~~Amy's home!!~~

Hello it's Mary IsabellasCloset. Amy just phoned me at 3:15PM est...She is now at home, how wonderful!!! Each time I talk to her voice gets stronger, she now sounds like the old Amy to me. She says she is resting and doing a lot of sleeping. Her pain is getting better. She said she would love to check her blog and emails but can't just yet. She sends everyone her love and thanks for the thoughts, prayers and cards that were waiting for her when she got home. Also thanks from me for the out pouring of love you have given Amy. She is such a sweetie! Again if anyone needs to email please do so at IsabellasCloset@aol.com. God bless you all :-} ~Mary

~a laugh from Amy!~ :-}

Hello to all! This is Mary IsabellasCloset Amy's friend. I talked to Amy twice this morning at 6:00AM est. Her voice was stronger and she sounds much better..What a difference a day makes! Her spirits are good. She laughed, I laughed and oh what a great feeling that was!! She said they will know the results of her bone scan on Monday. She is pleased that she will get to come home this afternoon...Thanks again and again to all of you for your emails, comments and prayers. Both Amy and I are so very grateful. Amy truly has such wonderful caring friends!! God bless you all :-} ~Mary~

~more about Amy~

Hello everyone this is Mary from IsabellasCloset Amy's friend. I just got off the phone with Amy at 10:30AM est. She told me she is in so much pain. I feel awful for her and so helpless! We only talked a few minutes. She could hardly speak. They found cancer in 3 of her nodes. Today at 2:00 she goes in for a bone scan. She asked me to please thank everyone for all their thoughts & prayers. If anyone needs to email me please do so at isabellascloset@aol.com. My heart goes out to Amy. I am in tears...She is scared and needs our prayers more then ever. God bless all you wonderful Gals & (Guys too) out there for supporting Amy!

~I just talked to Amy~

Hello again this is Mary of IsabellasCloset.
It is 9:00 PM est. I just got off the phone with Bob Amy's husband and Amy too.
I was so very shocked to hear Amy's voice!
Her voice was very weak and she said she is in a lot of pain.
Bob said they will know more tomorrow.
It was wonderful hearing Amy's voice.
God bless her! What this dear sweet Gal is going through....
Please continue to keep Amy in your prayers!
Thanks again for all your concern about Amy.
As I know more I will post it :-} ~Mary~

***Amy is out of surgery***

Hello this is Mary from IsabellasCloset.
I wanted you all to know.
Amy is out of surgery.
When I know more I will post it.
Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers for Amy.

~My Breast Cancer Surgery~

~4 DAYS AND COUNTING~

My radical bilateral mastectomy surgery has been scheduled and I have had all my pre-op blood work, paper work, x-rays and all that fun stuff done and out of the way. WHEW!!!! My cancer is already in STAGE II. I will be at St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids Thursday, June 7th with my surgery starting at 1:30 in the afternoon. I have to be there at 10 am to start the work on my lymph nodes and to make sure the cancer hasn't spread to them. I will spend one to two nights there depending on how the surgery goes.

I want to thank EVERYONE for your words of encouragement, cards, flowers, gifts and phone calls. Please forgive me for not getting back to anyone right now as I want to spend this (normal) time with Bob and the kids before my surgery. I WILL WRITE BACK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU when I feel I can as I have received so many well wishes, prayers and letters of hope..... IT IS AMAZING!!!
Never in my life did I realize how a person can impact others. FOR ALL OF YOU I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!

I am not scared at all.....I want you to know. I just want this cancer out of me and I want to get on with my life. DYING IS NOT AN OPTION as I want to see my kids grow up and I want to become a Grandma someday. I want to retire and travel and see all of this grand place we call the USA!!! I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH STUFF TO DO and WAY TOO MUCH TO LIVE FOR!!! Please know, GOD IS GOOD......I have already seen the blessings in my life from my diagnosis just 2 short weeks ago. GOOD COMES FROM EVERYTHING and remember.....BETTER TO HAVE ROUGH DAYS, THAN TO HAVE NO DAYS!!! It was one year ago this weekend that my Dad started to die from cancer......he was in ICU for most of his last days until we took him home and he passed with all of us there. I think of him so much with what is going on with me and I am thankful he is no longer suffering and is in a better place. I am more worried for my family and friends than I am for myself as it's still so raw with what we went through with my Dad last summer.

I am strong.....I always have been and like I have said through all of my trials and tribulations...."God hasn't failed me yet, why would he start now???"
My heartfelt thank you, love and hugs,

Amy

This is the day that the Lord hath made,rejoice! and be glad therein! Psalms 118

THANK YOU MOM for these ADORABLE PINK MARY JANE Airwalk shoes from Payless Shoes. They are soooo comfy and they were under $15.00.

This is a picture of my hair taken on my Mom's Birthday last Saturday. I have already been told by the doctor and nurses that the chemo drugs I will be taking is called the HAIR CUT TREATMENT....LOL, I will lose my hair. More on that later....and I am OKAY WITH THAT.....I just want this cancer GONE!!!! And YES, my hair is NATURALLY that curly and thick.....I only have a little bit of leave in conditioner in it so it doesn't fly away. The girls and I have big plans for when it starts to fall out and of course, I will keep you updated.

On a footnote, my entire right shoulder, breast and arm feel like they have been punched a hundred times. It hurts to type on the computer and I look forward to the cancer coming out so I can type comfortably again. For those of you who need my address, I am just going to post it on here for you. 7543 Mt Vernon Road, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403....

LOVE, HUGS and LOLLIPOPS......Amy

~I HAVE BREAST CANCER~

I don't even know how to go about saying this as I can't find any way to try to sugar coat it.
I have been diagnosed with Lobular Invasive Carcinoma Breast Cancer. I have to have a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery and chemotherapy.
I will have to do chemo 3 weeks after the surgery and they will call me tomorrow to let me know which day I am going in for my mastectomy. My lump is the size of a golf ball in the shape of an egg. During surgery they will biopsy my lymph nodes to see if it has spread. My surgery will be at least 3 hours. This came on very fast as I do monthly breast exams and just had my yearly check done in late August.
I haven't had time to be scared as everyone else is worrying for me. (maybe that's a good thing)
And....I am still planning on listing on the website as I can, although it may be sporadic. I love my work with the site and eBay and I think it will help me through a lot of what is about to happen. Good therapy I hope!!!
I want you to know how much you mean to me and please hang in there with me. I won't always be able to answer emails and I plan on journaling all of this right here on the blog.

I am going to beat this, and Jill (my best friend who just lost her sister)said to me . "It's better to have rough days, than no days at all."

If anyone can get thru this.....It will be me!!!!
PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS HAD THIS TYPE OF CANCER.....LET ME KNOW, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and GOD IS GOOD!!!! Love and Hugs, Amy

~When it RAINS~~~It POURS~

It's been a crazy week here at our house. Bob was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis, where the muscle in the arch of his foot is tearing away. He has been put in a plaster cast from his toes to his knee. (he of course, can't work being a Firefighter because he can't get his fire boot on.)

Then, our 14 year old son was running his last race in track and tore some muscles in his leg and is now on crutches for the next 6 weeks.

I had a biopsy on Friday and will find out the results this coming Tuesday and boy am I sore, I can't hardly move my right arm.

We are also trying to get ready for our 17 year olds CNA Graduation Ceremonies which we volunteer to host (over 100 people will be here on Sunday and it's not the party...IT'S THE CEREMONIES!!!! )

So needless to say, I have been a bit busy this week. Isn't is funny how when it rains...it pours. Have a great weekend and I will be back posting soon.... Amy

~CAMP FIRE IN THE COUNTRY~

~A FUN TIME had by ALL, The night before MOTHER'S DAY~

Sitting around the camp fire outside in our back yard....We had 15 kids here Saturday Night and it was a BLAST!!!!

WE NEED MORE WOOD!!!!

THE KIDS KEEP COMING......

HOW MANY MARSHMELLOWS CAN YOU SHOVE IN YOUR MOUTH.....SIX according to BROOKE

WHEN CAN WE DO THIS AGAIN?????

We had so much fun and it was one of my favorite Mother's Day weekends. I love having all the kids here with their friends.....I can honestly say "We are the Kool-aid House".....which is what I love.....

Hope everyone's Mother's Day was as fun as mine......Amy

~MORNING COFFEE in the COUNTRY LIFE~

~MORNING COFFEE in the COUNTRY LIFE~

This is where I sit every morning in the SPRING and SUMMER to drink my coffee and wake up. I have 2 to 3 cups of coffee (French Vanilla with lots of French Vanilla Creamer) on the front porch as I watch the sun come up. The picture with the sun is of course out of the East and the other picture is to the North. Pretty soon, that entire field will be filled with Iowa Sweet Corn!!!

OH THE COUNTRY LIFE!!!!

~I've Fallen & I can't get up~

I've fallen off the BLOG WAGON and I can't get up.....

Boy, I totally blew it these past few weeks by not posting anything and I feel like I have fallen off the blog wagon. I haven't even had time to read anyone else's blog and that is one of my favorite things to do.

I just want you to know I am still here.....just busy as ever with SPRING in the air.

Stay tuned for more......

Amy

~WE HAVE A WINNER~

WE HAVE A WINNER

Terri from http://momsdailythoughts.blogspot.com/ was my 8th person to leave a comment on my April Pay It Forward.

Terri, please contact me via email (my address is on the right side of my blog) so I can get your information. Also, you have 30 days to spend the $10.00 gift certificate and I will be listing all new treasures this weekend on the website if you don't find anything this week.

THANK YOU EVERYONE who left comments.....Amy

~Still Looking for a Winner~

STILL LOOKING FOR A WINNER.....

(above is the little cabinet that my Mom found for me and I redid it with fabric and trims)

I'm still looking for a winner for our April's Pay It Forward....

I have 3 comments so far and just need 5 more....

For APRIL'S PAY IT FORWARD...I am once again giving away a $10.00 gift certificate to our website.....just be the 8th person to leave a comment on this blog entry....HAVE FUN!!!~Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters~)

~GOOD FRIDAY~I WOULD SAY SO~

GOOD FRIDAY???

Good Friday was the day I went with my wonderful hubby to ride along to his Firefighter training class he was teaching. On the way home, we had to pick up his boat which was being serviced at the marina. As we drove home, we were taking the back roads and I saw, sitting across the road from a house, an old vintage wicker rocking chair and a bright yellow 1940's metal porch gliding sofa. I thought, "How strange to have those sitting next to a mail box across the street from the house." As we drove by I saw a HUGE SIGN tape on both pieces saying "FREE". OH, IMAGINE MY SURPRISE when I tried to sputter out the words, "PLEASE TURN AROUND...THAT STUFF IS FREE!!!"

WHAT A GREAT MAN I HAVE MARRIED, He managed to swing the truck around while hauling his big fishing boat and not only did he stop and check each piece out to make sure they were structurally sound but he loaded them up without any hesitation and unloaded them for me too. You see, I have am not used to having anyone do anything for me like that (years of bad marriages) and every time Bob does those kinds of things for me...I am amazed!!!! I would say, It's was a GOOD FRIDAY INDEED. Now the ideas are swirling around in my head and I really need to learn to sew. Couldn't you just see some adorable porch pillows on the wicker rocking chair and repaint the yellow porch sofa to white and add some happy vintage RED CHERRY Tablecloth pillows to it. What a fun find....AND WHAT AN AWESOME HUSBAND.....Thank you Bob!!! I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!
Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)

~PAY IT FORWARD~151 NEW TREASURES at www.FourSistersInACottage.com

If you get a chance, check out all 151 yummy new treasures at www.FourSistersInACottage.com

And for APRIL'S PAY IT FORWARD...I am once again giving away a $10.00 gift certificate to our website.....just be the 8th person to leave a comment on this blog entry....HAVE FUN!!!
~Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters~)

~THANKS MOM~

~THANKS MOM~

JUST THE BEST BLUE/GREEN DUCK EGG COLOR INSIDE

TONS OF DETAILS INCLUDING THE RIBBING DOWN BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT

What a wonderful surprise to see my Mom show up with this darling vintage cupboard.

She said I needed a "pick me up" after the week I have been through and she bought this for me at one of our local thrift stores yesterday. She knows me SOOOO WELL!!!

It is already painted white (although it needs a bit of scrubbing) and the inside is a delicious blue/green robin egg color. There is a small piece of wood missing off the front door but I believe I am going to cover the top and the doors with vintage fabric.....Shabby Roses of course!!! I might replace the knobs with some vintage milk glass ones or maybe even some of the pink cut glass knobs I already have. I will just have to wait and see once I add the fabric to it.

The details are awesome from the ribs on the side, to the little cut out curves on each leg. The doors are perfect and I can't wait to get started on this little dear. THANKS MOM!!! You always know how to make me smile!!!! Love you tons!!! ~Amy~

~FREE*FREE*FREE~

*FREE*FREE*FREE*.....I LOVE SAVING FOR FREE~~~

MY DEAR FRIEND PAT and FAMILY FRIEND gave me this OLD VINTAGE WESTINGHOUSE STOVE/OVEN over this past week because they have moved to an Island off of Seattle, Washington.....OH I AM SO WAY EXCITED and CANNOT WAIT TO put it in my "studio/shop" and play around with it. My hubby said it STILL WORKS and just look at all those OLD ENAMEL KNOBS!!! Now, does anyone know how to clean something like this??? I was thinking maybe olive oil or some type of vegetable oil to clean up the black cast iron??? I really have no clue or maybe I should just use hot soapy water. If anyone has any suggestions or knows how to clean this BABY up....please let me know. Thanks so much!!! ~Amy~

I LOVE THOSE ENAMEL KNOBS....And should I use PINK ENAMEL accents or RED ENAMEL accents??? Decisions Decisions....

~YUMMY FLAVOR ZONE OVEN.....It just LOOKS DELICIOUS~ Any decorating ideas are GLADLY WELCOME....~Amy~

~Little Girls ~ Little Girls~

~LITTLE GIRLS ~ LITTLE GIRLS~

Some Women are draped in DIAMONDS....

Some Women are draped in PEARLS....

But LUCKY ~ LUCKY ~ LUCKY ME....

~~~I'M DRAPED IN LITTLE GIRLS~~~

~SPRING IN IOWA~

Just a few of our 23 TALL PINE TREES going up the lane to our house. They are at least 50 years old and are as tall as a 10 story building. Fresh green pine sprigs and pine cones that smell like HEAVEN at Christmas Time are why I love these trees!!!

Mr. Face Looks at us when we look out our 9 foot long front picture window. The field across the highway will be planted with IOWA CORN very soon!!!!

Notice the pine cones hanging off Mr. Face Tree??? The girls took some pine cones that had fallen off the pine trees and coated them with PEANUT BUTTER for our feather friends in the winter.

In the back yard which faces the south, we have more pine trees and it was so fun to see little tuffs of green grass coming thru the ground. Love those PINE CONES TOO!!!

This is what we see out of our back door.....this too will be filled with IOWA CORN this summer that grows TALLER than 6 foot and I will be sure to take pictures for all of you to see.

IT'S HERE...IT'S HERE....SPRING IS FINALLY IN IOWA and today we broke a weather record with 79 degree weather. Lots of sun and warm wind and so I thought I would take a picture of what I saw today......Our Backyard...Out our Front Picture Window and those AWESOME TALL Pine Trees that line the lane up to our house. We have 23 pine trees on our property alone.....that doesn't include any of the other trees we have.....I LOVE THE COUNTRY in the SPRING AND SUMMER!!!! And soon they will be planting the corn. I hope to be able to take some night time pictures of the farmers in their big tractors. It's so neat to see them working in the dark planting the corn.

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE.....Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)

~OUT VOTED~

I am sad to say I have been "OUT VOTED" in the decor of Maddi and Alex's Room. No longer do they want the pretty girly vintage stuff. I am so sad as I love nothing better than to walk into that room and see those old treasures from the past. Bunk Beds are going up, their "taste" is moving in....I'm sad and not handling this change very well. Anyone else out there ever had this happen??? If so, I need you to write to me and give me some words of comfort.....I have no place to put all of these collections and well, I'm really sick about it.....The picture above is just one side of their room that I have decorated....it's all coming down....WAAAAA!!!! ~Amy~