Sunday, April 28, 2013

It's Sunday Again!!

The start of another week, the end of April is knocking on the door,  May and this year is zipping  by at an alarming rate! LOL! Must be because we are all too busy!
Yesterday proved to be a perfect Spring day...started out a little gloomy and overcast with some sprinkles here and there, but turned into a bright sunshiny day with little to no wind in the mid to upper 70's. Soooooo after a scrumptious lunch and visit with Jannette and Mike (and all the kitties), I returned home to wash my window screens and windows on the outside. I got half of them done....before NASCAR started....and hope to finish the rest today! Since I have finished them all inside....the ones I did yesterday sure look sparkling and clear. It's nice to be able to get them done before the HEAT sets in and it is too miserable to be outside!
Seems all my neighbors were out yesterday working on their "gardens" or mowing or sweeping up or something! The neighborhood is looking great!
We had a setback with Kathy on Thursday night, she was taken back to the hospital with shortness of breath and chest pains. Seems she had a mild heart attack. The did some tests....echo cardiogram and then a chemical stress test...some damage, but due to her wound not healed enough yet, they put her wound vac on and are going to wait another month to do a heart catherization (provided she has no more episodes).  She was returned to the rehab center last evening. I have spoken with her, she seems okay, just a little irritated that they will not let her go home yet, but they want to make sure the wound vac is working properly and that she will continue to heal. So we are still praying that she continues to improve!
Christina posted some photos of the kids on Friday and I just had to make this page of them for Kathy! (She so loves them grand babies and they visit her often since this illness). Don't know which one put the lipstick on Jade and Ruby or which one kissed Jayson on the head (probably both of them...LOL), but I thought Kathy would just love this.
I used a kit by Kyra at With A Russian Dutch Heart called Dark Days of December, the frame cluster is from the same kit and made by CT Arlene, the wordart is by Granny Enchanted (slightly recolored) and April the Scrapaholic. I thank all of you generous designers for sharing your lovely work.
Ok, guess it is time to get off this computer...Oreo is TALKING to me (she wants a treat) and I must finish the rest of those windows so I will hush for now. Wish all of you a terrific Sunday and hope you make lots of memories to share! Chat more later....Hugs, Mat

Monday, April 22, 2013

Good Monday Morning....

It is a nice bright sun shining start to a new week for all of us! I hope this week is a lot calmer than the past one was. What a week here in the States, huh? Still praying for all those injured either in the Marathon Bombing (Boston, MA), Fertilizer Plant Explosion (West, TX), Flooding (Chicago, IL & Central States area), and Avalanche (Loveland, CO)! Also praying for those in the massive earthquake in China!

I had a pretty productive weekend! My neighbors got moved into the other half of my duplex!  Got some much needed yard work done. I found some new floor finish that is good for laminate and vinyl so undertook the task of trying it out. My floors look totally AWESOME! It is like I have all new flooring! The fiberglass vinyl in the kitchen and dining room is so shiny (but not slick) it looks wet. I moved everything I could and did the floors in sections. Then I did the laminate in the living room! Of course, this took up most of my day on Saturday! It was soooooo much fun trying to keep the fur girls off the wet floors!! Took a nice hot shower to relax overworked muscles and hit the hay about 11 p.m. Sunday morning I tackled the hallway and my office area! Of course I had to take a break around 11:30 a.m. to watch the NASCAR races! Then I tackled my bedroom floors. I am so happy with how fresh and clean my house looks again! Yes, I am tired and ache in muscles I forgot I had (LOL) but am very pleased with the results. Today is rest and play on the computer day for me! ROFL....that seems to be an every day event for me here lately, huh?

I did manage to take a few photos of the Mama cat and even caught her away for a little bit and captured photos of her 5 new babies. I have not bothered them since they were born, giving her time to relax and get used to having a safe place for all of them. This is Mommy and Daddy looks just like her and hangs around a lot too!
Here's the babies!
Finally got my "girls" to calm down during the races and after I got finished in the bedroom. You would have thought "they did all the work"....LOL! They were so very "tired"! LOL!
Pumpkin draped on the back of the couch where I was sitting watching the races!
Oreo sunning in the other window by the TV.....and MzKitty in the window sill behind the couch!
Then the lazy girls on the bed....I am ready for my shower and stretching out myself....I hated to move them, but....sometimes I just have to make them share that bed with me! ROFLMAO here!
We are expecting temps in the upper 70's-low 80's today with lots of sunshine, but then by tomorrow another 40+ degree drop in temps and a possibility of more rain. The grass, flowers, trees and especially the lakes are loving it. You can almost sit and watch the grass growing, not used to this much wetness! Of course, you know that old saying April showers bring May flowers and Spring Thundershowers! The weather has sure been topsy turvy for all of us this year!

My sister, Kathy, is doing quite well now! She is in a rehab facility where they can attend to and address her wound twice daily! She has mad her little room, her own apartment I think! The  hubby, kids, grandkids and her friends can all visit her! She is in pretty good spirits most of the time, she just wants to be in her own home, but then don't we all when we are away?  Hopefully within another week or so, they will be able to allow her to go home and have a visiting home health nurse assist her!

Enough of my chatter for now, y'all have a wonderful week, make lots of memories to share! Hug those you love and let them know how precious they are to you! Will chat more with all a little later! Luv, Mat

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Spring is here!

After the cold front that blew through dropping temps 45 degrees in one day, Spring is back, it hit 78 yesterday and to be about that today. I washed all my windows again yesterday and cleaned all the sills between the windows and screens. Cleaned all my blinds too! Now I have all the windows open and a fur girl in 3 of them....LOL! I put away all my sweatshirts and culled out a few. I am now tired, so thought I would sit down a few minutes and post some photos I have been playing with this week.
First is my sweet niece Sebrina! Her 30th birthday was on the 11th. Isn't she pretty in her Easter dress and RDH Be An Artist kit?
Little miss Hayden looked so adorable in her Easter dress and basket that I framed her in CheyOkota's Chantilly Lace Frame and used SBF kit An Eggceptional Pastel Easter by Oklahomadaun background paper!

Next is a photo of Jade from the Father/Daughter Valentine Dance this year! See, before her haircut! She is not allowing too many photos of her now days. You know how kids get?  LOL! She is looking out the window at the Easter Bunny and Basket here. The Easter QP is by Neli and the wallpaper background is Miriam's Flower Overlay #8!
Here is Ruby in a Cute Bunny Frame by Marijja. The lace is Miriam's and the eggs and chocolate bunny are from Neli's Easter II kit.
And last, but certainly not least is little MAN Jayson in his Easter suit! Isn't he just the cutest? He is after the bunny and chicks by CheyOkota! The background paper is RRD April Showers Papers #10
Okay, enough rambling for today, think I will grab my iPad and read or maybe take a nap while I rest from my work....LMAO here! Y'all have a terrific Sunday, make lots of memories to share and I will chat more with you next time! Hugs,  Mat





Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Good News, Good News, Good News!!

Lots of good news for our family now!  Kathy is doing much better, I have actually gotten to speak with her on the phone. She is still a long way from well, but well on the road to recovery! She will need long term wound care, just not sure if in a rehab center or from home with visiting nurse!
Next, Penny is going to be a grandmother again.....TWICE!  Amy & Michael are expecting their first child in September.  Lance and Margaret are also expecting in November. Hayden will get to be a big sister now. Plus we just learned that Michael's brother Marcus and Kayla are expecting their second child as well. All these cousins will get to grow up together.  All the expectant parents are excited as well as the grandparents!
Here's a couple of quick pages I made using some photos that Amy sent of first photos of "Jellybean" and her bulge! The one of Margaret's results photo she sent and some photos I snitched off her FB account.  LOL!
I used a couple of kits of Raspberry Road Designs, plus a QP that I made a while back using Miriam's embellishments.
My outside kitties (Bubba & Prissy) have new brothers and sisters (?) their mama and daddy had 5 new kittens on the first of April.  Not sure what they are yet as I have not wanted to disturb them. She had them in one of the little condo units I built for them outside. LOL! At least they are warm and dry. We have had some rain and some heavy winds, then last evening a front came through dropping temps in the low 40's with wind chills in the upper 30's.  Expecting rain most of the morning too!
My neighbor moved out on Friday evening/Saturday morning! Now the house is being renovated and the landlord's grandson is moving in. I was at the hospital when he was delivered! Talk about feeling old!!! LOL!And finally, my boss and her family are back safely from India. So happy they are all home! Things are finally calming down and getting back to normal around here I think! At least a little less stressful for me. LOL!
Well enough of my rambling for now, will chat more with you next time! Have a great rest of the week y'all! Luv, Mat

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Update on Kathy

Thanks to all of you for your concern, love and prayers!! Just a quick update on Kathy! She was transferred to ICU at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO and had emergency surgery to the infected area of her abdomen on Easter night, late. She has been on a respirator since then. Today they were going to try weaning her off it to see if she could breathe on her own, but when the surgeon visited with her, he was not happy with the color of the drainage and decided to investigate the would site again and cleanse it some more. She is in surgery as I type this.  Prior to this second surgery she was doing well as could be expected, her O2 levels were up and vitals good and normal color returning to the surgery site, so I know all  our/your prayers are being heard. Penny and I and Kathy's family all thank you and I am positive Kathy will thank you when she is well. I had sat down and made this page early this morning, so thought I would post it. Luv y'all and chat more with you next time.  Mat

 Sisters, Kathy and Penny and Maryanne
 
 The QP is by Neli and Wordart is Donna's!