Perler Bead Creations

Its been SO rainy and cold lately, we havent been able to get outside to play or do anything really. The kids have always loved the perler beads so I dug them out for a few hours of fun. If you dont know, perler beads are little plastic cylinders made of plastic. You use them to make designs on templates, then iron them so the design melds together. Then you have a cute little decoration. Fun and pretty inexpensive.

The Eder Kids hard at work:


The creations:

Laundry Detergent

Recently I made a new batch of homemade laundry detergent... Ive looked around online for a while now and this is the best recipe Ive found:

I use Fels Naptha soap for my detergent. You can use Ivory, Octagon, Zote and the like, but honestly, NOTHING works as good as the Fels. I buy Fels Naptha here. Recently it was on sale for half price, so I bought a case.. it will last years. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle, also pretty inexpensive. Recipe cost approx. $2.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap for front or top load machine.

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax



- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Hannah nearly ate the shredded Fels Naptha... she thought it was cheese :)



Careful, it WILL boil over.


-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.




Looks like Jelly!

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)I use gallon jugs... they come free with milk and are easy to save!



-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 3/4 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

Using this recipe costs between 1 and 2 cents a load. Store brand detergent is about 25 cents a load and Tide is about 35 cents a load! This detergent works fantastically, it really gets clothes clean with little effort!!

North Carolina III

North Carolina Pictures II

North Carolina... In Pictures!

Recently B and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. We went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina - one of our most favorite places in the world - for a whole week! Here are a few pictures, in no particular order...









Many more to come!

.....

First, a BIG congrats go out to Anna & Josh Duggar, who gave birth to their very first miracle last night! A baby girl named Mackynzie Renee - how cute!

A year ago today I heard the words that no one wants to hear... You have CANCER. What a year its been - my life has been changed in every aspect. I know Im staring in the face of a recurrence right now, and may have to fight again, but I WILL fight and I WILL win... this Hodgkin's will not get the best of me.

B and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on 9/25/09! Caleb also had his first birthday on 9/26. We had a small party for him and he had a great time. I made him a blue and white number 1 cake.






We also took a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for our 10th anniversary. We had SUCH a blast! Wanna see pictures? Check back later :)

Oncology News...

I had my latest Oncology visit on Wednesday (9/23). I'd just had my PET scan the week before and it was time for my results. As we turned into the complex that the office is in, I couldnt stop the tears. I told myself I wouldnt cry and honestly, I hadnt cried arriving at the office since the first few times going there. I was just SO nervous.

Anyway, it was early and I knew I wouldnt have to wait long to see the doctor because the day hadnt picked up yet, but it felt like I waited an eternity (I didnt - maybe half an hour). I played with Caleb and let B make me laugh to stay calm - then the door swung open and there he was! I ♥ my doctor, he's so genuine and pretty funny too. There's good and not so good news.

The good news - excellent bloodwork and NO new enlarged nodes. Even a few that are smaller.

The not so good news - Some of my residual nodes in my chest and neck show some activity and have enlarged a bit.

Since Im feeling good, and my bloodwork was perfect, my doctor is not ready to say there is a problem. He is concerned, however, and I have to be watched closely. The enlarged nodes could be from anything - an infection etc, BUT, it could be early recurrence. I had an enormous amount of disease before, so a recurrence is a definite possibility. I hope thats not the case but we will see. I WILL fight again if I have to. :)