April Fool's Day

Well, I guess I should explain my 3 month absence.  On December 21st, I had 6 of my friends coming for Christmas brunch at 10:00 o'clock.  I awoke at 5 AM that morning with severe pain in my right side....more or less in my hip.....but found out later the pain was coming from a degenerated disk in my lower back.  I couldn't even get out of bed without almost screaming!  It took me about an hour to finally maneuver myself out of bed and then I couldn't stand with any pressure on my right side.  To make a long story short, my friends came and had to practically serve themselves and ended up cleaning up before they left!  (Real friends!) I ended up going to the hospital that night in an ambulance (which I fought all the way -- but couldn't get myself into our car because the pain was so great!).  

I was admitted and was in the hospital for a week (yes, over Christmas!). One of my sweet daughter-in-laws offered to transfer the family Christmas brunch to their house on Christmas morning.  The whole week was spent in testing, x-rays, CT scans, etc.  While I was in the hospital, several other weird things were happening to my body and when I was released, they just called it "weakness".  Hmmm.   I came home and spent most of my time in bed.  Went back to the hospital 2 weeks later for more tests, an MRI, (stayed a week again)  and 3 months later I have just begun to feel normal.  The whole thing has affected my memory, my physical ability to walk a straight line, and many other strange conditions.  Wish I could say this was an April Fool's story but it's all true and probably the worst 3 months of my entire life. So many prayerful friends and family continued to pray for me and I count it the very reason I am doing as well as I am now. Not once during this time did I have any creative ability or desire.  I was glad I had finished the ornaments! (See earlier posts)  Thus, my absence explained and I'm planning on finding my muse once again so be watching!