Dolly's Dreamings

A tribute to a great man

Regular readers know - well let's face it it is no secret - how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband. He is my world and I wanted to share this page made as a tribute to him. Feel free to skip what is a very soppy and romantic post about the love of my life.

 

When we married, almost 37 years ago, we promised to be together through everything - 'for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health' and my goodness has he done that the last 2 months.

He has been by my side for every appointment, met with every consultant, sat by my bedside, cared for me when I came home, fed me, helped me bathe, helped me dress and loved me through all of it. I could not have wished for anyone better or more caring and this cancer stuff has been hard on him too as he was so helpless and  I know how I would feel f the roles were reversed and he was the one with cancer. It's hard on family members. They need support too.

So this page is for Nigel - to show everyone how utterly wonderful he is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made it using some gorgeous heart flair that I was sent as a design team member and I used loads and loads of scraps up.

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel - my greatest blessing.

New releases and bit of Americana

It's been lovely weather here and we have enjoyed some nice beach walks sprinkled in alongside yet more hospital trips. We take the good with the rough.

The good news is I seem to be healing well apart from the neuropathic pain so we will take that bit of good news.

 

I did a very quick and simple painting yesterday inspired by a challenge in a facebook group. It was fun to make

 

and it is new release day today over at Pickleberrypop and I felt more up to playing this week

 

 

Credits

January Artsy layered template by Chunlin designs

 

Slow Living by Chunlin Designs

 

 

 

 

 

Credits

Artsy layered template #2 by Chunlin designs

 

You make me laugh Bundle by Chunlin Designs

 

 

 

 

Credits

With Love all in One by Natalie Designs

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine and beaches
• digital design
• painting fun
• the NHS and the wonderful people who fill it with so much caring

A busy old day

I continue to heal and get better though my arm is sore and I wish this glue would show any sign at all of disappearing.

I was told not to try and take it off until I saw the consultant but thats another 9 days.

 

We have had a productive day today catching up on a job long long overdue.

In 2018 we bought a multi photo frame having just come back from our fabulous fall trip and filled it and put it up. A few months later, early 2019, we decided to buy two more frames the same for other trips and that was that. They stood in the dining room under the filled frame for the best part of 4 years. Today we decided we could stand them there no longer so we picked the photos and printed them and filled the frames opting for one from 2017 Gone with the Wind tour of the Southern States and one from the non route 66 bit of Coast to Coast. They are filled, up and the wall has been touched up where they had left marks where they were stood for so long. I am ashamed it took us so long and we are thrilled with them. The photos of the photo frames are dire as they are opposite the patio doors and so the reflections are intense but you get the gist.

 

The original - hung alone for 4 years

 

 

its two companions

 

and the montage  (They are quite large - the photos are all 5" x 7"

 

Other than that I have some scrapping - photos from a walk earlier in the week and made for the scrap squad lift this week

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a job well done - finally!!!

and some more natural cuties to end with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better days

Two weeks today since surgery and I am doing well. Pain is very very slight and only under the arm incision, breast is less bruised and swollen and I am able to sleep without fear. The incisions still look dire butt hat's because the glue is still peeling off. I am trying to feel optimistic about 7th and results. I have been knocked back every time I have felt positive. Maybe this time is the time my positivity will pay off and I will get good news.

I have also been able to paint and scrap more easily.

I painted this this week for a challenge on a watercolour group for Paul Clark - an artist I really admire - and I was thrilled when it was chosen as the cover picture for the group.

 

 

 

It is watercolour on my new 100% cotton paper.

 

I have also been scrapping so a few pages to share

These were gorgeous flowers sent to cheer me up from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. They were utterly gorgeous and whilst I couldn't leave them unattended witht he cats as they were a tupe of lily, the cats were very good about them once they had inspected them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are two more pages for my iconic America album. There will be sections on cities, on landmarks, on National Parks

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• healing
• feeling better
• sunshine
• my three boys

 

and some interesting pictures to end with just showcasing the beauty of nature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New releases and sagas

Hello you lovely people who continue to drop by and read. Thank you

 

I know most of you come for the pretty papers so we will do that bit first then you can skip the rest if you want to.

It is new release day today at Pickleberry pop and I worked with two collections (hey - I am improving!)

 

Credits

All for you Bundle by Carole W Designs

 

 

 

 

Credits

Winter by the Shore Bundle by Just Because Designs by Dani

 

 

 

 

In non scrapping news the dressings were removed - by us - yesterday morning. I have maintained throughout this that I really don't care what my boob looks like after treatment and I genuinely dont.  If it is scarred, dented, misshapen or, heaven forbid, removed, so be it. I think it must make a lot more difference if you are young but as Nigel told the breast care nurse, he doesn't need to be impressed these days! And they wil just, God willing, be victory scars,  However, it was a bit of a shock yesterday morning. I hadn't had an under arm lymph node incision before and that was a bit of a shock, plus of course both incisions - which are large - look at their absolute worst when the dressing comes off as they are puckered and as the incisions were glues that was new too. The glue is still on, making a horrible appearance and adding to discolouration. Plus both are surrounded by multi coloured brusing. I think it makes you a bit light-headed when dressings are first removed and then, of course, there is the fear that you are now exposed and in danger.

