Little tidbits of my life

I just wanted to send out an update on our first quilt challenge, our quilt block exchange with a WINTER theme. As you finish your blocks, please mail them to Chasity as explained in your private messages I sent out a couple weeks ago.

I am in West Virginia for the month of October visiting my hubby...SO for those of you who still have not finished the quilt blocks, this will give you a couple extra weeks to finish up. I plan to return home the first weekend of November. At that time, I will touch base with Chasity (Senior Editor) and we will then make sure everyone has sent in the blocks. At that point we will match up the blocks and send out everyone's packages!

You will still have most of November and December to work on finishing the quilting project if you hope to get it ready in time for Christmas!

As I have said before, I just want to say again, please do NOT feel pressured AT ALL with the deadlines! This is meant to be fun for all! As each participant sends me messages, I am learning that we quilters have many common characteristics, including taking on a TON of projects all at once! It does seem that folks are starting to get this project wrapped up, though...which is GREAT because I would like to continue with the same idea of themes and go with the next season in line if you folks agree! Of course we can discuss that more after this project is finished.

Giveaway!

Another day, another doctor...and a trip!!!

It seems like every post I write lately has been health related...but I wanted to give you my latest update. The neurologist had wanted me to go to a cardiologist, so I had mentioned that I had a heart procedure done by a rhythm specialist about 11 years ago. He thought I should go back to him since he is already familiar w/my health history. SO...I saw my heart doctor last monday and he does think that my weak spells (last about 30 min at a time and generally never have much energy) are related to low blood pressure. I generally have low BP anyway, so with all the meds I have to take for the fibromyalgia and related pain, it is evidently causing BP to go even lower...BUT he is still ordering echocardiogram and holtor monitor (2 wk) just to cover all scenarios.

FORTUNATELY, someone here on the blog had suggested this to me a few months ago and I have since then been taking my BP and I did have that to show him to help confirm how low it seems to be running in general these days and just after the spells.

This just reminds me AGAIN how greatful I am to my blogging friends I've met here and for your advice and support. We do all seem to have similar struggles at one time or another and can lean on each other when needed. God knew we would be like this, now did he not??? I suppose that's why He invented blogging! lol

NOW...my heart doctor encouraged me to reschedule my dr appointments and take a month off to go see my hubby...he said to just mail the holtor monitor to him when the two weeks were over and he'd call me after he got the results of everything. Is that a great doctor, or is that a great doctor??? SO I took his advice and I am going to see hubby this weekend...AND STAY A WHOLE MONTH!

I FINALLY saw my hubby this week...and prayer request

I have not written in awhile because I went to West Virginia with my In-Laws to see my hubby for 4 days. As I had mentioned before, he is currently working in WV. He is at the John Amos Power Plant. We missed him and I have not been able to stay out there because of my health problems. I cannot seem to get my doctor appointments scheduled far enough apart to give me some time to see him for even a few weeks at a time.

My MIL, FIL and I all cleaned up the little 1 bedroom apartment he just moved into that was unfurnished and so we tried to make it more like a home. It was like stepping back into the seventies when we stepped in the door of that place! LOL...EXCEPT for the MOTORCYCLE in the living room! YES, that is correct, your eyes are not deceiving you! My silly hubby and his boy toys! I was able to find a room rug on sale that was the same color as the bike, so I put it on the floor where he parks the bike! SO now it "kinda" blends into the decor! The bike is not a HUGE bike at all. It is basically a street legal dirt bike, with VERY good gas mileage, so this is definitely a big PLUS, at least until winter approaches.

My sister and BIL had GIVEN us a beautiful QUEEN sleigh bed, so that took care of the bedroom. I was amazed at her generosity. The size was perfect for the space.

Needless to say, all that cleaning put me into an awful flareup and I have not felt up to blogging until now. My MIL has been sick from the new carpet that was in the apartment. I am thankful we have new carpet there, but sad that it is making us sick b/c of the fumes that come w/new carpet!

