Debbie Overton Designs

Nature Notes ~ April 1906

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How do you handle life's ups and downs?

When life throws you a curve ball, for a loop or upside down, how do you handle it?  Do you see the glass half full or half empty?  Do you whine or throw yourself a pitty party?  Are you an optimist or pessimist? 

I was raised, God will never give you more than you can handle.  You may be tested and I have had more than my share of tests over the years, but I have always come out a better person because of the way I handled the situation.

 
Yesterday I was tested and rather than feel sorry for myself, whine or have myself a pitty party I decided I would stay positive and look at the bright side of the situation.  Although I have reduced stress, learned to eat more iron enriched foods and change my lifestyle almost completely the severe peptic ulcer disease and iron deficiency anemia are in a battle against each other.   Due to the iron being extremely low and to the point of causing other health problems, we have tried to get my iron levels up without causing the ulcers to flair.  This has been impossible and after several more attempts of iron supplements, we have come to the last resort...IV Iron therapy.  I fought it for weeks.  The Hematologist I have been seeing only uses this as a last resort and yesterday, he said we had to try this route as the iron deficiency has started to cause other health problems.  So in order to bypass the stomach with oral meds, I agreed to start the IV therapy.

Sitting in an Oncology/Hematology office with nothing but books, magazines and pamplets on living with cancer starring you in the face....you start looking at things differently.  Over the past month as I would go for my appointments and sit there with cancer patients....I was always the only one there it seemed at the time....made me wonder if that was planned some how....with "just" a severe iron deficiency anemia problem.  Sitting there with those patients, laughing and talking about their day to day situations they faced with the cancer made me realize how much worse I could be.  Ulcers and Iron Deficiencies are something you can live with!  But you are tested and trust me the tests will determine if you are an optimist or pessimist.

As Steve and I sat there listening to Dr. K about the risk of the anemia and the treatment using IV therapy....I thought here we go....God is testing me again.  One in 14 to 18 patients have a reaction to iron by IV, therefore they are given in the hospital in the Oncology department.  Reactions consist of rash, shortness of breath and or anaphylactic shock.  I would like to have heard better odds, but I kept thinking, okay God, this is your chance to only give me what I can handle once again.

Wednesday I start the first of 8 weeks of treatment.  He said to prepare myself as the first 3 to 4 weeks will be stressful, your back hurts, your muscles ache and you may even want to give up, but once I get over that hurdle I will start feeling so much better that it will be worth it all.  I am to pre-med myself with two Extra Strength Tylenol and two Benadryl each time to help counter act a reaction and then afterwards rest for the afternoon and let the iron work!

So what did this optimist, half full glass girl do yesterday after my doctors appointment?  Enjoyed lunch with Steve, sent him on his way to South Carolina for a meeting today, did a few errands, talked to a friend on the phone and then headed to the beach....with nothing but water all around me, the Uggs were left on the boardwalk and I put my feet into the sand and eventually ventured out into the edges of the still cool water.  There was not another person in site....just me...the sounds of the waves...the smell and taste of the salt water and the wind blowing all my concern away.

Until next time....another test, another hurdle, a half full glass and a very optimistic girl....and this too shall pass!

Debbie

Excited and Honored to be included!!

I am so excited and honored, my art submission will be included in Patti Digh’s new book, FOUR-WORD SELF-HELP, due in stores this September.

When I first heard from Patti I was one of the hand-selected artists to particiapte in this project I was thrilled.  The day I received my assignment, I could not believe how lucky I was.  I have my four-word phrase posted on my desk and each day thank Patti for the assignment and how this little four-word phrase has been such a stress relief for me.

I know without a doubt this book will be awesome...why?  Because "Life is a Verb" also written by Patti is fantastic!

Thank you Patti for selecting me to participate and thank you to your publisher for selecting my art!

MMCA is NOT a Free NING group!

 

By now most anyone that belongs to or is the creator of a NING group has heard or been emailed about their latest news of removing the FREE NING groups.  My inbox has been filled with concerned emails as to what will happen to MMCA.  So I want to put not only the current members, but those that would like to join us at ease.

MMCA is NOT a Free NING group.  This has always been a Premium Service (PAID FOR) group and I do not expect this change to effect us greatly. 

When I started this group my mission was to provide a place to share collective knowledge, exchange ideas and techniques, as well as mentor to each other.   This means a place to connect, nourish, embrace, promote, encourage, inspire, share ideas, thoughts, resources and artistic creations to help others live a creative life in their artful journey.

I have never asked nor do I plan to ask for members to support MMCA monetarily.  I provide this group environment for those that wish to be a part of it.  All I have ever asked was that you enjoy it and make the most of what it has to offer.  When I moved MMCA to NING it opened many doors of opportunity while allowing me some freedom from a constant administrating of the group.

If you are an artist in any medium, you are welcome to join MMCA and be a part of something that has been tested many times over the years, but has remained a constant for those that chose to be a part of it.  We will be celebrating 6 years this coming October and I anticipate many more to come. 

Please feel free to visit MMCA to join or learn more about us.

Debbie 

April Nature Notes + Electronic Addiction

Welcome CRESCENDOh visitors! Thank you Cindy of Cindy Forrester Designs who shared my blog as one of her links during her week as a Guest Curator on CRESCENDOh. Jenny Doh, founder of CRESCENDOh has created a wonderful site around ART SAVES. If you would like to see a typical work day for Jenny, be sure to visit the MMCA Marketplace Blog for A Day in the Life ofJenny Doh, Monday April 12th. 

Click images to enlarge for reading! 
  

 
  
Nature Notes © 1906 The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden

April has been a whirlwind and we are already half-way through the month.  I have always been a multi-tasker, so most days I play a hat dance while moving from one thing to another.  In the past you would find me writing everything and I mean everything down on a calendar in pencil.  Now days everything is kept on my BlackBerry and in Outlook.  I sync them every day, some days several times if I have been responding to emails and phone calls.  You hear people saying they would be lost without their phone.... I never thought I would be one of them, but I can not imagine not having it with me.  My emails come into my phone, reminders of upcoming appointments, the kids class schedules so I know when I can call or text them, project deadline and notes, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, apps to some of my favorite places, list of meds, grocery list and more. 

And then you throw in a laptop, external hard drive, docking stations, desktop PC and there I go again....addicted to the electronic world.  I do love being able to pop my laptop and an external hard drive in and out of their docking stations.  This allows me to work on the computer and always have all my programs and files available whether I am working from my desk at home or on my laptop at the beach or balcony of a hotel.

Yes, I will admit....I am addicted to using my electronics for basically running and keeping my life in order and they all fit in a pretty little beach bag when I am on the go.

Are you addicted to your electronics?  Please tell me I am not alone....there must be a group for this!

Round and Round and Round

© 2008 Debbie Overton  Merry-Go-Round at Davenport Park, St. Augustine FL

This 75+ year old restored Merry-Go-Round is at the Corner of San Carlos and San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine, FL.  When we take the coastal highway from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine Beach you come out right in front of this wonderful park. 

 

Several weeks ago Lisa Sonora Beam the author of The Creative Entrepreneur had a blog post about how to deal with setbacks that derail your plans.  Oh boy, could I relate to that post.  Not only was her post excellent, but the comments she received were filled with great advice.  I had already made the decision several months ago to remove anything that was causing extra stress and focus on myself for a change, rather than always being there to support others.  In just these few months, even with not having the energy to do much of anything, I have found I am enjoying the things I am doing more than I have in a long time.  I have said no to so many things, been able to create art for myself, read, journal and get many of the new features I had been working on for months going on the Marketplace Blog and am redesigning both of my blogs.  It is a matter of putting me first, then doing the other things as I feel up to it.   The artists that volunteered to be Creative Contributors on the MP Blog do not know how much I appreciate the work they put into each of their articles.  You will not believe the next few I have already scheduled to post in the coming weeks.  And then the new features....have people sharing info with me to add and there is a list of great artists and business owners lined up to share "A Day in the Life of"......Wait till you see Jenny Doh's typical day next Monday!  You will be worn out just reading it.  If you would like to share a typical day in your life with the MP readers, send me an email and let's see if we can work something out. 

 

So back to the Merry-Go-Round.....

 

Why the Merry-Go-Round you ask?  Because I have felt I was on one going round and round and round and round non-stop for the past 8 months dealing with all the health problems.  Just when I think it will stop, it picks up speed and here we go again.   I have seen more physicians, had more tests, surgeries and needle pokes in the past 8 months than I have had my entire life.  And we still don't know completely why all this is going on.  I know the stomach ulcers are not allowing my body to absorb the nutrients it needs, therefore I am severely deficient in iron, ferritin, B12, D, magnesium plus 18 others.  Some of the supplements are helping, but in order to get the numbers up I have had to start taking Vitamin D and B12 injections weekly and will see a hematologist in a few days to start Iron via IV in order to bypass the digestive track.

 

With all of this going on, I am happy to say the Bone Density Scan I had a few weeks ago came back excellent.  In other words my bones are as good as someone 30 yrs or younger!!!  Not bad for a almost 52 yr old.  So once I get all the deficiencies up to a normal range, I should be able to get the ulcers healed and live a LONG and hopefully healthy life.  But I know I have a long road ahead of me as my numbers are so low, even with injections I have been told it could take me another year to be back to myself.

 

So when you stop by for a visit and I don't have any art to share, I ask that you remember I am taking care of myself while working on new ideas and sometimes it is best to keep your ideas to yourself until all the details are worked out unless you are willing to take the chance that everyone that reads about it will just sit back and let you have your moment when the time is right.

 

I may have had a few setbacks and derailments, but I am still hanging in there.  The time has actually been good for me as I was able to really think about decisions and ideas and know I am heading in the right direction as an artist and entrepreneur.

 

We all have setbacks, how did you handle yours?  What advice would you give others?

 

Debbie