Jerry and Me

I'm a fan of Jerry Lewis.  Yes, I admit it.  I loved all of those old comedies like "The Nutty Professor", "At War With the Army" and "The Errand Boy".  He cracked me up!  But more than making me laugh, I have always admired him for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Ironic, Huh.

When I was a kid, my brothers and sister and I I would often stay up all night and watch the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.  We cheered him on as the tote boards rolled out the new high numbers.  (In those days the numbers actually kind of rolled!)  We challenged each other to stay up all night, to see each act as they came on stage and to hear each story, each tale, each heroic act, and see Jerry tear up with each donation given in honor of 'his' kids.  We did our best to raise money and to make our donations when we could.  We didn't know why Jerry was so dedicated to this cause, but it didn't really matter, he was and we watched.  It was a Labor Day Tradition, and it continues to be one.  

I had no way of knowing then that I would come to know the MDA in such an intimate way.  No way of knowing that  Muscular Dystrophy would have an affect on my life in the way that it does today.  Who would have guessed it?  Often when I tell people that I have Muscular Dystrophy they are surprised, often shocked.  I am not what they 'expect' of someone with the disease.  For one, because I walk on my own accrd and for another because I am female.  Something that I didn't know is that many people associate MD as a 'male' disease.  Well, I am  here to tell you - it can and does affect both male and female members of the population!

*myotonia*Steinerts*genes*Chromosone 3*Limb muscles*ptosis*MMD2*CPAP*distal muscles*mexilitine* EKG*Provigil*cataracts*alleals*diabetes*electromyogram*EMG*muscle biopsy*degenerative*progressive*auto-somonal*weakness*slurred speach*cardiac arrythmia*

A few yeas ago these were just word to me, now they have a whole greater meaning.  With Labor Day right around the corner I wanted to take a moment to remind you to take a moment and be grateful.  For your health, for your family, for your job, for whatever.  I have much to be grateful for and I try to remember that daily.  I'd also like to ask that if you are so inclined, please make donation to the MDA this weekend, every bit helps to do so much.  The research that is going on daily is amazing and I am convinced that a cure will be found and soon!  There are so many different types of neuromuscular diseases that are helped by the MDA, your dollars can do so much.  I urge you to take a few minutes and go to the website and see what is being done-you will be amazed! 

And that is the end of my public service announcement.  On to our regularly scheduled programming. 
Have a safe and happy Labor Day!

I'm Tired

I know, you've heard it before.  But it bears repeating.  I am tired.  Bone tired, weary.  Exhausted.

                * I am tired of being tired.
                * I am tired of being sick.
                * I am tired of feeling out of control.
                * I am tired of taking pills (prescribed).
                * I am tired of giving up part of each day to naps.
                * I am tired of feeling helpless...

But I am not without HOPE.

               * I have Hope for a cure.
               * I have Hope for patience.
               * I have Hope that my suffering will help to alleviete anothers.
               * I have Hope that the Drs. continue their research.
               * I have Hope that I will be sustained.
               * I have Hope for understanding.
               * I have Hope for that He will continue to carry me when I am weak.
                                   And HE does.  And HE will.


For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
                                                            Romans 8:24-25

Back to School

Yesterday was our little Bella's first day of First Grade!  How can that be?  She is growing up so fast, I can hardly stand it.  She was so excited about the school year beginning though.  She had been waiting for it all summer long, and it was finally here. 
Sunday we wanted to  make special, her last day of summer vacation.  Probably more for us than for  her, but whatever.  Jim had to work all day, so it was just us girls.  I was down for the count on Saturday with a migraine and slept in a little on Sunday morning, and wasn't too anxious to get going right away either.  So Bella and Michelle started in on getting a gift together for Bella's teacher.  They dipped fortune cookies in chocolate and then sprinkled red & blue jimmies on them (school colors), packaged them up nice, and voila:

(Tag reads: I'm so FORTUNATE to have YOU for a teacher; courtesey of 2 Sisters)

They tasted good too! 

Then of course Bella felt bad about not having anything for her teacher from last year and wanted to bring something in for her too.  So I had to come up with something on the fly- here's what I did:

Nothing fancy, but it did the trick!  Bella was happy and the teacher has extra pencils for her desk.

We had thought of going to the pool, but it was rainy and just not pool weather so instead we decided upon a movie.  Bella choose Despicable Me. Though she had seen it before with Jim, she wanted Michelle and I to see it too and we were not dissappointed!  It was very funny.  We didn't see it in 3-D, but it was fun non the less.  I LOVED the minions.

So cute!

Anyway, we did have a fun day. 

And yesterday, Bella was ready to face a new year of school as a first grader.  She had her school supplies ready, her backpack packed, her lunch was made and neatly packed in her lunchbox, her clothes were laid out, she was set.  She was all smiles going and all smiles when she got home-a good sign I'd think. 

Here she is-our big first grader!

Today, she couldn't wait to get up and go again!  It's great when they are still young.

Check out the Great Give Away!

Go over to see the amazing give away the Kara is doing over at Kara's Party Ideas blog and enter for your chance to win a Silhouette craft cutter!  Her blog is truly amazing and I check it out daily for ispirational ideas, she's not just about parties you know.  I can feel my pulse quicken when I click on her blog and see that she has posted something new, I just can't wait to see what she has in store for me next!  Go on over and visit, you won't be sorry that you did!   http://www.karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/

Thankful Thursday

Thursday is here and it has been a long week.  It has been a rather gloomy week here, lots of much needed rain yesterday and very foggy this morning.  Monday and Tuesday were hot, hot, hot and it will be hot again today.  Consequently, my head has been aching!  I have been dealing with a migraine for the better part of the week along with a miriad of other aches and pains.  All a consequense of a combination of things, the weather and the Muscular Dystrophy.  So, I have been sleepy and probably a little grumpier than usual. 

But today the sun is shining and it is nearing the end of the week, the weekend is just around the corner and I have so much to be grateful for that I choose to focus on that!  In honor of Thursday, here are just a few things that I am thankful for today:
 1. My Family-I have such a great warm, loving and supportive family and I am sooooo thankful for each and
     every one of them!
 2. Painters-That's right, as I type this there are painters at my house painting the outside trim, shutters,
     doors, and caulking the windows so I don't have to!  YEAH!
 3. Friends Who Call Me at Work-You know who you are.  What a great break in the middle of the work-
     day to pick up the phone and hear your friends' voice on the line just calling to say 'hi' or ask  how my
     weigh in went.  What a special blessing!
 4. A Good Weigh In-Another good week on the scales!  Wooo-hooo!  It has been a long and difficult road,
     but I am rapidly now down 29 pounds, and boy will it sound good to say 30.  Still have a way to go, but
     it is a great start and I am happy about what I have accomplished so far.
 5. A Craft that I Love!-Scrapbooking/Cardmaking/Crafting, I just love it and it is a great source of stress
     relief for me.  I am very grateful that I have found something that makes me happy and that I find so
     fulfilling.

I could go on, but I am going to stop for now.What about you?  What are you thankful for today? 
And so you know that I mean what I say, here are a few examples of what I've been working on lately.

Bella's first day of Kindergarten (that was last year for anyone keeping track!)

 2009

What do you know-2010!  Journaling block blank, but can't have it all! 

(Paper piecing Legacy Paper Arts.)

Wordless Wednesday

One happy girl!

Loving it!

Pretty toes!

Monday, Monday!

Can't stop that day!  Much as I would have liked too, just couldn't keep it from coming.  And come it did, way too early this morning, Monday morning arrived much to my chagrin.  How I wished it was still Sunday for one more day.  I just wasn't ready to face Monday morning and all that goes with it.  Bleh! Blah! Pho-ee!

The weekend was blessedly uneventful.  I went up to Tootie's on Friday night and we went to dinner and caught up on the local chatter.  Haven't seen the gals in a while, so there was much to catch up on!  After dinner we headed back to Toot's for some cropping fun.  I was not terribly inspired, so I just worked on some paper pieced page layouts that I don't even have pictures for!  Ha!  How do you like that?  But when I do have pictures, I'll be ready.  It was good just to be doing something though.  I have been so behind and so unorganized that I really don't know where to start.  I need to print out pictures before I can scrap them and before I can print them out I need to put them on the computer and organize them and that all seems like so much work right now.  I have serious issues, I know! 

So Saturday was the last day of the tax free shopping for back to school clothes, so Michelle and I took Bella out and got her a few things.  She didn't need a whole lot right now, just some tops and pajamas, and a few dresses.  We  had some luck-not a bunch though.  I had a coupon for Gymboree and it was the first time in recent memory when I went in there and wasn't tempted to buy anything, and I had a coupon!  They didn't really have anything new that was for fall.  They had new summer things, but we didn't need any of that.  Children's Place was a mess, and just plain strange styles they had out!  Nothing that I'd put on a first grader.  Luckily Carter's still has clothes for little girls that look like they are for little girls.  She was happy with what we got, so that is what's important anyway, right?
When we got home though I was so tired I laid on the couch and was out before I knew it and woke up when Jim came home and was completely disoriented.  I hate that feeling! 
Sunday he had hoped to go to Hersheypark for the day but I just wasn't up to it.  The man has boundless energy and I just don't any more.  I woke up feeling like I had been the victim of a terrible bar brawl and didn't even have anything to drink!  Bella sat on my lap and asked me why I was vibrating, my muscles were all just convulsing and twitching so much.  She kept asking me to make it stop, and I told her I wished I could.  Took a long hot tub to help to ease the tesion in my muscles, but that didn't help a great deal.  I just felt pretty wiped out all day.  So Jim wanted to clean the garage and basement-I let him.  I helped him, just not a great deal.  I really wasn't up to a whole lot.  I took a nap Sunday too!  And, I didn't take one picture this weekend!  Not one!  Nothing to share.  Sorry!!
Hopefully I'll start feeling like myself and be a little more cheerful and a little more productive for you!
Till then...