News From The Nest

What's Next?

Now that the Beachcomber Shawl is finished -- what's next??  I have two projects in my knitting bag.  

The first project is a pair of these cute ruffled baby socks by Marette Designs.  I have so many little balls of leftover sock yarn and also this wild skein of Opal from Gina.  I love these ruffled socks!  They are really cute and the directions are for Magic Loop.  I started one with sock yarn and  the #0 needles that the pattern calls for and it was so little that it barely fit over my finger.  So, I changed to #1 needles and need to cast on and try again.

The second project is this baby sweater from Katia Bebe No. 48.  I love every pattern in this book.  They are all absolutely adorable.  And, I love this Katia yarn - Katia Marea 100% Egyptian Cotton.  Look at those colors!!  Purple, lime green, yellow, turquoise, and hot pink.  The pattern calls for one button  and I just got a plain yellow one. 

Look at these cool buttons.  I got these at WalMart for $1.96 for three buttons.  I think that's a deal.  Buttons are so expensive now.  They had several more colors.  I think I'm going to go back and get one card of each!  All of them were really neat.

Mom is doing a little better today.  Still a little short of breath and weak but she's 4 lbs. lighter than she was last night.  4 lbs. of fluid.  When they weighed her on admission last night, she had gained 10-11 lbs. since before surgery.  I assure you - she didn't get those pounds from eating!  They transferred her to inpatient rehab this afternoon  and she'll be there for about five days.  I hope they keep a good eye on her.  They say she'll be participating in therapy three hours per day.  I can't imagine that she has the stamina for that.  I also hope they keep an eye on her arm.  It's very angry looking.  Maybe this will be the turning point for Mom.  I sure hope so!!

Shortlived

Well, Mom is back in the hospital.  The doctor saw her this morning re: the swelling in her legs and said that he would admit her tomorrow to inpatient rehab for approximately a week.  This afternoon her breathing became increasingly labored.  I called Dr. Embrey's nurse practitioner twice and finally she agreed to direct admit her tonight.  So, she's on the cardiac floor with oxygen, intravenous Lasix, a heart monitor, and they were going to do a chest X-ray.  They plan to move her to the inpatient rehab unit in the morning.  She also has phlebitis in her right forearm due to the IV's. 

They sent her home too soon and hopefully they know that now.  PLEASE keep Mom in your thoughts.  She can use all the positive vibes you can send her way.

Thanks!

She's Home!

Welcome home, Momma!

Mom did get to come home today!!  She's still awfully weak but they opted to send her to home rather than to  rehab.  She is so glad to be home. 

Someone else is happy to have Momma home.  Lily.  Lily pup hasn't let her out of her sight.  I think she wants to make sure that Mom doesn't slip away again.  Even when Mom went for a walk around the kitchen, dining room, and living room, Lily was close on her heels.  Mom can't pick Lily up - she can't pick up more than 10 pounds for the next 8 weeks - so Lily will have to have a stool or a chair beside wherever Mom sits. 

I was waiting for Mom and Daddy to arrive this afternoon so I went out to her garden and picked these flowers.  I wrapped up the Beachcomber Shawl and also a pair of flower petal earrings for Mom.  I also tucked in something special.  A sterling silver heart engraved with the date of her surgery. 

The shawl was perfect!  She came through the front door and was cold!  She wrapped up in the shawl and was still in it when I left tonight.

It's so good to see her home!

All Blocked And Ready to Gift

The Beachcomber Shawl is all blocked and it turned out great!!!  I washed it on the light cycle and then  pinned it to the blocking board.  Wet, the shawl was limp as a dishrag and longer than the 60 inches noted on the pattern as the finished size.  I put an emergency call into Issy, grand knitting guru in Richmond.  She suggested I stretch it as wide as it would go to take up some of the length.  It worked.  I blocked it to 17 inches wide instead of the 15 inches noted in the pattern.  It ended up being 61 inches long.  I took all the pins out tonight and it relaxed a bit so it's a little smaller than 17" x 61".  I think it will be the perfect size for Momma. 

