Creative Chaos

How does my garden grow........

This is what it looked like 4 weeks ago when we planted the cucumbers......

 
 

and corn........

and watermelon......
  

Basically it was nothing more than a bare patch of land planted with hopes and dreams of healthy summer alfresco dining.......The boys and I would go out every day and check on the progress of our little seedlings eagerly awaiting a sprout or two.....

And then this happened.......

Before everyone starts applauding me for my mad gardening skills, the lettuce and spinach were planted later from containers.  And the two tomato plants were replaced entirely because the original ones died shortly after planting them.  But.....the corn and the cucumber seedling are going crazy.  The watermelon is taking its sweet old time.  Andres wanted to plant carrots a few weeks ago, so those are just starting to sprout.

So what do you think?  Is anyone else planting a garden this year?   If so, how's it going?  I know you Midwesterners have the best corn and tomatoes. I remember it from growing up in Michigan.  The problem here in Southern California is the soil.  Cosme built the raised bed and then we filled it with really good soil and fertilizer.  I'm hoping this early growing spurt continues throughout the summer.  

Ok...off to see if I can get some government subsidies for my farming efforts.....Talk to you soon!  Karin

And a good time was had by all.......

Back from our trip to LA. Here's a short rundown.......

Did some sewing with my new sewing machine.........
  

A full round of introductions were done with all furry people.......

Lot's of Rock Band and more apple eating.......

 

more sewing........

Not getting to meet Joel McHale........
  

I was home watching the kids while Jeff and Gail got to meet the cast and crew......

Tons of laughing, talking, eating and resting.  It was a great week.   I'll be back soon with more.....Karin

Just a little obsessed with cupcakes right now..........

1. Embossed Cupcake, 2. Cupcakes, 3. cupcake dress up, 4. ♥Thinkin' Pink & Red♥, 5. Eye Candy, 6. Original Art Jumbo Cupcake pendant, cupcake ring, and cupcake pendant, 7. Here's another cupcake, 8. firstbday0002, 9. Box I made for Cathy :), 10. Hydrangea Mini Cupcakes, 11. new flavour! - pink cloud cupcake, 12. My first cupcakes

When I made cupcakes last week, I finally perfected my buttercream recipe.   Now I can't stop thinking of cupcakes with buttercream frosting.........

1. Perfect Serendipity's Campire Cupcake, 2. Drumstick cupcake!!, 3. Valentine's Menage a Trois Cupcakes, 4. Baileys Cupcake, 5. Gluten Free Brownie Cupcakes, 6. Chocolate Whiskey Cupcakes, 7. dark chocolate cupcakes with whipped white chocolate ganache, 8. Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Ganache, 9. Chocolate Cupcake with Ganache and Marshmallow, 10. chocolate devil's food cupcakes, 11. Chili Chocolate Cupcake, 12. Chocolate filled cupcake, 13. Chocolate-covered cherry cupcake from Beyond the Icing, 14. Chocolate Raspberry Ripple Cupcake, 15. Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, 16. Sprinkles, chocolate coconut cupcake, 17. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcakes, 18. Valrhona Chocolate Cupcakes w Peanut Butter Frosting

I think I'm going to make some tonight.......

 

1. Echo Cupcakes, 2. Chocolate Vanilla Cupcakes, 3. Almond Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream by Sugar Flower Cupcakes, 4. Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream, 5. Buttercream swirl and flowers on vanilla cupcake, 6. Vanilla Coconut Cupcake, 7. Cocoa Butter and Rose Water Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream, 8. Meyer Lemon Cupcakes, 9. Vanilla Bean Cupcakes With Ganache Filling

for dinner..........

I'm back.....

 

Our plane touched down at 4:00 pm Michigan time.  After gathering our luggage, my mom and I hopped into our rental car and headed straight to the hospital.   As we entered Henry Ford Hospital, I thought I accidentally made a wrong turn somewhere and arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort.   The hospital at which she was staying is beautiful beyond words.  It was very comforting to know that her last days were in such a warm and nurturing environment.   We entered her room and my mom immediately went to give her a kiss, as I hugged my sisters, aunts and niece.  As gramma was lying in her bed, we were certain that she knew we were all there.  There were tears and laughter and talk of memories that spanned a 95 year lifetime.   

Gramma passed the next morning at 7:00 a.m.

Some say she was waiting for my mom to arrive. Others think the nonstop talking the night before did the poor woman in. She overheard we were all coming back the next day and thought to herself "Lord, God Almighty, just give me some peace and quiet." It will be a debate that will assuredly go on for generations to come. Either way, she spent the last days of her 95 years on this earth surrounded by family who loved her. Rest in Peace Gramma

After she passed, we did what any other loud large Polish midwestern family does......we ate......

 
 
we laughed......... we cried.........we ate some more......

 

 
  

 
we packed her belongings......... we told stories....... we ate more........
 

 

 
we reminisced about the past....... we laughed more....... we ate more......

 
   

 
 we hugged, we ate........ok, it was mostly me that ate......

However, I had many willing family members to particiapate with me......

 

It was a week of loss, love, family, tears and laughter.  That's really what life is about........isn't it?

 

Because you can never play it too safe.......

After buying a $30 wristband for unlimited rides at the Del Mar Fair, I encounter this roadblock..........

 

The man at the ride wouldn't let me go on with my arm wrap.  No matter my protests that my arm was neither broken nor sprained be wouldn't budge.  I told him I would be super careful and promised to refrain from getting too wild on the ride.  Between the sad forlorn face of a four year old standing next to me and my relentless begging, he finally conceded.  But his face had a look that said "this could cost me my job lady."  

What was the ride you ask....the "MileHigher"...."Bungee Jump"....the "Death Drop" ride? 

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

or the Elephant Circus Train?  

 

It may have been my imagination, but I swear it went a couple of mile per hour slower this year.......

After getting turned away from a bunch of rides by operators that didn't have a clue, I finally found out that I needed a medical waver to get on the rides.  I was thinking that maybe someone, possibly the guy who initially tried to put the wristband on my wrapped hand, or the guy who sold me the band asking me a million questions about my arm, could have informed me of this.  idiots.  Nonetheless, we had a great time as usual.  We met up with some friends and they took the older kids to the big midway, while my mom and I stayed in the kids area. 

 

We told them we would meet up with them in an hour ......or ten.  

 

 

 

So far, we have been Seaworld two times.  Possibly heading back again today.....

Fun times.....

Tragic times.......

 

Hungry times with people who think we live in Siberia.......

Hungry times with people who forgot she gained 25 pounds during chemo......

Memories of a lifetime times.....

 

 

"It's good to be back again" times.......

  

A New Normal.......

 

So Kaiser has been my new hangout lately.  Blood tests, bone scans, oncology, nuclear medicine, neurology (the last one is when I go to see my friend over there...she's a neurologist).  You should see my calender....chock full of appointments.  It's a surreal experience fitting in Carlos' afterschool activities between oncology appointments and Andres' nap time with phone calls to schedule CAT scans.  It's the new normal around here. Although, don't get too impressed with my complicated juggling of the "social" events in my life right now.....I couldn't do any of this without the help of Rock of a husband, tons of close supportive friends But most of all.......my awesome mom who lives next door to us and is just one "mom...I need your help!" away from me.  She has been here everyday since my surgery doing our laundry, cleaning my kitchen, and watching the boys for me. She retired earlier this year and it's been a blessing that she has been here to catch all the day to day stuff that falls through the cracks.  Although, I think I might have heard her on the phone the other day trying to get her old position back...hmmmm...I'll have to discuss that with her.....

So, through it all I have been wearing my new "good luck" necklace along with my other one.  The top photo is a picture of the necklace my awesome friend Heather sent me. I love it.  I wear it along with this one.....

 

It's the "thankful mama" one I tried to steal.....um, I mean eventually bought from Beth at the Barn Sale.  They both say it all right now.  So, as if that necklace wasn't enough look what else arrived in the same box on my doorstep........

