Medical Update, PT, Work, Chris & Little Man...

Hello Everyone!

 

MEDICAL UPDATE

 

I'm 3 weeks post-op today! I got my steri-strips finally off & my knee is looking great! I'm recovering really well & PT has been going really good.

I go to PT 3 times a week (Usually Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays)

My pain has been between 1 and 3 which is WONDERFUL! I have been trying really hard to beg and plead to get my crutches off, but unfortunately I cannot until I go and see my doctor on April 2nd. That will be my 6 week Post-Op visit. My Physical Therapist Breck said that I should be getting my immobilizer off that day & put into a smaller brace. He also said Dr. Guy may decide to take me off one of my crutches. He will also be scheduling me for more PT. I will have 6 more weeks of that, and then I will be going back to the Dr for my 12 Week Post Op visit. I'm unsure of anything after that.

 

I will also be talking to Dr. Guy about the possibility of a second surgery again this year. I'm not positive if I will be having it this year or not. It all depends on if he wants to do it or not & if so, then I have to talk to my lawyer about that. It will be on my Left knee. The same surgery I had on my right.

I found out the actual name of the surgery I had: Distal Re-alignment Surgery

 

WORK

 

Finally after getting all pending orders out the door, I have finally re-opened my etsy shop. I'm adding a few things at a time, so that I don't get overwhelmed & Chris has been so wonderful helping me get everything printed & cut so that I can ship out anything that is ordered right away.

Right now I have a few "Planner stickers" available & some really cute March Address Labels

 

You can get these @: http://creativedesigncorner.etsy.com

 

CHRIS

 

Chris has been doing well. The new Michaels store opens in May & I'm hoping he can apply for management soon. :)

 

CHRISTOPHER

 

Little man has been having a little trouble with my being in bed for 3 weeks, and he is having a really hard time adjusting. I just hope that he will understand later on in life that this was necessary & after I recover I will be able to play with him on the floor, be able to run with him outside & will be able to finally teach him how to ride a bike. It has been a long 3 years like this... and he's not used to Mommy being able to do all the fun things that most mommy's and daddies can do.

 

This is all for this week

 

-<3- Melissa

Happy *Early* March, Erin Condren Life Planner, Surgery Day, Work, 4K Registration, PT & Shopping...

Hello Everyone!

 

I'm sorry about my absence lately from the blogging scene. I usually write once a week in my agenda that I'm going to be doing a blog entry, but to be honest I have been so super busy lately.

 

First off let me start by saying: HAPPY MARCH! It's not officially March yet, but it starts on Sunday, and I know that I will not be doing a blog entry on Sunday. (I usually try to do my blog entries on a Wednesday in the middle of the week)

 

My March View in My Erin Condren Life Planner! Save $10 on yours: http://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/melissaanderson1230

 

Above you see what my Monthly view looks like (so far) for the month of March. Luckily I've paid almost all my bills (Except for the latter ones (rent, netflix, cell, car taxes & car insurance) Everything else has been paid. I also only have 1 birthday card to get out this month, which I will be sending next week with a Lowes GC in it for my Papa. I will light a candle for my Mama on her Birthday.

                                                                                                       

Here is a photo of my weekly update (last week) before I got my surgery on Friday. It was a pretty busy first half of my week.

 

SURGERY DAY



Here I am on Surgery Day. I was supposed to go in at 11:15 to get ready, sign some forms, and be hooked up. My surgery was supposed to begin at 12:50. Dr. Guy was running really behind on his surgeries that day, so I did not get to go into surgery until 4:30pm! That's A LONG TIME to wait when you hadn't eaten or drank anything since Midnight! I was thirsty and hungry and tired, but I just relaxed in my room with Chris watching Father of the Bride & Father of the Bride II. Lil' Man stayed with my Mother in Law, because there was no way we could bring him with us.

 



These are the socks I was given that day! Super comfy & I got to take them home with me! Absolutely LOVE them!

Here I am testing out my laptop camera.


AFTER SURGERY

I had to spend the night in the hospital, and even though I was doped up on some pretty awesome pain meds, I did not get much sleep. Here I was a 4:30am in the morning.


WORKING
 



I was working while in the hospital. I was unable to get all orders out when I was supposed to, so I was trying my best to get all of them designed while waiting to be discharged.

They had to re-align the ligaments and knee cap so that they were straight. I now have 2 screws in my knee & will forever beep at the airport.

CHRISTOPHER

Little man face-timed me after I got out of my surgery and was awake enough to function. I thought it would help him calm down and that he would be alright after seeing me, but it scared him to death. When I got home the next day, he started crying when he saw my knee, and told me he wished he could make it much better. He kissed it, and even though it didn't make it feel better... I told him it made a world of a difference.
We registered little man for 4K the day before my surgery and we set up his test date. I'm nervous and excited for him all at the same time. He really needs 4K and his fellow students for interaction before he goes straight into Kindergarten.


HUBS
Chris was off work Friday, Saturday, Sunday and he took a sick day on Monday, to make sure that I was in a the swing of things. It gets really hard when he is not here in the mornings though, because as of right now, I cannot do anything myself. I have to have help to get off the bed, go to the restroom, fill up and turn off "the box", and Christopher usually wants Chocolate Milk in the mornings, which is downstairs, and I cannot go down or up any stairs without anyone home (in the case that I fall). He has been really sweet.

PT

I had my very first day of Physical Therapy today. It wasn't too bad... until afterword when I decided it felt good enough to go to Target and Michaels and walk around. :/ I always over- estimate myself....

I did however; find these adorable post-its and notepad in the Target $ spot!

Chris was saying that they set the first SUMMER grid in the back room at Michaels today. It seems the years go by faster and faster.

That is all for this week!

-<3- Melissa
 



Health, Work, Little Man, & Chris...

Hello Everyone!

HEALTH UPDATE: 

I had my Dr. Appt on the 5th with hopes that I would get some answers from Dr. Guy concerning my MRI. Unfortunately the images were not good enough quality, and he has ordered a CT scan.

They will inject me with a liquid that will show whether or not I have a small or big tear.

The scan will also take images of my bone, to determine whether or not I have any fractures that would require a metal plate or rod to be inserted.

I am not worrying about anything right now, just because I have to wait to find out when my next Dr. Appt is. They scheduled it for the 15th but I never know if the appointment will be kept or not. I have to wait to get a CT scan first.

WORK

My Etsy Business is doing well & we had a very good 2014. I cannot wait to see what 2015 brings, and I am enjoying making things. I still have not listed pre-made scrapbooking pages yet, just because they take a lot of time. 

CHRISTOPHER

Christopher has registration for 4K on February 19th! He has to take a test for it in May! I'm excited and saddened all at the same time. Is it possible for children to grow up so fast? :/

I'm hoping he will enjoy school as much as I did. 

My favorite part of School Shopping, was the School Supplies. To this day: That is still one of my favorite sections of the store. Always will be I believe. 

CHRIS

Chris is still working at Michaels, and I'm hoping we find out more about this Management Job Opening at a store that is just being built. 

He is however; helping another associate run the back room, while the main person steps down for retirement. Unfortunately... that does not include a pay raise.... which we desperately need if we're looking into buying a home next year. 

Well this is all for now! See you soon! :)

Melissa

Hello October, Vacations, Work, Little Man & Life Lately....

Hello Everyone! Even though October is almost through, I figured I would write an entry before we got into November. 

My blog this year has not really gotten far, and I was really hoping that I would be keeping up with it more than I would. I should be able to find things to write about and to share every day, but the truth is sometimes words evade me.

I do have plenty of things that happen in my life. Maybe there is too many to name. Too many activities going on in these past few months to really write about? 

I don't like super long blog entries. Maybe that is it? Maybe I'm just trying to sum up everything all into one, so that it is easier on the eyes to read? hmmm.....

VACATION

We finally got our vacation! :) 

We traveled to New York on October 3rd! Boy was that a long ride. We left South Carolina at 4am and didn't get to New York until about 7pm. Truth is we have a 4 year old who is still potty training, so we kept stopping so that he could go potty :)

We spent about 4 days with my papa! We had a big cook-out with all the family (I mean family that Chris just now met (after 8 years of being together) )

And I also got to see my father (I haven't seen him in 8 years either)

We spent a day at Chris's grandparents Lake House on Deruyter Lake. That was fun and little man had a blast! It was a little chilly, so we really didn't get to fish. (We really didn't have the proper clothing either)

We then spent about 4 days at Chris's dads house in Hopewell Junction (about 3 1/2 hours away from Deruyter Lake)

We went to this pretty cool, local, small music store where I finally got a violin! I have been practicing almost every day since :) (I haven't played since I was 10)

We left New York on Monday (the 13th) and we didn't get back to South Carolina until 7pm on Wednesday. 

We broke down (needed a new alternator) and ended up having to stay 2 nights at a Best Western. 

We had to borrow money from Esther in order to get home (we needed $150 more dollars... ugh)

But we finally made it back home and we miss New York horribly.

I have already been looking for houses up there, because I know that we'll be moving up there in the future. I no longer have family in South Carolina, I have a brother I don't talk to that lives in Florida, and I have a sister in North Carolina who I would see more in New York than I do here in South Carolina (even though she is only an hour and a half away)

WORK

My etsy shop has been doing so well. I enjoy making stickers and doing this. It provides an extra income for my family and it helps pay the bills every month!

Chris of course is still at Michaels. I'm unsure when the new store is supposed to be opening. I think Chris said sometime this coming Spring or Summer. 

LITTLE MAN

Little man of course is growing like a weed and his vocabulary is getting better everyday.There are some SUPER FUNNY things that he likes to say! He also is in love with all things music, and he sings with me everyday (and night when I sing a special lullaby) 

He is 40" tall!

Well this is all for now. 

Williams birthday party is on Saturday and it is still hard to believe that he is turning 3. Esther and Kevin want to go to the Renaissance Festival on Sunday. We may or may not go, depending on if Chris works or not. We really need the money right now, and can't be spending it. As it is we still owe Esther $150, plus $400 rent (for the month of September and October)

I still have yet to get my back pay and we are really relying on that to come.

I also need another Dr. Appt and an MRI appt (still trying to get in to get one)

Hopefully I write one more time this month. If not...

Till November :)

Melissa

August & Head Start... Time Flies By...

Welcome to a brand new month! July wasn't super eventful... but I am looking forward to this month! Little man will be starting Head Start, our car will finally be running, & in 2 weeks I FINALLY get the okay to see my knee doctor! :)

Here's some pictures of my little guy and I today! :)

I have been doing well with my etsy shop (creativedesigncorner.etsy.com in case you guys want to check it out) & I have been having fun promoting it & it helps me make a little extra money on the side :)

Tomorrow we have a SUPER busy day! We have to go to Walmart (for Chris's socks & a new toilet seat cover), The nail place so that I can get my nails done, Lowes to hopefully find another light for the gameroom (our bedroom/living room) so that I can see better! I hate not being able to really see downstairs when I really need to. I'm hoping that they can fix the outlet with the networking so that I can put my cricut machines downstairs and actually run them.

Also we have to go all the way down to the DHEC office in Columbia just so that I can get my sons birth certificate. (NO... they did not give us one when Christopher was born). Then we are going to Head Start so that we can tour the facility and see the classrooms. They have school all year round, so there will probably be children there learning. I'm hoping that Christopher likes it and I think if he see's it he will want to go. He will be going there 5 days a week 7:30-2:30! :) I'm excited that he will be going to school and it will get him ready for when we test him in February for 4K. He wasn't able to go this year because of his age. He doesn't turn 4 until September 9th and the cut off date is September 1st.
We also will be picking up a backpack & some "school supplies" that he may need (crayons, a pencil, maybe some construction paper, paper towels, and probably glue)

Well...

This is all for now and I will try to be a little better about blog posts this month! :)


-Melissa

July has come & almost gone....

I have been gone far too long! It is July, and I cannot even remember the last time I blogged! I thought this year would be different and I would blog almost daily... and even though I am on my computer all the time... I'm super busy with my etsy business & promoting it via social media. But I'm taking a breather... so I can let you guys in to my life :)

ETSY:
So my business has been going really well & I'm having fun creating stickers and stationary that make the world a happier place :)
Here is my latest stickers: Aren't they adorable?

Some new Fall themed stickers will be hitting my shop soon as well :)

http://creativedesigncorner.etsy.com (In case you have yet to check it out)










LITTLE MAN:
Starts Head Start in AUGUST!!! :( I think I may cry! He's getting better with his words & we like using abcmouse.com to help him!

Chris and I haven't really been up to much other than work or me staying home with Christopher. Little man has been going to Kids Club every Thursday at a local church so we usually can spend some time together if he isn't working. Tomorrow I'll be meeting up with him at Michaels after Christopher is dropped off at the church.

I'm hoping to write in here a little more! I'm sorry it has been so long & that life is getting busy :)


-Melissa

Where has the time gone? Summer has now arrived....

Oh. My. Goodness.

It is now June 21 2014, and I have yet to finish my Disney Princess Blog Challenge, and I never did a "JUNE" entry yet. Where has the time gone?

I still have to do a Vacation series for ya'll as well! AHHH!!!!

I guess life sometimes gets in the way, but for someone who is on their computer literally 16/7 (because I do sleep) you would think I would have some time to pop in a few words for a blog entry!
But life has gotten "busy". At least for me.

We had our vacation (which was a lot of fun), but now it is back to the grind. Chris has been working lots of extra hours so that we can get our car working & save up for another vacation this year! Yes!!! Another Vacation! We'll be going to New York for 2 WEEKS! It is so hard to believe we'll be gone that long, but when both of our families like up there, sometimes we have to make sacrifices. We'll be driving our car up, so we have to make sure first that everything is in working order & in driving condition (IE: Oil Change, Tires, Brakes) and we also have to set aside atleast $350+ just incase (knock on wood) that anything happens to the car in our travels. I'm still not sure yet when we're going up there. I'm trying to make sure that it is either in the beginning of October or in the beginning of November.

I have also been extremely busy with my etsy shop (http://creativedesigncorner.etsy.com) and have constant orders going in and out of our home. I am always busy creating new things & that's always super fun to do! Not only that, but I get to share them with others that love them as well! :)

Christopher is doing very well. We have started him on ABCmouse.com to get him started before we sign him up for Pre-K next year. (It's hard to believe that my baby will be 4 in 3 months time). We still have to get him potty trained, but we're trying very hard. He is not easy to break :(
Right now he is in Kids Club (Something a local church does for a few hours on Thursdays while parents can have "me" time) He enjoys being with other kids....but mostly likes playing with "different" toys.

I am sorry about the delay--- but there is an update about my "now" busy and hectic life ;)


-Melissa

Rock & Roll Saved My Soul...

I have been waiting and waiting for this book to be released & my pre-ordered copy finally came in the mail today! I usually don't do reviews on books I have read but this one is VERY special to me and it is for a GREAT cause!

First things first you can purchase Rock & Roll Saved My Soul:
AMAZON: U.S. KINDLE EDITION
AMAZON: U.K. KINDLE EDITION
AMAZON: U.S. PAPERBACK EDITION
AMAZON: U.K PAPERBACK EDITION
ETSY: SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

Here is the Facebook Page that will tell you more about Rock & Roll Saved My Soul and any updates: Rock & Roll Saved My Soul

ROCK THE CAUSE:
All proceeds from this book will be donated to Rock the Cause. Rock the Cause is a Minnesota based charity that use the power of music, community, and social media to create a new generation of stewardship for other non-profit causes.
For More Information about Rock The Cause Please Go Here: IROCKTHECAUSE.ORG

ABOUT THE MASTERMIND:
KATE MARIE ROBBINS

Click the link above & it will bring you to her facebook page. How I know her personally: I have yet to meet her in person, but when I met her online I knew she was a person I would get along with. Her eclectic style, her fun atmosphere, and her awe-inspiring ideas is what makes her so wonderfully great! She brought us together to create this wonderful book of anthologies, and without her this book wouldn't exist. Thank you Kate for your greatness and Thank You for letting me apart of it!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
"Changing the World, One Story at a Time
Has music had a positive impact on you? Changed your life? Or even saved you? For us, it has.
In this book, you will find a collection of stories, letters, and poetry about how music has personally changed our lives. Each story is unique, each story is true. Filled with emotion, passion, and love for the bands and songs that have touched our lives." -Kate Marie Robbins

When Kate first put the idea out there I was in on it right away. A few days later I gave her a draft of my personal story that I wanted to share with the world. That was in December. I was ecstatic & haven't blogged about it at all. I kept it a "sort-of" secret until now. Again, I am so blessed that I had the opportunity to submit a story for this great book.

I have read a few stories from others & floods of emotion enter my heart. I will admit I have teared up with a few stories thus far. I cannot wait to continue reading "our" stories, poems, songs, & memories.

Music is what has guided us. Music is what has us living.

Please contribute to this amazing cause! Purchase a paperback or e-book & enjoy. 


-Melissa

New Beginnings...

Hello Everyone! :) SURPRISE :)  A lot of you are probably wondering what I am talking about but these pictures say it all :) I have FINALLY created an Etsy business :)
You can access it: HERE

I am so excited and happy to be on this journey & I think it is a really great move for me and my family :)

I'm letting my creativity fly!

I also have created a facebook page which you can access: FACEBOOK

I can't wait to come with some more design work that will really sell!

Like my facebook page & Help It Get To 100 Likes :)