Kendall Boggs: A Christmas Giveaway!!!!

My friend Kendall is giving away another painting.  She is soo talented and generous.  While you post your comment for a chance to win the White Angel painting, sign up to follow her blog.  Fun, interesting and informative reading!  Opportunity ends today at 5pm cst!

Kendall Boggs Fine Arts and Crafts: A Christmas Giveaway!!!!: yep.  It's that time of year again!!! I realize I haven't done a "giveaway" in a while so it's time!!! I am giving away my painting "..

Have you seen HER?

At 3 weeks old, we drove to Greenville, AL to see the puppies and decide which one would come home with us.  Decisions, Decisions, hmmm...

On the left we have the only salt and pepper.  Do you know how to tell when a miniature schnauzer is going to be salt and pepper?  Neither did I till Nov. 16, 2012, they will have the white coloring behind the ears.  On the right we have the only phantom black & silver.  Look at those adorable markings!

Our Phantom Black & Silver!

I wish I was confident in getting 2.  The salt & pepper is adorable!

The other four babies were solid black and gorgeous, we just have a thing for how the markings show up when they are salt & pepper or black & silver.  We also love mini schnauzers on the larger size.  These two girls are going to be big!  Check out those paws!

Scott got a great shot of the Dad,

and the sweet Mom.  She was alert but let us hold her babies for a long time.

Difficult as the choice is, we have decided to buy the phantom black & silver female.  We haven't settled on a name yet but are playing with...

Shug, Sullivan, Henley and Lutzy!

Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think.

How bout this picture for capturing a moment!

That's our girl!!!

We are in LOVE already.  Now time to house proof and get ready to bring her HOME!

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

Favorite things!!!

Yep, it's a great thing that these are not sold year round.  I cannot get enough!!!

Yum, Yum, Yum!  I think I could eat my weight in these!!!

My white tiger Oakley's and a new "DO"!

Yep, I'm a sucker for a Tervis Tumbler and this coffee mug!

There is just something about this beach towel!

and these slippers

and these pajama pants

and these pajamas!

Doing this, with this view!

I wish I had bought one of each color, of these JCrew shorts!

Have looked and looked and can't find any more like them.

I love the color, the lightweight cotton, and the place!

The way these Asics feel!

Currently my favorite workout pants!

Law and Order SVU

Honey's Chandelier

This amazing water bottle, which assist me in my quest to drink a gallon of water a day!

"Joy" the Brain Tumor

What a week!

  On the 26th of September, while chatting with Mom, she mentioned to be in prayer for Cherie, she had been diagnosed with Shingles and was not feeling well.  BTW, Cherie had the vaccination for shingles.  The docs explained that you can still get shingles, even when vaccinated you just wont have as bad of a case.  Cherie, took her Valtrex and whatever else they told her to do.  She became nauseated and dehydrated.  Off to the Dr. again.  She was given fluids and went off Valtrex. 

 By Friday the 28th, Cherie was having hourly headaches that lasted bout 2 minutes each time.  The headaches became so horrendous that by Sunday, she asked Julie to take her to the ER after church.  So off they went to St. Vincent Hospital.  Four hours later, Cherie was seen by Dr. John Crawford.  He wanted to run some test, thinking that the headaches had little or nothing to do with shingles.  Cherie sent Julie home, to get herself and family ready for the week, then Julie would come back and take Cherie home.  A CAT scan was taken, Dr. Crawford came back in Cherie's little ER area and asked where her niece had gone and proceeded to explain that his hunch was correct, the CAT scan shows a brain tumor!  Dr. Crawford said he was contacting Dr. Thomas (Cherie's internist) and Dr. Wilson (neurosurgeon) and after an MRI we would know more! 

 Cherie preceded to ask the doctor if he could just give her morphine and let her die.  She is not afraid of death, but pain and suffering is a whole different story.  Dr. Crawford explained,

 that this was not a death sentence.  

Then something fabulous happened Dr. Crawford asked Cherie if he could pray with her.
 It was the sweetest, most heartfelt prayer. 

