On the Mend

My gall bladder surgery on Monday went well and I’m back home and on the mend. I just wanted to check in and say Hi and let you all know that I’m still alive and kickin’…although I’m kickin’ a little slower and with much more pain than usual.

Who’d have thought that 4 little tiny incisions could make ya hurt like you’ve been beaten in the gut by Mohammed Ali in his prime? Sheesh!!

The chair in my art studio is the most comfortable in the house to me at the moment so I’m trying to make use of my time in there by painting and collaging some here and there. I’ll try and post photos tomorrow, if I’m able.

For now, the Lortab I took 20-30 minutes ago is starting to take effect so I think it’s about time for me to lay down and take a nice long nap.

Be good to yourselves and to each other.

Peace & Love,
Barb

Quite the Handful…

I have been rather quiet lately, dealing with health issue upon health issue and on and on, ad nauseum.

But, at long last, I have finally gotten some real diagnosis' for the all over body pain I have been dealing with and for the localized pain in my upper abdomen that is in conjunction with nausea, vomiting, etc.

My doc has diagnosed me with fibromyalgia (that’s the all over body pain) and he’s added/changed my meds to help ease the fibro pain.

In addition, my gall bladder has gone kaput on me so I am having surgery on Monday to remove that bad boy. Lots of other things have been found and my new doctor is all about doing what needs to be done in order to help me feel better and get back to semi-normal. This treatment has included a buttload of meds…Cymbalta (depression & fibro), is one of the bigger changes but it is already seeming to work. YAY!!! This is just my morning doses…two more of the little blue capsules throughout the day and another even larger handful at dinner and a few more at bedtime.

I am way too young to be this damn old…and to be taking such a huge pharmaceutical array everyday.

Anyway, it looks like I’ll be off work for another 2 1/2 to 3 weeks because of the gall bladder surgery but my surgeon says I will feel awesomely better after having that diseased little guy yanked out. OMG, it will be so nice to feel better. I am so sick of being sick.

Thankfully, I have a wonderfully supportive husband that would never give up on me and that sees me through all this health crap…not to mention that he encourages me to keep busy with my art.  He knows how healing my art is for me.

Speaking of my art, I have managed to create some stuff that I really like lately.

And these are just a few of my little creative endeavors, not to mention the art journal pages I’ve squeaked out here and there.

Then there is the art that my precious grandboy, Noah, created in the studio with me while he was visiting this past weekend. I adore that child so much and he surely won my heart over even more (and I didn’t think that was possible) when he began to paint so freely while we talked. I was painting at my work area and he was painting at “his paint table” when he said “When I grow up, I want to be an artist just like you Nana.”

OMG! I melted into a puddle of gooey mush when he said that to me. He is such a huge part of my heart and to know that he sees me as an artist, without it being something someone had ever told him…and to know he wants to be creative in his life. Nothing could be better to me.

I guess that’s about it for now. I just wanted to let y’all know what’s going on with me and give an idea of why I may not be around much over the next week or so, with the surgery and all.

Take care of yourselves and keep on creating!

Peace & Love,
Barb

Just Checking In

I wish I had something for y’all today…but I don’t.

My days for the past couple of weeks have been full to overflowing with doctors appointments, tests, tests and more tests and it’s not over yet. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow morning at 10am.

I guess I just wanted to say Hi and let my dear bloggy friends know that I haven’t disappeared off the face of the earth, I’m just having to deal with “stuff” right now.

I will be back, in full force, soon…sharing some art I’ve been creating, new journal pages, and lots of great thrift store/yard sale finds.

Much Peace & Love,
Barb

Creating & Thrifting

We spent the weekend away, celebrating our 4th Anniversary. We had a good time, ate wonderful meals, slept in a super comfy bed, played blackjack and Baccarat, and really just enjoyed our time away…alone.

We all need some time away to recharge our batteries and that is exactly what this was for us.

For the past week, when I haven’t been dealing with doctors and medical tests, I have been busy creating art. Art of all different types.  It feels good to create and I have the extra incentive to create with a deal that my sister and I have…we each pick something we want to achieve and become accountable to each other for completing those things.  If we don’t accomplish our goals each week, we owe the other money for each part not completed.  Yeah, cash is always a good incentive but it’s really more about being accountable to someone besides ourselves.  It has certainly helped get me into the studio more and helped me procrastinate less.

I am a huge thrift store/garage sale fan. I’m always looking for a deal and for “stuff” I can use in my art, too.  I often find things for our house and it’s unbelievable the deals I come across on things I use to create art pieces.  I thought I’d share my latest thrift store find that I’m excited about…

I got this pristine, antique canister set a couple of weeks ago for a mere $5.00.  I love a great deal!  Aren’t they fabulous?

What great finds have you come across in your thrift store or yard sale trips lately?

Peace & Love,
Barb

The Good Life

I have such a good life.

Now, if you had lived through the day (hell, through the LIFE) I’ve had, you might not be thinking that thought right about now…but really, I do have a phenomenally wonderful life.

Today I was diagnosed (finally, a diagnosis!) with Fibromyalgia. It is only part of what’s going on with me but to finally have a doc say to me “There IS a reason for your pain” and this is what it is and this is how we’re going to treat it…Oh my, those words are like music to my ears. I need to know that there is a reason I hurt and to have a doctor validate it. It helps. 

Now, if we can just pinpoint what is causing my upper abdominal pain (gall bladder?) then maybe I can get to healing and get on with life! Same doc is sending me for a HIDA Scan on Tuesday…maybe that will give the answer we’re looking for. *crossing fingers*

Why, after hearing that today and coming home with even more new meds to add to the ever growing pharmacy that I have for all of the other ailments I have, would I ever start off by saying how good my life is?

My life is good because the hubby and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary yesterday and that means I have spent a wonderful 4 years with the man who still makes my heart beat fast and can make me laugh like no one else on earth…the man who is the key to finally fit my locks. My life is good because I have close family (my girls, my sister, my son-in-law) that is phenomenal and their for love me is so wonderful and comforting.

Life is good because I am creating things in my studio that make me happy; trying new things. experimenting and learning.  Life is good because our bills are paid, we have jobs (even if I can’t work much right now), a good income, a roof over our heads and plenty of food in the cupboard. Life is good because I have wonderful, crazy friends who send me unbelievable mail-love that includes big eyes for my studio.

See? What’s not to love about my life?

Oh yeah, every single one of us has our own private hells to deal with but when we step back and look at things in the right light, life is good.

It just is.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Peace & Love,
Barb

Rambling

I’ve always wanted to be one of the cool kids…one of those cool chicas who eschews television, drinks tea, does yoga, and maybe crochet or knit. Yea, I’d love to be one of the cool women but I’ve realized that really isn’t me. I can’t be something I’m not…I can’t pretend.

Then I realized that it is the same at 44 as it was when I was in high school. I just have to be myself, like what I like, do what I enjoy and the rest will continue to fall into place.

Who am I? I am the crazy woman in the neighborhood that likes to put pink flamingos in the yard, to wear paint covered overalls to Walmart if I have to run to pick up something in the middle of painting/crafting and I drink my coffee made at home and not from Starbucks, Diet Mt. Dew, not cups of hot tea.

It’s perfectly okay to just be myself. I am the best me there is; no one can ever be me.

Just my thoughts at the moment.

Other stuff:

• Been spending much time doing the whole doctor, tests, hospital for more tests route this week. I have type II diabetes but my pancreas is shutting down completely (leading toward being on insulin instead of oral meds); I’m having upper abdominal pain and have already had problems with my liver (and kidneys) thanks to the diabetes so they don’t know if it’s my liver or gallbladder that’s causing the pain (I should find out tomorrow); and the list goes on and on.  I’m really getting tired of dealing with all this health stuff…but what’s the alternative?
• I looked really hard at myself this week and realized that my outward appearance reflects how I feel on the inside…blah, rundown, achy and sick…but I’m tired of that. I haven’t worn makeup in months and not regularly for years but I want to start wearing some again. I want to wear a little makeup, already got a haircut, gonna color my hair tomorrow, pluck my eyebrows, shave my legs (LOL), dress better and just try to make my outside reflect how I WANT to feel on the inside. Who knows…maybe my body will follow suit.
• I’ve found so many new blogs that have captured my attention lately. If you’re looking for some cool places to check out, be sure to check my blog list (and click on the “see all” link). You’ll find some great art peeps, decorating blogs, crafty and thrifty chicas, lots of real women doing real things and leading real lives.
• Oh, big news…I got contacts! I had to get glasses 2 1/2 years ago (as I was diagnosed with diabetes) but I am such a clutz that I have broken them, I forget them sometimes then I can’t see anything up close, I hate that they slide down my nose and hurt my ears…now I have contacts! YAY!!!

That’s a bit of a roundup for me.  I have a couple of art classes (both are art journaling workshops) that I’m taking right now, although I’m not able to put as much effort into it as I want to, thanks to all the doctor stuff this week (not to mention the change in meds making me sickie feeling and very tired) and I haven’t taken pics of much that I’ve done but here is one: And with that, I think it’s time for bed.

Take care and I’ll be back soon.

Peace & Love,
Barb