Friday, March 28, 2014

My Mom Is Amazing!!!

Good morning!   I have not had the opportunity to blog for a long time.  My daughter Erika, left a post on my Mom, so most of you know that she came through her surgery with no complications, and we got very good news after pathology came back on her lymph nodes.  I have to say, since the day I went with her for her colonoscopy, the news was not good.  But angels are watching over her!  My mother had prepared for the worst.  Which was so difficult to even think about.  But we remained hopeful.  And there were SO many praying for her.  She had a successful surgery.  They removed all of the tumor, along with about a foot of colon.  They removed 12 lymph nodes.  She stayed in the hospital for 4 days.  She had to wait til her last day at the hospital to find out that the lymph nodes results. They came back CLEAR!!!!  There was no sign of cancer in any of her other organs.  Hallelujah!!!  She was staged at a 2A.  The reason for the A, is that the tumor had grown to the outside of the colon.  So she will have to have some chemo, and possibly some radiation. This will be done as a preventative measure.  It will most likely be a light form of chemo.  Possibly even in pill form.  She sees the oncologist in about 8 weeks, after she has healed from her surgery.  So we will go from there.  She is resting and getting better each day.  Even going out to breakfast with me on Wednesday, only one week after her surgery.  She is doing remarkably well.  We could not be happier.  All of us, elated with the news that she will be okay.  So, as you can imagine, it has been a very busy week  and a half.  Not much else going on in my life around here.  I did take some photos of a bit of Spring around here at the homestead.  Again, thank  you for all of your prayers and good thoughts for my Mom.  It meant SO much!!!!
When Noah and I went to Mom's the other day to go to breakfast, we were driving through her neighborhood, and one of her neighbors had all of these eggs on her bushes out front.  I pulled up and took a closer look, as it was so cute!  They were just your every day plastic Easter eggs, the kind that snap together.  She had just taken each egg and snapped it around a leaf or two on the bush.  So simple, and so cute!  Noah and I got home and dug out our Easter eggs, and went to work.
That used to be a perfectly symmetrical bush.  But my husband had to work on the sprinklers that sit just below, and he got a bit carried away at clearing himself a space!!
If you have young kids, or grands, this is a great little project to do together.  Noah had a ball putting the eggs on the bush.  We even bought more eggs at Target yesterday to add to it.
This is really a fun time in the gardens.  Everything is coming to life.  Blooms, and more blooms!!
The roses are really putting on a show!
My purple iris are just beginning to show their unfurled buds.
My girlfriend Joycie, got me this Mandevilla in memory of my Nana after she passed.  It is blooming like crazy!
Geraniums, which bloom all year, are especially beautiful now, after our bit of cooler weather and a couple of rainy days.
My front doors have their Spring baskets hung to greet guests.
I need to add a few new flowers to freshen it up a bit, I think.
My girlfriend Pam, gave me this plant last March.  It is blooming again, and so pretty.
I love the little bird pick she put in the plant!  It sits on my bistro table on the front porch.
We have four of these azaleas planted in the front planter beneath the front bedroom windows.  Three were badly damaged when we had our house tented for termites a few years ago.  They are just now starting to come back.  This one being the healthiest.
On most afternoons, Noah likes to ride his bike or scooter out front.  It was so beautiful the other day, after the rain, that I had to get my camera and take some shots.  Cerulean blue skies, and big cotton candy puffy clouds.  My favorite kind of day.
Noah zoomed past me, back and forth, as I shot photo after photo.
Everywhere I looked, it was so pretty!
The giant sycamore trees in our front yard have almost fully leafed out now.  The birds are all looking for the  places to nest.  Something as simple as a giant fallen leaf in the bird bath, draws me in.
A concrete bunny statue, tucked in by the iris that are about to explode.