 Cherie felt the power of God working in her life right then and there.
 We all felt terrible that our "sweet Cherie" received this  frightening news while she was by herself.  I now know, that this was God's timing, not ours.
 Dr. Crawford might not have felt led to pray with Cherie had Julie been there and his prayer set the "tone of Peace" for the rest of the week!
Sunday night late, Julie came back to the ER, to hear the "shocking" news and spend the night with Cherie.  While Cherie and Julie waited to be moved to a room.  My awesome Family began to rally.

 On Monday, Dad drove Mom to Alex City, (after Toliver's Dr's appt.) Lysa drove Mom and Aunt Judy to Birmingham.  Mom stayed with Cherie in her hospital room.  Lysa and Aunt Judy went back to Alex City Monday evening.  By Monday, most of Aunt Cherie's family and friends had been notified.  The ministers at Cherie's church were incredibly faithful to come by, pray and send food for the family.

  Dr. Tommy Wilson, talked with Cherie, he felt certain that we were dealing with a Meningioma. Cherie's internist Dr. Catherine Thomas studied Cherie's case and let her know that she felt good about  the plan and who God had sent as her surgeon.   Dr. Roxanne Travelute (who Cherie used to work for) came by and put Cherie at ease.
Cherie was assured repeatedly, that if one must have a brain tumor, this is the one you want!
 Bad news: Cherie was told she had a brain tumor.

Good News: We felt fairly certain that it was a Meningioma.  90% of these tumors are benign.

Treatment: MRI on Tuesday

 Brain Surgery to remove tumor on Thursday, October 4, 2012

I'm not even sure what all Cherie was going thru at this point, but for any of you with some hospital experience, she was poked, prodded, drugged, monitored and trying to absorb enormous amounts of information.  I do know that they were giving her huge amounts of steroids to reduce inflammation, in hopes of minimizing the painful headaches!
As wonderful as steroids are, they have major side effects.

At this point, let me say, "the 6th Floor at St. Vincent's" may never be the same.  The staff was super wonderful to put up with all of us.  They were so kind to Cherie and several went out of their way to get to know and pray with my "AUNT SCARY".  Thanks be to God, for the staff on the 6th floor of St. Vincent's.  Dr. Wilson's P.A., Ron Philly was awesome and had to put up with some of Cherie's steroidal hyperness.  At some point in time, Cherie told Ron, "this tumor has shown me so much love that I think I want to take it home with me" and "I've named my tumor JOY"! 

 I drove to Birmingham Tuesday and stayed at hospital with Mom and Cherie during the day (except for running the errands) then slept at Aunt Cherie's house while Mom stayed with Cherie at the hospital.   God bless Honey, the first night nobody told her that the love seat/couch pulled out to a full length bed.  She slept/stayed awake in the fetal position all night.  God is Good though, Mom's back didn't bother her.  God protected me from my directionally challenged self, my TomTom wasn't charged and getting back to Cherie's Tuesday night was a little tricky.  Cherie's phone (both cell and room) rang constantly!  I'm sure that she hasn't had a hot meal in a week.

  

Cherie insisted on being sedated for the MRI, I don't blame her.  I totally get the whole phobia thing!  Poor Cherie, the MRI ordeal took quite awhile.  And recovery was lengthy as well.  If you visit Cherie, remind her to tell you of "the Magic Carpet Ride" she took during her MRI.    But results revealed nothing new other than location of incision was going to be a little further back than originally thought.  Praise God for this Meningioma!!!

Wednesday was errand day for me and a fairly busy afternoon visiting with sweet friends and family.  I even got to see and reconnect with Cherie's long time friend Gail Holt.  She is adorable!  Mom and I got a bite to eat at the Bistro in the hospital.  Shortly there after, I left for Cherie's house, because Thurs. was the BIG day!  Oh, Colby and Doug sent Cherie a video,  wishing her lots of love and a speedy recovery so we can all be together Thanksgiving! 

On Thursday morning they took Cherie for surgery at 9 ish.  What an unexpected blessing, although I didn't get to see her prior to surgery.  She really didn't have alot of time to think about having this done!

Aunt Judy, Lysa and Kathy came from Alex City.  Ralph drove from Chattanooga.  Julie took part of the day off.  Johnny Gordon even called Cherie on Wednesday night and said he would be praying for her.  Cherie, ask Johnny if you had to get a brain tumor to get him to call you?  LOL

We expected surgery to last about 3 hours.  By 10:45 we had word that surgery had begun.  By 11:30, Dr. Tommy Wilson was ready to meet with us and surgery went "Beautifully".  By 1:00, we saw Cherie move from recovery to ICU.  She was doing great.  UNREAL!!!  Lysa stayed at Cherie's house Thursday night, because Cherie was in ICU.  Then on Friday,  Cherie was moved back to the 6th floor of St. Vincent's.  Where by the way, our care was excellent!  By Friday, I was home, Mom was home, Julie was home, Aunt Judy and Ralph were home, Lysa stayed for the weekend in Cherie's hospital room.  Cherie recovered so well that on Sunday the 7th of October 2012, Cherie went home from the hospital, one week after having been diagnosed with a brain tumor!

We have a few milestones to go:
Waiting for lab results to confirm "benign" tumor
Stitches to be removed on Tuesday the 16th
Then we will find out what restrictions and for how long she must heal before she can return to her normal routines.
A few noteworthy God things:
Dr. Crawfords' prayer
Cherie's family
Cherie's awesome friends
Cherie's church family
Prayer warriors galore
Community Bible Study leader's daughter is friends with Dr. Tommy Wilson's wife,
so both CBS groups were praying for Cherie and Dr. Wilson during surgery.
Gwen ran into the nurse antithesis at the AU game
Travel safety for all

Let the healing begin!!!
I look forward to Cherie writing her testimony of how God worked in her life thru
"JOY" the Brain Tumor!!!  Praising God!

  

A New Normal !!!

Oh, how I miss both of them!!!  I haven't seen Colby since July 4th weekend and Tucker since July 15th.  I never realized until this summer, after Tucker passed, that for almost 26 years, I have been consumed with taking care of others.  Colby left home in 2005, Tucker was 7 at the time.  He was healthy and in his prime but still I had to make sure he was cared for.  If we were going out of town, I made arrangements for boarding or Tamela, Jen or Anna to come over 3 times a day. While scrapbooking at Paper Moon, must take breaks and run home to let him out.  He developed seasonal skin allergies, at first I took him to Ben for a shot of cortisone about twice a year.  Then I decided to change his diet to raw food.  That did the trick!  But then he developed degenerative discs.  That was a frightening day.  I was sitting on the bed next to him, reached over and rubbed his back, all of a sudden, he arched up to his feet, making an awful sound and unable to move.  God bless him and Jen who I called crying.  She came right over and we took him to Ben.  From then on he took Prednisone and Tramodol for his back pain.  We changed, his routine around a little.  The biggest change was he could no longer stay in the house alone without being in his crate.  Also, we let him relax and cuddle with us on the bed, but when time to go to sleep, I would pick him up and put him in his crate!  All of this to avoid him further damaging his back by jumping on or off bed, stairs, and so forth.  This became our "NEW NORMAL".

  New Years Eve of 2012, Tucker had his first Grande Mal seizure.  It was awful and lasted bout 30 minutes.  The post seizure time was about 4 hrs.  March 3, he had another in the early morning, we handled that one a little better.  Memorial Day weekend was his 3rd, Scott was home alone with him while I took Jacob home.  Then in July, while at the vets office, because he was not eating and didn't seem to feel good, he had another.  Anna held him thru it and they were able to give him Valium which lessened the severity and duration.  Ben gave him fluids and left his IV in over the weekend in case he felt bad again but we thought he was feeling better both Fri and Sat nights.  Then at 2:06 am, Sunday, July the 15th, Tucker had his last Grande Mal seizure.  He died during or at the end of this seizure.  It was brutal, my guess is that he had a heart attack or stroke during the seizure.  I cried for days, and could barely stand the pain of missing him.  That's also how I felt when Colby went off to school.  All of that to say, grieving a loss and finding a "NEW NORMAL", has taken on new depth for me.  I'm realizing that not only my actions were all about Colby/Tucker but my thoughts and emotions as well.

  

I knew when Colby left home, I missed the level of activity and noise.  The night time routine, hearing the rice bag hit the wood floor and the voice from upstairs saying "Mom, will you put my rice bag in?" Going upstairs, to touch her sweet forehead and wish her goodnight by saying "God bless you and keep you while you sleep"!  Even the hectic mornings were missed!  I desperately missed HER, but I also think I missed caring for her, I missed that purpose that had been priority and "NORMAL" for 18 years!  Thanks to cell phones, I heard from her often and knew that she had made a good choice for herself.  For every Mom, there is huge peace in that understanding!  While I floundered thru, Celeste called one day and introduced me to this adorable shop called Paper Moon.  I learned to scrapbook, and made made some new friends.  The rest is history, I moved into Paper Moon, started project after project , taught other people to scrap and found my"NEW NORMAL".

This summer I have been forced to grow a lot.  I'm still grieving my loss but counting my blessings.  Colby is healthy and happily married 4 years now.  Tucker no longer suffers with any ailments, we were blessed by him for almost 15 years.  We ran into a couple many years ago when traveling with Colby and Tucker.  They bred Miniature Schnauzers and told us to call if we were ever interested.  I kept their number and have been in contact.  They remembered us (Tucker) and have given us the opportunity to have the "pick of the litter" when they have their next puppies.  At first I was disappointed because they didn't have any puppies this summer.  But now I know, that patience pays off.  They are expecting 2 or 3 litters this winter. 

I'm excited about dealing with these breeders, and anticipating the joy of yet again a 

"New Normal"!

At His Feet

At MY feet

I feel such a great sense of loss.  Tucker left this earth about 2:55 this  morning.  I know the time to the minute because I was timing his seizure.  I heard him seizing at 2:06.  I sat with him on the floor, in the dark for almost an agonizing hour.  This was his second seizure this week.  For almost 15 years he gave our family great joy.  I have prayed that we would not have to make a "decision" for Tucker and that he wouldn't suffer.   Answered prayer,  he was here at home, with ME at his feet.   He will forever hold a place in our hearts!  We love you soo much "Tootie"!

R.I.P.
Tucker Fredrickson Helms
August 23, 1997 - July 15, 2012

Surprise!!!

Happy Happy 54th Birthday to me!

  I love, love, love these things and Cindy & Jen.  This little basket was full of things I use/love.  So practical, yet they know me so well that:

• They went to Sams for the Gluten-free crackers
• Found some heart embellishments that I don't already own.
• Thats right, I like Wild Turkey, 81 proof  not 101
• My favorite soap scent is Eygyptian Cotton
• I drink ice coffee and think that Dunnkin Doughnuts Original makes the best
• Wintergreen Lifesavers are an addiction for me
• This container will be adorable in my scrapbook room

How flattering that my friends listen and study me well enough to know my specific likes and quirks!  

They talked, assigned task, then Cindy was on her way to Jen's house to put the basket together.  When Cindy arrives, she tells the story of how she has just walked into the WRONG house, holding Wild Turkey, Wintergreen lifesavers and Dunkin Doughnuts Coffee.  She was halfway down a hallway, when she realized "Jen's kitchen is not that color", "These aren't the pictures on Jen's walls", "Oh my gosh, Im standing down the hallway IN the WRONG house"!!!  Somehow, she ran from THE house and into her car, and over to Jen's house.  Yep, She had gone into the neighbors home, yelling Jen and holding bourbon, lifesavers and coffee.  Praise God the neighbor was hard of hearing and asleep.  

Man, my friends will go to many lengths for a practical Surprise!