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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Playing catch up.... I need to catch my breathe really

So I am sure you have all seen things here and on facebook as VERY quiet (totally not my nature)

First I am going to catch up the 31 days of $31 winners.... Sorry I have been ill.



May 5
Blog Hop Winner- Wild Card 2 Cricut Cartridge
From Tonya's blog...... Sweet Heart said...

Great layout. Thanks for sharing. May 6, 2012 8:30 PM


May 7

Fabulous projects ladies. It is always so fun to pop in and see your creations each day. You never know what fabulous-ness is waiting for you! Great Job!!!
:O) Jessica S FB: Jessica Shelton
Blog: http://jessicascraftshaque{blogspot}com


May 8

Beautiful florals!
missstamper (at) yahoo.com
no blog or facebook


May 9

Great projects today! Love the flower soft on Heather's card :) I hope you are feeling better soon Erica!


May 10

I love the flowers, Ladies!! That photo holder is adorable and clever!! As always, you all are my inspiration! TY!!


May 11

Lovely layouts! I so enjoy seeing all the amazing projects each day here.
FB: Rebecca White
rlovew1976@yahoo.com


May 14

ohh love those cards with the monograms! loving that glitter writing on the other! always such cool projects here!


May 15

Great projects -- love the gowns and sunflowers and the details on them. TFS.
Kris Dietz
dietzrobles at yahoo dot com


May 16 This was for the Webster's Pages prize pack.
May 16, 2012 10:13 PM
How Fun! May use this idea in the classroom! teehee! Guess the code . . . I love flock and glitter!!! Great projects as always!
19-1-18-1-8
Sarah (JaneSmith) teehee


May 18

Beautiful LO's! I have two wedding albums I need to do and I have been stuck on ideas. Thanks for the awesome ideas.

Jodie Ruiz
FB Jodie Fotland Ruiz
www.jodiesscraplab.blogspot.com


May 21

Great projects ladies! The link for Heather was not working for me. Mary's blog would NOT let me leave a comment - - no matter HOW many times I tried! Sorry Mary...it is a darling card!
Teresa
MCCR DT


May 22

Lovely cards- I love your use of flock for the center of the daisies.
FB: Rebecca White
rlovew1976@yahoo.com



DAILY CONTEST TIME!

So here are the rules for the 31 days of $31 giveaways.....
Each day make ONE comment with your name, facebook name and blog address....
Add mywebstore blinkie to your blog...
I will pick a name from the comments, then go and look at your blog, if you were picked for that day and have the blinkie YOU WIN!
Don't have a blog.... that's ok you can comment with your facebook..... Don't have facebook???? Just comment and say you do not have facebook or a blog. You can still win if you do not have facebook or a blog. The last contest I did each day the same person won two days in a row. Unintentional.... YES you can win more than once. It is picked at random so if someone is picked more than once, they will get more than one grab bag. The winner will pay the $3.25 shipping.




Medical and personal.....
you may not want to read on...

Some of you who have known me over the past year have seen me go through the most crazy things... UNFORTUNATELY they have not ended.

First I would like to preface this that I am a VERY positive person, I do not want pity, just a little understanding. I am totally ok with what I have. I think maybe God gave me a few adversities and he will give my daughter less adversities in life. I could only hope. I also feel as though God will only give you what you can handle (he obviously must think I am much stronger than I do myself)

I actually have accepted that this is how my life is going to be. I have been dealing with Crohn's Disease for over 15 years. It was misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome in high school.
Then almost 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, basically and allergy to wheat. So now everything I eat must be Gluten-Free.... basically everything is made with Gluten, salad dressings, preservatives and SO much more. Pizza, Pasta, Bread and all of my favorite foods. I have adjusted to that. With those two major issues I have RA - Rhuematoid Arthritis --- It basically breaks down the tissue in your joints and permanantly damages it. Once it is damaged it is that way for the rest of your life. These 3 issues are Auto-immune and what that means is my body thinks those illnesses are viruses attacking my body and they are but then the body attack them and then my body attacks itself. If you think it is exhausting to think about.... imagine being inside my body fighting it.... no wonder I am tired all of the time. My body spends all day trying to fight itself. In addition I have asthma and kidney disease.... What fun right?!?!? I am only 31.... so young (in my head I am still so young)

The icing on the cake we have a VERY energetic and inquisitive 4 year old and my husband travels 42+ weeks a year. In my world I am called a Single Married Mom. There are a group of us. We work harder than moms with outside of the home jobs. My newest friend is one of Bella's dance friend's mom. She actually has a brain tumor (what a great pair we are right? ) We actually have an understanding of doing so much on our own as well as not having a choice to not feel good one day and stay in bed.... it is not an option with active 4 year old girls. But what we have discovered is that we put on a happy face so much that our husbands 'forget' we are sick. We have gotten so good at covering it up for our daughter even our husbands forget. So they have a little less understanding because they don't see use sick. So when we don't have the energy to go bike riding they just don't get it. I would feel the same way, if I didn't see him sick I might forget about it.

So that is a normal day.... now for the past few weeks -- I have been having numbness in my legs and my hands have been shaking. I also and getting over shingles (for the 4th time in 3 years) I had strep and pneumonia. The strep is gone but the pneumonia is still there. In addition i have hives all over..... apparently with the early warm weather this year, it has send my seasonal allergies into over drive. Even though I have no touched anything, just the mold and pollen in the air has given me hives all over..... just what I needed.
Now with the numbness and shakes they have determined I have a neurological issue. They are checking for MS first so they can rule it out. My brother has it so they just want to make sure it is not that first. I AM SURE it is not MS, but they need to rule it out first....... so we will see.
My brother with MS is the one who has the little boy who had the liver transplant. And the hat trick, my mom is still fighting her cancer, she just doesn't bring it up to anyone, she feels terrible that she has 2 sick kids... I might live in denial but I do not consider myself a sick person.... I think there are far many people who have it worse than I do. I think I have spent so much time pretending i feel good that I almost fool myself, but my body reminds me with shingles or pneumonia then I remember I am not as healthy as I want to be..... but I sure try.

I had hired an assistant who added a 1 to her last check, so it took it from a 3 figure number to a 4 digit number. She actually added a 1 to the beginning.... smart because most banks look at the end for an extra 0, no one looks for an extra 1 at the beginning.....
Anyway, my MOM is coming up for a while to help me get things moving fast and flawlessly with the business and design team, and allow me to take a name when I really need it!!!! She is a lifesaver! TOMORROW she starts the drive up from Florida.....

So "bear" with me I am doing all I can as fast as I can. Again I do not want pity or anything like that. I actually hope to give some of you some inspiration to push yourself a little bit harder. But more than anything life is tough, just keep your chin up out of the water and you should be fine. Or pray... that works for me. I have gone through so many things, that I now rarely pray when I need help .... I do more praying each day for what gifts I have and how thankful I am to have a HEALTHY family. I am blessed and I do not let a day go by that I don't thank God for the wonderful things that he has given me. Most for Bella's health. I am thankful to wake up everyday and spend it with her. I thank God for that.
I used to wonder why bad things happen to good people. the only answer I have found is that he knows they can handle it. I don't think I can handle it, but God does so I just accept it and don't wonder why...He must think I am for more strong than I do. That is blind faith. So I trust and I just go with it. What else can I do. I also hope to help ONE person a day. Hopefully something I did or said will make ONE person smile.... I help the door for over 5 minutes waiting for a lady to go through at the Y (YMCA) and she smiled and said most kids your age don't even see me coming to the door. She gave me a great smile..... So to me all of my health issues have been accepted by me, but I want to make someone else's day. I have the gift of a happy life and I feel the need to share it. So off to do my thing for the day! I had my one day off this month on Sunday when hubby was home.... 4 more weeks and I will get one more EARNED nap day. Sleep does help all of my health issues. I just don't have time for it!

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Congrats to today's winners.

14 comments:

angie ashuk said...

Wow!! Your strength just amazes me!!! I wont bore you with the details of my life, but as horribly as I struggle, your ability to look on the bright side is insipring!! Thank you for that!!!

Jessica Buffa said...

Well said Angie and right on the money.

Erica, continued thoughts and prayers are being sent you way!
Wishing for you Lots of Sunshines and Smiles!
:O)
Jessica

Karin said...

I had no idea and think you are doing an amazing job being so positive and helpful to others. Erica, you are an inspiration to others!!

Heather Lynn said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Erica! I hope you get some rest, some relief, and feel better!

Migdalia said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you,Erica!And lots and Lots of love!!!

Unknown said...

Angie I do not think any less of anyone's struggles. Certain people have a high tollerance for pain (i do and my husband does NOT) I have adapted a coping mechanism, but I have to remember others do not have that. So something I might think is simple and easy is HUGE to others... hubby is having knee surgery next month, it is out patient to me it is no big deal. I have had 15+ surgeries.... he NEVER has, so he is worried and scared to say the least! I have to remember that, others let their problems bother them, I just ignore mine..... not the best but it is my coping mechanism.

Jenn's Paper Crafts said...

Erica I want to say "thank you" for being a strong person and your words are very encouraging. I am praying for you and your family and sending LOTS OF LOVE your way xoxo
I am so pleased to be on your dt, it is a special one at that :D we are all like sister's and I feel I can open up to each of you.

Thank you for that,

Hugs,

Jenn Lorist

rlovew said...

Praying for you Erica- you have been through and are going through a lot. Thanks for sharing so that we can support you and to give us all a perspective on our own lives.

Becky Dunham said...

Oh sweet Erica! I had no idea you were going through so much, knew that you had been ill, but all this seems rather "unfair". However, I do believe that God only gives us what we can handle and apparently you really can handle everything he has given you. I am inspired by your optimistic attitude and your faith! In reading the comments above, I see your hubby is going in for surgery and is not tolerant of pain - oh joy - I hope your mom is going to be there to help you while he is going through that! I hope they don't find MS although no neurological disease would be welcome I am sure. I am praying for you, for healing, for comfort, for patience, and for Bella - celiac is often hereditary. And for your mom - how wonderful she is to come and help you when she is suffering herself! Don't ever feel like you need to apologize for being ill and not getting to everything quickly. I wish I was closer to you so I could help you physically. Since I am not, I will just continue to pray and try to help you mentally :) Big Hugs!

mamawcindy said...

Sending Prayers your way Erica! Thanks for Sharing with us! Sending Prayers to your family to. Your such a strong and Positive Person. Your an Inspiration for us who are struggling with our own health Issues! Hugs to you!

Kathy Salido said...

Erica,
You are a truley amazing and inspiring individual. It is a joy and pleasure to be on your DT. As Jennifer said, it is like we are all sisters, and you are our amzing MOM!! We love you and are wishing you SUNSHINE and SMILES always!! Now do not forget, we are here to help you in ANY way that we can!!

Hugs and Smiles,
Kathy Salido

TeresaK said...

Erica...I have not known you long, but having met you in person the two times we had the chance, I KNOW what a sweet, kind, good person you are. You give so generously of your time, your talents and your products! Too much, often! I think you are so strong, so brave, so kind...and so very talented. You know I worry about you and think you do wayyy to much. I wish you could take some time to HEAL and rest...I know you like to keep busy to keep your mind off things. I am so happy your mom will be there soon to help. I can not believe your assistant did that to you! OMG! Sending prayers for good test results and if I can help in any way, I sure hope you will let me!
HUGS TO YOU, my friend! Thank you for allowing me to win again!!
YAY!
Teresa
MCCR DT sis
Frends ARE The family we choose!!

Trina said...

How Awesome of you to share some of yourself so that you may help someone else learn to see the brighter side of difficult situations. Through my own situations I have also learned to spend more time in Thanks and I have less time to worry about the difficulties. I have sent prayers up for you and that His will be done. You are one amazing person.

jordanbev5@yahoo.com said...

Wow! How uplifting to hear your real life story! You are so encouraging and I pray your mom gets there and helps with every aspect of your situation. I pray for more "helpers" to come your way, as well.Wish I could help you as well. God bless, and thank you for sharing your story, and all you do for so many!!!
Beverly
jordanbev5@yahoo.com