Then life happened.
Some of you know and some of you may not (mainly because it's not one of the things I talk about a lot on the blog here) that my son has cerebral palsy and a few other health issues and is dependent on my husband and I for just about everything. OK, everything.
We love him to the moon and back!
But last Monday I had to rush him to the ER. And next thing you know we're spending a lot of time in ICU with a bad case of pneumonia that threw his entire body into a tailspin.
When last I saw you I was talking about my home office and how I would be back in a few days to show you what was in all those cute baskets and tins and stuff. At that point I had the post half-written and was patting myself on the back for being ahead of the game.
He is fine now. Thank God.
But it was a pretty scary time and something I do not wish to ever experience again.
Today is the first day I actually felt I could sit down and write anything about it. My brain was fried and the whole idea of sitting down at my computer to think and to type was so overwhelming.
So why am I telling you all this? Just to let you know that . . .
I don't know.
But what I do know is that I am a one woman show here. Some bloggers have a staff of writers who ghost-write articles for them (gasp). But it's just me here. I want my blog to be MY voice writing about MY ideas.
So when something big happens that takes precedent over writing a pretty post about a DIY project or home decor, then I will drop y'all like a hot potato.
Sorry, but even though I love you to death and even though this is my job now, my son is my number 1 priority.
and
My home is still stuck in winter-land!!! I have paper snowflakes in my entryway, my winter porch pots are still on my front porch drying out as we speak and I may have a winter vignette still setting on my coffee table.
Although I'm seeing Easter bunnies, spring wreaths and gardening posts smacking me in the face on other blogs, I'm just not there yet. I mean, it's March (I just realized that this morning) so it's not odd to see spring posts, but I'm already feeling behind before I have eaten my first Cadbury Egg.
Anyhow, I wanted to thank everyone who sent me emails asking if everything was OK. And I wanted to explain where I've been. And I wanted to tell you to hug your babies and grandbabies!
Oh heck, hug your furbabies while you're at it.
I'll see you this weekend with the post about the rest of my office. I pinkie swear.
Psst - that's totally not my photo up above. I bought it on Canva. I don't even know any lambs. Or sheep.
Elizabeth Shepard
Pam, in my family - family is priority # 1!! Praise God that he is on the road to recovery! Sometimes I think in my life, when something takes a drastic turn, that to me that means to slow down and "smell the roses". Life is such a precious gift that I sometimes forget that. Take care of yourself and your family! We miss your posts, but I look forward to you catching us up! Blessings
Audrey
Sending you healing thoughts and prayers for your son and also for you, because when your baby is sick, you are sick too (no matter how old they are). Don't ever apologize about your priorities. I love your blog and will read that before all the others with their perfect rooms and lives. No offense to them but your's is REAL. Take care.
Bonnie
Thanks for sharing. It is always humbling to hear about the real life that goes behind the pretty pictures.
Karen Robbins
I am so glad that things are getting better for you and your family. It's such a scary time when our children are ill. You are so right - they are the most important thing in our lives. I've been slow to get all the winter decorations down and put away. I enjoy your blog so much and am looking forward to all of your spring ideas. Take care.
Kari Wagner Hoban
Sending you love from my blog that only has one writer too.
Dawn Pinnataro
So glad your son is doing much better! And boy, don't we ALL understand life happens! Just when I finally was getting my mojo on to do a big declutter of my 'stuff' (mainly closets, dresser drawers, planned to straighen out my hutch drawers - which is the ONLY thing I pretty much got done in 2 months, planned to declutter and straighten up my dish storage closet and do a little valentine's display on my hutch), we got hit on Jan 2nd with EF1 tornado in my area where I live and we were lucky with minimal damage though ALOT of downed trees / damage in my town, and I had no power for a week. Then my town got hit with an BIG EF3 tornado at the other end of town on Jan 22nd. Then, I started to really feel fatigued after I FINALLY got all my Xmas stuff packed up near the end of January!! I felt run down for a week or two into February and had no energy to do anything but drag my butt to work M-F & collapse on the weekends... when I then got hit with shingles on Feb 14th!!! Wonderful. So didn't do a dang bit of decor for Valentine's day and still have Xmas platters stacked up on the end of my dining room table. I am on the tail end of the shingles now and starting to feel much better so MAYBE I can put out my tiny St Pat's stuff on hutch and dining table and MAYBE put away the Xmas platters. I have bare shelves / areas in my living room because I never put back the display items from when I put up Xmas decor. Whew.... so much for my big plans to declutter. Maybe later this spring when I take a few vacation days I might get something done! Anyways, life happens and we just have to go with the flow.... Glad you are all doing well now!!!
Carolyn J Harness
I sympathize with your recent ordeal, and understand. When your child is seriously ill, you just can't think about ANYTHING else! My daughter had pneumonia at age 14, and although she was otherwise healthy, I was terrified for several days!
And don't fret about your decorations for spring - I still have to take down the snowflakes dangling in my windows! (Maybe today...)
Hugs to you and yours.
Shara
Family and especially our KIDS will always come first. I am glad he is better now. You must have been terrified. Paper snowflakes can wait. Take care of yourself too!
Theresa
So glad to hear your son is on the mend - how scary. Love your voice and your decor and garden ideas but family first!
Pat Miller
Gosh! You've been busy!! Glad to hear things have settled down and everyone is doing fine! Thank you for being "real".
I don't feel that badly now about taking Christmas down. My rule when I was working was to have it packed away by Valentine's day. Now that I am recently retired, it STILL took me until Valentine's day to get organized! Go figure!
Hugs to you and your family. Don't worry about "us", we'll wait for you...
Jenny
I WAS wondering about no posts, but I was busy, etc. so never pursued finding out. So sorry about your troubles and so glad all is well. Totally admire you. Thanks for everything.
Myreda Johnson
Glad things are getting back to normal. I always feel lucky to share in your ideas. I am perfectly happy with whatever you offer us whenever you are willing to.
Cindy
Please...take some time to pamper yourself and rest. I suspect you are a "one woman show" in more ways than just this blog...
Take care...give your son a sweet hug for me...and I did miss you :--)
Ann
Pam-Bless your family and your son, I'm so glad to hear he is doing better. I wasn't aware of his condition. Makes me all the more amazed at all the fun projects you manage while handling his care. We lost my Mom in January (age 91) and have been just getting back to normal as well. With everything going on then, I didn't get my Christmas tree up....until February. Hey, I do what I want! Suddenly this morning, I was done with it and took it down. Coincidently, I re-read your last blog and wondered what you were up to. Looking forward to the enjoyment you'll provide to all of us this coming year, but most importantly, wishing you, hubby and your dear son a happy and healthy year.
Dot Mungarro
Big hugs. Glad everything is well.
Leslie in MN
I want to add my good wishes for your family. I think we all can relate to the need to put family first. I know how scary it can be when a child, or another loved one, is in danger. So glad things have worked out. I hope you and your husband can feel at peace now.