Hi everyone

Im still recovering-only on day #3 post-op. Jay is suppose to return to work tomorrow and I’m in a bit of a panic as Im still EXHAUSTED and in a descent amount of pain still. Enough that I can whip 3 kids together and get them out the door like I usually do.

I’ve been VERY nauseous yesterday and today, and my have to go back to the doctor.

I had an allergic reaction to one of the pain meds and can’t for some reason tolerate the vicodin, as it was beginning to make me very sick! Now Im on Darvon. Basically a strong version of Tylenol! LOL! Can you say one drink one drunk?! The doctor was so surprised at my low tolerance to narcotics. So cross your fingers that my issues are JUST med related.

I only added a few items to my Etsy store as Im just wiped, and taking the time I need to rest up, since I never do that. My blinkie for the sketches is all fixed too BTW!

Thanks again for the well wishes. I STILL have to watch Twilight! LOL!

I have a quick card to share here-using (SHOCKING) Stampin Up! set God’s Beauty. I made this weeks ago!

The flower is on vellum-dry embossed for some POP! Its very 3D and pretty. I airbrushed the butterfly. I love the pop of teal on the moss background.

Just a simple card I made while playing around.

Well Im heading back to bed, then will call the doctor when they open.

I want to post our Stamp New England stuff too-just haven’t had the engery for editing the video :C

I have a GIVEAWAY for that here when I do!! Something for you to look forward to!!

Wish me luck!

Everyone also asked about the kids-they are doing MUCH better. Alexa is especially looking better. Stilly junky but good.

Also I forgot to tell you to check the Sketch Team blogs

AND I forgot to tell you about JustRite Stampers-if you didn’t already know-

FAB BLOG CANDY!!

 Once thing I didn’t expect was my sore throat from the tube they stick down there. I had teh WORST cottom mouth every all day yesterday.

I have a horse voice, and between that and the surgery (sore abdomen) I can’t YELL or even talk at a normal level! I’m not use to not being able to talk well, since Im very chatty! LOL! Oh and having 3 kids!

Just had to share that.

 The kids have been taking turns rubbing my shoulder, getting me my drinks, fluffing my pillows, and drawing me pictures! I woke up and seriously had like 3 coloring book pages spread all over me and my bed.

Its time like that, that you think you *may* be doing something right as a mom! They are taking turns snuggling in bed with me watching TV. I will miss them when they grow up.

I rented Twilight for later. Can’t wait to see what teh BUZZ is all about.

1) Be posting TONS of cards on my NEW! Etsy Shop! My Time-Less Little Treasures 

Those asking –

* I will be charging $4.50- for each card. Unless its not “worthy” then it will be less for more SIMPLE designs

* Yes I will be doing more card gift SETS!

* ALWAYS-FREE shipping for my cards- no matter how many you buy. The $4.50 includes shipping.

 * YES! Each one will come with an envelope for you to use 😀

* AND……. I will also have a an ONGOING special Buy 5 get ONE FREE!! YEAH! So 6 for the price of 5.

2) Yes! I will be adding lots more stuff too throughout the week and MAINLY on the weekend

3) Yes orders placed after my surgery will ship right out (Hubby already volunteered)

4) SHIPPING TODAY-Any orders place by 3pm EST will ship TODAY!

5) Pink Cat Studio Peeks begin tomorrow, so I will be posting ALL my 3D items made for that tomorrow!

6) I will have some eye candy to post later but have deadlines that I HAVE to meet TODAY first

7) YES! I will be posting my Stamp New England details, video and photos-SOON! Gotta complete #6 first

8) YES! I will have a video this week-just NOT Mondays(today! SORRY!)

and I think thats it for answering the emails I got so far.

Thanks for sharing my excitement and understanding my TIGHT time limit this week. I have TONS to do before my surgery on Friday.

Those asking I do feel great. I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated everyones concern. I am definitely avoiding most food like the plaque! I have had 2 MINI attacks since the BIG ONE, so am so glad Im NOT eatting anything more than the fruit, veggies and cereal. I guess even after surgery, fat will be an issue, so in a weird way its good-it will help me maintain my healthy lifestyle 😀 I refuse to gain a single pound at this point LOL!

OK thats it

Just wanted to check in and answer questions ;D

Later girls!

I have 2 posts to share today, and many of you missed the template peeks posted AFTER my Mother post yesterday!

So make sure you get it all in, and SCROLL all the way down today.

I promise its worth the time you spend here!

Thank you for stopping by.

I sit here feeling helpless over Ethan

See the post below here!

Thank you so much for all leaving her well wishes/prayers!

ONE thing I can do is help her with emails.

So if you want to send a card to their family please email me

[email protected]

I will send you their address!!

I think it would really brighten their days, to get some HAPPY mail 😀

Thank you to the stamping community for embracing them in your thoughts and prayers!

Once I get out my emotional funk today I will post the cards I make for them as well!

Yes I am here. Im super busy wrapping up Papertrey Ink release stuff (which you will begin to see TOMORROW!), staying AWAY from the candy 😀

We are releasing THREE templates this month! WAHOO!! Im very excited, but with the extra template comes a bunch more “work” for me, so you can see the versatility in the release 😀

That being said-I know its Monday-and you are ALL waiting for my video 😀 but I will post it tomorrow with my countdown peek for Papertrey Ink! OK!

In the meantime…….I was alerted to some Blog Candy for a cause! Raising money for the benefit of Childrens Cancer

Check it out!

LOTS of companies donated to this cause 😀 Obviously Im so up for helping in any way I can!

Now to the prayer part. PLEASE send up prayers for Ethan!!

I had a post planned for today, but am just totally heart broken and emotionally drained for my friend Alicia. I cried for this family all night last night. My heart is so heavy right now.

 I have come to know her over the last few months, as her son Ethan has Cancer. It has been a HUGE roller coaster ride for them, as he has relapsed and now thing have gotten worse. She emailed me some terrible news last night.

You can read her blog here

This is so close to home for me. I’m so upset for them. There are just not words.

Im sorry I can’t be all cheery, and post a cheery card, when I just need a good cry and lots of prayers for her. As a mom I can only imagine what she is feeling.

OK I’m ending here.

Squeeze your loved ones! OK! There are no guarantees of tomorrow, for anyone.

Thank you ALL for the warm wishes, prayers and emails!

We are now home-SNIP! SNIP! DONE! It was quick-we were there a whopping 2 hours.

WHEW! They don’t put them “under” deep. They use gas to put them “out” then inject the “area” with a pain blocker, therefore lessening the anesthesia risk, and allowing a quicker recovery after.

Noah was AMAZING and brave. He didn’t even care for us to follow him into the surgical area. I think the kids having so much experience with Alexa and hospitals has really proven to be a very POSITIVE experience in our family, as he was fine with EVERYTHING!

I often worried if it would make the kids PARANOID about doctors and hospitals, but it had the complete opposite affect. Thank Goodness!!

The staff was AMAZING to Noah and the girls, sending them off with a new book and some toys to entertain-also some yummy treats while we waited. A super experience.

Once Noah woke up everything was good, till he had to move.

I saw his “area” and I don’t have a boy part, but I swear I could FEEL the pain as if I did, just looking at it-OUCH! Pretty swollen. He has been pretty emotional so far, but I think we will be OK.

Im amazed at HOW MUCH ointment needs to be put on that thing over the next 4 WEEKS!!!!!!!! WOW!! Lots of care for the boy part! LOL!

They said it was good he wasn’t done as a baby because (something related to his anatomy) would have left him with a “hook” boy part, which would have required revision now anyway! And a hook isn’t a good thing at all. Now that he is older it was easy to see and make sure it ended up STRAIGHT and “perfect” I guess.

SO YEAH!! for that.

 I DID make Noah a card! He made sure to ask me too! LOL! How could I NOT!

He wanted “Noah holding a dinosaur in blue” AKA Dress up Billy. I’ll share that this weekend after we settle in.

So lets hope the meds work enough for him.

I think so far it WILL be a LONG weekend.

Im just happy and thankful everything went well, and pray we do everything right , so we don’t have any complications-like an adhesion.

I have to say I was proud of him for being so brave.

What warms my heart even more, is my girls catering to him and running around doing things to make him MORE comfortable. Asking if he wants or needs anything. Another thing they learned through Alexa getting sick.

My kids see their sibling getting sick and they will grab and hold the puke bucket for each-other! THAT amazes me. One will get a cold washcloth, while the other helps the puker. Alexas Cancer, I feel, made them so compassionate towards each-other (despite killing each-other everyday! LOL!) when it counts they are there for one another. Makes me so happy to see that.

I have hope they will all be so close and caring towards one another as they grow up, and become wonderful spouses, and parents! At least good and decent people in a crazy world. That is every mom’s hope I think.

At least I like to believe thats part of what our Cancer trials brought! LOL!

Thanks for reading.

Off to care for my boy.

Two totally different things! LOL!

Both explaining my feelings of  last week or two.

Thanks for the comments and prayers for Noah’s surgery. Also want to tell you Alexa enjoyed the comments about her card for her friend.

STILL no video. I have been to busy with the kids home from school. Trying to get in some quality time doing projects and stuff while they are home. I want to keep them happy so I don’t go INSANE! LOL!

