Pink and green?????

I made this for my mother in law last night. I was telling her about Michael's Monster and she decided I should make a Christmas Tree ornament. Then she started talking about how cute it would be to have monsters take over the Christmas tree. So here you have it:) She's in love with the pinks and greens of this Christmas. I know the green is off, but it's as close as I could find:( He's got a snowflake on his belly:)

My hand is killing me today (from all the hand stitching) but I think it will be worth it!

For those of you who are paying attention (which I'm sure most of you are), Christmas Eve marks 10 months since Mom died. It's also a very big marker for me personally. Christmas eve marks a year since I saw my Mom alive. When I left the hospital in Columbus, I had no clue if I would ever see her or talk to her again. She had taken a big turn for the worse, and the doctors didn't know. Well, I ended up talking to her numerous times after that (Thank you God!!!), and she did get better after that, but then she got worse and passed away on February 24th 2007. I remember sitting in the airport, needing to get home after being gone for two weeks (sitting in the ICU with my Mom in sedation next to me, and in my Mom and Dad's living room with my Father in a completely different type of Sedation) and wondering if I would ever see her again. I didn't for the life of me know the answer. I miss her more than words could ever possibly express.

Christmas Present Crafts

These are some monsters and a gnome I made for Christmas presents. I like the Blue one with the star the best! He's for Michael, and I love him!!!He was so much fun to make!

My lovely scarf!

I finished my scarf!!!!Just in time for the first snow:) I'm so excited to be able to show it off. I finally learned to use stitch holders at the end of the turning chain, so it looks much nicer than the first one I tried and unraveled. I will be making one for Michael and Geoff (if he wants one). This weekend my Mother in Law will be teaching me to make hats, so I'll have a hat to match! Pray for a safe trip for us, it will be a snowy slushy mess by the time we get out of here, so we'll need it!

Turkey Day

Thursday is turkey day. I can't wait for all the food and family! I'm taking my crochet and knitting stuff down to St. Louis so my MIL can help me learn to crochet on the round and maybe help me knit that way too!. I want to make a hat, and since she makes hat for babies in the hospital, she will be able to help me with this.
When I see Christina in December, she'll be able to help me too! What I really need is for all my Sisters to live with me so I can use all of their talents!!! Christina for her sewing and crochet, Theresa for her scrap booking, Alison for her willingness to try anything and to help other people. I also need my Mother in Law here, she knows how to do EVERYTHING!!!
I'm almost finished with my crochet scarf, It looks pretty good. I learned I need to use a stitch marker when turning rows. That way I end up with a straight line instead of a trapezoid looking thing!I'll take pics when I finish, probably won't be until after the little Holiday we're taking though. I won't have access to a computer while in St. Louis, but I'll take lots of pictures of the action:)
I'm using the ProvoCraft Ergonomic handles Crochet hook set and it works wonderfully! When I used the regular hooks, my hands got very stiff and swollen very quickly. With these hooks, that doesn't happen as quickly, so if anyone is thinking about them, get them. Most craft stores have them now and you can get a 50% off coupon and then they're only about 10 bucks, and totally worth it. I just wish they made other hook sizes for them.....Here's the link: http://www.provocraft.com/products/detail.php?cl=knifty%20knitter&scl=needlecrafts&cat=&item=21-0246

Sick again, knitting again, travelling again

So, Michael is sick, again. It seems he's been sick for the past three months and I might just go crazy because of it. My normally independent little boy turns into a clingy, emotional(well he IS two) little boy whenever he runs a fever or gets a boo boo. These boo boos are bad. He's got blisters in his mouth and on his hands and on his feet. It's called hand, foot and mouth disease. No, it's not the same as hoof and mouth disease (mad cow). It's highly contagious and he probably got it from swimming lessons, so we've been pretty much quarantined this week. I've run a few errands, but haven't had contact with other people all week long (I did go to scrap booking on Tuesday, so I guess that's something). More importantly is that he hasn't eaten all week. I suppose if I had jelly bean sized blisters on my tongue, I wouldn't have much of a desire to eat either! Things are looking up though, yesterday he ate five bananas, a couple of cheese sticks, two bowls of applesauce and some Mac and Cheese. That's the most he's eaten since Saturday. So keep praying, hopefully we won't be going to the doctor again anytime soon:)

I knitted another washcloth. This one turned out very well. It's just a red washcloth with a Christmas Stocking Pattern, but it's very nice. I might keep this one for myself:) I also got the Stitch n Bitch book from the Library, I think I'm putting it on my Christmas List. I can't wait till I get better, I don't think I'll get faster, but I will get better! The picture doesn't show the stocking very well, but I'm sure you can see it a little:)

For those of you who are wondering, I will be doing Thanksgiving in St. Louis this year. Most of the the family will be there (Minus two SILs and one BIL, who will be missed). It will be an eating, gabbing, love extravaganza. I'm very excited about it. Once again, I am so very blessed to have a set of in laws that I actually get excited to see! I think everyone should try it.

I cut my hair again, soooooooooooo short. It's so much easier and I don't think I will ever go back. I don't like my long hair, I have to do to much to it. So I took that ten inches and shipped it off to some organization to make a wig out of it. Now I've got about an inch of hair all over my head. Everyone should try this once too!

My very first washcloth!!!!

If you look closely, theres a skull and crossbones on the washcloth. I counted wrong a few times, but I blame Michael and Geoff for that:) Most exciting about it? My hands didn't get horrible on me. Don't get me wrong. They hurt a little more today, but my shoulder hurts just as bad. I think this may work!!!!!!!!

A Stitch, or knit, in Time

Well, I think I've done it!
First, I learned how to use a sewing machine (Thank You Shannon!!!!). I will definitely continue to get better with that. I'm working on a couple of projects for Christmas presents right now.
Then, my truly wonderful mother in law, got me started on yet another craft. Most of you know by now that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I've had it since I was five. Well, my MIL calls me up. Tells me she just saw an article about how knitting is good therapy for arthritic hands. I, of course, had already heard this well over a hundred times. The more we discuss it, however, the more I start to think I may be able to do it.My Grandma tried to teach me crochet when I was around ten, but between my hands starting to hurt and me not being the most patient girl in the world, I stopped by the time I was 12.
I did a little searching on Craftster.org. If you don't know about this site, and you like to do lots of different crafts, go there, join, make friends. It's wonderful!!!!!I found a couple people who had arthritis who knit and I asked for some advice. Both people e-mailed me with great tips. One of them posted on another board she belongs to and came up with lots of advice from other people:)(THANK YOU!!!!).
Once I got all these positive remarks, I decided I should at least try again. Whats the worst that could happen? I would be out a few bucks for knitting needles. I got a couple books from the library,a couple needles from Wal-Mart and a nice warm cup of Chai and sat down on the couch with a pillow in my lap (that was one of the suggestions, so your arms and hands don't have to hold themselves up). After about and hour, I had my first cast on row done. After two hours I had about 10 knit rows done. Mind you, it's not very pretty, but I did do it. I think I will get better. After two hours, my hands were a little achie, so I decided to call it a night. I woke up this morning feeling great! Thank God for Enbrel and for people to give me tips!!!!!!!!I will post pictures after I have gotten something actually completed. I'm gonna go try the purl stitch next.
The reason I really want to learn to knit and/or crochet it to be able to give back a little. When Mom was in the Hospital last December, one of the nurses came up to me and gave me a Prayer Shawl. She said that she was a member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at her church and, after seeing me there with my Mother in the ICU for a week, she thought I would benefit from it. It touched me deeper than I ever thought possible. She let me know that the women in the group pray over the yarn, and pray the entire time their making the shawls. They pray that God will bring peace to the person who receives the shawl. I want to do that. I want to help people who are suffering and struggling. So often, while Mom was in the hospital and after she died, I picked up that shawl and remembered that God brought that nurse to me in my time of need to remind me that He was still there. It really is a wonderful feeling:)
The nurse in the hospital is why I started making the no-sew fleece blankets for the kids in the hospital too! She really did a lot for me. I can't believe I can't even remember her name. She wasn't one of Mom's nurses, she was just one of the many nurses in the ICU. I do remember her face and her actions though.
OK. End of my ramble. I must go learn the purl now......

