Because laughter really IS the best medicine!

We're gearing up for surgery around here. Hubby is trying to freeze 45 loaves of bread by March.....we'll see how many he gets made. Doing this means that he's having to make 10 loaves of bread a week as compared to the 5 loaves we normally eat in a week......

I've all but stopped playing most computer/app games. I found they were stressing me out. Angry birds, rather than relax me always made me tense up.........

Now I have a game called Fish Farm. I love it. I have 9 different aquariums, All I do is breed, feed and sell fish.....and I spend a lot of time watching them swim......I especially like it when they swim through each other.....

Spend time this week sitting and dreaming.....then try to follow your dream......you never know what may come out of it.

What's the key to your heart?

I've often said that I married my husband because he can ALWAYS make me laugh! Regardless of my mood or the situation.

But that's only the reason I married him because it wasn't till much later that I found out how GREAT a cook he is!!!

While I love chocolate, and roses.......

there's just not much that says "I love you" like a homemade pecan pie....with homemade whipped cream to top it.....

Unless, of course it's handmade bread, still warm from the oven....and covered in butter....

I'm REALLY not looking forward to him being off his feet for 2 months when he has his knee replaced in March!

Then again, it might help my weight loss a bit........

It's raining, it's pouring!

I am thrilled to report that it has been storming all night long! I am so thrilled to see the rain! After the years of drought and last fall's fires Texas needs a 100 year flood!! Since only the garage half of my house is in the 100 year flood plain.......bring it on! (but let me know first so I can empty my fabric out of the garage!...priorities ya know.)

Speaking of fabric.....
the great curtain-making campaign continues!

I am now working on regular (non-seasonal) curtains for the other windows in my living room. I'm so excited to be adding a little newness to the living room. It has been the same color and same curtains since we moved in 9 years ago. The furniture has, of course, changed over the years as the babies took over the other rooms, and the swing, bouncer, playpen etc took center stage in the living room for a season (or THREE)....and now it's out and the computer/work stuff has moved in....

But if you want just a little change that'll brighten your room, think about new curtains! Super easy to make and can change the whole feel of a room!

Make it a great, wet, day today folks!


by the way, blogger still isn't letting me comment on blogger blogs very much.....which I find EXTREMELY annoying since my blog and sign in name are on blogger!! So that's why you haven't heard from me lately.

productive monrings are wonderful!

I spent yesterday morning on the phone for about 3 hours just getting things taken care of. Appointments that needed to be made, insurance screwups that needed fixing, and getting all 18 of our family's routine medicines registered for the mail order service.

This morning I spent an hour or so between calls finally finishing our Winter Post-Advent curtain!

It is so much prettier in person! the colors are rich and dark, which is part of why it didn't photograph well, and the angels have a lot of detail that is just gorgeous!

I got the fabric for the Lent, Easter and Spring curtains in the mail this week!! So, if you need me.....you know where I'll be!

I'll end with a prayer request:

Local Friends and Family: On March 6th hubby willl be having his right knee replaced. He won't be able to drive for 2 months, and because I work nights I won't be able to get Sister to and from preschool during those 2 months. Would it be possible for anyone (or several ones) to bring her home after preschool starting March 19th till he can drive again? She's there Mon, Wed, Thurs. And we do live about 25min North of the church. If you're interested in helping us out, PLEASE let me know. We'll be happy to provide gas money.

Our trip to the hospital.

Here's Missy Sugars, right before being seen by the Nurse Practitioner at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. In her hospital gown, shorts, with the crocheted booties, stuffed dragon and stickers she'd been given.

Right before first the Nurse Practitioner, then Dr Johnston examined her....

And told us....

THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HER.

They have no idea what caused the limp that started it all........

They have no idea what the Pediatrician saw that sent us there.....

They have no idea why we were there to begin with!!

Her spine is straight, her legs are even,

"Uh, well, I can reassure you that she's doing well, and not to be concerned." says Dr Johnston.

Now, the fact that 2 parents 1 teacher and 1 doctor all watched her limp, saw the uneven legs and crooked hips 4 months ago??

WHO KNOWS!!

His nurse told me on our way out that IF anything orthopedic does come up between now and when she's 18, all we have to do is call and make an appointment and he'll see her. We won't ever need to go through the referral/approval process again. That's reassuring.

So there you have it folks. What a fun ride this adventure is!!!!! Bring on the next twist, plunge and loopdeloop!!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is Finished!!

The Birthday Curtain has been completed on time!!




I do hope Mimi is surprised!



The square with "Mimi" is held on by that big black button, and I have several other squares with other names to be put there when the correct birthday comes along :-)

We shall be heading off about 10am to Scottish Rite Hospital with Sugars to have her evaluated. Meanwhile the boys will be having a surprise birthday party with Mimi at home after school!!

These are the things that make memories!

I'll check in with everyone once we have answers about my girl.

Y'all make it a great day!

wheeeee

Feeling a little overwhelmed today. Trying to get answers to all our questions about Hubby's upcoming knee replacement while at the same time get everything ready for Sugars' mega-marathon intake appointments at Scottish Rite Hosp tomorrow.



However, I was able to get over to my moms and ride her/our recumbent bike yesterday after work!


I was thrilled to go 7 miles!!


It was nice to actually be able to chit chat while on the bike! Without the obnoxious music and 8 TV screens at the gym!!


And because my two biggest stress relievers are playing the piano and sewing.....


And NO ONE wants me to play the piano all....night...long....



I'm ALMOST DONE with the birthday curtain!!!





Pictures of it shall be coming soon so stay tuned.

BUTTONHOLES!!!

As you may or may not know, there are two things that tend to scare those of us who sew.....

And one of them is buttonholes!

I specifically picked out my sewing maching because it had an automatic buttonholer! Plop your button in the right spot, hit the pedal, and voila! a buttonhole to match!!

However, it only works for buttons up to 1" in diameter.

For my birthday curtain I have in the center a removable panel that shows the name of the Birthday boy or girl (or, in the case of March 2, it's Birthday girlS). This panel is held in place by a button.

A 1 1/2" wide button.

Which means I have had to master the manual buttonhole!



Hooray! 8 lovely buttonholes later I can say Mission Impossible has been accomplished!

Now, on to zippers.....shudder.......

Our Next Great Adventure!!

To all my friends and family,

The day has finally come! This Wednesday the 11th my 4yr old daughter has her appointments at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children for evaluation of what appears to be a leg length discrepancy. (meaning 1 leg is longer than the other). Her appointment is with Dr Johnston. A good, somewhat quirky, doc I remember from when I worked there 10 years ago. Please join us in prayer for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan as well as Peace and joy as we begin this, our next parenting adventure.

Life is like a roller coaster! Don't be so scared of the plunge that you forget to enjoy the ride!!! -- me!

Back to the Grind

Well, as of today all the kids were back to school, my job continues. I still love it and can't think of anything else I'd rather do to earn a living.

I've been spending my free time sewing rather than blogging, just in case you've missed me. I have a handful of projectst that I'm trying to get finished. Right now I'm working on my seasonal curtains, So far I have the Halloween flag, the Fall curtain, and the Advent curtain.








Now I'm working on one that'll be hung on each person's birthday, with a removable block that tells the name of the birthday boy or girl. Next up is a winter one, then Lent.....and they continue throughout the year.....

But it hasn't been ALL work, since Stephanie sent us these wonderful stuffed candy canes, at least ONE of us has been having himself a very good time.......






Make it a great year folks!

Happy New Year!!