It's Spring Break!

For Isabella anyway.  I don't get any time off work, but between Jim and Michelle she is well taken care of.

Sunday after church we had a special treat in store for our girl.  She had been anxiously awaiting this day for a long time.  It was the culmination of a 6 year old's dreams, something that she was so excited about that it was almost palpable.  What did we do?  We took her to see the "Imagination Movers" live and in concert!

I know, you can hardly stand it right.  Don't hate me because I get to do all the fun stuff.  I am just a regular gal without connectons, but we did score some tickets! 

First we went to have lunch on the creek and we choose Five Guys because we thought it would be fast and had heard a lot about the place.  If you have never been to a Five Guys before let me warn you, make sure your arteries are cleaned out well before eating, because they're gonna get gunked up there.  That's for sure. 

That means that the food is good, but they put it in a paper bag and by the time you get to your seat the grease is already soaking through the bag.  I had a small cheeseburger with lots of veggies on it and it was very good.  Michelle got fried with her vegetable and cheese sandwich and that was the source of the grease.  She loved them though!  Bella had a hot dog and she ate it all, so that says a lot right there.

Anyway, on to the show.  If you don't know who the Imagination Movers are then you probably don't spend a lot of time watching Playhouse Disney.  Choo Choo Soul opened for them and they were very upbeat and fun.  Worked the crowd up well.  Genevieve is the hip-hop train conductor and DC is a dancer and beatboxer dressed as a railroad engineer.  They were a lot of fun and Genevieve wore a conductors uniform made from polyeste and told the kids that she proved you could look totally cool and rockin' with out showing any skin!  Loved that!

Here are Genevieve and DC.

Then it was on to the main attraction, what everyone in the packed house was there to see.  The stage lights dimmed, then the fog started to rise and then,  through the fog and the darkness, this is what we saw:

As one by one Smitty, Dave, Jeff and Scott took the stage.  And the crowd went wild!!

The sang their songs and danced and came down into the aisles to shake hands with the kids.  The children and parents and grandparents alike sang along with some of their songs.  They even brought a few special guests!

Here's Nina.  Warehouse Mouse and Timmy the were there too.  Yeah, the place was really rockin'!  The best part of it all though-

this smile tells the story!  Bella with her own little Warehouse Mouse to cuddle.  Oh, she even got 2 guitar picks too!  One from Dave and one Rich.  Cool-huh?

Since then, Jim has taken her to see the movie Hop, a Frederick Keys baseball game, fishing at the lake and to the Zoo to see the opening of their new reptile exhibit!  The last three things were all in one day.  He's doing his best to keep her busy. 

Michelle took the day off and they had a Momma and Bella day that was celebrated with Pedicures, a lunch date, baking brownies and getting to watch Aiden play in his baseball game. 

It's tough being a kid!

So, what have you been up to?

Fun Under the Big Top!

So true to form, Saturday it poured.  Again.  It came down in buckets!  Ruining our plans for an Easter Egg Hunt, so what were we to do?  Luckily the Circus was in town, so we went.

When I say 'in town', I use the term very loosley.  It was actually at the George Mason Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.  which isn't in our town, but it was close enough to go.  Jim was at the golf course working in the morning, so Bella and I left from home and headed down to meet him.  Once there, we all went together.
Bella was very excited!  Jim had taken her to a smaller circus the year before, but this was the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus-the big show.  The Greatest Show On Earth, and it did not dissapoint!

We arrived a little early and were allowed onto the stadium floor to mingle iwth some of the performers.  That was pretty neat!  Bella got a red, clown nose and a tatoo on her hand, we saw an elephant paint a picture and some 'clowning' around before it was time to go to our seats. 

Our seats were very good and we just really enjoyed ourselves.   Bella was totally enthralled!  She kept saying 'Grandaddy, look!' 'GaGa, look!' At one point she told me that she wished she had more eyes, that way it would be easier for her to see everything.  Ha!  Jim and I had a blast too.  As a matter of fact, we are not sure who had more fun, Bella or us!  

What a fun day!

We were all pretty worn out by the time that we got home, especially Isabella. 

We left the house at noon and didn't get home until after 7:00 PM., it was a long day. 

So we all turned in pretty early for the night to look forward to another day of new adventures and fun on Sunday! 

Hopefully, the rain will stop soon!

Another Friday Already?

Sometimes I wonder where the days go, then other times I know exactly where they've gone to.  I try hard to plan my days, but I think that the problem is that I plan too much into them and just simply run out of time.  Work often gets in the way of my play time.  I hate it when that happens, although it is a necessary evil!  For some of us anyway.  Work does take up a lot of my time, but at least it gives me something to talk about and for the most part I do enjoy my work.  For that I am thankful.

So, what else have I been up to all week?  Well, let me tell you.  I think that I mentioned that my doctor had recomended physical therapy for me, so I had set out to find a therapist that I could work with.  The therapy that was prescribed was massage therapy because she thought that I could gain the most benefit from that type of therapy because her theory is that I am not going to 'get better' as wih an injury, but that I might get relief from the pain and pephaps gain better range of motion.  So with prescription and a list of therapists in hand, I picked up the telephone and began dialing the phone.  An hour later I had spoken to many doctors offices and was now on the last page of my list, when finally I had an appointment set up for Tuesday of this week. The task at hand was not nearly as easy as I had anticipated!  So after work on Tuesday I don a pair of sweat pants, a T shirt and some sneakers and head on over to the office of, for privacy sake I'll call them PTI.  First,, I am introduced to the therapist, a seemingly nice enough woman who evaluates me and my aches and pains, etc.  From there she tells me what her plan of treatment is going to be for the day.   It started with electronic stimulis and heat and ended with - well- she called it a massage I called it a beating!  She actually told me to hang onto the table at one point.  Lucky for me she was being gentle.  Usually she uses a stool so that she can gain better traction, but being that it was my first time she decided to go easy on me.  Ha!  I am still sore and find it hard to believe that I am not bruised from the experience.  I went home feeling sick, tired, and totally worn out.  This is the most amazing part though, I went back on Thursday! 
But this time I had a different therapist.  A man this time and he was as different from she as night is from day.  The whole experience was different and I left feeling better, more energetic, better able to move and dare I say it-less fatigued.  I think I will stick with him if I can.

Spring Break begins for Bella.  She is off school all of next week and looking forward to some Spring-like weather.  We have had our fair share of rain around here and unfortunately we are expecting more.  Michelle had plans for tomorrow that were all outdoor but it looks like they will be cancelled due to the weather as we are expecting several inches of rain to fall-again.  (The ground is so water logged there is no place left for it to go!)  So plans will have to be changed to accomodate the weather but I think she won't mind.  Grandaddy has something special in mind.  I'll let you know if it pans out.  Usually during the break, Bella gets to spend a lot of time with her Grandad, but this year because it is so late, Jim is working at the golf course more than usual and their time together is very limited.  Bella was very disappointed to hear that, but not more that Jim.  They have a special bond and really enjoy their time together and their special outings.  It doesn't matter what they do, sometimes she will just help him with yard work.  But it's their time and that's enough.   

She's a lucky little girl!

Anyway, that's about all for now. 

I'm going cropping tonight!  Believe it or not!  Can't wait to see my girls.  Have a great weekend.

Kareb

Finally Friday

Is it terrible to say that I am looking forward to the weekend just so that I can sleep in?  Well if so, then I'm sorry. But, I can't wait to sleep in!  It's been a long week and I am anxious for it to be over.

Got a call on Monday at work from my doctors office at Kennedy Kreiger saying that the doctor wanted me to come again for another check up.  I asked when, she said tomorrow morning.  So, in gale force winds and the driving rain I headed back down to Baltimore to see my doctor on a Tuesday.  She usually only sees patients on Friday's so this was unusual.  I met a new doctor who wanted to examine me, he looked like a Ken doll.  Blond, perfect hair, perfectly coiffed.  Preppy clothes, beautify styled and perfectly creased.  Even  his lab coat was stylish!  When he smiled, the light tinkled on the shine on his teeth.  You know the type?  So totally not my type!  But an interesting specimen non the less.  Anyway, had to go through the whole routine again with him, from beginning to end.  What brought me here, when did symptoms first begin, what is affected, how does this interfere with your life, etc., etc., etc.?   Then the one that bothers me: are you depressed?
That bothers me for a number of reasons.  1) Can a person not be ill or have a disease independent from being depressed?  2) Why is it so often assumed that when a person (read: woman) has ongoing, often unexplained symptoms that she is depressed and that is the diagnosis? 
When I said that I wasn't depressed by my diagnossis he seemed surprised.  He said that he would think that it would be depressing and that it was understandable that I would be depressed.  Was he trying to talk me into it?  I said that I thought that anytime someone deals with chronic pain that it is dificult and can be depressing but that I thought my attitude in general was good and it helped me to deal with the pain a little better.  Did I want a break from it?  Yes.  Could I do without it?  Of course.  But given my choices, this doesn't seem that bad.  When I look at what is going on in the world today, war, tsunamis, earthquakes, pain and devestation, children with unimaginable illnesses, families without hope, I know that I am in a good place.  I am so Blessed.  I have so much to be thankful for and I have a God who truly loves me, who I can put my faith in wholy.  I don't always know how He answers our prayers, but I know that He does.  I know that He knows what our lifes story will be, and it is like a glorious book laid out before Him as we walk throuh it page by page, chapter by chapter, just as He has ordained for us.  And I am on one of those pages as he had planned.  And I am so grateful, so blessed and ever so loved.
Happy Friday.
Enjoy your weekend.

Count your Blessings!

Cards

As promised, a couple of quick cards!  I finally was able to get into my room to do something other than paint, unpack or organize and boy was it nice.  Baby steps, though.  A little bit at a time!  So, first up an Easter card.

As I said, no light in the studio yet so it is hard to take pics so I have to apologize for the poor quality of the photos. Hope you can get the idea.  The basket is made with the Papertrey Favor It die.  Stamped the eggs.  Ribbon trim is Making Memories.

Embossed the white with a Cuttlebug Folder, the patterned paper is Papertrey, as is the sentiment and the number dies, glitter is Martha Stewart. 

Next up is a little birthday card that I made for my niece.  She'll be ten on Monday.  I couldn't wait to play with the Papertry Cupcake die.  I just love it!  So cute. 

One last one that I have to share with you today.

This one is another one for Molly, but it's super special. Why? "Cause Bella made it!

She loves to play with paper and lately leaves a trail of paper in her wakes.  Little tiny bits of paper scraps from the cutting that she loves to do.  And when I am working in my room, she wants to be in there with me, right on top of me if possible!  So she made a card for her cousin.  She went through my stamps, picked one out, picked out paper and went to town.  Her favorite part by far was coloring with my markers.  A real treat!  Now she wants a stamp that says' Cards by Bella'.  Ha!

Quick Update

Just a quick update.  Had a great weekend!  Spent it celebrating the birthday of our dear friend Durinda.  She and Andy drov up from Willliamsburg on Friday and spent the weekend.  Friday I cooked dinner for all of us.  Bella had the day off of school because of the end of the semester and I had a rare day off of work so she helped me in the kitchen making a carrot cake with fresh pineapple filling and orange cream cheese frosting.  Yum! 
On Saturday Michelle and Isabella joined Shawn's family on a trip to the Eastern shore to visit some of his mother's side of the family, so we had a grown up day.  Durinda and I took a drive out to our local scrapbook store, which is abou 35 minutes away so we enjoyed the ride-chatting all the way.  Found lots of goodies when we got there.  Then did a little more shopping on the way back!  The guys had gone downtown to do so poking about into hisitory or something equally dull.  We all joined up later and then that evening we went out for a lovely dinner in downtown at a newer place called Olive's.  The food was great and the company was delightful!
Of course, Bella would think no weekend with the Anderson's was complete if we did not go to Cracker Barrel, so on Sunday we satisfied her desire for breakfast and shopping and went to that local eatery. 
It was such a nice visit and we so enjoyed having them stay with us.  It makes us realize just how much we miss having them so close.
Sunday afternoon I even spent some time in my craft room and made a couple of cards.  Hopefully I'll be able to take a couple of pictures and post them soon.  I know that I've been lax in that department lately.    It's been so long since I've done any crafting, but it felt so good!  Then I even started on a scrapbook page.  Can you stand it!  My room is nearly finished.  I had hoped to wait to post pictures after it was totally done, but I think I will have to do so before as I don't know when that will be.  The only thing really left is to find things for the walls and I am waiting to find the right things an I just haven't found anything yet, so as soon as the light is right I will take the pictures and post them.  (I don't have any lights either, another small detail. Ha!) 
Hope everyone is doing well.  TTFN!

Breaking My Silence

I know that I have been silent for a while now and for any of my loyal readers (both of you-ha!) I do apologize.  I'd like to tell you a little about what has been going on in my life as of late, though I hesitate to do so for fear of sounding like a whiner, but a this is my sounding board-here goes.

Where to begin?  Work.  Work has been very, very hectic!  I don't know if I had mentioned, but I have been in charge of a build out at work.  We occupy space in a three story building and we have had space on both the second and third floors and have needed more, so when space became available on the first floor, my company leased it and began a build out of it.  It was my responibility to work with the contracors, the landlords, and our team to make sure the space was built to specifications.  Further it became my responsibility to bid out furniture, work spaces, white boards, office equipment, etc. choose the vendors and supervise the installs of everything and then to hire movers to physically move the employees who would be moving from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor.  Oh, and did I mention that this was done in less than six weeks?  Yeah, it was fun.  Another thing I may have forgotten to mention is that I have no experience in that field!  What do I know about reading  blue prints and working with electricians and finding a vendor that sells white boards that will cover an entire room from floor to ceiling?  Six weeks ago, nothing-now, a lot more!  I worked long hard hours and came home totally exhausted!  So just as I have finished up this project and think that things will begin to settle into a normal routine again, I find out that we will be aquiring two more 'parcels' of square footage to build out within the building and I have 'inherited' another70 plus or minus files to work.  Gotta love job security! 

Another major issue in my life lately has been my health.  I really hesitate to talk about this because it is reallly difficult for a number of reasons.  Number one is that I don' like to complain.  I try very hard to keep a positve attitude, and most of the time I succeed.  But sometimes, I have to admit to giving in to the demon who wants to bring me down.  I struggle with him and don't want him to win.  I know that the Lord has a reason for all that He does and I know that I am So Blessed, I KNOW that.  So why do I allow Satan to bring me down? Because the pain just won't go away!  I know that and I accept that.  I live with it.  But sometimes, I'd like a vacation from it.  A chance to get away from myself for a bit and remember what it is like to be free from the shackles that bind me.  The pain that is myotonia that grips my muscles and pulls at them and refuses to let up. 
I visited with my doctor at Kennedy Kreiger on Friday and she asked how I was doing and she is so kind.  She has soft green eyes that look deep and I felt safe there.  Because she knew.  So I described it for her, and I this is what I said:  'The pain starts at about a 5 in the morning (on a scale of 1-10) and as the day goes on it gets worse.  By the time the night falls I can't stand it and I don't know what to do with it.  I want to scream, but I can't.  I sit in my chair and I want to rest all of my limbs in soft, fluffy pillows,  or put my body in traction, or float myself in a big pool of hot water.  Then I just want to lie down, so I go to bed, but it hurts in bed.  I can't get comfortable, everywhere the bed touches my body hurts.  So I get up feeling unrested.  It doesn't seem to end.'
And she understood.  She got it.  She has seen it before, there are others like me.  I knew that, because I chat with them on line though I have never actually met one.  But there is a strange kind of comfort in knowing that you're not on this journey alone.  That others have gone before you and others will go after you and what I am going through now may somehow help someone else.  Sound crazy?  I don't know, I fill out every survey and take part in every case study that I can on this disease to help in any way that I can.  Maybe that is why I was choosen, I don't know.  Anyway, bottom line new medcine protocol again.  Trying to mix it up a little.  Also going to try some physical therapy again, different this time.  Gentler, kinder, if we can fnd someone that can work with us.

So there you have it.  Ugly, I know.  I have to dump it all somewhere though.  I tell Jim, but it is hard for him.  He doesn't like to hear it, he listens but then tries to act like nothing is wrong.  I know it comes from a place of worry,  he doesn't want to admit that there is anything wrong, that I am less than his version of perfect.  But then he'll do a complete 360 and sugest that I pick up a new insurance at work that will pay for in home nursing care!  Like I want to talk about that or even think about it.  He's a pragmatist in many ways though and I, well I live for the day. 

I've needed some time to  be quite, to pray, to listen to God and to just be.  I'm getting better now, and growing stronger every day.  What a wonderful time to do that.  I go to church and listen to the hymns and the service and I am invigorated.  I am renewed in my faith and strengthened by God.  He is so good!

And if you have made it this far, I should reward you with a picture of my special girl.  This is  how Bella went to school on St. Patrick's Day!

Can you see the green hair? 

She was so excited!  Ha!