What's going on.....

OMGosh.....so much has been happening lately I can hardly keep up. But I do love to stay busy so I'm not complaining what-so-ever! Let me start with the bad stuff and then work towards the good stuff.

I don't know if you have heard of Degenerative Disc Disease. I personally knew nothing of it until I was given the diagnosis 3 years ago. To make a long story short, it started with a herniated disc at L5-S1. I had a microdiscectomy almost 2 years ago after months of conservative treatment and it was somewhat of a success. One month ago as I was going up the stairs and bending over to merely pick up one of my kid's books, I felt a shock go through me and my legs would not move forward....seriously, I would think "leg, step up" and nothing would happen. So I started backing up slowly down the stairs and made it to my couch. Then the pain started to spread from my back down my legs. It was excruciating! Since then I have discovered that I not only have a herniated disc, I now have 2 more bulging disc and arthritis that is causing some narrowing of the bone where the nerve bundle goes through. The bulging is causing nerve pain again to my right leg and I have chronic pain on a daily basis. I think what upset me most was when my doctor told me I now qualified for handicap tags on my car and possibly disability benefits. Believe me when I say I am not one to feel sorry for myself but even I was a little blown away by all of this. I have my good days and bad days but I have a positive outlook on life and I am truly blessed in many ways.

On to the good stuff....

Homecoming was this past weekend. On Friday Landon had to "Dress to Impress". Over here in Texas it is all about the mum. Now me, being a Louisiana girl, was clueless to this tradition. Apparently the guys buy this mum (as pictured below) for the girls and decorate it with all kinds of ribbons and toys, etc.....the girls buy a garter mum for the guys and decorate it with the same. I guess it really is true that Texas does everything BIG!!!!!!! LOL! All kidding aside, it was really sweet to see Landon and his gang of friends together before school prepping for the big game day.

Next came the Big Dance....Homecoming!!!! This was bittersweet for me. I love that my son is getting to experience things I deem a "rite of passage", but I also feel like he is growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday he was my little boy and now he is this amazing young man. Sniff, Sniff.....very overwhelming!!!!!!

Of course I have to drop off a few layouts. I have been having fun with these new Halloween papers from Basic Grey. They are so fun and PERFECT for all my Halloween pictures. I really struggle with holiday themed layouts. How about you?????


Next is a layout I did from a sketch by "SuePup". Those of you from scrapbook.com will now who I am talking about. I am trying out some new techniques with masking. I have had a stash of Glimmer Mist sitting in my scraproom for over a year now and I am finally starting to venture out and experiment with it. It is sometimes hard to get out of my comfort zone but I am really pleased with the results. These beautiful papers are all Prima. Prima has become my best friend when it comes to all things "Girly". Since I only have one gorgeously amazing daughter, I tend to really embellish and "girl-it-up" as much as I possibly can.

Last but not least...if you are still reading at this point, I took my husband to the airport yesterday. He will be in Salt Lake City, Utah for 2 weeks participating in engineer training for Union Pacific Railroad. This has been a dream of his for the past five years. I am so very proud of him and excited to see him grow in this company. My husband is such an intelligent man and always enjoys a challenge so this will be right up his alley. I love you Duane....you are my ROCK!!!!