Friday, March 30, 2012

Surgery ... again

You know that word I hate "cancer" well it's back and I hate it even more now!  My mom has to go back into the hospital to have another surgery.  Somehow a 2 mm cancer spot was either missed, grew or by accident (pretty scary if that's what really happened!) placed in mom's lymph nodes under her arm.  She's been doing fantastic since the mastectomy last month, no issues with her arm and now this ... something doesn't add up which is the frustrating part.  When doctors tell you that a mistake during her original biopsy could be the cause of this how are you suppose to react to that!  Anger, frustration and sadness.  I pray mom's recovery will be just as good as with her first surgery.  This surgery is physically not as complicated but I tell you mentally this one is doing a number on her as well as on the rest of the family.  She's mostly worried about the chemo and radiation that they said will have to follow which I totally understand as we all watched dad having to go through that process last year about this time. 

So I'm off to go see mom, to be with her and help her get through this crap.  Trip number four to Belgium in less then a year all cancer related trips which sucks.  I was hoping my next trip would be for a happy occasion not another anxiety trip full of worry.  I'm usually a very happy optimistic person I would say and my glass is always half full ... not half empty but I must say ... these days it's starting to look more empty every day.   I want to say thanks to my hubby and daughter for supporting me through this year, they are not joining me on this trip but are always there for me when I reach for the phone, my Ipad or e-mail.  Thank God for technology!  Mom does enjoy it when I facetime with them while I'm with her. 

I'm hoping to be back on April 22nd so for the time being I have closed both my BitsOfFiber and PurplePlatypus shops.  If all goes as planned I will re-open them on the 23rd of April.  Thanks for understanding. 

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Purple bunnies rule!

In case you didn't know this yet ... I love purple!  So, voila ... purple bunnies rule.

Feel free to click, comment, share and enjoy the purple bunnies!

Mom's choice

Made a treasury with all the mom's in mind.  Click, share and enjoy!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Bunnies, Chicks and more!

Made a treasury with Easter in mind!  Enjoy and don't forget to click on each of the items which will take you to the creator's shop with lots more fun and creative things to check out.  

Friday, March 23, 2012

Treasury time!!

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog with treasuries but I couldn't get it to work on my mom's dinosaur computer.  So bear with me as I'm going to play "catch-up" on my treasuries!

This first one is called "FELT SPRING' featuring my needle felted hedgehogs  http://www.etsy.com/listing/87061241/needle-felted-hedgehog-mom-and-baby-in-a?ref=tre-2506530838-1  .  The curator  http://www.etsy.com/shop/FliesflyawaY  Here is their shop announcement: "Welcome to our shop. Thank you for being here. In our shop you will find different home and garden decorations. They are all made by the persons who are living with us in our Thomashuis, Lexmond in the Netherlands. They all have a mentally handicap and like to make things. All products are made of used materials.
We like to answer all your questions."




Next is "LETS treat MOM FOR EASTER" featuring my wire birds next earrings and necklace  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTU4ODcwMDV8MjUwMzk0MDg0OQ/lets-treat-mom-for-easter-give-your-a  .  The Curator  http://www.etsy.com/shop/JEchardCreations   sells handpainted and Homemade Craft Ideas as well as Vintage Collectible.




Next is "Life Expressions" featuring my felt flower brooch  http://www.etsy.com/listing/37457459/creme-de-la-creme-felt-flower-brooch?ref=tre-2491103060-14  .  The Curator http://www.etsy.com/shop/Annieoky?ref=seller_info  sells  beautiful photos.



Next is "Rainbow of color" featuring my  http://www.etsy.com/listing/79707509/nuno-felted-forest-colors-scarf-ooak?ref=tre-2482153930-15   .  The Curator http://www.etsy.com/shop/Daysgonebytreasures  sells days gone by treasures!



Next is "Lovely" featuring my needle felted pincushion  http://www.etsy.com/listing/73501667/needle-felted-fairytale-toadstool?ref=tre-2472942327-1   and my knitted baby mouse hat  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY1OTAwODh8MjQ3Mjk0MjMyNw/lovely-3   .  The Curator  http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadepassion   sells   beautiful children gloves and gorgeous yarn!



Next is "Winter's last Hurrah!" featuring my nuno felted scarf http://www.etsy.com/listing/79707509/nuno-felted-forest-colors-scarf-ooak?ref=tre-2310970927-8  .  The Curator http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitMomWi    sells  beautiful knitted and crocheted items.



Next is "Soft Beauty" featuring my little bird which in the meantime flew the nest and has found a nice new family!  The Curator http://www.etsy.com/shop/CartoonSpacecraft    sells   cool art illustrations and cartoons.



Next is "Wild Life" featuring my needle felted baby seal  http://www.etsy.com/listing/52253454/needle-felted-harp-baby-seal-named?ref=tre-2288106751-2  .  The Curator http://www.etsy.com/shop/MastersCreations  sells fantastic items created using plastic canvas. Many of my items are my own design.



Need to share more of them but that will be it for today.  Not feeling too good, not sure if I have allergies or a cold!

Home again

Feels good to be home again.  Mom is doing pretty good after her mastectomy.  Wound is healing nicely.  Only thing that sucks right now is that she might still need chemo and radiation.  Her own surgeon didn't think it was necessary but his boss and the board of doctors that reviews the cancer cases happening in that hospital really think she should.  I'm just worried because of how underweight she is.  If she has any bad reaction towards the chemo, which I know doesn't always happen, she really can not afford to loose more weight.  But, we'll see what next week will bring.  That's when the decision will be made after they do another scan tomorrow.

So, I'm back in the US for now and I'm praying I don't need to make another trip to Belgium in the near future because that would mean more bad news.  I'm really ready for some good news this time.

While visiting with mom I was busy making some more baby items for my shop.  I just need to put the finishing touches on just about all of the things I made, take photos and then I'll be listing them.


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Mom is doing great after surgery

My mom had her mastectomy and is doing great. No chemo or radiation and hoping for the best. She will need to gain some weight to get her strength back. I must say I hope I will have her courage and willpower at 77!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Hating cancer

I never use the word hate, it's just a bad word ... disliking would be a better word to use but today I am using it.  Using it to let you know I "hate cancer"!  My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 yrs ago.  She finally lost her battle last year in April.  My husband was diagnosed with kidney cancer 3 yrs ago.  He underwent a tricky surgery to remove a 10 lb tumor (we named Chucky).  Thank God he's doing fine now.  Then dad got diagnosed with lung cancer and also passed away last year in June.  Now mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  The good news is that it hasn't spread.  She just had surgery and is doing pretty good considering she's 77 and gone through a lot this past year.  I'll be going over to help her when she comes out of the hospital.  I realize I'm not the only person having to go through sad, bad, crappy times and most of the time I can handle times like that ... but today it all hit me like a brick wall and I decided it's okay for me to say I hate cancer.   

So, to get my mind focused in the right direction to get ready to head on over to help mom I made these treasuries for her, my dad, my best friend Erna, my dear husband and for all of those who have lost the battle or won the battle against cancer.   Pink in my world doesn't just stand for breast cancer, to me it represents any kind of cancer. It's okay to say you "hate cancer". 



P.S.: both my Etsy shops are in "Vacation Mode" for the next couple of weeks.  If all goes as planned I will re-open shop on March 19th.  Thanks for understanding.