The Recovery Bucket List

In June 2012, I spent 2 weeks in hospital with a relatively unusual kidney condition called Minimal Change Disease (a form of Nephrotic Syndrome). It wasn't pleasant to say the least, I had retained 18kg of excess fluid in my body, had very little energy and no interest in food. I spent much of my time in hospital lying in bed doing very little, just being a bloated blob of excess fluid.

One night at about midnight, I was feeling a bit down. I was restless from the steroids I was on to fix my kidneys, there was a crazy lady yelling and screaming on the ward, and I was feeling really homesick - I'd been transferred from my local hospital in country Victoria to one of the largest in Melbourne for more specialist care I just couldn't get at home. Sleep wasn't an option despite my lethargy, and it was wearing me down mentally.

Knowing that I would eventually go into remission and be able to go back to my normal life, I made a list right there and then. A Bucket List, of all the things I would do when I'm well again and back to my "normal self". Somehow I managed to keep my optimism up for about 99% of the time I was sick, and kept looking to the future and thinking of more things I could do.

This blog is my journal of completing my Recovery Bucket List.

Friday, 13 July 2012

Item 14: "Make More Stuff" Part 1 - Sharpie Mugs

I am in love with Pinterest. It is such a huge source of crafty inspiration for me - there are so many cutesy projects, really super duper why-didn't-I-think-of-that practical projects, things with moustaches/owls/90's icons... I love it all. I have a Board dedicated to all my crafty pins!

And then I stumbled across this:


... which led me to this blog post from Elsie at A Beautiful Mess - I could spend hours on this blog!! So many gorgeous ideas.

So then I went off to Kmart, and got a $2 plain, white, ceramic mug. And a new Sharpie pen, even though I have heaps at home already. It was only $2 too!!

And then I tried it out, spending hours creating and drawing an elegant design. But then after I baked it... it failed dismally. Everything washed away with ease!! I was disappointed, but determined to continue. I suspected it was our oven - it's really crappy!! The seals on the doors are virtually non-existant, so it doesn't hold its heat very well.

So last night, while Lachie was at footy training, I set to work on my second attempt at my Sharpie Mug. I didn't really spend that much time on the detail - I just wanted to know my design worked more than anything else. I guess if I want to make a better one later, I can throw it in Mum's dishwasher - apparently the design washes off in them.

I cranked up the oven, almost as high as it would go, and baked for 40 minutes instead of 30. I left it to cool in the oven overnight, and this morning (ok early afternoon, I slept in. It's my day off work, what of it?) I went and gave it a test-wash, and... drumroll...


It worked!!!

 Kait <3 Her Morning Coffee

 I measured out shotglasses of rice to mark off a single and double shot of coffee!

 We don't have a dishwasher, but you never know!

 Making a coffee!

 Shot of coffee in my cup, with the milk ready to froth to perfection!

Can you guess what I'm having as I write this post??? ;)

I'm really pleased with how this worked out, but will have to use it and wash it a few times to see how well the design holds. I reckon these could make gorgeous gifts, and next time I'm at Kmart I'm going to get one of their $2 coloured mugs to see if it works on those as well as the plain white!


Blood Donation Update:

A huge dose of gratitude goes to Sonia, who has not only been a great support to me while I was sick, but I was there when she was on the phone booking her donation!! Yay!!

And thanks also goes to Renata, who is a regular donor but said her next one is for me :D
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