Tuesday, September 30, 2008

a few things before I crash for the night...

1. I hadn't outright put it on my blog for various reasons, but I wanted to let everyone know my mom has been diagnosed with lung cancer a little over a week ago. She has a second mass (i already mentioned one in a previous post) in her left lung that is 5 cm. They also have reason to believe it's in her bones, mainly her hips. She is already receiving radiation for the one in her neck at the C2 vertebrae and her hips. She had a lung biopsy done last Friday and will be visiting her oncologist on Tuesday at 2. She's had 4 of her 15 doses of radiation already and she's still going to work. She says she mainly feels tired and sometimes really sore. It's hard to believe she has all this going on in her body and she's still being as upbeat as she is. Your prayers would mean the world to us right now.

2. Brady's Smile Blanket #2 was completed this evening. finally. Already have the material for 2 more boy blankets. We're also making one for our cousin Jordan for his birthday- SHHHH... don't tell him! He can't read yet but he'll tell me if you tell him!

3. Julia Grace has officially started skipping naps. It was every other day she wouldn't take one at first, now it's getting to be every couple of days she might take a nap. at 5 or 6 p.m. and wake up at 9 and stay up until oh, say, midnight. She's conked out in the floor right now as of 10.30 p.m.

4. My mom informed me this evening that I ceased taking naps PERIOD at age 2 1/2. Yay for me. And this was with going to daycare - they had to put me up front where they watched their soaps during naptime so they could keep an eye on me. It seems I wanted to keep someone awake to talk to even though it was naptime. I bet they were really glad when I learned to read and just brought books to read instead of blabbing away to my neighbor on my nap pad.

5. I miss the things I got accomplished during Julia Grace's naptimes.


It's late and I'm going to bed.
Will post pics of new blankets in the next day or so. I'm really excited about some things. I don't want to jinx things so I'll hold off on that for now. This is my favorite part of the year - I get excited about all the holidays - especially this year - I can't wait!

My prego friend - I wish you wellness at your diabetes test. you'll be fine. :) Thanks for your prayers too.

My MOMS friends - I will be back this week. I've missed you guys and look forward to meeting our new members. Hope they don't mistake me for a newbie!

My closest 2 friends. Jayne and Angie - miles away and you're still there the mostest. Thanks for letting me vent and making me laugh. I know I can always count on you two!

Kari - you ran away. I still love you. It will all get better in time. :)

Good night all!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Making Blankets...




Last Monday, September 15 I read an article on 5 minutes for mom ( http://www.5minutesformom.com/4270/blankets-for-bradys-smile/). Long story short - a little boy was born and had many complications in his short, 2 year old life. While in the ICU he received a blanket that seemed to truly comfort him. They were what I know as tie blankets - the blankets you make with 2 pieces of fleece and cut & tie knots to make a fringe around it. My friend Angie and I made one for Julia Grace's bed last year during the winter.

I guess what I remember most is that when Julia Grace was born she had to stay in the NICU for 9 days. When she was at Greenville Memorial they gave her a small blanket and a hat that had been made by a ladies group. While the hospitals lost the blanket en route from Greenville Memorial to Spartanburg Regional, we still have the little hat. I know the little things like this were a sweet thing for someone to have done for all these little ones and Julia Grace spent her first 2 weeks of life with that little crocheted hat on her head. I think it's the little things that make times like that more bearable.

So my immediate thought after reading the challenge put out by 5 minutes for mom was I can do that. I've already made one and it would be a great thing to do. Someone had the thought to do it before my child was born and would be great to give back like that. The program at current only benefits hospitals in the Connecticut and Pennsylvania areas and that's okay. The challenge put out there by 5 minutes for mom was to make as many as possible by October 14 and send them to this family business where they then supply them to the hospitals where their son was treated in his brief life.

This Saturday, Mallory and I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out fabric for 2 baby sized blankets - we got enough to make two "girl" blankets. Mallory picked out the pooh fabric and decided the purple matched the best for the back to her. So we went with Mallory's pick - it was a good one - I liked the green or lighter pink to go with it, but purple went well so purple it was.
She insisted that she did not want to be in pictures but we could take pictures of our handywork. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not much of one to be in the pictures either. I like the other side of the camera! HA! So I'm following with our pics of materials before and after. We completed one blanket. I'm going to make the second one today. Mallory wants to make 2 boy blankets the next time she's here. I think it's awesome that she's so thoughtful and wants to help with it.

This is getting long, but I did want to throw in there to please continue to pray for my mom. She was having a good day yesterday and definitely in good spirits. I'll be going to visit her very soon. Thanks for your prayers!