First, Thanks So so so Much! for all of your well wishes and prayers regarding my little brother. You guys have been golden and I really really believe that love goes a long way when someone is hurt or sick. Here's the update on Jay: He's out of the hospital, he's up and around, sometimes out and about, he's feeling almost normal but still is easily fatigued, he's in outpatient care and periodically returning to the doctor for bloodwork, and as far as we can tell, he's on the mend and not in immediate grave danger etc...
The burning question is...what was or is the root of his illness? I won't get into any real medical specifics because I know I have my own "issues" with hearing about medical stuff and I don't want to expose any fellow "self diagnosers" to symptom descriptions and information. Remember, I think Hugh Laurie is a highly talented laugh riot, but I run from the room if "House" is on the television. If I hear one mystery illness my imagination will run wild for days and I'll have to fiercely fend off the urge to google my imagined symptoms! The thing with sickness is that it's not exact. Every illness treats every person differently so doctors and their diagnoses can be vague, wishy washy and obtuse. Anyway, Jay was very sick and at serious risk of infection because his resistance was so low. They kept him in the hospital wing that contained all of the patients who were at risk. Signs in bright colors hung outside each patient's room indicating the level of protection required and risk factors. When we visited Jay we had to wash up to our elbows and wear surgical masks before entering the curtained off part of his room. I was there with him a lot. Aar, came as much as possible but we needed him back home manning the base. Me and my family just stayed close to Jay all day everyday and hoped to fill his room with some happy spirit. What's great is that he's a kid who seriously benefits from positive reinforcement. You can see him light up when his friends and family arrive. He couldn't sleep so he'd try to get me, Missy, Walt, and Aaron to stay as late as possible, which was waaaaaay past visiting hours and the security guard Hated us as he'd unlock the front door of the hospital to let us out to the parking lot. We even watched movies on a laptop in Jay's room. Picture it, all lights out except for the glow of the laptop, one kid lying in bed, and the rest of us huddled around the movie in surgical masks. Hospitals and all the reasons for going there are nerve wracking. And I can't even watch House or ER on TV!! Now I was living inside the TV!
Anyway, I want to thank you guys for your comments and emails. I read them before bed and before I left home in the morning and passed on all of your well wishes to Jay.
Well now I'm getting back in the swing. We're catching up on some late work, SWAPS!!, and trying to tap into some fresh creativity. During the eternity that I've been missing from blogland I've been obliterated with amazing things via the mail. Long boxes, flat boxes, fat boxes, big and little boxes, waited patiently for me on the doorstep.
The burning question is...what was or is the root of his illness? I won't get into any real medical specifics because I know I have my own "issues" with hearing about medical stuff and I don't want to expose any fellow "self diagnosers" to symptom descriptions and information. Remember, I think Hugh Laurie is a highly talented laugh riot, but I run from the room if "House" is on the television. If I hear one mystery illness my imagination will run wild for days and I'll have to fiercely fend off the urge to google my imagined symptoms! The thing with sickness is that it's not exact. Every illness treats every person differently so doctors and their diagnoses can be vague, wishy washy and obtuse. Anyway, Jay was very sick and at serious risk of infection because his resistance was so low. They kept him in the hospital wing that contained all of the patients who were at risk. Signs in bright colors hung outside each patient's room indicating the level of protection required and risk factors. When we visited Jay we had to wash up to our elbows and wear surgical masks before entering the curtained off part of his room. I was there with him a lot. Aar, came as much as possible but we needed him back home manning the base. Me and my family just stayed close to Jay all day everyday and hoped to fill his room with some happy spirit. What's great is that he's a kid who seriously benefits from positive reinforcement. You can see him light up when his friends and family arrive. He couldn't sleep so he'd try to get me, Missy, Walt, and Aaron to stay as late as possible, which was waaaaaay past visiting hours and the security guard Hated us as he'd unlock the front door of the hospital to let us out to the parking lot. We even watched movies on a laptop in Jay's room. Picture it, all lights out except for the glow of the laptop, one kid lying in bed, and the rest of us huddled around the movie in surgical masks. Hospitals and all the reasons for going there are nerve wracking. And I can't even watch House or ER on TV!! Now I was living inside the TV!
Anyway, I want to thank you guys for your comments and emails. I read them before bed and before I left home in the morning and passed on all of your well wishes to Jay.
Well now I'm getting back in the swing. We're catching up on some late work, SWAPS!!, and trying to tap into some fresh creativity. During the eternity that I've been missing from blogland I've been obliterated with amazing things via the mail. Long boxes, flat boxes, fat boxes, big and little boxes, waited patiently for me on the doorstep.
I'm taking part in Kari Artsy Mama's Sweet & Sinister swap and I have 2 partners!....Kari, the illustrious hostess, and Laura of Katydid Designs. I'm featuring Laura's stuff in this post and Kari's in the next (like I said ...I'm just getting back in the swing, so taking pictures has been a chore with all the other catch-up work.) I have been officially blown away by Sweetness and Sinisterness! Everything looks like I own it or I want badly to own it! The handmade oil cloth tote is a fave...and the BOO moon is sooo up my alley! I know I say I love lots of stuff...but I really do love this stuff. So thrilled to be in this swap! Laura....you are too fab!! I adore everything!!
Ok, Cindy of Junque Art is a sweetheart! Outta the blue came this gift! She was out at a flea market and heard something calling my name. It was this little porcelain gal! I treasure her, what a sweet sweet gesture! I'm touched. Look at her there among her fabulous accoutrements! I can't begin to explain what a sight for sore eyes this little darlin was the day she arrived! Thank you SOOOO much cindy!!! I love her so much!!
(your goodies are coming very very soon)
You know what I realized many days after posting those amazingly sweet prize ribbons from Kimla two posts back? I realized that I forgot to post one. The reason why is that I already had it hanging up in it's place and I guess it looked so at home among my decor that my eyes just passed right over it. Another reason is that I'm a space cadet sometimes. It's a new habit and it's upsetting. I used to be sharp as a tack and retained every bit of information that passed through my mind. Now I'll sit there like "ummmmm...uhhhhhh, I can't think of it.....what's it called? ...I can't remember.....how do I know you? where am I?? " It's sad. Imagine... I left this one out. Well, maybe it's a good thing, because now I get to bring up Kimla again...and in my opinion, one cannot rave enough about Kimla's creations!
My Sister Missy (Melissa) came bearing gifts from Mexico! She went down there for a little R & R and brought back all this stuff! Some fake sweets and some real ones. I looove the bread. When me and Aar had a retail shop there was a Mexican bakery a few doors down and we ate these often while burning the midnight oil. I like Mexican stuff, very "Sweet & Sinister" and the imagery usually has some funny story behind it...some superstitious legend/old wives tale. Anyway, Missy also brought back a few bottles of tequila...the kind with the worm on bottom (sick!!!) . She bought them as novelty gifts and sorta hoped that the recipients would use them as decor only! (ha ha!) Anyway, we picked her up at the airport and when she got in the car we were all almost asphyxiated by tequila fumes. A bottle had opened in her luggage and soaked through everything. It took the entire ride home to find the culprit bottle and once we found it we saw that it was completely empty and I think we were intoxicated on the vapors. I could imagine getting pulled over and trying to explain the odor wafting out of the car! Check out that super fun mural she found!!! Sooo up our alley!!! :)..ohh and that skull fabric is actually an apron!!!!..Perfect for some sweet and sinister baking huh??
My new friend Jenelle rules! She is of Sleepy Hollow Craft Co. and she has utterly Spoiled me! She's my partner in the Black Cat & Pumpkin Swap and I'm a bit overwhelmed by her package! I opened it up on a fairly gray day and I think the clouds parted. Look at all this stuff! She just opened an Etsy shop and her hands are capable of all this stuff! If that's not an endorsement I don't know what is! The bits & pieces shadow box is fall on the floor worthy...does Jenelle even know how much I looooove chubby little crows!? And the vintage die cuts are soooo coooool! I'm transported back to my first grade classroom! And ummmmm, the pink glittery Christmas house and the fun vintage cookbook! Just Too Much! really, I've had a rough couple of weeks and this package smoothed out some of the edges. Great eye, great hands, and great taste. Swaps rule!
Ok, I'll be back real soon! Again, thanks for your love for Jason! He's bolstered and facing the day with lots of positive energy. I have so much to catch up on and I have to get back to so many of you, please be patient with me!
Ok, I'll be back real soon! Again, thanks for your love for Jason! He's bolstered and facing the day with lots of positive energy. I have so much to catch up on and I have to get back to so many of you, please be patient with me!
xoxo, Jenny
