Wednesday, October 23, 2013

WIP-my belly

Today is the last day of my medical leave for the removal of uterian fibroids and a hysterectomy.  I have struggled with whether to share this post or not.

My doctor was wonderful; the surgery should have taken 2 hours, but she stuck it out for 5 hours.

I learned two very important things:  First, I don't do well with anesthesia and had trouble coming out of it.

Second, narcotic pain relievers and not my friends - I am very comfortable in saying I will NEVER have to worry about abusing them.  My surgery was on a Friday, with a scheduled 23 hour stay.  Every time I was given the narcotics, I got violently ill and had to stay another day.  Saturday night I BEGGED the nurse to stop with the narcotics to see if the prescription strength Ibuprophen was enough.  It was, and I was home for lunch Sunday.

It has been a long haul and as I said earlier, I have struggled with the idea of sharing pictures of the WIP of my belly.

These are not the best pictures, taken in our bathroom mirror by myself.  Same clothes to better compare; taken more for me than anything else.

Taken August 7, five weeks prior to surgery.  My uterus was enlarged to the size of 18 to 20 weeks gestation.  My hips measured to a size 10 pants, while my waist was size 16!  I borrowed maternity pants from a younger coworker.  

I had spent the summer doing yoga 5-7 days a week, hikes in the wild's of Alaska, and volunteering at a local equine assisted therapy center as a side walker (walking a mile or more with while each client rode a horse).  I also followed Weight Watcher's eating plan.  Despite my activity and healthy eating, I couldn't loose weight, my belly kept getting larger.  At my annual physical, my family doctor informed me of the fibroids and referred me to a gynecologist.

There were 5 "rather large" fibroids, with many smaller ones.  Luckily, I was not the doctor performing the surgery; I would have cut me from hip to hip and pulled everything out in one large piece.  The fibroids were about the size of baseballs and had to be taken out of a one inch incision, piece by little piece!  Performing the surgery laproscopicaly shortened my recovery by 2 weeks compared to the bikini cut surgery. 



September 21, 8 days post operative - still puffy from air left over from surgery and swelling from the long surgery.


Taken this past Monday, October 21, five and a half weeks post operative.  The appearance of weight loss is completely from the surgery as I still haven't been cleared for full exercise.  I can walk, but hate walking alone, and can't take my dog with me just yet.  I have eaten horribly, and have gained a little more than two pounds in the last week.

I did return to my yoga mat this week.  Just doing beginners 15 minute practice, avoiding any core work until I see my doctor Friday.  

As I posted earlier, I still do not have the energy I had prior to the surgery.  Tomorrow I work 9-7, so hopefully I will be able to pull energy from somewhere!  Friday is my last post surgery appointment and I will be cleared to return to my life!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Can I do it?

I return to work this week.  Two weeks ahead of schedule!

Thursday and Friday are Parent/Teacher Conferences; my first day back will be Thursday.  It will be an incredibly long day, 9-7.  I worry if I will be able to make it as my energy is still incredibly low.

I wear an "Active Link" that tracks movement.  Any activity beyond that point which one normally moves just to live (called a "baseline") earns the wearer "points" based on Weight Watchers.

Weight Watches is based on the simple premiss:  eat less, move more.  The Active Link wearer can, if they want, trade the points earned on food.

Prior to surgery, I was earning 3-4 points every work day. Weekends I would drop a bit, but earned 2-3 points.

And now?  

I am lucky to hit "baseline."  My Active Link has suggested a goal of 1 point a day.  Every day I have earned that 1 lowly point, I have been exhausted the days following.

I am very worried about the energy I will need at work.

So, Thursday, ready or not, I will attempt to work 10 hours.  Friday I have my final post-op, so I will not have to work the short day.  Monday, it will be back to work in full force.

I am worried!

Monday, October 14, 2013

FO #'s 14 and 15 and One NEW WIP

I LOVE malabrigo yarn.  Purchased some Rios worsted to knit fingerless gloves/mitts and have been cranking them out at about 1 every other day or so!  I am up to two finished pairs, with one pair on the sticks (three more rows and picking up the thumbs and FO # 16 will be done!).

My only complaint?  I wouldn't recommend knitting two at a time from opposite ends, unless you plan to knit two pairs.

One very navy, and one very pink


 My first two Smashed Grapes Fingerless Mitts/Gloves from a skein of malabrigo rios yarn in the color way Purpuras.

