Society of Stampaholics

Welcome and Thank You

Thank you for continuing to visit S.O.S. I wish I could be as active as in the past, but I only have one child - a sophomore now, if you can believe it! The years are growing shorter and shorter before Gigi spreads her wings and leaves our nest, so my crafting/blogging time is limited.

I will continue to share at least one post a week featuring projects made with Hampton Art projects.

The Card Chain Challenge has its own blog now (created by Angel Gail and Angel Jo). Almost 2,500 cards have traveled between 30 countries since September 10, 2009! I encourage you to participate in this monthly card exchange as it's a great way to make friends. (It's also nice to find something other than bills in your mailbox!) ;~D

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day.

Deborah

Health Update & November CCC Sign Up Info

Hi, All!

If you've been wondering about the Card Chain Challenge, it's alive and well and being temporarily hosted at my dear friend Gail's blog. You can sign up for the November CCC here. (Gail is a PEACH, so leave her love if you drop in!)

I have an update as to my medical condition, and it's actually great news!

I was diagnosed on Friday with Extensive Lumbar Disc Disease.

(What on earth is great about that, you're probably wondering....)

First of all, it sounds horrific but isn't. I mean, it's no walk in the park, but it's not like I'm doomed to a wheelchair, etc. I have arthritis which has caused moderate loss of disc height and mild spurring (hence the fancy-pants-scary-sounding disease name).

This can be treated with physical therapy and medication. Scheduling physical therapy is in the works, and this will help alleviate the pain. They've given me drugs for pain management, but I tend to dose myself very lightly because (1) I'm not keen on becoming an addict; and (2) even a small dose makes me groggy - and one can't teach without a full battery of wits. (Okay, one can, but I don't recommend it.) I've taken a small dose at bedtime for the last few nights, and, for the first time in years, am able to sleep more than four hours. This is miraculous as the last six months have taken me down to three hours per night.

I cannot even begin to tell you what this kind of constant pain and exhaustion has done to my mental and emotional state. I have been severely depressed to the point I was starting to wonder if I needed to be hospitalized. It's been a very unhappy patch, all in all. However, if I can continue to actually get proper rest, I think the worst may be behind me. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has been patient with me during this time. It grieved me to stop blogging, but I could barely function (let alone write). I feel confident that I'm on the mend and hope that I can get back to my old self soon.

Thank you for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

P.S. Today was the start of the Hero Arts Hostess blog hop. It's a two-day affair, and my day is tomorrow, so check back for a look-see at what I made!

Spouse and the Good News

I've sort've been keeping some information under wraps for the last five years because it's not the thing you want to advertise on the Internet.

When the economy hit the skids back in 2007, Spouse's job was one of those hundreds of thousands that bit it big time here in Indiana. Talk about your nightmares. There was no employment to be had - and especially if you had any education (he has a Master's). After about a year, he finally landed a job, but it was third shift.

(No woman in her right mind is going to announce online that she and her young daughter are sleeping home alone every night, so that's why very few people knew about it.)

The work was manual, the pay, crap (less than half his former salary). So it's been tough financially and emotionally because having the Daddy-Man living on a different schedule is just not conducive to family happiness. Somebody's always tired, you can't plan on doing activities at normal times, and it's really kind of lonely for everyone. Oh, and trips... trips are just plain hellish.

Well, friends, I'm here to announce that Spouse has a new job... and it's during the day!!! He's now a supervisor at U Indy - he started last week. He took us to visit his office on Sunday, and I must say he's fixed it up fine. The only thing it's missing is windows, but he's got lovely lights on a dimmer, so he's escaped the dreaded florescent "hummers" that typically illuminate the workplace.

He and Gigi and I have spent this past week luxuriating in his vertical presence during the day. I love having him next to me at night while we laugh and make fun of whatever is on the television. Of course, it's not all roses. The logistics of three people suddenly being on the same schedule has been surprisingly tricky - we've had to rearrange shower and laundry times, who drops off and picks up the kid every day, and all sorts of other things.

BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE OUR FAMILY IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE SAME SCHEDULE!!!

Today just happens to be Spouse's 50th birthday, and Gigi and I are so looking forward to celebrating it with him today rather than on the weekend!

