Sunday, November 22, 2009

Free Bon Jovi Wallpaper

Okay, I did this as part of a class project I am still working on, but I thought it would make a cool wallpaper, so, here it is. It's 1600 x 1200 full size.



DOWNLOAD HERE

{{{HUGS}}}

Silvia

Friday, November 20, 2009

Greg/Nicky update 11/20/09 (LONG, sorry!!!)

Today is Friday, and poor Nicky is still miserable from a DOUBLE corneal abrasion. Actually, I should re-phrase that and call it something else entirely, sorry. His eyes are OK. The insides of both his eyelids are not. I know, weird. When he was little he had a TON of problems with his eyes, a very small scratch would make his eye red and painful to light, so much so he wouldn't open his eyes for days. He would sit in his room under the blanket with the room all dark. Now, and for the past several years, when he finally opens his eyes (which is only a few hours later, albeit still painful to light), his eyes look perfect, not a red streak anywhere, while the eyelids look all puffy, red and purple, with matter oozing out. There is no question that during the night he rubs his eyes and voila'. Sigh. We keep this from happening by using soft (very soft!) mittens on his hands at night, but during the winter when the heater is on we have to use the humidifier as well, and I forgot to turn it on the other night. Sigh. I blame myself, although in the past, even with the humidifier and mittens are on, occasionally this still happened. I *hate* EB. I can't say that enough.

Anyway... he'll deal with this for another couple of days and then he'll get better for sure. So upsetting since he seemed to be doing so good lately.

OK, on to Greg. He fell a couple of times recently on the same hip, and at first it didn't hurt too bad, but 2 nights ago he rolled over on that hip and it started hurting so bad he didn't sleep at all last night and I had to give him Tylenol w/codeine to ease his pain. Like trying to recover from a stroke is not enough! We have an appt on Monday in the event the pain does not go away. There is no bruise and externally you can't see anything, but if the pain does not go away there is a possibility of a fracture, so we've got to be careful about that. He was making good progress but now it's too painful for him to do any of his exercises, so it's all a bit discouraging. He's still supposed to go back to work in 3 weeks? We'll see I guess.

I must admit, for me, this is a bit too much. Connor is still too young to be independent and needs me so much and I get frustrated not only because it's hard to see your family in pain and needing you so much, but also because it's all a bit too much for my brain to comprehend everything that needs to be done. I make lists and lists and lists and I always forget something. Always. I go halfway across the house and then I forget what I am supposed to get/do. I can't remember the last time I was able to watch any TV show without interruptions. I am thankful I am forced to go to 'lab' for my computer classes at the college so I can dedicate myself to my schoolwork because there is no way I could do that at home. On most days I think I am okay, I try to stay positive and who cares if there is a ton of laundry to do and dishes are piling up in the sink, but there are times like this morning when all I want to do is curl up and cry. I have to sit and watch family members who have healthy kids and healthy spouses get constant help, who have parents or siblings nearby, or extended family members able to come and help when there is no "real" need. I had a good cry watching 'Desperate Housewives' a few weeks ago, when Susan's daughter was in the hospital, everyone was bringing her food. I spent oodles of time in the hospital, and nobody brought me food. I lost 5lb in one week. I have no close friends or family here and that's just how it goes. My choice I suppose, or just how things worked out. Something we call life.

Oh well, thank you for listening me vent. I am okay, really, just know that if you come to visit, come to visit us, not the house, OKAY? LOL. Not that anyone ever comes to visit anyway.

On to more fun stuff. Tomorrow sometime I will upload my college class INDESIGN project (basically a 6 page brochure full of pictures) about Ivrea's Carnival, my hometown famous carnival which features the biggest food fight in the world, the Battle of the Oranges. It came our really cool, so I hope I get some feedback. :-)

Next week is Nicky's 13th birthday, as usual we'll celebrate it on Thanksgiving. My boy a teenager? Hard to believe. I am going back to work on December 7th, to the holiday rush no less! It's actually good, it will keep me busy and my mind off stuff. School is over on December 12th and then I won't go back until February. I am looking forward to that.

{{{HUGS}}}
Silvia and the Gang

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Free Animated Dolly Letter

Here's one of my new Incredimail letters I made this past week for members of my Incredimail group. Here's the link if anyone would like to join!
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/princess_silvia_incredimail/



DOWNLOAD HERE

{{{HUGS}}}
Silvia

Monday, November 09, 2009

Free Bon Jovi Incredimail Letter

Here's one of my new Incredimail letters I made this past week for BON JOVI fans! Their new album drops on TUESDAY!!! Whoo-eee!!!



DOWNLOAD HERE

I have a lot of FREE incredimail letters on my website here:
http://www.sleepingangel.com/graphics_im.htm

I have over 800 letters that are NOT on the website which I am working to make available soon, stay tuned!

{{{HUGS}}}
Silvia

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Greg Update November 7th 2009

Greg had the first official outpatient Occupational therapist appointment this week. While he's making progress with his leg because he's forced to use his leg if he wants to get around (and the excercise bike also helps), his arm is another story entirely. We decided that the Therapist should solely concentrate on his arm to get the most out of it. The OT says that he must try to involve his left arm and hand in everything he does and gave Greg some excercises to do daily. He also has several excercises that he does for his leg on a daily basis. He told me he has noticed some muscle tone coming back on his leg and I see some slight improvement on his arm. He told me that today for his first time he could put his hand in his pocket easily, before it was a challenge. The OT will continue most likely for at least 2 months, once a week, and he's also getting bloodwork done weekly to check for a few things, but most importantly for the cumadin levels, as to keep his blood at the right concentration, not too thin, not too thick.

His cholesterol check came back and his numbers are great! He went from 250 to 165! That's amazing in just one month. Then again, I am cooking, so he's pretty much stuck with what I am serve, which is only white meat, veggies, fruit, pasta, bread and low fat stuff. I know how important nutrition is, and I've been working at it all my life. I get my #s drawn every year and they have never been out of the normal range. I think that while he's always worked hard at staying healthy, he might have overdone the red meat thing. That, plus a little dose of bad luck, since scans show he has no blockeage anywhere else, brain or heart. He's lost 20lb since the stroke and I personally think he looks amazing. He got his new laptop and he's loving it.

Greg plans to go back to work in early to mid-december and I think he'll be able to do it. That's when my leave ends as well. By then my classes will be over for the semester and the spring semester won't start until early February. This means I won't go back to have a FULL schedule until then, which I think is plenty of time to make sure I am here as much as possible to assist in his recovery. At work Greg at first will be doing paperwork or study until he gets stronger. They have been wonderful and very helpful. One of his co-workers told him he can ride with him to work. Greg can drive since his right hand and foot are good, but we want to wait until he's stronger to do that as well!

Not sure if I will update again real soon, most likely in a couple of weeks if there is significant improvement or news.

{{{HUGS}}}
Silvia

Monday, November 02, 2009

Official Blog... here from now on.

My official BLOG will be here from now on. This will be a mix of my life plus some scrapbooking/incredimail freebies thrown here and there.

This past month has been difficult to say the least, after Greg's stroke I had a mini-nervous breakdown. It wasn't pretty. I somewhat recovered, but it's going to take some time. I don't like that side of me when I have meltdowns, thankfully I see it very rarely. Greg is improving daily, his spirits are up and I hope the Phisical Therapist will be of some real help.

Nicky had his surgery and as of today he's fully healed. He can eat a lot more. He's been able to eat some Halloween candy, which is a first! Imagine that. I am still trying to get this darn transplant going. My last challenge is to locate the dermatologist that originally requested the diagnose, those records are who knows where and they are badly needed. We'll see how that goes.

Connor is my angel. He had a bad infection in his mouth but it's healing so I am happy about that. I hope he won't be too behind in school.

As per moi, my LOA ends in early december. This semester, which flew compared to the Spring semester, is going on fairly smoothly. Next semester I am hoping to be able to take math and photography or photoshop along with a history class of some sort or art appreciation. All required for my degree. Registration is November 20th.

I will still write updates in FB, but I wanted to make sure to use this as well.

{{HUGS}}
Silvia