That title was meant to be funny, but I figured I would blog about what real life has been like the past couple of weeks. It you are not interested in hearing about my stress, scroll to the bottom to see lots of two page layouts!
The past two weeks have been crazy. After working for weeks to get Thane ready to leave, it was like getting off a roller coaster when he left. We had spent so much quality time together doing all the prep work (dentist, doctor, eye doctor, shopping, etc....) which was great! But then I was back to real life and here are all the things that have happened since he left:
1. My dad went back into the hospital for another emergency surgery (and is recovering nicely). Because he is 85 and has cancer, we are always preparing to lose him soon. But he keeps making it through thank goodness!
2. My brother who had a liver cancer tumor removed a few months ago found out it is back and has gone into the lymph surrounding the liver. So we are very upset about that and hoping we get some good news as they continue the tests on him.
3. We had an outbreak of LICE in our house (or on the two girls heads). I have spent the past few days washing and cleansing everything in the house! It is such a pain, but I have learned a ton about how to deal with it if anyone has any questions. It cost me $600 to have a special "hair whisperer" come out and make sure they were all out of the girls hair. I wasn't going to take a chance on them coming back! But dang, that was a lot of money!
4. I had my photo shoot for Hugh on Friday. No results yet, but waiting. For any one that doesn't know who Hugh is - it is a benign brain tumor on my balance and hearing nerve that I found out about a couple of years ago. I named him Hugh to stand for huge ugly growth in my head (although he isn't huge - he is fairly small at this point). So I am waiting to find out if Hugh has been growing and needs to be removed yet or not.
5. I found out last night that my sister's husband just got a job offer in Salt Lake City and they will be moving in six weeks. She is my only sister, my last relative in California and I am super happy for her, but super sad for me! I can't believe my entire Californian family has moved to Utah. I will NOT be going - I refuse to leave the beach, alone or not!
6. Amidst all this stress, I decided to start a new diet to get ready for summer - The South Beach Diet. I had two doctors recommend it to me. I am on day three - the first two weeks are no carbs and sugar which is what I primarily live on. So it is a bit of a shock to the system just eating protein and veggies. But it feels so good to be sticking to something and eating more healthy! No headaches yet, which is amazing with all the sugar I was eating over Easter weekend!
And I think that does it on The Ugly Truth blog post! Missing Thane on top of all that stuff - it has been 2.5 weeks now. But I had some friends from church lose their 28 year old daughter in a car accident the day before Easter while she and her brother were coming home to spend it with family. And that really put things into perspective for me. I get my son back in two years - they will never have their daughter back in this life and that just breaks my heart for them. So I am dealing with it well and realizing how much I am blessed to have him doing something so important and life altering. I am so proud of him!
Depressing???? Nah! It's all good. Life gets tough sometimes, but it makes us stronger and helps us rely on our Heavenly Father more. Lots of prayers lately - he is helping immensely in so many ways! And with that, here are some creations for today! Thanks for reading and being my blog friends - I always appreciate all the comments that are left - they mean a lot to me!!! Suzy <3
Note: This layout was seen in the March/April issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. (Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher).
Note: This layout was seen in the May/June issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. (Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher).
Note: This layout was seen in the October 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. (Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher).
Note: This layout was seen in the Scrapbooking Everyday Memories special issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. (Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher).
Note: This layout was seen in the Scrapbooking Everyday Memories special issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. (Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher).
Note: This layout was seen in the March/April issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. (Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher).
Wonderful LO's! You have had quite the eventful last few weeks!! Hope you hear good things about Hugh!
Posted by: Amanda J | April 29, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Love you, love Hugh (except I want him to stay young and small forever, like Sophie ;).
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Posted by: Lisa VanderVeen | April 29, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Wow! my sweets no wonder you have gone quiet. What a lot of stuff to have to deal with all together. I'll be praying for you. I'm with Lisa...Hugh should never grow up. Ever....ever....!
