It's only Saturday

It feels like so many days have gone by since Thanksgiving even!

Thanksgiving dinner was provided by Stop and Shop, courtesy of my sister. Both of us agree - we won't go that route again. We thought it would be easier since it was just us girls eating. Paul still has no appetite so he rested at home.

After our meal my sister and I planned out our day of shopping on Black Friday! Yes, we were among the crazies out at 4 in the morning. My friend Anita joined us as we hit up Wal Mart, Target, Circuit City, Michael's, and the local County Store. Then we capped it off with a fantastic breakfast. By 10 in the morning we were shopped out - plus my car couldn't hold anymore! Fun times!

Later that afternoon we all gathered in our backyard to make wreaths. Anita and I have become addicted to creating these beautiful grapevine based wreaths. I have made 2 so far and will be making some more tomorrow at my friend Heather's house. I will share pictures after then.

We hope you all had a wonderful day gathered with family and friends!

Still so much to be thankful for...

Evne though it seems that this past year has been full of hardships and illness, there is still much to be thankful for.

Paul, Alayna and I want to wish you all a wonderful day filled with fantastic food, family, and friends!

Totally my fault!

Ugh. I was finally sorting through Alayna's monstrous pile of summer clothes and cleaning out her closet today. She was in her crib reading her books and coloring. It was nearing her nap time and she was lying down and closing her eyes. So I quietly slip out and she falls asleep. I, myself, was incredibly tired today. So I also took a nap. I wake up a couple hours later and hear Alayna chattering away in her room. I go in to get her and to my surprise I find...

She was very proud of her work. She also drew me a nice abstract piece on her sheet and pillow.

So my dad is still in the hospital and is expected to be there for the rest of this week. They inserted a PICC line today and will continue giving him antibiotics. Apparently they said he has a staph infection that has entered his blood stream. He was lucky he went in when he did otherwise he could have gone into septic shock and died. This is really distubing information to hear and is hard to deal with from so far away.

Paul has his weekly appointment tomorrow in Boston so hopefully things will go smooth with that as it has been.

I am pretty busy with orders in Alayna's Closet. I even sent my first package out to Hawaii this morning. I am so grateful for this little escape that I have as it keeps my brain from thinking about things too much.

This is for Addie... I haven't taken a picture of my do yet. I still might but I think there is too much red! :P Love ya! ~A

Happy rainy weekend!

Today is the most perfect rainy, foggy, dreary day to stay inside safe and warm with your loved ones.

I just wanted to update you on my dad. The tests came back negative for MRSA! That is really great news! I am still not sure why he had an infection in his back - but they are still giving him many antibiotics and he will remain in the hospital for a few more days. Thanks again for all the well wishes.

Paul is doing good also. His sense of humor is slowly returning - much more dry than before! :P I need to take a picture of him to post since I haven't in awhile. He is really thin. I had to buy him some more jeans because his others just fall off him even with a belt. We are hoping he starts eating soon since Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I can't believe the holidays are upon us!

Christmas Eve is 40 days away!!! Have you started Christmas shopping yet? I have only purchased a couple things for Alayna and Eden but nothing else. I better get on it.

Thanks so much!

Thank you everyone for all the thoughts, prayers, and kind words sent out to my family. Times have really been trying - but we will get through them! There isn't any update on him today. They are still waiting for the cultures to come back. So in the meantime he is enjoying a (not so)lovely stay at San Juan Regional Medical Center.




Today Alayna and I decided to escape the house and went to The Butterfly Place with our friends Anita and Lina. It is just over the Massachusetts border. The girls had a great time seeing all of the butterflies flitting about. They also have a koi pond in there and little Chinese Painted Quail running around.




This is a really cool looking glass winged butterfly.

While I was holding Alayna this really big, beautiful, blue Morpho butterfly landed on her arm. She just looked at it for a long time and then it flew away. I think Anita may have snapped a picture of it. I will try and post that later. ** updated to include pic ** Thanks Anita! :)

Another favorite was these giant Owl butterflies. I don't think we actually ever saw any of them flying around. They were all busy eating bananas.

I've been lucky...

Up until Paul was diagnosed with Leukemia, I really haven't had a close family member experience any kind of illness. My grandpa passed away almost 15 years ago. So it has been a good run. But now - I feel like my luck has run out. It is very hard to know that people you love are hurting and there is nothing you can do.

I hate that my dad is in the hospital. He has always been so strong, someone you don't think anything will happen to. They are testing my dad for MRSA. He is in an isolation unit. He sounded in good spirits when I talked to him this morning. But then when we were saying our goodbyes and I told him I love you - his voice cracked. He started to cry. That is the worst.

It's getting cold!

The days are so short and there is still so much to do! I thought I was ready for Fall but it looks like we are quickly moving towards Winter.

Paul had his appointment today and it went as good as can be expected. All of his numbers are where they should be and are improving each week. Yay for that!

Alayna and I went in to the hospital with Paul today so I could get a flu shot. I don't have a primary care doctor (luckily I don't ever really get sick) so they gave me one down there. I was totally fretting it - I HATE needles! I think I work myself up and make it worse than it really is. Yesterday Alayna got her flu shot at her Pediatrician's office. She also received a booster from another shot. One in each arm and my baby girl didn't even shed a tear. She is so tough. :P Certainly not like her mama.

A little bit of sad news though. My dad is in the hospital in New Mexico. He was having some seriously crippling back pain for the last week and after going to several doctors and urgent care - he was admitted into the hospital today. Late this afternoon he was taken into surgery. They believe he had some sort of infection. He came through ok and we are now waiting for results from the samples they took from his fluid. I really wish I could be there for my mom and dad.

Umm, what else. My show this weekend went well. I had fun and bought more than I made - that's for sure.

There were 19 different artisans from Mont Vernon. Half of us were in the community room in the new fire house and the other half were across the parking lot in the town hall. I was with the lucky bunch in the fire house.

My booth was right next to my wonderful friend Anita - who makes the most beautiful bracelets and her own boro glass lampwork beads.

The next showing for the Mont Vernon Artisans is for Spring Gala. Definately looking forward to that!

Goodness! It has been another week since I last posted.

First, update on Paul... He is doing really well. His whole demeanor has lifted a bit. He is still on a mostly liquid diet - smoothies, Ensure, soups - but occasionally I can sneak him some of the dinner I have made. His doctor appointment went well on Tuesday. His numbers have gone up so no transfusions have been necessary. And he has been watching Alayna for me more and more which has been a giant help!

I have been getting ready for the Mont Vernon Artisan Art Show and Sale this weekend. So I have been sewing and stitching and cutting and packaging, and everything like crazy the last week! Yesterday a reporter from the Union Leader even came over to take some pictures to use for an article. You can read more about it here. I will have alot more pictures to post after this weekend is over.

Have a nice weekend everyone!