heartbroken
I write today asking for your positive thoughts and prayers for a dear friend of mine. My friend Jen's sister gave birth last night, and what they thought was respiratory distress (born at 38 weeks) is actually blood poisoning. Effecting 1 in 200,000 births. The doctors are saying that Cody will not make it through the night, they need to do dialysis on all the blood in his body. Jen is currently stuck in Texas, Cody is here. Please pray for Cody, and the family, and for Jen to be able to get up here. :(
It was heartbreaking talking to Jen today on the phone, and being so far away from helping her physically. Her husband is away on business, and as of a half hour ago, still unreachable. :( I just absolutely ache for them.
a little silly
I woke this morning to find a sign, surely a sign from someone! Maybe saying they love them some knitted garments, or perhaps saying I need to knit even more! Regardless, the sign was saw, and it made me smile.
In all seriousness I'm sure it was just a coincidence, and for the non-knitters, it's the "K1" we are watching, properly standing for Knit 1.
I did that Kool-Aid dyeing I mentioned on some Knit Picks sock yarn. I used Lemon Lime, Orange, and Blue Raspberry Jello... because there was NO blue drink mix at Wal-mart, which has a better selection then Target for this sort of thing. Blue Jello didn't work as well because there wasn't sugar free... seriously next time I'll just go to Fareway.
I cast on a cute little something for Ais, I'll get more pictures when its complete, in the meantime some pretty dusty pink.
And lastly, our ceiling paired with my DH making a very serious pose.
Looks like our plumbing is as old as the house, which is just over 100 years old. The pipes are/were lead. We aren't updating everything, just took out this HUGE lead tank/trap, and set up a modern one, and fixing another spot where its been leaking for a VERY long time. There was limestone built up around it, lol.
Next house = new (relatively).
Friday, June 29, 2007
Just think about it
Someone on the Mothering Board said, "Most people put more thought and research into their new television or computer they will purchase then they do vax. I guess when you have to open your wallet you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck ....insert sarcasm here!!."
I am trying to find out how to legally be exempt from vaccinating my children, it's never been an issue before, but now I have to have this religious exemption to homeschool, or I am forced to vaccinate my daughter. I don't really like being forced to do anything, especially this. So I was visiting the MDC board, and like usual got caught up in some great discussions. Seriously, visit there if you want to think outside the box!
I urge you to read and do some google searches, I will list a few sites, but there are more. Look to see what the writer has to gain, I wouldn't go to Merck's website for research, it will all be sugar-coated, with prancing ponies.
What about that Fluoride in your water?
Ever ask to see what the ingredients are in your vaccinations? Ever look up RA 273 and WI-38? Google it, and see what it is.
Ah my man and my dad are back with the plumbing supplies. Back to that. I just urge you to not just take everything for granted, to not assume that the FDA has your best interest, compare, look globally. See how we don't regulate makeup in the USA, while many of the products we use in our mattress (including babies), make up, and more, are banned for being unsafe in Europe. Just make sure you educate yourself, before you follow the masses.
Quickly before I go, this site lets you put your beauty/shampoo products in to see their safety score. Most of my products I use ranked from 2-4, which is considered moderate. And this is a list of low hazard effective sunscreen.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
I was looking through some knitting blogs, and found someone who this weird quiz... I just had to take it myself.
| You Are a Pinky |
 You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird. A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone. You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb |
Makes me laugh... ah simple humor. I mean how did they come up with this stuff?
I got some yarn soaking in vinegar, and am going to pick up some kool-aid packets and dye it. I've been itching to dye yarn again for a fair bit of time, and I just can't resist anymore. After it dries I plan to make the Broadripple socks from the Knitty. Looks simple enough that I can veg and watch a show without having to keep track of my rows.
Have to head out to the local state park and reserve a spot for my dad and his family, they are coming in this weekend with our pool, fix our brakes, and tear down half our ceiling. Jeremy has to work most of the weekend starting Saturday afternoon, so I'm a little fearful it's going to be me helping my dad, whom I adore. But he can be ornery, like I told DJ, not *at* you so much, as at the project. Jeremy laughs and loves it, while I really don't enjoy being involved, I'd rather hear the stories.
Wish us luck that the damage isn't so bad and can be easily fixed.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
hmm seems backwards
--edit-- i found the camera cord, DH put it in the camera case. :)
Ever seem when you "clean" you in essence "lose" something.... your mind perhaps, or in this case, the camera cord. I took some photos and my camera cord is missing. hmm... so I guess this will just be a wordy entry.
First, I had an absolutely great time hanging out with Kris yesterday. We went to the LYS (Local Yarn Store) and she got some yarn to make Ais an adorable crochet tank top, and then I got some sock yarn, Cascade, Self-striping in silver and blue... Ravenclaw colors. I decided that I want to get nerdy (said in a good way 'course), so I'm going to try and join the Hogwarts Sock Swap, and if I get a Ravenclaw I can make them kick butt socks with this yarn, and if I don't its the house I was quizzed into.
Then we checked out the cute coffee shop at the corner of downtown, and sat on the sofa there chatting for quite a while! And then we checked out the local Organic shop which was too cute! I can't wait to go back there with some cash, and get some stuff! I am thrilled with their selection, most of the produce is locally grown, as well as some of their dairy.
Then I came home and a few minutes later, it went from a -eh not so cool day (minus time with Kris)- to an Alexander type day. First, our blazer was in the shop since Monday and the guy couldn't figure out what was wrong, got that fixed, cha-ching. Then our thermostat broke, no biggie thats a cheap/quick fix, but we had no vehicle so it was mid-80's in our house... and one of our water pipes broke and leaked all over my ceiling, some of my kitchen wall, and into my basement (bathroom tub, second floor) so... I've spent my morning on the phone, and having people come through, a plumber, my s.dad, and am trying to get all the information I can, so that me and Jeremy can make some decisions when he gets off work in 2 hours.
We stayed at the inlaws last night, and had a pretty decent time out there, and I got some knitting accomplished since my last update. Monica tank is finished, and one newborn hat down, a few more to go. Post pictures of everything later, and by then I may have some great pictures of my ceiling half torn out in my kitchen.
It leaked the length of the ceiling, not all shown below, and then back towards the wall above the door, not all of the damage can be seen in this picture, nor is the basement pictured, but it's a rough idea.
Here is Monica, from the knitty. I made quite a few pattern adjustments, in that I knit the ENTIRE thing in the round. It's easy, just double it all, so at one point I had over 200 stitches on my circulars. But it can be done, and no seams. Just double all your stitches as you go, and make sure you double check to make sure you have the right amount on BEFORE you begin knitting the ruffle together with the tank... I forgot to decrease my ruffle and had to rip it out. :(
Newborn hat:
A cute one of my girls on the back porch, playing with the booster seats they are out for those that have been taking the older two to VBS, and apparently the arm rest covers make great booties. ;)
Sunday, June 24, 2007
before i go...
I cut the little dude's hair today.
And in the words of my daughters: Peace out!
"What do I have to do
To try to make you see
That this is who I am
And its all that I can be"
I heard this song during the movie The Wild, and it left an impression. Lyrics that make you think and feel, and then you realize, I know exactly what this song is saying.
lyrics here
Saturday, June 23, 2007
saturday morning cartoons
I remember waking up way early to catch My Little Ponies on Saturday morning. I loved when Saturday would roll around in the summer, my dad would be asleep and I'd fumble with the remote to get it to the right station to not miss the show, because I had no concept of time and was like 5 or something; it was hit or miss if I actually got to the right station at the right time to watch My Little Ponies.
I get to pass this fun morning tradition on with my kids, of course the toons have changed. Arianna loves the cartoon Horseland which is on at the same time of other cartoons we like so we tivo them. Apparently Horseland has its own game you can play at that site? We also enjoy shows like Tigger & Pooh, and Johnny and the Sprites on Disney. Both have great theme songs, each of their links have activities and games.
So Thursday evening we had tornado sirens going off twice. That was enjoyable. It's been in the 60's and cloudy/foggy since then, and I love it! I think I could live in Seattle with no issue, this is my favorite kind of weather.
Yesterday me and the kids had a laid back day, we watched my favorite cartoon Robots, had a pizza picnic. For breakfast I made scones and coffee.
breakfast for two please
make it for three. Ari with her vanilla soy milk and maple nut oat scone.
Pizza picnic.
Maple Oat Nut Scone Recipe, its a Starbucks copycat recipe, while it's not exactly like Starbucks, they do taste great. :)
I have been busy this week enjoying and cleaning that homeschool wreckage (seen in the pizza photo, yikes! More then half done now), we are getting ready for an impromptu trip to Chicago, visit my dad, fix the front brakes, and pick up our swimming pool! :) Have my sister coming over in a few minutes to highlight my hair, if its not bad I'll post pictures, if it is bad though, you'll just have to imagine. ;)
And some knit information. I want to participate in a swap, I do on a
private board almost every time, but I was thinking I'd try a crafty/knitting one. So I went looking and most that I wanted to do are already closed for sign ups, but I found one: Sock it to Me Swap. Oh and I got the tank pattern posted to the right, or click here. I made a few cute buttons for it, to put on my blog & share:
In Science/Health news, they believe now there is a correlation between morning sickness and a lower risk for breast cancer, you can read the article here. Pretty interesting. I was really sick with Arianna, and not so much with the others. I know breastfeeding reduces the risk, which I did for an extended period with all but William who weaned at 11 months. We have quite a bit of breast cancer in my family, and I would rather pass up any kind of cancer personally.
Ok and last thing!!! Almost forgot this, my friend Cathy was talking about the Jung Typology Test I took that in psych during high school and college, but couldn't remember my score, so I retook it at the link above. I'm an ENFJ which I think it really sums me up pretty accurately.
This part made me giggle -> "Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining" Of course its not always true, but I think Darci would agree that I try to be positive and find silver linings, lol.
If you take the quiz, let me know your profile, its pretty interesting. Apparently with my profile I'd do good in the health field, psych field, or teaching. All things that I've been interested in at one point or another. Jeremy's was ESTJ, and management was for his career, police, and something else I forgot, all things he is ether doing now, or was interested in. Pretty interesting.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
that goal thing
Remember when I posted about making a goal of things you'd like to do in life. Well I've made it to #49 and while some are too personal to share here ;) I can put some down. :) It was actually kind of fun to do. my50 gives you some ideas and you can look at other's lists if you are having troubles starting.
1.) Watch the sunrise & set with someone special
5.) Go hiking through Europe
8.) Live in Chicago.
17.) Write
18.) See Boston, Mariners, and Yanks play at home and get autographs (Not a Yank fan, but it'd be great to see the stadium, and there are some good stars on the team)
22.) Visit Egypt
23.) See whales & sharks in the ocean *I'd love to go on those boats that go into shark areas, I almost want to go swimming as long as their's a cage LOL*
25.) Visit all 50 states and do something in each one
28.) Live in another country
29.) be more natural/earth-friendly
35.) Get a wild piercing
39.) Take a train to the city with the kids
40.) Build something
42.) Learn to fix some basics on a vehicle
46.) See the grand canyon
48.) take a walk in the rain as a couple
49.) learn ballroom dancing
And for that last one, I'd love to dance to this song, sung by Sinatra, whom I adore.
A few would be hard to find willing participants for, but it doesn't mean it won't happen. I've always wanted to learn to dance, I almost took some classes the summer before my senior year, it fell through for different reasons. Would of been fun though, while I may not be a very good dancer, I love to dance anyway. I'm not as shy about it as I was in high school, lol.
So other then that, I casted on Monica from the Knitty, we will see how it turns out, I didn't like the idea of knitting flat, so I'm editing the pattern to be done on circs.
A boring picture of purple yarn, lol :
The kids wanted to hear whale songs again so I found some online, this one was really neat, and cd was nifty too, it has samples of the songs.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Ais' top
I finished Aislyn's tank top, I winged it but wrote everything down in a jumble of notes. So once I get through this:
and decide I have the want, time, energy to do it, I'll post the pattern. Theres two sides of notes and doodles, but it's pretty simple. I didn't keep track at the end though, just chattered away with Mike and Kris.
Arianna picked this yarn for her next tank top, and I'm going to knit Willis an animal at some point, per his request because I have a hard time finding boy stuff to knit, Id love suggestions. :)
Thought this turned out cute of me and Arianna.
I started watching some teen romance flick the other night, it was on ABC Family, I didn't get through it, but at the beginning they have a wall where you carve you and your love's names in. I realized, that to my knowledge I've never had my named carved or written on anything of that nature. Kinda sad.
Monday, June 18, 2007
heh
Yah Erika's complaining about being huge is crazy! Yesterday me and Arianna went through all our photo albums, which proved useless for belly pictures. Theres one when I was like 14 weeks pregnant, and well theres nothing there LOL. The rest are all hidden away in their original film packaging, and I have no clue where Jeremy stuffed that stuff.
All I have is my picture when pregnant with William, might have some of Ais, but most of hers were lost with the virus.
Man.... I may think I have baby fever from time to time but then I see this and think oh my gosh....
the night before William was born, I have my hospital band on and everything. 38weeks;6days
I cant believe I'm posting this!
William was my healthiest pregnancy, I exercised constantly with him, and gained roughly 25 lbs....
Why the goofy look to that? I only have that picture at all, because its on the computer from Williams first year screen saver I made for him. Hence the funky quality to it.
Ofcourse this little buddy was worth it, yah I've posted it before, back on his b-day, but it's my favorite, and already uploaded.
Isn't the end result so worth it?
I have to clean my homeschool/craft corner up, per dh's request. I want to go to MN and visit IKEA to get this shelf I want for my yarn, not sure when that will happen though. We have to fix our house up, vehicle needs some loving on the front brakes.
Dh's boss is saying we may get our move to Davenport, I'm hoping for Des Moines, or St. Louis... I'm really hoping for St. Louis. *crossing fingers* and *praying* that it all works out, the house sells quickly, and we are happy where ever we are relocated to. There is of course still the slight possibility that they will open a second position here, and we would stay. About an 85% chance we are leaving this city though for at least 2 years, then we could transfer back if we wish. His boss is wanting this move to happen before the holidays, we will see how it all unfolds.
What I've been listening to;
Sunday, June 17, 2007
yah sure buddy
Music is a major part of my life, it's always playing in the living room, kitchen, car, computer. Me and the kids dance, and we sing, and have a great time. Lyrics are so important to me, which is why I don't listen to crap, not kidding. ;) Isn't music such a personal thing?
Socialburn.love.them. Many of their lyrics I can relate to, but some... c'mon Neil...
"i'm a man, who cares that's my biggest flaw..."
I can not even begin to relate to that, coming from a man. I'm not saying men don't care really, I'm not saying that, but it just comes across to me like he's whining, maybe I'm not with a truly sensitive man??? Heck, I know I'm not. Maybe Neil is a really caring person who always has his heart trampled on, while he rocks out on the stage, and lives the rock n roll life. But that's his biggest flaw? hmm... Whose to say though? Besides of course himself.
From time to time me and DH make fun of those quips, can't think of the proper word. FIL went to the library in DH's youth to get books on them, so he can now say - Six in one, half dozen in the other - without batting an eye. LOL That's his favorite. As is the cake one, which until recently I never took the time to actually think about it's meaning. If you don't get it, it basically means you can't have your cake, if you've eaten your cake, you ether have it, or you eat it and don't have it.
Then we got onto 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket' now that one is tricky. For me, because I seem to be an all or nothing girl. When I think of plans or dreams, I am ALL in it, I'm not like eh... this might fail so I better have my foot sticking out the door. Just imagine if you got married with your eggs in two baskets... Preparing yourself for the what-if of divorce, so that you could still have a great quality of life, thereafter. Just seems cynical.
I didn't. I dropped out of college to stay at home, and I homeschool, and I do web work in the home. My friend recently got divorced and she didn't necessarily have a back up plan, but she did take care of herself in this manner, and she is well taken care of by herself now. I'm 99% sure I'd be royally screwed.
So to not end on that note, here's some pictures from yesterday. We went out to the farm to visit my mom, she's doing pretty good. She's worried she's re-injured herself, which is obviously not good. I bought her one of those Orange Creme Frappuccino's from Starbucks, yum! I knew she'd love it, and she did. The workers were so sweet (They always are! I want to work there lol!) and put it in a venti cup with ice so that it wouldn't melt when I drove out there, 30 minutes with no a/c. Yah thats the pathetic truth of our otherwise great vehicle, the a/c crapped out.
In the a.m. me and the kids made Mom's favorite cookies -Snickerdoodles. I have great memories of sitting at the coffee table in this tiny apartment above a little shop, making these. That's where we lived before they bought the house, I have TONS of VERY early childhood memories, probably from the divorce and all the moving me and mom did, I was roughly 3 years old when we made those at that apartment, and I watched Rainbow Brite all the time.
making snickerdoodles as a team
Now I lied Darci, because while I do find Iowa to not be the most awesome place to live in this world, and the actual city I live in to be less then stellar. I am not blind against the simple beauty of the country. Driving to my moms is just an awesome experience for me especially in these seasons when the ground is covered in green and life.
The kids were thrilled because Hallie gave birth to her mule baby, still unnamed yesterday morning. He was just a few hours old when we got to pet him and help wrestle him into the barn.
Isn't he darling?
And lastly.... 28 weeks later this is what you get:
She's freaking out at how big she is, puh-lease. I'm going to try and find some of my own belly pictures, gotta have some around here somewhere. If I find them, I may post a few just for fun.
Happy Sunday!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Ari's tank top
After roughly 7 hours of knitting, Ari has a new tank top, complete with a knitted flower. I got the flower pattern from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Embellishments.
I ran out of the salmon-pink yarn, and decided to just end the back. I had *just* enough to do the bind off, and while it curls, and that is annoying, I can live with it. I also didn't get the I-cord straps in the right place. One side
is off by about an inch or something, we were in the final minutes of Mission Impossible III, and I wasn't paying attention. Cosmetically its not as pleasing if it were exactly equal, but she doesn't mind, and I hate frogging kitchener stitch.
Boogie Kidlet Tank pattern.
Oh and before forgetting, if you hadn't heard about the Thomas the Train recall, there is one. The red paint is lead paint, and you can mail your pieces to them to be replaced. The mail in form is here, PDF format.
It's Friday, I'm happy about that. Just been doing a lot of reflective thinking lately, and feeling a bit confused on where things are heading and my feelings on all of it. :/ I can't think of anything more to write, so that is where
I will leave you.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
got much to say
While I doubt many care for the daily adventures of our camping trip, here they are in greatest detail...possibly. We went with Dh's side of the family
(not the inlaws) but extended, grandma/uncles/aunts/cousins to Lake Ahquabi. Pretty nice park, we didn't do any hiking because ticks were heavily abundant, and that was one thing I'd rather avoid picking off.
Friday
We arrived, we didn't do anything but set up camp and drive/sit in the car a lot. We were supposed to leave at noon, and while we were ready and at the meet up location, others were not. We were there for about 2 hours before we started on the longish drive. This is the night that Aislyn threw up over all our linens, and we froze our tushies off.
Saturday
Visited a laundromat for the first time in my life! What an experience, and while I appreciate having been given this opportunity to spend $4 for one load of wash (not even drying), I'd rather not have to do that again. We fished quite a bit and visited. Ais was off and on again with feeling ok to suddenly not.
Arianna catching a fish, nearly instantly. Shortly after she was off playing on the shore. Her line of thought is very similar to my own, which I've always recognized, but this trip and her questions on fishing really empathized this.
All three on the bridge.
DH fishing off the bridge, there was a beautiful sunset.
We went to a snake showing and Will wants a pet snake. Him and Ais were not afraid at all, when everyone jumped back, my two RAN toward the lose snack.
Sunday
We rented a paddle boat, everyone had a good time except Ais, we had to wake her up to go on, and then she had to sit in the middle. All she wanted was to sit in the back, which Im quite sure she would of fell over the side if she'd been allowed to. Afterwards we built sandcastles on the beach.
Look at those cute pudgy toddler toes.
That night, we were up late and DH decided it'd be fun to feed the raccoons, which were very abundant. They came within a foot of me that night. The next night Jeremy actually touched one a few times.
Monday
More fishing, and rolling down the hills. To entertain the kids we did a scavenger hunt while Dh fished, since the kids interest in that was all of 10 minutes.
I am glad to be home where my kids can use the restroom without assistance, or supervision, and I don't have to walk to the bathroom 20x a day, because frankly that got old instantly. Happy to have showers, and no gnats or bugs, or worries of ticks. Unhappy because I have loads of laundry to wash. Overall, despite the puke, and craziness, it was a good trip.
And while I was gone my mom had back surgery! I found out on the drive up on Friday, and she had the surgery yesterday. She is doing a-ok. I haven't actually talked to her, when she called me back last night at 9:30 I had crashed on the sofa. But from what I hear. She is at risk to re-injure her back in the upcoming weeks because she tore her disc, but we are hopeful that she will make a full and complete recovery.
Casted on the Boogie Kidlet this afternoon for Arianna, we watched The Matrix so I got quite a bit of it done. I'm working on a pattern for a summer top for Ais, something kind of swingy, I'll probably cast that baby on right after I finish Ari's.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
random tuesday
- I hate buying toilet paper, the kids fly through this stuff, I hate it.
- Orange reeses pieces taste better then the others.
- You will inevitably fill your home with crap, the bigger the house, the more crap it has in it.
- I bite my lip and I should really stop that.
- My fire alarm keeps chirping upstairs.
- Iowa is not fun.
More later, I am just crazy right now with too much to do, camping to prep for, a house to prepare for selling. I was hesitant to believe we will be moving, but apparently it's fairly certain, so my house is in need of lots of repairs. Might not do TN, and take those 10 days to prepare our home. Then all the emotions and thoughts on moving.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Aayla
Take a lookie to the right. I wrote up the easiest baby blanket pattern ever, at the request of Katie. You can click the cutie patootie to the right, or here to check it out. :)
Last night me and Darci went out to Perkins, got to see the bar crowd come in, and Darci had the pleasure of hearing one sick in the bathroom. :x We had a good time though, this week has just flown by crazy fast! Going to be heading out camping in the nearest future, and have web clients I need to get finished up before then, and kids to play with, and a headscarf to knit. I need more hands. :)
That is all, folks! <-- gosh my kids don't even know those shows.
