Update on Me

I haven't been on my blog in a long time. I have decided to start writing tuts again. Lots of things have happened in my life since Christmas. My granddaughter, Jaydin, who lives in El Dorado, Arkansas, is only 4 and we almost lost her in February of this year. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. She was rushed to Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas where she was diagnosed just in time. She had lost all feeling from her waist down, she couldn't sit, stand or walk, and it was difficult for her to go to the bathroom. It was also starting affect her swallowing. Thank God the doctors were able to diagnose it in time. She was a very sick little girl and was in the hospital for over a month. Now she is a normal 4 year old girl again. She is hard for her mom and dad to keep up with her somedays.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and, when severe, the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases the disorder is life threatening - potentially interfering with breathing and, at times, with blood pressure or heart rate - and is considered a medical emergency. Such a patient is often put on a respirator to assist with breathing and is watched closely for problems such as an abnormal heart beat, infections, blood clots, and high or low blood pressure. Most patients, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some continue to have a certain degree of weakness.

Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect anybody. It can strike at any age and both sexes are equally prone to the disorder. The syndrome is rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome.

After the first clinical manifestations of the disease, the symptoms can progress over the course of hours, days, or weeks. Most people reach the stage of greatest weakness within the first 2 weeks after symptoms appear, and by the third week of the illness 90 percent of all patients are at their weakest.

I have also had some medical problems and will have surgery on both my knees towards the end of the year. Not looking forward to that. I also have carpal tunnel in both wrists and tennis elbow in my right elbow. Will have surgery on them as soon as it is needed. I am trying to stick it out for now, don't want to have surgery any sooner than need be.

I am now working with Kittie of Kittie's Sinful Designz. Check out her blog HERE She has some awesome scrap kits and templates. Below is my first tut using Kittie's scrap kits and templates. Be on the lookout for more. Love your work Kittie.

Will keep you all updated on things as time warrants. Thanks for stopping by.

Glitter