A Card Without a Challenge

Hi there girls. Thank you for calling in to my blog. I appreciate your visit you have all been so good at staying with me although I haven't been producing a lot recently. Yesterday was a slightly better day healthwise although my energy levels sag easily. At least today I have a card to show you although it has not been made with any challenge in mind.
I have inked up Magnolia's "Sweet Tilda" and coloured her with my Copics. The papers are a Bazzil and S.E.I's "Juliette - Sweet Perfume", the flower is made using a Marian Studios die and the ribbon and other bits and pieces are from my stash.
I hope you like this card enough to leave a comment. You have no idea how much your comments mean to me. I love reading them and appreciate you taking the time to leave them.
I'll try to get round some blogs over the weekend although time might be a problem. My eldest son, John, and his wife, Sarah (Lil-paper-pixie), are arriving today for nearly a week with young Jonathan. I just hope I am not too much of a drag for them. I am looking forward to seeing them.
Please have a great holiday weekend and what ever you are doing stay safe and enjoy yourselves.
Hugs,

Hi girls. Thank you for your caring comments yesterday. You are all really so caring and it is a great encouragement.

What a guddle (good Scots word) yesterday turned out to be. William and I were just heading for the door to go to my hospital appointment when the doorbell rang. It was an ambulance that had been sent to collect me. Nobody had told us that one had been organised. It had no oxygen on board and the seats were ordinary bus style seats and I couldn't recline them so I had to sit in a position that hurt my back. We unloaded my oxygen and wheelchair from our car and were about to set off when the driver told us that William couldn't go in the ambulance. So he went in the car and waited for 25 minutes at the hospital for me to arrive - 5 minutes late for my appointment because the ambulance had other people to pick up on the way. The driver said that he would come back for me when he got time but William told him that he would take me home in the car rather than wait about.

The tests all went smoothly although the results were not very encouraging. Apparently my lung capacity is well below normal and the efficiency of transfer of oxygen to my blood is very low. This is because of a lot of scarring on my lungs due to the multiple bouts of pneumonia I have had in the last few years. The results are to be sent to the Consultant who will get in touch. In the meantime I will be on oxygen 24/7 until further notice.

I was so tired and sore by the time I got home that the rest of the day was a write off. It sounds as though I'm whinging but I'm not really - I'm well off compared to many.

Thank you so much for calling in. I appreciate you taking the time.

Hugs,

Guess Who Did Too Much?

Hi girls. thanks for popping in to my blog. I am afraid that the time I spent doing my last card has taken it's toll and William thinks I overdid things. My back has been really sore since and I really couldn't finish a card for today. The problem is that later today I am to go back to hospital for a series of Lung Function tests to see if they can get to the root of this blood oxygen problem so I don't think I will have a card tomorrow either. Please bear with me.

I have entertained myself visiting your wonderful blogs. You really are inspiring. There are some fantastic cards on show.

Thank you for your support and your wonderful creations. Have a great day.

Hugs,

Lili of the Valley #53 & C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #51

Hi girls, thank you for taking time to call in. I appreciate your visit and I hope you find something to please the eye. I have enjoyed the last few days visiting some of my regular blogs. I had almost forgotten how inspiring your cards are and how much pleasure I got from seeing them each day.
I am entering this card into two challenges. Lili of the Valley gave us a fabulous sketch to follow and C.R.A.F.T. Challenge asked for a card with the theme og Celebrate/Birthday. I have have inked up LOTV's "Girls Story Time" and coloured it using my Copics. The papers are from My Mind's Eye's "Beloved" set and are "Beautiful Branches" and "Dearest Dots". The flowers are made using a new die set from Marianne Designs and I have used ribbon and stamens from my stash to complete them.
It took me a long time to do this card, I'm not able to sit for long and have to take breaks, but I really enjoyed doing it. I hope you like it and I would love to hear what you think. I know it takes time to leave a comment but if you can spare a moment I would really appreciate your views.
Take care and have a good day.
Hugs,

Truly Scrumptious #32

Hi girls. Thank you all so much for calling in to see what's here. I am slowly getting back into things although it's more of a physical struggle at the minute. It is taking me much longer to do a card but the fact that you seem to appreciate them is the spur I need. I really appreciate you taking the time to browse my blog. I'm beginning to do a bit more blog visiting as well and am beginning to catch up on all you have been up to in the last few weeks. It's great to get up to speed with you all again.

Today'scard is being entered into the Truly Scrumptious challenge where they gave us a fabulous sketch to follow with the choice of doing a sqare card or a circular card. I choose the square one. The image is from my last Magnolia Fairytale Club issue and is called "Longing Tilda". I coloured her using my Polychromos Pencils. The papers are "Laundry Line" by My Mind's Eye and Bazzil. the flowers are handmade and the other embellishments are from my stash.

If you have time it would be fantastic if you could leave a comment to let me know what you think of this one. I do so value your input. Your comments are so encouraging and helpful.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing today please stay safe and have a good day.

Hugs,

A Spoon Full of Sugar #104, Creative Card Crew #50 & Papertake Weekly

Hi girls, it's fantastic to have you calling in on me today. I am beginning to feel a bit more like crafting and blogging and the weekend was quite productive for me so I have another card to show you. You have all been so supportive these last few weeks and I feel it's time I started pulling my weight again in Blogland (at least that's my intention - if I don't do too much).
I am entering this card into three challenges. A Spoon Full of Sugar #104 - "Cute and Girly", Creative Card Crew #50 where they provided a fantastic sketch and Papertake Weekly where the theme is "Say it with Flowers".
I have inked up "Maid Marion Lady Tilda" from my new Magnolia Fairytale Collection and coloured her using my Polychromos pensils. The paper is from Kate Knight's Paper Stack. The butterfly is cut with an Martha Stewart punch. The rose and ribbon are from my stash. I used stickles on the rose and gems on the butterfly. The fronds are cut using an L-Em punch.
I hope you like this card and it would be great if you could let me know what you think. I value your opinions and helpful hints.
Thank you for visiting and taking the time to browse.
Hugs,

Just a quick card

Hi girls. Thank you so much for dropping in again. I really love your visits.

What a gorgeous day it was here yesterday. Definately the best day of the year so far. I sat out this morning while poor William finished the weeding ready for putting in the bedding plants. We have lost a lot of our herbatious stuff over the winter so he has a lot of replacements to buy and plant as well.

I rested most of the day but felt a lot better later in the evening and thought I would try to produce a card. So here it is for what it's worth. I'm not entering it into any challenges.

The image is Whiff of Joy's "Melinda with bouquet" and is one of the many images I received with cards when I was in hospital. She is coloured using my Copics. The papers is from Kate Night's Designer pack combined ith purple Bazzil Bling, one piecve of which I ran through my Sissix in a Cuttlebug folder called "Birds and Swirls". The flowers are handmade by me - these are the first I have made for a while. Everything else is from my stash.

I do hope you like this card and I would love it if you could find time to leave a comment to let me know what you think. Your comments are so much appreciated.

By the way there will be a new challenge starting this morning over at Crafty Sentiments at 09:00hrs so why not pop over there and have a go his week. I haven't done a DT card because I'm taking a short break but I'm sure that they would be glad to see you.

Thank you for your visit. I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Hugs,

A Day in the Sunshine

Hi girls. It's great to have you here again. Yesterday I think I maybe paid a price for my cardmaking the day before. I was quite tired and sore. William reckons I spent too long sitting out in the sun - now how can anybody spend too long sitting out on a gorgeous summer day. I hope to start another card tomorrow and I really must get some blogging done over the weekend. I have been so tardy in that department.

Thank you for popping in.

Hugs,

At Long Last - A Card

Hi girls. Thank you for nipping over here once again. At least today I have a card to show you, and a special card it is because I have made this for each and every one of you just to say "Thank You" for all your good wishes, comments and prayers these last 5 weeks while I have been out of commission. Ideally of course I would make dozens of these and post one of to each of you but I don't think I have the oomph so please accept this as especially for you personally. I am not entering it into any challenges.

The image is Magnolia Fairytale "Midsummer Tilda Dancing" and I have coloured her using my Copics. I have added a string of small pearls from her hands around the top of the Nestability mount to look like a skipping rope (it will be better seen if you zoom in). I sewed the ribbon on to a Nestie of the same size and then glued the image Nestie on top. The paper is S.E.I's "Juliette - First Kiss", and the corners have been cut using a Martha Stewart corner punch. The flowers are all from my stash. I hope you like it enough to leave a comment confirming your happy to accept it as a thank you for everything you have done to perk me up.

Have a great day whatever you are doing and above all stay healthy and safe.

Hugs,

Not too bad a day

Hi girls. Thank you so much for calling in again. Your visits and comments really cheer me up. Blogland is full of wonderful people.

Yesterday was a busy day with yet another hospital clinic visit. The orthotist was pleased with the improvement in my heel and has given me a new boot with foam inserts that will be suitable for me when I am able to put my foot flat on the floor. The skin on the heel is still very fragile and I am to keep off it as much as possible, but at least when it toughens up I have something to wear. No more hospital visits until next Thursday when I am to go for a lung function test.

William popped in to Stampaholics and picked up all the goodies I've had on order for ages but was unable to pick up so I intend to produce a card today to put in my next post.

Thank you all so much for your support. I am still getting cards and they are all gorgeous. I am so fortunate to have so many good blogging friends.

Take care and stay safe.

Hugs,

A Slightly Better Day

Hi girls. Well the good news is I'm still at home. the antibiotics have still to kick in fully but I have felt just a tad less tired today. I was at the pain clinic and the Consultant is going to fast track me for epidural steriods for the pain in my back so that will make a big difference. I expected to be really tired but I wasn't too bad. I even got to do a wee bit of crafting - the boss did keep a wary eye on me though.
Today I am to go to see the Orthotist to see if she can come up with some footwear to let me walk a bit more normally while still protecting protecting my heel.
Thank you so much for calling in again. Your encouragement has really been a great help.

Just when things were getting Rosey

Hi girls, thanks for popping by again. I'm afraid that things are not so bright today. I had a telephone consultation yesterday with my local doctor to organise medication and give him feedback on the hospital. I have been a wee bit chesty the past couple of days and he heard me coughing over the phone and he insisted that William should hook me up to the portable oxygen and take me straight to the surgery. It turns out that I have pneumonia in my right lung. I am back on antibiotics (at least I'm still at home) and if things don't improve he is going to send me into hospital again. The trouble is that I am going in to an outpatient clinic later today - I dread them keeping me in.
I think William organised this to hyjack my blog again Lol. He chased me back to bed and dared me not to go near the craftroom. I have done no blogging in the last 24 hours. I am so sorry that I'm being such a poor blogger just now but I just don't have the energy. You have all been so nice and supportive.
I hope to get back to your blogs later today.
Hugs,

Sorry, Still no Card

Hi girls. I am afraid that I still have no card for you. It's proving a bit harder than I expected to get back in to the swing. My energy levels are just low. Still I have managed to visit more of your blogs and catch up on the goodies I've been missing. Your creations are every bit as inspiring as I remember and it's great to look back on the best part of a month's worth on each blog I visit.

I've got a busy start to the week with doctor's and hospital appointments up till Wednesday but I really must get my card finished.

Thanks for calling in again.

Hugs,

Hi Girls. Thank you for continuing to call in on me here despite the fact that I have still not posted a card. I am astonished at the flood of your encouraging comments and good wishes. They have really buoyed me up. I started to make a card yesterday (Saturday) but had to give up before I got too far. I just didn't have the stamina. I think Friday's hospital visit took more out of me than I realised. Hopefully I might get it finished today in time for my next post. I'm not promising but I'll try.

I did manage to do a bit of blog hopping though and left some comments on some of my favourite blogs. If I didn't get round to you today please be patient because I had a lot to see on each blog. I'll catch up with more today I hope.

Thank you all again.

Hugs,

A Miracle and a Candy Draw

Hi Girls. Thank you for calling over to see me yet again. I have had another busy day with my visit to the Plastics Clinic back in Perth and the fanatstic news is that they have discharged me because my heel and ankle have improved so much. The Consultant who saw me was the one I saw when I was admited 4 weeks ago and she said the degree to which everything had heeled was a miracle. I believe in miracles and the Lord has blessed me these last few weeks so that was good to hear. I hope, all being well to get a bit of blogging done over the weekend. I really must get back into the swing of things.

Now I promised some Candy as a Thank You for all your comments and beautiful cards and I did the draw today. I wanted William to do it but he didn't want the photos to devastate the mental image you all have of him Lol, so he did the camera bit.

The entry that I pulled out was the one for Kat's card. She also left a lot of comments. Her blog is LilacKat so why not pop over there and have a look at her cards. They are gorgeous. I will get in touch with you Kat to get your address.

I wish I could afford to give you all candy because you have really sustained me over the last few weeks and I can never adequately repay you for that. You have been fantastic friends. Thank you all so much for your kindness.

Hugs

A Day of Rest

Hi Girls. I have had a complete rest on my first full day home. Loving the pampering I'm getting Lol. I haven't done any blogging today, for which I apologise but I wanted to recharge the batteries a bit before my trip back into Perth to the Plastics Clinic later today (Friday). I hope that when they see my heel and ankle they will discharge me because they have heeled remarkably well. William changed the dressing yesterday and couldn't believe the difference. He took a photograph on the day I was sent into hospital and the progress is incredible.

Once again I have been bowled over with your comments welcoming me back home. I never expected anything like this. You are all so caring. I am glowing with the warmth of your comments and emails. Thank you so much.

William has typed out the 536 entries for my candy draw and cut them and folded them for me. A lot of work but I think he enjoyed it. I will do the draw after I've been to hospital and announce the winner tomorrow. I haven't finished putting the candy together so I don't have a photograph of it I'm afraid.

Special Hugs to you all,

I'm Back with Candy

Hi Girls. I'm home at long last and so glad to be back in blogland again. I really missed my daily visits to your blogs and I have a lot of catching up to do but I think I'm going to need a couple of days to get back into things again. 4 weeks in bed has taken its toll and I will have to build up my energy levels. I am so thankful that so many of you kept popping in here while I was in hospital for William's updates and for your good wishes for me. I am humbled to think that so many people were concerned. I didn't think that he would post every day (I think secretly he enjoyed it) and I hope that he didn't overdo it.

Anyway, my heel has improved beyond belief and I am on oxygen at home until they get to the bottom of the blood oxygen problem so hopefully it's all improvement from now on.

Thank you Candy

Although it will never adequately tell how much I appreciate all your comments and prayers I have decided to put together some Candy to say "Thank You". I intend to hold a draw to determine who should win it. Every comment left during the time that William was posting (16th April to 12th May inclusive) will have 1 entry to the draw and every card I have received will earn 2 entries to the draw. That means that there will be almost 500 entries in total (I think I'll give him the job of typing them all out. Lol). I received comments and cards from all over the world and I will post the candy to anywhere. I'll announce the winner later in the week.

Thank you for calling in to my blog so regularly and I hope to be back to cardmaking and blogging very shortly.

Big, big Loving Hugs,

The Last Post

Good morning ladies. You will be pleased to hear that the next post put on this blog will be from Fiona herself.
The next week is going to be a bit hectic so I don't know how much blogging she will do but she is keen to get back in to the swing as soon as she can.
The timetable is:
Today - I should take delivery of an oxgen machine for the house so that she will not need to rely on bottles. Fiona will then come home by ambulance.
Thursday - I am to go to the local chemist for a small oxygen cylinder that she will be able to use in the car.
Friday - I am to take her to the Plastics Clinic in Perth when we expect her heel to be given the all clear since it has healed so well.
Next Tuesday - I'm to take her back to Perth to the Pain Clinic when they will reassess her and arrange for another epidural for her back pain which has worsened because she was on complete bed rest in hospital.
Apart from that it should be fairly quiet.
I would like to thank you all for your good wishes and company during Fiona's absense. Your comments, emails and cards have kept me busy and helped to pass what can be a lonely time. This is the first time Fiona has been in hospital since I retired and the days could have been quite long. I think you are all a marvellous bunch . Your prayers have sustained me. The Lord has a way of looking after us.
Thank you so much. It's now time for me to do a Gordon Brown and resign with dignity.
Love to you all,
William

Brilliant News

Good morning ladies. You will be pleased to hear that Fiona will be coming home later this week. When I was in visiting on Monday afternoon the Medical Consultant said that she could come home but that she would still have to have oxygen at home. They have not yet got to the bottom of the low blood oxygen problem and although they are happy to deal with that with Fiona as an outpatient they must ensure that oxygen sets have been delivered and installed in our home. That sounds quite serious but they don't see it as any great problem.
Later on Monday evening I got a phone call to say that they had arranged to have Fiona brought home on Wednesday by ambulance with the necessary oxygen cylinders. So everything now seems to be organised.
It would appear that having gone in because of the problem with her heel and having had that almost completely resolved her stay has highlighted this other problem that will be pursued with Fiona at home.
Your good wishes, encouraging comments and prayers have meant so much to us both over the last three and a half weeks and I know that Fiona has been overwhelmed by your kindness. I am looking forward to her taking over her blog again when I'm sure she'll say thanks herself.
Thanks,
William

The Last Lap?

Good morning again ladies. Fiona is to be seen by a Medical Consultant today and he will have the say on whether she gets home or not. We are hoping that he will give her the OK. She is now desparate to get home to do some crafting again so here's hoping. I think she'll have to break herself in slowly but anything she does will be a bonus.
Thanks for caring,
William

Not long now, Hopefully

Good morning ladies. Fiona continues to be well and should complete the antibiotics treatment later today. Hopefully that will be the trigger for her getting home. Here heel and ankle have healed amazingly well. The improvement in the three and a half weeks she has been in hospital is unbelieveable. After nearly two years trying to get the sore on her heel to clear up for it to have improved like this is astonishing. Obviously he effect of your good wishes, love and prayers.
You are all marvellous.
William

A Small Setback

Good morning ladies. I'm pleased to be able report that Fiona continues to fell better. Unfortunately the blood oxygen levels dropped significantly when they took her of the oxygen so she is back on it. Fiona hs a long history of low blood oxygen readings so I think they will follow that up with her as an outpatient at the Chest Clinic and we expect that she is likely to get home after the antibiotics course is completed. She is due her last dose on Sunday. Fortunately that gives me the weekend to catch up with the hoovering, dusting, washing, ironing, change the bed yet again and finish tidying up the garden. Only joking everything is up to date except the garden.
Thank you for your continued good wishes. You are all so supportive.
William

A Great Step Forward

Good morning ladies. All good news today. Fiona's improvement continues and the Orthopaedics consultant said that as far as her ankle and heel are concerned she could go home immediately so he was handing her case over to the Medical consultant to determine when the chest infection and blood oxygen problems had been resolved. They took her off the oxygen in the morning and she was to have blood tests later in the evening to see how she was coping without it. She is still on the intravenous antibiotics. They have decided to recall her to a Chest Clinic as an outpatient after she is home just to keep tabs on any problems.
Cards are still arriving from all over the globe and she is so touched by your kindness in leaving comments and good wishes. Your prayers are valued.
Thank you so much again,
William

Continuing Progress

Good morning ladies. Still stuck with me I'm afraid but the good news is that Fiona is still improving a little day on day. Still on intravenous antibiotics and oxygen but feeling better. The "Home" word has not yet been mentioned so it's looking unlikely that she get out before the weekend. Your continued encouraging comments and cards and prayers are proving such a comfort to her and we both appreciate your support.
Thank you all again,
William

Still Improving

Good morning ladies. Well although Fiona continues to get a bit better each day now there has still been no mention of home. To be honest they have looked after her so well and they seem to be on top of all the problems were are both content to let them get on with it. Fiona has spent a lot of time in hospitals over the years and she has never been so well attended to so we'll just be paptient. Thank you all for your constant good wishes. They have been such a comfort.
William

More like herself

Good morning ladies. Just in case some of you thought that I had done away with Fiona so that I could keep her blog I thought that now she is more like herself it was maybe time for a photograph to show that I'm not making everything up. So here she is with her impressive display of handmade cards.
She is still progressing and on oxygen (you can see the tube under her nose) and intravenous antibiotics twice a day. They want to continue with that for a couple of days before trying tablets. She is looking so much better and beginning to talk about home.
She sends her regards to you all.
William

A Little More Progress

Good morning ladies. I'm beginning to believe that my days on Fiona's blog are numbered. She was a bit better again when I saw her on Sunday afternoon and the antibiotics seem to be kicking in. I would think that if this improvement is maintained they will try her on oral antibiotics and let her home if that is a success. The course is a ten day course but I think she will be home before then if they get her to improve on the oral doses, but we'll have to see if they go down that road.
Fiona wants me to thank you all for your continued prayers and well wishes and she loves reading your comments, emails and cards when I take them in. You have all been so kind and supportive.
Thanks,
William

A Little progress

Good morning ladies. I'm glad to report that Fiona was a bit better again. Apparantly, after the Xray and more test what she has at the minute is not pneumonia as it was first thought but a very particular type of chest infection the name of which I would not even attempt to spell out. It apparantly responds to a very specific antibiotic and although Perth didn't have any in their pharmacy they sent a taxi to Ninewells in Dundee for a supply and she is getting it intravenously. It is a ten day course but they hope if she responds well they will be able to send her home an a few days to finish the course with oral antibiotics.
The cards continue to arrive and she now has a handsome collection of handmade cards from all over the world which are the object of much admiration from the nurses. You have all been so kind and your good wishes and prayers have been such an encouragement to us both. Thank you so much.
William

Mixed day

Good morning ladies. Well what a day Friday turned out to be. When I went in to afternoon visiting Fiona was not looking so well as she had been. The pneumonia seems to be making a comeback and she is back on the intravenous antibiotics. They took her away for another chest Xray to find out what is going on. With that it did not matter what the Plastics peole said she will not be home just yet.
There's a fantastic nurse on Fiona's ward called Claire and she is with it. She always goes the extra mile. She did not think Fiona was well enough to go to the Plastics clinic so she phoned them up and arranged for them to come up to the ward. I was still there when they came and I saw the wounds uncovered. I hadn't seen them since Fiona had gone in. What a wonderful surprise we got. They are really clearing up. The improvement is amazing. I couldn't believe they had come on so well. Her heel is so much better. The outcome is that they obviously don't want to do anything with this pneumonia lurking and they think that everything should heal well anyway. They are going to see her again in two weeks and they hope that if today's improvement is maintained they will not have to operate. They reckon that the intarvenous antibiotics combined with the oxygen she has been on has meant that the wounds have been getting a far healthier blood supply and this has accelerated the healing process.
When I left we were both a lot happier. If they can knock this pneumonia on the head things are really looking up.
I'm afraid you'll have to suffer me for a day or two yet. Thanks again for your support.
William