24 Hours Bring Changes......

If you have ever watched the movie Something the Lord Made, you may or may not know that yesterday was the 66th anniversary of the BT Shunt surgery-the first surgical procedure to treat cyanotic heart defects.  Back then, they called it Blue Baby Syndrome and it was always fatal.  In 1944, this surgery gave babies born with Congenital Heart Disease a chance to live.  Sixty-six years later, this same procedure is still widely used to give cyanotic babies a chance to grow enough to receive additional surgical treatments. 

The story really is amazing, whether you are personally affected by CHD or not.  And, chances are you know someone who is personally affected by CHD….

This anniversary was widely discussed in the CHD community yesterday.  It is called Red and Blue Day--a salute to the first mixing of red and blue blood, a chance at life.  One man, Steve Catoe, an adult CHD survivor, wrote about this anniversary on his blog Sunday night.  

Then, some time in the late hours of Sunday and very early hours of Monday, he passed away...

He entitled this entry, “24 Hours at Johns Hopkins” and quite prophetically, headed the entry with this quote: “Because your whole world can change in 24 hours.” -The Paper (1994) 

Wow... 

This post is a must-read; it takes you back to 1944 and puts you right smack into the action.  Wonderfully written. 

Just a few days earlier, Steve had started writing blog entries that highlighted the players of this historical event, leading up to Red and Blue Day.  As I looked back over his last few postings, I was struck by another prophetic post on November 18th entitled, “Run the Race.”  He chose to head this one with a Bible verse:  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with patience the race that is set before us. -Hebrews 12:1 

In this entry, Steve talked about his personal race, each mile representing a year of his life, interjecting the race with major CHD historical players.  He finished this entry by writing:

“I’m doing OK, had a bump and a bruise about half a mile back, but I just passed the 44th mile mark. I wonder who I will see … and how I will react if it is one of the other runners I have met on this journey.  And I wonder how long this race is. The longer the better, and if I can help it, I’m not going to go down on the course.  I hope to cross the finish line standing.” 

I never had the pleasure of meeting Steve Catoe in person, but I knew him well through his written words.  We 'met' several years ago, just a couple of bloggers telling our stories. I was (and am) proud to be a part of his blogroll.  He alerted his readers about Eli’s heart surgery, just as he did for many other of his 'Cardiac Kids'.  He wrote about Eli's second birthday in another entry.   I even participated when he hosted the Patients for a Moment blog hop. 

I will truly miss reading his stories and seeing his Twitter and Facebook updates.

The CHD community lost a devoted, educated, and passionately informed advocate on November 28th.  He finished the race…..and crossed the finish line standing. 

Just as he hoped. 

Funky heart, no more....

Wordless Wednesday—Happy Turkey Day!

We hope your Thanksgiving is.......

as psychedelic as ours!

Have a great Holiday weekend, y'all!

Wordless Wednesday--Who Wants a Flu Shot?!?!

Not this little guy!  

I didn't get a photo, but he was much happier 

when he learned he could have the Flu mist.

Thank God.

How Many Times Do I Have To Say It???

Dear Little One,

If you plan to continue to engage in graffiti, 

you really should consider an alias.

You should never, EVER sign your real name! 

You should definitely not sign your real name multiple times on the wall

and the door with multiple colored markers....

May I suggest "NOT ME"?  It has worked well for your sister and brothers over the years.

Love,

Mom-Mom

Friday Ramblings

In an attempt to do some actual blogging, I thought I'd post some Friday Ramblings.  It's been a while since I rambled here.  I've been extremely busy.  (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)  My main occupation of late has been my house.  I've been doing some major decluttering and rearranging.  I've also been dreaming of what I would change.....like enlarging the kitchen and adding a big island with kitchen bar stools ....

Hey, I can dream, right??? 

And no, I'm not struggling with discontentment.  Really, I'm not.  I know that I am very, very blessed!

Anyway....back to the decluttering and rearranging....  We are in the process of moving the little one out of the master bedroom.  Finally.  He will be five in less than a month (Do NOT even get me started on that tidbit of info! *sob*)

and his bed has been in our room for.....well, forever.  His cute little car bed has been occupied for the past 4 nights and the transition has been fairly smooth despite the fact that Autism has its grip on him.  The 9 yr old, however, has struggled with the changes all week.  (Autism has its grip on him, too.)  We will be painting the room blue to make the 9 yr old happy.  :o)

I have reworked a couple of pieces of furniture during this process.  The first one is a 4 drawer chest/curb find.  It was missing the top two drawers and was full of leaves and it had those old brass swinging drawer pulls that remind me of a flying eagle.  I took before photos and then my laptop crashed, (yes, again)  but this is the finished product with new paint, drawer pulls, and plastic bins. Total cost- $4 for new bins, $1.25 for clearance paint, and $4.50 for new drawer pulls in brushed nickel.  It is in the boys' closet (this walk-in closet is used for storage so the chest allows us to utilize some space for the boys and keep them out of the stored boxes):  

The other piece is an old table I got from a friend.  I think it is an old vanity or something similar.  It has these weird arm-like things on each side that tuck under the top.  I'm still working on it and when it's finished it will be a nice little desk in the kitchen/dining area. I will post photos when it is finished.

~~~~~~~~

Let's talk about kidney stones.  

I have heard many people complain about them all of my adult life and I've always thanked my lucky stars for being spared.  Spared, no longer, I'm sad to say.  The pain is INTENSE.  I compare it to childbirth, but I am definitely a weenie.  I'm talking "givemetheepiduralNOW" at 2 centimeters, weenie.  So, believe me, I was devastated to hear the ER doc tell me that I have many kidney stones as he was shooting some type of narcotic into my IV.  

Bless you, ER doc.....

I have to admit that it hasn't been nearly as bad as I feared.  Bad at times, but overall I'm okay.  It could be much worse.

~~~~~~~

I started walking again.  I'm trying to make some changes since my mom's triple bypass this summer.  Talk about a wake-up call.  I was doing great, walking two miles each morning and then the plantar fasciitis flared.  I'm trying a variety of insole inserts, stretches, had a round of steroids....   What a pain in the heel.  heh heh  Once, again, it could be worse.

~~~~~~~

I have several reviews to post.  *sigh*  Some of them are really behind due to the crazy summer I have had.  I have some great books to share and a couple of really cool products...two items that are nothing at all alike, but will catch the attention of my mom friends.  (That's a hint.)

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Can you believe it's the middle of November?!?!  I've been geeking out about that for days now.  This year has flown by.  It's been a good year in many ways and one of the hardest in other ways.  I still can't get over the fact that the holidays are here....

~~~~~~~

I watched Toy Story 3 last night.  Again.  My little one loves Toy Story!  My oldest boy loved it, too, many years ago.  I guess that's why Toy Story 3 grabs me in such a tight emotional hug.  I've seen it several times and every time I have to fight back  tears.  If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't, you must!

~~~~~~~

Okay, I think I've rambled enough for today.  (I'm trying to make a comeback.)

For those of you who have stuck it out in my absence, I thank you.

Happy Friday!

Emmy Couture!

A good friend of mine recently opened an upscale women's consignment boutique.  She called on me to design a new logo and to paint it large scale behind the counter.

It was great fun to work with her and help her with some of the store's decor.  I even participated in the ribbon cutting and grand opening!

 Her store is on the town square, next to a historic theatre.

This is her middle son.  And me.  Ahem.....

A few days ago, she asked if I would take part in a photo shoot for the store.  She selected a group of women to model some of the clothes in her store.  Stepping waayyyy  out of my box, I said yes and joined in on the fun.  She took us to a local farm and used an old, red barn as the main backdrop.  The jacket, necklace, scarf, and boots came from her store. (That jacket is MINE.  I love it!! Oh, and the necklace, too!)  Here are some of the photos she took of me.....

And this is after she gave me an 'eye lift'.  (heh heh)

If you are local, stop by Emmy Couture and see Monica on the Covington square!  You can also visit the store's Facebook Page by clicking here.

Wordless Wednesday--Evil Villan??

Nah.....
Just a cake-licker!!