Update Joanne Nordeen Thursday August 25, 2011

Mom got out of the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and since then it has been pretty busy getting everything set for Mom's Medical Care. 
Mom and I and Mark met with Home Health Care today.  The Intake Nurse met with us for about 3 hours.  She examined Mom and went thru' Mom's medicines and medical history.  A nurse will come 2 to 3 times a week and draw her blood for the blood test to test the level of the thinning of the blood. She has to have the tests to get the right level for her warfrin shots and cumindin pills (sp?) they need to be adjusted to the correct level. They will check her BP 3 times -- laying, sitting, and standing, take her temp, measure her oxygen levels with a finger monitor. They will check her skin and legs and mobility for signs of blood clots. 

She will continue with Country Nurses as they come every day for the bathing.

Mark will still continue the shots for the blood thinning at 8am and 8pm each day for about a week.

If she has any pains, unusual symptoms, and/or a medical question... she or any of us, can contact their 24 hour Nurse for Mom.  Home Health Care will be the liaison to Dr. Williams with medical issues.

They also can do the stool test in a week or so when the bowels have settled down to check for C-dif Infection, so we know when she is clear of that for starting the radiation treatments.  And Home Health can do a urine test, if the urinary tract infection should return.

Please keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to regain her strength and healing.

Marcia
marcia@craftysewing.com

Update on Mom – Joanne Nordeen August 22, 2011

This is the email update we sent out today about my Mom

Hello all,

Just wanted to inform you that my mom, Joanne Nordeen, was put into
the hospital this past Saturday with multiple blood clots in her
lungs. She also has a contagious bacterial infection called C dif.
She is now on blood thinners and also antibiotics for the infection.

She is expected to be in the hospital for about a week, but hopefully
less. She was in a "step down" intensive care but has moved today to a
regular room as they have her stabilized.

Today the doctors expressed concerned as it is quite risky to put a
patient who just had brain surgery on blood thinners, nevertheless it
is necessary as otherwise she will have more clots in other places.

Mark is with her at the hospital and I will be going there tomorrow.

Please continue to keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Cards can be sent to her home at:   Joanne Nordeen, 1008 Caswell St,.
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

Marcia

marcia@craftysewing.com

She is in the Fort Atkinson Hospital. 

Denim Bag made from Denim Shirts

I pieced together a some rectangles of shirt denim. Then I quilted it with a flowered fabric as the backing --- Which ends up being the inside of the purses.

I took a class to learn how to make this pocket purse.  We needed to bring a small piece of quilted fabric, but I quilted way more than I needed --- So I made a zippered carry all bag after the class!
I think I made this pocket purse and bag in 2004.

Pin Cushion Lamp Shade for an Ott Light

A couple years ago I enter a Lamp Shade Contest.  I won third place! 

I attached the quilted fabric with an adhesive velcro to the top of the light.  I sewed loops on the top to insert with little scissors and other items.  The pin cushion is attached with adhesive velcro also and is easily accessible when the lamp is open and on or closed and off.  

I use caution when using the light for long periods of time, as the bulb gets warm.

Hope you are having a great day!

Marcia

NOTE:  Sometimes I repeat a post from my Business Quilting Blog here. This blog is my online photo record of all the projects I have made over the past 40 years! Thanks for following!

Did you see the post about How to make a pin cushion from the canning lids?

Vests, Denim Shirts, Denim Dresses All Made into a Usable Item - Upcylced

Raggy Recycled Denim Shirts, Shorts, Dresses and PJs!

When Your Struggles Gain Strength and Bloom...

NOTE:  Sometimes I repeat a post from my Business Quilting Blog here, when it is personally about me or my family. Thanks for following...

My first Morning Glory flower opened this morning....

This Spring and Summer have been a struggle for my Mom and our family.  We have had some ups and downs.  Through it all, we are gaining a new strength and wisdom that will help us further down the road as she starts the radiation treatments.  My Morning Glory flower is a sign that we have gained that new strength.

I started the morning glory plants from seed.  They looked like this on Memorial Day weekend.  I added Pansies and Violas from the garden center to add color, while I waited for them to bloom. I placed a planter on each side of the trellis. 

My container garden is like an outside quilt.  Remember, I love color!

They had a great start, but then something started eating the tops off the plants.  What was eating them?  I moved them up off the ground onto a wood box and the deck.  Then they were protected from the plant eating animals.  

One of the plants grew in the ground where the containers had been. It started growing and was doing quite well.  Then something came and ate it again!  What was eating them?  

I kept thinking, I am never going to have flowers... Why? 

We, as a family, were having similar struggles with my Mom.  She was sick with Pancreatitis and then better and then sick again.  The surgeon removed the tumor in her brain and she is doing better, but needing radiation. 

That will bring more ups and downs for my Mom and our family.  As she struggles to heal, we will all support her and keep her comforted through being there.  She gains a renewed strength from her family and friends.

The plant on the box is doing well today, but no flowers yet!  The plant on the other side of the trellis on the deck is also doing well, but no blooms yet!

From my perspective here is where the story gets interesting... 

I planted Morning Glories last year.  They were beautiful with full blooms everyday, but the container was on the deck, not on the ground. It was protected from the animals.  Some of the soil from that planter got mixed in with the container that I planted my pepper plants in this year...  

    Out sprouted a morning glory plant!  Every day, I untangled the morning glory off the pepper plant and rerouted it up the railing on the deck toward the wooden quilt. 

It was kind of a fail plant, but it kept going.  It got stronger everyday, as I rerouted it up the railing.  When I was at Mom's, my husband took over and helped with the watering and the rerouting of the plant.

Today was the first bloom!  Can you see it to the right of the quilt?

Sometimes when we are struggling with life and it's difficulties, then to our surprise  ---- Out of blue, a bloom shows up! 

It's a positive symbol that there is renewed strength, when you care and comfort someone or something in need...

May you find strength each day, in whatever you are doing and don't miss the blooms.... They are the parts of life.... that are so important...

I am back home today, so I read this to my Mom on the phone.  We decided that the blooms in my Mom's life are all the special people that care and assist her every day, as she works so hard to heal.

Again, thanks to all of you, for your support, kindness, and prayers... 

You are the blooms in our hearts...

Marcia