 

You have to find the things to laugh about though - it keeps you sane. And there were comical moments a plenty. You have to be careful with the bras you wear after surgery. They forbid wires, you shouldn't have lacy as it can catch and they should be very supportive. Well, I am a larger lady who has always been well endowed and so I have a huge range of supportive bras, plus all of the special bras I bought for post-surgery. Now bear in mind movement is still tricky and you need help with things like dressing and doing up bras. I think we tried every bra I possess and every single one just caught the underarm incision which was clearly not a great idea. We ended up tucking a linen handkerchief in at the side and pulling the bra out of shape by - I kid you not, typing string round the straps and knotting it tightly at the front over the cleavage. It was hysterical and clearly not a fashion statement to be worn out in public. I tried to 'alter' a couple of bras, making tthe side band narrower but unless I was prepared to cut them that didn't work. We tried sports bras,  we tried old bras, new bras nothing. Its a good job I have a very supportive husband and that we both find the same things funny. Gallows humour I believe.

Finally, we hit on a winning combination and should you ever find yourselves in a similar position (and I pray you never do) this is my advice. A nice soft camisole which offers absolutely no support (which you must have post surgery) at all that sits right up high under the arm totally covering and thus protecting the underarm incision (Which is right at the bottom of the underarm if you see what I mean) with the supportive post surgery bra on over the top. It's not a fab look but it works. Result.

 

I was worried how I would sleep as it is quite painful and you feel so much more vulnerable without the dressings. I neednt have worried as it happens. Sleep wasn't much on the agenda. I spend the night throwing up every 15 minutes (yes I was fed up enough to time it) from just before 1 am until just after 4 am. Every cloud! It took my mind off the breast cancer!

Consequently not much sleep was had here in our happy home. I have no idea what caused it. It's not a bug as it was too short lived (long enough though) and I can't think of anything I ate that was suspect. Just one of those things.

 

So onwards and upwards. I now have my results appointment date of 7th February when I will find out what they got and what the next stage is.

 

Today I am thankful for

• being able to laugh through adversity. Thank goodness
• a wonderful wonderful husband who cleaned the house through yesterday. And who is now a fully-fledged bra fitter!

 

Progress

Today - for the first time - I have not had a single painkiller. Progress.

Today I had a bath unaided, and pretty much dressed myself. Progress.

Yesterday we went for a walk at my favourite beach. Progress

 

 

Today we went for a walk at Blandford. Progress

 

And I scrapped - slowly - but I scrapped. Progress.

I used a scrap squad lift for photos taken yesterday

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• all the lovely people who check up on me so often. It has been a huge support and comfort
• progress - little steps but steps none the less

And these just made me smile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One week on

This time last week I was very poorly and just awaiting discharge from hospital. One week on and I think I am healing (I can't actually see as it is covered) but I am still in a great deal of pain. It's not constant so I feel it isn't infected or anything but oh my goodness it comes out of nowhere and it horribly painful in both the breast and the armpit but mostly the breast. It is take your breath away pain and pain that causes you to just have a peep down inside your top to ensure that your insides haven't just burst!  I know they took quite a bit out this time and so there are lots and lots of internal stitches, lots of internal (and external) bruising and it is just plain painful. But I am proud I have managed with just paracetamol and ibuprofen whereas last time I gave in and took morphine. I did not like what morphine did to my body so decided to tough it out this time.

 

Driving (as a passenger - I am not allowed to drive yet) wasn't pleasurable for the first few days but today we went for a proper drive and walk to Swanage. It has been a gorgeous day; bitterly cold but perfect blue skies and frosty fields. (and sadly a lot of flooding is evident)

We enjoyed the drive, had a walk at Swanage, visited one the increasingly rare wool shops (I may have succumbed) and had a bit of lunch. It was almost normal.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I scrapped. Oh my goodness it was hard. Everything needed to be lifted, moved, reached and it took me ages. But I did it.

