Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Living in the Frog Pond

I feel like I've been living on a lilly pad on in an actual frog pond the last few days. I've been working on my red sweater and one thing after another has gone wrong. I've tinked, and frogged it so many times that I've lost count. First the knot where I joined the second ball of yarn came loose, then there was a dropped stitch, then a split stitch, I could go on but it's too painful. We are going on vacation for a week and I'm bringing it with me. Maybe the back will actually get finished while I'm away.

DD and I have been enjoying some quality time together. My business has been slow the last week after being quite busy, and she is done with camp. It's been nice being lazy with her. Hanging around watching movies and just being together. DS comes home on Friday so we are enjoying the girls only time while we can. This Saturday is my BDay, no real big plans. We'll probably go out to dinner and I may go off by myself for a few hours. Every year I get myself a present, I haven't decided what it will be yet. I'm thinking of a massage, as I am saving my fiber fix for vacation.

See you all when I get back!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

All Figured Out

Well the book was as we know from the comments a wonderful unexpected RAOK! It was from Bethanie Frank who is my own angel now. I had been having a little bit of a rough time physically, as I've reported. So getting an RAOK was just great. My Secret Pal also came through in fine style I must say. I got a very nice assortment of bath goodies, a beautiful skein of Opal sock yarn, and a lovely bookmark. God the woman knows how to spoil me!

I've been feeling much better the last few days. I attribute this to the fact that I've been very serious about exercising and stretching. I've been doing both daily and it really does help. My very deep thanks to knitnana and kelly d for their comments and offers of help. I am truly touched by the spirit of sharing in the community. Knitnana my mother has lupus so I have some idea what you are going through. What I've got is nothing compared to what you and kelly have to deal with. As the doctor said it's more annoying than anything else. Though I do have to watch out for the eye infection. I'm wondering if either of you or anyone else out there has Raynaud's phenomenon. It's a sensitivity to the cold. Many people with auto immune disorders get it and some who have no problems too. Your fingers go white and then blue in the winter (numb as well) toes sometimes too. It's just awful sometimes. I walk around with a hat and scarf on indoors during the winter.

Not too much knitting these last few days. Had to frog a ton on my red sweater, discouraging but necessary. I'm being picky as it's my first self designed sweater. I don't care how many times I frog this thing. It's going to look right one way or the other!

Monday, August 08, 2005

Confused

I just got a box from my Secret Pal and now I'm not sure the book was from her. Maybe I got RAOK'd. I assumed it was from my pal as I didn't see an address, but it may have gotten thrown out. Please if you sent the book let me know so I can thank you properly!

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Long Time No See

Hey everyone. Sorry it's been so long since I updated. I've been a little under the weather and trying to keep up with work, my knitting and this volunteer thing I do hasn't left much time for the blog. I've been very fatigued for some time, and had a lot of trouble with achy joints. I knew, or thought I knew I had osteoarthritis in my hips. But I'd not gotten a good work up from the orthopedist who I saw for that. So at the suggestion of my best friend I saw an arthritis doctor recently who told me I didn't have Osteoarthritis but something called Spondyloarthritis. It's related to Rheumatic Arthritis and causes the places where the muscles attach to the joints to become inflamed. You also get real fatigued from it because your body has to fight inflammation all the time. I've been having a flare up lately so that's why I've been especially tired, especially achy and haven't been here. Exercise helps, anti inflammatory drugs like Advil, and Alieve help (I get a prescription tomorrow) and I'm trying to learn as much as I can about it. I'm going to beat this!

In answer to probable questions, yes it's hit my hands, but not too badly. They're a little swollen but I can use them fine and It's not affecting my knitting one bit. I've just started yet another pair of socks (two in the works now) and am fine with the small needles. Knitting is good therapy the more I move the better it is. They've been swollen for ages, and I've not given it a second thought till the doctor said something about it. I always thought it was from the weather.

On to happier things. I got a wonderful surprise in the mail from my Secrect Pal a book I've been wanting for a while from Amazon. Beyond Stitch and Bitch. A book about how knitting can be a spiritual practice. Something that really interests me. Haven't you found how the repetitive nature of the work just stills your mind? I have. I meditate daily and so this kind of approach to knitting has real appeal to me. I can't wait to crack open the book. Thanks Secrect Pal!

Family is doing well. DD just finished day camp, she and I should have some time together as work seems to have slowed down right now. DS is doing quite well at the moment. We had the annual review at his school and the teacher said he could actually do harder work and she was going to try to push him a bit. Just what we want to hear. It's hard having him away but these folks are doing such a great job with him. Behaviorally he's doing OK as well. We all go away on vacation soon to New England for a week. Maine, where we've never been, and Vermont where we go every couple of years. Nice places in the summer. Vermont is just beautiful in summer quiet and cheap since all the ski resorts need to fill up spaces in the summer time they cut rates to the bone. We kind of veg out and just enjoy being together.

I mentioned a volunteer thing I do let me explain about it. I do work with the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation. DS, in addition to having Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism) has bipolar disorder. This organization supports parents and gives them information on the disorder. We maintain an extensive website with a chatroom and message boards. I serve as a liaison for parents who contact the organization by email or phone for help. I will either call them or email them and give support and information to them where I can. I also monitor a couple of the message boards. Making sure that people are getting support, making sure that there aren't any inappropriate messages being posted, that sort of thing. It's a lot of work, but work that I love and feel is important. I remember how lost I was years ago and there was no CABF and then it started up and I didn't feel so alone anymore. And when my son was in crisis a couple of times it was a lifesaver. I just feel I have to give back what I got.

Well that's about it for now. I hope to be able to post more regularly in future.