DISCLAMIER: I am told I am a pretty private person, so I thought I would go ahead and fill you in on the past 5 or 6 months of my life. The post is long, but I wanted to fill in the gap so I can get back to sharing good things.
Several years ago, I read a blog about how people should not be adding “exclamation marks” to the end of all their sentences. This was not proper grammar and we should be able to tell our story with the correct words and not have to emphasize our feelings with “exclamation marks”.
Last week I read an article about many text messages include emojis and the over use of !!. The average text message includes 3 emojis and a few !!. That is my kind of communication. Recently, I noticed that more and more of my messages and emails to my family and friends have had multiple !!. Thought I should explain.
noun
1. the sign (!) used in writing after an exclamation.
2. this mark sometimes used in writing two or more times in succession to indicate intensity of emotion, loudness, etc.: Long live the Queen!!
3. this mark sometimes used without accompanying words in writing direct discourse to indicate a speaker’s dumbfounded astonishment:
“His wife just gave birth to quintuplets.”(!)
so my story begins……
Since my early forties, I have suffered from migraines, not really suffered, just possibly 2 migraines a year. I know when they were coming on and how to treat them immediately so the effects were not debilitating. Fast forward to late 2015, I had started to have more mild headaches that felt more like sinus pressure. Went to doc and was told to take sinus meds. Things still did not seem right. I went to my eye doctor to see if maybe my contact prescription had changed. It had not.
On March 3rd I spent the night at my son’s house to help with my new granddaughter!!!!
The morning of March 4th, I had a seizure!! Crazy – weird !! I was rushed to the emergency room of a local hospital, spent a week in the hospital as I continued to suffer from mild seizures. This was the same day that I had taken off work and had a doctors appt to get to the bottom of the headaches, the hospital admittance just sped things up a bit.
I stayed in the hospital a few days, overcame the seizures and went home.
Then, March 15th back to ER with headaches and on March 16- Right Crainotomy (brain surgery), then March 23rd headed home. (thank you to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff of Medical City- Dallas)
My best friend is a nurse and she came into town during all this and stayed with me at the hospital, explained things to my family, while assuring them everything was going to be okay. I hope each of you have a friend like this. Except for the fact that she took pictures of me with staples all through my head and sent it out to her family. I will have to get her back for that.
Once I returned home, I slept in my own bed and was thrilled to be un-hooked from all the machines. My daughter had lined up 24 hour care for me, splitting many of the shifts between my husband and herself. daughter-in-laws, brother, sister-in-law, cousins, mom and friends all took their shifts. All the while my team at work took on more and more responsibility since I was “resting” during the busiest time of the year. They are priceless!!! Thank you to all!!
Texas Law restricts you from driving after having seizures. My daughter knows I am pretty hard headed and she took my car with her just to make sure I didn’t sneak out of the house. One of my first outings, my daughter took me to Target. I felt as if she wrapped me up in 3 layers of bubble wrap and put a leash on me. It really wasn’t that bad, but those of you that know my daughter, Jillian, would certainly believe that I am not exaggerating!!!!!
My mom was showing up for her assigned shifts to take care of me, all the while never letting us know that she did not feel well. Hard hardheadedness runs in our family. Shortly after Easter weekend, my mom fell and was hospitalized. After many complications, my mom passed away exactly one month after I had returned home from the hospital. My mom was an incredible spunky, funny and loving woman. She was a breast cancer survivor and had lived through the death of my father and sister. Mom was known for making notes on a small book she kept in her purse. When cleaning her things I found a torn piece of notebook paper in one of her purses that she had scribbled my doctor’s names on along with…. I like Lissa’s doctors. She is in good hands and will be alright. She also probably thought a few of the doctors were cute and was not afraid to tell them so. Yes, that was my mom!!!!
If my mom would have ever met you she would remember your name and everything about you and quite possibly written a little note about you that she would has stashed away in her purse. Our family is not the same without her!!
Throughout the past months, I have found that my circle of friends is much deeper and wider than I could ever have imagined. I am so grateful!!
There are so many reasons for every day to be a good day and to add !!!!!’s to all messages.
Thank you for that.
-modalissa
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Lisa,
I’m so sorry for the lose of your Mom. It sounds like you are in good hands between your family, friends and work family. Please take care. Shawn
Shawn,
Thank you so very much. Hope you are doing well. I look forward to seeing you in Houston.
So sorry to hear of your tough times and the loss of your Mom. It sounds like she was a wonderful woman. Glad to hear you are returning.
I’m so glad you are ok Lissa and have been surrounded by such a wonderful family and great friends. Can’t wait to see you at the next Quilt Market xoxo
Di,
Your rock!! See you in Houston!!
And we are so glad you are well and back to your busy life!!! We love you!
Thank you so much for writing this. I have been following you with prayer but never knew exactly what was going on with you. I have been out of circulation all year so I haven’t been able to sit and have a talk with Karen. My husband was diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of March and sent home with hospice, his choice. This choice not to do chemo and the fact that they took him off three of his meds, one being methotrexate, has bought him some good days. I am so sorry for your loss of your mom. She must have been a very special person…look at her daughter! I am so glad you are now on the mend and I love your beautiful positive words explaining what has been going on. Thank you, my friend. I love and admire you and will continue remembering you in my prayers.
Veda,
Oh my goodness. My prayers to you as you age going through such a tough time. I know your husband is an incredible man. I am going to head over to Ft. Worth someday soon and come to see you.
Keep up the !!!! – You have a lot to be !!!! for! Continued good health to you and all your loved ones!!!
With a story like this you get to use all the exclamation points you want Lissa. I am so sorry about your Mom, she sounds like a very warm and wonderful person. And I am very happy for your recovery. Family and friends are the best medicine of all.
Sending best wishes for the very best health! You have a wonderful family (and friends). I know you miss your mother every day.
Hi Carol,
Thank you for your nice words. Hope you are doing well and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Thank you for sharing your life with us. You’ve had quite the year. A new grandchild, your illness and the loss of your dear mom. I’m praying the year ahead will be full of bright new life. God bless you!
Becky,
I am looking forward to the bright lights ahead of me.
Blessings to you as well.
So glad you posted this. Very well written and keep using those !!!!! And so glad you are on the other side of that.
hello Roxi,
So nice to hear from you.
I miss seeing you.
Hope you and your family are doing well.
I was so sorry to hear about your mother. She sounds like a lovely woman who was a lot of fun! Certainly deserving of a few !!! I am glad you’re well again and your nice doctors have you fixed up. It comes as no surprise your circle of friends is vast!
Hello sweet friend!!
Thank you for your comment and friendship!!
So glad you’re all right. And yes, you have a great crew at Moda. I know as they helped me several times while you were out.
Carolyn,
YES!!! They are incredible!!
Thank you for sharing your health scare and the loss of your mom. I was concerned about you when I read that you weren’t at quilt market and was hoping you were okay. Sorry to hear about the brain surgery, but glad to hear that they found out what was wrong and that things sound like they are under control.
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. She sounds like a wonderful person. I would have liked to meet her.
I love the heart quilt! (Had to get that in there!)
Helen,
Isn’t the heart quilt a treasure. It proudly hangs in my sewing room and can be seen as soon as you walk into my house. What a priceless treasure. Thank you for your kind words.
A wonderful testament to the life, love and people you have surrounded yourself with…the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree
Anna,
Thank you so very much for the sweet words.
-modalissa
Thank you for your post. I respect and relate to privacy. For those of us who admire you from afar this post means so much. Wow. Just WOW. Thank you.
Linda,
Thank you for your kind words. I hope to meet in real life one day. -modalissa
You are an amazing woman. Inspiring. Loving. How proud your mother must have been to have had a daughter so much like herself. Awed by your story. Thanks for sharing that. Very touching.
Donna,
Thank you. You know I don’t usually do posts like this, but I thought it would be a good step in healing. -modalissa
Hugs!! Thanks for sharing what you have been going through. Sounds like your mom was a wonderful good mom! (I’ve been reading an Amish fiction novel) 🙂 It is good to be able to hear and really look at yourself when you get constructive criticism but remember that there are many of us out there that do the same and don’t mind one bit. May God bless you with many good memories and good health.
You have many people loving and supporting you through this time of healing. Be well!
Roxanne,
Thank you. It is such a blessing to look at the positives in life.
I am so sorry for your loss., but you have wonderful memories. Continue to listen to your doctors & family and have a full & complete recovery. Remember it takes time for the body to heal. you for sharing, it makes everyone remember to count their blessings.
Marcia, Very good advise and I do need to follow your wisdom.
Thank you.
Thank you Lissa for filling us in. You brought tears to my eyes.
I think of you often and looking forward to seeing you in October again!!
hugs to you my sweet friend!
Great story and contine to let others take care of you- lets go for a walk when your in the neighborhood!
Hey Craft Club buddy,
Let’s start up a craft club for us- “seniors”
Lissa, I am so grateful you are on the mend! So sad for the loss of you mom, what an incredibly difficult time for you. So happy that I met you last year, hope to see you again soon at Market.
Hugs,
Sharon
Sharon, Thank you for your kind words. I will continue to enjoy watching you grow in this industry. Your talent and creativity is inspiring to all.
I am so grateful for the outcome and for your friendship Lissa… hugs hugs!!
Pat, I couldn’t have said it better!!!!!!
Lissa, thank you for inviting us into your life with this post. I have talked to so many people since you got ill who have asked about you (because they too are a fan). I am really struck by how you describe your mom and especially the act of writing little observances on scraps of paper–just for her. It’s easy to see how you are so special. I’m sorry you’ve lost her. And also, I’m so thankful we still have you. PS. Jillian, you clever car stealer!!!!
Amy, Jillian came with me to Quilter’s Take Manhattan last year. She is already asking if we get to go again. Yes, she is a sneaky clever gal. She must get that from her grandmother.
I love you Lissa!!!!!! So sorry to hear of the passing of your Mother, I know she is an extraordinary women because of the amazing daughter she raised.
You are too kind. She did have to spank me a few times in my life. I am sure she didn’t think I was that amazing during those times.
Why would ‘!’ have been invented if not to be used!! I say spray liberally all over and enjoy. Sorry to hear about all of your troubles – I have had a similar so I can say it ain’t easy!! Be well!!
Denise,
Welcome to the !!!! club. Blessings to you.
So glad that you are healing from your surgery and sorry about the loss of your Mom. I have always found quilting to be a balm for my sorrows and hope it does the same for you!!
Angie,
Amen, Well said.
For you, my friend, I will suspend my excessive punctuation avoidance and tell you this: You mean the world to me!!!!!!!
Girlfriend,
You make me cry!!
God bless you, Lissa. I had a very similar brain “issue” in 1996, which I just realized was almost exactly 20 years ago. Like you, it sure made me stop and think about what a wonderful life I had filled with wonderful friends and family. You now belong to that exclusive club of folks who have had their heads examined and readjusted!! Xox
Hello my Friend,
I use to be able to blame the crazy stuff I do on being blonde, now I can also say, hey I had brain surgery. I hope you are doing well and are all adjusted to your new home.
You definitely had a good role model in your mom!
I’m not sure that we have ever met but I (probably like many others) feel like I know you because of your blog and all the nice things you do!
Catherine, We will have to make sure we meet in real life sometime soon.
Wow! That was an incredible saga. so sorry to hear about your mother. It must have been tough on you especially after all you had just been through. I had headaches all my adult life and 16 years ago had the worst headache ever. I ended up having a cerebral hemorrhage. Lucky for me it was minor, no surgery required and I was only off work for 3 months. The only good thing about it was that I hardly ever have a headache now and the only time is when I have a cold or some kind of sinus thing going on. I hope you stay healthy and happy. Keep on using those exclamation points. your can’t type or text sarcasm so exclamation points will have to do!
Mary Kay,
Thank you for sharing your story. Much appreciated.
What an eventful 6 months you have had!!! New grandchild, sickness, and losing your mother. Hopefully the surgery worked, and you will now have more time to dote on that new grandchild! Sorry for all the distress you’ve had. Heal completely!!!!!!!!
Cheryl,
My little granddaughter is the best medicine of all. Thank you for your kind words.
Lissa
Thank you for sharing your story. I am so glad to hear you are doing well and moving forward. I can’t imagine how difficult all this must be, especially with the loss of your mother in the midst of it. Prayers and hugs to you and your family.
Karen,
Thank you. If I can be half the person my mother was that would be quite an accomplishment. I better get to work on that.
Dear Lissa, Please know that lots of prayers for you and your family were said daily. Prayers will continue, my friend. I was thrilled when I heard you returned to work.
I understand the pain of loosing loved ones. It doesn’t get any easier. Knowing they are not suffering eases the pain in our hearts.
So looking forward to seeing you at Fall Market.
Hugs filled with lots of love, Mary Andra
Mary Andra,
Thank you for the prayers. You know I always need that.
Thank you and your sisters for all the notes and support over the past months.
WOW, Lissa! I noticed your absence in the quilt market photos and had prayed for you but had no idea what you were going through. I’m so thankful that you are better and pray that sweet memories of your mom fill the hole left in your heart by her passing.
WOW, Susan! Someone noticed I was not there!! Just kidding. Your kind comments has filled part of the hole. Thank you for that.
So sorry for the loss of your Mom. You’ve had quite a time of it and I’m happy to see you have such a fantastic support system. I hope you have a speedy recovery. Sending prayers to you and your family.
Suzanne,
Thank you for the kind words and prayers. What a wonderful community to be a part of.
I had the gut feelings that your mum must have been a very warm and special person, because you reflect what she was radiating during all the time with you. I’m very sorry for your loss, I know she will still be present in your family and never be forgotten although you can not feel her hugs and hear her laughter any longer. But you will remember her wisdom and you carry all her love inside of you and give it to the ones around you.
I’m so happy that you feel much better meanwhile. It was scaring to hear about your brain surgery, but you will recover completely and be for your family what your mother has been to you!
Brigitte,
I do have some big shoes to fill. Thank you for all your support during this time. I am glad to be back at work and seeing all the beautiful fabrics and patterns. By the way, I love your next line! -modalissa
I am so very sorry about the loss of your mom. My deepest condolences to your family. So much has happened in your family in the past six months and here you are…excalmation points are the way to show the world who you are…they are grammar accessories! Wear them with pride! I know I do!!!!!!!!
You are one of the most creative, inspiring, driven women I am lucky enough to know. Your Mom can rest assured she’s left the family in good hands. Bless your new grandbaby. Hugs everyday you can. Life goes by so quickly. So glad you’re BACK!!!
The world is a better place because you are here Modalissa! Thanks for you inspiration. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this time!
Oh my, I’m so glad you’re going to be just fine and am SO sorry for your loss. What a wonderful family and friendship circle you have surrounding you. Thoughts and prayers to you and yours.
Well, bless your heart!!! I’m so glad you are doing better and so very sorry you lost your mom. My dad passed away in June, so I can relate to your grief. I hope your surgery resulted in curing your problem. I have suffered severe migraines for 50 years. Wish they could fix mine! I wish you continued success in your recovery process. XO
Hi Lissa,
This must have been such a hard post to write and share. I am so glad you are on the mend and hope you know that your post encourages others- including me!
Sending best wishes from Scotland! X
I am so sorry for all that you’ve been through over the past months, both your own illness and the loss of your dear mom. I’m very glad that you are doing better and hope you will be sewing up a storm again soon.