So much beauty in the simplest of things.
Before I go, a couple of sweet finds on a thrifting jaunt.  I have a soft spot for china.  Especially old china.  And hand painted china.  This sweet little pitcher with the hand painted yellow roses caught my eye.  I love it with some of my fragrant roses.
This pretty yellow gingham pillow, with the perfectly stitched daisies in a basket on the front.  Swoon!
It looks like it was made for the white wicker chair I refinished for my back patio.
The embroidery on this is so perfectly precise.
Even though I was not wild about the white lace that edges the pillow, I decided to leave it exactly as is.  What a sweet find this 2 dollar pillow was!!!!
Before I go, I have to show you this little surprise I got in the mail the other day from my sweet friend Holly.
She certainly knows me well.
This nice big Rooster mug!  I had my coffee in it that morning.  But then set my blooms inside on the little kitchen eating nook for this photo.  The beautiful red and yellow roses are clipped from the two rose bushes I removed from my parents backyard, and replanted in mine.  My Dad had just planted these, before he died.  I bring these pretty blooms to his resting place whenever I go.
Thank you Holly!  I love my new mug, and will think of you, my friend, whenever I use it!!!!
Go out and make it a great day!!!!!  Stop to smell the roses!  Open your car window, and let the fresh air blow in your face and mess up your hair!  Happy Spring!  And thank you Jesus, for the very best birthday gift I have ever received.......My Mom's health!!!!!!!
XOXO
Kris

28 comments:

Gloria Baker said...

hurraaaaahh!
I prayed to Santa Rita, she is amazing. Anyway Im sure all the prayers were great!!
Im happy your Mom is Ok, and I hope she goes well!
Im happy for you, for your Mom and for your family.
So much love to you and your Mom!
xxxxx

Debbie said...

Oh Kris I am sooo happy to read this! Praise God! Sounds like everything has gone just as well as it could have considering the circumstances. Glad to hear she is recovering well. Praying that the "light chemo" will bring her as little discomfort and side effects as possible. I can just read between the lines of this post and feel your relief. Your roses look great. I have only 1 azalea bush at our house now (used to have soo many, lol)and it was soo covered in blooms recently is was practically weighted down and hanging on the ground with them, lol Should have taken a pic. ENJOY this beautiful day that the Lord has given us, and I will join you in thanking Him for this blessing, and for all the others He gives us too! HUGS

Gloria Baker said...

Im happy:)

Bethany said...

What a great pillow! And what great news for your mom, considering everything :)

Betsy said...

This is such a happy, happy post and it makes me HaPpY to read it. Such great news about your Mom. I hope the chemo is in reality "light" and she doesn't have any uncomfortable side effects. Praise God for her quick healing. You have such gorgeous flowers already. We still don't have any blooms here in Spokane, but hopefully soon. Your post made me smile, smile, smile. I can feel your happiness radiating out from it. I'll continue to pray for complete healing for your Mom.
Blessings my friend,
Betsy

Amy at love made my home said...

That really is surely the best possible news that you could have hoped for!!!! I am so pleased for your Mom that the op went so well and that it sounds as though they way forward will be relatively (given the circumstances of course) straightforward. I hope that your Mom's further treatment goes well for her and that she makes a full recovery, which with all the love that you will give her she surely will!!! I will come back and read the rest later, but I just saw your post and had to comment as I was so pleased for you to see such good news. Lots and lots of love to all of your family and especially to your Mom. xxxx

bearlythare said...

Kris, I'm so happy to hear your good news. I will continue to pray for you and your family. How appropriate, the embroidery on your pillow is called "chicken scratch" embroidery.
All the best!
Karen

Holly said...

Sure was great to sit and chat a little while with you the other day. I'm glad to see you put the mug to good use. Your yard is sure blooming and looks as beautiful as ever

Holly said...

Sure was great to sit and chat a little while with you the other day. I'm glad to see you put the mug to good use. Your yard is sure blooming and looks as beautiful as ever

Linda said...

Beautiful!
I was just thinking about you....and there you were!
Very *jealous*of your flowers???we still have snow!
Great thrifts too♥️
Enjoy your weekend....you have earned it!
Hugs to your Mom...
Cheers!
Linda :o)

Valerie Cottage Making Mommy said...

Wonderful news. Everything looks so beautiful.

Hugs,

Valerie
Cottage Making Mommy
www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Oh what a beautiful day for you Kris, in more ways then one! Glad you Mother is doing so well! Amazing, huh?! Enjoy your special day with her on Wednesday!

Love ya,
Maryjane

podso said...

What wonderful news. And "chemo lite"--that's good news too. those trees in front of your house are so pretty! You are ahead of us, our leaves are not in yet. (or out, whichever!) Enjoy the weekend!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Such a happy post, Kris! Wonderful news about your mother...I know you must all be relieved!! And your photos are purely refreshing to me, looking at snow! I can almost smell the sycamore trees...I loved them when we lived in California...and we don't have them here. XO

Genn said...

so glad gma is doing better!!!

cute eggs in the bushes!

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

So so happy for all of you on your mom's great news. I hope each day she is feeling better and soon as good as new. Lovely pictures, xoRobin

Jeanna said...

Praising God for answered prayers! I will pray that your Mom continues to do well and will be able to handle the additional medications with strength.

Your spring photos are so lovely Kris. From your roses, seeing you grandson enjoying his scooter and the rooster cup, everything is filled with blessings!

Thanks for sharing!

Grammy Staffy said...

I am so glad to get the news about your mom. I have been praying for her. I hope that all will go well with her post surgery recovery and treatment.

Your yard looks so pretty with the egg bushes. I wish I'd seen your post yesterday. Our Austin was here with us and he could have eggified our bushes for us. It is a cute idea.

My 3 weeks in the hospital really knocked me for a loop. I'm glad to be home but I'm not up much. I am slowly getting better... wishing it was faster but thankful for each new day.

I love your daisy pillow... what a good find. Best of luck to your mom. Hugs, Lura

Debby said...

It's good to hear the awesome news about your mother. So glad that they caught it early enough to get rid of it. Sounds like she is doing well.
Your pictures really look nice We are all ready for spring in the Midwest. I'm afraid there may be more snow tomorrow. It will be awhile before our yards look like yours. Love those trees in your front yard. Enjoy the warmth.

NanaNor's said...

Hi Kris, I started this comment this morning and had to leave it until now. I am so happy at how well your mom is doing! Still praying for her and for you all.
Loved seeing all your beautiful flowers and plants-the beauty of Ca. We are starting to see bulbs pop up but it is still so early.
Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend my friend.
Hugs, Noreen

Teresa Kasner said...

Kris, I'm so glad she got that colonoscopy when she did! She was saved by it getting her surgery before it got any worse. You have a lot of people who love you and I'm sure all those prayers and positive thoughts heading your way helped in some way. You're so lucky to have roses blooming! Gorgeous there. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Lauri said...

So happy that the surgery was successful. Happy birthday!!!!

Deb~in~Denver said...

So incredibly happy for your mom and for all of you! Yes, prayers answered!
I love your Easter Egg bush, darling idea! Your flowers are gorgeous, makes me anxious for warmer weather and FLOWERS! Your thrift finds are beautiful! Love that pillow!
Happy birthday, tomorrow! You did indeed get the best gift, ever!
Love you, friend!

Unknown said...

Wonderful post, so happy your mom is doing well and with such a good prognoses! YAY!

Love your beautiful flowers and your yard is so pretty...I love that Spring is there for you. Still like winter here.

The roses are just so gorgeous...thanks for sharing them.

Susanne Tyree said...

It is nice to hear good news about your mother. I am sure she had the weight of the world lifted off of her shoulders and the biggest sigh of relief escaped from her lips. News like that brings tears of joy too and I know you were feeling it too. I sit here in Ohio and we got some more snow today. It seems like we are stuck in this rut and winter has come months ago and refuses to leave. I am sure when it does we will go straight into sweltering heat and next thing ya know the ac will come on. My bulbs are up about an inch. When they will bloom who knows, maybe next spring huh?
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

Amy at love made my home said...

Finally got to pop back and look properly at the rest of your post! Your new cushion is beautiful, and just right for this time of year! Love the eggs on the plants outside, if I had a shrub or two out by my front door I would have borrowed that idea! xx

Nicolle said...

I love the signs of spring around your house. Your flowers are gorgeous! Easter colors are some of my favorite colors. I am SO very happy about your mom. I prayed and prayed. What amazing news! Makes me so happy for her and for all of you. xo

Grammy Braxton said...

So happy the surgery was a success. Hopefully the chemo won't be too bad. She sounds like an amazing woman. Moms are like that, aren't they?

Hugs,
Sharon