The first cut ....

Oh yeah, I had surgery on October 27th to have a Morton's Neuroma removed from my foot. It has NOT been a pleasant month. Way too many pain pills and not enough help, though my other half graciously stayed with me for the first two days until I could get around with my walker.

I spent those first two days completely off my feet, of course except for potty runs and going to bed at night. I graduated to limping along with a cane the following Saturday; Monday I returned to work, staying home to do so.

By then, Advil was controlling my pain in the daytime. Darvocet at night. I got my stitches out and bandages off two weeks after the surgery....it was heaven! I even managed to cram my foot into a loose sneaker for about 5 minutes...but that didn't last long! I didn't even try again to do that for two more weeks. Until then, I found a loose, slip on footie slipper, with an extra foot pad added for cushioning.

It amazed me - and still does - the amound of bruising in my foot. It even hurt if water drops from the shower hit the top of it. Now, four weeks later, most of my pain is isolated to the lump of swollen scar tissue in my foot, and a couple of spots in my toes and along the side of my foot are still pretty sensitive. Most of it is sensory/touch pain now. I can even skip the Advil on a regular basis.

On top of that, I played video games most of the time those first few days and really kicked up a nerve in my arm - probably a combination of carpal tunnel and spinal stenosis, both which I suffer from on ocassion. So other than work, I've been trying to spend minimal time on the computer.

Anyway, today is Thanksgiving, I'm able to get along very well, and I am thankful for being able to get that shoe on and keep it on all day yesterday! I hope you all find something to be Thankful for today...and have a Wonderful holiday!!!

Just Being Jada; BCA Plopper Freebie; www.dsp.me

Just Being Jada; BCA Plopper Freebie; www.dsp.me, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

Walk; Heartsong Addon Pack by Erica Belton; www.dsp.me

Walk; Heartsong Addon Pack by Erica Belton; www.dsp.me, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

Love Is; Bird Song Value Collection by Lauren Bavin; www.dsp.me

Love Is; Bird Song Value Collection by Lauren Bavin; www.dsp.me, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

Chocolate Fairy; Pink Ribbon Fairy Page Kit by Kim Liddiard; www.dsp.me

Chocolate Fairy; Pink Ribbon Fairy Page Kit by Kim Liddiard; www.dsp.me, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

Another of my lil cuties. This page kit (with the alpha too!) is the bomb.

Jada; Bellefonte Page Kit by Teresa Loman; www.dsp.me

Jada; Bellefonte Page Kit by Teresa Loman; www.dsp.me, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

My sweet lil granddaughter. Isn't this page kit perfect?

Carousel

Carousel, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

Carousel Page Kit by Elizabeth Weaver, www.dsp.me

Raven and Amy

Raven and Amy, originally uploaded by GailS_DSP.

Heart Song Page Kit by Erica Belton, www.dsp.me

She is at peace.

Irene passed away at 9 am this morning. Mike and Amanda were in Minot and went up to see her last night, but she was sleeping and they didn't want to disturb her...she passed away before they could get there this morning. It was as she would have wanted it - peacefully, with her family near her.

The family was given no immediate cause, but she is out of pain now. Rest in Peace, Irene, we love you.

Update(s)

Not much new to report. They have started Irene on some pain meds and have increased the dosage on a regular basis to keep her comfortable. She still has her phone but has difficulty answering it - and often doesn't want to talk for very long as she is groggy from the meds.

I'll be having surgery on 10/27 - so poor Mike is really having to deal with a handful, what with preparing for that (he'll need to be with me the first day and of course will be there for a couple of days beyond that, at the least.)

Plus - fall is here, the leaves will be falling soon. Been a rough year for him!

Update on Irene

Mike and I just came back from a week in North Dakota, taking care of Irene's affairs, visiting her at Manor Care (she is in room 254B and has her same home number there if you'd like to contact her). She is having good days and bad. We spoke to her doctor and the biopsies they did didn't turn up a significant amount of cancer - her main problems are her back and some leg swelling. She can't walk right now, but she is going through therapy. I don't think she'll be running a marathon anytime soon, though.

We packed up her things at assisted living - the doctor tells us she'll remain at the nursing home and they will keep her comfortable. She was having eating and sleeping issues, but they switched her meds and she seems to be doing better. She is sounding more 'with it' and alert, but when we were there she occasionally became confused - it seemed like a touch of short term memory loss, probably due to lack of sleep and the narcotic pain meds they have her on. She loves company though - every visitor that came in got her smiling and her sense of humor hasn't left the building!

We also visited Mike's friend Howard twice, who is in a nursing home, as well as another friend's father, who is in another assisted living facility.

Outside of the bug attacks on the road, buckets of rain on Friday (can you say soggy?), it was really just running around Minot between getting paperwork taken care of, packing up her apartment, and spending as much time with Irene as we were able to. We did have some breaks where we spent time with a couple of his friends and just acted stupid and had a few laughs....a much needed break during an otherwise sad and pathetic time.

Test results not yet back...but Irene has turned down any aggressive treatment, so they have cancelled the oncologist consultation, and the doctor told us: "We'll keep her comfortable in the nursing home now." She does have her own cel phone now...guess you're never too old to pick up new technology!

Uh oh...she got hold of a phone!

The nursing home that they have Irene in, doesn't have phones in the rooms. So we're not able to call her...which is sad...but her friend came to visit her today, and she has a cel phone, so Irene borrowed it and made phone calls. Too funny...now SHE wants a cel phone of her own! Looks like Mike and I are going phone shopping..I'm thinking Jitterbug. What's good for a phone challenged 92 year old??? :)

To be published in Memory Makers online gallery!

This layout I did is going to be the featured idea at Memory Makers the week of September 30.

Irene is scheduled to be moved to another facility tomorrow. It's a nursing home/rehab place and I haven't heard exactly which services/part of the facility she is going to. But, it will be good for her to get out of the hospital, a change of scenery, maybe a better bed as her back and hips have been bothering her. Otherwise she is feeling a bit better, overall. Still no news on the second biopsy, or anything from the doctor today.

Jackson Browne at the State Fair

Jackson Browne rocked the house...er, the fairgrounds in St. Paul last night! and we were there! (click on images for larger photos)

Irene Update

Biopsy results were inconclusive, so they had to do another today...so more waiting. She is hanging in there!

Mom update

I spoke to Irene last night, and she sounded a bit more alert and said she is in a little less pain. No news yet - maybe today. It is so hard on us not knowing anything yet, depending on doctors and case workers to give us the news. But it must be harder on her, so we try to be patient with the medical system as we wait.

Watchin the Waves

I feel like it's been forever since I did a page, so I did a double for the Elite 2 Page Sketch Challenge for August. It feels good to remember the beach, warm sun and sounds from our vacation last winter. And yet, we are looking forward to another (winter is coming up all too soon!!)

Mike's mom

We found out last week that Mike's mom has cancer. Waiting on test results to see what the next steps will be for us.

They have found it is too widespread to operate, and chemo at her age is not an option. She does have a tennis ball sized tumor in her liver - they have put in a stent to open the bile ducts and relieve her jaundice.

More news should be forthcoming next week. We are praying for what is best for her and that no matter what, that she is not in pain and can live out the rest of her life peacefully.

XOX,
Gail

What now?

We found out a week ago that my partner Mike's mother has cancer, and that it's very advanced already. Everything is very up in the air and we are waiting for test results so we can move on take next steps.

I have begun scanning some old family photos - and I am hoping to get some scrapped sometime today. In the meantime I am trying to be the best support and help to Mike, who is not taking this so well.

I got a free membership to Costco, so I will probably head over there today also and see what's there - a little outing for me - Mike was supposed to go, but is not up to it right now. I see a long, difficult road ahead, and so now I need to pray that I find something, anything, positive to keep me going.

See you in my dreams

A few nights ago, I dreamed that my Dad called me on the phone, just to say hello. What is odd is that my dad passed away almost nine years ago....and in my dream, he sounded just like I remember him sounding. I've not dreamed about him since his passing.

It was nice to hear his voice again.

Blessed curse

I have Morton's Neuroma. I suppose some people would consider that a curse - I sure do! It's impossible to walk normally, most of the time. Not a lot of pain - until yesterday.

I've gone through the orthotic therapy. No change. So yesterday I got my first cortisone injection in my foot. That was not the big deal I thought it was going to be - but afterwards, when it all kicked in, I felt like someone slammed my foot in a car door. It was so swollen my toes would not touch the ground, even if I curled them downwards.

So maybe, just for today, having that neuroma - and the resulting pain from the injection - was a potential lifesaver. We had several tornadoes in the area today - one hit close to my place of work, broke some windows from what I've heard. I wasn't there - I couldn't get my shoe on this morning, so I just worked from home so I could keep it propped up for the day.

That made me feel better. So did not being in that building today. Sometimes, a curse can be a blessing.

Sueeeeeeeeey!

OK, well, the pig was already a goner when we headed up to Vadais Heights yesterday for one of Mike's most coveted activities - a real pig roast! and he wasn't disappointed!!!

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk

From my St. Paul Photowalk on Saturday. It was a blast!

Worldwide Photo Walk!

I'm participating in the Worldwide Photo Walk tomorrow morning. I have not one but two new gear bags now - one is a LowePro Sling Shot camera backpack that I bought specifically to use tomorrow. Can't wait!!!

Feature Article

Like many scrappers, I often dreamed of being published - whether for my layouts, my photography or maybe even a little journaling.

Every submission a hopeful scrapper sends in to a magazine is a competition of sorts - to win a coveted spot in a publication. Something that shows that your work is viable, acceptable and yes, even attractive.

I have won a few such coveted spots in the years I've been digital scrapping - Scrapstreet, Ready; Set; Create, Memory Makers (a real, compensated spot in their print magazine! as well as several Idea Gallery Inspiration spots), Somerset (another print magazine) - but in this case, I am honored and humbled to be the sole winner of Scrapbooking.com Magazine's June Vacation layout contest.

My layout was scrapped from the heart - this one was not done with competition in mind. It was just one that I really loved creating - and that the folks at Scrapbooking.com felt was worthy, and that you might like too.

Here is my layout, and a link to the magazine article is here: Vacations Layout Contest Winner

Baby Doves

It's been a busy few weeks for us! On June 29, a pair of mourning doves decided to nest in my balcony flower box. So we have had a bird's eye view of the new eggs and hatchlings, which came into the world yesterday and today. I'll catch up on the photos later - but here's a video I just took a few minutes ago. The one on the left hatched this morning. It's pretty windy here today...it was sitting next to it's sibling, but I caught it crawling under mama's feathers for shelter.

WoO

That's WoO, as in World of Outlaws...we attended the races in Beaver Dam (July 11) and Cedar Lake Speedway (July 12). Would you have expected any different - when it's that close to home?


Beaver Dam - July 11


Cedar Lakes - July 12

We're having twins!

Yesterday, we found that a couple of mourning doves had 'moved in' to my balcony. The Mama laid two eggs, due to hatch around July 13!

It's a grey day...

I slept in today while it was storming. One of those long quietly stormy nights with rain that just makes you want to curl up with a good book or puzzle - or just sleep! I loved it!

Father's Day

Amanda and I went to Rudolphs with Mike for Father's Day (his favorite favorite place!) and had a lovely evening together....

What a week!

I have been somewhere fun almost every night for the last week. Ready for a good crash and burn!

Wednesday, we went out to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant, David Fongs.

Thursday, it was off to see the Twinkies at the Dome, then the Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood concert at the Xcel.




Friday night, we went to a Solstice Party on the top floor/roof of the 26 story Rand Tower downtown:


Saturday, it was the Back to the 50's Car Show:



And Sunday, Father's Day at Rudolph's. Pics for that one to follow.

Time to get back to work!

Car Show

And on the 20th, we went to the Back to the 50s car show at the fairgrounds...gorgeous day, lots of cars and FAIR FOOD, of course!!!

Solstice party

Mike and I attended a Solstice party on the top of the Rand Tower (very cool - and very high) on June 19 - great photo op and lots of fun with friends old and new!!

Clapton Rocks

We saw them - Clapton and Winwood together!!! June 17, 2009!

Des Moines laptop crop

Just got back from an awesome laptop crop in Des Moines! I can't begin to say how much fun it was to meet everyone! Layouts to follow!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day. A time to remember.

This year, I went to Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis to attend the memorial ceremonies. I have never been to one before, so I was awed by the touching service, the music, taps and the release of the doves. As I stood with hundreds of others in the middle of the cemetery, I felt my father, a war veteran, standing beside me in the sunshine. I'm so glad I went.

Patriot Page Kit by Lauren Bavin (originally part of the July 2005 Club Digital)
Portobello Road Remember Word Art Freebie by Lauren Bavin

Murphy's Landing

On May 23, Mike and I went to historic Murphy's Landing for the day. It was so peaceful and fun, I got a lot of great shots there. Just something nice to do together. :)

Mike is home!

After having been gone for weeks....Mike has finally been able to come home from North Dakota. He has a lot of catching up to do at home...spring arrived while he was gone!...but is getting back into his routine. I've been sick with the flu for a few days, pretty much since he got back, but am back on my feet now too. So we're both getting back into the swing of it!

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mom's / Grandmom's day! Turns out I have some kind of bug, not something I ate. I've been running a fever for two days, but feeling a bit better tonight, so we went out to dinner and had a lovely time. Tired, but happy, and in the end my Mother's Day was the best!

Word of advice...

Don't drink screwdrivers on the same evening you eat something you give yourself food poisoning with. And end up with a migraine on top of it. Because there's nothing like talking on the big white telephone while your head is both pounding and spinning....no matter how good you felt before you ate what it was that made you sick. Ugh. (Recovering now, but what an awful evening!)

I'm excited because.....

My honey is coming home after being out of state for over 3 weeks! :)

Nature Center & Arboretum Visit

I hit the nature center yesterday, and the Arboretum today, for a good walk and some camera practice...a wonderful afternoon! All by myself...peace, quiet, no work. :)

My scrapping cohort Jenni and I went to Scrap Mania at the Eden Prairie Archiver's last night. I got so much done - chatting, eating, scrapping! and some shopping - a digital scrapping magazine (love 'em), a Scrap Star Tshirt and a resource book with words, quotes and poems for scrapping. I love shopping - and I can't wait to go again!

May is here!

April has been a really long haul. Mike has been in North Dakota for weeks sorting out things with his mother, who moved into assisted living last month. Can't wait for him to get home.

In the meantime, with all that extra time (!?!?) on my hands, I've been working overtime. The last two weeks have been light, but the next few will be crazy. I also quit smoking 10 days ago - a big plus. Still a struggle, but I believe I can do it. (Chantix helped)

The grass is finally green here, and the flowers are popping along with the leaves. Finally. :)

National Scrapbook Day

Oh...and it's National Scrapbook Day today! Be sure to pop over to DSP and check out the sales....

then hop over and check out the challenges (some with prizes!) in the National Scrapbook Day forum.

I have a Creating Cropping Challenge posted that I think you'll like!

I QUIT

Yes...10 days ago! Still smoke free. Still struggling with it, but every day gets just a weensy bit easier.

Once I have the time....