 

A card from Heather along with.........

 

Tags......

   

and more tags....

 

Piles upon piles of beautiful tags made by so many of my blogger friends.....Once again I was speechless.  I slowly sorted through each and everyone while sitting on my living room floor.   I was stunned to see so many well wishes......I can't tell you how much it all meant to me on the heels of a rather tough day.......

I have to show you one in particular that stood out :)   Here's the front...innocent enough looking......

 

And then the back.......

 

LOL....Nothing like a stern lecture from Judge Judy to scare me in to recovery!!! Thanks Jeanne!!

 

And guess what I'm wearing on my lips right now!!! Karla you crack me up! I can get through anything as long as the Count is by my side  :)

I have more to say and more to show but I am taking off with my best friend Annette to go for a reflexology foot massage and lunch. She and have been friends since five year's old and know each other inside and out.  She is even more snarkier than I am so you can only imagine what happens when we get together......That poor place has no idea what it's in for later today......  

Taking it day by day......Talk to you soon!  Karin

Hi......it's me......

I actually sat here staring at the keyboard for 10 minutes unable to compose my thoughts.  I wanted to come on and give a quick update, yet felt that "quick" seemed so inadequete at this point.....I want to thank everyone who has left me messages, emails and personal notes. I also want you to know how much the support has lifted me in comfort. Never underestimate the prayers and love of bloggers in a crisis I always say....well, I guess I really didn't always say that. But, I can know bask in the truth of it.

On Thursday, I found out that I have stage III breast cancer.  I will meet with my onocologist on Monday and have further tests to see if things have ventured further out of the neighborhood of my breast and lymph nodes.  My hope is it hasn't.   This will be the last of the "waiting game" hurdles I have to cross, before my fight begins.

In the meantime, after some tears, shock and despair, I have deciding that I will kick cancer's ass in the showdown of all showdowns.  I am determined not to let this diagnosis stop me from living my life, laughing with my children, and making fun of reality shows. I received a book called "No Place Like Hope" and I bought the book "Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor".  They both embody the place where I want my mind to be right now.   And, athough it sounds trite, laughter really is the best medicine for me right now.  That and crafting.  Aside from spending time with my kids, working on art in this moment has never felt more right.  I still plan on doing my art fair on December 7th since I most likley I won't be starting chemo until after that. 

So with that said, I will be back soon to blogging.  I have some picture of our presurgery "night of a thousand margaritas" dinner. As well as some funny stories about my pre op experiences......no one can make me laugh harder than my best friends Annette & Gail.  They had me cracking up before, during and after.  Who else would sit with you the day after surgery and watch Quacker Factory and Real Housewives of Atlanta for three hours straight and make you laugh so hard you pull a stitch.....

Laughing, crafting and being sarcastic is still a part of who I am.  I refuse to let anything invade my body and take that away from me.  Never.

I'll talk to you soon.....Karin

slow healing

 

Hi gang, its Heather.
I have been playing phone tag with Karin the last couple of days. She did leave me a long message yesterday though so I thought I'd give you all a little update. Tomorrow will be one week since her surgery. She has been home recovering and getting plenty of rest. She said overall she is feeling pretty good but is having a fair amount of pain where they stripped her lymph nodes. She is having a follow up appointment today where they will talk about what was found in the pathology and when to start chemo etc. I will update you all again when i have more news. Thank you on behalf of Karin and her family for the good thoughts and prayer.
Love
Heather

Moment of Silence.....

I don't know if you all have heard about the shooting that took place in Tennesse last Sunday.  But it happened at one of my best friend's church.  Fortunately, her family wasn't there on that Sunday.  However, she and her family know the victims in the shootings.  There were many children there at the time.  Apparently, it took place during a children's performance........it's all so very tragic and horrible.......

 

It's been a non stop tour.......

This is what I've been doing since my sister and niece arrived last Thursday........San Diego Fair.....swimming at my friend's house....Sea World - twice....hitting the beach......and last but not least........

 

Heading out to Legoland today....See you later!   Karin