The photo is of a thoughtful get well gift of a gorgeous handmade iced cookie - Little Miss Hug. It was packaged so beautifully and carefully. I cut the birds from the packaging and the tag pulls out with the gift card and message and I used brand new 49 and Market Tranquility papers which only arrived that morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• beautiful weather
• gentle days out
• gradual recovery
• the beach
• thoughtful gifts

I can't remember if I shared these but they are very cute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design team catch up

I made sure that, before my op, I was up to date with design team things so I have two new pages to share today

This is for a new release today at Pickleberrypop

Credits

Misty Ocean Bundle by Heartstrings Scrap Art

 

 

and this was my design team page for The Flair Hut yesterday

 

It is another for the Iconic America album - Alcatraz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• hair cuts
• being organised
• tiny trips out

 

Catch up scrapping

I am aware that people come here for the scrappiness and so this is a bit of a catch up on that.

It was my turn to create a page for the Scrap a ketch sketch this week and it was a gorgeous sketch

 

I flipped the sketch as I wanted to use landscape rather than portrait photos

 

the photos are from Chicago and the page is for the iconic America album - the cities section - so it doesn't have a lot of journalling (That's in the main album) but out arrival wasn't fab hence the use of the Simple Stories Lemon Zest plus the colours worked so well with the photos.

 

 

 

 

I used stencils from Lisa at The Flair Hut and also flair.

 

Other pages to share

This was made for the PBP challenge using the mystery box and also for a UKS and FTLOPP challenge

 

 

Obviously no new scrapping just yet - but i am sure there will be soon.

 

 

She’s back

I thought it just easier to do my update on here so people have the choice of reading it or not and it serves as a record for me. 

feel free to skip. As always the blog is for me primarily. Surface to say I’m home and ok. 

 Well that was quite a day. Operation number two began well. Bournemouth have a very different system than Poole Hospital and Nigel was able to write with me until my actual admission which was lovely. He didn’t have to leave until about 7:30 am. As soon as he left I did the admission process with a lovely nurse who stayed with me for each step. You don’t ever see other patients as you are in a little lounge type room on your own with the nurse. I met my new surgeon who was absolutely lovely and very reassuring. He described exactly what he was going to do, why and how. He gave me the option of seeing him for the results as my primary surgeon would be away on holiday and I was delighted with that option. I then met the anaesthetist and I think that was the most reassuring part of the day. Compared to the anaesthetist I met at my bedside in pool This man who was wonderfully friendly actually looked like a doctor not somebody working on a market stall. He talked me through the process and was so reassuring. He was horrified when I described my previous experience with an anaesthetist and the dislocated jaw, black throat the fact that he reduced me to tears before he left my bedside. His exact words were, “Karen I’ve got this and you’re going to sail through with me no problems.“

All of this happened before 8:15 am at 9:15 I was taken into theatre and that, as they say, is that.

I had been expecting to be home by shortly after lunchtime based on previous timings and so Nigel arrived at the hospital by 11 thinking he’d have maybe an hour or so wait to take me home. This seems awfully early but the traffic across the two towns is dreadful and parking is iffy at best. Unfortunately I didn’t have such a swift recovery this time. I was in the recovery room for about 3/ quarters of an hour and the pain was quite strong. I think what did me was they gave me two doses of morphine. By the time they moved me back to the ward in the day centre I felt dreadful. I don’t think I ever want to feel quite as nauseous dizzy and disorientated as I did. I couldn’t focus on anything and felt so desperately sick. They gave me anti sickness injections. They bought me a cup of tea and a sandwich neither of which I could have more than a mouthful of. They fetched me water and ginger biscuits and I managed half of a biscuit and some water. Never felt  so sick and woozy and was watching people come in from recovery, eat their sandwiches and get dressed and go. Eventually I managed to get up and go to the loo (they warn you your wee will be bright bright turquoise because of the dye but it’s quite spectacular) and then the sickness really hit. Thankfully I made it back to bed where my bowls were before I was the sickest I’ve been in years. And I immediately felt so much better. I wish they had just let me go home then. But they give me another sickness injection and made me wait another hour before I could go. By which time I had started to feel bad. However I left hospital at about 3.30 in a wheelchair … they insisted as I was so shaky. The journey home was dire, with heavy traffic and lots of speed bumps each of which hurt, and clutching a sick bowl. Plus I looked dreadful. The dye makes you look bluish pale plus I was pale. Nigel got me into bed in a comfy position, thank goodness for an adjustable bed, and Jakki came and sat with me whilst Nigel dropped letters into the doctor. 

It was a shock seeing the bright turquoise booby and the two big dressings and it was reasonably painful but I was determined not to take morphine convinced it would make me sicker. I think it’s safe to say we had a bad night but a new day has dawned. I’m up, pain is under control, and I have done my first round of arm exercises. 

I have no idea if they found the right nodes, what they removed and if they got it all, but I am so grateful it’s over for now, so grateful  I was seen earlier, so grateful for the kindness of everyone involved and all my family and friends, for the cards and messages and flowers, and for my truly wonderful husband.