I've been making these Lumpling applique pictures the past few days. I'm so nervous about Hans' tests next week that I haven't been able to concentrate on starting a new herd of Lumps, but these appliques have kept my hands busy.

Hans isn't feeling well... he's caught the same icks that I had a few days ago. He's home from work today and trying to sleep through this. He's desperate to catch a break; the shingles just stopped itching like mad a few days ago and now this awful cold.

I know Hans mentioned Robin on his journal the other day. We've been following Robin's story through his girlfriend's livejournal since last fall. I was blown away when I checked Melisa's livejournal on the 21st to learn that Robin had passed away. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer last August...the day after Hans' surgery. They had just found out that the cancer had returned at the end of July... it just all seems so sudden to me...so fast.

One time, Sonja's (Hans' sister) doctors told her parents that her time had come, to gather the family to say our final goodbye. I was pregnant with Ella at the time and Finn was two. We flew up to Chicago immediately; sad and scared. When we walked into that hospital room, Sonja looked gorgeous. Sonja stayed strong for about a year and a half after that, before we lost her.

So maybe I thought it would be longer for Robin... I'm just so sad for his family. Even though I don't really know them. I'm thinking of them.

Hans brought these beautiful roses to me the other day, and I'm so in love with them (him too!).

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with those Lumpling appliques. Should I frame them, or make them into little pillows?