2017 End of Another Year

Hi there, it's the end of another year and once again we wonder where did the time go.  I've been busy with many things this past year.  Dad passed away in February, as executive there was a lot of work to do and there are still things that I have to do.  A friend of mine needed surgery so I visited with her and had a lovely time sewing.  I learnt how to make pillows so I've been making pillows for the craft fair.  Learnt how to make rag quilts, absolutely love them.  And when I figure out how to post pictures here from my iPad, I'll show you the projects.  Not much to say today but there could be lots more for next year.  Wish you a new year filled with love and laughter.

Definitely overdue in posting

I must apologize to you for not posting earlier. My Dad takes up a lot of my time and his memory is getting worse.  For those of you who have dealt with elderly parents or patients, you know the amount of patience needed when dealing with the same questions or comments over and over again.  but enough about my troubles, how are things with you?  I hope that you have had time for yourself  to enjoy the things that you like to do whether it's travelling, reading a book, getting together with friends or cross-stitching.  I've been doing a little bit, still having problems with the shoulder.  Here are some pics. Having problems posting the pictures, will try later when I have more patience.  Take care, and I will post more often, I promise.

August 2015

I had promised to write more and keep everyone up to date.  Well, I obviously didn't manage that and I do apologize.  Since my last posting, I did manage to get to Branson, Missouri for another wonderful retreat organized by Cecilia's Samplers.  My brother and his wife came down to Dad-sit while I was away.  Dad is doing remarkably well considering everything he went through in January.  As for myself, well..... I strained my right rotator cuff 3 months ago.  Since then I've been going for physiotherapy 3 times a week and are you ready for this I wasn't allowed to cross stitch! Trust me, I really haven't been in shape to do any stitching, I have been on anti-inflammatory medication as well as pain killers. To give you an example, I sneezed the other night...not a quiet little sneeze but a big full body sneeze, the type of sneeze where every single muscle in your body clenches before releasing!  I was in so much pain that an hour later I had to take something for the pain.  So in a nutshell between all the running around I do for Dad and this shoulder problem, I really haven't done anything.  So until the next time, I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day.  Hugs, Louise

Rare Disease Day - February 28, 2015

Did you know that February 28 was rare disease day?  Well don't worry a lot of us didn't know either, in other words you weren't alone. Unfortunately there are a lot of rare diseases in this world.  My niece was interviewed by 2 local TV stations here in Ottawa to discuss the problems that she and Jaxon face every day.  I found out through these interviews that not only does Jaxon have a rare disease but his disease is considered ultra rare!  I will try to put a link to these 2 interviews on the side bar as well as here
http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.2253630 and https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=284945878295767&pnref=story  hopefully if you click on them you will be able to see the videos.
Hugs to all. Louise

I'm Back!!

Hi there, I bet you thought I was gone for ever....well, I have been busy taking care of my Dad.  He was hospitalized for a month (the majority of January) and once he was back home, my siblings and I made sure that someone was there for him 24/7 for the first 2 weeks.  Then my siblings left and it's now back to just me.  As a result of the problems that occurred for Dad to be hospitalized, he has now lost his drivers license so guess who gets to drive him to all his appointments.  And there were a lot of follow ups with all the specialists as well as his regular doctor and dentist and hearing aid specialist.  So please excuse me for not posting but I have been busy, honest I have.  As for stitching, I haven't been doing a lot of that lately, did a bit in the hospital while Dad was sleeping and a bit while he was at the dentist.  So I will be able to finish that one and have a picture to show you.  And today I started the Tribal Teapot, something totally new and its going to be just for me!!  I think I have maybe 50 stitches in it, so you will have to wait for the pictures.  lol.  Next week, I am off to Branson, Missouri to attend a stitching retreat organized by Cecilia's Samplers.  My brother and his wife are coming to Dad-sit while I am gone.  I can't wait...  So until the next time, thank you for your patience with me and for reading my blog, remember that you are loved.  Louise

To 2015 - hopefully a better year

Hi everyone, here we are in 2015, did you do anything exciting to help bring in the new year? I really had good intentions of posting more often in December but life as usual gets in the way.  For a good portion of November and December, I was busy taking Dad to his doctors appointments, taking him for bloodwork, etc and to make a long story short, he was finally admitted to the hospital on Dec 22.  He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF).  He was having trouble with his legs, he kept retaining fluid to the point where he was about 16-18 pounds over his normal body weight.  The doctors kept increasing his diuretic but he still kept gaining weight.  For those of you with elderly parents, please, please, please get involved with them when they go to see their doctors.  I never knew that my father also suffered from chronic kidney failure, if I had known that I would have done things a bit differently. The day he was admitted to the hospital, they did an ultrasound of his legs and found a blood clot, how long had this been there, we're not sure but the point I want to make to all of you is to get involved.  I was astonished at the answers that my Dad gave to the emergency room doctor, the admitting doctor and the cardiologist!  He kept saying No, I don't think so and I kept answering the questions with the necessary information that the doctors needed....so all this time that he went into the doctors office by himself, how many times did he say No when he really should have said Yes, maybe he would have been admitted to the hospital earlier.  We will never know but please, please, please for your new years resolution please get involved, you never know, I thought my Dad was still sharp but I should have realized when he started complaining that the easy crosswords were getting too difficult for him.  Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I do plan on being better at posting in 2015 than I was in 2014.  And to end off on some good news, the total raised for the FOP for 2014 was $1000.  Yahoo.  Hugs and kisses, Louise

Two Weeks to Christmas

Oh my goodness, 2 weeks until Christmas....where has time gone....in my last post I was telling you about the purging and cleaning that I was doing to get ready for my company.  Well, they have been and now they are gone.  Looking back I have to laugh, I was so looking forward to Roberta coming to visit and now she is back home already. We had a wonderful time, laughing and giggling like a couple of school girls, I'm sure that my neighbours must have been wondering what was going on at my place.  We went out for breakfast or lunch, I took her to all the classy joints (lol)....the dollar store (she wanted to buy some containers that I have my Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid stored in) and also to a local store here, can't tell you what she bought (it's a Christmas present) and then we had a lovely time at a Christmas market in a town close by.  It was lovely wandering around all the tables looking at everything, the leather belts, the wooden cribbage boards (they were gorgeous!!), the spiced nuts, the crocheted/knitted items and of course, the wonderful baked goods!  All I will say on  that subject is that there was a serious case of sugar overload in my house that night as Roberta and I sampled all the goodies. And of course some more laughter, it seems when Roberta and I get together, the laughter just flows. My friend Barb joined us on Friday for some stitching and more laughter, all of us had tears running down our faces, oh if the walls could talk (thank goodness they can't!).  So she is back home with her family and friends, hopefully I will see her at the next stitching retreat, I say hopefully because of my Dad.  Some days it appears as if a good strong wind will blow him away and yet other days he acts as if he is 10-15 years younger.  This holiday season enjoy your family and friends, and remember that you are loved.  Hugs Louise