While knitting at my weekly knitting group, one of my friends, who knows I tend to be very matchy with my knitting, asked, "are you okay with how those are turning out?"  Also, while knitting these mitts, the Yarn Harlot had a similar issue with fingerless' for her daughter.

After I completed the first pair, I brought out my scale to see if I had enough to knit a second pair and I had more than enough!

Closer, but still one more pink, one more navy
The second pair would be okay for someone, the pink one has navy in it; the navy one has spots of pink.

Switch-o/change-o and here we go:
Navy
pink

These mitts have a deadline.  I plan on giving them as thank you gifts to my assistants and my doctor.  I return to work on October 24, and have a doctor's visit October 25.  Yesterday I cast on my third pair Argos Iris Smashed Grapes and, do you notice another trend!?


I see at least one more pair of fingerless.  Though I did purchase a brown skein for myself as I love fingerless, but always end up giving them away, sometimes right off my hands!  At least the brown mitts don't have a deadline. I would like to crank out a pair of heavy wool socks for the husband and it would be nice to work one them while he's at work!

Because of the deadline for all the fingerless', all other projects are on the back burner.  That includes Liz's Cowl (deadline December only 20 grams of yarn left), my Birch Leaf Shawl (which I'd like to take on our honeymoon in December), and my Lucy cardigan (no "deadline" but would be nice to when I return to work later this month).

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

If it Itches While Knitting.....

Chances are it will itch while wearing; I'm pretty sure!

I got this yarn on clearance at JoAnne's.

I figured for the price, I'd give it a shot.

I knit as far as the cuff on these Lucy Anklet Socks and started to wonder about how it would feel to wear.  Some yarns are so yummy and wonderful to knit with, and others are not.  This is an "are not" yarn!

The color looked cute and fall like in the skein but just wasn't doing it for me knit up.  Okay, honestly, the colors are cute for fall, but I think I might be totally blinded by the feel of the yarn!

I was going to frog them, but a friend encouraged me to continued.

I am a on the home stretch and my foot still itches and the sock isn't on!!!!

Oh well, into the frog pond they will go.  This yarn, and others I got that day will go to charity, or maybe I'll knit itchy hats for people I don't like.  I am not even going to waste time frogging; pulling needles out and tossing into bag of icky yarn!

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give Lion Brand Sock-Ease a 1!  It is a huge FALE and now I know why it was on clearance!

I have become a yarn snob!

What is your favorite yarn to knit with!?

Me?  I am in love with malabrigo; I may never be the same!

Some WIPs and New Stash


Work has continued on my niece's cowl.  It is over 3 feet long.  I have about 20 grams left to knit, and each pattern repeat is using about 5 grams.  I should be done in another day or two.  The removable stitch markers are placed daily so I can see the progress.  Sometimes when knitting a project like this I feel like I am knitting and knitting and not seeing any progress.  It has been fun each morning to seeing how much I knit the previous day.

Last night my husband and I watched a movie and I am finding the cowl is not "mindless knitting" so I pulled out the Lucy Anklets Sock I've been working on dpn one at a time.  I usually do two at a time with the magic loop method.


I am enjoying see the quicker progress and the dpns are nice.  I am not overly impressed with the yarn; it isn't scratchy, but neither is it super soft and yummy like the malabrigo sock yarn.  I will knit other one, wear the socks and see how the yarn wears.  


Speaking of malabrigo sock yarn.  I picked up the above three lovely hanks/skeins after a doctor's appointment.  

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

That Point Knitters Love After Frogging.......

If you have been following me, you know about the issues with the pattern for my niece's cowl.

I am at the point all knitters love.  The point when you have re-knit previous frogged yarn and are knitting with fresh, virgin yarn!

This mess Saturday night:


is now this:




The previous cowl was just a little over 20 inches.  The new pattern is a little wider, so I am only at about 16 inches with the same amount of yarn.

A friend stopped by Saturday and while I was sharing what I didn't like about the cowl and I said my niece would never notice the problems.  My friend asked, "are you enjoying knitting it?"

With out skipping a beat, I replied "No!"

I have a knitting friend that will NEVER frog.  When she saw the first picture, she gasped!

Her comment is "you can't get that time back".

I am loving how the new pattern is working out and am thinking I might have to knit myself my own cowl.  I found a lovely merino/silk sock yarn that would be great for this pattern!

Sunday, September 29, 2013

There is a LOT of Math in Knitting

I have been cruising along on my niece's cowl, but there was some issues with the pattern.

There were two pattern repeats.  A small leaf pattern and a larger pattern I will call a fan.

When I started the cowl, I was reading the fan pattern as a 10 row repeat and the leaf a 15 row repeat.  

Mathematically, the patterns would match up every 30 rows, or every two leaves.

So I've been knitting happily along and then I'd find a leaf not matching up,so I would adjust the leaf to get back on track.

This was giving me large and small leaves; I wasn't digging that.  Further, I hadn't been doing the three stitch decrease correctly and had twisted veins on the leaves.

Then it hit me.  The fan had a 10 row repeat, and the leaf a 16 row repeat (counting all WS and RS rows), which has patterns meeting up every 80 rows.

So, last night, the cowl looked like this:

I reworked the pattern on graph paper, subtracted a row, a couple stitches, changed the order of the patterns and we are back in business.  

Had over 20 inches before I frogged it, and am sitting with 3 inches now.



I would not have been happy with the cowl, even if it is going to someone who wouldn't see the errors I had made.

Friday, September 27, 2013

FO # 13 and One Item off my List

Before we go any further, I am going to apologize for the FO picture -- I am trying not to let my perfectionism get in the way.  These socks were started on September 12, the day before my surgery to keep the hands/mind busy while waiting for pre-op appointments and impending surgery.  They were completed just 10 days later, as I continued to knit them while I did the most difficult and painful part of my recovery.  I was not getting around very well the day I completed them, and the picture was taken with my iPad (while I was still in my pj's).

FO # 13 Black Dalekanium Socks

Next week I will go in for my 3 week post-op appointment and hope to get a date of return for work. 

This morning, I decided to pull out my yarn, snap pictures of it and enter it into my Ravelry Stash.

Gathering the stash
I am happy to say, 40 different yarns/colorways (98 skeins) were entered into my Ravelry Stash!  While pictures downloaded, I knit on my niece's cowl; it has grown to over 20 inches!

I still need to do some final organization as I put it away.

What I didn't do was dig into my box of my own handspun as well as my roving.  I will leave that for another day!

My husband will be home shortly, so it is time for me to try to straighten up my office/craft room and be able to enjoy the evening with him.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

New Pattern

Sometimes I love the challeanges of a new pattern, sometimes, not so much.

Case in point.

Sunday night I decide to cast on a Christmas present.  And how far am I now?  


Five inches, that's it!  Two full days.  Days while I'm on medical leave, where all I have to do is sit and get better.  Five measly inches  in  two days!  Okay, one day I had to sleep off a migraine, but still!   

I could have started and completed a pair of socks with non-shop knitting these two days, but nope, 5 inches!

First there was this "provisional cast on".  A friend sent me a video how to do this crazy procedure on an cable.  Watched the video several times Sunday night.  More times Monday morning.

Attempted more times than I care to admit, only to have a snarled mess of cables and yarn.

I searched other patterns.  Considered finishing my Lucy cardigan (after all, the only thing left is the sleeves.  

Eventually, after other videos, more snarled messes, late Monday I figured it out.  

Next problem?  How many to cast on?  I wanted to make it a little more narrow, not as easy as you think.  Section C shows 13 stitches, BUT, that is at the widest part and....  cast on, knit, frog, count, cast on knit, wrong again, frog.....

Okay, correct number cast on, knit, knit, knit.....WHAT?!  How did I miss that?  



See that note, above section B?  "Continue row 1-10"?  Me?  What was I doing?  I was just knitting happily along for 5 rows when I should have been doing the pattern.  

Last night, this was at my feet.



<sigh>  This seems to be kind of normal for me and new patterns. 

This morning, after about an hour of knitting I am once again knitting with virgin yarn, and am sitting at 5 inches.

The pattern really isn't hard, just the little bumps along the route of a new pattern.  I LOVE knitting with Malibrigo, it is positively YUMMY!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Yarn Crisis, Maybe?


I cast on these socks Thursday morning, the day of many pre-opappointments.  Was able to work on them while being prepped for surgery.  They have been steaming along quite nicely, and then?

That little cake of yarn got too small too fast!

