2012? No Problem...but when?

[cogero]

Happy Happy Easter. Hope you have a wonderful day.

 

[NiniMorris]

Had a great Easter! We were not 100% sure it would happen...having pay day for everyone come on the same weekend as Easter made shopping a bit worrisome. We ended up spending all day Friday and Saturday shopping. From the malls and all the shopping centers in all the towns close by.

I hate shopping! I love online shopping, but hate actually going out to shop. This was a bad situation on a million different fronts. But we managed to get everything we needed to at the last minute...including a midnight run to WalMart... because hubby realized that the one thing on his list he forgot (even with a million reminders from me...sometimes called nagging!) was Easter Baskets for the kids!

After church services, we all congregated at my son's house for what was supposed to be a cook out (forecasted rain put a damper on that and we had sandwiches instead), and an egg hunt that included 86 plastic filled small eggs, 6 plastic filled big eggs and 2 dozen boiled eggs!

As the rain came in we all came home and each of us took a sugar induced nap! LOL!


________________

I HATE April.

This April 13th will mark the 13th anniversary of my step father's death from lung cancer, and on the 22nd we will mark the 8th anniversary of my mom's death.

I tend to hibernate in April. It is less painful that way.

On the anniversary of my mom's death we always try to do something to honor her memory. Since it also falls on Earth day, we usually plant either a tree or rose bushes. On the 5th anniversary we planted 5 rose bushes and 5 trees. The roses were at my house, and the trees were at church.

This year, I want to do something a bit different. I am planning a secret garden. (although it will not REALLY be a secret). The side yard of our house is huge. And very very plain.

When we first looked at our house we had it checked to make sure there was enough room to have a second drive way put into the basement. We bought the house with the idea of adding an apartment for my mom in the basement. We were told there was plenty of room...and even though we doubted it, we went ahead with the purchase. The day before we closed, we found out that the property line went all the way past where we thought to the neighbor's driveway.

In effect, this doubled the size of yard we thought we were getting.

My mom had planned on a rose garden, a patio and a trellis over the parking pad for her car. On the day she died, we had finally gotten permission from the HOA's various committees to put the drive way in. That took us over 3 years to get approved.

That large plain area has pretty much been left alone for the past 8 years. Other than planting the roses and a few other bushes, it is blank and bare,
My daughter and I have decided to make this our project this year. we are going to finish Mom's garden.

Unfortunately, money will mean that it will take a couple of years to get finished, but we are hoping to have a large amount done in the next 3 weeks to have a picnic in the garden on the anniversary of the accident.

My plans call for some underplanting around the roses, some mulch, a patio, a fountain, some hedges to block the view from the road, and some COLOR!

I am hoping to get at least this much done by the 22nd...


Nini


PS...by the way, I tend to get very melancholy during April...so if you see my posts getting sad...make me snap out of it!

 

[NiniMorris]

Went shopping today... found the pavers I am going to use for the patio, and the stain I want to use for the fence. Still can't decide on the plants, although I 'know' what I want, I am just having a bit of trouble finding it for the price I want to pay...(can anyone say "CHEAP!")

I feel like this might actually happen...



____

I also have to say I am so embarrassed and angry at my self! That big order of 6 dresses...well she got it and loved everything...except for the side seam that was missing! Seriously!!!

OK, it wasn't the whole seam but it might as well have been. When I inspect, if I find something I need to rip out and redo, I put a pin in it. Then sitting at one of our many therapy sessions, I rip it out, repin it and get it ready to sew when I get home. Evidently I didn't pin it (or the pin fell out) and I totally missed it when I was finishing it up... To make it worse...if it is the seam I think it is (hard to tell from the picture) I have to take the skirt half way off to fix it! Which makes it even harder to believe I forgot it!

I know there is nothing I can do except apologize, pay for the return postage and fix it...but seriously...how on earth did I miss it!


Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

Nini - your garden sounds like a very amazing way to remember and honor your Mom - I am sure she would love it, and I am sure you all will enjoy spending time there. I think it will soothe your soul a little bit and bring some sunshine and color to an otherwise awful day.

I am so sorry I brought up my problems with my dad yesterday - I was not thinking when I said that, and I did not realize I said it during such a horrible time for you. Please know that. (((hugs)))

And about the dress... YIKES, I can only imagine how angry you are with yourself. I can look over something a million times, scrutinize every possible inch - and then totally miss the obvious. I hope it's an easy fix.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

Nini - your garden sounds like a very amazing way to remember and honor your Mom - I am sure she would love it, and I am sure you all will enjoy spending time there. I think it will soothe your soul a little bit and bring some sunshine and color to an otherwise awful day.

