Simply Less is More # 194

Hello There,
Once again thank you all for your lovely, supportive comments regarding Ruby. I`m sorry if I didn`t get around to you last week but I`m sure you`ll understand what a trying week it`s been. More later.

This weeks challenge at Simply Less is More is to make a card using LITTLE CREATURES
Well....I had a good root about and found this set of stamps I bought years ago from Creative Expressions ( I think) and only inked up once. Although the stamps are quite a good size, mice are quite small creatures aren`t they?

I started by stamping the two mice then, after masking them I stamped the lamp post. I also made a mask for the lamp so I could sponge the background with decorative chalks.
I coloured the image with Promarkers and added a sentiment from the same set. Unfortunately I caught the edge of the stamp and left a tiny mark so I`ve covered it with a clear gem.

Right, back to Ruby. Last week she had a lumber puncture and a CT scan on her head. There was some concern that she may have a tumour in her nasal passages aswell as she was still having some trouble breathing especially when laying flat. Anyway both sets of results have come back clear so that is a bonus. The steroids seem to be working and her breathing has improved over the last few days but she has ballooned. Her face looks like the moon bless her, she does look healthy but we are aware that it`s the steroids and she will lose weight once the treatment starts.
Because she has already had a full course of Chemo and quite recently, the effects appear alot sooner so she will start to lose her hair almost immediately. Not sure how she`ll deal with that this time but I`m sure we`ll get round it somehow. So this is the start of another 2 year treatment plan which will probably last at least 6 months longer because there`ll be times when treatment is delayed because of infections. By the time it`s finished poor kid will have spent more than half her life having treatment.
 Apart from that Ruby is fine. Loving the attention, making friends with the nursing staff and eating like a horse.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 193

Hello There !

I`d first like to say a very big thank you for all your lovely comments and the support and prayers you`ve sent for Ruby. It means such a lot to us all. More later.

This week it`s the dreaded One Layer Card at Simply Less is More and we are asked to include,
                                                        2 of Something

A pretty basic card really. I`ve used 2 leaves.
A simple panel chalked with yellow, orange and a touch of red to keep with the autumnal theme.
I stamped 2 leaves from Hero Arts, in clear ink and embossed them in detail gold EP.
The sentiment is There She Goes stamped in Black Versafine ink.

Ruby gave us quite a scare last monday when she went to theatre.The doctors were hoping to do a biopsy, a lumber puncture and fit a port in one operation but she stopped breathing under the anaesthetic. My daughter rang in a mad panic because they`d been told Ruby might have to go into intensive care. They`d managed to do the biopsy but had to bring her round quickly because the tumour was blocking her airways.After a couple of very worrying  hours Mum rang back to say that Ruby was back on the ward and chatting away after eating her way through a plate full of fish fingers and chips. Phew!
Doctors decided to give a few days rest and after scanning on friday she was taken back to theatre for the rest of her procedure. She has a T-Cell Lymphoma which I think is a form of Leukemia but we are still waiting for the results from her spinal fluid to see which type it is. Apart from that she is fine. Mum and dad are being as honest as they can with her, answering her questions and she seems to be taking it all on board for now. I think the worse thing for Ruby will be when her hair falls out again but we`ll deal with that when it happens.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 192

Hello there, it`s a thoroughly miserable day today over most of the UK so not a day for getting out and about. What better excuse to stay put and craft.
The challenge over on Simply Less is More this week is a colour one and perfect for this month as it`s title is,
                                                                AUTUMN BOUNTY

I used decorative chalks in red, orange, yellow and green on Papermill White Linen card before cutting it out with a Spellbinders Hexagon die.
I cut a larger hexagon in white and mounted them, one on top the other using foam pads.
The leaf is cut from a X Cut die in dark yellow card and I`ve chalked the edges with orange.
Finished off with a sentiment from There She Goes.

We had some really devastating news over the weekend...Ruby has cancer again. After being cancer free for over a year the evil disease has come back to have another go.I can`t begin to tell you how we`re all feeling but especially her mum & dad who are, understandably, devastated.
Ruby had a really bad, chesty cough for about 3 weeks which didn`t respond to antibiotics or an inhaler so on friday her GP referred her to Hull Royal for an X ray. HRI liased with Leeds General where all her treatment will take place and they admitted her immediately.
It was thought to be a secondary wilms tumour that had settled in her lungs but apparently it`s a new cancer altogether, thought to be caused by the radiation she had for her last treatment, and is in her upper airway and pushing against her lungs but is easily treatable. It just means she has go through all the chemo and the side effects that go with it all over again.
That`s about all I know for now exept they have put her on steroids to control her breathing so they can do a biopsy and a lumber puncture and also to fit a port, which is left in to admit any medication she needs.
Because Ruby was only 3 last time her treatment started she just got on with it and accepted everything that needed doing but now she`s 6 and can remember things she`s a very frightened little girl. I`m sure the staff at LGI will deal with that as they are wonderful there.
So... not a very happy post today, sorry about that.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx