Another week has passed, and things are getting back to normal.
I've been working on John and Susan's baby quilt. While it is not what I had wanted quality wise, it is pretty! I'll get the blue flannel for the backing on Thursday and start the quilting. I'm hoping to finish the binding by Saturday night. I want to have it wrapped before Alyssa goes for her surgery.
On Sunday, I'm going to have all the kids in Ms. Pat's class draw their hand prints on paper. I'm going to use these to make a quilt for Ms. Pat. I'm hoping to get it finished the weekend after Alyssa's surgery so the kids can give it to her at our monthly fellowship meal. She has been through a lot lately, with her chemo treatments and the uncertainty of exactly what is wrong and how the doctors are planning on treating her. I want to do something special for her. She is always smiling and always says she is fine! After the accident, she was a rock for me, and I want to do a little something for her.
On Friday night we had our first quilting class. I discovered I am not in the same league as anyone that was there...kinda made me feel inadequate! Diane is going to teach Brianna how to applique. I don't think I can have the patience to teach her something like that, and I think having someone else other than Mom teach her will be a good thing. She is looking forward to getting her own supplies, and we are making a sewing kit out of a plastic ice cream container. She is really excited!
Now, things are back to normal...or at least what has passed for normal these past three years. Getting back to quilting has been great therapy for me! I only wish I had more to do...I have two quilts scheduled right now, and then I'm back to nothing!
Well the chicken is just about ready, so I'll go for now. I promise, much more upbeat postings from now on...
Nini
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Memories of Memaw part 2
Following is a picture of my son, husband and our granddaughter, Alyssa. Mom never got to meet her new Great Grand Daughter, but I know she is looking
down at her daily.
Also a picture of Shawn and his lovely wife Tasha! Don't they make a pretty family!
down at her daily. 
Also a picture of Shawn and his lovely wife Tasha! Don't they make a pretty family!
Here is also a picture of my two youngest kids, they are the two that were involved in the car accident with her. This is a picture of our February trip to Disney.
Next to that is a picture of Shawn and Michael with Memaw. The little one in the blue and yellow shirt is the daddy of my granddaughter!
And here is a picture of my daughter Amanda trying on her wedding dress, and then a picture of her and her new husband Korey.
Something else that Memaw missed out on, but again, I know she is looking out for us everyday. If I believed in guardian angels, I would know that my mom is our family's guardian angel. Was it her looking out for Korey during his cancer treatments? Did she help him get through the chemo treatments, and helped him go through with the wedding only days after his last chemo? Was it her looking out for baby Alyssa during her first foot surgery? Will she be looking out for her during her next surgery?
I miss my mom as much today as I did that horrible day three years ago. The only thing that makes it bearable is knowing I will see her again some day.
So, in celebration of my mother's life, I will plant a rose bush in her honor tomorrow. We will give roses to the special people in our lives tomorrow, and we will visit her grave site where, after a short prayer, we will leave some new flowers.
Remember to tell your loved ones how much you love them...everyday. You never know when it will be the lat time you get to say it to them in this life!
Nini
In Memory of Memaw
Here are some pictures of my Mom in happier times. The only two wedding pictures in existence, a copy of the wedding announcement in the paper, and a couple of pictures of me and my momand Dad when I was much younger than I am now!
I will post another picture of things my mom missed. Big events that happened after she left us.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday Night, not much quilting this week
Not a lot of quilting getting done around here!
Yesterday, Alyssa was bitten by Russell. He is Shawn and Tasha's Akita. Or I should say Was. There had never been a problem with either of their two dogs and the baby, of course she is crawling now...
Shawn called Animal Control and took Alyssa to the ER. It wasn't a bad bite, just a small scratch under her eye and and two small dots on top of her head. It is like Shawn said, if Russell had really wanted to bite her he woukld have taken her face off. Of course, they don't want to keep a dog in the house that will bite a baby. I know this is hard on both of them. Russ ws a rescue pet, and was Tasha's baby for a long time.
Sincwe Shawn works for Animal Control, he knows too well that once a dog bites, you never know when the next bite will happen. While it is sad, at least Alyssa isn't scared of dogs...
We are still getting used to Damien's new medicine. Had a really bad morning at church this morning. He had several major meltdowns. Although, after big brother Shawn took him out, there was a different tone in his attitude. He actually calmed down.
Our subdivision's annual yard sale is coming up next month. It is the weekend after Alyssa's surgery. If I plan on getting anything ready for that, I'll have to hustle! I've still got to finish the baby quilt! We are trying to get the bedroom redone, and get the downstairs apartment ready for our classroom... I've got my work cut out for me!I've got about 6 weeks to get 6 months of 'stuff' done in addition to regular life!
Tuesday is the anniversary of Mom's death, and we have decided we want to get some roses to give out to the important people in our life that day in Mom's memory. Red roses were her favorite flower. Since Damien has therapy that day, he can give one to all the ladies there.
So, all in all, I've been so busy I barely have had time to think about quilting...
Nini
Yesterday, Alyssa was bitten by Russell. He is Shawn and Tasha's Akita. Or I should say Was. There had never been a problem with either of their two dogs and the baby, of course she is crawling now...
Shawn called Animal Control and took Alyssa to the ER. It wasn't a bad bite, just a small scratch under her eye and and two small dots on top of her head. It is like Shawn said, if Russell had really wanted to bite her he woukld have taken her face off. Of course, they don't want to keep a dog in the house that will bite a baby. I know this is hard on both of them. Russ ws a rescue pet, and was Tasha's baby for a long time.
Sincwe Shawn works for Animal Control, he knows too well that once a dog bites, you never know when the next bite will happen. While it is sad, at least Alyssa isn't scared of dogs...
We are still getting used to Damien's new medicine. Had a really bad morning at church this morning. He had several major meltdowns. Although, after big brother Shawn took him out, there was a different tone in his attitude. He actually calmed down.
Our subdivision's annual yard sale is coming up next month. It is the weekend after Alyssa's surgery. If I plan on getting anything ready for that, I'll have to hustle! I've still got to finish the baby quilt! We are trying to get the bedroom redone, and get the downstairs apartment ready for our classroom... I've got my work cut out for me!I've got about 6 weeks to get 6 months of 'stuff' done in addition to regular life!
Tuesday is the anniversary of Mom's death, and we have decided we want to get some roses to give out to the important people in our life that day in Mom's memory. Red roses were her favorite flower. Since Damien has therapy that day, he can give one to all the ladies there.
So, all in all, I've been so busy I barely have had time to think about quilting...
Nini
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A Good Day
Today was a good day.
Damien had occupational therapy. Ms. Marly and he were working on his ability to do multi-step tasks. She had some alphabet flash cards. She chose one card and hid it from Damien. She then gave Damien some hints about an animal that started with that letter. Damien had to determine what the animal was from the hints, then decide what letter it started with and then write the letter on his paper. Not only write it, but form the letter properly. He got 6 out of 7 correct. He only missed the one, because he did not form the 'O' correctly!
This is such a big step for him! Multi-step tasks are a big problem with him. His attention span is so short, that he forgets what he was doing by the time he is ready for the second step! I am really so proud of him! His IEP for this year only called for him to be able to recognize his letters 20 out of 26 times. And his teacher did not expect him to be able to do that! He not only knows them, he is reading short books with Hooked on Phonics!
His retention isn't great, and some days he can't seem to remember what any of his letters are. But over all he has come a LONG way!
Alyssa is growing up to be a real little girl... I know that sounds a bit strange, but at 7 and a half months, I can really see the little kid in her coming out! Today she was really wound up while we were waiting on Damien at OT, so I sat her in the floor. She promptly crawled over to where the toys are and proceeded to pull each toy out. She looked at the toy, tasted it a bit and then threw it over her shoulder and grabbed another! This went on until almost all the toys were in the floor, then she crawled away looking for something else to play with! See, a real little girl!
I worked some on the baby quilt for John and Susan. The baby shower will be in May, so I want to make sure it is completed before Alyssa has her surgery on May 12.
It is really quiet around here tonight... Damien's meds actually help him sleep. That means I actually get some quiet time as well. I'm scared that something will happen to this plan like all the others. So far, no allergic reactions and it seems to be working. No violent meltdowns and no crying jags. Keep your fingers crossed!
Nini
Damien had occupational therapy. Ms. Marly and he were working on his ability to do multi-step tasks. She had some alphabet flash cards. She chose one card and hid it from Damien. She then gave Damien some hints about an animal that started with that letter. Damien had to determine what the animal was from the hints, then decide what letter it started with and then write the letter on his paper. Not only write it, but form the letter properly. He got 6 out of 7 correct. He only missed the one, because he did not form the 'O' correctly!
This is such a big step for him! Multi-step tasks are a big problem with him. His attention span is so short, that he forgets what he was doing by the time he is ready for the second step! I am really so proud of him! His IEP for this year only called for him to be able to recognize his letters 20 out of 26 times. And his teacher did not expect him to be able to do that! He not only knows them, he is reading short books with Hooked on Phonics!
His retention isn't great, and some days he can't seem to remember what any of his letters are. But over all he has come a LONG way!
Alyssa is growing up to be a real little girl... I know that sounds a bit strange, but at 7 and a half months, I can really see the little kid in her coming out! Today she was really wound up while we were waiting on Damien at OT, so I sat her in the floor. She promptly crawled over to where the toys are and proceeded to pull each toy out. She looked at the toy, tasted it a bit and then threw it over her shoulder and grabbed another! This went on until almost all the toys were in the floor, then she crawled away looking for something else to play with! See, a real little girl!
I worked some on the baby quilt for John and Susan. The baby shower will be in May, so I want to make sure it is completed before Alyssa has her surgery on May 12.
It is really quiet around here tonight... Damien's meds actually help him sleep. That means I actually get some quiet time as well. I'm scared that something will happen to this plan like all the others. So far, no allergic reactions and it seems to be working. No violent meltdowns and no crying jags. Keep your fingers crossed!
Nini
Thursday, April 10, 2008
In twelve days our family will reach an important anniversary. Three years ago, on April 22, 2005, my world was forever changed. It is still just as raw to me as the day it happened. On that Friday afternoon, about a quarter mile from home, my mother and two young children were involved in a horrific car accident. My mother died instantly and my then 4 year old daughter was sent via ambulance to Atlanta Childrens Heathcare - Eggelston, and my then 3 year old son was evacuated by air ambulance to the same hospital.
Brianna suffered only minor cuts and scrapes from flying glass, had about 6 stitches in her forehead. However the emotional scars of seeing her grandmother die and the thought that her brother had died still haunt her.
Damien was not so lucky. The impact was on his side. The child safety seat indeed saved his life. The seat folded around him like a cocoon. At the scene, he was thought to have died. He was saved by the quick actions of two people who witnessed the accident. One was a first responder traveling with his own family. The other was an emergency room doctor.
He was in a coma for a week. During that time I left his side only to attend the funeral of my mother. When he came out of the coma we were transferred to Scottish Rite Hospital for extensive rehabilitation. He had to learn how to swallow, eat, talk, walk, and even think. He has no memory of anything prior to the accident. Prior to the accident, he was a left handed bright little boy. After the accident he was paralyzed on his left side and had a collapsed lung.
We've had a long road back, and we aren't totally back yet. Damien's TBI has taken over most of our lives. His recovery (and lack thereof) has become the main focus of our family for so long, it is hard to remember what life was like before. We now home school both kids. We have had to put the adoption of both on the back burner until after the insurance settlement has been reached.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Damien is making great strides every day. We finally got Social Security to understand that Damien is severely mentally challenged and after fighting for almost two years, he was approved for SSI last September. The insurance companies have finally gotten to the point where they are ready to let a judge make the final decision as to which insurance company pays what amount. Brianna no longer has as many nightmares.
Next Tuesday I will post some pictures of Mom, in her memory. And some pictures of her newest great-grand daughter. They never had the chance to meet each other, but I know Mom is looking at her from above.
Nini
Brianna suffered only minor cuts and scrapes from flying glass, had about 6 stitches in her forehead. However the emotional scars of seeing her grandmother die and the thought that her brother had died still haunt her.
Damien was not so lucky. The impact was on his side. The child safety seat indeed saved his life. The seat folded around him like a cocoon. At the scene, he was thought to have died. He was saved by the quick actions of two people who witnessed the accident. One was a first responder traveling with his own family. The other was an emergency room doctor.
He was in a coma for a week. During that time I left his side only to attend the funeral of my mother. When he came out of the coma we were transferred to Scottish Rite Hospital for extensive rehabilitation. He had to learn how to swallow, eat, talk, walk, and even think. He has no memory of anything prior to the accident. Prior to the accident, he was a left handed bright little boy. After the accident he was paralyzed on his left side and had a collapsed lung.
We've had a long road back, and we aren't totally back yet. Damien's TBI has taken over most of our lives. His recovery (and lack thereof) has become the main focus of our family for so long, it is hard to remember what life was like before. We now home school both kids. We have had to put the adoption of both on the back burner until after the insurance settlement has been reached.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Damien is making great strides every day. We finally got Social Security to understand that Damien is severely mentally challenged and after fighting for almost two years, he was approved for SSI last September. The insurance companies have finally gotten to the point where they are ready to let a judge make the final decision as to which insurance company pays what amount. Brianna no longer has as many nightmares.
Next Tuesday I will post some pictures of Mom, in her memory. And some pictures of her newest great-grand daughter. They never had the chance to meet each other, but I know Mom is looking at her from above.
Nini
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Wednesday night ramblings
Well, another week has come and gone, and I'm STILL practicing my feathers!
At some point I hope to be able to move on to something else, but for now it's feathers, feathers, feathers!
I broke down and bought a Shark Steam Mop yesterday. So far, it has lived up to exactly all the reviews I've read. Has its good points and its bad points. While I like the way the floor gets clean (although it is a bit more work than the info mercials make it out) I don't like the way it makes the kitchen floor look so dull. I'll reserve final judgement in a few more days...
Well, Damien had his first dose of his new medicine tonight. We'll see how that works! I'm hoping for improvements starting with him sleeping through the night and some behavioural changes in the long run.
I really need to get started on Susan and John's baby quilt. I've got the fabric and some luscious thread from King Tut. I'm hoping to be able to do some great quilting, just haven't decided on the piecing pattern. I was thinking rail fence, because it is so easy and it is something Brianna can help me with, but I kinda wanted something a bit more personal. My goal is to start the piecing next week and quilt it the week after. Not really sure when the baby shower is, but Susan is actually looking pregnant now. She was so cute tonight at church, has a nice rounded little belly. If I'm not mistaken, the baby is due in June or July, so they will probably have the baby shower in May.
Well, that is all the ramblings for tonight. Damien is asleep and it is not yet 10... this is a record!
Nini
At some point I hope to be able to move on to something else, but for now it's feathers, feathers, feathers!
I broke down and bought a Shark Steam Mop yesterday. So far, it has lived up to exactly all the reviews I've read. Has its good points and its bad points. While I like the way the floor gets clean (although it is a bit more work than the info mercials make it out) I don't like the way it makes the kitchen floor look so dull. I'll reserve final judgement in a few more days...
Well, Damien had his first dose of his new medicine tonight. We'll see how that works! I'm hoping for improvements starting with him sleeping through the night and some behavioural changes in the long run.
I really need to get started on Susan and John's baby quilt. I've got the fabric and some luscious thread from King Tut. I'm hoping to be able to do some great quilting, just haven't decided on the piecing pattern. I was thinking rail fence, because it is so easy and it is something Brianna can help me with, but I kinda wanted something a bit more personal. My goal is to start the piecing next week and quilt it the week after. Not really sure when the baby shower is, but Susan is actually looking pregnant now. She was so cute tonight at church, has a nice rounded little belly. If I'm not mistaken, the baby is due in June or July, so they will probably have the baby shower in May.
Well, that is all the ramblings for tonight. Damien is asleep and it is not yet 10... this is a record!
Nini
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Quilting Classes are Coming!
Exciting news around here! Starting this month (April) we will be having quilting lessons every fourth Friday at the church fellowship hall. Dianne is spearheading and organizing the effort. She is a proficient hand quilter and even has a quilt hanging at the Smithsonian!
While I am not sure I am ready to learn hand quilting at this point in my career, I am excited to be able to meet with other quilters and have the fellowship. I'm not sure if mt girls will be coming or not, but I know Brianna wants to come with me. We'll have to see about that.
Now, should I look at this as a way to get my business name out there? This is the part I'm having problems with. I don't want to actively 'sell' my business at this function, but I don't want to loose a chance to let more people know about my business. I'm afraid this is going to be a sticky point for me. I don't like taking advantage of situations like this, but I know at some point it will be a natural progression in our discussions...
Right now I have plans on getting new business cards as well as drafting some sort of brochure focusing on how to prepare your quilt to be professionally machine quilted. Just in case...
Well, that is it for this morning. I'm STILL practicing my feathers... eventually I will get something I don't mind letting the world see, but for now, I'll keep them under wraps!
Nini
While I am not sure I am ready to learn hand quilting at this point in my career, I am excited to be able to meet with other quilters and have the fellowship. I'm not sure if mt girls will be coming or not, but I know Brianna wants to come with me. We'll have to see about that.
Now, should I look at this as a way to get my business name out there? This is the part I'm having problems with. I don't want to actively 'sell' my business at this function, but I don't want to loose a chance to let more people know about my business. I'm afraid this is going to be a sticky point for me. I don't like taking advantage of situations like this, but I know at some point it will be a natural progression in our discussions...
Right now I have plans on getting new business cards as well as drafting some sort of brochure focusing on how to prepare your quilt to be professionally machine quilted. Just in case...
Well, that is it for this morning. I'm STILL practicing my feathers... eventually I will get something I don't mind letting the world see, but for now, I'll keep them under wraps!
Nini
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Brianna's First Quilt