another scrap class with another girl I love

My goal is to spend more time with the kiddies in my

life that I love so being Tedi-girl's birthday,

I treated her to a canvas mini album at INSPIRE.

This landed up being a long class because us scrap

lover girls, when we get together

we try and save the world as well as finishing a project.

We started at 4 and rolled out of there at almost 10pm.

Many lessons were learned.

Our project was not complete all the way but

the fun and love we shared in those hours...

PRICELESS

For instance, my friend Jody learned:

Your fingers will get stuck to your project if you use

Modge Podge and hold down for too long.

My other friend pictured here, Paula learned

that putting Modge Podge on just the outside of

your project will not hold down items if you don't

put the Podge under it also. Oh we did some laughing

and story telling, yes we did!

Our instructor, Michelle is an artist. She is not

just a scrapper. She is not afraid to attack any project.

She is a teacher by trade but has put that aside

to raise an awesome family and follow her

heart with any type of art she can do and sell or teach.

She is eclectic and comes full of stories lots like I do.

I have loved Michelle from the first time I met her

when she owned her own scrap store in Lockport.

Ash, our owner and inspiration behind INSPIRE was there

to add to our conversations and fun last night.

Ash has so much on her plate right now.

A new house, new business, a wedding in December...

I do not know how she stays afloat except to say that

I do believe she does her best work when her cup is overflowing.

When I see young women such as Ashley who gave up a

stable job such as teaching to follow her heart of

creating art and bringing a fabulous store to our

town of Thibodaux all for the love of following a dream,

it makes me want to shout from the roof tops,

"GET OUT AND SPEND MONEY AT INSPIRE"

One of the things we talked about last night

was no amount of hard work by Ash will help keep

her in business and help keep this wonderful store open

if people do not shop and play there.

As all would be, she is trying to make a business work.

I for one, have made my commitment and promise to

dump lots of money in this store and to use my

very big mouth to let others know they must do

the same. Even if you don't scrap, visit.

There are so many things in that store that can be used

for other things rather than scrapping.

It would be an awesome place to do a birthday party

for a young one or a place for a girls night out.

Call INSPIRE 227-9970, visit.

Ash would be basically open to any project

you may want to tackle.

Help keep our store open.

Now for a few words about this awesome child I am proud

to call my godchild. A 14 year old beauty both inside and out.

There is no pressure when having Tedi-girl around.

She loves every day and everything you do for her.

She still loves spending time with her old Nannie and

always shows just how much she loves time with me.

As she gets older it is harder to schedule time with her.

Teenage years, cheerleading, being very popular, we

all find ourselves having to wait our turn for her time.

However when she is with you, it is all about you.

When the conversations got to be deep or grown-up

and the other girls apologized to her about the topic

she reminded them,

"It's okay, if you knew my Mom you would know I have

heard these things."

This made me laugh because she and her Mom have a very

open relationship and there are no topics that are closed

for discussion. Her mom is an awesome mom and doing

such a fantastic job with this only child of hers.

This night was her birthday present since in just days she

will be the big 1-4!

She was definitely INSPIRED and went with

the ideas Michelle gave us and learned

all the techniques but was not afraid to change it

up to fit her personality.

I am glad I can bring her the gift of art because

it is "in her" and her Mom is not a fan of crafts, per say.

A wonderful, wonderful child.

Thanks Tedi-girl for making the time for me,

I Love you and pray that always, always

as you grow up to be an "old lady"

such as me you will remember all the times we spent together

and look back on those times with love and happiness

for your Nannie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

pumpkin carving and knowing these babies come first

Last night was our annual pumpkin carving night.

I love this night but as I have said times before

the vision in my head is always different from reality.

HOBL missed it this year, still in Alaska

but the rest of the gang made it.

I insisted that this year everyone clean their own pumpkin guts.

I know Mumsie looks like she didn't like this but

she actually loved this part and told us stories

of being a little girl and drying the seeds for eating.

I loooveee this Mumsie. I have come to accept where she

is right now and although I miss having a mother who

can give advice, help like mom's do,

I love her.

She may be child-like but she is funny, entertaining

and so enjoyable. She loves going anywhere and is so compliant.

Never complains and her story telling is something

I love. I hang to every story she tells.

I try on these nights to cook everyone's favorite. So different

to when the babies were kids, then the rule was

"Eat what is cooked or don't eat"

So Baby girl wanted chicken Fricasse' - check

Baby boy wanted liver wrapped in bacon - check

and Kd wanted my famous grilled cheese that she craves -check

baby girl seems to always want to give me this face when

I take out the camera....

BB always insists he is Mumsie's favorite and Mumsie always insists:

"I don't have any favorites, I love them all the same"

Mumsie was so proud of her pumpkin, insisted on taking

it to the Manor and when bb brought her home

wanted to assure he would set up her pumpkin on her

window sill. She is so darn cute!

Night time visual... Jesi and her friend Brittany weren't done

with theirs yet.

BB's is first, no question there 311 lover!

Then Mumsie's

Kd did an awesome job this year. She promised she would

improve from last year and she surely did.

Last one is mines.

Of course, BG's would be a lady gaga pumpkin.

BB always wants to do prom poses when he takes a picture

with his wife.

and when it comes to bg, if I don't get the face of above, I get this one.

Thanks Brittany for joining in on our fun. We loved

having you.

These are the moments that make my life complete.

No matter where this journey of my life leads me,

I need to keep focused on the fact that these

babies,

bb, bg, kd, eskimo pie, HOBL and Mumsie

they are the ones who should come first.

I love my school babies but priorities need to stay focused.

These people deserve the best of me and I

will make sure through this whole process that

I do not forget this.

Thanks for the memories my loves.

We missed you HOBL!

Third confirmation

The last two days have been emotional ones.

Telling my bosses and work peers

that I will be out of work for an indefinite

time was hard for many reasons.

One, because no matter how much they tell

me not to worry about work I know that I

have left them shorthanded.

Two, because the well-wishes and the outpouring

of love and support from all these people,

especially Denise, Sue and Jim

had me wanting to cry for the fact that

I realize just how lucky I am to belong to such

a wonderful group of nurses.

My principal my teacher friends, all sincerely

wishing the best for me was emotionally draining.

Yet I awaken this morning knowing in my heart

that I have done what is best for me and

am following the journey that God has prepared

for me, the journey I call my life.

After work I headed to Larose for my friend/family doctor

to do the paperwork needed to start my extended sick leave.

She also, after looking at all the information I brought,

and letters she received, reassured me that if it were her

she would give this surgery a shot.

I have began this morning on a new pain management program

that I have denied my body for the chance to

continue working.

With one kidney and not being able to take Tylenol, Advil,

or other anti-inflammatories leaves me with narcotics only.

I have not taken it as prescribed for the love of work.

Those days have to be over.

I have to have pain relief so I can strengthen my body

in hopes of having the best outcome from the surgery

that will take place on November 3rd.

Last night, after taking the new medications I had to text

Doc. Pitre, the pain relief I felt for the first time in

a long time almost had me in tears.

I know I am doing what is right, God has acknowledged that

for me and with all that said,

come Wednesday morning when I realize all are returning

to work and I am not, it will be reality to me.

I do feel a big relief though because now all know that

I will not be there.

Gone are the days when I have to decide each morning

after sleeping very little whether or not I can

make it to work, to try and get through the whole

day or half day. This has worn on me emotionally.

However, My faith tells me there is no doubt that I will be returning

to work better than ever to a group of wonderful people

and children that I love.

This is all good, this is what needs to happen.

When three doctors tell you they think they can do something

for your pain, you must listen.

So the new part of my journey begins...

hamburger or hot dog?

I would say that this week..... I prefer......

HAMBURGER!!!!

Yes that is right, as of today it seems that our

Eskimo Pie/peefly

is a little bitty, sweet and precious little girl.

(sorry BFOB, I think you were wrong)

Kd and baby boy went in Tuesday night

where her brothers girlfriend, Rachel, works

and they did a non-formal ultrasound.

There baby boy saw it, a hamburger...

three little lines where a hot dog would have been

had the Eskimo pie been a boy.

The phone rang on Tuesday night at 11:30pm

and what I heard was:

"IT'S A GIRRRLLL"

In BB's sing-song voice that I love to hear.

BB was so animated, talking about how

big her head was and how she was doing back flips

inside of KD.

Already I know that my baby boy is in trouble...

already in love, already wrapped...

I mean he is enamored by her little back flips

in the womb, just think what he will be like when

she says "DEDA" for the first time.

Kd, Kd, well she thought she wanted a little boy,

really she said it often, it was known to everyone

who knows her that she wanted a boy.

Until, of course, she viewed the little

gymnast in her womb.

It took all of 5 seconds for her to change her mind

as it happens with all of us.

Talking to her last night I asked her

what were her thoughts and she said

that she thought she wanted a boy but the minute she

heard a girl she thought of dresses, tu-tu's and nail polish.

Hmmmm BB may wish he had a boy since it

would probably have been cheaper.

So Eskimo Pie is growing perfectly and all looks

so darn good and Kd is taking such good care of

herself and BB is trying not to complain at

how long he has to wait at the doctors offices...

All is going well in the baby making business

we have already talked to Tie about a camouflage

tutu since she makes tutu's...

as for this Mumsie?

Absolutely, totally in love with all involved

and remembering the days when I carried

my own hamburger and hot dog inside of me.

what to do, what to do...

Want to blog this now while all I have heard

today from Dr. Marino is fresh in my mind.

I also want to apologize to any blog followers

that may be bored with all this medical mumbo-jumbo.

Yet, when I decided to share all of this it is also

for the reason that one day, someone may need to hear

about these struggles and will gain answers, inspiration

from this journey my life has been.

So If you are bored, I give you permission to move on...

After much study and discussion of all my past surgical

and medical issues, after reviewing my CT scan of the

last partial bowel obstruction I had Dr. Marino decides

that he feels confidant that he and Dr. Donner can

proceed with attempting to fix this Pars defect of

the spine by going through the abdomen.

I share with him all my fears about the bowel issues

I have had and he lays it on the line.

Doesn't tell me anything I don't know already.

There are no guarantees and I could have bowel problems

but he promised that if he makes that initial incision

and it looks as though this will become a major

surgery he will close me up and not proceed with the back surgery.

It is what I wanted to hear. He has my confidence.

He feels encouraged because the back problem is fixed from

the left side and I have no issues from the left side.

However I do have my only kidney and ureter on

the left side and although the kidney will not be

involved, the ureter will have to be moved aside.

Now I have to go and see My pal and family doctor,

Camille Pitre to get her input then back to see Dr. Donner

to ask more questions I have then it seems like I

am going to go ahead with this last chance for

having the quality of life I want.

I am encouraged, I am scared.

They have told me that the initial pain will be bad

but they will help me with that. As most surgeries

there are no guarantees. There is that risk that the surgery will

not be able to be done or that the pain will not be relieved

but I have belief that this surgery will give me a life again.

That I will return to work better than now and be able

to continue to work in a field I have loved from

the very first day I started at the young age

of 18. Pray for me, pray for the doctors,

pray for God's will as I move on into this

scary world of back surgery.