I found a few good deals at Walmart near the apartment, so I bought a Black and Decker Toaster Oven for only $19.95!!!! I also found a cute little Bissell vacuum cleaner for $39 that is the PERFECT size for the little apartment. We did not want to clutter up the place since it is so tiny, so we just put a futon in the living room, along w/the tiny 13 inch tv that had been in my sewing room :o(...we also found some really nice floor lamps on sale at Walmart. I think my MIL and I ended up with a total of 4 floor lamps this past week! lol...only 1 of them actually made it to the apartment!!! One went to my MIL's house and two went to my house! lol. I think the best transformation was the bathroom. It was a hideous looking little bathroom. Would you believe that they actually used STAPLES to put the lineoleum together behind the toilet??? ANYWAY, my MIL and I seem to work very well together in picking out accessories and were very pleased when we put down the dark gray rugs, very modern looking shower curtain w/various sized circles of dark brownish gray/light gray and white, with a white liner...along w/dark towel and smaller white towel folded for decoration on the wall...and clear accessories on the counter that is also a really old countertop in the same colors as the shower curtain. I also loved the little shower curtain hooks I found to match, but difficult to describe. ANYWAY, I wish I'd taken some before and after shots, but now that I'm back home and have taken 2 and a half days to recooperate, I realize I never even took my camera out of its case the entire trip! OH WELL!!! We had WAY TOO MANY destractions. I used Black/White accents in the kitchen even though the kitchen appliances were primarily off-white (VERY OLD) and everything seemed to be particle board. My favorite feature of the apartment was the utility room. This room is HUGE and there are washer/dryer hook-ups, but we did not purchase additional sets at this time. SO I just purchased a utility shelf w/5 shelves and put it in there for extra storage for the kitchen. This made everything just right! NOW I have a TOTALLY NEW perspective for the apartment. I look forward to spending ALOT of time there now as soon as I see my heart rhythm specialist next week, dependent on what tests he orders, I might even get to go back up there for an ENTIRE MONTH!!!!!! That would be so nice to spend the whole month with my hubby. We really need the time together. I could really tell he is starting to get homesick. He never actually said those words, but I know him pretty well and I could just tell.

I also have some sad news. A man at the John Amos Power Plant died this week while working night shift. He was 62 years old, married with kids. He apparently had a heart attack and possibly fell from a scaffold. I'm not sure of the exact details. My hubby had left for work tuesday morning only to return an hour later because all workers were sent home for the entire day while OSHA investigated the NC man's death. Apparently there are MANY travelers working there right now during this outage. I think the paper said 3,000 folks are working the outage. The man was a pipefitter. ANYWAY, I do not have many details, just please PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY.

I was glad we were there with my hubby this particular day as we did not know yet what had caused the accident, so it was a particularly upsetting day. I KNOW my hubby's job as an industrial electrician can be dangerous as they work w/extremely high voltage and often climb VERY high. They must be safety conscious all the time...BUT hearing that someone actually has died on the same job my hubby works is a real wake up call to me as to how dangerous it can be to have to work so high up all the time. I recall before Jamey was put on high blood pressure meds, he nearly passed out while working up high and the guys had to help him down to the ground...his foreman drove him to our family doctor and b/c he knew I'd freak out, he called his mom to come get him. This was when he was first diagnosed w/high BP and he was only in his mid 20s! SO all it takes is one swoon like that! If the guys hadn't been there to catch him, I shudder to think what might have happened to my hubby that day!

We spent the day going to the New River Gorge Bridge as we had never seen it before. This is one of the tallest arched bridges in western hemisphere from what I understand. I actually slept most of the day, but I did go see the bridge. Jamey and his dad took the steps down to get a better view and once Jamey emails the pics to me, I will post them for you. My MIL and I were not able to go down the steps due to her bad knees and my bad feet! BUT we were perfectly happy enjoying the breeze and resting at the top! We enjoyed some BEAUTIFUL scenery on the drive back to Georgia and I plan to take pics on my next journey. Hopefully the leaves will be turning alot more by then! I love it when the leaves turn!