Here is a picture of the shawl folded and this is pretty much the true color -- finally!

I spent a good deal of time at the hospital on Monday.  Mom was still very very weak.  They discontinued her oxygen by nasal cannula.  She tried walking twice and both times became easily winded.  She did eat better Monday but still doesn't really have any appetite.  The nurse on duty from 7 AM to 7 PM mentioned that Dr. Embry might keep her another day in CCU or transfer her to rehab for a bit.  I know Mom is very anxious to get home - she misses Lily pup like crazy! - but I would like her to be a little stronger - more steady on her feet.  I know it will just take time --- I just hope she doesn't get discouraged. 

I told Mom that she has received a lot of "Get Well" wishes from the blog readers.  She asked me to thank everyone for her.  She can hardly wait to get home and read all the comments.  So, thanks to all of you and keep 'em coming!

FO

Yes, I have a FO!  A Finished Object! 

The Beachcomber Shawl by Imagine Knit Designs is finished and on the blocking board.  I knit it with Cascade 220 Superwash on size 10 KnitPicks' Harmony circular needles.  This pattern would be an easy knit for a beginner interested in doing cables but it was very poorly written - lots of mistakes and just plain unclear.  The picture to the right is not at all the true color of the shawl.  It just will not photograph well inside.  Once off the blocking board, I'll take a final picture outside. 

I started a pair of Ruffled Baby Socks by Marette Designs using Opal yarn.  I'll show them to you once I get a little more knit on them.  I also need to begin the Katia baby sweater.  I'd like to knit everything in that book!  Everything is adorable.

I was so tired last night that I didn't get a chance to post an update on Mom.  She is still doing well but is very very weak.  They pulled two more IV's today but she still has one in each arm, her nasal cannula for oxygen, and the little oxygen monitor on her finger.  Slowly but surely things are being detached.  She is eating very little - just doesn't have any appetite and things don't taste right to her.  I made supper for her last night and again today.  She did a fair job of eating these and even her hospital lunch today.  She needs to eat to help get her strength back and also to have something on her stomach when taking the medications they're giving her.  She said she never thought that she'd have to force herself to eat!  The nurses are still walking her with the tall walker and assistance.  She's just too weak to walk on her own.  Thank goodness, Dr. Embry is going to keep her at least until Tuesday instead of letting her go home tomorrow.  That will give her an extra day.  I know she'll be glad to get home so she can rest.  Last night, they bathed her at 2:00 AM, gave her a breathing treatment at 3:00 AM, and then walked her at 4:00 AM.  Talk about sleep deprivation!!!  You certainly don't get any rest in the hospital!

This picture was taken of Mom and Daddy yesterday.  Mom mustered a smile for the camera and doesn't Daddy look relieved??! 

I walked out to my car from the hospital yesterday and look what was on my tire.  Pretty cool, huh!?!

I can hardly wait to get the Beachcomber Shawl off the blocking board and give it to Mom.  Hope it's the right length for her and I hope she enjoys it.

What A Difference A Day Makes

Sounds like another country song title!

Mom is doing SUPER today!  They pulled the ventilator tube and have had her up walking three times today and sitting in the chair.  She uses a chest high U-shaped walker.  It's the right height for her to place her forearms on the cushioned top and lean on it for support as she walks.  Going for a walk is quite an event as all the attached items must go with her - oxygen, catheter, chest tubes, IV's, etc.  A lot of the facial swelling has resolved and I think she would agree that her pain is tolerable with the medications they're giving her.  They started her on  Coumadin tonight -- must get her blood thin enough before she can go home.  Dr. Embry said Mom might be able to go home Monday depending on the Coumadin levels.  Oh, what a difference between yesterday and today!!! 

Driving east from Danville towards home after visiting with Mom tonight, the sun was a huge hot pink ball in the sky in my rear view mirror.

With all the knitting time today and yesterday, I have zipped right along on the Beachcomber Shawl.  I'm on the front of the pocket and heading toward the bind-off edge.  Before that, though, I'll have to go back and knit the backside of the pocket.  With two hospital visits tomorrow, I should have no problem finishing this by Sunday. 

The color of the shawl in this picture is very off.  Inside light, I guess.  You may be able to tell that the stitches for the back / inside of the pocket are waiting on a spare needle.  Once I knit the front of the pocket, I'll go back to the stitches in waiting and knit the back / inside of the it.  I'm almost done!!!

My Momma Has A New Valve

Sounds like a bad country song! 

Today was a VERY long day.  Mom was taken to the operating room a little after 6:00 AM and was finally transferred from the OR to the Critical Care Unit between 1:00 and 1:30 PM.  Her nurse called Daddy, Andy, and me back around 3:00 PM after he got her all hooked up and settled in.  Facial swelling was expected following this type of surgery but the amount was a bit of a shock.  Her face was very puffy.  She had a ventilator tube in her mouth, four chest tubes, IV's, etc.  She was breathing on her own but they left the vent tube in as a precaution.  If all goes well, they'll pull the vent tube tomorrow and get her up.  I dread this for her but getting moving is so important following surgery.  

Dr. Embry told us that Mom's mitral valve was in horrible shape.  The old one had so much calcification that he had to do a lot of clean-up work before inserting the new valve.  He said that Mom's heart responded immediately to the new valve.  That was encouraging.

I want to thank all of you who have expressed positive wishes, thoughts, prayers, etc. for Mom.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and can hardly wait to share the many comments with Mom.

A funny thing .....  See these earrings?  I dressed so fast this morning that I wore two different earrings all day.  People either didn't notice or were too kind to bring attention to it!

I got a lot of knitting done today on the Beachcomber Shawl and am now to the point where I have to make the second pocket.  My goal is to have this finished and blocked by Sunday. 

A Little Maintenance

As I'm writing this post, my mother is dreading tomorrow.  We're all dreading tomorrow.  You see, she is scheduled for a little maintenance - surgical maintenance.

Mom has been diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis and is scheduled for open heart surgery to replace her mitral valve.  She has had symptoms (I think) for probably 15 years or more.  They have progressively gotten worse and finally a change showed up on her echocardiogram.  The fact that she had rheumatic fever, a major cause of mitral valve stenosis, as a child helped make sense of the diagnosis.

In her seventy-nine years, Mom has been very lucky to have had only a couple of surgeries.  This event tomorrow is major and will be life-altering for her.  She will have to deal with taking Coumadin, a common blood thinner.  This will involve dietary attention and monitoring her blood levels for the drug.  Then there's cardiac rehab which will start six weeks after surgery.  Once she's recovered, she will hopefully feel better than she has in years and the medication and monitoring will become routine.

I took this picture of Mom today with her new easy-to-care-for-post-surgery haircut.  During my visit, I noticed she had two sticks of margarine out to soften to make a batch of her famous Cheese Snappy Wafers.  She wants to make sure she has some to give the nurses.  That's my mother - always busy doing for and thinking of others.  She had two sayings when I was growing up -- "Pretty is as pretty does." and "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  She lives by both of these.  I have never heard her say a mean / snide / unkind remark about anyone.  Never.  Now, that's really a tall order.

Yes, I am (along with Daddy) my mother's biggest fan.  Mom, as a mother, you rock!  As a wonderful person, you rock double!

So, bring on tomorrow morning and let's get this behind you.  One warning for the surgeons --- watch out --- my Mom has a HUGE heart!!!!!

Love you, Mom!

Nothin' New

Taylor and Rachael left Friday morning as I left for work.  It was great having them here.  Andy arrived late Friday night from Ohio in the middle of horrible weather.  He said it was a rough ride.    

I awakened early Saturday morning.  When I looked out the window there was a hot air balloon going by.  Annie dog didn't know what to think of it!  She was barking like crazy.  Lakefest was held in nearby Clarksville this weekend and the start Saturday morning with hot air balloons.  I took a picture but it was too far away to show up well.  You'll have to just use your imagination.

Nothing new going on here this weekend.  Did I make soap?  No.  Did I knit on the Beachcomber Shawl?  No.  Just cleaning out and more cleaning out. 

Mom, Daddy, and Lily visited this afternoon for lunch/supper.  I wanted Mom's advise on what furniture to keep and what to donate.  She wasn't much help.  She thinks I should keep it all!  Guess I can always move it all and then see what works and what doesn't. 

Mom also helped me list things to donate to the Salvation Army.  Then,  I helped Daddy load it all up in their van for the trip back to Danville.  They will take it to the Salvation Army's new store in Danville and an employee will unload it for them.  Here's a picture of the load.  It's the first of many, I assure you.  Bundles of magazines (craft, knitting, country decorating, etc.), books, a bag of clothes, bags of miscellaneous stuff.  It was a lot of stuff!  Problem is that I can hardly tell a difference in the house.  How frustrating is that!!!!??!

I cut these flowers from the garden.  I don't think any flowers say SUMMER more than daisies, black-eyed Susans, and mint.  They are so easy!  They all grow like crazy and make such an easy arrangement.  Just cut them and plunk them in a vase.  Instant flower arrangement.  I love them!!! 

Gracie is just pooped from all this cleaning!  I love to watch her sleep.  She curls up in the cutest positions.

Earl Gray has been staying outside for weeks now with no fights.  (Knock on wood.)  Gracie, however, spends every night inside.  She eats breakfast and may or may not go outside when she finishes.  George is sooo hateful to her!  He chases her off - all the way to the edge of our yard and across the road.  I'm so scared she's going to get hit.  She's so funny!  Well, really it's kind of sad.  When I open the door for Gracie to go outside, she sticks her head out and looks for George.  If she sees him, she won't go out.  In fact, she watches for him the entire time she's outside.  Very nervous looking / acting while she's outside.  Earl is nice to her unless George is around.  If George chases her, Earl will join in and chase her, too.  So, usually Gracie eats breakfast inside, goes outside for the day, comes back in for supper, and gets a restful night's sleep inside.  I think she's actually gained weight since I started this routine.  Before, George would stare at her until she'd run off and then he would eat her food.  Poor poor Gracie!

Sometime this week, I have to find time to make soap and knit!!!!!!  ARGH!

Midweek Visitors

Taylor (younger son) and Rachael arrived today for a visit.  It's always terrific to see them.  They brought Gracie pup with them, too. 

Gracie is a mess!  She absolutely LOVES the country!  She runs and runs and constantly looks for my cats.  They follow her around - they're so curious - but don't let her get too close.  She moves too fast and scares them.  One of her favorite things to do is to run up to Earl Gray, nip at his ear, and then run off a little ways.  She'll do this over and over again until Earl charges her.  Then, she'll run off with a yelp! 

I'm still working on the Beachcomber Shawl.  It's 44 inches long now.  Slow but sure.  Problem is -- I really need to get this finished.  It's a fast knit but I only get to knit while waiting in appointments.  Lately, I haven't had a lot of appointment time.  When I'm home and not working, I feel that I need to be busy cleaning out the house.  I'm just going to have to work some knitting time in with the cleaning.  The picture here shows half of the shawl as it's looped over the back of the chair.  Near the bottom, you see the pocket.

Part of cleaning out involves going through hundreds of photographs.  Hundreds may be an understatement.  I've never seen so many pictures!  A lot of them are duplicates so I'm filing some and making piles for each of the boys.  The ones of the boys when they were little are sooo cute!  Here's one of Brian (right) and Taylor (left).  There's no date on the photo but I think it was taken in 1989 or 1990.  I'll have to compare it to some photos that have a date on them.  Boy!  I wish I could turn the clock back.

Note the crayon sweater I made for Taylor.  Wonder where that sweater is????  I'll probably uncover it in the mega house clean out.

More later!