Happy Halloween!!! and a fun toot!

Happy Halloween all! What are your plans? The girls are all going trick-or-treating and I am going to stay home pass out candy. So fun! lol It's actually going to be warm for us this year; in the mid-high 30's. It sure beats the past 3 years when we've had snow or temps in the low 20's. brrr.

Speaking of snow, it's just around the corner and I am so excited!!! Usually we get our first good snow in mid-November. The temps are already trending down. :)

Check this out! http://www.papertrunk.blogspot.com/. (scroll down to I'd like to announce) How cool is that?! I am honored to have been selected and am excited to play with Carrie's stuff! Yay!

My ankle is seriously sore today. My physical therapist really worked it yesterday and warned me that I wouldn't be walking or even feeling well for a few days. He was more than right! Even having taken 2 pain pills last night I barely slept. The pain has made me feel nauseous and I can't even set my foot on the ground. He did point something out to me that could explain why I am still having problems and which could be the root cause; my muscle has atrophy. This is probably caused because of the initial injury as well as the nerve damage/agitation and swelling. The push for me to get off the crutches soon is not as high of a priority as continuing to rest the nerve and try to get the muscle moving through physical therapy. Did I mention painful and invasive therapy? lol! It's going to be a long haul and I am going to be off my feet for months still. At least I have an idea of what is going on now. I may never regain full use of that muscle and this could be a lifetime battle for me. One day at a time. The short term goal is now to get my "good" days between 3-5 days in between the "bad" days. Frustrating, but I am getting good at knowing when to stop and just rest for a few days. :) I think having something tangible to hold onto at this point is going to keep my spirits up. I hope.

Enjoy the last day of October. Gosh, another month gone. Time sure does fly!

CMK November kit is up!

This kit is gorgeous!!! I have to say that I am thrilled with my projects this month, more so than in a very long time! Cathy and Danielle rocked this kit as well! Check out all the awesome projects here in the CMK Kit Inspiration gallery. This kit is going to go quickly. :)

I have Physical Therapy today. It's my second visit and I am not looking forward to it. My ankle/foot felt pretty good yesterday, but today it's a bit achy. I am really not in the mood to have someone messing with it. I couldn't even complete my full round of at home exercises this morning.
I am still sore from falling out of the car; I have more pain in my back and bum today than yesterday, and this cold I have been battling over the past few days has seemed to surface once again. Today would be a perfect day to stay home and scrap, but that's not going to happen. I think I will treat myself to a yummy Teryaki Chicken and rice bowl at Noodle Express after PT.
Happy Tuesday! :)

So sore!

I feel as if I have been in a fender bender. Yesterday I feel out of my car. Yes, out. Pretty stupid. In front of my neighbors and Skye and Ashlyn. I have an Expedition, so it's up a bit higher and I have to slide a bit to get out. I was trying to get out and I planted my crutches on the ground as always and then I just ease my arms onto them. Well, I had placed them in the red rock by our driveway and tried to get out and the next thing I know the crutches flew out from under me. Apparently the rocks moved and down I went. Not gracefully either. I slid down the inside of the car and landed on the ground on my back and I ended up with my head resting on the running board. I was in immediate pain. I did manage to get up and ask the neighbors if I had scored a perfect 10 on that one and laughed before I started crying. I went in the house and sat down and did that laugh/cry thing for several minutes. I was thankful that I decided to wear my winter coat because even with it on, I managed to scrape myself up pretty good.

I have bruises in places that I didn't even know I hurt until I tried to sleep last night. My back is sore in several places. My neck is stiff. My right wrist is in pain and my left elbow is really banged up and swollen. It was a long night full of tossing and turning just trying to find a comfortable position that didn't cause pain to my back, neck or ankle. I am having a hard time using my crutches today so I am walking slowly and carefully and trying not to place too much pressure on my foot or arms. Today is going to be a long day and I have Katie.

At least my foot seems to be feeling better again. A few days of rest got me back on track. If nothing else, at least I know that I can't push myself too hard, even though I really want to get back on both feet again. I can once again do all my home pt exercises without agony so things are looking up. I am able to touch my ankle area for longer periods of time now, too. That in itself is huge because of all the tissue damage. Hopefully when the PT does whatever it is he's going to do to it tomorrow I can tolerate it. Last time I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin when he barely touched it.

Well, I gotta get back upstairs to Katie before she wakes up and crawls out of her playpen. Another long day ahead.
Happy Monday!

I've been tagged

Happy Wednesday! Today was another gorgeous fall day! We got into the low 70's, even warmer than predicted. There were some pretty big wind gusts today and the leaves were falling from the trees faster than I could count. Our yard (and the streets) is covered with leaves, but they are kind of fun to walk through.

I have been tagged by Maria!
Here are the rules which must be posted on your blog if you are tagged.
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

here are 7 "quirky" facts about me:

1. I am a compulsive hand washer. My hands get raw and I am trying to cut back. lol

2. I have to drink a full glass of water as soon as I get up before I can drink anything else.

3. I dont like to sleep in a room with the door closed. It drives me nuts!

4. I don't eat beef or pork, can't stand the taste or texture. My mom used to make me sit at the table and eat it all. I finally got smart and started putting it into my napkin and tossing it.

5. I am pretty lazy about how I look/dress. I never wear makeup and rarely wear jeans.

6. I can't read books back to back on the same day; meaning if I finish a book, I can't start a new one until the next day, or often even a few days.

7. I rarely shave my legs together on the same day. I do one leg on day and the other the next. That is IF I even bother. Forget about it during the Winter. Haha... I am sure my hubby just loves that.

here are my 7 friends I am passing this along to:
Tina http://tinaalbertson.blogspot.com/
Dani http://danielleflanders.blogspot.com/
Nura http://freshasdaisies-nura.blogspot.com/
Creasa http://www.creasabrown.blogspot.com/
Rachel http://happaymommay.blogspot.com/
Jessica http://jessicabellus.blogspot.com/
Suzy http://pnwchica.blogspot.com/

It's a beautiful fall day!

We have really lucked out this fall, because today is another beautiful 65'+ day! :) There is a slight breeze that makes one remember that it is actually near the end of October, but it's wonderful! The trees are gorgeous, there are leaves littering the ground and even my fuschia's are in full bloom. Heck, we may even have a nice "warm" Halloween this year with temps in the 30's/40's! Yay! A few weeks ago I would have never forseen this.

I am finally posting this bird mobile I made. It was fun and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. It's going into Skye and Ashlyn's room and they love it, so that's really all that matters! (Sorry about the wonky pics, I thought I had rotated them.)

Kara's ear is doing well. It's still a bit painful for her, but is healing nicely. She is able to move it and that's important. She wants a tattoo now. lol!

Today I decided to wear my hair in low pony tails. It's been years and years since I have done so. I get tired of keeping it down and it seems I am always throwing it up into a bun. I am thankful my hair is finally getting long enough again.

Last but not least, today is a happy mail day! I got my yummy CMK kit and other goodies I ordered. Time to get down and scrap! I hope to dig in once Katie goes home for the day, but I am not feeling all that great so I may have to push it off until tomorrow so I can keep ahead of this "thing". I really don't want to be laid up with a nasty cold.

Have a happy day!

Happy 17th Kara!!!

My sweet baby girl, my first born love is 17 today! I just can't fathom this. She was just a toddler and now she's a Junior in High School. *sigh* I wish I could go back and recapture all those moments in time that I took for granted. All those times I thought that I would hold onto forever, but have slipped through the holes in my memory never to return. However, I am truly grateful for the one memory that I still have that is just about as clear as the day it happened; her birth. There are more fuzzy edges with each passing year, but I still get all sappy and teary-eyed each birthday reliving the events of her birth and sharing this special story with her. Out of all the memories I carry, this is is the one I never want to forget!

