It's Tuesday Already?

I'm having crafting withdrawals.  Oh well, all that stuff is packed.

Bonnie and I went to see Mama today at the rehabilitation center.  She is doing so well.  We counted her staples in her leg.... 58!  Wow.  That is going to be a LONG scar.

She is doing so well.  She's back to normal.... well, except for the bummed hip and leg at the moment.  But she is well on her way to recovery!  Yeah!

She has gotten a card from Catherine and Lisa P. Thank you ladies so much!  She was so excited to get them and they are so pretty!!

I've been asked for her new address at the rehabilitation center, so here it is:

Agape Senior - c/o Judy Ellisor
300 Agape Drive (TCU - Room 102B)
West Columbia, SC  29169

She will be there anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks depending on how she does.

If you have already mailed her a card to the hospital - no worries - they are forwarding her mail.

I looked up the weather for where my parents live, where my son is, and where we are moving to this weekend.  Such a dramatic difference!

Columbia hi 86 / low 71 isolated thunderstorms
Kuwait hi 106 / low 84 sunny
Anchorage hi 47 / low 34 showers

Well, we only have Wed, Thurs, and Fri left.  We leave Sat.  Wow.  I don't think I'm ready yet.  I keep thinking of things I haven't packed or things I should do before I go.  Oh well, it will work out one way or the other.  I think by the time we get there and unload all our boxes and furniture, we are going to be exhausted!

Hugs and Love to you all!  Thank you so much for bearing with me until I can get my hands into my crafts again.

Janis

James 5

After I posted the update on Mama Friday, I called the hospital to talk to her and tell her good morning.  She was crying.  She said she had wanted to call me and couldn't remember my number.  She wasn't doing well and they were having to give her blood and they couldn't find a vein.

I got there as soon as I could.  I was praying the entire 45 minute drive for her healing and God reminded me of James 5:13-16:

Anyone who is having troubles should pray.  Anyone who is happy should sing praises.  Anyone who is sick should call the church's elders.  They should pray for and pour oil on the person in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person.  And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven.  Confess your sins to each other so God can heal you.  When a believing person prays, great things happen.

So, I stopped at Food Lion and bought some Olive Oil.  Although I know any oil would have done just fine.

When I got to the hospital, 2 of my aunts were there and one of my uncles.

I put oil on Mama's head, laid my hands on her and spoke James 5 ending with "in Jesus' name, be healed."

When the aunts and uncle left and Daddy got back from taking a bath at home, Mama told him about it.  We did it again before I left with Daddy adding his hand on top of mine on Mama's head.

Yesterday, Tom, Bonnie and I went to see Mama.  What a difference in her!  Her voice was coherent and strong.  Her attitude was back to normal.  Her fingers and hands were no longer swollen.  She was moving her arms, hands, and fingers with no problem.  She was my Mama again.  Praise God!!

I said Mama, you are so, so much better today!  Look at you moving your hands and arms around.  She said and I can do this... and she stretched both her arms straight up in the air above her head and grinned.

God is so good!  He is faithful even when we are not.  All He wants is us to acknowledge Him and know that we need Him.  He is there ready and able to answer our prayers, if we will only pray them.

One more thing before I start my crazy, busy day...

I want to share with you what my son, James, posted as his Facebook status yesterday. It touched my heart and I think it will touch yours too.  I'll leave you with that.  Have a great day.  Thank you for all your prayers.  Hugs, Janis

James Lewis, leaving for war Monday, September 21, 2009, wrote as his Facebook status on Saturday:

War:  it's what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It doesn't stop when I sleep at night.

It's my job.  It's what I volunteered for.

When most run away in fear, I run into the heat of action... adrenaline pumpin' through my veins.

Last thing on my mind is will I live or..... die.

The first thing on my mind is my fellow Americans sleeping peacefully at night.

This I do for you.

My sacrifice for you so that you can be safe from homeland terror.

Update on Mama

I wasn't going to post anymore about Mama, but since I've gotten so many emails and requests, I am happy to do so.  If these posts offend you in any way or remind you of bad times in your life, please forgive me.  That is not my intention.

Mama is struggling.  Wednesday the doctors were afraid we may lose her.  Wednesday night and Thursday morning were absolutely horrible.  I spent Thursday at the hospital with Mama.  Daddy was exhausted not having been able to sleep in the hospital room for 2 nights from Mama moaning and in so much pain and the nurses in and out doing their thing.

Mama was talking yesterday morning with her eyes open some and closed some.  She was really out of it.  She was saying things that didn't make any sense and getting frustrated with us for not understanding her.  I told her as sweetly as I could that I knew she knew what she wanted to say, but we just didn't understand and I was sorry.  She just nodded her head.  She was unable to tell us what year it was.  Her pain and discomfort was wearing us all down.

I convinced Daddy to go home and take a nap.  Mama somehow knows when he's not in the room even as out of it as she is and just calls for him and screams for him and says things that just breaks our heart, like "just let me die."  Who wants to hear that from their mother?

The good news is..... yes, there is good news......

They were able to get her breathing stronger and her blood pressure back up to normal range.  Since these things had improved they were also able to give her some pain medicine.  Boy did that change all our worlds!  She was finally able to rest soundly and peacefully after that.  The moaning stopped, the crying, the constant rambling we couldn't understand.  We all were able to relax and regroup. And secretly I dared anyone to walk into her hospital room and disturb her.   This was the first time since her surgery they were able to give her pain medicine.  They just couldn't give her anything until her vital signs had improved.

By last night after I had already traveled back home (I'm 45 minutes away from the hospital), I was actually able to talk to Mama on the phone and she was making sense and knew who I was.  She still doesn't know the year, but that's the least of our concerns at the moment.  I asked her if she remembered PT having her try to sit up in bed (I won't even torment you with details from that ordeal), and she said no.  THANK YOU GOD FOR MIRACLES!  She also doesn't remember her painful morning!  We are so blessed.  God is so good.

She asked what time I was coming back on Friday.  It was hard to tell her I didn't know if I could.  I hate being away.  I know that my brother and sister work and if I don't go, Daddy won't leave her alone.  It tears me up.  But I have to be here at least until a package arrives I need to sign for.  And I've got to get some packing done.  With all my running around, I really need to make a bigger dent here.  We are leaving for Alaska in just 9 days.  And I spent most of the day at my own doctor's appointment on Wednesday, so not much got done around here that day either.

Sue, Mama got your card, and it's beautiful.  Thank you so much!  She isn't able to stay awake and coherent long enough to look at her cards yet, but I taped them all on the wall right in front of her bed so when she opens her eyes, she can see them.  Bless her heart, late yesterday when she was sort of making sense and awake, she briefly saw them and said, "Is that all of them?"  I said yes.  She's gotten about 10 cards.  I'll read them all to her later.  I could tell she was hoping there were more.  She just loves getting cards.  Bless her.  Who doesn't love being loved and thought of?  Nothing wrong with that.

I know my mother very well and understand her Southern upbringing.  I have made a list of all the cards she has received and who sent them as well as a list of flowers she has gotten and who sent them.  I know when she is more herself, she would be upset if she didn't know what came from whom because the first thing she is going to want to do is write thank you notes.

Please continue to pray for her.  She is unable to lift her arms.  She can bend them at the elbow, but has a really slow and hard time getting them all the way to her face.  She can't scratch her nose or wipe her eyes or anything.  She's just too weak.

Also, please pray for my Daddy.  He has been a real trooper through all of this.  He has to make runs to the house to get his insulin shots.  Mama made sure she told everyone not to let him forget to eat or take his insulin.  He's not eating like he should right now, but he's doing the best he can under the circumstances.  He hates to leave Mama even when one of us kids are there, so most of the time he just stays at the hospital.  And he's happy to do it.  He's told all the nurses and doctors and therapists who walk in that she is very important to him and to treat her as a precious gift.  He's also exhausted.

In the mix of all of this going on with Mama, with our move to Alaska next week, we are also facing our son, James, leaving for Iraq on Monday, September 21st.  They originally told them they would be there for 12 months.  Now they are saying realistically, it's more like 15 months and probably longer than that.

He will be stationed in Kawaiit, which is now a safe zone (though not as safe as here in the US), but my son is an Army truck driver, so he will be traveling up and down Iraq in and out of danger zones.

Please pray for God to protect him.  I absolutely know that I am not in control.  I know that.  God is in control.  And I'm so thankful that He is since He knows what He's doing.  I trust Him with my son, with my Mama, with my everything.  But as a daughter, I hurt when my Mama hurts.  I want all her pain to go away.  As a mother, I hurt when I know my son is in danger.  I want him protected from evil and harm all of his life.  So I ask you, please pray for my family.  For protection, healing, guidance, and for peace and comfort and strength.

Before we had made the final decision to move to Alaska, while we were still thinking about it and seeing what jobs were available there, I prayed about the move.  I told God how we desired to go.  I told Him how I know being such a loving God full of good gifts to give His children, that I knew He wanted to give us the desires of our hearts.  I also told Him that I didn't want to go if it was going to be a disaster.  If things got tough and hard and we wished we were still here instead.  That I only wanted to go if it's what He wanted us to do.  Because then I know no matter what we face there, God desired us to be there and it would all work out okay.

He reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11,

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

My heart just fills with love for God.  Not only did He answer my prayer, He used the same wording I used.  How precious He is to me.  Oh how I love Him!

I want to give you the address for my Mama in the hospital and for my son overseas.  In no way do I expect anyone to write or send a card.  But if you feel led to do so, I want you to have the information you need.

Lexington Medical Center
Patient:  Judy Ellisor
Room:  579
2720 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia, SC  29169

SPC LEWIS, JAMES T.
2TC 180 TRANS BN
AP, AE  09366

If you send a card or write a letter to either my Mama or my son, PLEASE be sure and tell them you're one of my friends so they'll know who it's coming from.

Feel free to share my son's address with any classrooms who want to write, girl scout groups, boy scout groups, church groups, etc. If he is on enough group lists, maybe he won't have mail calls that he has to walk away empty handed.  They don't do mail call everyday.  It's only about once a week and then only when they are back from missions.  There is no mail call when they are out on missions.  So you can imagine how long it can feel when  you have one or two mail calls with no mail and it's really been weeks or months since you've heard from home.

This is my son's second tour in Iraq.  He said one of the worst feelings is having mail call and walking away empty handed.  He said, I don't care what you write about, it's just good to hear from home.

Thanks once again for letting me ramble.  I wish I could take the time to post a crafty item.  But I'm probably going to pack up most of my craft supplies today.  That should be a dent in things for sure.  :)

We do plan on updating our Carolina to Alaska blog while traveling, so if you want to keep up with me, visit there.  http://carolinatoalaska.blogspot.com 

Don't forget about me.  I'll be back with regular posts as soon as I can.

Thank you for all your prayers, cards, letters, emails, and good thoughts.  I appreciate you all.

Hugs,
Janis

Prayers Still Needed For Mama

My sister, Melody, called me first thing this morning.  She said Daddy had stayed in Mama's hospital room last night and it was a rough night for Mama.  She hasn't really spoken to anyone since surgery yesterday, but is able to follow directions and follow people with her eyes.

I don't want to go into too much gory detail, but the bottom line is, Mama is really struggling.  She was hallucinating last night and this morning.  Her pain level is high.  Her heart rate is too low, but her blood pressure is fine.  Don't ask me to explain all of this because I'm not a nurse and don't really understand it either.  You nurses out there will know better than I do how to interpret it all.

Daddy wanted to know when I could get up there today.  My brother, Eddie, and Melody both have to go back to work today.  Daddy needs a break - I don't blame him.  I'm sure he's exhausted from physically no sleep as well as emotionally.

I have a doctor's appointment myself this morning and then will be at the hospital the rest of the day.  Please continue to pray for Mama.  She's still losing a lot of blood, but they say it's within normal limits.

Melody said she doesn't look anything like herself.  She said Mama is all puffy from all the fluids they've given her and she's not voiding enough.  What in the world do you do about that?

Please pray for her.  She's struggling.  After such an extensive surgery, I should have expected a rough road, but honestly, I just thought after surgery she would feel so much better and we'd be able to talk about it.  I'm a little emotional right now, but that's okay.  I'll pull it together before I get up to her room.  At least she's not in intensive care.

Melody said Mama has some cards on her table waiting for her to open when she becomes alert and feels like it.  If any of them are from you, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!  Please continue to send her cards.  Mama loves to open cards, read them, hold and touch them, and show them off to everyone.  Who doesn't love to be loved?

Here is her address if you'd like to send a card.  Feel free to re-post this and share it on your blog or at your Women's Group or church.  All the prayer chains she can be on will only help!!

Lexington Medical Center
Patient:  Judy Ellisor
Room:  579
2720 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia, SC  29169

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and letting me continue to post a non-craft related item.

Lots of hugs from me to you,
Janis

Mama Update

Ok, so Mama is out of surgery, out of recovery and back in her room.  YEAH!

She lost a lot of blood during surgery (which we expected and were told would happen), so they had to give her lots of blood.  They said her blood levels were real high right now (her hemoglobin is 16).  :)

They have her wrapped up in warm blankets like a snow bunny because she's twitching and shivering, but that will pass.  She's responsive, can follow directions, and is following people with her eyes.

Her cut for surgery goes from her hip to her knee! Wow.  (I know you are itching for me to post a picture of that.  jk)  They have an IV in her neck.... we don't understand that one... and some other things you guys probably would appreciate me not mentioning. 

I'll be going tomorrow to see her.  They say they are going to get her up and sitting in a chair tomorrow.  That should be interesting.

Thank you all so much for your prayers.  And if you have mailed or are going to mail her a card (address 2 posts down), thank you very, very much.  I told her some of my bloggy, crafty friends were mailing her a card and you should have seen her face!!  It lit up like a Christmas Tree!  I'm telling you, it's a BIG DEAL!  So thank you all very much for doing that.

Hugs,
Janis

Mama's Surgery Recap

Hi, guys.  I'm so sorry I haven't gotten any crafty posts up in the past several days.  Please hang in there with me.  I'll try to get some crafty things up in the next few days.

Recap for Mama's surgery today:

Mama was taken to surgery around 9:15 this morning, but it didn't really start until around 11:00. She was out of surgery around 4:00 or 4:30 and is currently still in recovery. 

 Thank you  for your thoughts and prayers.  I'm planning on heading to the hospital after lunch tomorrow to let her see my smiling face.  :)  Hopefully, I get a call soon from my brother or sister who is currently at the hospital letting me know that she is finally out of recovery.  I hope it won't be long.

Hugs,

Janis

Spending Day at Hospital with Mama

I'm so sorry I'm not on the computer visiting all of your blogs right now.  I haven't forgotten about you, and hope to catch up with everyone who has left a comment and other blogs I follow soon..

Bonnie and I are off to the hospital today to spend most of it with Mama.  We aren't sure if her surgery will be today or tomorrow.

Thank you so much for all your kind words and prayers.  I know they are making a difference in her recovery.

Also, thank you so much to all who said you would send her a card.  It would mean a lot to me, and I know she'd love it too.  Encouragement is such a good thing when you feel so awful.

Her address at the hospital is:

Lexington Medical Center
Patient: Judy Ellisor
Room 579
2720 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia, SC  29169

Hugs to you all,
Janis

Prayers & Card Request for Mama

My Mama's femur (big bone in thigh) broke yesterday.  She is in extreme pain, and I would really appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers for her during this time.

My Mama has osteoporosis.  This is her 3rd hospital stay this year.  She had back surgery 3-4 weeks ago.  Her right leg is the one the femur broke in and is also the one she had hip replacement done on 10 years ago.

I usually don't get on the computer on the weekends, but your prayers would really make a big difference in her comfort level and healing process.

Also, if you guys would be so kind, it would mean the world to me if you would mail her a card.  She is going to be in the hospital for at least a week after surgery and then straight to rehabilitation facitility before coming home.  By that time, our family will have already moved to Alaska. 

She is my crafting buddy and loves all the crafts I pull up on her computer that I have found from your blogs and youtube videos.

Her address at the hospital is:

Lexington Medical Center
Patient: Judy Ellisor
Room 579
2720 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia, SC  29169

Thank you so much.  You guys are so awesome!

Hugs,
Janis

Big Announcement

I've been wanting to post something about this for a while now, but had to wait for the timing to be right.

Our family is moving from South Carolina to........................Anchorage, Alaska!

WOW!!!!!  How cool is that!?!

Please check out our new blog to keep updated with our little adventure.http://carolinatoalaska.blogspot.com/

Tom and I have talked about Alaska for several years.  I'm so thankful that it looks like we are finally actually getting to go.  We are always up for a new adventure!

Tom and I will be moving with our youngest daughter, Bonnie.  Our son is stationed in California with the Army, but will be leaving in a couple weeks for another tour in Iraq - this time for 12 months.  Our oldest daughter lives on her own here, and will stay here with her life.  Our middle daughter is a sophomore in college and lives on her own here, so she will also stay here with her life also.

I am so excited that I can hardly stand it!  I have a LOT to do before the end of the month!!

We are hoping to travel the last week of this month.  I will be out of touch for about a week when we begin traveling, but please don't forget about me!  I'll resume posting again (with more videos) as soon as we get there and get settled.  In the meantime before we leave, I'll try to post as often as possible.

Doing my Happy Dance,
Janis

Mini Ablum About YOU! - Episode 2

Can I just say that making videos is..... SO MUCH FUN! I mean, OH MY GOSH! I love it!!

Today I am sharing with you something I started in January of this year. This is not my original idea, it came from another creative person's blog. But I have adapted it to fit my personality and wanted to share with you.

So often we scrapbook and journal about those we love whom we are surrounded by. And so often our picture is seldom seen or journaling is seldom written about who we are, what we like & dislike, what we hope for our future. Don't you know as much as you love seeing pictures of those you love and reading about their exciting achievements and adventures, those who love YOU want to do the same.



This project is centered around YOU! And it's so easy and fun to do. Please watch the video below for all the details... probably more than you really need to know. :)

Your first question for this project, should you choose to participate (And I Hope You Do!) is:

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING WHEN YOU ARE BARELY HANGING ON?

I'll try to include questions in ongoing posts to keep you brainstorming for Your YOU MINI ALBUM.


PLEASE leave a link to your creation if you choose to participate. We all want to see how you made your creation and get ideas from you!



Hugs,
Janis

We're Back!

Isn't she just the cutest little girl in the world? She's holding her stuffed animal named, DOG, who goes everywhere she goes.


Here is Aaron and Tom on one of our little hikes to Triple Falls. The day after this pic, they took a 13 mile hike. It took them 4 1/2 hours for that one. That kind of strenuous hiking is not for me. :)


Tom and Bonnie, oh and Dog. We had so much fun!


Here is Aaron and Keri. Look at those happy faces! You just can't buy happiness like that!


Again, what a relaxing weekend with our family! We did a little hiking, a little walking, a lot of sitting by the campfire, a lot of s'mores, and a whole lot of laughing.

I sure did miss you guys! I've got tons of your blogs I need to catch up on. I can see from my sidebar that you guys have been BUSY CRAFTING!

Maybe I'll get some crafting done tomorrow.... I don't know... I'm still in relaxed, vacation mode today. :)

Hugs,
Janis

Christmas Pin Cards

Really quick, guys, because we are heading out of town in a few hours, and I've got packing to do!

Here are 2 cards I made this morning. Both of them have Christmas pins on them that the receiver could detach and then pin to their scarf, hat, purse, or sweater to wear during the holiday season. The beautiful snowflakes are from my friend, Mary. THANKS, MARY!!!

You can't really tell, but I used pop dots for the snowflakes.

The card base is DCWV textured cards, white. Paper from DCWV All Dressed Up and The Stack 6.

The embossed snowy town paper is from my friend in Scotland. THANKS, DAWN!

Okay guys, enjoy your long weekend! I won't be posting again until at least Tuesday!

Hugs,
Janis

PigPen Snowman

Doesn't that snowman remind you of Pigpen in Charlie Brown? LOL It's another stamp I borrowed from Mama. I used chalk to color the image. I used some gray on the snowman to make him look a little dingy. :)

Hugs,
Janis

Horse Hug

Yesterday when I was visiting my Mama, I was able to borrow some of her rubber stamps to bring home. :) I spent a little while today cutting cardstock (white confetti) to the appropriate sizes for various stamps I brought home.

Here's a horsie I borrowed. Bonnie just loves horses, and Mama had bought this stamp to make her a card or two with it.

I stamped him on the white conffetti paper in black ink. Then I used chalks to color him and the grass and sky around him. I then got out my black Sharpie Ultra Fine tip pen and traced the outline of him for a little more definition.



I used papers and the "hug" sticker I received as a RAK from Boni. Click here to visit her blog. She's on a roll against the Rubber Stamp Company Who Shall Remain Nameless. Pretty interesting posts (be sure to read both her posts today!)

I used Pop Dots to pop up the image on the card. Ribbon is from stash. Card base is DCWV textured cards. It's actually a pretty vanilla cream color, but it looks white here in this photo.


Hoping everyone is have a blessed day. With so much going on this week, I hope I get time to make another card before we leave Friday on our camping trip. If you don't hear from me for a few days, don't worry. I'll be back!

Hugs,
Janis

Girlfriends 1984

Look at this sweet group of girls! Can you believe these were some of my best freinds during my senior year of high school? This was our Prom in 1984. I just love all these girls! And at least 4 of them I have seen in the last few weeks.... 25 years later. Wow.

Each of these precious girls has had so much happen in their lives since 1984. Some triumphant stories and some sad. Boy, does this picture bring back memories.

You may be wondering if I'm in that group. I am. I'm debating whether to tell you or not which one I am. :) Hmmmmm... Well if you want to know, just ask and I'll spill the beans.

Have a picture you want to talk about? Visit here:


... and participate.

Have a GREAT and fun day!

Hugs,
Janis

Hi, Friends!

Bonnie and I had lots of errands to run today in Columbia. Here she is at one of the places we went where they had this fountain that just barely had the energy to go up above the water line. But Bonnie thought it was neat-o.


Here is Tom's mom (my MIL) with our son, Jimmy. He hates getting his picture taken! :)
I'm going to miss him so much when we goes to Iraq in 3 weeks. I mean I already don't get to see him enough since he's stationed in California and I'm in South Carolina, but at least I know he's here... in America. I love his tattoos. He has a rose on one arm and my grandmother's favorite Bible verse on his right arm. You can barely see it here in this picture, but it says, "Be still and know that I am God." He's such a nice young man!


I know this picture is blurry. This is Bonnie in the truck after we dropped of Jimmy at the airport Sunday. She has "Ann" sitting on her shoulder. This is a beautiful doll that her Granny got her. Her granny took a tour of the western part of the US and Canada these past 2 weeks. She brought Bonnie back an Ann of Green Gables doll. Sweet.

No crafts to upload today. I went to Mama and Daddy's before my Weight Watcher's meeting this morning and took my Cricut. They had never seen one, so that was a lot of fun. Mama and I made some adorable envelopes and some of the mini albums from one 12x12 piece of paper. I love making those! But I didn't snap any photos of our goodies before we packed up and headed home.

Thank you all so much for all the comments you leave me. I try to visit all your blogs too and share some love. I have enjoyed so much meeting you guys and becoming friends with you. You know, everybody has a story to tell, and I want to hear them all. I just love people! I love hearing about your lives.

I met a women today in a State Office I had an errand at today, and she had a bunch of "Get Well" cards taped to the wall beside her desk. I said, "Oh, have you been sick? You look good now. I hope you are feeling better." Can you believe she told me she had breast cancer? She just finished her last chemo treatment last month and was back at work. Her radiation treatments start next month. She said she could just feel people praying for her and how good God is. She shared so much with me and even though Breast Cancer sounds so scary, we had such a joyful talk. I felt so refreshed when I left. What a wonderful woman!

And of course, I got to see Ruth today at Weight Watchers. She is the sweetest lady. She always enjoys Bonnie and asked where she was today. I told her she stayed at Mama and Daddy's today, and she said to tell her she missed her. I mean, how sweet is that? Then she was telling me about her Bible Study she had just left. I'm telling you, I just love people.

So.... all that to say, thank you so much for commenting. And thanks to those of you I've met through this blog and now shoot emails back and forth with. You guys are all so special to me, and I am so thankful for you all! Feel free to email me anytime if you just need to talk or need prayer. It's a delight to be your friend. Northrose@slowar.com

Hugs,
Janis