Sunday, November 1, 2009

Life Happens

The air is crisp and clean and many of the leaves have taken on pretty burgundy, orange, and yellow tones. No, not in my home state of Hawaii but here in North Carolina!

Yes my friends, the hubby and I arrived yesterday in the beautiful state of North Carolina where he will be undergoing extracranial/intracranial bypass surgery. Unfortunately, he is not a stranger to these kinds of surgeries. This particular surgery is terribly scary but I know that we will get through it. We always have. I struggled with the decision about whether to bring this to my blog but I thought that it would help to explain why I haven't been a very attentive blogger over the past several months. My heart and mind have been preoccupied with life matters.

Unfortunately, I will not be seeing much of this beautiful state as the next couple of weeks will be spent mostly in hospital and hotel rooms. Between initial consultations, preop testing, and the actual surgery itself, there will be little time for sightseeing. I will be bringing my camera along for the ride anyway. Shots of pretty trees in parking lots...



a quick trip to the mall...


where they're already decorating for Christmas...


and as of Friday, delicious hospital food to whet your appetite, followed by a shot or two of the inside of hospital rooms. The possibilities are endless. *smirk*

And because this is a blog about making stuff, here is a penny posie flower cluster made from wool felt that I put together before I left Hawaii. I'm still debating on whether or not to permanently applique this to my jeans pocket because I'm wondering how well it will hold up to multiple washings.


Thank you everyone for your well wishes about my fractured pinky. Fortunately, it is on my non-dominant hand and mostly hurts when I hit it against something (like my computer keypad). It is feeling better and better with each passing day and is pretty minor in the scheme of things, don'tyathink???

Take care everyone. Remember to enjoy the little things in life and to savor the time spent with family and friends. Life is fragile and things can change in an instant.

Aloha!

36 comments:

floribunda said...

yikes -- it does sound scary! I wish your hubby and you all the best, and I hope you find some peaceful moments in the chaos.

Tudy said...

Nice to have you here but not under these conditions. You will have my thoughts and prayers that all comes out well for all of you. I understand the stress, my SIL had an accident the end of Sept. and he lost his right leg above the knee. My daughters life has been turned upside down in that very instant. He is very lucky to be alive since it was a bull dozer that rolled on him as he was fighting a mulch pile fire. We are all just happy he was hot killed in the accident. I will be thinking about you and Hubby.

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Life is indeed fragile. Thank you for such a heartfelt reminder. My prayers are definitely there for you and your husband during this difficult time. I will stop and smell the roses even more often as I think about the challenges that lie ahead for both of you. Thank you for sharing with all of us!

Blessings, Carrie

Terry said...

I have no idea what a extracranial/intracranial bypass surgery is, but I'll be sending good thoughts and prayers your way for a successful surgery and a quick recover. We just went through three weeks in the hospital when my husband had an accident at work. So I know all to well how quickly things can change!

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before
you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Praying for James and for you, dear Lettie.

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

Isaiah 43: 2 - When you go through deep waters
and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up- The flames will not consume you.

rozhearts said...

You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope that everyhing will go smoothly with the operation and you stay strong together
(((HUGS))) Roz.

Amy said...

Dearest Lettie:
I'll be keeping you and your hubby in my prayers. Your positive attitude, along with your sewing, should help get you through. I have spent many an hour sitting by the hospital bed with needles going...it really helped me.

Take good care of yourself...I'm told that if one doesn't, then you're not as able to care for others. I still am working on this one :)

Love,
Amy

Annieofbluegables said...

Dear Lettie,
I will keep you two in my prayers. That sounds like such a serious operation. Anything cranial is pretty scary. And to not be a stranger to these kinds of surgeries is even more frightening. God bless you in these next months ahead. Thanks for trusting us with this. Sometimes I feel that if we allow others to take part of the burden, that yours is lightened.
I hope you have some needles and thread with you.
God bless.
~a

Karen from Sew Many Ways... said...

Oh Lettie,
We will definitely keep you both in our thoughts and prayers. The miracles of modern medicine will bring your husband through safe and sound. I know you are in good hands or you wouldn't have made the 5000 mile trip from home. If you need anything, we are always here for you.
Take care,
~Karen~

Sandra :) said...

Canadian hugs and prayers (you know, the maple syrup flavored ones!) coming in from Toronto. I hope everything goes smoothly, and that hubby does well with his surgery and recovery. You take care of yourself too, dear Lettie, so you can both get through this!

LizA. said...

Prayers for you and your husband for a safe surgery and a quick, pain-free recovery.

Fran said...

Lots of good wishes to you both, and hope you find some peaceful places to relax. Thinking of you,
Fran

Disrepaired said...

Best wishes to you both.

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

Lettie, you both will be on my prayer list. I understand what you are going through, and I wish you could be closer to your own home during this time. Please keep us posted when you are able. You have brought so much joy to your readers; not let us pray you through this.

Rumi said...

I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts.

Jenn said...

Prayers for you and especially your husband! Thanks for sharing. Jenn

sweetiepie said...

Lettie, I am keeping you and your hubbie in my thoughts and prayers.

Take care, my friend.

Sunitha said...

Prayers going out for successful surgery and quick recovery Lettie. Take care and be happy we are all praying for you.

PrimAngel said...

I really dont know what this surgery is but it sounds serious.. so I am sending prayers up with blessings sprinkling down upon you and hubby!!! You are such a giving person to all of us... so now let us give you all the love, support and lifting up you both need to get through this!!!
Many many hugs and prayers!
Nanc

Audrey said...

God Bless you both. I will keep you in my prayers.

I love the possie. I think you should put snaps on the back pocket and jeans so it will come off easy when you wash them.

Sandy said...

Prayers and hugs being sent to both you and your husband.You are always so generous with your designs. God bless you both.
Sandy

SG said...

I wish you both all the best... You're right... We should live every moment the best way we can...

busylizzy said...

Lettie, I like stopping by your blog to see what you are up to. You are so creative. I hope the surgery goes well and your hubby heals quickly. That is a long way to go for surgery. Maybe someday, you can go back to see the fall leaves and more than just the hospital parking lot!Sending thoughts and prayers to you and your husband.

Narelle said...

Lettie, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband. We here is blogland will be waiting for you to here that all went well.
Big Hugs
Narelle

Stephanie D said...

Glad you arrived safely and in time to see some gorgeous scenery, but I hope you don't always associate these colors with hospital stays!

Hugs and prayers to you both--you know how to reach me if there's anything I can do.

Joan said...

good luck to you and your hubby. What hospital is he in and how long will yall be in our state? I have to take mine up to the wonderful docs and nurses in Chapel Hill for chemo therapy every week. I know what you are going through. We had a scare about 4 years ago. He had to have his bladder taken out and put in a reconstructed one (from part of intestine), he had a heart attack on the operating table and then a massive one in recovery, he made it through that and has had 2 more bouts of cancer since then, but they are doing everything they can to get him thhrough another year with us. Good luck, HUGS!

Anonymous said...

If you want support from all over the world it's a good thing you mentioned this on your blog, for, as you can see, the support is there for you and your DH. There's not much for me to add to all the comments you already got. I just wish you and yours all the best!!!

suz said...

My prayers are with you and your husband for a full and speedy recovery. Thank you for letting us know.

Chriss said...

Life is indeed a fragile thing and it is so wonderful also. I wish you and your Hubby all the best and for a truly great outcome. Thank you for being such a generous and sharing person.

lesthook said...

Best wishes to you both. If that is Crabtree Mall then you are less than 2 hours from me. It is going to be colder tonight than you are used to.

Joan said...

I imagine she is shopping in Raleigh, but don't know what hospital her hubby is in.
Where are you? i am about 2 hrs. from Raleigh also.

Kim D. said...

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your dh.. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Sorry about your pinky.. I jammed my pinky a couple of years ago and it hurt for about a year. That's no fun at all.
Take care of you..

Magia da Inês said...

Olá amiga!
Passei para conhecer seu cantinho... tudo de bom!
Lindo, criativo e inspirador!
Parabéns e sucesso sempre!..
Aguardo a sua visitinha...
magiadaines.blogspot.com
Uma ótima semana!
Beijinhos carinhosos.
Itabira - Brasil

Janine said...

Dear Lezzie,
I hope so much that the operation of your hubby will go well and that he recovers soon.
I send you my best wishes, feel huged
Janine

Suze said...

Thank you for trusting us with this information. I will be praying for you and your hubby, that everything will go well and for a speedy recovery. May the Lord be with you. Sending you sunshine and warm thoughts from home. (^o^)