BTW I am so impressed about your new eating plan...but Miss SuzyQ 'no candy!' that's like saying 'Tweety bird with no feathers'. Well done friend! Luv u xxx
Posted by: Kim Watson | April 30, 2011 at 12:06 AM
I love your perspective suzy!! lovely layouts...
mary t
Posted by: mary t | April 30, 2011 at 06:26 AM
Glad to hear that you're maintaining your positive outlook despite these challenges. As always, your layouts brighten my day. Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Cynthia B. | April 30, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Wow, when it rains, it pours!! Hope you get some good news for You and your family soon!! In the meantime, keep scrappin! Love these layouts!! Such great style, and love your selection of papers/embellies together!! Would love a scrap 'session' with you to follow you through your thought process when creating!
Posted by: Melanie | April 30, 2011 at 10:55 AM
I'm so sorry about all the trying stuff that has been going on but you have the right perspective and God will get you through it all. Let's do breakfast soon. Veggie omelets!
Posted by: Susan | April 30, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Good gracious!! Where to begin?
Your pops looks absolutely precious.
Hope your bro has your pops recovery record.
Lice... ee yaaah
Hope Hugh is behaving.
Vacations to Utah are sublime... Bear Lake
Good luck on the diet, although you don't really look like you need it.
My prayers to our friends, seriously what could be worse than losing a child? My heart is breaking for them.
Let the countdown to Thane's return begin. What an honor to do His work.
Posted by: Domenico | April 30, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Dumb sausage fingers! It was suppose to be your friends! Forgot to mention... Yay! California gets to keep you! Whew.
Posted by: Domenico | April 30, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Suzy, I am sorry to hear about all the "real life" you are having to deal with right now. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. Thank you for being so honest. While I follow you for the creative inspiration, I feel honored that you can share such deep parts with me -- as if you write your blog specifically for me and only me. :) Your layouts are beautiful by the way.
Posted by: Krista Nash | April 30, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Suzy, I feel a little dumb, thought Hugh was your husband...I hope everything turns out okay with Hugh and your family members, I'll keep them in my thoughts, how sad about your friends from church, can't imagine what they are going through. Lice are no fun, we've had that experience, so hard to get rid of. Love your layouts, as always they are beautiful!! Hugs from the south...
Posted by: Laurie LaRiviere | May 01, 2011 at 08:46 AM
Sounds like life is pretty crazy, but I hope everything works out and calms down soon:)
Posted by: Keshet | May 01, 2011 at 08:01 PM
Love the layouts and how strong are you :) I hope all go well. Hugs from a spanish reader :)
Posted by: yainea | May 02, 2011 at 01:14 PM
My heart goes out to you, Suzy - that's a lot to deal with, but you have such a great attitude! Wish I knew you in "real life" - I'd give you a huge hug! Tell stupid Hugh to get lost - he doesn't deserve you! :)
Posted by: Megan | May 02, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Hello Suzy.
I'm a Danish girl who loves to visit your fantastic blog.
This time I had to leave a comment with a large hug attached, just in case you need one, I i believe you do ;)
Take care :)
Posted by: Ditte | May 03, 2011 at 04:29 AM
Dear Suzy, you are so talented in many ways... i love visiting your blog...my heart goes out to you and your family...the Lord will get you through the next two years and beyond...you are a young beutiful talented woman, mom, wife and friend...
Posted by: Karen | May 05, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Suzy, I finally come back to your blog and hear all the bad news for you and your family. I'm so sorry your going thru all these stressful situations at one time. Please know that your whole family will be in prayers and blessings. I wish you were closer so I could run over and give you a big squeeze hug. So glad you are choosing to make the most of a tough time and keeping your spirits up and being postive. You are amazing and so inspiring. The thing that surprises me is all these beautiful layouts, each and every single one is more beautiful and shows the real love and happiness in your family. That's so wonderful that you can use this hobby to produce and show the happy times and not dwell on the bad ones. I love reading your blog and seeing your l/o and you have to come see my blog, I love to get comments too and so do my kids. Sending you prayers, hugs, smiles, good wishes for you.
Posted by: dawn | May 10, 2011 at 06:42 PM