New Adventures

I have started a new (real life) adventure.

I left nursing 8 years ago to be a stay at home grandmommy and babysit my grandchildren. Last year, they moved out of state and left a void in my life. As a result, I have been assessing what direction I should take. Recently, the opportunity arose for me to work at a private school. This is a dream come true. I homeschooled my children until they graduated, then I homeschooled one of my grandchildren for kindergarten and first grade so it's a real treat for me to be back involved in education. Another love of mine is photoshop which I will oversee during second semester. I am overcome with joy and happiness for this opportunity but as a result, I have decided to take a break from designing while I adjust to my new schedule. I am not resigning from my stores but I will not be designing any PTU kits until I return from leave. I may, however, design an occasional FTU kit.

Update: momma

Sadly, momma passed away on February 6 and her body was laid to rest yesterday. Some people refer to this as losing a loved one but we didnt lose momma. She is not lost, we know exactly where she went. We are saddened by our own loneliness but we rejoice in fact that she can dance on streets of gold in a city where ALS doesnt exist.

Update: 5 days later...

Momma continues on antibiotics but the pneumonia continues to grow stronger and she grows weaker. The most recent chest x-ray shows the pneumonia is no longer confined to the lower lobes of her lungs. In fact, it now fills most of her lungs and even though she's on a ventilator she feels like she is not getting enough oxygen. She has zero chance of breathing on her own and zero chance of surviving ALS. Her only hope is to survive the pneumonia long enough to go home and even that hope is beginning to fade.

Update:

I'm hesitant to give updates anymore because things change quickly. But as of right now (December 15) this is what we are facing...

My mom is a tough cookie. She requested to go home and the doctors agreed. They told her that she will go home on a ventilator and that she will remain there until she dies, that there is NOTHING modern medicine can do for her. The following day, a cat scan showed that the lower part of both lungs are collapsed and infected (bacterial pneumonia). She has enlarged lymph nodes around her heart and lungs which could be from chronic breathing problems but he said he cannot rule out cancer. She is too weak for a biopsy so we will not even investigate the cancer question. However, because she has a severe lung infection, she needs to stay in the hospital for IV antibiotics. I dont know that I completely understand the logic behind keeping her for antibiotics since we know that this will not cure the underlying condition and will not improve her prognosis.. But she is content to get as healthy as possible before being discharged.

Although her condition is terminal and her prognosis is inevitable death, we cannot have hospice or any other home health agency for help because no one in this area is willing to accept a ventilator patient. We will be 100% on our own when she is discharged. Beginning next week, we will get a crash course in ventilator mechanics.

In spite of all this, she continues to be cheerful. She cannot talk but writes note and uses a little sign language. She is completely aware of her condition but continues to have a strong will to live. She was offered a morphine drip so that she would not have to be so aware but she chose to spend time with the family instead of sleeping.

We know that God is able to completely heal her but we also know that no one lives forever so we take comfort in knowing that when she draws her last breath, she is healed.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Update: my mom

A lot has changed since I last posted about my mom. Things were touch and go for a while but eventually she showed signs of improving. She went to surgery and got a tracheotomy for the ventilator to be connected to. She began recovering her strength and her ability to communicate (write) improved. She was moved to a long term hospital with plans to wean her from the ventilator. It's becoming more and more obvious that she will not be able to tolerate breathing on her own for and real length of time. She is very tired and feels like she is not getting enough air, in spite of the ventilator.

MIA -

My mom is in ICU (Progressive Bulbar Palsy / Lou Gehrig's Disease) so I am on a temporary leave of absence. I will return when I am able. Prayers requested.

My ALS Awareness tagger's kit is still available HERE.

Blinkie or Banner Contest

Banner or Blinkie Contest

Glam and Glitter is hosting a contest:
You make us either a 150x50 Blinkie or a 468x60 Banner and
If yours is picked as the winning one you will recieve a $10.00 shopping spree here at Glam N Glitter Designs...
But wait everyone is a winner here at GNGD
The ones that do not win will still receive a 10% discount off their next purchase here with us! Sound Good?!...

You can contact us at glamnglitterdesigns@gmail.com

Scrappin Bratz

I have been a designer at Scrappin Bratz for a good little while now. It is one of the first stores I designed for (the first was Spoil Me Pink, owned by Natasha). When Jillann decided to close the store, I was heartbroken.

Natasha and I had been talking about re-opening Spoil Me Pink. I told her how much I love Scrappin Bratz and couldnt bare to see it close. We talked with Jillann. Then scrapped our plans to re-open Spoil me Pink, thus the transfer of ownership began. As of today, Natasha and I are the proud new owners of Scrappin Bratz.

Come by and visit us at: http://www.scrappinbratz.com/shoppe/

BIG news

Natasha (Sticky Kisses Designs) and myself have been planning to re-open "Spoil Me Pink Scraps" however recently one of the stores that I design for announced that it would be closing at the end of the month (health reasons). Realizing that there are already a gazillion scrap stores already on the net and not willing to see this fabulous store close, we have decided to assume the closing store. The transfer is underway and all details will be worked out soon so keep your eyes open for the re-grand opening.

You ask, what store? Hummm.. you'll just have to wait for that information but I promise you will love us.

ALS tut by Natasha

Last year, I sponsored a tagging contest to help bring awareness to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). To aid in tag making, I asked a designer to help design an ALS kit with a baseball theme for which she graciously agreed. She put out a call to other designers and thus a fabulous kit was created.

This Saturday will mark the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s memorable farewell address at Yankee Stadium™. This week will be your last opportunity to turn one day of baseball into a fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Join thousands of ALS volunteers, donors and baseball fans across America who have signed up to participate in the Covering All the Bases^® Hitting Challenge as part of Major League Baseball's "4♦ALS Awareness" campaign.

Your participation will help support ALS Association patient services programs, research, advocacy, education and public awareness. You will also have the opportunity to receive "thank you" gifts including a commemorative pin, baseball cap, T-shirt and a Lou Gehrig print by artist Jason Robichau based on your level of giving.

If you have already participated, thank you! You have truly made a difference and your support serves as inspiration and hope to those courageously battling this disease. Please extend your support by passing on this message to friends and family.

Please help spread awareness of this terrible disease. The above tut can be found HERE and the FREE kit can be downloaded HERE.

Sticky Kits

Natasha (Sticky Kisses Designs) and myself were both looking to add a few new CT members to our team. We already had several members in common, so we decided to join forces. We now have a combined blog where we will showcase our creative team.

The blog has only been open for 2 days but our CT has been very busy filling it up. You will be able to locate tag and layout ideas, link to tuts, and see all the wonderful works of our amazing CT. So click the banner above and bookmark http://stickykits.blogspot.com/ so that you dont miss anything.

Changes

I am making some changes as a designer, as a result, I am scaling down the stores that stock my items. I have turned in my resignation at 4 stores so after this week, my kits will only be available at Cotton Candy Kreations, Scrappin Bratz, and Simply Beautiful Scraps. This was a very difficult decision but I am confident that three is the right number of stores for me.

I am currently working on some CU freebies for you.. so stay turned.

My mom

This is a page I made for my mom. It's from a (nameless) kit I'm working on.

I've blogged before about my mom having Progressive Bulbar Palsy & ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) so I thought I'd give you an update. Her speech and ability to swallow is continuing to decline. She is using a dynavox (loaner) to "talk", plus she writes notes. She recently had a feeding tube surgically implanted to help prevent dehydration since choking on liquids is a problem. Her broken shoulder is healing well but her use of it is limited because she developed frozen shoulder. She has opted not to have surgery on her shoulder and the family supports this decision. She is beginning to fall more frequently. Her left leg has days that it doesnt work so well. She is still trying to be independent but I have been in contact with the ALS office to try to make arrangements for a wheelchair. We know it will be needed in the near future and do not want to keep putting it off and not have it when it's needed.

Most weeks, she is in a doctor's office more than she is at home. Physical therapy and respiratory therapy are a way of life.

The pictures above were made recently. Look closely, we are smiling. The disease is devastating but we are not grievous. We said in the beginning we wanted to find something good in this disease and we strive daily to find the good.

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If you would like to help, there is a charity kit called "I'm Still Alive" and all proceeds go to my mom's medical expense. You can read about the designer call HERE. The designers who contributed are listed HERE.

The kit can be purchased at these stores:

Hopes and Dreams for Farrah

The definition of charity is the generosity to others. One very special Designer has offered her charity to so many and now its time for us to give back to her. She has been a huge asset to the digi scrap community.

There is no amount of words to describe Farrah. She has been a mentor to many, a best friend, a shoulder when we needed it and shes just one Hell of an amazing woman. She has endured many obstacles in her life and has always overcame them and I am confident that she will overcome this also.

When we are faced with the uncertainty of medicinal science, we always fear the worst. A strong support system is vital at times like this and Iwe are so honored that so many people want to help her and her children out.

At this time we are uncertain about what will evolve from Farrah's upcoming tests but either way she will need help emotionally and financially to get through this. I could get on my soap box and go on and on about the health care issues we face in America but there is no need as most know how bad it is.

I am asking for everyone's help in this battle that Farrah is facing. All profits will go directly to Farrah to offset her medical expenses and help with any other expenses she may have due to missing work for doctor appointments.

You can find Farrah's Digi Scrap Store HERE

If you need any further information regarding Farrah or want to help in any way,

Please email the shoppe at the Contact us link.

This Colab was put together by 69 AWESOME Designers and we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome.

You will receive a gift certificate to use on your next purchase at this shoppe and 3 Clip Art Collections from

Trina Clark valued at over $15. Plus you will receive tons of papers and bits for all your scrappin' needs, including 4 Alphas.

There is over 383 MB of product here for just $5.

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Click ScrappinBratz to purchase the kit.

DynaWrite

I've posted before about my mom having Progressive Bulbar's Palsy / ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

*Prognosis for PBP patients is poor. Progressive bulbar palsy symptoms can include progressive difficulty with chewing, talking, and swallowing (Merck 2005). Patients can also exhibit reduced gag reflexes, weak palatal movements, fasciculations, and weak movement of the facial muscles and tongue. In advanced cases of PBP, the patient may be unable to protrude their tongue or manipulate food in their mouth (Campbell 2005). Patients with early cases of PBP have difficulty with pronunciations, particularly linguals and velars, and may show problems with drooling saliva. If the corticobulbar tract is affected a pseudobulbar affect with emotional changes may occur (Merck 2005). Because PBP patients have such difficulty swallowing, food and saliva can be inhaled into the lungs. This can cause gagging, choking, and increasing the risk of pneumonia (Merck 2005). Death, which is often from pneumonia, usually occurs 1 to 3 years after the start of the disorder.

Treatment

PBP is aggressive and relentless, and there are currently no treatments for the disease (Merck 2005). However, early detection of PBP is the optimal scenario in which doctors can map out a plan for management of the disease. This typically involves symptomatic treatments that are frequently used in many lower motor disorders.*

She continues to be independent in spite of the increasing weakness and the severe difficulty with speech. I have been in search of a devise that will allow her to type to speak. This has not been an easy search. In general, people do not understand what I'm looking for and they want to sell me a voice amplifier. Why would we want to amplify a voice that is not understandable?

This brings me to DynaVox and the DynaWrite (pictured below). If you know anyone who has used this product or a similar product, will you please tell me about it?

Coming Soon...

Watch for our GRAND OPENING announcement.

New Kit

Here's a preview of the new kit I am working on. I am VERY excited. It's the best one so far (my opinion). Can you guess what it is?

Paradise 4 Scrappers

I've been accepted as a designer at Paradise 4 Scrappers. My kits will be there as soon as I get home (I'm still living in a motel). I have several kits floating around in my head but I cant design without my desktop.

UPDATE: on the fire

I am still staying at the motel but hopefully, I’ll be able to go home soon. I’m hoping it will be this week but I’m not sure.

I’ve been using my laptop (I took it from the house during the fire) and last week it had three complete power failures so I have to send it off for a diagnostic. This will leave me computer-less until I get to move home and my stuff is returned. =(

In the mean time, I can peek in from the computer in the lobby but I wont be able to make scraps, tags, upload, or download.

Gina

Indulge & Sugar Snap Delights

For those do not already know, I am a tagger and a moderator of an all copyright tagging group. If you are copyright aware and looking for a tagging group, click the blinkie, add the profile to your friends and ask for an invitation to the group.

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