I've had a very busy couple of weeks at work, with overtime even. I have so little energy left at the end of the day. The week even! Good thing I have a list of the tasks I need to accomplish each night. Too bad doing dishes, taking a shower and going to bed aren't on it! Because those are the things I tend to put off but need to be done.

My list includes checking my email; checking the DSP store for new products; checking Facebook to see how many new app requests I have (not always pleasant!); paying new bills (I do that as they come in); then answering my email (first time through, I just get rid of anything I don't have to respond to!).

Unfortunately, this list is followed by work. Yup. We are in a real big crunch with just plain not enough time to get everything done. So I've been working overtime...the first time in about 20 years. I'm old. Overtime sucks. I don't have time to spend the money anyway.

At least not now. The only thing getting me through it, is dreaming about what I AM going to do with the money. My other half is (ahem, usually) good about me needing to work. I'm lucky to have a job. But we are both going to deserve a nice getaway when this is all done in a couple of months or so.

Once I have the time.

Gail

MyMemories Suite Album

OK, so Digital Scrapbook Place has teamed up with Polaroid to create the greatest easy scrapbook software ever! MyMemories Suite!! I did these 12 layouts in about an hour using an album I created for the software using DSP products!


You can buy the software from DSP - if you do, you get a $10 coupon to spend at DSP - and one FREE 6x6 photobook (26 page, softbound) with software purchase through April 12!! What more could you ask for?!

Check it out here!

It's been just crazeeeeeee at work lately. I work a full time job, only this month it's been full time and then some. Stressful stuff. Scrapping helps me relax - when I have the time!

DSP's 5th birthday is coming up. Be sure to check in and don't miss the festivities that will be starting during the last week of March!

I had a really rough week - thank goodness tomorrow is Friday! I'm having leftovers for dinner tonight (easy!) and I've broken into the bottle of pre-mixed Mojito that I got for Christmas. Cheers!!!

Fleetwood Mac - 3/3/09

Yep...it's the Mickster! From the Minneapolis Fleetwood Mac show this week. It ROCKED!

Not My Day

Have you ever had something happen to you that in hindsight, you wished you would have scrapped? That happened to me today. I didn't slide my coffeemaker's carafe onto the plate right, and the auto-pour-a-cup thingie sprung into action. Unfortunately, this means that the water cannot drip from the basket to the pot. So it fills up. And up. And......over. Back into the reservoir (with the grounds). All over the countertop. And the water in the reservoir...well, it keeps recycling through the basket until it's finally all flowed out. Everywhere.

When I walked into the kitchen and saw the mess - well, not going to print what I said. Out loud. Loudly, out loud. Grounds and coffee are awful to clean up - even worse to pick out of the crevices and reservoir. I should have taken a picture.

New DSP Product: Card-Sized Instant Album

Is this not the cutest idea? ArtsCow fans will love these playing-card sized ploppers by Lauren Bavin. I use ArtsCow - I haven't tried them yet, but I plan to! How fun would a little deck of these be in your pocketbook??

Playing Card Instant Album by Lauren Bavin, available at Digital Scrapbook Place

It so rocks to be us...

"It rocks to be us" is something we frequently joked about to each other up until the last day we were in Mazatlan.

Cupids Blues page kit by Lauren Bavin

My youngest DGD. Couldn't resist using this beautiful kit with a beautiful little girl!

Cupid's Arrow Page Kit by Lauren Bavin
Hang The Date Custom Chipboard Months by Meryl Bartho
Hang the Date Custom Chipboard Years by Meryl Bartho

I just love this Time For Love Page Kit by Meryl Bartho. Isn't it so soft and sweet? Just like my Hayley here!

A favorite layout of my little Jada bug...using the Cocoa Kisses Page Kit by Tina Chambers.

One of my new favorite layouts of the two oldest granddaughters. I used Marcee Duggar's Joyee Page Kit, available at Digital Scrapbook Place.

New Year's Eve with Jeff Dunham

Yep....we saw the puppet master last night!!!
Not going to win any oscars, but here's a clip I did while there!