember! CAS-ual Fridays … is a great name for a Clean & Simple (CAS) challenge blog! I do LOVE CAS cards … even thought I find it hard to keep mine CAS most of the time. I am keen to practice a little more  so … how fab to have a challenge to help out! This week’s challenge is to use BUTTONS & TWINE!  I immediately thought of my Buttons #5 die for my Big Shot. Click on challenge pic to visit the new blog!

Now … most of you will have realised that I don’t use a lot of buttons on my cards. I have only used this die ONCE (shame on me ) before! But … in super quick time … I had run the DSP through the Big Shot … and also some of the stiff backing card from the SU! DSP and glued the two together to have nice stiff buttons. I then pressed each of them onto my Versamark Pad and embossed them all with clear embossing powder. The tricky part was adding the twine … I seemed to be all thumbs yesterday!  Sorry … the photos are a little bright and contrasty … but I was trying to photograph these at night (never a good idea!) I think you can see the glossy finish on the buttons … and the sparkly bling on the chocolate frame????

Stace is coming over today with little Bree and we were going to go and visit Bree’s great grandad at the nursing home. BUT … mum has just rung to say that Dad has had a fall and hurt his hip … and is being sent to the hospital for an x-ray. (Just a precaution.) So … we will just wait until we know he is back at the home … before we pop down. Goodie! That means more time to play with Bree! Take care … have a nice day … and you never know … I might be back with that other post later!!!???