TerpThon

Hi all! I'm Savvy. Some of you may remember hearing from me a couple times before about Terp Thon. For the past two years, I have been a participant of this event. This year, though, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be more involved with this amazing organization. This is just such an incredible and worthy cause, and I can't even begin to imagine my life without it. So for those of you who don't know or remember, let me tell ya all about it.

Terp Thon is a student-run organization at UMD. We raise money and awareness year-round for the Children's Miracle Network, which connects us to a local hospital. All the money we raise goes directly to our hospital, the Children's National Medical Center in DC. The Dance Marathon is an event in the spring at which participants pledge to stand on their feet for 12 hours for those who can't. The 12 hours represents the typical nurse's shift at the hospital. The Dance Marathon is basically a celebration of all the money we raised throughout the year. We invite some of the kids from the hospital and just make them feel like rockstars for the day. It is an absolute blast, and it really is a life-changing event. In only our second year last year, Terp Thon raised nearly $140,000 - more than any Dance Marathon has ever raised in its second or third year! Terp Thon is one of the fastest growing Dance Marathons in the nation, and we continue to try to make it even better.

Everything we do is FTK, For The Kids. The kids in these hospitals deserve nothing but the best. Every year, I meet more of these kids, and every time, they make my heart melt. Everything they go through, yet they maintain such spirit and motivation. It just moves you. They are so grateful for what we do. And to think, for most of us it's as simple as turning down that one Starbucks coffee or putting down that extra skein of yarn in order to donate a couple dollars to the cause. These "couple dollars" add up so quickly and truly help save lives. Check out this video to see a little about what we're trying to do here. We are trying to make a difference in the lives of amazing kids like Ollie.

This time of year, I think it's really important to be grateful for everything we have. I think we often get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everything that we forget the simple things in life. This holiday season, I just ask that you remember the real reason for the holidays and enjoy it.

If in the spirit of the season you're interested in donating to this incredible cause, please feel free to check out my donation page: www.helpmakemiracles.org/participant/smason . I definitely appreciate it, and I know the kids do as well…more than I can even express.

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Ice man

Mr. Bettis and his owner slipped on the ice. Not together but with a similar outcome.
He injured his leg and was taken pulling and tugging to the vet on Saturday. Have I ever mentioned how horrible he is at the vet? Well if not take my word, he's AWFUL!
The car ride is a nightmare let alone his antics in the waiting room until....he sees our favorite vet. Dr. B is a Steelers fan so I think he has an admiration of Mr. Bettis beyond the average vet.
He tore a ligament and is on meds and bedrest. Yeah. Right. Try the bedrest thing with Mr. B (eyeroll here). Even Dr. B chuckled over keeping him calm because he made it clear Mr. B is an overactive dog (as if we didn't know that).

Mr. B's owner didn't fare any better and after much ta-do we headed to the dr's office an hour and half away. After cutting a shine at the dr's office, DH was transported by ambulance to the hospital. I can say 'cutting a shine' because my jangled nerves are calm now.
He's on a boatload of meds, a monitor and resting somewhat comfortably.

We didn't get home until midnight (after my parents made the trip to get us) and I'm exhausted.
I must leave with a bit of humor. We have two sons (both married) and two daughters. After the DH was pumped with pain meds, muscle relaxants and who knows what else he became a bit lethargic and proceeded to mumble something about our THREE daughters. Say what???? LOL Caused the nurse and I to have a good laugh.

Disguised blessings

Been absent for a little while. There have been many blessings in my life and when I don't choke up I'll blog about them but for now just know that I have the best friends in the world.

I've been quiet about a few things and hesitate to post too much but feel I should at least inform those who read this blog. Our eldest daughter has been dealing with serious medical issues for quite a while and after much testing we are heading to a University Hospital for further evaluation.

This picture is a repeat pic and forgive me for re-posting it but I absolutely love it. It describes our daughter to a tee. She's a laid back kind of gal and has an infectious personality. Quiet but full of little quips that make you laugh. Loves animals and as of this writing just called to tell me that she captured a stray dog and is transporting it to a new found home.

I love snow and hope we get a good snowstorm although it's not looking too favorable here. However that could be a blessing in disguise as we'll be in the car for several hours traveling to the hospital. I'm packing the knitting bag and a few snacks (gotta have snacks you know). I'm starting on Christmas gifts already. There have been quite a few gift requests from my crew and trust me, the list is long ;).

What are you knitting?

Escape

The surgery is over and now the recuperation begins. Not permitted to do anything for 2 weeks. Could someone please send a memo to Mr. Bettis?
Recovery was 3 1/2 hours long due to the many issues involved with this leg.

Crutches and I are not the best buddies. Seems I want to go one way and they want to go another.

The DH is home to "help." I've considered posting bulletins all over the house defining what the words "help around the house" actually mean. (eyeroll)
He's somewhat good about doing tasks but he must have a break between each chore. What's up with that? Takes him all day to do what I do in a morning. I know, I know, at least he does them but I must tell him each and every chore.
I've considered making a list of the everyday chores but I'm not sure he'd follow it.
Just like any other day Mr. B & Co have been in and out countless times and the DH started grumbling about getting up and down to let them outside until I said, "welcome to my world." That ended that.

2010 could take a hike as far as I'm concerned. I have had enough.

I'm dreaming of an island vacation with a copacabana boy to run my errands and serve margaritas with little umbrellas.

I can lay back on the shore with my books and knitting with no cares in the world.

I'm off to la-la dreamland now..........

I'm...........

The following post was drafted earlier this week but I haven't had time to publish it.

My mother is slowly but surely recuperating at home. My father has been re-admitted to the hospital with complications from the New year's surgery.

My schedule has been hectic to say the least. Add in my 88 yr old grandmother with her dr appts etc. and I have had very little time left in a day.

I don't mind. I'm glad I'm there for them. However, I'm tired. Not complaining, just stating. By the end of the day, I come home from my mother's, I shower and drop into bed. Not much knitting going on around here with the exception of the dr office waiting room and when I have some free time while sitting with mom.

I'm going a little nuts right now:).

I plan to find a few free moments this weekend. What is everyone else doing this weekend?

Update!

Mom made it through surgery and is recovering. YAY! When she asked for her knitting, I knew she would be fine. She is still in the hospital. We're just waiting for the insurance to decide when to send her home (don't get me started on insurance companies).

I am going to my parents' home to clean, do laundry and cook a few meals today. My sister will be there to help.

I have started quite a few sock projects during my hospital visits so pictures will be coming soon. Don't ask why I didn't finish any socks. I have no idea why I didn't take socks to finish but chose instead to start new pairs. I'm running out of dpns around here. I think that's a sign to finish a pair isn't it? LOL