For her birthday she decided that she wanted to put some holes into her precious body. Eek! I had NO idea what this bar was until I saw it at the tattoo parlor yesterday and I about fell over! I thought this "bar thing" was something smaller and not so invasive. She's wanted one for years and we told her when she turned 17 she could get one. She handled it well, although she was pretty scared at the time. I held her hand and all I could think about was how quick the process was. We were in and out in just minutes.

Now, for a ankle/foot update: if this weren't so funny I'd be in tears! Skye and I went to Starbucks this morning and the pavement was wet. What do I do? I slipped. One crutch went one way, the other went the opposite way and my casted foot bounced off the ground and smacked into the door. OUCH! Someone behind me asked me if I was OK, and fortunately I was. I think I was more shocked and embarrassed than hurt and Skylar just thought it was the funniest thing and I suppose it was. haha. Not so funny now because I am sore, but bearable. Today is just going to be a down day for me. bare minimum.
Having said that, I have noticed huge improvements each day! I have been doing my pt exercises at home and can almost complete the full count of each one, each round. The most difficult time is at the end of the day because my ankle doesn't tolerate it well, but I do at least 25-30 of the 50 reps before I can't take anymore. I at least know this is helping the process. The first few times I tried, I could barely handle 10, so anything above that is improvement. I have been walking a bit and just making sure I am not over-doing it. The therapist wanted me to try to get a shoe on for 10 minutes each day, but I just can't do that yet because the area around my ankle is super hyper-sensitive. Soon enough. Slow and steady wins the race and that's the way I am going to go. :)

Happy Sunday!

Come on over!

Create My Keepsake is having it's 2nd annual Croptoberfest and Sale this weekend! Come on over and check it out! Everything in the store is 25% off including past and current kits! Join us for some fun projects with a chance to win some awesome prizes, too! Hope to see you there!
(you can click on the image to make it larger).

an update

I had a nerve conduction test done yesterday and it appears that the root problem of my ankle pain is not a direct nerve issue. The nerve is being affected by swelling though, which is an issue. Pretty much this is not something that can be a "quick fix" with surgery, not that I wanted surgery, but if it would have solved this problem then that would have been wonderful. This has deflated my spirits once again. I know there is something wrong, but nothing is showing up. It's a frustrating process that makes me doubt myself. I still have minor pain and visible swelling, yet there seems to be no reason for it. This just means more resting, which is all fine and dandy, but I have no end in sight. Oh well, I am sure I will be over this newest pity party soon. ;)

I did manage to create 2 cards last weekend with Pink.Sugar.Pop. stamps! LOVE these stamps! I am not able to upload at this time, but will do so later.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

CMK rocks!!! and a sneak peek at the November kit

I just have to say it, CMK rocks!!! This is my home on the net (and I have the post count to prove it... heehee). But seriously, if you are looking for a friendly and uber talented site to hang out at, this is the place for you! The store is awesome and Rebecca has THE BEST customer service out there! Come over and check us out if you aren't already a member. Be sure to say "hi!".

You are not going to want to miss the stunning November kit called 'Vintage Home'. It's going to be beautiful! It's got some unexpected colors for this time of year and has a warm vintage feel to it. I can not wait to get this kit and see what Cathy and Dani do with it! They are going to come up with some amazing projects for sure! The full kit reveal is coming in a few weeks, so stay tuned. :)

Check this out!!! This would be so very cool!!! Good luck CMK!!!

Well, I am off to *hopefully* scrap a bit. I have been distracted this morning and haven't done anything yet. Idea's are spinning and I just need to get them on paper.

Happy Friday!

I scrapped!

yahoo!!! I found some mojo and created 2 layouts! Even more impressive is the fact that they are pictures from this school year and only a month old. LOL! Something I have never seemed to pull off before.

I am hoping my mojo will continue to pour tomorrow. The girls don't have school and I am Katie free, so I plan to scrap. I have some paper cut for some quick and easy altered projects that I have been meaning to do for weeks now. I also need to work on my CMK Croptoberfest project! You guys are in for a real treat! The DT has outdone themselves once again and you are going to have plenty of Fall inspiration as well as a great time with the challenges! Looking forward to this event!

I just love Thursdays! It's my favorite TV night of the week! I really do need to get a tivo or dvr because my second favorite show is The Office and it runs parallel to Grey's. Bummer. I've gotta have my GA fix though. ;)

If you are looking for a fun movie, you have got to rent (or buy) Evan Almighty. It's cute, funny and has a wonderful message. It made me stop and think. I like that.

Have fun!

CMK work and a blog header!

I am finally able to upload the images I created with the CMK October mini Halloween kit. Yay! I have had them sitting on Kara's camera since September. Some days I really dislike our computer and Kara's camera. *sigh* I created the blog header with the kit as well. Something fun for October!

I want to scrap. I seriously miss scrapping. I feel so uncreative and blah without it. I have ideas swarming and overflowing in my head and when the time comes to empty them onto paper, nothing comes out. My mojo is still stuck on zero and it really stinks. I tried to scrap last night, but after 45 minutes of pushing paper and pics around I decided that I just need to wait and try again. Hopefully after Katie leaves today I will have some ideas.

I have even slowly been cleaning and purging my scrappy area once again, and rediscovering older supplies is always fun. I am gathering some things together for Kara's DECA class to use, too. Sometimes I look at all my stuff and wonder why? What was I thinking? It seems so *gasp* wasteful now, but at the time it wasn't. LOL! I think of all the money I have spent and it almost makes me want to stop buying, but I do know that I have become pretty selective about what I do purchase so I have minimal guilt as my eyes travel from one packed shelf to another. I feel most guilty that I am not using any of it. I have pretty much just done DT work along with a handful of layouts in the past 2 months. Yikes! I know it's mostly because of my foot. It's a comfort issue. If I stand too long, I can feel my ankle and leg swell even though I don't bear weight upon it, and if I sit too long my foot falls asleep and starts to ache.

My foot is finally feeling much better again. I slipped last week and landed hard on my foot, which set me back once again. I did some serious resting last weekend though so it is feeling much better. I sat and read, watched TV, worked some puzzle books and played some board games with the girls. All in all it was OK. My body really needed the break. Sometimes I kick myself for volunteering to watch Katie. The days I have her take a toll on me and usually I end up having to take a pain pill after she leaves. It's really a day to day thing. Some days are better than others, but that's true with pretty much everything in life.

Cross Country has ended for Skye. She had a great time and is looking forward to basketball starting up next month. I am happy to see her trying some new things out and embracing everything school has to offer. It's going to help her become a well-rounded person and she will have such pride in herself. Hopefully she will continue to enjoy several activities and sports all throughout the rest of Middle and High School.

Take care!

yet another update

I went to the Dr. yesterday and for the first time in a long time, I feel some hope! The pain has pretty much diminished with the exception of a few areas in my ankle and in my arch area, which is a blessing. The dr. thinks now that it is either my nerve (Tarsel Tunnel) or a tendon issue, which isn't showing up on the MRI, but is apparent through some testing she did. Maybe it's a bit of both. Time will tell. I am still not able to bear weight on my foot other than a few steps here and there, and the plan is for me to continue using my crutches full time for another few weeks and then if I am feeling up to it I can start walking a bit with them. I am not too eager to walk since I am really afraid that I will end up back where I was a month ago. My hands are raw and torn up and my underarms are screaming, and I really have to mentally think about wanting to get up at times, but I'll take that over foot pain any day.

I have a Nerve Conduction Study scheduled for Oct. 16th, which will determine if the issue is my nerve. Not looking forward to this, but it's just another step in the process and I am pretty strong and determined, so hopefully it won't be too terrible. If the test comes back as a nerve problem, then surgery will be the next step.

I will start Physical Therapy on the 17th, nothing strenuous, just ultrasound and heat therapy as well as some light stretching.

My spirits are lifted and even though I still have some more hills to climb, I know that eventually we will get to the bottom of this. I just want to thank everyone who has been thinking of me, encouraging me, supporting me and praying for me. I can't thank you enough! :)