Wreath made from plastic bags!!!

Ever heard of making a wreath from plastic bags? It reminds me of the feather wreaths that were so popular last year...

I thought this was a neat project to make at home! The wreath is made from strips of plastic bags. I found this on HGTV's website through the Carol Duvall Show. Click here for instructions.

Health update

Well guys, I haven't blogged in awhile b/c I've just been too tired! I like to post funny stories and uplifting stories, but have had blog-writer's block of sorts! lol

I went to the neurologist finally today b/c of chronic migraines and the weak spells I've mentioned in the past that last about 30 min. at a time. He was a super great doctor, seemed quite thorough. After looking in my eyes for about 5 minutes, he said he is referring me to a neuro-optomologist. He also thinks the weak spells is related to a heart problem, so I have to see my heart doctor again. I had a heart procedure about 11 years ago b/c of PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) that occurred every single heart beat, but that was corrected and I thought the heart trouble was over...but at least he is sending me to the same rhythm specialist that did my procedure before, so that is good. I am sure that it is not related to the PVCs b/c that had a specific feel that is now absent. The neurologist did some bloodwork since I stay so fatigued all the time. He also ordered an MRI of my brain b/c I have never had one done before. He added two meds for migraines to my current list...topamax and Maxalt MLT.

So now you know as much as me! I will continue to update you when I get some answers.

Winter Theme Quilt Challenge deadline is near!

Sept. 26 is the deadline for the winter blocks to be finished. If you need more time, please let me know.

Amy Jo made me a birthday present...an apron!

Look what arrived in my mailbox this week for my 35th birthday! Amy Jo (gabbie427) made it for me! Isn't she so sweet???

My 35th Birthday Today

FIRST OF ALL, guess what had opened a bloom today on my birthday! YES, that same peace lily I had blogged about here: click here. This was the first time it has bloomed since I posted that blog! What a special birthday treat for me!

GUESS WHAT I DID TODAY? I threw myself a birthday party for my sisters/brothers-in-laws and parents/parents-in-laws and hubby's grandmothers. No, I do not normally throw parties for myself, but this was a special occassion indeed. As I have blogged about previously, my family heard that my rheumatologist said I need to do water aerobics to help my fibromyalgia. At the time, my hubby was laid off work (although he is working again right now), so they all pitched in and helped me to buy a nice above-ground pool!!!

SO I threw this party as thanks to them for doing something so SPECIAL for me! They turned this FM problem into something wonderful! I LOVE exercising in the pool. As a matter of fact, it is really the only time I feel VERY good. I am still exhausted when I am in the pool, so I do not do anything major, but just to be able to move my arms and legs around freely is SO WONDERFUL! I had purchased a hammock float (which I had never heard of before researching for pools) and it is PERFECT to fit all my needs in the pool!

We had BBQ pizza delivered by a local restaurant and I decorated my dining room and back deck with a tropical theme. I had purchased two games to play: pineapple bowling and ALOHA bingo, but we ended up just sitting around and eating and talking and generally enjoying each others' company.

I had originally planned on this being a pool party, but because everyones' allergies have been so bad this week, we just stayed inside in the air conditioning.

NOW, on to the PICTURES! Do you ever host something like this and take pics of the decorations before everyone gets there, and THEN forget to take a single picture while all the guests are there??? WELL that is exactly what I did today. SO the following pics are just decorations. I will explain each one as we go.

This is the back deck table centerpiece. I made the ducks, lily pads and flower out of play-doh.

This is a close-up of the centerpiece. I had made a mama duck, too, but I dried her too long and she cracked and lost a wing!!! SO I felt she was not up to a party in her condition. LOL

My dad built these steps because the ladder that came with the pool was WAY too unstable.