I am so sorry I brought up my problems with my dad yesterday - I was not thinking when I said that, and I did not realize I said it during such a horrible time for you. Please know that. (((hugs)))

And about the dress... YIKES, I can only imagine how angry you are with yourself. I can look over something a million times, scrutinize every possible inch - and then totally miss the obvious. I hope it's an easy fix.

D~

First of all...I am NOT a violent person...


But if you apologize for what you wrote on your post I will slap you silly!

(while I do have long arms...they aren't quite that long...so please don't make me hurt myself! LOL)

Seriously...My depression is my own problem. I would not expect you to know how deep it gets sometimes, or how I manage to work through it. Some times things as simple as singing my mom's favorite hymn at church can set me in a 'mood'...or seeing my grand daughter do something that my mom would have howled in laughter about. Other times...the same things will not set me off...so don't worry about it...


Seriously, after 8 years I am really good about not letting people know...and most people can't tell..unless they read what I write... (I stopped keeping a journal a few years ago... it depressed me too much to read it!)




Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

Only TEN weeks from today we are on our way to Disney!

At this precise moment we should be about 45 minutes from the GA/FL state line and about 2 and a half hours away from our breakfast stop! We would be in Disney by 11:30!

I can hardly believe only 10 weeks and I haven't even started packing! My deadline for packing is the 6 week time frame, and the luggage is usually pulled out by the 12 week mark!

Now, I can seriously blame Ga's weather on my inability to pack... we have had an abnormally cool Spring so far...as in highs in the 40's! It is hard to get the kids in a shorts shopping mood when it is freezing outside! While I do plan on packing at least one pair of jeans on the trip, everything else will be shorts, tops, and swimsuits.

I went out for a bit to do some shopping on Saturday and discovered the strange weather has NOT stopped anyone else from purchasing things for summer! Just a week ago I found tons of swimsuits in the kids sizes...Saturday...not so much! We won't even start talking about something in my size! I did manage to get some trunks (on sale) for Mr D...but us girls are going to have to take a real shopping trip...ugh! I wish I could shop for swimsuits online...but I have such a strange shape that it is really hard to make a decision without actually seeing them on. (which is the reason my swimsuit is the same one I bought on our FIRST trip to Disney 10 years ago! YIKES!

On today's agenda is to 'groom' my launch dress, write the copy and get that ready to upload... and to pull out the luggage from the storage room and get it ready for a trip...which consists of replacing the dryer sheet and giving a squirt of fabreeze...they have only been in the storage since December.

On the news for our December trip...my order from Jiffy Shirts should be in today so I can get started on the shirts for that trip. Even though DIL and DS are currently planning on taking the trip with us and want me to make shirts for them...I have decided to NOT make their shirts until I am sure they are going... Right now I have 40 shirts to do in 34 weeks...so I am feeling pretty good about my chances of getting them done on time. Now I need to find a way to make some MORE money...

Nini

 

[cogero]

I only have about 10 weeks left in this pregnancy LOL I am excited about your short trip. It sounds fun.

I love your ability to plan ahead. I have a big family trip in October and I want to make things but need to wait to see how big this baby actually is

Also I keep changing my mind. I may just ask Jessica to make some of our shirts for this trip

 

[DMGeurts]

Seriously Nini - I swear by Lands End suits... Go to your local Sears store, and try on the suits in the Lands End department, then go online to order. They always have fabulous codes and their suits are soooo nice - not to mention - not obnoxiously revealing. And I LOVE their swim skirts... I've had them from other places before - and I don't know what LE does differently - but they are so awesome - it's like wearing a cover up.

I can't believe your trip is only 10 weeks away... I flipped over to 129 days this morning... YIKES!!!!!

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

WOW!

It seems like forever since I have had a chance to get on the computer!

Tuesday night, my daughter called to let me know that she was having another attack of high blood pressure and they told her to meet her midwife at the hospital. They kept her for a couple of hours, and then decided to let her come home. She is on semi bed rest. (which basically means she can do just about anything she wants...except go to work!)

She has always had very LOW blood pressure (just like me) so when it goes up she has terrible headaches. It is normally in the 112 over whatever...and when it gets to 120 over whatever she has headaches. Over the past week it has hovered in the 130 to 140 over whatever.

Tuesday night...after being at the hospital it came down to 157 over whatever!

Add that to the fact that (even though on a strict diet) she has gained over 50 pounds...most in the last 3 or 4 weeks. So we get to add pre-eclampsia to the mix!

She is very much wanting a natural child birth, but they warmed her that the only reason they did not have to do an emergency C section Tuesday night is that the baby seems happy and healthy...and the blood pressure did eventually come down.

Unless she improves a bit more, they will be inducing labor in the next 3 or 4 weeks. While she is not happy with that, it is a discussion we have had...whenever it becomes a threat to either the baby or her, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Of course, now she and hubby are checking her BP at least once an hour...she said she woke up while napping to find her hubby had the cuff on her arm and was checking her BP while she napped!

Add that to the fact that our launch was Tuesday/Wednesday and I have been a bit too busy to check emails....much less keep up with TR!

Although.... I have seen the rumor that the Mine Train is expected to finish up early...they are expecting sometime in NOVEMBER! I so hope this isn't going to be like Test Track last year...opening up the day we LEFT!


Nini

PS...thanks for the tip about going to Sears to try on the LE swimsuits....I guess I did not realize they were the same... even though...I now vaguely remember that....

 

[DMGeurts]

WOW!

It seems like forever since I have had a chance to get on the computer!

Tuesday night, my daughter called to let me know that she was having another attack of high blood pressure and they told her to meet her midwife at the hospital. They kept her for a couple of hours, and then decided to let her come home. She is on semi bed rest. (which basically means she can do just about anything she wants...except go to work!)

She has always had very LOW blood pressure (just like me) so when it goes up she has terrible headaches. It is normally in the 112 over whatever...and when it gets to 120 over whatever she has headaches. Over the past week it has hovered in the 130 to 140 over whatever.

Tuesday night...after being at the hospital it came down to 157 over whatever!

Add that to the fact that (even though on a strict diet) she has gained over 50 pounds...most in the last 3 or 4 weeks. So we get to add pre-eclampsia to the mix!

She is very much wanting a natural child birth, but they warmed her that the only reason they did not have to do an emergency C section Tuesday night is that the baby seems happy and healthy...and the blood pressure did eventually come down.

Unless she improves a bit more, they will be inducing labor in the next 3 or 4 weeks. While she is not happy with that, it is a discussion we have had...whenever it becomes a threat to either the baby or her, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Of course, now she and hubby are checking her BP at least once an hour...she said she woke up while napping to find her hubby had the cuff on her arm and was checking her BP while she napped!

Add that to the fact that our launch was Tuesday/Wednesday and I have been a bit too busy to check emails....much less keep up with TR!

Although.... I have seen the rumor that the Mine Train is expected to finish up early...they are expecting sometime in NOVEMBER! I so hope this isn't going to be like Test Track last year...opening up the day we LEFT!


Nini

PS...thanks for the tip about going to Sears to try on the LE swimsuits....I guess I did not realize they were the same... even though...I now vaguely remember that....

I hope that the little one is able to stay in a bit longer, but I agree - once it becomes an issue... I pray that everything goes well.

Yay about the Mine Train - Boo that it isn't August.

Yes, you must try Sears.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

Well, just so we don't get bored... my daughter is back in the hospital.

She definitely has pre eclamosia...and they told her to prepare to stay ...

We have three different possible scenarios.

-She will stay the night, with lots of labs taken and send her home tomorrow with strict orders of COMPLETE bedrest.

-She will stay at the hospital until the baby is born.

-They will take the baby tonight through C-Section or induction.

We are still waiting for the doctor's decision.

They did do another u/s this afternoon, and the baby is still measuring 3-5 weeks ahead of where it should be...meaning it is still expected to be a big baby!

I am trying not to get concerned just yet... however, I will now stay off the internet doing searches on this problem as it has gotten me more worried than I need to be!


Please keep her (and me...I hate not being able to do anything!) in your prayers.

Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

Sending prayers Nini... Please keep us updated if you can. (((Hugs)))

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

We finally got some news.

They are keeping her overnight. Her labs were better this afternoon, but not great. She does indeed have pre-eclampsia and if the labs are good in the morning, they will give her the option of staying in the hospital or going home to bed rest. Since she has a husband that loves to cook and works from home, she will be going home...hopefully.

We do know that they will not let the baby go to term...so they are planning an induction for no later than April 25. Unless something goes terribly wrong, they are not planning on a C-section.

While this is not what they had planned for, they know it is the best possible for the baby...and are ok with it.

Thanks for the prayers!

Nini

 

[cogero]

Thanks for the update. Praying things go smoothly for her.

 

[NiniMorris]

My daughter is back at home...safe and sound. She gets to go to the doctors office every Monday and Thursday. The induction date is set for May 2...(they have changed this back and forth maybe 4 times...so I will believe it when I see it!)

They want to wait as long as possible before they induce. If they go by her original due date May 2 will be 37 weeks, so they are going to go with this date, unless something changes between now and then!

On the semi good front...the bed they ordered for the baby... well they ordered a week after Sandy hit. The factory was in NJ and suffered serious damage. They said they were pretty sure it would be ready ... still crossing their fingers on this one. It was promised to be in today...but they now say it will be next week. Although the shop they ordered it from is going to deliver and set it up free of charge...and throw in a mattress of their choosing. Considering they paid over $800 for the crib...I'm really glad they are "throwing' in the mattress! LOL!

After they get the crib in, and I finish the binding on one of the quilts...oh yeah...and make a cushion for the rocking chair...the nursery will be complete!

So...now my daughter is stressing about the fact that she never got a chance to clean off her desk at work! LOL!

The baby shower tomorrow is a go...but the one in two weeks has to be cancelled....so I now have enough gifts made!



Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

Not exactly Disney or trip related...but I wandered over to ebay a couple of nights ago and got a charm pack of Jennifer Paganelli fabrics from the (OOP) Crazy Love line...and then today wandered over and got a charm pack of Michael Miller's Fairy Frost.

The JP fabric is for a twirl skirt I have envisioned, and the Fairy Frost is for appliques. I always seem to have problems finding the exact color I want and I hate to use solids...I prefer to use prints that 'read' as solids.

I am very quickly becoming a fabric snob (to go along with my already being a thread snob)...this could get VERY expensive VERY quickly!

I have two dresses I am supposed to be working on right now, but can't seem to get myself motivated to actually cut out the patterns! Part of the problem is I know I am making zero profit on this... I have already spent more on fabric than I charged for the dresses...ooops. But, if they turn out half as cute as I picture them in my mind I will be over the moon happy!

Nini

 

[cogero]

Not exactly Disney or trip related...but I wandered over to ebay a couple of nights ago and got a charm pack of Jennifer Paganelli fabrics from the (OOP) Crazy Love line...and then today wandered over and got a charm pack of Michael Miller's Fairy Frost.

The JP fabric is for a twirl skirt I have envisioned, and the Fairy Frost is for appliques. I always seem to have problems finding the exact color I want and I hate to use solids...I prefer to use prints that 'read' as solids.

I am very quickly becoming a fabric snob (to go along with my already being a thread snob)...this could get VERY expensive VERY quickly!

I have two dresses I am supposed to be working on right now, but can't seem to get myself motivated to actually cut out the patterns! Part of the problem is I know I am making zero profit on this... I have already spent more on fabric than I charged for the dresses...ooops. But, if they turn out half as cute as I picture them in my mind I will be over the moon happy!

Nini

I freely admit that I am a fabric snob. My go to are Michael Miller and Art Gallery. I love JP but have a hard time envisioning outfits in it but now that we are having a baby girl it is getting easier.

 

[DMGeurts]

I have been a fabric snob for quite some time... My favorites are Kona/Michael Miller/Riley Blake... There are only certain fabrics I will use for the exterior of my bags, because I need the quality and high thread count... So that factors in a lot. The interior of my bags don't matter nearly as much - I can use almost anything inside, since I don't need to worry about it affecting the structure at all...

Now, for Jennifer Paganilli - well I am sure her fabrics are high quality because I know so many that use them, but I just don't like the prints all that much... Personally, I don't own any of hers at all. I look every time I think of it - but nothing appeals to me. Sigh.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

I freely admit that I am a fabric snob. My go to are Michael Miller and Art Gallery. I love JP but have a hard time envisioning outfits in it but now that we are having a baby girl it is getting easier.

I am making a set of step sisters and Lady Tremaine...it just seemed to call for it!

I have been a fabric snob for quite some time... My favorites are Kona/Michael Miller/Riley Blake... There are only certain fabrics I will use for the exterior of my bags, because I need the quality and high thread count... So that factors in a lot. The interior of my bags don't matter nearly as much - I can use almost anything inside, since I don't need to worry about it affecting the structure at all...

Now, for Jennifer Paganilli - well I am sure her fabrics are high quality because I know so many that use them, but I just don't like the prints all that much... Personally, I don't own any of hers at all. I look every time I think of it - but nothing appeals to me. Sigh.

D~

I know what you mean...

I am not generally a fan of big prints...coming from a quilting background... but this particular line seems to be calling to me. Which is usually the way it happens with me...I fall in love with a line of fabrics AFTER it is out of print!

I was hoping to snag a couple of the coordinating prints for my dresses but the smaller prints are up to 20 and 30+ per yard...NOT happening on this dress! I am only charging $75 each for the dresses and have already spent more than 100 on the fabrics alone!


Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

Nine weeks from this very moment...we will be pulling into Cracker Barrel in Ocala for breakfast... Then after we are back on the road...one and a half hours until we get to Disney! I am soooo needing my Disney fix right now!


In a bit I will be going to do some shopping for my daughter...she needs a couple last minute items for the hospital and isn't allowed to do the shopping herself.

Then Miss B will go over this afternoon to help with some last minute organizing of the nursery!

Right now I am waiting to hear back from her ob appointment....



Nini