My first layout in months! CMS #33

Hi everyone! :) Did you miss me? I sure missed scrapping and am ready to dig in and play with paper again.

 

I did manage to complete a few classes during the last 6 months, and quite successfully as well. I do have my final in Algebra tomorrow, which I am not sure how that is going to go, but aside from that I am done for now. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA this entire quarter. I am so proud of myself, but it has taken a lot of work on energy (and several glasses of wine along the way, too. lol).

 

In addition to school, Ashlyn has kept me quite busy as well. In the past 6 months she has undergone 2 colonoscopies/endoscopies (one in October and another early in February). She has had multiple other tests and x-rays and doctor visits along the way. In October her Crohns had gotten worse yet again, as confirmed by tests and scoping, so another treatment plan was called for. She now has Remicade infusions every 7-8 weeks. She has been slow to respond to the Remicade,(hence the fact that he had 2 scopings so close together), but it appears to be working. Finally. Something that is helping her for the first time in 2 years. She still has active disease in a few areas, and some new areas of inflammation, but they are mild and overall she has little inflammation in areas that were quite infected by the disease. Unfortunately it has caused not so pleasant side effects, but we have to go with what we know is working now, because there is a chance that in the future it will not. She is taking high doses of steroids to counter act some of the negative effects of the Remicade, but these also come with issues. it's all really just a big circle of things and we just have to keep making adjustments as neccessary to keep her as healthy as possible. This is what works for us now, so this is what we do. I have become quite good at nailing down her symptoms and advocating her needs, and her doctors and I have a nice teamwork approach that is helpful all around.

 

 

I could probably type endlessly here, but I think I will just share a layout I created today. I have so much to share, but there is plenty of time for that.

 

 Ahhh.... the sweet feel of paper and an inspirational challenge- just what the doctor ordered for me. lol

 

One of my favorite challenge sites is Color Me Scrappy. It was one of the first places I went to for inspiration after six + months of not creating.

 

The color scheme for CMS Challenge #33 is so fresh and pretty! I tried to keep my layout a bit on the lighter side.

 

 

(please forgive teh horrible quality of this photo. I do not have a camera any longer and Ashlyn was helpful enough to take a picture with her iPod for me. A least the colors are true- it's just a bit on the grainy/not so clear side.)

 

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to catching up with everyone again. :)