Battling a compromised immune system

May you never have to see your child in one of these....at least as many times as I have.
I have avoided blogging because I wanted to download pics of Mav hooked up to his IV walking around our room at the hospital. But then they looked too sad and I do not wish to remember it.

Last week on our way home from Gramps funeral Mav had Diarrhea on the plane. He had been acting sick while we were in Utah but I wasn't sure if it was just the dry cold climate. Once home within hours he was very sick. His temp was 103 and we couldn't get it down. He could barely breath. So off we went to the ER. After breathing treatments, Xrays, etc they determined he had swine flu and pnemonia. No biggie right? Wrong. They sent us home to manage the pain and illness on our own. Within 2 hours his temp was 105 and he was puking.

As it turns out, he did not have swine flu (just the regular flu) and his pneumonia was a little more serious than they had first concluded. In fact it was pretty bad. They admitted him to the hospital immediately and he was on all kinds of drugs and had to put an IV in (twice). Within 2 days he was doing much better and we were able to take him home. But not without problems. His IV had come out and no one had ever checked it, so it restuck him (5 times) and it was pumping the fluid into his tissue in his arm...causing his arm to swell larger than his leg. It was really scary and really painful for him. Again, Cedars. That is what you get. (Although, our daytime nurse was a saint).

All in all it was another hospital wristband to add to the stack. He is home now and we have kept him indoors most of the week. He is doing much better. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. Only 2 more months till flu season is over right?

Ciao,
Paige

Dear Reader,

Love,
Me

To one of the GREATS of my life!

Oh Gramps....I will surely miss you. And I thank my lucky stars we got to have you this long.
Love You Always!
Toostie Roll Girl

T-day, Move Day, and just another day!

Okay. My brain and internet connection are back. Well......one of those is true.

We spent a week in Alabama with Cliff's Parents before Thanksgiving. Let me just prepare you before I continue. Staying at Juju and RD's house is like staying at a 5 star hotel.

Except better.

When you arrive there is always a gift bag usually full of comfortable goodies (lotion, Slippers, PJ's, and your favorite snack). This time we had a gift card to go to the local Salon and get pampered. Oh how we needed this. And let me just tell you, a visit to the Salon in Alabama provides many characters and deep belly laughs. Never a dull moment.

Mav instantly connected with his grandparents. He had a BLAST! (sorry...RD was taking the pics)

Not only did we celebrate T-day but we also celebrated Christmas. In which Mav got a Train table with trains. Oh my GOSH!!! The planets aligned and the stars where in their correct cosmological order (did I make that up???).....and he was elated!

But that wasn't even the best part. Cliff dressed up as Santa to surprise Mr. Dean. But he ended up looking more like a mix between a hobo, and someone trying to dress up as a Sheperd Boy in the Christmas Eve Story. He walked into the room and Mav did not Cry or get upset, he just hit the floor and covered his head. He was FREAKED...to say the least. He had no idea it was Cliff. Even when Cliff talked in his normal voice. Mav just kept running from him with a look of terror. I could not stop laughing.

We enjoyed Alabama so much and already miss Juju and RD. Thanks for a good time guys!

More to come on our New home. It started out a lot like the Movie "The Money Pit". I am just happy to have Hot Water, Electricity, and Heat finally.

Today is a good Day.

And finally before I leave you this evening....you absolutely must check out this awesome book from Hallmark. We will be making a stop at Hallmark to retrieve our very own copy. I love that someone you love can record a very personalized book for your child to treasure for years. Oh how I wish I had one of these with Gramps voice recorded. Sigh.

Off to finish constructing our very own cafe bar and Entertainment Center from scratch. Did I ever tell you I am a furniture builder, carpenter of sorts? Hmmmm....another story for another evening.

Ciao,
Paige

Temporary Blog Break

Sorry people....moved...vacation...and much much more. But we are in the new house and I will be back to blogging shortly.

Don't you love how I think I am famous enough to have to explain!?!?

I will be back as soon as my brain returns to my body. Along with my internet connection.

Ciao,
Paige

Crafting, the real reason people read blogs

I use to think people would read blogs to get into the "know" about what was going on in their lives. Now I am realizing people like to read blogs to see crafts, get recipes, and to receive some kind of inspiration.

I don't normally post about my crafts, sewing, etc...not because I don't do them. Trust me I do. I just always felt no one could care less about them. My life is pretty hectic right now. But I can commit to one fashion post, and one craft post a month. Will that work for you? I will try and do more (considering I do something artistic at least once a week). But we shall see.

You can always check my work blog for things I am doing there.

As of recent I have been doing lots of stuff for Christmas (most of which I cannot post because then some certain readers will know what they are getting for xmas).

But I can talk to you about Sublimated Printing. I do a LOT of sublimated printing. Mainly just for my own benefit, but also for work. (I can't wait to show you the polar express shirts I am doing for all the nieces/nephews).

Sublimated Printing is almost exactly the same thing as Iron on Heat Transfers (you know those things you buy at office depot and print at home). The only difference is that there is no sticky film left on your shirt that cracks after you have worn it once. Sublimated printing uses a special ink that when transferred with a high amount of heat will actually permanently dye your fabric.

Recently I went to Target and saw that General Mills is offering a free "Iron on Transfer" on the back of the cereal boxes. AWESOMENESS!!! And even better.....They are of the Mister/Little Miss Shirts.
They are not distributing anymore, but if you are lucky your target will still have some. The directions are on the box, but just and FYI...you will want to heat press longer than the recommended time on the box. Hold down the corner of the print while you are ironing so you avoid a blurred print with iron movement. When done, do not lift off the entire print. Hold down the center of the print and pull up a corner to make sure it is transferring correctly (this is where a heat press would be handy).

The prints work best on 100% Polyester or even a cotton poly blend (and by working best I mean the print stays on after multiple washes). But since it is starting to get cold outside this is what I suggest:

1). Go buy 1/4yd White 100% polyester fabric and 1/4yd 100% white cotton (this is enough for a couple of appliques).
2). Transfer your print to the poly fabric with the cereal box directions.
3). Cut out the fabric leaving 1 inch around the print. Sew the outside edges of the poly to a piece of 100% cotton. (All these steps are ensuring the warmth of your child when wearing this shirt).
4). Now you will do what is call "reverse applique". Google for detailed directions because my post is getting long. Basically you are going to sew the applique to the inside of the shirt and cut out the shirt fabric on top so your print shows through. Check out an example here.

Hope you enjoy! I am in the midst of moving and then back to sewing the kiddo some PJ's. After that I am on to finishing last years project of my rip off version of Pottery Barn Kids Felt Advent Tree. Anyone wanna join? Lets make it a night.

Paige

A photo documentary using Google Photos

Yesterday morning while you were all nestled in your beds, we were looking at one of these:
Waiting in anticipation for the good news. Mr. Dean was going under anesthesia to get tubes in his ears. And although this is an in and out surgery will very little risk....we worried. We worried because nothing is easy with him. He always goes in for the "easy" things and comes out with more problems than what we started with. But alas, all was well. Our surgeon came out and gave us the "thumbs up". Mr. Dean was not very happy. Crying for a while. But once we left the hospital he was fine. Did I mention I absolutely HATE Cedar's? Always have. After the surgery I went down to the lobby to wait for our Chauffer (also known as Dee Dee) and they asked me to leave the building. I was told the hospital does not permit humans under 18. "Bologna" I said. "He just had surgery"! They proceeded to ask me to leave and wait with my toddler in the cold. So I did. Then another security guard asked me to not wait outside the doors but to rather wait next to the bus stop. I think at that point I may have had a slip of the finger. The middle one. My favorite. I hate Cedars!

Now I don't feel so bad that while we were there Mav pushed the code blue button 4 times sending crash carts rushing to our side (really....whoever put the code blue button at the head of the hospital cribs was asking for trouble).

So we dropped off Daddy and I drove Mav around for a while hoping he would fall asleep. But that only ended with me spending the day here:

Cedar's ER

Which was the worst part of the whole ordeal. Back to Cedars. Jerks. We were Rear ended (if you can call it that) on the highway. I was completely stopped (along with every other car in front of me for miles), but the guy who hit me did not get the message to stop and hit us going 50MPH. Of course, my airbags did not deploy, and my seatbelt did not work, so I slammed my head against the steering wheel. The prognosis: Severe Concusion, and LOTS of aches and pains. My mouth filled with blood and my face swelled up. I didn't want to open my mouth for fear I would be missing teeth. But my pearly whites held strong. Mav was okay and didn't seem to be in any pain. THANK GOODNESS!

(Not the actual car....just another google image)

Let me back up and slam Cedars some more. I waited for 3 hours in the ER and was told I would have to wait another 3 hours to be seen. I was furious! So we left and found an urgent care in Playa Vista. I was in and out in 20 mins. Love them!

Today is a new day. We get the keys to our new house and we are just thankful all is well. Days like yesterday make you appreciate the boring days.

Ciao,
Paige