Believe It or Not! (long)

...I'm home alone, in the shower, early October. My 2 Poms begin barking. That's usually a signal that someone/something is too close to the house. I quickly jump out of the shower, soaking wet and trailing water, to see what all the noise is about. Satisfied that all is okay, I walk back into the bathroom and before I know it, I'm slipping on the wet floor. I reach for the towel bar (oh, yeah...like that will hold me up! NOT!), it comes down with me and I end up doing the splits (OUCH!). Can you imagine--what I couldn't do even in high school I've managed to achieve with one fall in the bathroom. The diagnosis: right hamstring muscle fiber tear. After 17 long hours in the ER, it was home for me with advice to "walk on the leg; don't baby it." Right.

The following week, after several days of feeling feverish, lethargic, unable to eat or drink, and labored breathing, it was back to the ER. Diagnosis: Pneumonia! After a week of oxygen and lots of antibiotics, I was released. Hooray!

Three days later, I can't breathe and back to the ER I go! More antibiotics, more oxygen and a week later, it's home again WITH oxygen. After 2 months of convalescing at home, I can finally say I've recovered.

Someone was looking out for me and I thank Him every day. I'm also thankful for my husband, who was there by my side always and for the kind thoughts and prayers from my friends and co-workers.

So what did I do while recovering for 2 months? I had a chance to do some hand work since there was no machine sewing for me (still have a bum leg). I pulled out my Baltimore Album blocks from a class I took with Mimi Dietrich (I won't say how many years ago that was), and managed to finish 2 of 3 blocks that I had left in different stages of completion.

This block I made in honor of my Dad and my hubby. My dad served in the Navy during WWII and hubby is in the Navy and getting ready to retire next year. I still need to ink their names on the block. Inking is so permanent so I don't have the courage yet to attempt to do it. lol


The next block was definitely a challenge for me. I chose to "lift" an entire bird motif from my focus fabric and "broderie perse" him to my block. I think the bird's feet and tail were the most difficult for me. Can you see the 3 little eggs in the nest? Those are my children (and granddaughter). They will tell you I was "overprotective," just like this bird appears to be with her eggs.


The third block is still in progress. I really like the way the basket is turning out. Lots of skinny bias strips! Once I finish this block, I've already decided which block I will start next.


I also did a little scrapbooking. Hadn't done any in a long time. The week before returning to work, I attended a card class at Photo Scraps, a scrapbooking store. The card, a combination of gatefold and pop-up, was made using a Xmas line of paper with a retro feel to it. It's ready to add some small pics and journaling. This card I'll be keeping!




I have finally returned to work and I will say it sure was a rough couple of days. The muscles are sore, my leg still aches, but I'm not going to complain because it just means I'm alive and well!

Enjoy the holiday season!