Saturday, March 15, 2008

First Sign of Spring and Tea Time with Lily

Crocuses are said to be the first sign of Spring. However, long before the Crocuses bloom, the arrival of the Robins signal that Spring is around the corner.

Birdy Elements and papers by Sausan Designs.
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20486&cat=0&page=1
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20487&cat=0&page=1
Alpha from Impressions of Gratitude Collaborative kit by the Studio Girls at SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19486&cat=0&page=1
Font - Pea Elizabeth, Staple by Bren Boone. Tree sticker by Karen Aicken



Layout done for the color it black challenge at SBG.
Tea and biscuits are best when shared with a special friend.
Credits:Fonts: FG Amelia and Arial
Little Krafty alpha tags by Traci Sims/SBG
Glitter Alpha from Strawberry Delight Elements by Flergs
bg. ppr. (darkened), Imagine wordtag and butterflies from Archive Coll. by Lorie Davison
Torn paper piece, lace overlay(doily) and theatre overlay from Prairie Gal Coll. by Lorie Davison
Flowers, leaves, grames, stitching, mat and staples from Nana's Garden by Flergs.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Titi Evelyn (Auntie Evelyn)


My sister Evelyn came from Florida and spent a week with us. While I was busy, she would play with Kaylie and Liam. The usually aloof Liam would follow her around to hug and kiss her.
Brick A Brack Booklets Vol. 2 by Berna
Birdy Bg. Paper by Sausan Designs
Hearts (Valentine freebie by Sausan Designs)
Template (modified) from the The March Supersized Grab Bag by Janet Phillips
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20419&cat=0&page=1Circle stitching (modified) from Impression of Peace by the Studio Girls Collective

The Last Goodbye


Kaylie loves this dress and insisted on wearing it for my mom's viewing. As my sister and I were sorting through my mom's personal effects, we came across a pair of earrings that were so very pretty and perfect for Kaylie. Needless to say, she only wanted to wear this particular pair of earrings. This was her way of honoring her. She wanted to look her best and to her that meant wearing her burgundy dress and floral earrings. She was the only person wearing red at the viewing, but I couldn't deny her wish.
Kit 14 by ON Designs
EyeLoveYou 12x12 photo ovelays by Berna Datema
Font: Passions Conflict and Pea Elizabeth
Round frame - Fun with Frames by Bren Boone
Butterfly from Butterflies No. 1 by ON Designs
Circle Stitching by Traci Sims.
Tied ribbon by Petja 24.
Sketch by Becky Fleck
Silver glitter style applied to title made with Chocolate Berry Glitter Gel by Flergs

In Loving Memory


First page of a memory book I am making for my father and siblings.


ATC card - personal memento by Kim Gabriel.
Prayer card memento from Chiacchio Funeral Home.
Red Berries, bird button and ribbon from Prairie Gal Collection by Lorie Davison.
Green jewelled flowers from Water Spirit set by Lorie Davison
Wood accent, willow, and long grass from Kit No. 14 by ON Designs
Frame from Nana's Garden element set by Flergs
Blue bg. ppr., green leaves, purple flower, binder clip and baby's breath branch from Spring Fling Papers and Element by Birgit Kerr.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

The Long Kiss Goodnight

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - Continuation of previous post - http://kaitgnzlz-momentsintime.blogspot.com/2008/02/hard-choices-doing-unthinkable.html

On my last post I told you that we had told my Dad that we (the children) wanted all the testing, dialysis, etc. stopped...

Later on in the afternoon, my sister went to spend time with Mom at the hospital and had the chance to talk with our Mom's doctor. He told her that there was nothing that they could do for our mom, that the treatments were not working and that all of our mom's organs had failed. He told her that he would be taking off all of the machinery, tubes, etc. The doctor waited until my father and sister got there before he proceeded with the necessary arrangements.


In the meantime, I had called my husband, to make sure that he came home right away, so he could stay with his 94 year old grandmother and our 2 kids while I went to the hospital, too. I called my sister at the hospital to have her come pick me up by 7 p.m. (she had my car). My husband got home at 7:00 p.m. and we headed for the hospital like a bat out of hell. We called our brother in Florida to tell him that the doctors would be removing all the machinery and medicines and for him to prepare for the worst.


When we were approaching Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, it was snowing. The temparature was 25 degrees, and boy, was it windy! We arrived at the hospital at 7:30 p.m.; I have no idea how I drove there. My father was there, so was my brother Roberto, as well as my mom's best friend, a nephew with his wife, who had been a former sister in law and was now a friend and a niece. I went in to see her, was there for a little while and then stepped out to talk to my dad. While he and I were hashing over our wishes, pondering the issue of long lost relatives that we haven't seen in years, and wondering about how to go on, Evelyn, my sister, came to get us as Mom was slowing down. We arrived as she took her last breath and the machine started beeping.

The doctors only removed the 2 blood pressure medications and nothing else. 45 minutes after we arrived at the hospital she passed away. 3 out of her 4 children were with her, as was her husband of 25 years, her best friend, the aforementioned nephew and wife and a niece. Later on arrived my uncle with his wife, 2 of his children; my mom's older sister and several of her children. She wasn't alone. She was in peace at last. We stayed there until 10:15 waiting for the hospital staff to take her away. When I didn't see this happening, I talked to the nurse to inquire why they hadn't removed the body. As it turns out, they were just waiting for everyone to say their goodbyes before they come in to clean up the patient and move the body to the morgue. I waited for everyone to go home, then went in to her room and cried my heart out. I asked her to forgive me if I were a less than exemplary daughter to her and gave her a hug, a kiss and wished her a peaceful sleep.

I then called the funeral home and made an appointment to make arrangements the next morning.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Gmail Troubles

I have been trying to post an update since last Wednesday to no avail. I couldn't access Gmail, Google or Blogger. I even tried login in on my sister's laptop, and still couldn't. Last night I tried posting thorough my brother's iphone but could only do the title and nothing else...

Then today, the electricity went out, my pc shut down, I reset the modem, and voila! I got service again. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner.

Anyway, sorry for the lack of communication. The next post will have the final update.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Hard Choices: Doing the Unthinkable

Mother is at the end of her life.

Mom is in the last stage of her liver disease, which shut down her kidneys, and is in extreme pain. Two weeks ago I delivered the news to her that dialysis was her only choice. I was selfish. I didn't want her to die just yet. I kind of talked her into having it done. While she was having it done, she was voicing her choice that she really didn't want it done.

I honestly thought that she would get better and come home. It wasn't meant to be. She is in intensive care with no hope of recovery. Two days ago, the nurse came to her room to administer dialysis. She told her "No." She then proceeded to take all of the tubes and needles, etc. out of her arms. She even grabbed a nurse by her shirt in an effort to keep her away from her. SHE DOESN'T WANT MORE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS.

My dad called me to tell me that the nurses had called him to tell him this. I called the nurse in hopes of talking my mom into having it done. The nurse told me that she really needs it done right then and there. She was sedated and given dialysis.

She is not breathing on her own, her blood pressure is so low that she needs 2 medicines to keep it at minimum functioning level, her heart is alive because of her defribillator pacemaker. If it senses that her heart rate is dropping, it shocks her. She has a living will that states that she does not want resuscitators or extreme measures taken to prolong her life. We have failed her.

She is in so much pain, is jaundiced, her eyes are yellow, her stomach is enormously swollen, as are her feet, legs and arms. Her face has sunken and is barely recognizable. She has lost her speech ability.

My brothers and sister came 2 weeks ago to see her, so she was satisfied that she had seen all of her children. We all saw how much pain she was in and wished nothing but the best for her.

We all spoke to each other yesterday and came to the consensus that we would rather see her go with her Saviour than watch her suffer any longer. I told my father that we, her children, wished that all equipment, dialysis and test be stopped and that only comfort measures be taken until the end of her life. He refused at first, but then called me about an hour ago and agreed. I am beside myself and ache so badly. Deep down I know that she doesn't want to go on, so we can at least give her her last wish and let her go in peace. If this were happening to me, I would make the same choice.

She tried so hard to be a good christian woman. She tried to keep her family together. She tried.
We didn't have an adversarial relationship, but it was not a really close relationship. Now that she is at the end of her life, I regret the wasted time. I always made sure that my children knew their grandparents and always gave her pictures of the kids. I wish I had done more. Now is too late.

Life sometimes is a bitch, then you die. Let this be a cautionary tale. Mend your fences before it is too late. You only get one life to live and you never know when your number is up.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Vintage Flower?

If you would like to see it up close and personal, click on the previews.

Ree, I did this one for you. Keep up the good work.
Kait

When It Rains, It Pours

Hello Everyone,

I just thought I'd give you an update on what is going on lately.

As many of my friends know, I took some time off to sort things out. I am still feeling under the weather, but this time is due to circumstances outside of my control.

My 63 year old mother has been hospitalized for almost 2 weeks now. She is an insulin dependent person, just found out she has cirrhosis of the liver, has kidney failure AND has heart disease.

She's been dealing with Cirrhosis issues for 2 weeks now, as well as Kidney failure. She is very ill. They are trying to stabilize her. The way the doctor presented the situation to us was by way of 2 options. 1) Do Dialysis treatments or 2) Choose not to do the Dialysis.
Dialysis is usually a no-brainer option, meaning that this is the way to go but because she suffers from low blood pressure, her pressure can drop further and die. Or her heart can stop. After much back and forth, she decided that she would opt for the Dialysis option. She has had a few treatments now, but can not tolerate it for more than an hour because her blood pressure drops and she gets very drowsy.

As of today, her only option is a liver transplant. However, because of her heart disease, she can not have it done. She needs a healthy heart to endure the long hours of operation and to be able to sustain the new liver. The doctors are trying to stabilize her and that is all they can do.

In the meantime, a horrible stomach virus has been making the rounds at my house. It started with Liam. He wouldn't eat (this is how I know he is sick; otherwise, he'd be eating and drinking like the stuff is going out of style), then got a fever and the dreaded bathroom runs.
Then it was Kaylie's turn. They were ok for a week and now, they are sick again. It wouldn't be so bad but they made me sick, too.

DH just returned from Puerto Rico on Sunday so the kids are super happy. Sick, but happy.

We have DH's grandmother staying with us for a while. She is a lovely woman and so loving. Did I mention she is 94 years old. She also has first stage Alzheimer, is hard of hearing, half blind and has vertigo. I have to follow her everywhere she goes because she forgets everything. She, too, is getting sick. She usually wakes up at 2AM for a potty break and was complaining of body aches. We gave her some Tylenol and seems to be feeling better. Crossing my fingers that nothing serious happens to her.

In the mornings, not to mention afternoons, too, I take Kaylie to school and speed back because I am afraid that she will wake up and fall down the steps or worse.

It is all so time consuming and draining. In the last 5 days I have put a total of 215 miles driving back and forth from the hospital to the house.

Got to go pick up the kids before Grandma wakes up.

Ciao.

P.S. My sister came from Florida and will be stopping by within an hour. Hopefully I can take a picture or two or three for when I have time to scrap or when my mojo comes back, whichever comes first.

Miss you,
Kait

Monday, January 14, 2008

Survivorman



I know dh would freak if he saw this page. LOL. But I love Les and I don't care who knows it! (Let's just keep this between you and me, ok?!)

I love watching SURVIVORMAN. I am gleeful as a school girl when I am changing channels and happen upon the show. I gladly drop everything I am doing to join him (vicariously) on his adventures. The beautiful locales, his rugged good looks, his knowledge, his harmonica playing and instincts makes SURVIVORMAN a worthwhile show. If I am ever lost, Les is the man I want lost with me. No food, no shelter, no fresh water, no tools ... no camera crew. One man - alone in the wild for seven days with only his wits and stamina to sustain him. Airing on The Science Channel in the U.S., and The Outdoor Life Network in Canada, each episode finds Survivorman Les Stroud abandoned in a remote location. He carries little more than the clothes on his back - and his cameras. Les not only needs to survive for a week without supplies, but he has to film everything himself, lugging over fifty pounds of camera gear the entire time.

Credits:Hand stamped alpha by Michelle Coleman.

Template from January 2008 grabbag by Janet Phillips.
Cardboard edges - Edgy Edges by Birgit Kerr.
Photos from Survivorman website.
Font: Arial Narrow
Funky Junky - Papers by Michelle Godin
Funky Junky - Bits and Pieces by Michelle Godin
Funky Junky - Broken Book
Label from File It Under - Basics by Michelle Godin
Overlays (compass and words) from Rough Pack Elements by Berna Datema

Turtle


Font: Century Gothic
Supplies:Altered Artistry: Pressed Flowers 3 (long green leaves) by Sausan Designs.
Fancy Stitching Overlay from Eye Love You Grunge Overlays by Berna Datema
Flowers extracted from a bg. ppr. from the Return to the Island Kit by Mirranda Reinhard. All Papers from Return to the Island Papers set by Mirranda Reinhard.
Glass Bubbles Overlay from Acqua Elements set by Sausan Designs
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18508&cat=0&page=5(Note: I applied a liquefy filter to the bubbles to achieve a liquid look)Overlay from the Rough Pack Elements by Berna Datema at SBG(I recolored the overlay to gray and green)http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18613&cat=0&page=7
Frame by APang, from PopItSet2, SBE
Pom-poms from Funky Mood page set by Sandra Boddington.S
ummer Picnic Alpha by Tracy Collins (RetroDiva)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Useful Tutorial

If you want to improve your photo workflow, I suggest you hop on over to Heather's blog and check out her tutorial. It will be worth your time. 2069

Photo A Day - Day 10


It has been unusually mild here in the Garden State. It was 66 degrees yesterday, so I got a chance to take the kids to the lake yesterday...and the day before, too.

This finch was at my birdfeeder today. This is the male. In real life, his red coloring is sharper than on my original photo. Maybe it is faded because I took the photo through my backdoor. In any case, I had to sharpen the photo, do some cloning, adjustment of levels and contrast, and ran a vervia filter and voila, I have my new and improved picture.

Photo A Day - Day 9


Day 9 - Isn't she dramatic? She is deep in thought looking at the setting sun.

Photo A Day - Days 7 and 8


Day 7 - I love this photo...the colors are vivid, depth of field
Day 8 - Trying a new angle/perspective

Photo A Day - Days 5 and 6


Day 5 - Love the intensity in my little guy's face.
Day 6 - I really like the reflection of the sky and shadows of this shot.

Photo a Day - Days 3 and 4


Day 3 - Love that pretty smile and youthful glow.
Day 4 - Innocence and piggy tails - perfect together!

Photo A Day - Days 1 and 2


Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Hybrid - Matchbook Album


For this cute and quick project I used Michelle Godin's Birthday Pprs (girls) coming soon to SBG.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Squeaky


If you would like to see the credits, click on the Scrapbook-Graphics gallery link.