I am 1.5 inches from the heel with 9 grams of yarn left.

As I see it, my options are:

1. complete pattern repeat I am at and switch to the ribbed cuff;
2.  knit the pattern until I run out of yarn, switch to black yarn (which I don't have) to do the cuff.
3.  ???

Monday, September 16, 2013

WIP

Despite almost zero posts related to knitting this summer, I have been busy!  Beside the dish cloths, this summer I worked on my Lucy Cardigan.

 
All that is left is the sleeves.  It has been a joy to knit, a lot of mindless knitting and has seen many evenings around the campfire!  Trying to decide if I want to knit the sleeves two-at-a-time, or individually.
 
I have also been working on Birch Leaf Shawl.
 
 
I was ready to rip it out and give away the lace weight yarn, but switched to from wood to acrylic needles and it's been smooth sailing ahead.
 
Next on the needles are Lucy Anklet Socks.
 

 
They are being knit one at a time on DPN's -- something I rarely do.
I do not recall why I decided to do this pair this way.  I had planned to knit these while waiting for medical appointments and the like, but I don't want to haul around the book with the pattern, and the yarn is a tad itchy.  They will make nice fall socks, if they aren't as itchy to wear as they are to knit!
 
 
Recently added to the sticks are my Black Dalekanium socks. 
 
 
My last day of work before I took off for my medical leave, I wore black slacks and realized I didn't have any hand knit black socks.  Had planned to do toe up, two-at-a-time, plane-Jane socks.  After completing the toe, I decided to add just a little pizazz with the Dalekanium pattern. Many years ago, I started knitting the River Rapids pattern with this yarn, but the stitch pattern was lost in the dark yarn.
 
While I am recovering from surgery, I also plan to cast on and complete at least one Christmas present.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

FO - #'s 10, 11, & 12


Despite no posts on the progress of my knitting, I have been knitting!

The three dish clothes are part of the proof!  Completed either while camping or at training.  The red are the same color, the last one is wet because it was put to use right away.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Watching the Clock

Yesterday was pre-op appointments at the doctor's office and at the hospital and today I was supposed to have surgery at 10:30, but I am waiting.

One of the tests from my blood draw came back funky, so my surgery was switched to 2:30. I haven't eaten since dinner last night.  Told the doctor I am a little addicted to coffee so she said I could have ONE cup of BLACK coffee at 5 am, and then NOTHING else.

I am antsy now.  Took a nice long soak in the tub. Have lavender oil on my feet and pulse points and I am back in bed.  I can't bear to watch TV with all the food commercials.  I am tired, hungry, and thirsty.  I am hoping sleep will come soon and long!


***** I am not doing well trying to sleep. Took pictures and created posts that I scheduled to publish over the next few days. 

Stayed tuned, FO and WIP!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Last Work Day and Letting Go

I am trying to practice letting go.

Usually, I write pages of notes for a substitute teacher for ONE day.

So, that would mean I'd have to write a book for 8 weeks, right?

I've let go.  My sub came in Monday to meet the kids and get a quick run down of a day in my classroom.  She has nothing more than my lesson plans for this week, and then she is on her own.

I do have two assistants who know how things run.  We march the kiddos through the different curriculums, one lesson at a time.  If they get through two lessons in on day, great!  Don't complete a lesson, no big deal, we will pick up where we left off the following day.

I'm not as ready for a sub as I'd like, but I'm trying to let go.

Tonight we are meeting with friends to celebrate three of our birthdays.  Tomorrow I will get up, make the bed in the spare bedroom, do the last little bit around the house before I pick up my mom and we head to pre-op appointments.

Hopefully, the stuffy nose I have is allergies and not one of the many colds going around.  I have been drinking EmergenC three times a day and drinking OnGuard laced water.


Monday, September 9, 2013

Back to Work, for Three Days

What a whirlwind weekend!

My husband decided that means he was going to have to paint the bathroom he might as well replace the old outdated lights above the mirror.  Apparently, when the house was built, it was not code to put in junction boxes, so that was the first issue.


No stud where it needed to be for new junction box, and plumbing was running in the wall in a spot that prevented placing new lights centered above sink. We centered it between the window and the wall mounted cabinet and the mirror will be centered the same way.  We are hoping the 2 or 3 inch shift won't make it look funny.  I asked husband to get "a white" showed him the different paint chips, pointing to the top colors.  He went with WHITE.  Oh well, it is crisp and clean now!

The mirror will go up this week and eventually, we will replace the floor as it got cut up pretty bad when the mirror fell.

So, his list?  He got the bathroom pretty much done, except for mirror, which he says he will mount this week. 

My list?
  • Carpets shampooed in both spare bedrooms and all doggie spots are gone.
  • Bed was moved, bedding ready to be put on.
  • 90% of what I wanted to complete for my classroom is done.
  • Closet in spare bedroom organized -- everything pulled out of RV was shoved in closet we could hardly walk into that closet.
  • Weekend chores such as laundry, vacuuming the house, etc. was completed.
  • Not on the list, but done, wound a hank into a cake for Christmas Knitting I hope to do.  The pattern that was selected is in French, so I found a different pattern that will work.  Checked to make sure I had needles -- project ready to start next week.
  • Also not on list was I got my Lucy Anklet Socks to a point where I don't need the pattern for 30 rows.  Will take it with me when I do my pre-op appointments this week.
  • One more, not on the list item.  Spent most of Sunday removing malware off my laptop!  What a chore, but the laptop is running at top speeds again!
Turned "inside out" so you can see cuff pattern.
About an inch of 3x1 rib and now it's knitting to row 30

For some reason I can't remember, I am knitting these cuff socks on DPN one-at-a-time.  Two things I haven't done in years. 

Work, here I come.......

Saturday, September 7, 2013

This Weekend.....

School started three weeks ago and every weekend my husband and I have raced off in  the RV and I've done nothing school related on weekends, nor have we done any chores around the house.

This weekend?

This weekend is my last weekend before surgery.

This weekend we are working.

Our bedroom and bath is upstairs and my husband and mom have decided I will not be doing stairs after surgery.  I roll my eyes and pretend that I think they are both crazy, while secretly happy we are getting the downstairs bedroom, with attached bath, ready for us to use during my recovery.

We had a BAM! earthquake in June.  They are one big huge shake that leaves you first wondering what big huge heavy object was dropped somewhere in the house before you realize it was an earthquake.  That earthquake popped a mirror off the wall in the bathroom attached to the downstairs bedroom.


Nothing in this house is easy to fix.  We can't find a mirror of the same size.  The next size mirror is too big, unless we move the lights above the sink.  This means the bathroom needs to be painted, and he wants to paint before replacing the mirror.  This weekend......

After painting, the mirror will need to be installed.  This weekend......

He cleaned up the mirror shrouds with bathtub cleaner which left the floor rather slick.  I worry about walking on this slippery surface with stitches in my tummy so the floor needs to be scrubbed to removed the tub cleaner.  This weekend.......

Our dog got sick on the carpeting after eating something she shouldn't have.  Why she couldn't get sick in the 75% of the house WITHOUT carpet is puzzling.  I don't like where the bed is in the spare bedroom, so the carpet needs to be shampooed before the bed is moved.  This weekend.....

Our dog kind of "lives" in the downstairs bedroom.  The sheets and bedding need to be washed to removed most of the dog hair.  This weekend.....

While paint and carpet is drying, I need to get everything ready for a sub for eight weeks.  This weekend....

After a wonderful warm summer, we have had a very wet fall.  It should be raining all weekend, so it will make inside chores easier.  This weekennd.....

I guess I need to get off the computer, shower, and get moving because it is looking to be busy.  This weekend......


Thursday, September 5, 2013

Before and After

 
 
I was able to get pictures, but not able to add them to this morning's post.  Here is my classroom, before and after shots.
 

Before



After



Before



After



Before 




After


 Another After, didn't really have a before shot of the "front" of the classroom

Came They Did

Wow!  It really has been three weeks since school started and I haven't created one post.

Came the kiddos did.  Right now I have only four kiddos in grades 1 and 2.  The start of the school year honeymoon didn't last long.  An hour after school started, one of my assistants was hit and kicked and into the "seclusion" room the student had to go (when students are unsafe, they have to go in an empty room with a window where they can be watched, but are pretty much unable to hurt others).  By the end of the second day I too had been hit and kicked, as well as bit. Such is life of an Emotional/Behavioral Disorders teacher.

We have settled into our routines, my wild-child has settled down and has had days where we were safe all day, with no chairs flying across the room, no hits or kicks, no running away.

I have had other teachers drop by and tell me the room "feels different" in a positive way.  Another teacher told my room looks like a classroom (still not sure exactly what that means).

In addition, each weekend my honey and I have taken the RV out.  Labor Day weekend was our last trip; the RV will be winterized and put up for the winter.  During our outings I have knit and we hiked and even got in a horse back ride.  

My surgery is scheduled for next week, I don't know if my classroom is ready for me to leave for up to 8 weeks, but I am practicing letting go!  We will stay home this weekend and get the house ready for me to be laid up for a while. 

I have pictures, but technology is getting the better of me this morning.  

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Ready or Not....

Ready or not, Thursday, the kids will come.

Ready or not, I will have to appear that I AM ready!

It is not yet 3 a.m. and I can't sleep.  I feel like I won't be ready.

The first few days and weeks of a new school year are filled with rules, expectations, teaching of procedures/routines and I don't feel like I know myself what they will need to be.  How will I teach them to my students?

BUT, Miss W is a great assistant and was in the same room last year; she has and will be my crutch.

Miss T, my other assistant, holds a Special Education teaching endorsement in another state.

One of my students will have a "BHA" with him every day.  Never heard of them.  I think it stands for Behavioral Health Assistant.  He has two of them, but only one each day.

Right now, our adult to child ration is 1:1

I (we) will do fine.  I will be flying by the seat of my pants.  This isn't my first pony ride, I (we) will do fine!

But still, I am tossing and turning, mind racing100 miles per hour.

I will be trying Essential Oils in the class, so we will see how that works.  People do walk in my room and often mention how nice my room smells.

I drank warm milk while typing, I am going to crawl back in bed and see if I can catch a few more winks.



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Falling into Place

Everything is falling into place quite nicely!

The teacher I replaced basically cleaned out the room.  Items that I've been told that were purchased with the school's money are gone.

A rug with roads that the boys loved to play with, was donated to the classroom (not the teacher) by one of the assistants, is gone too!


Replacement play rug - approved by Abby
(I think I might need to wear my readers when taking pictures with my phone!)
On one hand, I have a clean slate, I get to start with my own stuff.  On the other hand, I have to purchase or make my own stuff.  I am over $400 in setting up this classroom.  I am hopeful that at least some of the money I am spending will be reimbursed by the school.

Thankfully I do work at a great school and teachers have been giving and/or loaning me books, toys, and other items.  My assistants are WONDERFUL and cutting out and laminating items I've made for the classroom.

Pictures to come!

Friday, August 9, 2013

Back to the Grind

I have been heading to school and my new classroom all week, but today is the official first day teachers return to the classroom.

I will post pictures, have been taking them, some a little fuzzy.  My fault for not putting on reading classes on to check the focus of the pictures.  Before I post pictures I would like a finished picture of the classroom.

Returning to school as a teacher each fall isn't much different than returning as a student.

I am in an "ED Classroom" which means I have kids that have a difficult time making good choices with their behavior.  I have to be trained on how to hold/restrain students if needed as well as how to properly carry a child that is out of control.

I have a "de-escalation room" where kids who are "out of control" are placed, with a lock on the outside to keep them in until they have regained control.

Will the kiddos be as crazy this year as last year?  Will they be screaming and having temper tantrums several times a day, or will they be calmer this year? Will my 16 years of work with children in treatment for emotional and/or behavioral disorders help me create a calm classroom?

I can only hope!

  

Friday, August 2, 2013

Non-scale Victory

I guess before I share my non-scale victory, I should fill you in on my doctor's appointment.

Yes, I do need a hysterectomy.  I will get it in September and could be off work for up to 8 weeks.  My doctor was surprised the fibroids hadn't been caught last year at my annual.

So, today, I was at the barn filling in one of the other volunteers on what I had learned at my doctor's appointment when one of the barn workers came up and joined us.

I briefly shared why I had to have a hysterectomy, and that my uterus was enlarged to the size of a 5 month pregnancy. 

She said "OH!  Well now that all makes sense!  You are very physically fit everywhere except your belly and I just couldn't figure it out!  I didn't think you were pregnant, but I wasn't going to ask!"

Yay!  Despite my tummy being 3 sizes larger than my hips, I still look physically fit!

Now if I could eat more than 1/2 a cup of food with out feeling full.  It wouldn't be bad if I felt satisfied, I just feel hungry and stuffed!  

Did She Really Say That?

Post marriage name change continues.  

This morning I was making phone calls to my credit card companies.

After changing my name on my Kohl's card/account, the gal tells me.....

You will receive your new card with your new name in a few weeks.  In the mean time, you can use your card with your old name, just show them your driver's license to verify it is you.

????

How will THAT work when my driver's license is in my married name and my Kohl's card is in my maiden name?

"Just tell them your Social Security Number."

As I write this, now I'm wondering if our SSN's are in view to the cashiers.....


Wednesday, July 31, 2013

30 More Hours of the Unknown

After a horrible weekend laying low due to horrible cramps and an unreasonable menstral flow, I am rethinking putting off the surgery any amount of time.

There is no way I can deal with life in the classroom when I am having cramps and needing to run to the bathroom every hour or so.

Spending time on the couch with a heating pad on my stomach, knitting in my lap is nice, but life goes on and I'm not one to sit back and watch it pass by.

Monday I was exhausted and got very little done, what I feel is a rebound day after so much blood loss.

This morning, I went through my work clothes.  Thankfully I did a trip to ValuVillage yesterday as the two dress slacks I got are the ky ones that fit.  I sadly folded and stacked the pants that are too tight and uncomfortable on my expanding belly.

In 30 hours I should know my course of action and time line.  I am hoping we can get the ball rolling.

Monday, July 29, 2013

The Last Week


My honey and I went riding with a friend on her HUGE horses Sunday, and today is the start of my last week of "summer vacation" as I will head back to school/work next week.

Today I will go to my mom's and try to help her go through things.  She usually gets tired after 5 minutes so we will see how that goes.  We reserved a campsite for an upcoming weekend and we want to go trail riding, so I need to contact the riding stable near the campground and see if we can reserve spots for us.

I continue to be tired, one week one iron supplements.  My question now is whether this is lack of energy or lack of motivation?  I could so easily go back to bed for a nap!

I will see my gyno Thursday and hopefully will have a timeline for surgery.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Laying Low Saturday

For a good laugh, check out the link on yesterday's post!  I am sure some of the things can happen in other states, but they are very much Alaskan (but the moose harnessed has been proven a hoax).

Don't feel well today, want to sit on the couch with the heating pad on my belly -- enough said, right?

On a positive note, thanks to a suggestion from a reader, I tried a slow release iron supplement!  YEAH!  I can take it without getting deathly ill, or other side effects (so far).  I am able to return to my more healthy diet of lean meats, and not daily intake of red meats.  I am not going to Weight Watchers meetings; just can't deal with listening to other's weight loss while mine is stable at best.  I have begun taking weekly measurements and my belly continues to grow.....grrrrrr!!!!  A week of red meat eating hasn't had an impact on my measurements either way.  As I got closer to my cycle, my energy has waned - I managed 83% of my goal on my Active Link.  I will be kind to myself, and do what I can to get as close as I can to 100% this coming week -- no promises!

My honey, on the other hand, is full of energy.  While he mows the lawn, he has salmon bellies in the smoker.

Our Bradely Smoker working hard to create yummy goodness
from our freezer full of Sockeye Salmon
 We were told that Squaw Candy was originally made from salmon bellies, so we are giving it a shot this week. 
 
Put the bellies in Brine Thursday night.  Removed, rinsed, and placed in fridge to dry Friday night.  This morning placed in smoker.

I am taking it easy, slowly doing laundry, and knitting.  Started the band on Lucy that runs around the body, forms collar, front, and lower band.

 
The band will be three inches, so I'm about 1/2 way done with it.  I am knitting with Malabrigo, and the two hanks from the same die lot are, hmmm?  They are not the same color.  One is more green, the other more red.  I struggled with doing every other row with every other hank, but settled on doing the band around the body with the red hank, hoping to have enough for that band.  I will use the green hank for the bands on the sleeves.


I hear Lucy calling my name so I'm going back to the couch, after a detour by the laundry room to reboot the wash (fold, move another load from washer to dryer, and insert new load in washer).  I will try to sneak in some activity during the day.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

On the way Home

We stopped by Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on our way home because my honey had never been
.

See that little dark triangle in the rocks?
Well,

this is what was sleeping in there.



The center is trying to reintroduce Wood Bison into the wild.



Elk


Ah....