Around The Mulberry Bush

My Guy!

Here he is!

The moment you've been waiting for!!

The newest man in my life!!

I am totally smitten!

And he truly is our gift from God!

Jungle Fever

I'm not getting Jungle Fever.

Tif won't let me.

I'm painting some things on Cohen's wall but Tif is adamant that we stick to a select few animals and a quote.

No murals.

No 'Mom's gone overboard'.

Just the basics.

Sigh...

So here's what I have to work with...

A giraffe, a lion, a quote,

and five little monkeys playing, peeking over stripes, and swinging from vines

(and believe me...I REALLY had to do a lot of talking to get vines--grin)

Everything is finished except the monkeys and vines.

And I don't think I'll get those finished on this trip

since I haven't even drawn them up yet and I'm leaving tomorrow.

So you'll have to wait to see those pictures.

But here's what I've painted so far...

Tif found the picture of the giraffe online (isn't it so sweet looking down into the crib?) and I found the lion as a graphic and I added more dimension.

I think Cohen will really enjoy looking at the lion during diaper changes.

Finally...Some Time to Create

I promised you more pictures.

So, here they are...

The first is a diaper cake that I made for Cohen's baby shower.

I've never been a fan of the diaper cakes made with disposable diapers.

They always looked lumpy and unfinished.

So I was really worried about creating one for the shower.

Solution?

Cover the diapers up!

How?

Well, I took some birth announcements I got at a garage sale

and cut out the center section to make a frame.

Then I glued them end to end, added some embellishments,

and wrapped them around the diapers.

And Voila! No more lumpy, unfinished diapers!

All I needed now was something really special to top it off.

And I found 'just the thing'!

A baby bottle filled with little blue cigar gum came from

one of my FAVORITE Texas Stores.

H.E.B.!!!

(man I really miss H.E.B!!!!)

I added a few final embellishments and 'color me finished' I was DONE!

Heeeere is my diaper cake...

The next project was one that I hadn't planned on doing.

I was just helping out.

Tif's in-laws gave her the most ADORABLE door wreath

made out of diapers, a stuffed monkey, and ribbon, and washcloths, and all kinds of fun stuff!

It was TRULY the CUTEST, CUTEST door wreath EVER!

Until it got knocked off the door and broken by the anesthesiologist.

I tried to salvage the pieces so I could remake it but it just didn't happen.

So, I made a replacement door wreath.

Even though I tried to use most of the items from the original wreath

I wasn't able to reuse the diapers.

So I hung streamers instead.

It wasn't nearly as cute as the original

but it made the door look too, too cute!

P.S. The Soccer Balls were compliments of Grandaddy!

Thank you my friends!

Thank you so very much!

God has heard our prayers!

We just got in from Tif's OB and Cardiologist appointments and both Dr.'s gave her glowing reports!

The official diagnosis is Atypical (or 'a-TIF-ical' as I've been calling it) Postpartum Preeclampsia.

The OB said she is doing great and the risk of relapse will get lower and lower over the next two weeks.

And the cardiologist gave her a 'two thumbs up' and said he did not see any signs of cardiomyopathy (or any heart damage for that matter!). He gave the A-OK and said he just wanted to see her again in 6 months just to make sure she was still doing great.

So I'd like to thank you all so, so much for your kind words, emails, text messages, phone calls, and most especially your prayers.

God has truly blessed us with great friends!

Staying Busy

Okay.

So I'm here at Tif's.

Just lovin' on my new grandson.

And trying to stay busy with all the projects we've been planning to do

all these months but just never had the time.

And now my time is running out.

So I thought I'd give you a sneak peak

of some of the things we've been working on in Cohen's nursery.

The first project was one that really means a lot to me.

I've saved the girls' layette (or 'changing table' as it's called these days)

for 28 years now.

Hoping that I'd get the chance to use it again.

AND I DID!!

So, here it is!...Tif's changing table from 28 years ago...a true vintage piece!

And here's what it looks like after a face lift...

Then, we needed bedding.

So Tif found these bumper pads at a thrift store and we used those, plus a shower curtain, a tablecloth, random fabric, and a corduroy jumper (another thrift store find) to create bedding for his crib and his cradle.

This is what we had to work with...

And this is what we made...

And here's his cradle (another thrift store find)...

It's late so that's all I'll post for now.

Hopefully, tomorrow I can post pictures of a couple of other things

I've made for him in my spare time (whatever THAT is!)

Blind-sided

This week we were blind-sided.

I don't know any other way to put it.

At a time when we should have been celebrating new life we were, instead, caught up in a whirlwind of fear, hospital stays, doctor visits, and confusing medical terminology.

Two days after Tif was released from the hospital her swelling was so severe

that it had actually affected her breathing and heart rhythm.

She woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air so we made a 3am trip to the ER. The staff started right in with an EKG, bloodwork, X-Rays, and an Echocardiogram.

Once those results were back, we started hearing medical terms

that a shouldn't even be part of a 28-year old's vocabulary.

Things like 'acute postpartum cardiomyopathy' and 'congestive heart failure'

and 'postpartum preeclampsia'.

WHAT?!?!

According to her doctors she had a textbook pregnancy! Never even ONE complication!

How could something go wrong NOW??

The ER Doctor said the Cardiologist had been paged and would be in that morning.

And, since no beds were available, we'd have to wait in the exam room until a bed opened up upstairs (which, unbelievably, took 15 HOURS!!!!).

Tif was started immediately on a dosage of lasix to start draining off all the fluid that had accumulated since her delivery.

And boy did THAT start happening quickly!

Within a matter of a couple of hours they had already drained over 2 liters of fluid.

2 LITERS! THAT'S LIKE A BOTTLE OF SODA!!

And the lasix continued to do its job.

Over the course of her 2-day stay they drained well over 6 liters of fluid off her body and she lost OVER 19 POUNDS!

UNBELIEVABLE!!

And remember that Cardiologist that was suppose to be in first thing in the morning? Yeah, well, he finally showed up at 11pm.

It was hard to be angry with him

because he gave us reassuring news after he had seen her labs.

He felt like Tif was going to be fine.

Thankfully, he did not feel that it was cardiomyopathy OR congestive heart failure (Praise God!!)--but wanted her to follow up in his office later this week to take a look at her heart without 6 liters of fluid taking its toll.

He released her from his care

but her obstetricians did not want to release her until a diagnosis was made.

They spent hours and hours researching and consulting other doctors.

Their final diagnosis?

Atypical Postpartum Preeclampsia.

Okay.

So after a day of magnesium drip she was released last night

and had that follow-up visit with the cardiologist today.

Well. Not Really.

The cardiologist wasn't there.

So we just had the echocardiogram done and we'll follow up with the doctor in a few days.

In the meantime we're trying to keep positive thoughts

and love on that sweet, sweet (did I mention sweet?) little man!

It's La-La Time!!!

finally

He's ^ Here!!!

...and he made his debut on Wednesday, August 13th at 7:47 pm.

My little man Cohen Eric Nelson weighed in at a whopping 7lbs 7.9 oz and measured 19 inches long (no chunky monkies here).

And he's the cutest little guy EVER!

Tif delivered by c-section and, much to my delight, the nurse let me go into the operating room with her and Steven!

(Thank Goodness!!! 'cause I would have lost my mind just waiting!!)

Tif did really, really well!! I'm so proud of her!

Plus, she gave me the SWEETEST gift EVER!!!

No La-La Yet!

...and we're still waiting!

Another Dr. appointment has come and gone. But still no baby.

Now we're hoping he will come on 8/8/08 (since the number 8 is Tif's favorite number). Keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime my life has been in a holding pattern.

I'm afraid to start new projects because I won't have time to clean things up to leave on the spur of the moment. The car has been packed for over a week so we won't have to spend time running around gathering luggage (so, I'm having to wash and re-wear the remaining few clothes I have left in the house).

So for now, Cohen's still cozy and tucked inside mommy's tummy. He will be here soon and the anticipation is building! Sigh...Patience has never been one of my virtues.

It's Almost Baby Time!!

Okay my friends!! Tif's been having contractions almost all day today!

They haven't been regular enough to warrant real labor but I'm still on pins & needles! I'm so afraid that since I live 5 hours away that I won't make it in time!

Although her due date was originally August 20th the doctors scheduled her to be induced on August 13th because Cohen was getting so big. But during Tif''s last appointment the doctor felt that she had progressed enough that she didn't think she'd would make it to August 13th.

WHAT?!?

Then Panic Officially Set In!! I had all my baby projects carefully planned out! Minute by minute, day by day! He can't come early! I'm not ready yet!

So I spent the last two days putting projects in overdrive. And I did it!

I've finished Cohen's bedding, packed my bags, closed out the month at the store, lined up people to be on stand-by to work when I'm gone, and have even recovered the changing table that Tif used when she was born (btw, it is SO DANG CUTE! That's a whole other post so I'll show you pictures as soon as we get to Tif's).

Okay, now I'm ready. "National La-La Day" (La-La...my new Grandma name!) and my baby Cohen will be here soon!!

But for now, we just wait... sigh...

Difficult Days

“It is difficult today

to see beyond our sorrow,

May our cherished memories

help comfort us tomorrow"

Our dear sister Sharon passed from this earth and our loving family on July 1st.

Billy & I want to thank you my friends

for your prayers, cards, phone calls, texts,

and loving support during this very emotional time.

Love You So Much!

Please Pray

Hello My Friends,

I write today with a fearful heart.

You've read my posts for months and months now so you are all familiar with my sister-in-laws Sandy & Sharon. Sandy & Sharon are my husband's older twin sisters and we have spent many, many fun times with each other over the last 30 years.

Sharon (who lives in New York) suffered a heart attack and had triple bypass surgery about 3 weeks ago. She's been recovering pretty well and Sandy & Amy left this past Saturday to spend the next couple of weeks with her.

However, once they got off the plane they drove straight to the emergency room because Sharon had been admitted with breathing problems. The Dr.'s drained 2 liters of fluid from her lung and we thought all was well. She was sitting up in bed visiting and we expected her to be released later that evening.

That was not the case. Sharon's oxygen levels began dropping and the next thing we knew she was being intubated and placed on life support.

Many of you have met Sharon before and know what an amazing woman she is and what a giving spirit she has. She is a faithful servant of God, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

I am writing now to ask you to take a moment to pray for God to work through her to give her the strength she needs to fight through this. And also a prayer that The Lord will give the doctors the wisdom they need and that He will guide their hands so that she can be healed.

In times like this we reach out to the ones we love the most so I'm asking you for your help.

Love You!

Cheryl

'Shower-To-Go'

Maybe life was slowing down a little

...hahahahah! That's really funny!!

Well, maybe life was getting a little boring

...giggle...

(No, actually, that totally cracks me up!!)

Seriously, my niece Allyn is getting married.

And we (all her aunts & girl cousins)wanted to honor her by giving her

a Lingerie Shower... Luncheon...PARTY...EXTRAVAGANZA!!

The only problem...she lives 8 hours away.

Okay...could be difficult...but not impossible!

We'll just pack a 'Shower-to-Go'!

(Hey, wait...did I just come up with a new phrase?!?--nahh, probably not.)

Sorry--stay with me here.

Since the two aunts (Sandy & Sharon) weren't able to attend...my daughters and niece Amy were more than excited to tag right along with me.

Now, I have to ask....

....Have you ever given a 'long-distance shower'?

Then you know what I mean when I say HOLY SMOKES!!

You have to think of EVERYTHING!!!

I must be out of my mind!! (shut-up!)

Okay, so since many of you know that I am such a tedious planner

(chuckle, chuckle, followed by obnoxious bursts of laughter)

you won't be surprised to hear that I had spent weeks planning

and making lists & purchases

so that 'no butter mint would be left unturned'!

This was for Allyn.

And it had to be perfect!

So we packed. And we packed. And we packed.

Dishes, tablecloths, napkins, silverware, ingredients, serving pieces,

flower vases, gifts, favors, even mixing bowls and mixer

(because we were preparing the food in the hotel).

We arrived in College Station on Friday evening

and the whirlwind of activity began.

We met Allyn & James for dinner,
made a mad dash to Sam's Club before they closed,
checked into the hotel,
unloaded the car,
made a late-night run to Wal-Mart for all the ingredients,
and started preparing the food.

It was just a few hours after dark-thirty by the time we crawled into bed

but we were right on schedule

(thanks to some brilliant planning--grin)

All planning aside, I'm sure I wasn't the most popular girl in the room

when I woke Amy, Tif & Chell up on Saturday morning.

They were still exhausted from driving, shopping, and cooking from the day before.

I felt like The Task Master...but "up and at 'em!" we had a luncheon to give!

We got to Allyn's apartment and the transformation began.

We moved furniture, prepared food, set up tables & chairs,

and started 'foo-fooing' everything up...

...So after much anticipation...

Heeeerrrre's The Shower!

Here's one of the place settings:

Each guest received a tiara votive candle, a candy-filled 'glass' slipper, a tea infuser, and demitasse spoon as keepsakes from the day.

Each guest also got their own little 'cupcake in a cup'.

Now 'How Cute Is That!?!'

And a special thanks goes out to Sharon's friend Diana in New York

who made these ADORABLE sugar cubes!

We served chicken salad on croissant sandwiches,

a raspberry vinegarette Waldorf salad,

chocolate covered strawberries,

white chocolate strawberry dessert cheeseball,

a really delicious strawberry lemonade (straight from Paula Deen's magazine),

and for dessert we had a chocolate and vanilla trifle.

White Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Cheeseball

& Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

Can you EVER have enough chocolate covered strawberries?

I made little tussie mussie corsages for each guest.

But I secretly placed a small gold ring in one of the corsages

so a special gift would be given to the guest

who had the ring in her corsage

(well, unless you're ME --

and didn't pin on the corsage that actually had the ring in it!!)

~sigh~

It was such a great idea and I REALLY, REALLY didn't think

I'd left the winning corsage sitting on the tray! (Grrrrr!).

No one seemed to care and truly, everything turned out just as beautiful as I'd hoped!

And MOSTLY,

we were able to create a really special memory for a really special girl!

Here's to Allyn and 'Showers-to-Go'!!

Happy Father's Day!

I've been quite busy these few weeks getting projects finished for my niece Allyn's wedding.

Today it was painting the banner that will hang off the head-table during the reception.

But, enough about that later...

Mostly, I wanted to say Happy Fathers Day to the two most special men in my life.

I want to thank my Dad for being such a good listener and for being so supportive and encouraging me to pursue my dreams. And boy do I dream BIG!!!

Love You Dad!!

And special thanks go to Billy for being simply the BEST husband and father we girls could ever haved dreamed of! You've sacrificed more than we will EVER know just to make our lives more magical. You Totally Rock!!

Hugs and Kisses to my special guys!

And a Happy Fathers Day wish to all of the special men in your lives.

We Found a Pink Cloverleaf!

I-I-I-I know...

Work before Play.

And that was our plan.

My sister-in-law Sandy and I were on our way to open the store in Canton.

We left early because we had a long way--and a long day--ahead of us.

As we approached Ardmore, Oklahoma I remembered

that there was a really, really, REALLY neat boutique

called The Cloverleaf.

I'd been wanting to take Sandy there for a really long time.

So we pulled off the interstate and were greeted by a sea of pink! Fabulous Cotton Candy Pink!

From the pink bicycle-lined driveway to the enchanting pink castle

we were immediately swept up in the whimsy!

We were out of the car in a flash!

We oooh-ed and aahhh-ed at all of the unique, eclectic, funky items

scattered along the front of the store.

There was so much to take in!

We couldn't wait to see what was waiting for us inside!

We were so 'caught up in the coolness'

that we literally tripped over the

DANG IT!!!

Store Hours 10am-6pm.

It's only 9:15! We don't have the time to wait 45 minutes.

Sandy said, "Nooo!!! I want to see! Knock on the door

and tell them that we're traveling

and we want to come inside!" (Gotta love her!)

Okay, quick...come up with Plan B...

...we'll just leave Canton early on Sunday and get back here in time to shop.

Okay...That's a Plan!

And that's just what we did!

It's usually very hard for me to get away from Canton at a decent hour

but we did it and pulled back up to the store on Sunday at 5:15.

I was so proud! We were going to have a whole 45 minutes to shop!

Once again, we were mesmerized by the fun and funkiness of everything we saw!

So, Let's Get Inside!

Wait!!!???!!! What???!!!

NO.....WAY!!

How could I be so blind?

They close on Sundays at 5:00!!!

How did I miss that??

AAAaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!

Okay...deep breaths....we'll just come up with Plan C...

...Plan C...we'll just have to visit the Cloverleaf store in Oklahoma City

and come back here in June with both sister-in-laws Sandy AND Sharon

when Sharon comes to visit from New York.

I know, I know...all good things are worth the wait.

Sigh.

Here's My Sign!!

It's a Red Letter Day!!

FINALLY... After all this time...we've raised the sign in front of the store!

It's been a real logistical challenge.
And finally THAT challenge became a reality.

I found a great website for a company called Build-a-Sign.

On their site you can design your own affordable signs, banners, magnets, etc.!
In full color!! At no extra charge!

So that's just what I did!

It's not the first time I've used them. And I haven't been disappointed yet.

I've been so pleased with their service and attention to detail

that I've used them to order banners for Canton, Junior Service League,

and now my Antique Mall.

When I placed my first order it was for a banner for Canton.
I thought I had done everything just right.
But once the guys at Build-a-Sign saw the file that I uploaded they knew I wouldn't be pleased with the outcome so they e-mailed me right away.

WHO DOES THAT??

They worked with me for several days until we came up with a banner in the right format
and I JUST LOVE IT!!

See!!??

Anyway...

I designed a banner for the Antique Mall and ordered 2 (one for each side of the sign).

Once I got them in Billy and I spent the day mounting them to plywood.

Now...building the sign was really a piece of cake.

It was the raising it that was really giving us problems.

See, there is already a sign on the property that belongs to the store next door.

So...if I was going to put up a sign, it had to go UP...

ABOVE the sign that was already there.

Now how in the heck are we gonna' do THAT??!?

Mildly put...

...we're short.

And I'm afraid of heights.

Solution? Call a friend.

Within a matter of 10 minutes Craig and a couple of his friends had my sign in place!!
Seriously!! I barely had time to grab the camera. They were AMAZING!!

Some folks might consider the whole process to be Jeff Foxworth material.

True to the 'Southern Bubba Style' they actually backed their pickup between the poles of the sign...stood on the pickup toolbox...and RAISED MY SIGN!