My sister Lavonda and her husband were the first to arrive and they brought these CUTE Tiki monkeys for me, so I added them to the dining room centerpiece

This was the punch we had. I will share the recipe below it because it was SUPER easy and VERY GOOD.

Both my parents are diabetics, so I was trying to come up with something they could drink, too. SO I bought Diet Sunkist (orange) and Bryer's NO SUGAR ADDED vanilla ice cream. We put the ice cream in the punch bowl and poured Sunkist on top of it. It tasted much like creamsicles, which we ALL LOVED. I had forgotten to refrigerate the Sunkist, so it melted the ice cream too quickly, so if you use the same recipe, be sure to refrigerate the Sunkist first!

NOW, I had also had prizes ready in case we played the games I mentioned above. They were just silly prizes, but cute. Below is a pic of the prize bag.

NOW, the bag holding the prizes was actually a beach bag I had made my mother-in-law last year for her vacation to Orange Beach. I used machine embroidery and I had purchased the embroidery design online...I think I got it at emblibrary.com, but can't remember for sure. I designed the bag myself and also put my MIL's name on the front. I thought it turned out so CUTE. I will include pic of back, and the inside pocket that is deep enough for suntan lotion on one side and shallow enough for keys, change, whatever in the other section...and it zipped. I wish I'd made me one! LOL

Quilt Book Giveaway - EXTENDED ONE MORE NIGHT

Want to try to win a quilt book? Follow this link for a quilt block giveaway from Brandi at mountainmorning blogspot. She has extended the deadline to midnight on August 23, 2008.

Brandi has asked each participant to post a pic of their favorite quilt when adding a message about her giveaway to their blog. I decided to go ahead and show several of the quilts I've made as I have not posted too many on here before. ALL are my own design.

This was for my cousin Savannah. I made the machine embroidery designs that spelled out SAVANNAH down the center and I also drew the machine embroidery designs of the vines/tiny flowers and tiny butterflies on the small yellow borders around each appliqued square. She was only about 3 years old and she said "Oh TERESA, it's SO BE-UUU-TEEE-FULLL (I spelled it the way she articulated the word! lol)

I made this quilt for her brother Cole. AGAIN, I drew the designs that spell out C O L E. The C and O is in first pic and the L and E is in the second pic.

This quilt was VERY special as it was for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. My hubby's nana helped me quilt it in 5 days and then my hubby's Great AUNTS Polly and Grace made the binding for me (it is in the second pic...VERY PRETTY)

I hope you enjoy! My computer crashed last month, so this was all the pics I had loaded on my AOL, else I would have showed you more. I will have to gather them up soon and post more.

Podiatrist visit

At my last rheumatology visit, my rheumy suggested I see a podiatrist and a neurologist. So at my internist appointment, he agreed with this decision and set up these appointments for me. The neurologist is because I keep getting migraines almost every single day and I am STILL having the near-fainting, dizzy, weak spells that I've mentioned before...that appointment is coming up in September.

Today, I went to see the podiatrist. He was a very young doctor and seemed to really know what he was talking about. His nurse took several x-rays of both feet for him to review. I am EXTREMELY flat footed and both feet are turning inward so that I am putting ALOT of pressure on my ankle and walking on bones that were not meant to be weight baring bones. My left leg is also quite crooked from the knee down and is half inch shorter than the left leg. I have severe pain in my left foot if I walk on it at all. My right foot hurts, but is quite tolerable compared to the left foot.

SO the podiatrist said I have two options. The first is to wear an extremely bulky, sweaty, hard plastic brace that will encompass foot, ankle and most of the lower portion of the leg (for both feet). He said aesthetically it is not pretty...I informed him that since I have had to start using the little motorized carts at Walmart, I quit worrying about what people think. I had to let go of pride and settle for practical and the least painful route. HOWEVER, from what I understand this will not correct my problem in anyway, it merely gives my feet the needed support to try to alleviate some of the pain. He is not sure that this option will even work, though. The second option is twofold. One being an extremely invasive surgery involving reconstructing my entire foot and ankle, cutting where necessary and using pins and screws to hold the new position in place...he said this would be the BEST option long-term as it corrects the problem for good...the second option of surgery is to implant some type of little device in my feet that somehow helps support the arch, but is at MOST 70% effective.

My case is complicated further because of fibromyalgia. He said he would normally immediately suggest the invasive surgery as the best and most complete remedy given I am only in my mid-30s and the structural damage is already very severe. HOWEVER because I have severe fibromyalgia, he is worried about what an invasive surgery like this would do to my entire body painwise because of how fibromyalgia tends to react to major surgery.

I told him I just want to try the braces. It was an immediate response because my fibromyalgia is SO BAD already and not straightened out yet, so to have it get worse is just unthinkable. BUT since the braces might not bring enough relief, he suggested we only get one brace at first and for me to just wear my custom orthotic (I already have some that do not help much) on the right foot while I try the brace for the left leg for 6 weeks. THEN, I will have a follow-up appointment with him and if I still want to stick w/the braces, then he will send me to have the second brace made (for right ft/leg). He made this decision because the left foot hurts the worst. SO I made an appointment to have the cast made for the brace and I left.

NOW, I have talked to my hubby about this (my mom took me to the doctor) and he thinks I should go ahead and have the surgery, not prolong it since it is the most complete remedy. I discussed it further again this evening with hubby and suggested I first get my rheumy's opinion on the matter since he currently treats my fibromyalgia problems. This might give me a better picture of just what I am facing if I DO have the surgery immediately without trying the brace, first.

I KNOW in my heart I need the invasive surgery. I have lived with these bad feet my whole life and have noticed how markedly worse they have become in the past 10 years or so, but even more so in the past year. If I get the braces instead, and then hate them b/c I still have pain, then it will just prolong my trip to WV where my hubby is working. SO this is also in my mind as I ponder these decisions.

OH YEAH, and I have a bunion...who knew that little bump that is sore every now and then was a BUNION! In comparison to my other foot pain, that is a piece of cake! LOL...I was surprised at how HUGE it looked in the x-ray, though!...PLUS the doctor gave me a prescription for the excema on my toe (it is also on both thumbs) that I have NOT been able to get rid of for 5 years now!!!! He said if this med does not work, he will send me to a DIFFERENT dermatologist than my current one, and recommend a biopsy be done.

Several had asked for an update, so there is half of it. NOW in a couple weeks, I will let you know what the neurologist tells me.

Apple Butter

I received a comment on my last post from Sister Brenda asking for my apple butter recipe. IT is actually my hubby's Aunt Grace's recipe.

We have a couple apple trees and they produce kinda' small apples, but tart and good for cooking.

I pick enough apples to fill a 5 gallon bucket. This will make 2 batches of apple butter and you will need 2 crock pots if you use the entire 5 gallons of apples.

The following recipe is for only ONE batch (1 crockpot full) of apple butter:

1 tsp vanilla (I used my homemade vanilla in the last batch...YUMMY!...and I tripled the amount

Peel, core and slice apples and put the slices into crockpot till full. (I use a SmartPot Crockpot)

No need to stir...simply cook overnight (I cook for 9-10 hours in my crockpot) and then get the jars ready to can them in the morning. Either stir the apples (they will be super tender) or mix them with a blender, depending on your preference of smoothness. Leave the lid on the apple butter until you have added it to the canning jars so that it will be hot. (I leave crock pot on warm setting until I spoon it out of the crockpot)

Yields approx 4 pints (a tadbit more if you cooked 9 hours, a tadbit less if you cook over 10 hours...also will be sweeter the longer you cook it, so if you prefer it more tart, go w/9 hours)

I use half pint jars to can the apple butter because there are just two at my house, but for a larger household, you may want to use pint jars.

Canning instructions for apple butter: wash and rinse 8 half-pint jars and also boil water, then turn heat off and add 8 flaps and lids to the scalding hot water. Place jars on a dishtowel very close together and fill each jar w/the apple butter, then add a flap and tighten the lid. It will be HOT, so use an oven mit, or something to protect hand. Place another dishtowel over the jars and just leave it alone till you hear that WONDERFUL pop that shows it has sealed.

I also recommend this neat little kit that I found at Walmart in the canning section...I threw the box away, but I recall it was blue. It includes a little gadget w/a magnet on the end that picks up the flaps and lids out of the hot water to make it easier to can...plus the ladle and jar funnel (but wide, like the jar mouth) are perfect size for these little jars...and a ruler that measures up to an inch at the jar lip so you can fill to a precise measurement based on recipe instructions.

NOW PICTURES: Below is a half-full jar of apple butter along w/the neat canning kit I mentioned above. (I LOVE gadgets)

I posted this before, but since this post relates to it, here is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets:

Daybook

FOR TODAY (August 18, 2008)...

Outside My Window...my pool is finally set up and I hear the water as the pump is running AND my tomato plants are nearly bursting w/tomatoes! I planted them a little late, but in some wonderful soil from our woods, so they are just now producing! ALSO, the lantana are just blooming all over the place and butterflies and hummingbirds are loving EVERY minute of it!!!

I am thinking...that I am exhausted from a long day, but content at the moment.

I am thankful for...God providing our needs.

From the kitchen...homemade apple butter and little tea biscuits (havent felt like cooking much, so something simple!)

I am wearing...a light green soft cotton gown with pink rose buds on it.

I am creating...a numeric list of my hubby's hand-made knives (YES, he made these himself!)

I am going...to relax the rest of the evening

I am reading...a Beverly Lewis book as I am addicted and want to read everything she has written.

I am hoping...to feel good tomorrow as my house is in need of alot of work.

I am hearing...crickets chirping and a cat trying to climb up the side of a little TV!

Around the house...it is pretty quiet out in the country...serene

One of my favorite things...is when I talk to my hubby every day.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: go to the podiatrist wednesday and have a pool party w/my family for my birthday friday!!!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...I taught two of our young little relatives how to float on their backs!!!

~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Breast Cancer Awareness contest Loralie designs on the mend

Sewforless.com is having a giveaway contest for loralie designs "on the mend" machine embroidery designs in an effort to raise breast cancer awareness. Click the link below to go to their blog page to enter for the contest and leave a comment.

survey...from several other bloggers

I finally decided to fill out the survey that lots of other bloggers have already done...

1. Where is your cell phone? on charger
2. Your significant other? my hubby
3. Your hair? curly red masses
4. Your mother? sweet and retired
5. Your father? comical, retired and fulltime hobby gardener
6. Your favorite thing? family time
7. Your dream last night? dont recall
8. Your favorite drink? Diet Dr Pepper
9. Your dream/goal? to beat fibromyalgia
10. The room you’re in? sewing
11. Your church? nice
12. Your fear? try not to fear
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? wherever God decides
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? too busy
16. Muffins? YES
17. One of your wish list items? lose more weight (down 8 lbs so far)
18. Where you grew up? on several wooded acres beside a huge farm
19. The last thing you did? gave up vacuuming pool
20. What are you wearing? gown/pj pants
21. Your TV? not watching
22. Your pets? one is beside me on printer, not sure about other 2 (3 cats)
23. Your computer? what about it?
24. Your life? tired right now...praying about it
25. Your mood? melancholy
26. Missing someone? yep
27. Your car? n/a
28. Something you’re not wearing? ummm anything I dont have on???
29. Favorite store? varies...sales and discounts welcome...love music (instrument) stores
30. Your summer? seems like it's coming to an end soon (feels cooler today)
31. Like(love) someone? hubby and family
32. Your favorite color? green
33. Last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? today
35. Who will repost this? ????

Computer Virus name Sassy!

I was reading the page of friends' blogs today through my blog and all of a sudden, my screen just kept scrolling to the bottom, I couldnt do ANYTHING to stop it!

THEN the screen behind that one was doing the same thing! I clicked the X and closed that window...

THEN I'm just at the desktop of my computer and it was going crazy, too!!! I clicked the start and then went to the shut down screen. I tried to click the restart icon, but it just kept telling me what the icon meant in a bubble pop-up...SAME THING for when I tried to click shut down instead of restart!

WELL, it turns out my cat Sassy was SITTING on the arrow key that is pointing down on my keyboard!!! DUH TERESA.

Sassy LOVES to sit in front of me on the table at the computer and attack my fingers when I type. This makes for quite the entertainment. She's just a little bit of nothing of a cat, was 5.9 lbs when I took her to vet last...she probably weighs close to 8 lbs since we let the orange tabby Charlie come live w/us...more competition for the food bowl I guess.

Please watch out for this computer virus Sassy as this virus will start attacking your fingers as well as your computer!!!

Moving to West Virginia

I thought I would let you know I'm moving to West Virginia temporarily. If any of my blog readers/friends live in West Virginia, I would love for you to send me a message because I do not know much about the area. I believe the city near the area is Charleston. My hubby is working a long-term, but temporary job there, so we will plan on coming back "home" in a few months to a year maybe.

This will be a whole new experience for me. We are in conflict due to my health b/c all my specialists are where we currently live. I think I can just schedule my appointments close together and maybe come home every 3 months or so to go to the doctors??? I would rather not change doctors at this point since the job is not actually permanent.

Pool, salsa, apple butter AND health update...

WOW! I just realized I have not blogged in quite awhile! It is not like me to not have anything to talk about! I will have to be quick because it is about to come a storm here!!!

It has been very busy at my house this week. My parents have come out to help me set up my NEW ABOVE-GROUND POOL! My rheumatologist had told me that water aerobics would be VERY good for me because my fibromyalgia is so severe. SO my sisters, brother in laws and my parents all went in together and are paying for half the cost of the pool as my birthday present this year! I KNOW, I was shocked, too! They told me that they just want to see me get better, so that is why they are all being so extra-generous this year. I found an Intex metal frame pool on walmart.com on clearance. It is 24 ft diameter round pool and 52 inches high. I figured this depth would be perfect for water aerobics...plus it is plenty big for family and friends to enjoy, too!

My dad should get to take the first dip because he has worked SO HARD this week. He brought up his tiller and had to level the ground for it. The slope was about a foot different from one side to the other, so he has been here for 3 days getting it all straightened out!

I also found the above "wedding cake pool steps" on craigslist.com for $100! The family selling them lived only about 2 or 3 miles from my parents! This was a real bargain and I am SO GRATEFUL as they will be MUCH safer than the tall ladder you saw in the first picture. My father is building some sturdy steps and a platform for me on the outside for safety. My balance is not too great, plus these steps will be useful for water aerobics.

My parents brought along several ripe tomatoes from their garden and my mother and I planned to make salsa. This week has been really rough for me fatigue-wise, pain-wise and migraine-wise, so she surprised me and made all the salsa by herself while I was either asleep or outside w/my father. I have REALLY BEEN SPOILED THIS WEEK!

Above is one of my FAVORITE kitchen gadgets, an apple peeler-corer-slicer. I purchased mine at Linens-n-Things a couple years ago. This one suctions to the table top, but I have also used one with a C-clamp attachment...GREAT PRODUCT!

My middle sister Lavonda had come over last saturday and I had the privilege of showing her how to use the apple peeler/corer/slicer gadget. We made some apple butter. I still had a bucket of apples in the house that we had picked, so I got to teach my mother how to use this gadget and we made MORE APPLE BUTTER!!! I STILL HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF APPLES, so I suspect I will get to teach a few more folks how to do this soon! LOL

I had my 3 month check up appointment yesterday with my rheumatologist. He did a bone density test and verified that my bones are significantly thinning. He said for my age (I will be 35 this month) I should be at my prime bone mass, but instead I'm at a low bone mass. I am still classified as osteopenia, but he said that is not good at my age. He said to take two Caltrate 600-D a day for a year, then repeat test and if no improvement, then he will put me on some prescriptions for this...I have to take steroid shots for asthma 3 or 4 times a year, plus I had a hysterectomy a few years ago, so I am not really surprised at these results, just hopeful he can do something to keep my bones from getting brittle. He also suggested I ask my internist to send me to a neurologist and a podiatrist for some other issues that have been going on for years. He said I have tested positive 3 times for lupus on the general bloodwork they do (last time was a low positive, but still in positive range) so he drew more blood during my visit to test more specifically for lupus. He seems to think I do not have lupus, but still feels he should do the tests to make sure this is true. I will keep you posted on everything. I have also been getting migraines every single day as well as continuing to have the weak/dizzy/spells once or twice a day now, lasting about 30 minutes each time...this is why he wants me to go to the neurologist.

Thank you for your continued prayers. I hope you find my blogs much more positive than negative. I blog as a creative outlet, plus I LOVE to entertain others and make them feel good. AT THE SAME TIME, I have learned that MANY are affected by fibromyalgia, so I blog about my health issues to get the word out about FM and to help family members who worry about their loved ones with this disease and to make them aware of the true symptoms and what they can do to help them.

I feel truly blessed to have discovered all my new friends here and I LOVE reading your blogs every day as well!

First Quilting Challenge UPDATE Two weeks into the challenge...

This message is for the other 9 participants of the FIRST Quilting Challenge, a WINTER THEMED block exchange:

If you want your block from me to be extra special, please post your favorite pic on your blog sometime VERY soon that depicts what you love the most, be it your children, your family, your favorite pet, just whatever you are thankful for that can be put in a picture...and I prefer it to look "Christmasy", or at least "wintery" via long sleeves or SOMETHING...not gonna tell my idea, just thought your block would be EXTRA special if I personalize it as part of my plan...

So have you other 9 participants made at least 2 blocks yet for the First Quilting Challenge - Winter Blocks Exchange???

I HAVE NOT MADE THE FIRST BLOCK!!! My ceiling fan/light in my sewing fan shorted out exactly two weeks ago. My hubby FINALLY installed a new one last night, so NOW I have NO MORE EXCUSES!!!

Don't get me wrong, my procrastination is not a symbol that I don't want to do this...I'm EXCITED about this exchange! I just look more forward to the blocks I'm gonna get than the blocks I am gonna make! I know, I know...it's better to give than to receive...I totally understand and appreciate that...I usually prefer the joy of giving to others...I guess it's just kinda like how as a child, you get excited the night before Christmas to see what inventive idea "Santa" has come up with this year...that's kinda how I feel. I enjoy creativity and I love surprises.

I also NEVER start a project unless my mind can grasp its total completion. This is just how God made me. That being said, I've had TWO WEEKS now to VISUALIZE each person's block!!! SO NOW I'M READY AND LOOKING SO FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED ON THE BLOCKS!!!

Something blessed to share...

I've been off-line for a few days due to technical difficulties w/our high-speed internet (it went from high speed to no speed)...back up and running now.

I'm just gonna tell ya, I'm still really fatigued all the time and having trouble in regard to fibromyalgia. I tell you this so that when you think of me, you'll also send up a prayer on my behalf to our Heavenly Father. I know He has a purpose in all our trials, so I'm just trying to learn and move on as best I can.

As it happens, the insomnia bug has bit again and I could not sleep tonight, so I have been catching up on folks' blogs and also on my myspace folks. I found the following on my sister's myspace and I thought it was so touching that I should share it with you here: