Gallbladder Surgery and Finished Stitcheries

Hi Everyone!
I am back from surgery!
It was a little harder than I expected it to be. I guess not everyone's recovery time is the same, and I am still very sore. I had my surgery on July 2nd of this week. I was pretty nervous, but knew that if I ever wanted to feel better I needed to have it done.
The hospital is a fairly new facility, the staff, nurses, and doctors were all very nice. I tried to convince the nurses that I couldn't have the IV in my hand (because it hurts so much!)..but that is where they prefer to do it..so I had no choice. The surgery is an outpatient procedure, and I was able to go home pretty much within hours of when it was performed.
I could have stayed longer to rest..but looking at my husband sitting there, I felt bad for him, I knew he was bored. lol
They had given me pain medicine, so I was pretty much able to get myself up to be put in a wheelchair to get to the car to go home.
I did need to hold onto a plastic bag for the ride home though, I felt very naucious! I am sure from all the anesthesia. A total of four incisions where put into me for the probes. The biggest probe was placed in my belly button. That is where the camera was put into me so they could see to operate. The cut is still so very sore!!
I am not allowed to touch that bandage until this coming Tuesday, then I can take that one off.
I can shower, but cannot submerge myself in a tub until the doctor says ok.
I am feeling weak, and I noticed I have already lost weight. The greatest pain is in my upper chest and right shoulder area from where they pumped carbon dioxide into my body to blow up my stomach for better viewing while they operated to take the gallbladder out.
I have only been able to sleep on my back , which hasn't been very good sleep...up until last night. I was able to sleep on my side last night without too much pain thank goodness!
I have some bruising, which is to be expected, after all, using probes poking around in my stomach is not normal!
I pray that healing continues and that I will make a full uneventful recovery. As of this morning I am feeling naucious again, I only take pain medications at night time now for sleep. I take ibuprofen during the day.
After tonight I will be stopping pain medications.
I will have to be careful with my diet, although I have been pretty careful in the past year. I will have to do a trial and error and hopefully I won't have any issues now that my gallbladder is gone. I was given a list as a guideline to follow.
Someone made me laugh when I showed them the paper I was given..they asked me "What is left to eat?" Very FUNNY!! :) But so very true. I guess not much. :)
Here is the paper I was given...

One of our sweet neighbors brought us a casserole of food, which was so helpful. There certainly was no way I could have cooked.....We were so very grateful! I was also very surprised when flowers were delivered to my door from an old friend back in New York, sweet Marianna! Miss her and love her so much! Aren't they pretty!

A surprise RAK package came in the mail from dear Linda Lee of Cross N My Stitches !
She hand knitted a beautiful cloth and added bright sunshine colors of floss, dove soap and a very special bluebird pin (for happiness!)...many know I LOVE bluebirds! Thank you so much Linda for brightening my day!

Before I went in for surgery, I completed a cross stitch for wonderful new neighbors who had just gotten married. They are the sweetest young couple! I just need to find a frame when I feel well enough to leave the house....This is "Two Shall Be One" By Lizzie Kate Designs

After my surgery, on July 4th, as I rest in bed, I was determined to stitch up a small design for the holiday. I worked all morning, noon and night on this one and was able to finish it. Such a cute design.
"Land That I Love" By Lizzie Kate Designs...

Well, I must go, I cannot sit at the computer any longer, being as I am feeling very ill again.
I hope one day soon this feeling passes. Thank you all for thinking of me with love, prayers and well wishes. It is very much appreciated. I look forward to the day I am 100 percent well again. I am trying my best to remain positive, but when I am feeling as sick as I am today, it is kinda hard, but I will be ok.

Blessings to all!
Louise xo

Sew....What's New! Long Post with Pics! :)

Hi Everyone..
Been a while, thought I would pop in with some updates (for my wonderful friends and dedicated readers who have been wondering where I was)..
So much has been going on in my life, always staying busy :) I have changed the picture on the top of my blog again, this time it is a picture of me and one of my younger brothers with an old pickup truck in our backyard.

 Sir Charleston Bunny is getting bigger by the day, a new updated photo so you can see just how cute he is!

We recently went to Charleston, SC to attend our Son's A School graduation in the Nuclear Program of the United States Navy. He is now a Petty Officer 3rd Class! We are so very proud of his achievements so far, it was so good to be with our son again!
Here is his new patch that is proudly worn on his sleeve of his dress blues..

A coin that I ordered from Northwest Territorial Mint, I had it engraved on the back for him with his name and date of Graduation..

It was a wonderful visit in SC, the weather was a little chilly, but my daughter and I still had fun on the swings in the local park near my Sailor's military base!

After visiting SC, we came home to find out that our Clematis had finally bloomed! I had planted it in a pot inside the house well before Christmas had arrived.. So pretty!

I have been cleaning up and organizing my sewing room. It is a nice loft above the garage. I am re-puposing the dollhouse my Grandfather had made me all those years ago..it is now a perfect place to store my fabric and some notions!

Some photos of my sewing room :)

Love spending time in here! :) Some pillows I have stitched and were finishing off...

I stitched and sewed a special wallhanging to put in our kitchen of our new home. I love the way this turned out...

I am helping a friend out by stitching a baby sampler for her daughter. She wasn't able to do it with being so busy, so I offered to help..this has been taking up most of my time right now. It is 12x12 inches in size and has lots of filling in of stitches. After I finish stitching it, I will do all the back stitching. It is called "Savannah Birth Record" and it is a kit by Dimensions. I have converted the floss to DMC and converted the Aida fabric to using 28 count Lugana instead. Getting there slowly but surely!

I have been baking some...bread and blueberry pie! YUM!

I had a wonderful get together at my new home. All my stitching friends, and other friends also! We had a Grand time! I decorated with a Valentines Day theme. It was so much fun! I made baked ziti, garlic bread sticks, and ceasar salad. For desserts I made chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate chip cookies, and mini vanilla cupcakes with butter cream icing. My sweet friends brought along Krispie Kreme donuts, an Orange cake, rice pudding too..oh and peanut butter cookies with a Hershey kiss!

Left to Right, Linda S. , Suzanne, Linda K., Louise, Monica, Cylvia, Bonnie and Juanita in the striped blue top:

We all had a wonderful time! I love getting together with my stitching friends. They are so warm, loving and loads of fun to be with. Looking forward to our next get together! :)
As our get together was starting to wind down, it started to snow outside! Sooo exciting being as I LOVE snow! :) I ran outside to get a bunch of pictures..
I snapped a photo of a very pretty cardinal bird in the tree out front.

The snow was falling heavy and as everyone started to leave the get together, I went outside and snapped another photo of the front of my house. So pretty with snow!

I have received wonderful RAK's in the mail recently. A wonderful LHN Chart "Winter Snow" from my sweet friend Connie

My dear friend Jackie sews many beautiful things on her embroidery machine. What a wonderful surprise to receive this Raggedy Ann wall hanging, made on her machine! Isn't it adorable..it will go perfectly in my new sewing room upstairs :)

She also sent me an embroidered heart she made on her machine..and put it as a topper onto a heart shaped Valentine box. To my surprise she also included wonderful kits to stitch!

I am blessed beyond measure.
Wishing you all a beautiful day today, and I hope it is filled with all things that you love.
Thanks so much for stopping by, if you would like to leave a comment, that would make me smile :)
Raggedystitches,

Stitcher's Get Together and RAK's!

What a wonderful day was had by everyone that joined in our get together this weekend in South Carolina! Stitchers met at The Stitch and Frame Shop in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where we spent some time meeting up, browsing and shopping in this wonderful store! Here is a group photo...I am the one wearing my flowered purse cross shouldered...

I purchased one chart that I fell in love with...after seeing so many bluebirds when our Son left for the military, I have been keeping my eye out for charts with bluebirds in them...I thought this one was pretty!
This is "Bluebird Sampler" by Threadwork Primitives. I picked out a really pretty Weeks Dye Works thread for the "Bluebird" in the color "Blue Bonnet"...

After shopping we all went to Bonnie's house for a wonderful lunch made by her husband...delicious chicken salad, and afterwards there were plenty of desserts provided by everyone to fill us to the brim!

The chocolate chip cookies I made that I dipped in chocolate :)

More desserts that were provided....just delicious!!! Fudge and Orange Juice Cake...

 

We then all sat and stitched..I brought along charts and magazines I wanted to give away and share...I am starting to downsize a little bit...little did I know others were doing that too...so ...I then came home with more.!! lol

This is the lot I came home with for free...such giving sweet friends!  :) So much fun sharing!
I had recently received some surprise goodies in the mail. Additions to my Raggedy Ann collection!
My sweet dear friend Jackie in PA sent me such a beautiful new "Annie" in a little purse type bag..she will fit in just perfect in my new sewing room! I love her already!
And Linda in CO sent me the neatest Raggedy Ann and Andy Greeting Card..another wonderful addition to our collection. It looks very vintage. Just perfect! Thank you my dear friends!!

I received some very WONDERFUL news!!! It looks like our Sailor will be able to come home for Thanksgiving Holidays!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am one happy Momma :)

He will be able to see our new homestead and I get to cook him a Thanksgiving dinner. I am so excited, and a little nervous, although that might sound odd...I just want it to be so PERFECT for our Son!! I miss him so much. I cannot wait!

I wish you all a Blessed Sunday.

 

 

Mailbox Surprise!

This morning was wonderful. I attended my church meeting and really enjoyed myself. I always love hearing what all the other women have to say about their lives, their faith, and their thoughts on life, God and Heaven. It is so inspiring! I never want the meetings to end.
Upon arriving home a package was delivered to my mailbox! (I just love receiving goodies in the mail) :) I wasn't expecting anything and it was a real surprise. It was from my very sweet friend Melanie in NC. We nicknamed each other, being as she is of Italian descent, and so am I...she is "Mario", and I am "Luigi". lol!!
So, the package was from "Mario"!
She sent me a beautiful handmade necklace with crucifix, bracelet, and earrings that she made herself. She enclosed the most beautiful card with a saying about "Friendship"
"A person can hear,
but a friend listens for the meaning.
A person can look,
but a friend sees the heart.
A person can know,
but a friend understands your dreams."

God has blessed me in this life with those he surrounds me with. Thank you Mario for your gift of friendship and your precious gift that you took the time to create with your own hands. It will be treasured forever!

Christmas Surprise!

I received the most wonderful surprise in the mail from my forever friend Jackie!! "Hi Jackie"!!!!
I was so excited when I received her box. When I opened it up, I found some pretty pink tissue inside...then, as I opened up what was inside the tissue, I was in complete, absolute, AWE!
Look what was inside:

I sat there in SHOCK! These are the most BEAUTIFUL gifts I have ever seen!! She had made these on her embroidery machine just for ME!! Aren't they BEAUTIFUL!!
She also included the rotary cutter, and the embroidery scissors. The biscornu is just too pretty to stick a pin into! All I want to do is display these items and look at them. :) Oh Jackie, you have spoiled me rotten!!
And this is not all....there was more in the box! Jackie knows how much I love tea and candles...she also included this:

A pretty red teapot..red, one of my favorite colors! Mugs to go along with it, tea, and yummie cookies, and an apple scented candle!

What a wonderful Christmas surprise from someone so dear to me!
Jackie, you are so very special to me, you always will be. I thank you again from the bottom of my heart. You are always so kind and you always do everything with with so much love and it shows!
I am so glad I have a blog to show everyone just how talented you are!
:)

Louise

Holiday Travels and Gifts

This has been the most wonderful Christmas for us. We enjoyed mass, attended parties, and our family took a wonderful trip to the beach! The beach is a wonderful place to visit during the colder months here in Florida. It was so nice to spend time with family and celebrate this wondrous time of year.
My wonderful husband is so very good to me. He created some pretty neat embroidery scissor holders for my embroidery scissors. He is also sending me on a craft store shopping spree, and I cannot wait to go!
The scissor holders have holes drilled for my scissors, plus he also drilled little tiny holes to hold my needles also!

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Our beach trip and visiting family was wonderful! Although it was quite chilly and the winds really were blowing hard, it was nice to be near the wonderful waves and seagulls. We happened upon an adorable snowman...made out of sand! He was dressed up so perfectly, we all had a good laugh about it.

it was wonderful watching the waves..

Being bird lovers, it was nice to see all the beach birds..

Shells we picked up on the beach...

 

Writing love notes in the sand...

Mr. and Mrs.!!

We took a drive over to a canal, it is a gathering place for Manatees!
It was so neat looking at these wonderful peaceful creatures..there were many of them there..

I managed to get a bit of video of a manatee eating off of the side of the canal..


A pretty bird along the canal!

Of course, there are plenty of Palm trees!

 We truly had the most enjoyable time. This past year has been absolutely wonderful for us..getting to move back home, we are so blessed ! I couldn't imagine anything better.
Now we look forward to the celebration of the upcoming new year and look forward to what God has in store for us! Bring on 2011!!
My sweet SIL's gave me some really cute gifts , Thank you Erin for a beautiful addition to my Raggedy Ann tree! She had also surprised me with Snoopy ornaments..she knows how much I love Snoopy and the peanuts gang.

Cathy gave me soft cozy socks with a beautiful "Sister" ornament , I love these, thank you!

My Dear MIL surprised us with a beautiful framed photo of birds...she knows how much our dear "Sunny" was loved and was with us for 24 years. This was the first Christmas without Sunny. He sure was missed. What a beautiful sentiment this framed picture is. In memory of our dear Sunny. We had also lost our dear lovebird Sunshine..so these two birds will represent our birdies for sure! I think perhaps we shall hang it above our bed in our bedroom. It is beautiful! Thank you for your thoughtfulness!

I received the most wonderful package from Kerribeth!
I was so surprised when I opened up the Christmas box..inside was a wonderful American Quilt Collection "Sawtooth Sampler" Pattern, along with all the many wonderful Pearle Cotton, Watercolor, Overture, Pebbly Perle and Presencia threads.
Also, the Rose colored canvas to go along with the pattern.
I have never tried this before, but I cannot wait to start it!
Thank you Kerri for your kindness!

Wishing you all good things in the upcoming New Year!