Wonders of Wonders

Well, we made it through the weekend. Had a really great time with family, and we lived through the car ride to and from.
Michael only got car sick once. We were still in the city, and we said to me, Mommy, I throw up. When I looked in the rear view mirror at my son, I realized that he had actually thrown up. he wasn't just telling me a story about how he threw up in the car two months ago (Toddlers have this great way of remembering things from a long time ago, but then not remembering that you told them two minutes ago not to jump off the living room table). Pulled over into the walgreens, changed Michael's clothes in the front seat of our car while he was waving and saying hello to every passer-by. He is NOTHING if not friendly. Got on the road and made pretty good time. In the 4 1/2 hours, he didn't throw up again and actually slept for about an hour. this kid NEVER sleeps in the car.
When we got to our first of two big parties in old St. Louie, Michael was a hit. Hugging people he hadn't seen in two years, saying all the necessary please ad thank you's, and only jumping off things that were of reasonable heights. The coolers, the benches. He didn't even hit the puppies too hard. All around, a good time was had. We left that party at about eight. Michael was in bed, asleep, no later than nine. I have a really great kid!!!!
Got to work on the party when I got the baby to bed. I didn't have many duties, so it was all pretty relaxing. Got to talk to my mom-in-law a lot. I am truly blessed to have a wonderful family of in-laws. I don't know of anyone who loves their in-laws as much as I love mine, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
My Brother in law and sister in law got in about eleven that night and we talked to a little while and got to bed around one. Once again, a good time was had by all!
Grandma and Granpa's 60th anniversary party on Saturday went off with very few hitches. Everybody was where they were supposed to be, all the food was where it was supposed to be, and everything was pretty much in place. We got to watch some great old home movies. Those kind of movies that make you wish for much simpler times and more times with family. The food was great, the company was amazing, and Michael was still saying his please and thank you's.
I learned my son is no longer afraid of cake, icing, or cookies. I should have known that it couldn't last. I found out that he can jump off anything he can climb up on. I also learned that he isn't really afraid of dogs, not even 60 pound chocolate labs that could topple him over in a second. I sometimes wonder if he's missing the part of his brain that would make him scared of things that are so much bigger than him. He really is fearless, and strong. I think this is a bad combination for a two year old. Ihave been told that it's normal. But I still think it's bad...He had a great time, so did I.
We left Sunday morning at about 10:30. Michael slept for 2 and a half hours on the way home. He better be careful, I might get spoiled by all this sleeping in the car! We got home and ate a very bad-for-you dinner and Michael was in bed by seven. I love bed time. I did no cleaning up, no working and pretty much no talking the rest of the night. A glorius time was had by all!!!!!
So now it's back to the hustle and bustle. Up at six, work until seven thirty, shower, get the baby up, feed him, answer the door for the three year old I babysit for, play games, snack, more games, lunch, NAP for kids while I work, get kids up, husband comes home, other kid gets picked up, husband and baby go out while I work and make dinner, dinner, bath, bed for kid and more work for me, or scrapbooking, or blanket making, or , well I'm sure you get the picture. In there somewhere, I also clean the house, kiss boo boos, read, do Bible study,pay bills,......It's never ending, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Nobody reads this anyway

OK. I haven't written on this thing in a very long time. Nobody knows about it, so it probably doesn't matter. Things are really pretty good here.



Michael is FINALLY over croup. Who gets croup at nearly three years old? My normally independent, "Mommy, let me do it myself" little boy has become a "Mommy do it please. Mommy, hold my hand". I used to wonder what it would be like to have a child that actually wanted to be touched. I want to go back. NOW!!!!! Don't get me wrong. I love this child more than anything. And it is very nice to cuddle with him for a change (even as an infant he didn't want to be held). But knowing that he is only being this way because he's sick, just irritates me. I want him to be all better so we can get back to the " Mommy, you're walking too close!" The nose has stopped running, the cough doesn't sound so horrifying and the temperature has been normal for 3 whole days. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!



We're going to St. Louis this weekend for my husbands grandparents 60th anniversary party. Last check, the RSVP list was for 87 people. Gonna be fun:) I really am excited about it. The las time we were there, was 8 months ago yesterday. The day I got a call from my Mom's surgeon telling me she only had a few hours to live. I got on a plane, and while in the airport, I got a call from my uncle saying that she had passed. 8 months ago yesterday. That old cliche about time flying when you're having fun? It also flies when you're not having fun.



OK, enough sappy, wipe your eyes stuff. i need to get over myself! We leave tomorrow morning. After my husband's 8:30am meeting. A meeting he has on a day he wasn't supposed to be working at all. I'll pick him up from the meeting and we'll head straight down 55 and be there in about 5 hours. Then, off to Uncle Herb's 50th Birthday party. At a camp ground. With Hot Dogs and Hamburgers and BBQ stuff. Let the Boys run around for a couple hours and off to Grandma's, or Hotel Grandma. Our reservations have been made and Michael get's his very own closet! (I promise, it's actually a room, just used mostly for storage, he cannot sleep in a room with another person!) Then an all day party on Saturday. Geoff likes to leave early on Sunday's. So, not only will we not be going to church, but we'll still need to be out of the house by 9:00am. He hates coming back into the city in the evening. Something about traffic......blah blah blah!



Totally change the subject now! I'm doing well on the Enbrel shot. I'm taking it twice a week instead of once a week and that seems to be working for me. On bad day's I still need to take additional medicine for pain, but for the most part, I wake up without much morning stiffness and am not a crazy person because of the pain. Still a crazy person, just not for that reason. My sinuses are acting up, and the doc says that's one of the side effects of the drug, so now we'll add a nasal inhaler to the long medicine list. I'm also get my ver own verson of croup, but for adults. The doc says that as long as I don't run a fever, it will all be fine. If I start running a fever, I have to stop giving myself a shot until the fever goes away. Then the pain starts again. If infection sets in, automatic antibiotics, possibly the IV kind and lots of worrying by my husband will ensue. So pray that doesn't happen. He already stays far far away from me when he has a cough or a runny nose. I haven't read the side effects portion of this drug. I don't want to talk myself into any of the side effects. My husband did read them. And he's a nervous wreck! And he's not the worrying kind, I swear!



I started a new Bible study about 6 weeks ago. If you're a female and in the west suburbs of Chicago, you should definitely check this out!!! They have childcare and it's two hours a week and it really is an awesome experience. let me know if you want more information!





New family pic taken in August

Let's Try Again

Michael in Daddy's Cowboy Boots

I started this blog about 2 years ago and never really did anything with it, so here I go again!

Good Stuff:

My life right now is a little hectic. I've been taking care of my friend's son Sebastian for about a year now. He's two and a half and a very well natured boy. My son Michael has a lot of fun with him.



Michael will be two on April 1st. He's a handful. He's favorite things are Fraggle Rock and Climbing anything that isn't supposed to be climbed. He is a very loving boy. He will give hugs when asked and sometimes kisses too. He is now feeding himself very well and talking. My husband and I are usually the only ones who understand him (Geoff does need a little translating once in a while).



I have a husband (as mentioned above). His name is Geoff and, we have been married almost five years. He's a pretty great guy. He comes home from work and takes Michael for a couple of hours so I can work.



Oh yeah, I also work part-time from home for the company I worked for before I got pregnant. I do that about thirty hours a week. Currently I have two real jobs and I have a son and a family. This means that I work almost all the time. I do try to find a little time for fun though.



I'm addicted to scrapbooking and getting to that point with Stamping. I take my son to the Zoo as often as possible. I meet up with friends at least one night a week to scrapbook or just hang out. I try to go to the gym 3 days a week. I read every time I have even just five minutes to spare.



In general, I really do love my life.



Bad Stuff:



About a month ago, my Mother passed away at the age of 54. She had been sick for a very long time, but somehow that doesn't make this much easier. I miss her and I don't think I've stopped thinking about her once. I know she made it to heaven and I know I'll see her again, but I still miss her. I find myself talking to her, but I have been told that's normal, so I don't feel too crazy.





That's my life in a nutshell. i don't know how often I'll write or what I'll be writing about. But you can be sure there will always be pictures on Michael.



Take Care!