That is the new ME...!!!!

Not much to say except PAULA BUNION (aka: the bitch since she was a real pain in the foot) has been properly removed (yesterday)...My bottom is getting sore from sitting in all these weird positions with my foot propped up wearing this ski book like device - can't drive for about 2 weeks (how will I ever get to my Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for my daily fix). My wrist will still be in a cast for three weeks.... I feel a mess. Time to stop I feel like I am wining...

On a much much happier note Meghan called us Friday night and sounded pretty good. Her pain management is much better this time than when she had her other liver resection in 11-06. We are going to call them tonight since rumor has it she might get released today or tomorrow. ONE WEEK later.... She is so brave, loving and courageous. Her mother Beverly should be mom of the year. I so admire this women. Please everyone keep them in your prayers.

Oh my what a great weekend. Friday the neighbors came over and we enjoyed a new Martini recipe (we were the Guinea pigs for the Bridal luncheon new martini recipe... we had to take one for the team) It is called a Caribbean Martini, made with Vanilla vodka, Malibu rum and a SPLASH of pineapple (I need a couple of splashes)... OH MY SUCH delight like a mai tai without all the bulk and extra sweet. You can GOGGLE Caribbean martini and it will come up... I would link it but I don't' remember which site I ended up using.

Saturday my NBSF (Lia) and I drove down to Ever After Scrapbooks in Carlsbad and took a quick fun scrap class from Alison Kraft of Hambly. What a neat company Hambly is and I must say the kit was very generous. A quick ride home and my hubby was in the car waiting for me as we pulled up so I could hop from one car to the other and head for our next event a free concert on the lake here in Woodbridge by an A cappella group called the Alley Cats, doing great doo wap music from the 50's and 60's. We joined our friends the Clarke's and the Frick's and then afterwards we invited them back to try the new Martini recipe (more Guinea pigs) and we told them we were renaming it the "Hawaiian Martini". Lee spilled a little on his shirt and we could not stop laughing since the joke was he spilled it on his shirt in such a way it made a MAP of the Hawaiian Islands... Is that Lanai they are pointing at?

Sunday Church and the bridal lunch for Julie Ross soon to be Julie Brisley. Neiman Marcus Curry Chicken salad, popovers with strawberry butter and a wonderful fruit tart. The guys ended up going to the new bowling alley STRIKE in the district while we did lady luncheon stuff. Everyone ended up back here at the Island for some more fun "couple time" Oh don't forget the new MARTINI'S... they were well received but it was so darn HOT outside no one wanted to mix to much alcohol and HEAT...

I really should not be wining life is GOOD and even better with a MARTINI.... Love, Hugs and Prayers. I will leave you with a few more pic's of a fun filled, weekend.

Don't you just love orange and green.. I DO - I Do. Love the Bird of Paradise too.

The Fruit Tart... beautiful arranged fruit by my great neighbor Barb

Julie and Dr. Mark... So cute.

UPDATE

THANK YOU - THANK YOU. God is listening and heard all those prayers everyone was sending up on behalf of Meghan and her family. Just heard from our Michael and you could hear a little relief in his voice and wanted to share with all of you since you were all praying and holding them close in your hearts today... Meghan was out of surgery and in recovery, the actually surgery took a little less time than expected, the surgeon said it went smoothly and he removed 3 to 5 tumors. Not sure how much more of the liver they took (just the tumor parts we hope) if any but the surgeon was pleased and everyone waiting there for Meghan felt some relief since this first big step is over... Thanks again and keep those prayers coming this was a huge step but now recovery and healing begins.

God Bless you all.... We are so humbled by all of your kind words. I didn't cry writing the email about Meghan but I have to grab the tissue box when I read all of your responses. Thanks again..

Love

Jackie, Rich, Jeff, Michael and Meghan

Meghan's Party Today's Email

I really did well composing the following email to family and friends today and now it is time to put it on the blog for all our other friends and family that keep us in their prayers. Already the responses make me humble and they bring tears to my eyes, to know in times of uncertainty how much we really do love and care for each other and how much the spirit moves in us for one another.

It seems like every couple of months you here from the HYLAND"S requesting some prayers. Today is no exception.... we are again in need of some heavy duty prayers.
We flew up to Ben Lomand, Ca., Saturday to attend a pre-surgery Luau party for our son Michael's girlfriend Meghan Knuntson. On Tuesday she is scheduled for her SECOND liver resection surgery at UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Francisco. Her first liver resection was November 28, 2006 and since her liver was riddled with tumors, a surgeon cut off one half of her liver entirely and then burned or cut the rest of the tumors off the other side. These surgeries take about 10 hours plus and a 4 to 6 month recovery time.
Meghan has continued on different chemo treatments since she was first diagnosed with her colon cancer at the age of 24. Unfortunately, Meghan's body did not respond well and she formed allergic reactions to the drugs. Meghan, her family and her medical team have determined the second liver resection is the most reasonable course of action since chemo is not an option. One step at a time but later in the year she is scheduled to also have tumors removed from her lungs where the cancer had metastasized.

In Meghan's own word she says she grows cancer naturally so remission is not a very reasonable goal. But trying to control it is her plan. After her operation she will do some chemo which is not as harmful and one that is FDA approved that she knows she is not allergic to.

Meghan is a beautiful young women, in love with our son (after 3 years together they still make goggle eyes at each other). We feel she is amazingly strong and brave beyond her years. Her family is surrounding her with lots of love and distraction, and they need prayers too for what they are about to endure. Please include Meghan, her mom Beverly (my top pick for mom of the year), her father, Brian, our Michael, Sarah and Brody her sister and brother in your prayers. Please pray for the Lord's healing and peace to surround this family and Meghan's medical team and what ever other needs you might feel they need at this crucial time. I know God will be listening and Meghan and her family will feel the power, peace and healing that is needed.

Thank you, below is a picture of Meghan and us at her party...
If you received this email you know how important you all are to Rich and our family and we would not be where we are today without all of you - your prayers, support, love and in some cases platelets and blood.... Thank you, we love you.

God Bless
Aloha
Jackie

UGH.... What I can't DO

I can play tennis, played today and won. Can type on the keyboard just a little slower. Can't open a tea bag or fold laundry, there's allot more I can't do and every time I can't do them or have trouble doing something, I remind myself this is only temporary. Don't know how I am going to wash my hair with my new embellishment on my arm, since I am not supposed to get it wet. It's only been on for 2 days now and I HATE IT (yes, I have showered since then with the newspaper plastic bag over the cast, just have not had to wash my hair yet. till today).... it is more of an inconvenience than anything else. Cuts down on mobility and scrapping... Only 5 weeks and 5 days to go. Any bets if I will be able to keep it on that long? Baby, Baby, suck your thumb - I feel like the biggest baby ever because I have some inconvenience in my life. Let's see Jeff rode his bike from Newport Beach, Ca. to Key West Florida, Rich had a bone marrow transplant in January, Meghan is having her second liver surgery next week and I have a little cast on my arm... This blogging is very therapeutic for me!!! Life is good and full of blessings and richness.... Time to go clean up the memory cards for the camera's so I can take lots of pictures in Ben Lomand at Meghan's party tomorrow. I hear they have made a volcano and brought in sand...

I REALLY WANT TO....

I really, really, really, want to scrap.... Hubby watching the Lakers and I can scrap to my hearts content, I have projects to finish... But the scrap table is piled high and unorganized with my latest scrap project stuff and my brain is not feeling any organizational skills to walk over there and just get busy... UGH....!



I know how about a picture or two from Monterey this past weekend.


Meghan and I took a little (very little) cruise on the glass bottom boat the LITTLE MERMAID around the harbor... That is a picture of our feet on the boat and that green in the picture that was the color of the water... (not that Hawaiian blue color, we really love) We saw nothing through the glass bottom, well we did see some seaweed. We did see lots of sea lions hanging out and an otter. Check out Meghan's flip flops with the little crown on them... SO CUTE.. I think I need a pair. The 4 of us went to the Crown and Anchor a British pub across the street from the Marriott and enjoyed some bitters, Stella beer and food. Rich and I were bad.... We didn't go to the big GALA dinner at the end of his business meeting since we really just wanted to spend time with Mike and Meghan. The last picture is a picture of the two little LOVE BIRDS... it is so cute they make goggle eyes at each other even though they sometimes act like an old married couple after only three years of dating.... We are going back to Monterey this weekend only flying.... When you look at the picture of my little love birds - does that sweet girl look sick to you.... ? She is and she is also one of the bravest people I know. Our Meghan will be having her second liver re-section surgery on June 17,2008. At 24 she was diagnosed with colon cancer and it had already spread to her liver. Her mom Beverly decided to have a big Hawaiian luau this coming Saturday for her before her surgery. Wow what a mom and what a great idea. So off we go again to Northern California, up Saturday home Sunday.

PRAYERS we need lots of prayers for Meggie....
I am going to walk over to the scrappy table now and try for inspiration....

What do you think?

I just returned home from shopping at a scrapbook store in South Orange County.... very established, decent inventory..... I don't want to name names but you can probably figure it out. Here is my story.... I called on the phone at 11:05 to see if they had some SR paper and rub-ons I was looking to add to my collection. The phone was BUSY... BUSY.... BUSY.... so I thought what the heck at $4.20 a gallon shouldn't take much more than that (a gallon) to drive there so I did. I called them from the parking lot 20 to 25 minutes later and the phone is still busy.... DHUA, might it be off the hook? I told the employee behind the desk and she looked at me and said well it shows the line is in use..... could an extension be off the hook...? So she goes and finds the extension and guess what it was off the hook... I am still standing at the front of the store by the register and she says - were you calling for anything in particular (you think)... I told her I was looking for the SR stock - she takes me down a row and said it should be here and the phone which she is holding in her hand rings (imagine that) she said look in here I will be back I have to help this person on the phone.... HELLO the phone wouldn't have rung if I would not have told you it was off the hook. Needless to say the paper was not in the row she took me in which I completely figured out on my own after carefully reading the rows of paper about three times (I was figuring I was the dumb one that could not find it). Tried another row and found it.... So I am willing to forgive and forget until I looked at some of the prices they are charging on their scrapbook supplies. Everything I touched was .50 to $3.00 higher than another local store which I frequent. Three other items I was looking for they didn't have, the Liberty Line by SR and the SR rub-ons (if I could have reached them by phone I would have known this and not driven down there and paid a toll on the toll road) and no one had an answer as to whether or not they would be getting or carried these items. So what do you think when you go into your LSS (local scrapbook store) and find things to be marked up for no apparent reason? We are not talking food or gas prices here, we are talking scrap book supplies. I guess I just had to vent because scrap book stores are usually my happy place and it did not feel happy today. I can tell you I will not be going back there anytime soon....

Happier News... Off to Monterey tomorrow morning EARLY. Hubby's business meeting. We get to have dinner in the Aquarium (big Tuna swimming by looking at you while you are eating .... no don't say FISH) and see Mike and Meghan, they are actually spending the night in the hotel with us on Saturday, YIPPEE. I am so excited to see them and deliver Suzy's P kit to Meghan. I hope putting the kit together will be something she can do easily enough once she has her next surgery. She is scheduled for her second liver re-section June 18. Last time it took her about 9 months to a year to fully recover. I am just about in tears blogging about it now. To much for someone so young. I hope scrapping is her happy place.

I better go pack my swim suit so I can swim with those TUNA...... Now that would be a great funny picture. Is that what they mean when they say she drinks like a fish then swims with them too..... Have a mighty great weekend and HAPPY ADHESIVE.

Find your Fabulous

I found my fabulous on Saturday - TEA and a SCRAPBOOK class at the Oasis. That's me looking very hollywoodish on the left, Cheryl, looking very Patty Labelle, the every fun, smiling and caring Lia (birthday girl today) next, the always artistic Kim next to Lia and the always stylish Rebecca. I was dragging my feet about going to meet these ladies at Paris in a Cup at the Orange Circle on Saturday thinking (like women do) .... Oh I should stay home I am already taking a scrap class tonight I have spent enough money... blah blah blah.... You know how we are and sometimes we can talk ourselves out of something FABULOUS! As in my case I didn't know exactly how fabulous it was til I experienced it. We shared stories, tea, scones and laughs. Did I already use the word fabulous. THANK YOU, for sharing ladies a truly Fabulous day....

Suzy P' s class Saturday at the Oasis was (again) a fabulous way to end the day. She is a great teacher and puts an enormous amount of time, creativity and energy into her projects and directions.... She is my poster child for why I never want to teach a class.... EXAMPLE:

take out white paint, sponge, paintbrush, SR chipboard circles, MR chipboard letters and MR travel chipboard keychain (in baggie) - she even tells you where the item is located in your kit. The papers are stacked in the order you need them and Suzy's motto is "I just want everyone to be Happy" and she truly means it. Thanks again Oasis and Suzy.

TODAY, more of the same Fabulous, Monday Moms bible study brunch, here at Hyland's Island. Our group picture and then some pictures of those wonderful helping hands as we made chicken salad sandwich's for the ALPHA group tonight.... Oh who is that with the Knife....

Susan's idea of a chicken salad mixer...

Knife happy ladies.... good thing that cupboard behind them was clean and organized since it showed up in the picture. I think that is my only kitchen cupboard that is organized... Not so fabulous... oh well...

Oh my time to run and serve the ALPHA dinner... Have to load the car.... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! No more blogging today... Oh and Rich's team won the Church golf tournament on Saturday for the THIRD year in row... My stud... GOD BLESS. FIND YOUR FABULOUS... Hugs, Prayers, Aloha