Friday, December 25, 2009

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas







Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Mr.K and I celebrated with family and had a wonderful time. Take care and see you soon.

Blessing's,
Kathi

Want to see Savannah our Golden Retriever dance. Just click on the link below.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/3wbBxfUfDFiTCJKD

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Have Baby Monitor Will Travel













The baby monitor you just have to love It. It was one of the first things I purchased when we came home from the hospital almost seven years ago and I can honestly say I can't live without It. My monitor Is digital and will go up to 2000 feet, will It, I'm not sure. 2000 feet seems like a long distance. I can't be that far away from my home because of course If Mr.K needed me I would have to get back quickly and I can only run so fast. My baby monitor allows me to go outside and work In my garden. My baby monitor allows be to go to my studio and created beautiful thing's. My baby monitor allows me go down stairs where my washer and dryer are. My baby monitor allows be to take a shower everyday. My baby monitor allows me to do so many things and I am so grateful to who ever Invented It.


Etsy Holiday Sale with FREE Worldwide Shipping Is still happening In my Etsy shop I have some BOGO FREE pieces listed which are great for gift giving.

Enjoy your Sunday,
Kathi

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Hospital Report









We made It to the hospital with no problems. Mr.K had his bronchoscopy and everything Is fine. There were a few changes In the way his Trach Is resting and that Is what Is causing the numbers to Increase. Our Pulmonologist said everything else looked great. I am so glad that that Is over and so Is Mr.K.

Thank you all so very much for your prayers. I truly appreciate your kindness.

Have a great day,
Kathi

Monday, November 16, 2009

Going To The Hospital











Mr.K has been having some problems. Over the last eight months one of the numbers on the ventilator has been going up. This Is a number that tells me how easy It Is to deliver a breath into the lungs the lower the number the easier It Is to deliver the breath. I called the Pulmonologist last Tuesday and ask for a chest X ray. The technician came to our home and did the X ray and It was perfectly clear, which Is great, but why Is the number keep going up. The Pulmonologist said that If we did a bronchoscopy the number would most likely come down. A bronchoscopy Is a procedure that clears your bronchial tubes. The procedure Is out patient but I still have to take him to the hospital which I hate. We both have had our H1N1 and flu vaccine so that makes me feel a little better. It's been cold and rainy here and It Is suppose to be that way Wednesday, which I don't like taking him out In that kind of weather. If I didn't feel that this procedure was beneficial to Mr.K I wouldn't take him.

I've been trying to prepare myself for this since Tuesday. We've not been back to the hospital for any procedures since the feeding tube and the trach surgeries seven years ago.

That's all for now but I will be back with an update after the procedure.
Please keep us In your prayers. Take care.

Kathi

Saturday, November 7, 2009

$12.00 And Under





I just added a new section to my Etsy shop for some very affordable gift giving this holiday season. Here are just a few pieces that are In this section. Enjoy !

Have a great week end,
Kathi

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Wordless Wednesday...A Thanksgiving Table









Have a great day,
Kathi

Friday, October 9, 2009

My Life Living With ALS...Continued













We made It to the car and pulled out of the parking lot heading toward the pharmacy to fill the prescription. The car ride was quiet until Mr.K said, I think we should sell our business. We had a sporting good store that we owned and operated. I said, I don't think we should. I was certainly not ready for that change. If we sold our business then people would find out about Mr.K. Still thinking If we didn't talk about It everything would be just find. I walked to the counter of the drug store to pick up the prescription. As I approached the counter I'm thinking, now the pharmacist knows that Mr.K has ALS. Will he say something to me, will he act like nothings wrong will he feel sorry for me. He came over to where I was standing and quietly said do you have any questions about this medication. I said no, only because the doctor had already told us about It. Ten years down the road and that same pharmacist Is still there and now knows me by name. He has helped me so many times when I just had a quick question about a medication that I was giving Mr.K.

Later on that evening we were eating dinner. By this time Mr.K was having trouble swallowing. The muscles were getting weaker making It harder for him to eat. I looked over at Mr.K and he was choking and couldn't catch his breath. Panic went over me. I stood up and did the Heimlich It wasn't working. I kept doing It. Finally I got It. Thank you God for giving me the strength to know what to do. Mr.K calmed down finally catching his breath. Try to Imagine chocking and not being able to catch your breath. Mr.K's breathing was being effected my the disease so his breathing was only about half of we would be able to breath.

Mr.K looked at me and said, I'm sorry I scared you. Thank you for saving my life.

Have a great week end,
Kathi

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Fabulous Etsy Find




























So I've had my eye on this mirror for a while from RowansRoom on Etsy and was finally able to purchase It. It's every bit that I thought It would be and then some.

Each mirror is handcrafted from an antique cabinet door (which makes this an environment friendly item). Most of the doors are over 100 years old, and they reflect those years through their unique beauty. Along with the mirror I purchased this beautiful decorative nail.

I love the mossy green ribbon. I am absolutely thrilled with this fabulous Etsy find.

Have a great week end..Kathi

Saturday, September 26, 2009

My Life Living With ALS...Continued













There was a knock on the door the doctor walked In reaching out to shake both of our hands. I noticed that Mr.K wasn't able to extend his arm out to shake the doctors hand, was It happening already, have the muscles stopped working already. A wash of emotion went over me. I was scared, scared to open my mouth and speak, scared to ask any questions of fear of the answer.

The doctor examined Mr.K and ask some questions. Have you noticed any tingling In your arms or legs, any uncontrollable emotions such as laughing or crying, trouble swallowing, tripping or falling. I had briefly come across some of these symptoms while on the Internet but the truth Is It scared me so bad I clicked right out of the site. I wasn't ready to see how my once healthy husband In the prime of his life was going to leave me. Mr.K answered the doctor, yes I have notices some tingling In my arms and legs, yes I have tripped, all symptoms just verifying that yes, my husband does have ALS. The doctor told us that he was gong to prescribe a medication called Rilutek. Rilutek slows the progressing of the disease down. Studies show It prolongs your life by three months. What the doctor didn't tell us Is that the medication cost $849.00 a month. All I have to say to that Is thank goodness for Insurance. The doctor told us that he wanted to see us In two months. We made our appointment and started toward our car.

Have a fantastic week end,
Kathi

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Halloween Treats

















Here are a few Halloween treats I thought I would share with you currently listed In my Etsy shop. I also have free worldwide shipping this week.

Mr.K and I have a busy morning, we are getting our flu shots and this afternoon I am making salsa with my Mom. Take care and have a great day.

Kathi

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

My Life Living With ALS... Continued










Two months have past and It was time for our second Doctors appointment. Thinking about some of the things I might ask the doctor but to afraid to ask. Did I really want to no the answers, I don't think so. I'm not ready yet. Still coming to grips that my husband has a terminal Illness. Again, how did this happen to us. At this point In the disease I was just starting to do some of Mr.K's care. Have you ever tried to put contacts Into someone else's eyes, It's not easy. We pulled Into the parking lot of the doctors office I helped Mr.K out of the car because his legs were getting really weak and could hardly hold him up. I sat him In the wheelchair and rolled him through the door. I positioned him In the waiting area while I went to the desk to tell them we had arrived. Standing there I am wondering how many times I would be doing this, would these people become our friends are they looking at me feeling sorry for me, which I never wanted. Waiting just a few minutes In the waiting area the nurse came to get us. I stood up and grabbed the wheelchair and rolled him back to the room where we waited quietly for the doctor to come In.

Have a great day,
Kathi

Sunday, September 13, 2009

My Life Living With ALS... Continued










We sat on the couch for several hours talking about the heartbreaking news we were just told. Should we call our lawyer and make sure our affairs are In order. I can remember hearing that on television shows, now I was the one that had to do It. How would I be able to do all these things. What would people say to me. If I didn't tell anyone would It just go away. My heart was so heaving, I could feel It. My mind would start wondering, how did this happen to us. The months went by with the progression of the disease taking over my husbands body. We spoke very little about what was going on. We were In denial, serious denial or at least I was.

I apologize I haven't been posting regularly or leaving comments, Mr.K keeps me pretty busy along with my Etsy shop. I also started doing more wholesale orders as well as still working on my web site. Take care.

Have a wonderful Sunday,
Kathi

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Buy 3 Get 1 Free









































Take advantage of this great sale and stock up for Christmas gifts. Now In my Etsy shop, Vintage Inspired Jewelry I am offering, purchase 3 chrysanthemum necklace and get 1 free. Over forty different colors to choose from with your pick of brass, silver plated or gold plated chain. The possibilities are endless.

Have a wonderful day,
Kathi

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Wordless Wednesday..The Last Days Of Summer











Enjoy,
Kathi

Friday, August 28, 2009

A Day At The Spa Review


My sister picked me up around 11:30 am. I had Mr.K all ready for the day for his brother to sit with him while I was gone. First we had our one hour facials and that was amazing. After that we had our pedicures. It was very relaxing. We left there and went shopping for a while and then went to dinner. I arrived home around 6:30, eight phone calls later, It was me that did all the calling. I worry that he Isn't comfortable or he needs something. His brother Is so good to him, they really have a great time together. It was a perfect birthday.

Blessing's,
Kathi

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Day At The Spa




Today Is my birthday and Mr.K's gift to me Is a day at the spa with my sister. I can't wait. I'll let you know all about It tomorrow. Have a great day,

Kathi

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

My Life Living With A.L.S. Continued


As I walk towards Mr. K I wrapped my arms around him and cried along with him with an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. Up until this point I had never seen him cry. I grabbed his hand and lead him to the couch as we sat thinking how our lives would change. We had decided not to tell anyone until we were ready to explain what ALS was without crying every time. We needed that time for us to grieve. We were losing a part of our lives that we would never get back. What would we do, how would we manage. God please give me the strength and courage to get through everyday. I remember saying that prayed several times a day. Only It was, God please give me the strength and courage to get through this day. Jump ahead ten years later. God did give me the strength, courage and guidance to make It through everyday for the last ten years. Now keep In mind that typical life expectancy Is two to five years. Looking back on that day on the couch I have learned so much over the last ten years and have done some amazing things. God gave Mr.K and I this task of making a difference, making a difference In the lives of people that struggle everyday to live with ALS.

Have a wonderful Tuesday,
Kathi

Saturday, August 22, 2009

My Life Living With A.L.S....Continued


As we pulled out of the parking lot my mind started to wonder was this going to be our last Thanksgiving and Christmas together. What would I do without Mr. K how could I live. He's the other half of my heart I can't survive without him, I know I can't. Please God don't take him from me. The car ride was silent. What was he thinking, maybe the same things I was. As we pulled Into the driveway Mr. K quietly said I will be In, I need a minute. I got out of the car and walk In the house. Wanting to know so badly If he was OK I peeked out the window. As I looked at him through the glass I could see the tears running down his face. He stayed In the car for about an hour all awhile I was thinking should I go to him, should I comfort him, does he need me. I heard the front door open and Mr.K made his way through the doorway looking at me and softly saying, I am so sorry.

Have a great weekend,
Kathi