I really hope to do one today. I guess I’m not even sure what to show you this week. My mojo is FLAT! All the cleaning sucked the life out of me maybe 😀

Anyway-feeling like that-I decided to play with some digital images from SquiggleFly. I’m actually their Featured Artist this month! Sadly I hadn’t had more time to play :C February seems to always be a busy month for me.

They do have a FREE download for you to try so you get an idea HOW digi images work. Check it out if you have time.

My dear friend Holly‘s daughter designs all the images 😀 She totally ROCKS!! She has a video on her blog sharing how the downloads work! Check it out–> HERE!

This is SOOOO me

Overwhelmed <—–image from SquiggleFly

(minus the apron, and me COOKING! LOL! Pretend I’m cleaning or something else! LOL!)

Re-edited photo after posting! Sorry! It was WAY too big

LAUREN’S TIP!

I used my Copis to color her. I don’t know WHY, but I print my digital images on MATTE Photo paper! It takes my Copic ink like a dream when I color! Granted, not as THICK as PTI cardstock, but I adore the look I get for digi images. So white and bright.

I also used my NEW! SU! paper, felt flowers and brads. Im in LOVE!! I added some adhesive rhinestones to the flower centers. I love this layout.

My sentiment isHandwritten Notes by PTI

I think as a woman so many of us can relate to this woman. We have SO many hats to wear. When we need something done, we do it ourselves. When everyone is sick or needs something we are there. When we get sick we STILL have to do everything for everyone. We don’t ge to “punch out” of our job at 5pm, take a lunch break, get weekends off, and FORGET the vacation. Won’t happen!

Thats why its important we TRY our very best to make a LITTLE guilt free time for us! No matter what your fancy! For me- stamping and exercising, maybe your guilty pleasure is reading a chapter in a book (locked in the bathroom so no one bothers you! LOL!) maybe taking a bath or watching your favorite show.

Whatever it is, try to take a few moments for you-without feeling bad. I have several friends-all new moms going through MAJOR guilt because they are burnt out and do want time for them. They haven’t had 5 minutes to shower, let alone anything else. Having the “men” take the kids so they can have a few moments of “me” time, and they feel bad about it.

Why are we programmed this way? If we don’t de-stress we will break down. We can’t get broken! The world will fall off its axis! LOL!

One of my friends husband goes out 2 nights a week! She doesn’t get 5 minutes of time for her. She wants to get back in shape or do “Something” but when she hears the baby cry she stops. tends to her, and doesn’t finish what she started. She says she feels bad the baby needs HER. Well yes the baby does need her, but daddy can deal for a few moments.

We have to stop the guilt!

You will actually feel a little better if you get a “mini break” Granted thinking this will happen daily isn’t realistic, but its not impossible.

So try to make time to do something for YOU. Even if its go for a haircut-without kids in tow.

OK now onto happiness!

Happiness Is

OK see what I mean?! This one is PERFECT size. Good grief. I’m so technically challenged its ridiculous.

I used the UBER cute Flower Mice<—- image for this one. (OMGosh! Upon linking this I saw –>THIS ONE!!! I NEED that one ASAP!) I think they are beyond cute.

So NOT my usual colors. When do you see  ME use pumpkin, blue and avocado together?! NEVER! But I saw a cute TV ad (yes inspiration is truly everywhere!) using these colors and said “Self, you need to try that!”. So I did.

I was quite happy with it.

The sentiment is from JustRite Stampers-$1 section Friends Pre-Inked set! Where can you get SO many sentiments (8 in each) for a BUCK?! I bought all of them! LOL!

Anyway, used MORE SU! Stuff since I just got in a order. I hadn’t ordered anything from them in YEARS!!! But there were lots of paper/accessories I fell in LOVE with. They also had a GORGEOUS hostess set God’s Beauty (I think its called) that was a must have, so I got that too. OH and the Butterfly Die! HAD to get that as well. You know me and my butterflies 😀

OK so thats it. If Im going to get a video done (crossing fingers AGAIN) I better get going.

Again-keep me posted on what you want to see from me 😀 I keep a list for future reference 😀

Thanks for taking time out of YOUR busy day to visit me here. I feel so special knowing you do. I know how busy life is, as I barely get “online” time, I’m so busy doing everything else.

Later!

OK I have 2 posts for today-so don’t miss them!!

Im so excited!!

My biography is up on the Stamp New England page. I am going to be representing Papertrey Ink and using ALL Papertrey Ink products. If you haven’t tried them before (could that even be possible?!) you will have some great hands on experience them

Im beyond excited over what we will be doing, and Papertrey Ink has a FEW surprises for you that you will be revealed during my class 😀

If you are going, and want to get a HUGE hint about what I will be doing

Check out THIS PAGE

SORRY no peeks from me till the event 😀

Worth the wait-I PROMISE!!

I also hope you can join in the swap.

Can’t wait to meet everyone. LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY!