AMY DAWN, MY BUTTERFLY

THIS IS A PICTURE OF AMY WITH DR. DEXEUS LAST HALLOWEEN, 2008.

IT WAS A VERY HAPPY TIME FOR HER, PASSING OUT BAGS OF CANDY

THAT WE HAD MADE FOR ALL THE STAFF. 30 MINUTES LATER SHE

HAD A FEVER AND WAS RECEIVING IV ANTIBIOTICS.

AMY IS VERY CRITICAL AS I TYPE THIS. SHE IS IN PAIN EVERY WHERE

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE TO POSITION HER AND SHE CRIES

OUT IN PAIN. I SHOULD SAY IT IS THE FIRST TIME SHE WILL

ALLOW US TO POSITION HER.

MY HEART IS SO FULL OF PAIN AS I TELL YOU WITHOUT AN

INSTANT MIRACLE, OUR AMY IS ABOUT TO FLY FREE.

I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SO VERY

KIND TO HAVE MADE HER LAUGH AND SMILE THROUGH THE

BEAUTIFUL CARDS AND GIFTS YOU HAVE SENT.

YOUR KINDNESS WILL NEVER GO UNNOTICED AND YOU WILL

BE REMEMBERED FOREVER BY THIS FAMILY, ESPECIALLY ME.

WHAT DO I WANT YOU TO KNOW:

1. AMY IS MY ONLY DAUGHTER AND SHE HAS BROUGHT ME, HER

DAD, AND HER ONLY BROTHER SUCH GREAT JOY, AS WELL AS

HER GRANDPARENTS. SHE WAS THE FIRST GRANDCHILD ON THE RAGAN

SIDE AND BOY WAS SHE SPOILED.

2. SHE HAS TAUGHT US HOW TO BE BRAVE AND NEVER, EVER GIVE

UP THE FIGHT...SHE LOVES LIFE

3. TO STAND FIRM IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND SOMETIMES BEING

STUBBORN IS A GOOD THING

4. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL ARTIST

5. THAT HER HEART IS AS BIG AS ALL OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA

TOGETHER

6. SHE LOVES ANIMALS ESPECIALLY DOGS AND CATS

7. SHE IS A CHRISTIAN....THAT SHOULD BE ON THE TOP

OF THE LIST

8. SHE WAS DUE TO BE BORN ON MAY 27, 1976 AND WAS TAKEN

BY EMERGENCY C-SECTION ON 7/6/76........OH THAT IS RIGHT

ALMOST 2 MONTHS OVERDUE....SHE WAS IN TROUBLE AND

WE ALMOST LOST HER AT BIRTH.......SHE HAS KEPT US

WAITING EVER SINCE.....(THE CANCER RESEARCH TEAM MADE

NOTE OF THAT FACT WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

AS A CHILD...IF A CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

WAS ALSO A BABY THAT WAS OVERDUE)

9. FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO HER

10. SHE COLLECTS BARBIE DOLLS AND HAS OVER 350, AND

ONLY ONE OF THEM HAS EVER BEEN OUT OF THE BOX

11. SHE IS A LOYAL FRIEND WHO IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU

12. SHE HAS LOTS OF FRIENDS BUT ONLY ONE BEST FRIEND,

NAMED LEILA, WHO ALSO HAD CANCER

13. SHE LOVES HALLOWEEN AND IT IS ALWAYS A BIG DEAL

FOR WHAT SHE IS GOING TO BE EVERY YEAR....MY CLOSET IS

FULL OF HER COSTUMES....NOT THE CLOSET AT HER HOUSE

BUT MY HOUSE. SHE PLANS TO BE DOROTHY OF THE

WIZARD OF OZ THIS YEAR

I AM REALLY JUST WASTING TIME...I SET AT HER BEDSIDE AND

THEN I BECOME SO OVERCOME WITH GRIEF I HAVE TO COME

TYPE IT OUT....I HAVE TO GET THE GRIEF OUT SO I CAN GO BACK

AND SMILE. THE WAY WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER, WE DON'T HAVE

TO SPEAK. AMY KNOWS SHE IS SO SICK.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US ALL.

ANGEL HUGS

LOVE

Debbie

"I'LL GET YOU MY PRETTY"

LYNN AT http://paintingthymeneedfuls.blogspot.com

RECENTLY HAD AN AWESOME GIVE AWAY.....IN THE COMMENTS

YOU HAD TO TELL HOW YOU WERE A ...."WITCH!"

ARE YOU A GOOD WITCH OR A BAD WITCH?

I LOVE THAT LINE FROM THE MOVIE THE WIZARD OF OZ!

I'LL TELL YOU HERE LATELY MY HUSBAND WOULD PROBABLY

SAY I WAS A BAD WITCH. EMOTIONS RUN VERY HIGH WHEN

THERE IS A SICK LOVED ONE IN THE HOME, SUCH AS OUR

DAUGHTER, AMY DAWN.

I WON! I WON! I WON!

HOORAY I WON!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE

WHEN THE CLOUDS DANCED AROUND THE MOON

MY PACKAGE FROM LYNN AT http://paintingthymeneedfuls.blogspot.com

WOULD BE ARRIVING SOON

AS NIGHT TURNED TO DAY

A BIG BLACK CROW SOARED UP AND AWAY

THE RUSTY CROW LOVED NEEDFUL THINGS

HE HOPED ABOVE HOPE IT CONTAINED SOME BLING

THE BOX ARRIVED AT THE ANGEL PORCH WITH CARE

BUT........

IT WAS CARRIED INSIDE BY THE MAN OF THE HOUSE

AND.......

ALL THE RUSTY CROW COULD DO..... WAS SET ON THE

ANGEL PORCH AND STARE

EVEN AS THE BOX WAS BEING OPENED

SO AMY DAWN COULD SEE

THE OLD RUSTY CROW CAWED,

"I'LL GET YOU MY PRETTY!

THAT IS A PROMISE FROM ME!"

THE BOX WAS A TREASURE CHEST OF BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED

ITEMS. BEING AN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY...OSU...FAN,

IT WAS DELIGHTFUL TO SEE THE ORANGE TISSUE PAPER WITH

PRETTY ORANGE RIBBONS.

MY DH, ME, AND AMY OOHED AND AWED OVER EVERY ITEM

AS IT CAME OUT OF THE BOX. IT WAS AS EXCITING AS

CHRISTMAS.

I HAVE WATCHED COMMERCIALS ABOUT THE LINDT

LINDOR TRUFFLES. NO ONE IN MY LITTLE IMMEDIATE

FAMILY HAVE EVER HAD A TRUFFLE.

I LIKE CANDY THAT HAS COCONUT AND NUTS GENERALLY.......

BUT OH MY!!!!! THESE TRUFFLES ARE SINFULLY GOOD.

THEY NEED TO BE PUT IN FINE CRYSTAL AND SERVED ON

CHINA, ONCE A DAY AT 4 PM. SOOOOOO VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU LYNN. MY DH AND I LEFT THE ROOM TO TRY A

TRUFFLE, SINCE OUR DAUGHTER TAKES NOTHING BY MOUTH....

SQUEALS AND GIGGLES OF DELIGHT.....VERY GOOD.

AWESOME BOTTLE OF WITCH HAZEL........IT HAS A VERY UNIQUE

TEXTURE ON THE BOTTLE. IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS A THOUSAND YEARS

OLD AND HAD BEEN COOKED AND BOILED FOR SOME TIME. A

UNIQUE PIECE OF ART......LOVED IT.

THIS HAT IS SO UNIQUE. I WILL TREASURE IT FOR YEARS TO COME. IT

IS SIGNED UNDERNEATH THE BRIM. IT LOOKS VERY, VERY OLD. IT HAS

TWO RUSTY BELLS AND SWEET ANNIE ON IT....A PICTURE JUST DOES NOT

DO LYNN'S WORK JUSTICE. IT IS ALSO QUITE HEAVY.

THE SIGN IS AWESOME. I LOVE IT. IT IS GORGEOUS....MADE WITH

PERFECTION. OH LYNN, YOU ARE AN AWESOME ARTIST.

YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MADE MY DH, ME, AND AMY SO HAPPY

UNWRAPPING THIS BOX OF JOY AND IMAGINATION.

YUMMY POTPOURRI

SMELLS SO VERY GOOD

MEET MY PRECIOUS LITTLE PUNKIN' FRIENDS

JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE....

HE SOOOOOOO WARMS THE HEART

YOU JUST WANT TO SQUEEZE HIS CHEEKS

ADORABLE

HE REMINDS ME OF THE OLD GOOFY GRAPE

HE'S SHY.....A LITTLE SHRINKING VIOLET

JUST LOOK AT THOSE EYES

WE DIDN'T GET THE 5TH PUNKIN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH BUT

THESE CUTE DARLINGS WERE MADE BY LYNN....OUT OF

"LIGHTBULBS."

THESE ARE THE SWEETEST, CUTEST, AND MOST CHERISHED LITTLE

PUMPKINS I HAVE EVER SEEN.

THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE GIVE AWAY BUT I HAD MADE A

COMMENT TO LYNN ABOUT HOW ADORABLE THEY WERE. SHE HAD

MADE A PUMPKIN TREE.

WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS BUY AN ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE.

I AM GOING TO PUT THE HAT ON TOP OF THE TREE.

MY MOTHER FOUND HERSELF SOME CANDY CORN LIGHTS.

I WANT TO FIND SOME CANDY CORN LIGHTS AND SOME LITTLE ORANGE

LIGHTS TO PUT AROUND THE TREE WITH SWAGS OF ARTIFICIAL LEAVES

WRAPPED AROUND AND THEN HANG THESE PRECIOUS PUMPKINS.

I'LL POSITION THE SIGN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TREE AND SET

SOME RED SPARKLY SHOES AT THE BOTTOM WITH SOME PUMPKINS...

REAL PUMPKINS THAT IS.

AMY WILL LOVE IT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH LYNN. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GIVE AWAY.






IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO LYNN'S BLOG YOU ARE MISSING A REAL






TREAT. SHE IS SO CREATIVE AND TALENTED AND FUNNY.







http://paintingthymeneedfuls.blogspot.com

UPDATE ON AMY:



SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THROUGH HEIDI, MY NIECES BLOG



THAT AMY IS NOT DOING WELL. ON WEDNESDAY SHE STARTED BLEEDING IN



AND AROUND HER TRACH. EVEN AS I TYPE THIS, I RUN BACK AND



FORTH CHECKING ON HER AS SHE STILL HAS THICK BLOOD COME UP.

SHE HAS THROWN UP BLOOD AND HAS IT IN HER THICK URINE.

THE MASS HAS STARTED PIN HOLE LEAKS AND IT IS LEAKING




SLOWLY EVERYWHERE. WE CHANGE DRESSINGS ABOUT EVERY 30



MINUTES. SHE WANTS SOMEONE BESIDE HER AT ALL TIMES....SO

WHEN SHE OPENS HER EYES SHE CAN SEE YOU.

AMY IS SO ILL. SO EMACIATED. NAUSEATED ALL THE TIME.

SHE SLEEPS VERY LITTLE.

THANK YOU FAITHFUL FRIENDS THAT HAVE SENT HER CARDS OVER

AND OVER. GOD HAS YOUR NUMBER AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL DEEDS TO

MAKE HER LIFE BRIGHTER WILL NOT BE IN VAIN.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO PRAY FOR AMY.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN PRAYER:

MY AUNT JEAN HAD SURGERY ON THE 6TH. I TALKED TO HER WEDNESDAY,

I BELIEVE AND SHE WAS STILL IN ICU BUT THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING

TO MOVE HER OUT.....ASHLEY...ANDREW...SALLY...LEILA AND KORBIE...

WILL...CASS...BARBARA...SHERRY...MARYDON...ROY AND ELISABETH...

JACOB...JAMIE...TERRY'S HUSBAND...DANNY...TAMMY...DORIS AND

RICHARD...SIMRAN...MOMMA B AND HER HUSBAND...BILL AND KARRIE...

MISS K AND REBECCA...PATRICIA...DENNIS...BOBBY...JAY AND SUZANNE...

JOE...JOHN...MONTE...AJ AND IRENE...BECCA...TAWNA AND MIKE

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER

I COME TO YOU WITH A HEAVY HEART FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN SUCH NEED

OF YOUR HEALING TOUCH. YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES LORD, THEIR CONDITION,

AND THEIR LOCATION. I KNOW THAT IT IS IN THE VALLEY LORD THAT WE

BUILD CHARACTER AND INCREASE OUR INDEPENDENCE ON YOU LORD.

I KNOW THAT YOUR WORD SAYS, THAT BY YOUR STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.

I TRUST YOU LORD. I LOVE YOU LORD. I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW ALL

THINGS AND WILL NOT LET ANYONE PLUCK US FROM YOUR HAND. I

HAVE TO BE HONEST LORD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I AM ANGRY AT TIMES

LORD AND EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU HAVE NOT LEFT ME, I FEEL ALONE.

IF I TRUST YOU FOR MY SALVATION THEN I HAVE TO TRUST THAT HEALING

IS ALSO MINE. LORD YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEEP WATER...I

DIDN'T DROWN BUT THE PAIN WAS SEVERE.....I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE

FIRE AND I DID NOT GET BURNED BUT THE PAIN WAS GREAT. I DON'T

KNOW WHERE I AM AT NOW LORD BUT I FEEL CRUSHED BUT YOU

TOOK THE STRESS BUT THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE. I KNOW I CAN DO

ALL THINGS WHICH STRENGTHENTH ME, LORD BUT I CAN'T MAKE

AMY WELL. I CAN'T TAKE HER PAIN AWAY. I CAN'T....I CAN'T....

ONLY YOU CAN HEAL HER FATHER GOD. ONLY YOU CAN HEAL ANDREW,

ASHLEY, ROY, AND BILL AND CEEKAY.




I THANK YOU FATHER GOD FOR MY LIFE. I THANK YOU FOR EVERY



DAY WITH AMY, RICHIE AND MY FAMILY. I THANK YOU FOR



LOVING ME AND I PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME. BLESS EACH BLOGGER,




LORD, THAT COMES TO THIS BLOG. LET ME BE AN INSPIRATION, NOT



A PLACE THEY DREAD TO COME. LET MY HEART NOT BECOME



HARDENED LORD. LET ME ALWAYS LOVE AND CARE AND PRAY FOR


PEOPLE

YOU ARE EACH ONE CHERISHED AND I THANK YOU FOR SPENDING




A PART OF YOUR DAY WITH ME.....



EVEN THOUGH IT IS SO SAD AT TIMES BUT YOU ARE MY HEART...THE



VERY ONES I CAN BE HONEST WITH WHEN MY HEART IS BREAKING...



WHEN IT FEELS TO PAINFUL TO BREATH...YOU ARE MY LIFELINES.

GRAPHICS BY MY FRIEND LADY PENNIWIG

SHE DOESN'T CHARGE A SINGLE PENNY BUT IF SHE HAD A

PENNY FOR EVERYONE SHE GAVE AWAY...SHE WOULD BE WEALTHY.

STOP BY AND SEE HER

ANGEL HUGS AND MUCH LOVE

GUESS WHO THIS BLOGGER IS

TODAY IS JUST FOR A LITTLE FUN. NO CANCER. NO SADNESS.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER IS? I THOUGHT THE PICTURE WOULD

BE BIGGER BUT I AM STILL LEARNING ABOUT THIS BLOGGING.

GUESS WHO SHE IS AND IF YOU KNOW....TELL A FEW THINGS YOU

LIKE ABOUT HER..............I CAN'T BECAUSE I MIGHT GIVE A CLUE

AWAY.

SHE IS FAMOUS AND VERY MUCH LOVED AROUND THE INTERNET.

THIS IS MY GIFT FOR HER. I THOUGHT SHE COULD PEDAL TO McDONALD'S

AND GET A CUP OF ICE WATER.

THANK YOU SURPRISE GUEST FOR ALL YOU DO. YOU ARE AWESOME!

ANGEL HUGS

LOVE

Debbie

A FREE JELLY ROLL

FREE JELLYROLL............
I knew that would get your attention! I've been thinking all night about this and have finally come up with an idea that I think will work. But I need your help - A LOT! My dear friend Terry's (visit her blog here) husband had a tragic accident at work yesterday. Their family is going to be facing a pretty difficult time ahead. I've been thinking about how much love there is out here among us quilters in blogland and how we all want to help each other out in times of need. I've also thought how we would love to just pop over to Terry's house to give her a hug or make a meal for the family or deliver some flowers. But, because we are spread out all over the world - that just isn't possible. So how can we show our love to their family? This is what I've been thinking about. I would like to organize a quilt party - a project from us to Terry's family. This is my idea - I would love for each of you to make a 9 1/2 inch block for Terry's family quilt. If you could send it to me, I'll piece it together. Once I receive your block, I will enter your name in the jelly roll contest. If you could blog about it AND send me a block, I will enter your name 5 times into the contest. (You'll have to come back here and comment on this post to let me know your blog address). If there are any longarmers out there that would like to volunteer their quilting service, I would gladly take you up on that offer as well. If you have a blog and do not want to make a block, I will enter you into a drawing for a $15.00 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop if you blog about this project.OK - I have been writing this post as it comes into my head and am afraid that I've rambled! Here's the nitty gritty of this project/contest:
Create a 9 1/2 inch square block for Terry's family and send it to me - 1 entry to win the American Primer Jelly Roll.
Create a 9 1/2 inch square block for Terry's family AND blog about this project - 5 entries to win the American Primer Jelly Roll.
Blog about this project - 1 entry to win a $15.00 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!You'll need to come back to THIS POST and comment in order to be eligible. (Please be sure to include your email address in your post if you have no reply set up in your blog profile) I will contact you privately with my mailing address. As the blocks roll in, I will be sure to post them here on my blog. We'll keep the finished project a secret until we send it to Terry! Once she receives it, I'll post the picture of the completed quilt.If I've made any mistakes here with this contest, please let me know and I'll correct it! It's the first time I've done a project like this!!Now, please spread the word! I'll have to put a deadline of November 15th, 2009 on this project so the quilt can be there in time for Christmas. Now let's get sewing!! Thank you so much for helping to lift the burden - even if it is just a little!UPDATE: TERRY'S HOME DECOR IS COUNTRY SO I THINK IF WE USE REDS, BLUES, YELLOWS AND BROWNS, THE QUILT WILL FIT RIGHT IN NICELY. SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED ABOUT A THEME - HOW ABOUT SCRAPPY LOVE?!! AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE $1.00 WITH YOUR BLOCK TO COVER EITHER QUILTING COSTS OR SHIPPING COSTS - WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO! I AM ALWAYS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE GENEROSITY OF QUILTERS!! ANY LEFT OVER DONATIONS WILL GO TO THE FAMILY TO HELP WITH EXPENSES. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!!

LAURIE'S BLOG IS: http://ayankeequilter.blogspot.com

I suggested that alot of us do not quilt but we could drop them a card to let them

know we are thinking about them, and praying for them.

MY SISTER SHERRY AND DH, TONY ARRIVED AT OUR HOUSE LAST NIGHT AT

1130PM, OKLAHOMA TIME. IT WAS A VERY LONG DRIVE AND THEY STAYED

ABOUT 45 MINUTES. THEY HAD AMY LAUGHING. SHE WOULD ONLY TAKE ONE

PAIN PILL SO SHE WOULD BE AWAKE WHEN THEY CAME.

THE MASS ON HER NECK GREW MORE OVER NIGHT. THE NURSE WAS HERE

FROM HOSPICE YESTERDAY AND THEN SHE CALLED US AFTER SHE LEFT. SHE

TOLD US TO HAVE NAVY BLUE AND BLACK TOWELS ON HAND BECAUSE WHEN

THIS TUMOR BURSTS THERE WILL BE MASSIVE BLEEDING.....AND HAVING THE

DARK COLORED TOWELS WOULD NOT ALLOW AMY TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD

AS ANYONE WOULD PANIC. I HOPE I DON'T FAINT AND SHOW ANY CONCERN

BECAUSE IT WILL SCARE AMY. I ALREADY TOLD AMY THAT WE KNOW THIS

MASS WILL BE A MESS IF IT BURSTS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF IT. SHE COULD DIE

INSTANTLY BUT I WILL NOT CONFESS THAT....SHE SHALL NOT DIE AND

WILL DO THE WORK OF THE LORD. (Amy does not know she could die instantly)

SHERRY AND MOTHER ARE GOING TO COME OVER AFTER WHILE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS FOR NOT ONLY AMY BUT ALL THE

OTHER PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED: Ashley, Bill and Kerrie, Simran-a 10 week

preemie baby girl, Andrew,Becca, Sally, MommaB and husband, Leila and Korbie,

Jo, Tammy, Jennifer, Teresa, Roy and Elisabeth, AJ and Irene, Sherry's foot,

Kristie, Patricia, Jean and Bill,Madonna, Dennis, Jay and Suzanne, Peggy, Sammy,

Cass and Will, Tom, Bobby, Richie and Megan, Richard and Debbie

YOU ALL ARE WONDERFUL, AWESOME, AND PRECIOUS TREASURES

ANGEL HUGS

LOVE

Debbie