And the official report is...

After 4 nerve-wracking weeks of waiting

I FINALLY

got my surgeon's nurse on the phone

(or at least she said she was!)

and got an answer

on my pathology report

from my surgery.

I asked-again.

She said she had it.

Drum roll please

(no-wait-that's my heart thudding that hard...)

and she said,

"Oh, wait a minute"

to me

and then yells for my dr.

and apologized for yelling in my ear.

I wanted to say said

NO---yell for him---

PLEEEEZE....

I WANT AN ANSWER!

Finally

she gets back on the phone

and says...

It's fine.

It's all ok.

No evidence of cancer.

It's a good thing

I was sitting down.

THANK YOU, JESUS!

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU

God.

I had to ask---

was it everything?

Yep.

Ovaries, tubes, uterus and cervix.

That covers it.

All normal.

Now

I've had doctors lie to me.

Seriously.

I've been told the report said one thing

and, when I set my sights on it

and start asking questions

I get this "yeah, well....really...might be"

diluted washed-down explanation

that really translates to...

could be an issue----but I'm not really worried about it...

(of course not---it's not YOU!)

My how their tune changes

when I ask

"Are you willing to bet your license on it?"

or

"What if it were your wife---or mother or..."

and gee

I got a whole different answer then...

But this doctor

has played it straight with me from the get-go

(never mind it was his wife's office

that jerked me around for 6 months---

before I got mad

(and got banned from the practicebecause I dared to ask questions!

and no, they are not in practice together--

and no, I had NO CLUE who his wife was

when I selected him! Different names!)

and I trust him.

Oh I WILL

get a copy of the report when I go

for my post-op appointment

but until then

I know I can rest easy.

The risk is gone.

And so's the fear.

The right physician makes a world of difference

Thank God

I found him

and, better yet,

THANK GOD

I know the TRUE PHYSICIAN.

Healer of my heart, mind and soul.

Yeah, I know...

easy to say

when the word was good...

but, even if it had not been...

I was prepared for that, too.

I've been praying that, just in case,

God would prepare me

to walk that path with grace and courage

just as my late husband did.

The example he was to those around him

during his battle with cancer

was amazing.

The lives he touched and changed

were numerous.

All the while

knowing he was dying.

He still ministered to those around around him.

I'll never forget it.

So---

taking an extra deep breath of salt air this morning,

saying prayers of GRATITUDE

and later

will do some coloring and stamping!

Until next time-

LIVE.

Happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

 

Hang in There...

Starting the day

trying to let go

of a resentment

from the day before...

is so not a good thing!

Sigh.

4 weeks

no answer from the doctor...

called last week (3 weeks)...

no response.

Called Monday

no response.

Needed an rx that needed to be picked up

hubby gets there...

(this office is one hour away-one way...)

three guesses and the first two don't count.

To say I am livid is an understatement.

I firmly believe that

the death rate from cancer

in this country

would be far less

if doctors actually

cared and communicated

IN A TIMELY MANNER

with their patients.

But no.

This nurse

is communicating with my doctor

are you ready-

by e-mail!!!

And he doesn't answer

and she doesn't follow up....

and here I am

nursing resentments...

and have no answers

and the fact that

my rx will run out

before I actually get a refill now

is not making me a happy camper, either.

Ok.

Enough of that.

On to today's card-

which fits the theme...

a co-worker is having a tough time

right now...

and

 Mo's Digital Pencil

had this new image yesterday...

I had to have it!

It is sooo cute

(gotta wanna a sock monkey, too!)

and sooo easy to color!

I have sooo many ideas for it...

but here's the card

I made for my friend...

I colored with my Copics

(Theresa-you have to come home---

my B0000 needs refilling!)

what little coloring there is!

Layered a border punched piece

with cardstock--that border adds the

look of clouds, dontchathink?

And ya gotta love that sock monkey!

I need a sock-monkey color tho--

I made two copics blend

(a flesh color and a putty green color!)

to try and mimic the gray...

sorta works!)

And then I added Crystal Effects

to an "extra" balloon I colored and cut out

and of course pop-dotted!

I thought red and white Baker's Twine

would look good for the string

but didn't have enough energy to make that happen...

Here's the inside

Cute, huh?

Keep the digi images coming!

I'd loose my mind

with all the down-time I've had

without something to do--

and coloring is good therapy!

So-

what's got your tail feathers riled today?

What resentment are you hanging on to?

Hmm.....?

Consider

Letting go---and letting God...

sort it out...

I am (trying...!)

one day at a time...

Until next time

happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,

 

A Special Art Canvas

Someone I know and love

saw the image

of the girl painting

that I had colored

a Mo's Digital Pencil "stamp"

and fell in love with it!

We're talking teen-age hissy fit

OHMYGAWDISOHAVETOHAVETHAT!!!

love with it

So...

being the AWESOME godmother that I am...

I whipped it up into

an art canvas for her...

she's not seen it yet

and she doesn't follow my blog

so I will share it with you first!

I took a blank white canvas

and although you can't tell it here

gave it a coat of off-white paint

layered on some background papers

then I printed, colored with Copics and cut out

Mo's digi image...

and layered it on with tons of pop dots behind it to support it...

all layers but the girl image

got coats of Modge Podge under over and in between...

Since I could not find 4x6 or 5x7 flat backed acrylic frames

I cut up a CTMH page protector

and made my own photo pocket

(btw: the paper with the blue tag topper comes out)

I layered that on some paper that was punched

with the SU roll-a-dex punch so it looks like it

came right off her sketch pad!

Added some real paint brushes

as embellishments...

and

just to show it off...

here's a photo slipped in

the photo pocket...

Notice any resemblance?!

Yep.

That's my goddaughter Maren.

Hmmm...

I really like this-

maybe I won't give it to her after all...

Nah.

I will...

but there may be another one

coming up

as soon as I feel better!

That's it for today!

I did that in fits and stops and starts.

This recovery thing is not fun

and super slow.

Speaking of which-

it's back to bed.

Until next time

happy stamping and scrapping.
Blessings,

Momentous Monday...

Today

I am going to try

and venture back to work

for a little while

for the first time in 2 weeks!

Granted,

I feel tired already

and haven't even had my shower yet

but

I think once I am in motion

and doing a little something

I will feel better.

Yesterday

hubby picked lots of zinnias

and the secretaries in his department

will have a nice surprise this morning...

He put 3-4 flowers in a mason jar

to leave on their desks...

so pretty!

My great friend Theresa

is a Stampin' Up Consultant.

Sometime back on one of the SU blogs

I saw something I liked

so I sent Theresa one of my infamous

"the next time you order..." e-mails

and promptly forgot what I wanted her to order

and why!

Lol!

Luckily she saved the video

and sent it to me.

So yesterday she came over

and after we compared Copic colors

(www.oozak.com)

I tried my new punch and Smooch spray...

this was made just out of the scrap paper

I had at hand-and a brad that was floating around

on my craft room window sill...

in less than 5 minutes....

I absolutely LOVE IT!!!

So so pretty!

I think I am going to make some into pins

for the nice nurses in my doctors office

who helped get the surgery scheduled

before our deductible ran out

and who promptly called in

anti-nausea medicine when I needed it...

Well,

better go get myself ready...

wish me luck.

Trying 1- 1 1/2 hrs to start...

seems like a marathon tho!

Until next time,

TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS

and

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Savoring Saturday...

We got up this morning

and hubby couldn't find Bad Cat...

being as he's the "senior citizen" of cat crew in our family...

we worry a little more when he can't be found

than with the others.

After searching everywhere else-

he checked the dryer...

and there he was---

all snuggled up on momma's clean pj's!

I went back an hour or so later

wanting to toss something in

 just to get the cat hair off--

and there he was-

still curled up and sound asleep.

The slight click of the camera

and the flash didn't even phase him!

Changing the bed and showering

exhausted me!

Hubby, however, had the perfect

"pick-me-up" when he got home

with the groceries...

that's me-aka "the patient"

with CHOCOLATE in both hands!

There is a God!!!

Peanut butter fudge no bake cookie

(or what's left of one! lol!) on the left...

M&M's (from the party size bag) on the right!

Ahhh....

I dare say it's just what the doctor ordered!

Now,

if I could just get the

handbook for Close to My Heart's

brand-new Artiste Cricut cartridge to load

so I could get a sneak peek...

I'd be all set...!

New catalog out-some great

Workshops on the Go

new stamps

and yes, a new Cricut cartridge!

Stay tuned for details

coming soon!

Until next time,

pass the chocolate

and happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Recovery in Reverse...

Well

I wish I could say

that I am bouncing right back...

but

that doesn't seem to be the case.

I was 10-11 days post op

and decided to try and venture out

to our scrapbooking Groupie night

Not sure

if it was the steps

(our house is on pilings)

or sitting on the hard chair

(Theresa asked me if I wanted a pillow...

so it's my own fault-it didn't hurt...then...)

or just over-all too much too soon

but I am paying the price

yesterday and today.

Humph.

And I had originally thought

I would be back to work this week!

So not happening and really wondering

what I will  be able to do next week...

Sigh.

Anyway-

today's 60 million dollar question is---

how do I stop

this "ANONYMOUS" person

from leaving comments on my posts?

Is there any possible way to do it

besides

activating that annoying word verification step?

Can someone PLEASE tell me?

I don't want to do that

but

I don't want to spend 3/4 of my online time

deleting annoying posts from

as---opps  ah-hm...Anonymous

Time for bed. Again.

And meds.

Definitely meds today

as I have an outing later

that's a must....

Until next time-

happy stamping and scrapping.

Blessings,

BEWARE of "GROUCHY WITCHES...."

Some of you may have seen or heard

the saying

"don't piss off  the fairies..."

or

"don't make me send in the

flying monkeys..."

WELL.

I received a get well card

in the mail this past week-end

that had the following....

"...it's difficult to be a grouchy witch

when you'd rather be a ray of sunshine..."

REALLY?
A "grouchy witch" ?

I dare say this person did all of the above

as well as  ticking  off the so-called "witch!"

And I know oh too well
that the comment originated  pretty close to home
and simply got repeated to stir the pot...

So

with what little energy,
strength and  creativity
 I have in me at the moment

here's the reply I brewed up...

FRONT

(image of witch, pot and toad is a clip art I purchased online...

moon and bat are stamped-as is the enve...)

INSIDE

Sentiment says

Rumor has it that

GROUCHY WITCHES

would be extinct

if there were a few less

SANCTIMONIOUS OLD TOADS

around to deal with...

and,

since I believe in NO NAKED MAIL...

I decorated the enve, too!

Boil, boil, toil and trouble!

Word to the wise---

a Mini Cooper does a lot

to get one out of any hot water they might find

themselves in...

just sayin...

Now that my blood pressure

seems to be back to normal

(thanks, Theresa,

for a nice lunch and visit!)

I think I will take a nap...

Until next time,

beware of who you call

A GROUCHY WITCH

and happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,

Slooooooow Motion...

that's how I am moving about

and doing anything these days.

One week 2 days post op.

Pain is tolerable

(with a little help from meds)

I can do a little

(get up, get a popsickle,

shower, blog hop)

for about 30 minutes tops.

To say I am bored

well---

it's not too bad

Girlfriends

call and check

and have kept me in

books and magazines

and videos.

Last night

hubby and I watched

WE BOUGHT A ZOO

It was great!

And the little girl-those curls!!!

Adorable!

Sad-but good

and the

"it only takes 20 seconds of courage"

and

"it is what it is is..."

Hmmm....

sage advice.

This am I slept

while hubby  went to church

and here I am blog hopping...

here's some of the treasures I've found today...

Go here to see Linda McClains

adorable card...

Sally in inner tube

a digi image from Sassy Cheryl's

Linda even has an adorable free printable

Then

go here

to Aaron B's Booth 32 blog

to see her adorable

GOLDFISH TREAT HOLDER

Then go here

to

Stephanie Barnard's

The Stamps of Life

to see the ADORABLE NEW

Crayon stamp set...

OHMYGOSH!

Look at the samples in the

gallery---!

I got the e-mail on Thursday afternoon.

I ordered.

Then I went back and ordered the

TURTLE2LOVE set as well.

Yesterday (aka Saturday)

hubby brings me the mail

there's two packages

and the 2 stamp sets

I ordered on Thursday afternoon.

Return address says

CA!!
Shipping?

$ 1.00

That was it.

And I got my product

in less than a week few days!

They are great, too.

Thanks, Stephanie,

for a super product, awesome service

and reasonable shipping fees!

Ok friends.

My "up time" is up.

It's off to the showers for me

while my nurse changes the sheets

and then it's back to bed.

Sigh.

I do not do "down, Sharon" well.

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping.

Blessings,

 

We interrupt this blog for an update on

recovery in progress...

or maybe that should read

progress in recovery--

well-anyway.

I am still here.

The pain level was tolerable

with a little help from meds

the nausea, too, for that matter.

Until

I decided that,

5 days post op

I could go up the 32 steps

to our Widow's Walk

and watch fireworks.

Uh, not one of my more brilliant ideas.

Paying the price today...

Down, Sharon.

DOWN!

Nurse Hubby

has done pretty good

Nurse Poppa Cat

has not left my side.

Hardly ever at all.

If not enough room to get next to me

he's not beyond crawling on top of the pillow

and sleeping on my head...

not kidding.

Theresa has saved my sanity

more than once.

Getting rx's, jello and other things

when my tummy rebelled

and she's promised more visits.

This is going to take

longer than I thought

or longer than I wanted to admit...

trying to be good

but it ain't easy...

when the highlight of the day

is the next flavor of popsicle

a shower and a cool washcloth...

oh

and a nap...a LONG nap...

Stay tuned.

The copics may come out today

if not, there's always tomorrow, Scarlett!

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Two Little Girls Explain The Worst Haircut Ever

Fair warning:

DO NOT listen to this

just after surgery...

unless you have pain pills handy

and a big pillow

'cause you're gonna laugh

and it's GONNA HURT!

just sayin'

Two Little Girls Explain The Worst Haircut Ever

Gotta love the RED HAIR, too!

Blessings,