This really IS awesome, and I just wanted to share!

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day.

Deborah

Update on My Dad

My father was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this summer. (Yes, I slipped that news into the beginning of a CCC post because I didn't want to bother anyone with it.) The cancer was captured quite early - in Stage One - so there was cause for optimism. 

He had surgery yesterday morning, and it was successful. He'll have a few weeks to recover and regain his strength before he'll have a few rounds of radiation therapy. I think his doctors are very confident he'll make a full recovery.

So if anyone has been wondering why I've been MIA recently, that's why!

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

 

 

 

Introducing Baby Wyatt!

Sabrina is a regular player in the Card Chain Challenge, and her daughter Desireé has been facing a pretty rough pregnancy - lots of complications that were posing a danger to both mom and baby. Sabrina, of course, has been quite worried.

 

One of the things I really love about all of the ladies who participate in this challenge is how warm and supportive they are. When I told them about Desiree's situation, they were quick to send cards and prayers to both mom and mommy-to-be!

 

Well, folks, I am beyond thrilled to report that the baby's arrived!

Wyatt was born on Friday June 26, 2015, at 12:36. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 18 3/4 inches long.

Desireé and Wyatt both got to go home on Monday, and Sabrina wants everyone to know that she and her family were touched and grateful for all of the cards and prayers. As she put it, "if it hadn't been for everyone's prayers, baby Wyatt and Desireé might not be with us today." 

Serena also sent me a progress report and some pictures of Wyatt with his brother Connor and sister Alexis to share with y'all:

Wyatt still has a few little problems with his circulation to his feet but it's not too bad, and every now and then he stops breathing, so that's really scary. We're looking into getting a monitor that will tell us if his heart stops. It did once yesterday for about 2 seconds. So if you all could still please keep Baby Wyatt in your prayers we would truly appreciate it.

The Little Prince

Princess Alexis with the Little Prince.

Prince Connor with the Little Prince! 

Congratulations, Desireé, on your beautiful baby boy! We're all rooting for him (and you) and sending up prayers.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

This is Getting Ridiculous

SO.

I wrote my Germ Manifesto three days ago and it posted yesterday.

Today, in the middle of Day Three of the basketball tournament, (which our team won, by the way) I got a tickle in my throat.

Which turned into a cough.

That multiplied into Many Coughs.

Deep, chest-rattling, basso coughs.

And then the sneezing started.

Followed by a constant need to blow my nose which is now starting to swell and... wait... wait for it....

Ah. There it is.

CONGESTION.

Either the germs didn't get my memo or they're all adolescent punks determined to show me I'm not the boss of them.

HEY, GERMS! JUST KNOW THIS: IF I DIE, I'M TAKING ALL OF YOU WITH ME!

I really cannot believe this....

 

No Vacancy

Well... after six weeks of being sick, I think I may live.

I visited my GP on December 23 with a terrible cough and a vague desire to die. I was diagnosed with a dandy case of Bronchitis. The doctor prescribed wonder drugs and all was well.

Or almost well. My body was exhausted, so the Bronchitis took its toll. I was laid up for all of Christmas break and was unable to complete a comprehensive plan for my spring classes. And then, no sooner did school start... and I was sick again!

Same terrible cough - only this time it was accompanied by pain - having-an-ice-pick-slammed-into-the-lower-right-quadrant-of-my-skull kind of pain, in fact. (Now I had more than a vague desire to die, I can assure you.) The diagnosis? Sinusitis.

ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME?!

Okay, fast-forward two weeks. I think I've beaten the Sinusitis but juuuuuust to be on the safe side, I want to post the following Public Service Announcement:

Attention, please! I feel that I've done my share for the whole virus/cold/flu bug community, and I must politely (but firmly) inform any future guests that I am no longer available to host future conventions in 2015.

I understand that this may pose an inconvenience for some of you, but I think you'll find equally pleasant accommodations in any one of my neighbors' bodies. (I highly recommend the guy across the street - his volatile stomach promises non-stop action for the adventure-seeking germ.)

Once again, Human Host Deborah is no longer accepting germ reservations, guests, or events for the rest of 2015. We thank you for your cooperation and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah