A Bunch Of News

My girls spent some time entertaining mom and dad today by doing a cheer and I thought I would share but, yet again, the video clip is too big. I was loving every second of it. I think they are just about the cutest things in the whole world :) Granted, I am biased but who cares? The cheer was brought on by the COMPLETELY HORRIBLE movie Bring It On 3. It really was no good, but the girls loved it. Don't worry though, my head has recovered from its repeated banging on the wall.

I got a special order today from an etsy customer. Exciting right? It is for a larger dragonfly in vibrant green for the lady's garden. She has already ordered a different dragonfly so that is a good thing because repeat business shows customer satisfaction. This excites me very much. I am attaching a link that I would like all of you to look at and send on to anyone who makes polymer beads. The program is a wonderful one that has helped Caden through many a rough day and procedure. The site is: http://www.beadsofcourage.org/ please check it out and consider making donations. It really has been a blessing for my family and is such a wonderful selfless idea. Along those lines, here is the latest news from my mother. I am sad and my heart breaks over that little guy and all his worries. I am however glad that my mom and sister keep me updated.

Hello again,

Just wanted to update you on what has been happening with Caden. As I told you he has some spots that have been appearing on different parts of his body. They start out as just a little red dot then get bigger and hurt. The infectious disease doctors came to see him today. They don't think he has chicken pox or shingles. Actually they don't have any idea what they are so they want to biopsy one of them tomorrow.

Sunday Caden started complaining that his head hurt. It continued to get worse to the point he was waking up during the night crying that his head hurt. Yesterday we requested the team of doctors to come talk to us. The decision was made to do a CT scan on his head, chest and abdomen today. We were told this evening that they do not see any vascular leaks (bleeding) in his head (whew, glad to hear that!). They don't know what is causing the head pain. We will be paying close attention to the head pain and swelling for any changes.

Hopefully it was just related to the fevers he is having. They did see "a lot" of small nodules in his lungs. Apparently they are different than the ones we treated last round. (I wonder if they the same as what is on the outside...just a thought flitting through my head) They think they're a virus, not bacterial. We will be meeting with the pulmonary specialist late tomorrow morning to see if he agrees with the team to do the same lung procedure that they did last round. If yes, they will have a surgeon biopsy one of the spots at the same time (one anaesthesia). Risk? Yes there are always risks but at least they will be able to identify the spots. With a 0 ANC his body will not be able to fight any potential infections. However I'm not to worried since they have him on some heavy duty antibiotics and we will do everything possible to keep it sterile.

We will continue to monitor his counts because of the rapid drops we've seen this week. There has been traces of blood in his stools but nothing showed up on the CT so they're not worried. I'm very sad to say....Caden's new hair is falling out. He is so cool about it though, he just says "Don't worry Nana, it will grow back!". He is such an awesome little boy!

We are ready for his counts to come up but we think we still have a way to go. The nurse told me his ANC was 0 for 36 days last round. If you remember, we were told this round would be "at least as bad as the last one.". I don't know if it is worse but, it has been different! Well it is late and has been a long day. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Cindy

Seasonal Dragonfly and Pics of My Mommy

I have decided to create some season specific dragonflies for Fourth of July. It would not be something that I might choose, but lots of people like red, white, and blue things. I am selling ten of them in my etsy store, and will bring some into the store. I will also have some at the arts and crafts show. My friend LeAnn gave me the idea and then I felt silly not having thought of it. Such a simple idea :) I hope they sell OK but if not oh well! I tried!

Also, here are some pictures of my sweet mommy. She is taking a MUCH needed break from the hospital with Caden or the Ronald MacDonald house with Cameron to take a stroll on the beach. Good for you mommy! You have to take care of yourself too. Perhaps you should make it a daily ritual until you leave. You were right though...the pictures turned out really well. I think I can see the stress washing out with waves. For the moment anyway.

SUCCESS :)

*Edit* I forgot to write that the person who bought something from me is a total stranger, which makes the purchase that much cooler! Also, six random people have marked me as one of their etsy favorites :) If I knew how to make the spiders, I would sell them on etsy too.

Well surprise! I sold my first dragonfly today. It happened about five minutes after I listed it. I was SO excited. One is a start but more would be great! I sat outside today at our table with my umbrella over the table and created about five or six dragonflies. Every so often one of the kids outside would come over and tell me what color I should make next so today's were based on the whim of children. Well only the colors not the patterns. The one that was purchased was one I made today too :) It was really dainty and sweet. A couple of mothers thought I looked lonely I guess because next thing I knew I had company that I didn't really ask for. It's not that it bothered me, but honestly I just wanted to hang out and bead. Oh well, no worries. It was a bit distracting but I made it through OK. I have created seven so far today and may just take a break or make one or two. I am not sure. I have posted a whole bunch more on my etsy, so you can check them out if you want.

Warning! May Cause Drowsiness

Ok, so last night I took something to help me sleep because I haven't been sleeping well. Let me tell you that no one should ever post ANYTHING while drowsy. One of my poor little dragonflies was listed on etsy comments as being a trouble maker. Why I wrote this I don't know, but look at him there to the right. I ask you, does that sweet little thing look like a trouble maker to you? NO! Poor guy now he will be put into a big lump with all those other trouble making handmade beaded items on etsy...I wonder how many people looked at that listing and thought I was nutso :)

This second little guy was listed as bright, beautiful in the light, and "just hangin." I guess he was quite the little gangster.What does that mean anyway? Why did I write that? Was I momentarily taken over by weird aliens? If it weren't silly and I didn't feel like such a dummy at who might have read it and thought I was looney (I am really), I would think it was funny. Ok, I really do think it's funny but others might just be frightened off by the crazy "JennyBean" chick :) Oh well, to know me is to love me I suppose.

It's Official!

Well, I did it. I started an ETSY (which is of course called aka jenny bean) shop of my own. The materials that I need are on the way and I will begin in ernest after it all gets here. I have posted a few in the shop for sale just to see if I can generate interest. So far a couple of people have made me their favorite BUT since there is very little to choose from I hope the buying will start later. I hope they sell as well as I would like. I made it so I only accept paypal and noted that if there is special color that someone wants that I could purchase the materials if I don't have them and make batches.

Margaret told me to list some so she could buy them for her daughters room so I hope she checks back here on this BLOG. On a side note, Cooper is doing well and is recovering well enough that he thinks we are being mean by not letting him play with Buddy. Sorry Pal, doctor's orders. I do feel bad but what can we do? I don't really want to risk him tearing his sutures. Cindy and the boys left for the states this morning. I am jealous. I want to go visit my family too. There are a lot of us traveling this summer back home. We will not be one of those families I guess. Oh well. Even with the exchange rate we will visit the pools. I want to do SOMETHING anyway.

I am doing something exciting this summer though. I am getting my long awaited final tattoo. I do have the design already, but I am not posting the picture of it until it is on my back. There are two reasons this will be my final. First, I have been wanting this one for a while and someone finally drew the idea for me (Big Michael was supposed to but never did) so I can make it happen. Second, unless we end up staying for a few years as is planned, I won't have access to Frank and Mandy my tattoo gurus. I am now a full blown tattoo snob and don't want anyone else to put their art on my body. Frank is a tattoo genious. That and the fact that he told me no when he felt I wouldn't be happy with the end result and didn't just take my money and create crap on my body have made me a loyal fan for life. In fact, I pass out his business cards to people who like the work and ask about it. I am a walking billboard...maybe the last one should be at a discount huh? I should be so lucky. Anyway, check out the etsy store if you get a chance and share with friends :)

A Lot of Work

Well, I spent a few hours in the flower garden yesterday. My legs are sore from squatting so much. I did go to the buildings that they are tearing up to get stuff, but traded Cindy D for her Hastas because I get partial sun (which they need) and she gets full sun. They are pretty, but now that area is missing some stuff in the front. I will see what I can do. I was also weeding the flower area and digging down to put bricks. You know the border kind that you can't just put on the edge. My across the street neighbor's house still makes ours look like the ghetto though. I have attached some pictures to this post. It definitely still needs work but I do the best I can. I am in the process of deciding what I want to plant in the empty spots, but I know I have to think of something. I can't have the other building showing us up. I want some more red, pink and purple flowers. I want lots of pretty colors.

Oh! speaking of lot of pretty colors, I am ordering some wire, glass beads, and the pliers necessary to make the dragonflies like my Aunt does. Right now I have 15 hanging in my window along with some sun catchers she made me. I am hoping to be able to sell the dragonflies either on ETSY or at the Patch Multi craft Center. If not...I guess I'll have a lot on my windows. They are fun to make and the finished product is rewarding. My Aunt Ann sells them for $5.00 a piece to include the little suction cups so that they can be hung in the window. I love them personally and they make me feel happy. Maybe I am easily pleased. I am attaching pictures of them so that people who visit the BLOG can see them and let me know what they think. I know my JennyP likes them and even has some of her own. I encouraged my Aunt to sell them online, but I don't know if I was taken seriously. I made several of the ones that are in my house, so I know how to do it. I think it would be fun to try my hand at it. There are more, but I think there are enough posted.

Finally, Cooper has now been neutered and we can pick him up in a half hour. The receptionist told me that he did very well. Poor little guy. Now he will have a real reason to be scared of the VET. I think that I would be too. :) If he ends up needing a little cone or something I will post a picture of that too. UPDATE: Cooper is home safe and sound. He is sore but has used the bathroom and our biggest problem so far is that we have to keep him from playing with Buddy and visa verse for around ten days. No cone unless he won't stop licking the sutures. I am glad that he made it through OK though.