time to catch up...

I sort of feel it's now or never. The longer I leave it to update my blog, the less I feel like doing it! So, having had a few life changing experiences, made some big decisions, and made a few cards, I thought I really must get back into using my blog.

Looking at my last post, it was the 12th of September last time I posted. A lot had happened since then. I had a fairly big operation at the end of September, to treat my endometriosis, which all in all was fairly successful. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they were able to take all of it out, either that or it has come back very quickly indeed. I did have a period of time where my pain was dramatically reduced, and even now it is not any where near as bad as before, but I am experiencing a noticeable increase in the pain. Also, after my op, I unfortunately left the hospital with a malfunctioning bladder. It meant that I had to have some "artificial drainage" inserted, a silicone tube that goes from the inside of my bladder, and comes out of my tummy, below my tummy button. It's got a little valve at the end, which makes loo visits "different"!! Things are going ok on that front, but I'm learning a lot about patience.

Anyway, the other main thing that has happened, is that I made the big decision to leave university. With the complications after my surgery, I was 9 weeks late going back to uni in the Autumn, and then before Christmas came down with a stomach bug, and after Christmas got pneumonia. My course will cease to exist in 2009, and it was not going to be possible for me to get things done in time at the current rate that I'm going. It also looks like I'm going to be having more surgery sometime soon-ish, so it seems that the time had come to admit defeat. It was just too much, and I needed to make the decision to concentrate on my health. I'm sure it's been the right decision, but it has been hard never-the-less.

Anyway, here are a few cards that I have made over the last few months. I haven't done much at all, and I know that I've still got a lot to learn in the card making world, but here goes :) ....





(don't know why they are on their sides, I changed them on my hard drive, and they still come out like this...any ideas?)

A really good friend of mine had a baby last week, which really lifted my spirits. I went to visit on Tuesday, which I was really pleased about, and was able to see how well mum and baby are both doing with my own eyes. The little boy is ever so cute, and seems to be adjusting to life on the outside very well indeed, which in turns helps his mum and dad adjust to having a new member of the family! All very exciting, and I'm so delighted for them all :) Going to do another short separate post above, because I made a card for mothering Sunday, for my mum, and decided to do an online "dare"...