Sacs, Cysts, & Signs, Oh My!

Warning: this blog post contains graphic content of a medical nature. The material may not be suitable for those who are sensitive to health-related issues or males who don’t like to see the word ovary over and over again.

Stress is an interesting thing. Even though most of us have an innate ability to keep up with it, if not thrive from it, it can also take its toll on the most precious thing we take for granted – our health. I’m not going to lie…I’ve been blessed with a healthy body for most of my life. I’ve never been hospitalized, had a broken bone, or even had to deal with a lingering illness (other than bronchitis every other year).

So after my sister’s wedding this summer, my stress levels finally said, “Enough, girl. It’s time to teach you a lesson…or two or three seeing you’re a Smith and obstinance runs in the family.” (Looks like three was the magic number.)

It all started on July 4. It was the night before my sister’s wedding and I started to notice a slight pain in my left hip. Thinking I had hit it against a dresser or table, I didn’t think much of it and went about the business of fulfilling my duties as maid of honor.


Photo courtesy of Callaway Gable Photography

After the hustle and bustle of the wedding died down, I noticed the pain was getting worse and my mobility was starting to be affected. And it had spread to my right hip. Uh-oh. I made an appointment with my doctor and she seemed to think it was bursitis (inflammation of the bursa sac). After prescribing an anti-inflammatory, she sent me home with the promise I would start feeling better soon. After 10 days of no improvement, she gave me the number of an orthopedic specialist. He concurred with the initial diagnosis and started me on another round of anti-inflammatory, followed by oral steroids, followed by 6-inch cortisone shots in each hip. After little change, I started physical therapy three times a week where I would do stretches, electric shock therapy, and icing.

It’s funny, after all the money I’ve spent on doctor appointments, physical therapy, prescriptions, creams, etc., the only thing that really helped with the inflammation/pain was ice. I’d come home from work each night and stuff ice bags down my sweat pants. And I would keep them there for hours and it would never be cool enough. You could actually put your hand on my hips and it would feel like a fever. After eight weeks of misery, my doctor finally said, “I think it’s time we do an MRI to rule out there’s not something more serious going on.” Little did he know, but the MRI would reveal something else brewing in my body.

Here comes Stress Lesson #2.

The good news from the MRI: the inflammation in my hips was finally going away. The bad news from the MRI: I had bilateral ovarian cysts (cysts on both ovaries). Seriously?! After saying goodbye to my ortho with the promise I would continue my icing and ALEVE regimen, I promptly called my OB/GYN to schedule an appointment. Luckily, my normal 3-4 week wait was cut down to less than week. I guess “ovarian cysts” are code words for “We’ll see you next week.” After reading up (and obsessing) on all the different kinds of ovarian cysts (functional, complex, and the ones that contain hair, teeth, and skin), I met with my doctor and scheduled an ultrasound to determine the kind of cysts I have, as well as the size.

The worst part of an ultrasound: drinking 32 oz of water and having to hold it. I actually showed up for my appointment (the first one of the day) and was left waiting 15 minutes. It turns out the ultrasound machine was broken and no one told the staff! They sent me over to a nearby sister clinic to see if they could fit me in. Unfortunately, a cute little pregnant lady showed up for her appointment early. And my bladder couldn’t wait another 30 min, so I rescheduled for later that afternoon. Luckily, that day we were having a team-building event at Boondocks (a local arcade/entertainment center), and we would be done by 2:00 p.m.

But Stress Lesson #3 decided it was the perfect day to rear its ugly head. And my head was on the receiving end!

As I was leaving Boondocks, I was walking and talking (a dangerous combination!) with a few of my co-workers. My head was turned and before you knew it, I walked right into a 6 ft tall metal sign that was in the middle of the walkway. Thinking I was just clumsy, I cursed to myself and kept walking. Then a co-worker says, “Kelly, you’re bleeding. You’re bleeding A LOT. We need to go to the bathroom.” Seriously?! I’d been down this road 18 years ago. That little accident resulted in A LOT of stitches and a pretty scar right in between my eyes. I really didn’t want stitches right now – especially with everything else going on with my body. So, I followed my co-worker into the bathroom and we proceeded to soak up the blood with A LOT of paper towels.

Up close, it was a nice, straight 1-inch cut. Oh, and I was sporting a smaller version on my lip. I left the bathroom and met with the manager who was nice enough to get me an ice bag for my head. Ah, ice…my one and constant friend! After filling out an incident report, my co-worker says, “Well, we better get you to the hospital. I think you need stitches.” But before we could leave, our new CMO walks in and says, “Forget the hospital. I’m taking you back to the office (where there’s a doctor on site at all times)." Great perk of the new job! Instead of stitches, the doctor put some sticky adhesive over the wound, added Steri-Strips and a Band-Aid. Crisis averted. But there went my scheduled ultrasound.

After calling the clinic back and explaining my injury, I was able to reschedule my appointment for the following week. I got the ultrasound results back a few days later and it showed that the cyst on my right ovary was 4.2 cm and the one on the left was 5.4 cm (and actually two cysts fused together!). And it was their opinion that they were hemorrhagic cysts, which develop when a blood vessel ruptures and drains blood into the fluid already collected in the body of the cyst. And while they’re the least likely to rupture (hooray!), they’re also the most painful. And as I’m quickly learning, there’s a host of other symptoms besides the intense pelvic pain: constant need to pee (but never able to fully empty bladder), bloating, nauseous, dizziness, moodiness, exhaustion, weight gain.

Lovely.

In all my reading, doctors usually elect the “watch and wait” approach with ovarian cysts. Most usually resolve themselves within 2-3 months. In fact, most women have had ovarian cysts at some point and not even known about it since they never show symptoms. My doctor recommended a follow-up ultrasound in 6 weeks. In the meantime, I felt like a ticking time bomb. After about the month, the pain was getting so bad, I called my doctor and asked if we could move up my next ultrasound. Surprisingly, she said yes and I was able to get in the very next day.

This time the results showed the cyst on my right ovary had shrunk to 2.9 cm, but the one the left had grown to 5.9 cm (2.3 in). And they now think they're endometrial cysts. Because there hasn't been significant change between the two ultrasounds and the fact the pain is getting worse (even on Lortab), my doctor has agreed to laparoscopy surgery to remove the cysts. My sister Laurie has actually undergone this procedure a couple times, so hopefully the outcome will be just as favorable. All I know is I'm done with the lessons in stress. Message received loud and clear. It's time to get back to the business of living.

I'll keep you posted with my progress. If I text you or leave a strange message on Facebook post-surgery, blame the drugs (which I hear are fabulous, by the way!).

PK

Moxie Fab Thanks! Blog Hop

Welcome to your next stop in the Moxie Fab Thanks! Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Vanessa Menhorn.

While we’re all feeling moxie sad over Cath’s departure, I’m so grateful for this opportunity to honor her as a blogger extraordinaire, former colleague, and a dear friend.

I was lucky enough to work with Cath for seven amazing years. Megan, Brandy, and I all joined Paper Crafts within 6 months of each other. Cath was fairly new herself, so it was an incredible time to begin this adventure together.
 

Cath, Brandy, me and Megan at Disneyland in 2009.

This was also my first time working on an all-female team (until Lone Design Man arrived). I’m not going to lie…it took me awhile to get used to all the different personalities (and hormones attached to each of those personalities!). But like anything in life, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And all our parts made up a wonderfully creative, quirky group dedicated to putting out the best craft magazine month after month and year after year.

Paper Crafts Team, 2011

Cath joined Paper Crafts as the creative editor. Even back in the early days, she was passionate about trends and putting the freshest, coolest projects in the magazine. That enthusiasm led her to "spearhead" (inside joke!) the Moxie Fabs column and soon after the Moxie Fab World blog. 

As one who used to manage the Paper Crafts Connection blog, I know all too well how much time she has poured into the MFW blog. Late nights, early mornings, vacations (what are those?) have all been sacrificed to bring you daily content that would inspire you to not only think but create outside of your comfort zone.

It was in our concepting meetings where Cath would announce what trends had caught her eye. One meeting she announced she wanted to go with the neon trend for the Nov/Dec 2012 Moxie Fabs column. NEON?! I love Christmastime, but I just couldn't see how this particular trend was going to translate to moxie fab holiday projects. But Cath knew it would be totally unexpected and therefore more likely to get people to say, "Wait...that's kinda cool. Maybe I'll try that neon trend with my holiday cards."

Good teachers always bring out the best in all of us. They present the lesson, set forth a challenge, but it's up to each of us to decide how much we'll take away from the experience. Cath summed up MFW here: "It's a place where everyone is welcome, no matter your skill level, your style, and it matters not one whit whether you consider yourself to be trendy. It’s just that, trends inspire, and truth be told, that kind of inspiration is absolutely everywhere."

Inspiration could always be found on Cath's porch!

So even though Cath is moving on, inspiration will always be out there. Trends will beget trends and creativity will surely follow. I just know that “something truly original, amazingly inspirational, or uber cool” will forever describe the person who coined the phrase!

Merci Card by P. Kelly Smith

Merci, cher ami!
PK

 

Your next stop along the Moxie Fab Thanks! Blog Hop will  be Therese Calvird.

 

Bath Salts Gift Wrap

I’m always looking for ways to personalize my gifts – especially with the holidays right around the corner. My mom came to me last Mother’s Day with two glass jars of bath salts. She wanted to give one to my aunt and one to my grandma. While the gift itself was very thoughtful (who doesn't love to indulge in a hot bath?), the plain jars needed a little sprucing up. So, I dived into my crafting supplies and pulled out exactly what I was looking for: ribbon, flowers, buttons, pearls, and one of my favorite sentiment stamp sets.

I simply wrapped each jar with sheer ribbon and secured the ends with a Glue Dot (a great, strong adhesive for almost any craft project!). I then layered two flowers, a button, and then placed a pearl in the middle. For the tag, I pulled out my Birthday Sampler stamp set from Paper Smooches and cut the “a gift for you” stamp in half. That’s right, folks! I only wanted the “for you” part of the sentiment, so I took my trusty scissors and snipped the stamp into two sentiments. For future use, I can still put them back together on my clear block or use them separately. Remember, your stamps are yours…make them work for your individual needs! (Ironically, there’s already a “for you” stamp in this set. If you like a cursive font and can’t bear to cut your stamps, you’re in luck!)

After I stamped “For You” with black ink on white cardstock, I carefully trimmed around the edges. Or you can use a small oval die if you don’t trust your fussy-cutting skills. Then I simply added a foam dot for dimension and secured it behind the flower. I love how the tag resembles a leaf here. 

And there you have it! A simple gift that’s ready for any occasion. You could even change up the colors or sentiment to personalize it even more. For the record, I normally detest sheer ribbon, but this was the right color and the right width. And it was all I had on hand. I actually think a solid, satin ribbon would look even better!

PK :)

Keep Calm & Eat Chocolate

As a self-professed sweet tooth, I always have a little treat tucked away in my office drawer, purse, or compartment in my car. I love any kind of gummy candy (Sour Patch Kids are my fave!), but a girl can’t wrong with good ol’ fashioned chocolate.

My sisters gave me an assortment of candies for my last birthday. They know me so well!

And while I have my favorites in chocolate category (Peanut Butter M&M’s are at the top of that list!), I pretty much like love all varieties.

And since I think most women appreciate the gift the chocolate from time to time, I love coming up with new ways to gift wrap this divine treat.

We’ve all seen the many renditions of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” slogan. When I came across the “Keep Calm and Eat Chocolate” version on Pinterest, I was immediately inspired to print it out, attach it a king size KitKat bar and wrap it in baker’s twine. I even added a little note on the back that said, “When life gets rough, remember to ‘Keep Calm and Eat Chocolate.’ Repeat dosage as often as needed.”

When I handed out a few of these to the ladies at church, they were a big hit. You could even laminate the quote and add a magnet to the back, so the recipient can add it to their fridge once the candy is long gone. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

PK :)

A Beautiful Ride

Today is my last day as an editor for Paper Crafts magazine. It's definitely a bittersweet moment. I'm excited for the next chapter to begin, but sad to be leaving friends that have become my family for the last seven years.

Paper Crafts Team, 2011

I'm officially saying goodbye over on Paper Crafts Connection. Here I'm sharing seven of my favorite pieces of memorabilia from a cork board that hangs in my cubicle. As you can imagine, I've collected a lot in seven years!

In Paper Crafts' July/August 2013 issue, I used one of the downloadable sentiments to create this Life is a Beautiful Ride Notebook:

Little secret about me and paper crafting...while I love cards, I really love the challenge of creating 3D projects. Everything from gift bags and boxes to gift card holders and mini albums. And don't even get me started on treat wraps and sacks! (Yes, Susan. I said sacks. And you can't edit it!)

But this happy little notebook perfectly sums up my time at Paper Crafts. It's been a beautiful ride. I've gotten the opportunity to do so many things. From writing columns, newsletters, and ad copy to managing a blog, web site and videos to seeing countless magazines go through countless stages of production, the list goes on. But one of the best perks has been the relationships I've cultivated with co-workers, readers, and designers alike. And that's been the beautiful part. I hope to continue these cherished relationships as I move on to the next big adventure.

Thanks for the ride!
PK

Save the Dates That Saved the Day!

When it came time for my sister to send out her Save the Dates, Holly thought this would be a fun way to announce her destination wedding in California. And nothing says "destination" like an invite that resembles a plane ticket.

Since our dad is a pilot, he was able to work his magic and put her in touch with another pilot who flies private planes. After some smooth talking, Holly got the pilot to agree to a little photo shoot when the plane wasn't in use. My other sister Laurie was back as the photographer extraordinaire and Brent, well, he was back as the patient groom-to-be who agreed to put up with another Smith sister adventure. Noticing a theme here?

They didn't have a lot of time (an hour, at tops) and the sun was setting, so they had to work quickly. Once the photos were taken, the fun part began...incorporating them into a Save the Date that resembles a REAL plane ticket. And this is where the misery began for poor Laurie who had to change the text and images over and over until both Holly and I were satisfied.

Here's the front of the invite complete with rounded corners thanks to my corner rounder punch! If you look closely, the airline is Five Star, which is Holly's nickname. And the flight number is 705 for her wedding date, July 5.

And here's the back of the invite. The caption says, "Love is taking off! Will you join us for the ride?"

And no plane ticket would be complete without an American Airlines ticket jacket! You know, because Five Star Airlines is an affiliate of American Airlines (and we have a dad who can get them for free!).

Like I mentioned before, Laurie had the tough job of editing these Save the Dates. One night the three of us were on a conference call going over all the details. The call went on for over an hour and each time Holly or I would make changes, Laurie would edit the invite and then e-mail us an updated proof. I could tell Laurie was quickly losing patience and becoming more and more frustrated with us because the subject lines of her e-mails became more and more colorful...

Bite me

Just say it's fine

Burn in everlasting torment

I just took up drinking

You make me want to run away

I like myself less and less by the minute

I just started sucking my thumb again

I think I just swallowed a bunch of pills

All of the sudden I want to hurt myself

I keep tying my hair in knots

I ate my twin in the womb

Oh look! There's the gun I've been looking for

I'm in Charlie's crate in the fetal position

I just ate a bowl of dog food and I don't know why

Sometimes I want to run away

With material this good, I had to incorporate it into my maid of honor speech at the wedding. It had the crowd laughing hysterically and I got a lot of compliments later. Laurie wasn't too happy with me, but since she forfeited her right to give a toast, I just had to include her in it! Plus, going the funny route saved me from getting overemotional and doing one of those ugly sob speeches that lives on in video for ALL eternity.

This is one video I can't wait to see!
PK

The Beach-Bride-Birthday Weekend

What do you get when you cross a beach, a bride, and a birthday with buttercream frosted cupcakes? One crazy busy, crazy fun weekend! This past March, I headed to Orange County, CA to assist my baby sister with my middle sister's engagement pictures. And it just happened to fall over my birthday weekend. :)

I attempted to fly out on a Thursday afternoon using a standby pass. After unsuccessfully "standing by" for three flights, I was about to call it a day (or in this case, a weekend), when the bride-to-be gave me the best birthday gift...frequent flyer miles! The flight left the next day at the butt crack of dawn (not the best way to wake up on your birthday), but at least I was on my way.

Holly's wedding was booked for July 5 at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. Because we wanted to take her engagement pictures near the surrounding area, we stayed at a nearby hotel. This was the gorgeous view of the Pacific from our balcony:

After a quick nap (cause the grumpy birthday girl needed one in a bad way!), it was off to meet with a few wedding vendors. After viewing countless tablecloths, overlays, seat cushions and napkins (who knew there were so many shades of purple?), we finished our business and went in search of some sustenance. And for the record, In 'N Out in California tastes much better than In 'N Out anywhere else.

Since the next couple of days were going to be busy with the engagement shoot, we cleared the evening of all wedding nonsense and went out to eat to celebrate my birthday. Our good friends, Jeana and her husband Eric, were able to join us for some yummy Mexican food. And for the record, Mexican food tastes much better in California than almost anywhere else. With the exception being Texas, of course, and most likely Mexico. :)

Not having access to a kitchen, my sister Laurie kindly asked Jeana to whip up my favorite cupcakes - vanilla with buttercream frosting! And Jeana did not disappoint!

Saturday was the big shoot! Holly wanted three separate locations (bistro, beach and dramatic art museum), so this meant three different outfit changes. While she was getting her hair and makeup done, Laurie & I met up with Jeana again to scout out a beach location. Being a local, Jeana knew the perfect spot: a section of Laguna Beach that offered up gorgeous landscapes and rocky backdrops.

And Jeana brought along the cutest scouts - her adorable sons Dane and Cole!

After shooting some fun bistro shots in Laguna Beach (sorry, I don't have any to share since I was babysitting our illegally-parked car!) we headed back to the beach. When it comes to photography, light is your most powerful tool, so it was a race to get these shots before the sun went down. And for the record, my main role in "assisting" the photographer was holding a flash. Big job!

Then it was a mad dash to Los Angeles for our night shoot. Holly wanted to take some dramatic shots at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, otherwise known as LACMA. Outside the museum stands hundreds of street lanterns. At night, their soft light creates the perfect romantic setting.

Besides the long-suffering groom, Laurie was the real unsung hero of this weekend. As you can see from the picture above, she went to great lengths to make Holly's vision come true. To see Laurie's professional pictures from this weekend, check out The Making of Mrs. Hendrix on the Laurie Ruth Photography blog.

And for the record, it was great birthday!
PK