What a Month

In case you've wondered where I've been, read on...

Three weeks ago, I had what I thought was another arthritis flare-up in my hips. Turns out it was diverticulitis. I waited three days too long to have it checked out. As soon as I got to the ER on a Tuesday afternoon, I was admitted into the hospital sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Since I have rheumatoid arthritis, I take large doses of a drug called methotrexate. It suppresses the immune system which is constantly attacking itself. If I want to live semi-painfree, I have to take the drug. The downside is that my body isn't able to fight infection very well. Hence...the diverticulitis. Let me tell you girls, it's like being in labor all over again. Luckily, we caught in time with large IV doses of antibiotics. I could be without a colon as I write. (I don't even want to go there)

So, I got to spend four days in the hospital on morphine--not fun. I went home and thought I was better. Then three days after that, the pain and fever returned. I went back in the hospital for more cat scans. Seems that the diverticulitis was under control, but sometime that week my darn ovaries decided to grow a couple of cysts. So...after more tests, pain meds and lots of care from hospital staff, I came home two days ago. I went for an ultrasound at my ob/gyn (who was Hubs college roommate) and will return in three weeks to see if they've grown or burst. YIKES

I feel like I woke up from a three week nap. Flowers bloomed! Grass grew! It's rather surreal around here. But...I only write all of this because I am so thankful to the Lord for the way He constantly cares for me and my family. This is the second time in the last year that my 16 year old son has had to either call an ambulance or drive me to the ER. The ER doc was a man from our home church. My rheumatologist is also Hubby's golf partner for 20 years. He was a day away from leaving on a 10 day trip. My surgeon is new to me but luckily I didn't need his services. Hubs has a trial this week but I am good to sit around the house and read or be chauffeured around by friends and neighbors.

I really don't like to write about so much REAL LIFE. I think Blogs are much more fun when superficial. But...if you are friends with someone who has fibromyalgia and/or rheumatoid arthritis, say an extra prayer for them. Living with constant pain is hard stuff. You know those new pharmaceutical commercials you see for RA? They're right on the money. Sometimes just being touched hurts.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. Today is already better than yesterday was. Praise the Lord! He is worthy of praise!

Going to lala land now!
Jan

Summertime is Here!

Well, well, well...

It's been a few weeks since I've blogged. But, Joe is out of school and is officially a junior in high school. Bill is finished with his freshman year and is officially a sophomore at the university. I just (ten minutes ago) sent a writing assignment to an editor via the web so I am officially finished. Praise the Lord! His mercies are new everyday. I am really excited about it. It's a Christmas piece about dealing with annoying relatives. When it goes to press I'll tell you which magazine :)

The rain has finally let up around here. I am in the process of planting annuals and getting my containers ready for summer. I think I am happiest when I'm diggin' in the dirt and working on a quilt. During the summertime I practically live in the backyard. I love going out early in the morning and having my quiet time in the midst of God's beauty. I can't imagine what nature will look like in heaven because it's so beautiful here.

I took some much needed time yesterday and organized my fabric stash in the quilt studio. I actually parted with some fabric. (If you quilt, you know that this a painful process indeed) I hung some pictures on one wall that I'd been holding onto since my mother passed away. She framed every painting I ever did as a young girl and then as an art major in college. I know how much she loved me because some of them were pitiful. Yes, PITIFUL...

My design wall is full of Christmas blocks that I'm trying to finish appliqueing so I can get it machine quilted and on the wall in time for Christmas. It's a whimsical quilt called "The North Pole". But--the most exciting thing I accomplished over the last month has been the (almost) completion of an original quilt I've been working on for 5 years. I titled it Breaking Free after Beth Moore's bible study. It's a large red rose that is in full bloom. It has about 30 different red fabrics. I felt like I had finally "bloomed" as a daughter of God when I completed that particular bible study. Hopefully, I'll have pictures later.

So, that's about all I have to report. It's been a busy three weeks--but I am glad to be back on the bloggity circuit.

Blessings,
Jan

Fourth Quarter

Well my two faithful readers, I am taking a blogging break. My oldest just finished his last exam today and is officially a COLLEGE SOPHOMORE! Praise God!

My youngest is prepping for his very first AP exam in Western Civilization and all other finals.

I have a huge writing assignment that requires a lot of undivided attention.

So...for the next month if either of you needs me, leave a comment and I will get with you by email. I feel like it's fourth quarter with seconds to go and I can punt or run into the end zone. Since punting isn't in my DNA, I need to race to the finish line, pronto.

Before I forget....my airline tickets for San Antonio arrived yesterday! I can't wait for the Siesta Fiesta with Miss Beth! It's going TO ROCK as my teenagers say.

Have a wonderful, Spirit-filled month!

Jan

Itsy Bitsy Arachnid

Okay.

It's 11:52 and I've usually been asleep for at least two and half hours by now. But...a lousy pair of spiders are keeping me from my much needed beauty sleep. Today at lunch, Hubs came home to check on a pump in the yard. It keeps water from running into the front door when it rains for forty days and nights--much like it has here.
So...Hubs lifts the lid so he can stick his hand TWELVE OR SO INCHES into the abyss of pumpdom when he says, "Wow, look how black that spider is. I've never seen one like that." Then I say, "IT'S A BLACK WIDOW! GET YOUR HAND OUT OF THERE!" Then Hubs says, "I don't think so. It doesn't have the red mark." Then I scream, "IT'S ON HER BELLY GET YOUR HAND OUT OF THERE!" Still not believing his wife, Hubs pokes it with a stick and guess what? IT'S A BLACK WIDOW AND HER TWIN SISTER IS ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM HER.

I haven't moved that fast in YEARS, my two friends. YEARS...

Let me just say that half a can of RAID was used on those two arachnid mamas from Hades. And let me also say that one of them was so stinking big, the Hubby Foot of Death had to squish her back into the earth from which she came.

And all of this on EARTH DAY.

Blessings,
jan


p.s. Always look before you put your hand in a dark, damp, hole. Those black widows are busy eating their Hubs for lunch :)

Cornell--Ever Heard of It?

Yes...........it's back! The OFFICE.

Okay, we took bets at our house. Will Andy say, "Cornell--ever heard of it?"

How about Dwight's date, huh? Not exactly Miss America.

Or what about a hostess who announces that supper will be ready in three hours? Yikes!

And what about Jim? I thought he might blow beets (sorry Dwight) when he took a whiff of Jan's candles.

But my favorite part of tonight was when Jan tried to get Jim to dance with her to that pathetic music.

Yes...............it's back! The OFFICE

So, girls, what was your favorite part of tonight's episode?

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Okay, I HAVE to complain. I don't do it very often. But I am SO SICK OF RAIN I COULD THROW UP. There...I said it. Well, wrote it anyway. Seriously, flooding is now a major concern for so many people here. They opened the flood gates at the dam. Hubs and I actually saw it one time many moons ago--it is powerful.

So, enough about rain. I am one excited chickadee. My BFF and I are going to take the ENTIRE day and shop. Yes, I am going to ignore laundry, toilets and other household duties which require my attention and ENJOY a day of browsing the quilt stores. When I've spent my wad on fabric, I'm moving on to clothes. I've lost some weight and require some new duds.

Since I haven't really been out of the house all week because of the rain, I AM GOING FOR IT...

Perhaps I'll have pics tomorrow.

Enjoy the sunshine where you are :)

Jan

MY THREE MEN

Check it out: THREE MEN AND A MOM plus one dog!

Here is our Easter picture complete with dog in lap. Every Easter (when we remember) we dust off the tripod and pose as soon as we get home from church. It's the only time we're all (halfway) dressed up. The family Easter pics are usually hilarious simply because we can't take it too seriously. There is just something unnatural about Hubs setting the timer and running for the chair. We all crack up!

And this year, we had Ozzie to contend with. The other pictures included his "plume tail" in the foreground. Hubs finally gave in and put him in his lap. You can't believe how many lint roller squares it took to remove the dog hair from his navy jacket and gray pants.

All in all, it was a wonderful Easter. A great day to end the week of Spring Break with my THREE MEN.

Blessings for a wonderful week,
Jan

p.s. For the life of me, I can't rid of this last picture! Help!