I'm Back...

Whew. What a few months it's been. I am so happy to tell you prayers were specifically answered..no excessive bleeding, breathing ok, and I did not get sick. I just didn't know how extensive the surgery would be...and that's probably a good thing. Might not have shown up LOL. Was one of the largest thyroids the dr. had seen. Had grown up to both of my jawbones. Hello people...I KNEW it was big. I couldn't even eat and THAT is a big deal. I am getting better everyday. It has been 2 weeks ago today and I can still say I"m improving daily. Not close to 100% yet, but working on it. I am just humbly overwhelmed at the generosity of my friends. I have received so much food and so many cards you could not imagine. I am just so thankful for everything and I feel so blessed.

Well...today I delivered some stuff for a few charity events this weekend. First, I did a big PEAR painting for the Claiborne Charity auction. This is such a good cause and I thank everyone who supports them. CC helped us when J.T. was sick and we appreciated that so much. I started to do a floral painting, but I had been wanting to do a pear.

Then...there is an event in Monroe this weekend called Shake 4 Jake. Jake is a little boy with an amazing family carrying on his legacy helping other St.Jude families. I really wanted to go to the event, but I guess I'll have to wait till next year. I sent a tulip painting (with the word HOPE), a Tech Bulldog painting, and some bookmarks. Did I mention I want to BE THERE? Dang it.

I am planning to going to Canton soon...so that will have to quench my creative thirst for now.

I'm planning to market some things this summer. I would like to get my bookmarks in some upscale shops if any of you happen to have any connections. There are many things I could do...but I just love these bookmarks. I'd like to do workshops or artist demos in the stores that sell them. I'll keep you posted.

It's VERY HARD for me not to be thinking about Art Camp. This would be my 6th year and I cannot imagine NOT having a camp....BUT my energy level is just not there. I have so many ideas I want to share with your kids! I've about talked myself in to doing a camp/workshop during and around our FALL BREAK using a CHRISTMAS theme so your kids can create things you can use as Christmas cards, gifts, etc. What do you think?

Create.

Suzy

ALMOST....

Surgery is tomorrow. Have to be there at 8, but I'm #5 so it probably be 1 before they get to me. I liked the doctor...said he's done a couple thousand of these. It's just getting past that part where they tell you what COULD happen.
Pray for limited bleeding, my breathing to stay under control, and no getting sick. If all goes well, it sounds like most people just complain of sore throat and hoarse. Will stay one night, maybe two in hospital and then prob one night in S'port at my in-laws. Should be back home by Sunday or Monday. WHEW.
And THEN I feel like my summer can start. I just have a new compassion for people facing surgery or just health problems in general.
I cannot wait to get back to painting. I have a few things to catch up on. We did get our bedroom finished (painting walls is much harder and flowers or something!). It looks really good.
Kirk is home from the beach and he had a good time. He's now working at the golf course. J.T. got a job at Tall Timbers helping cater. He likes it much more than he thought he would. He was so excited last weekend.
Hope to update next week and get back to pictures and more CREATIVE things. Don't like being consumed with medical issues....so, keep reading.

Create.
Suzy

On a lighter note...

1. My sister is at the beach celebrating my nephew's HS graduation

2. My sister-in-law (the triplet's mom) was picked to be on TLC's What Not To Wear. She just returned from NYC looking great. Show will air in the fall, so I'll let everyone know. It's basically JUST like you see on TV. They really do film you secretly for 2 weeks, etc. The March of Dimes nominated Kim, which I thought was so nice. AND..I think the girls are arriving here tomorrow with their other grandparents...so I may be loving on them soon. Oh, Alyssa broke her leg the morning the limo arrived to pick up Kim. She's okay though.

3. There is an upcoming fundraiser that I plan to support this year. It's called Shake4Jake and is held at the end of June in Monroe. Jake was the cutest St.Jude kid with a family committed to the cause. They go above and beyond to help other families and though I've never met them, they have such an inspiring story and are a good example of sowing seeds. I will get a link posted soon (or you can google it). I'm trying to decide what to do for the "event". There will be auctions and all kinds of stuff apparantly to raise money. At the least, I will send paintings, but I'm planning to do something involving you blog readers. I'm thinking for each order I receive between now and then...I will make an extra item and donate in your name. So, be thinking of what you would like painted and let me know.

4. Which brings me to the last topic. I called the surgeon's office today to REMIND them I can't breathe well...and they assured me they're working on it tomorrow. I'm still kindof hoping for next week. I've had several scriptures that have helped lately...but today: Those who WAIT on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount with wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not become faint. WHEW. thank the Lord.

okay...let me see if I can find a picture.

Create.

Suzy

A.P.#4

A.P. = Answered prayer.
Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Of course, I've had alot to say, but wasn't sure WHAT TO say. I started several posts, and just changed my mind.
5 months ago I had no idea that health issues could be a part of every day life. What started out on Jan. 3rd with my hands hurting, has turned in to quite a few things mostly thyroid related. This post is titled: Answered Prayer #4 because there have been 4 big specific prayers the Lord has answered and I wanted to share them with you. Now, of course, I know the Lord answers many more than that every day, but these are prayers that I've asked You, my friends, to pray for me and I want you to KNOW they are felt and have been answered in a big specific way. I started w/ A.P.#1 the Friday of Spring Break. It was then that I was told I needed a surgeon. There are many things that happened in the months leading up to that, but I choose to start here with my story. I am determined to leave the negative energy behind. That is why I haven't posted. When you are feeling really bad, it just helps to have hope. It helps to know people are working on your behalf. enough said. The first prayer was for the Lord to send the RIGHT people my way and open very specific doors. My in-laws and their friends did some checking (they're in the healthcare system in Shreveport)....and came across a surgeon Dr.Donnie Aultman. After my father-in-law told him of my situation, he made a call to the endocrinologist I was trying to get in to see: Dr. Ravari. I saw Dr.Ravari the week after Spring Break and knew immediately both her and Dr.Aultman were answers to prayers. She is so kind, and KNOWS what she is talking about. I liked everything about her office/staff...just very high quality. Many other signs, but A.P.#1.
A.P. #2: you know the saying "knowledge is power"? Wellllll, MOST of the time. But SOMETIMES it can scare you. I have done enough "research" (LOL) on the internet to know I WANTED to find someone who performed what's called a FINE NEEDLE biopsy. get the fine needle part? Yep, I had heard a few stories and this sounded like the way I wanted to go. The first phone call I had w/ Dr.Ravari's office is when I asked that question and YES: she did them on Tuesday mornings. A.P.#2
A.P.#3: okay so that means I had to have a biopsy. As if it's not just down-right painful enough to think about having cancer, obviously 3+ needles being stuck in my neck where it HURTS, did not sound too good. But PRAISE THE LORD...it's behind me and I can truly say it did not hurt near as bad as I had prepared myself for. The numbing cream worked, I was really relaxed thanks to the people in her office (like I said: quality care), and it just was not that bad. A.P. #3.
A.P. #4: after the biopsy is when it hit me the hardest emotionally. I was thinking she might have been able to tell me something as she was performing the biopsy, but that was not the case so I had to wait and worry from Tues- Fri last week. There is a thing posted in her exam rooms about worry. It says something like: "if you're going to pray, why worry....if you're going to worry, why pray". Ouch. powerful. true. easier said than done. You see, I had done my "research" and knew about a little thing called anaplastic thyroid cancer...the fast growing kind that frankly people just don't survive. Every little ache and pain worried me last week (and I had PLENTY). So, when she called Friday with the news that I needed surgery...that did not sound NEAR as bad. PTL. Basically the biopsy was inconclusive, and since my thyroid has grown so large I need to have it removed. There is an 80% chance it is benign, but there are concerns. There are 3 other types of thyroid cancer but all have positive outcomes in the end. So, I'll have surgery soon...have it removed...they will test to see what it is...and we'll go from there. If it is malignant there are a few things I do before taking medicene the rest of my life and if it's benign I think I just start taking meds the rest of my life. Either way, I already feel like I can breathe better, just being able to think about the "rest of my life". A.P.#4.
I have a new compassion for people who have medical problems...specifically for those awaiting biopsy results. It's just one of those things that you just can't understand until you've been there I think. I know the "compassion" thing is something the Lord is showing me through this. I seriously do not think that I BELIEVED it was possible to feel bad every day for 5 months. I was wrong.
So....THANK YOU MY FRIENDS for praying. I NEED you to continue to pray for specific things for me, and I promise to keep you posted better. I believe in giving God the glory and that is what I want to do. It really is my desire for you to know that you're prayers for me are being heard and answered and it means so much to me. When we were at St.Jude w/ J.T., there were so many times I thought about the "footprints in the sand" story. You see, I believe that sometimes we just need to be carried through things, and part of that is for friends to pray for you when you are tired or just feel like you do not have enough faith. Here are specific prayers I need right now: #5: TIMING for the surgery. I want to have it asap. All of my family is coming in next week, it's a busy time and alot to do before the end of school, Kirk wants to leave the day we get out of school going on vacation w/ his girlfriend...and I'm just struggling knowing when to try to schedule. So, I leave it in the Lord's hands. I'm going to see when the dr CAN schedule and go from there. One thing I've learned is not to worry about things that haven't happened yet. I would just rather have the surgery behind me before the last day of school though...just the whole thought of starting my summer that way does not sound so great. This time last year we were leaving for the beach. so, in HIS perfect TIMING....I trust it will be.
#6: for the surgery itself to be successful. for them to be able to easily remove everything. for there to be NO SIGNS of malignancy and that I do not GET SICK after surgery. For some reason as if the thought of someone cutting your NECK open is not bad enough...I just do NOT want to get sick afterwards. That just could not be good. I "READ" (LOL) somewhere that the surgery is not that bad. Someone even said it was like having teeth pulled. OKAY. I can believe THAT story!
#7 and finally that my recovery is fast and goes well. I really believe in the power of positive thinking. If I can just get to the point where I practice that at home I will be doing good. I'm thinking about getting a little IPOD and loading praise and worship music to listen to before/after surgery. I took this special blanket to the biopsy with me and it was very comforting. Nevermind the fact that Todd said I looked like a 9 yr old. It was really funny though. And true, but I didn't care. It worked.

NOW FOR A LITTLE bit of more interesting, creative news. I have still managed to paint. I read a quote the other day: What one CAN be, one MUST be. I MUST PAINT.
I have: finished jennifer's blog prize (really big cross painting) / finished a painting for my nephew who is graduating HS next week and is going to train to be a fireman (really big abstract fireman painting)/ baby paintings for "someone" I know having a baby soon (can't mention names yet)/ notecards/ and one of my all-time FAVORITE things...making a ton of hand-painted bookmarks. They are so cute, fun and I can paint them almost without looking. LOVE those things. And a friend and i made it to Hobby Lobby this weekend, where I found fabulous new ribbon. yes, I need a new list of things that make me happy....a new list of things that I consider FUN. Finding ribbon at HL is just a LITTLE too boring. Think I'll work on that list this summer.
Stay tuned about art camp for the summer. To be honest, right now there's no way I can even think about it. Literally. Just too tired. But, I haven't forgotten. There's still a chance even if on a smaller scale. We'll see.
Thanks for reading so long. Sorry there' s no pictures this time.
Thank you again, my friends and please keep me in your prayers. I am not myself when I feel bad.
Create. okay did you notice on one of my recent posts I told YOU to create even when YOU don't feel like it....yep, eating those words. So, just create when you can. create when you DO feel like it, and I'll do the same.
Suzy

JENNIFER BAILEY !!!!

Yes my dear test coordinator...maybe this will make your day. YOU WON the prize Jennifer Bailey. (Your name WAS in there more than anyone, so your chances were good). Todd and J.T. were arguing over who was going to draw...Todd drew your name and J.T. and I were witnesses.
HOWEVER.....MELISSA SMITH, you'll be happy to know that you get a prize too. I decided to give away the textured cross painting I did as an "experiment". It is the one in the post below.
Thank you to everyone that participated. I'm going to count the number of names in the jar so you know. My counter on my blog jumped by about 300 during the contest, so that is COOL.
I"m thinking of doing something during the month of April. It will benefit this year's "Shake for Jake" fundraiser for a family that helps other St.Jude families. You can read about it at: www.maddiboo.blogspot.com Melissa and Charlene are involved with the foundation and apparantly get their husbands to the SHAKE-down.

Don't forget to...
Create.
Suzy

quick update..

Here's a picture of a painting I finished this week for my mother-in-law's sewing room she is remodeling. She bought the canvas last summer, and this has been on my to-do list for a while. Something inspired me this week to paint it. It hangs horizontal though..I now clearly have to figure out how to ROTATE the picture.

DON"T FORGET ...only 3 more days to get your name in the drawing for the March Madness painting. You can earn as many tickets as you would like!!

Create. Even when you don't feel like it, or you don't have time...

Suzy

March Madness continues...

Here's a picture of a small cross SIMILAR to the March Madness prize. I experimented with a smaller size textured cross. It's hard to tell, but I used a putty to give it some dimension. AND Congrats to Jennifer Bailey for sending MORE than the 5 people to my blog and earning her a FREE FACEBOOK FRIENDS sign. You can still earn one, or buy one. They're only $10 for the month of March.

Still not feeling that great, but better. Again, different symtoms/side effects every day. The last couple of days, I've had fever, so I used the time to stay home and relax. It was much needed and I think has helped. No luck in getting an appoinment any sooner, but I am on a waiting list.

My throat still hurts so unfortunately I think I"m going to miss another choir practice tonight.

The boys are having a pretty good week. J.T. placed 2nd in Comp.Science at the Literary Rally Saturday/ Kirk came in 1st and J.T. came in 5th at the golf meet Monday/ and Kirk has a 4.0 GPA which qualifies him for our academic banquet....Did I MENTION I have great kids?

I've added a few more names to the jar. Don't forget you can keep earning tickets through the last day of March.

create.

Suzy