Ice on...Ice off

 

 

You may remember in the spring of 2013, my youngest daughter Isabel tore her ACL playing basketball during the final game of her 8th grade season. She had surgery to repair it, and it was 6 months of recovery and physical therapy.

 

In the fall she came back full guns and played a successful soccer season. All seemed well. In the winter she played freshman basketball for her high school, and her entire season was bumpy and full of miner-ACL related injuries. She had some trouble with her right leg being stronger than her left, which resulted in her back going out of alignment. Eventually toward the end of the season all looked well and she was playing almost back to her former level.

 

Then at the LAST PRACTICE OF THE SEASON she injured the OTHER leg! She did not hear a "pop" this time (yes that is the ACL snapping! ew!) so we hoped beyond hope it was just a bad sprain.

 

It didn't seem as bad this time.

She was off crutches in 2 weeks.

We did an MRI, and the ACL seemed to be intact. There was no conclusive evidence of a tear-just a very bad bone bruise.

 

The doctor ordered more PT and we hoped that with strengthening it would be fine.

 

But, alas,

after 3 months of physical therapy, it was just not right. Lots of pain still and some unstable moments.

She tried to play kickball with her friends one day and her knee completely gave out. 

 

So the doctor recommended exploratory surgery.

 It was the only way to be able to know conclusively what was really going on in there. He would do a scope, and if there was damage he would fix it.

 

 Yesterday Isabel had that surgery.

There was absolutely NO ACL! It was gone. I'm not sure how long she has been walking around without an ACL, but I have a hunch it tore completely in June when she played kickball that time.

 

OOOOO!!! It just makes me cringe.

When I think of all she has done since then-hiking in the mountains in Colorado, bike riding, all that vacation WALKING!

 Oh goodness! 

 

So here we are again! 6 more months of rehab. This poor kid!

 

So I am back on nurse duty! Ice on...ice off!

LOL!

 

Blessings,

~Annie

 

 

 



Colorado Vacation

Hello All!

 I have actually been back for some time now, but I have been having a really hard time getting back into the swing of things!

But just so you all don't forget me completely

 I decided to share some vacation photos with you.

I know...

B-o-o-o-o-ring!!

Right?

Well hopefully not, but bear with me as I try to get back into

"the groove"!!

A hilltop outside of Denver.



These are the beautiful cliff dwellings located at Mesa Verde National Park.

 

 

This is a trail in Mesa Verde-one of the coolest hiking trails I have ever been on!

This is a castle rock located in either Colorado or New Mexico (I can't remember which!) in the Four Corners region.

After getting back I have been so tired! We did A LOT of driving this time, stopping in Kansas to visit a college for Isabel on the way back to Chicago. I've been very slow to get back to work, but I did do a little baking!

I made an apple crisp from some fresh organic apples...yum!

 

What have you been doing with your summer?

 

Blessings,

Annie

 

On Vacation

Taking a break for a couple of weeks!

 

I'll be out in the fields gathering berries for a fresh blueberry pie!

(or something like that!)

I will be back on

July 7, 2014

 

See you then!!

 

Blessings,

Annie

Summer block of the week

I am participating in Jenny of Elefantz free summer block of the week stitchery quilt. Even tho for Jenny, I guess it would be a winter BOW, since she lives in Australia.

Here is my first stitchery and block:

 

I finished this stitchery in one night while watching the Fifa World Cup.(we are BIG futbol fans around here, as all of my kids have played/or do play soccer).

 

Isn't it pretty! Here is the whole block:

 

 

I am currently working on block 2 which was released this week. Every Monday a new FREE block will be released. If you would like to stitch-along click on the button in my sidebar and go to Jenny's blog for all of the details.

 

Last Sunday we celebrated my little granddaughter Amy's first birthday! I cannot believe how fast this year has gone. It has been so fun watching her grow, and watching my daughter and her husband grow into being parents. They are just the sweetest little family unit, with the Lord at the center of their lives. They are doing a wonderful job, and Amy is thriving!

 

She is the joy of my life these days!

Amy Ren 1st Birthday







Are you working on any special projects this summer?

 

Blessings,

~Annie

This month at PFATT Marketplace

Here is my wall hanging with the pickets!

Home Sampler

A few more close ups of this one:

I really love the way it turned out. The pickets were done with a Bonnie and Camille charm pack. The colors are fantastic, don't you think?

 

And then I also have this little cushion:

Bird on a Strawberry Cushion

 

 

This is made of wool and woolies flannel. It is adapted from a design by Maggie Bonanami.  Great little cushion to tuck anywhere you need a little cheer!

Here are some more shots:

 

 

For more details on these pieces and to order click here to go to PFATT Marketplace.

 

Thanks for looking!

Blessings!

Annie



What I did with the Pickets...

Home Sampler Wall Hanging

Coming soon to PFATT Marketplace.

Stay tuned!

 

Blessings,

Annie

Pin cushion crazy!

I've been making pincushions lately.

 

I have just been playing around with some different designs.

 

I tried a circle flower applique:

 

 

Then I tried it with a wool background:

Then I tried a hexie:

 



 I learned how to make pickets out of a honeybun pre-cut.

 I'm doing something with these pickets and a wallhanging:

 

I'll show you this later this week...

 

And I finished this super cute little wall hanging for my girlfriend's birthday. This is an applique from Lori Holt's pattern Grandma's Kitchen Quilt. I love just about everything she designs! I'm really happy with the way this turned out. I'm thinking about making one for myself!

 

I also received some new stash and a few notions from Fat Quarter Shop:

 

I ordered a fat quarter bundle of woolies flannel. I really like this to mix in with wool applique. Its so much easier to sew with, since wool stretches so much.  The woolies flannel colors and textures just blend right in with wool so well. It's especially great for the backgrounds.

 

I also got a little charm pack of overdyed wool, a package of alphabitties (for marking my quilt pieces to keep them in order as I sew~I REALLY need these! I have been known to forget what I'm doing between the cutting table and the sewing machine! LOL!)

 

 And some Poke-A-Dots, which are basically sticky thimbles.

I LOVE these for hand applique!

 

What have you been working on?

 

Blessings,

~Annie