Pictures of my shawl (finally)

These are some pictures that I had taken over the last month of my progress.

This first one I really thought I had it going well, then when I went to post my last post here I realized I was wrong, oh so wrong.

Somehow, one mistake in a stitch and the whole centre piece was turning out wrong.  Well, I guess it was right to some extent but the YO (yarn over) was not working.  Don't ask me what I was doing.  So of course I couldn't just take the centre out, I had to frog it back to the beginning.  I talked to my daughter to calm myself at least somewhat while she laughed.  Not at me but wondering how I had done this.  Of course they say laughter is the best medicine right?  So, when I got off the phone I started frogging it.

The next 3 pictures are what it looked like a week after starting it over again.  Yes, i'm a slow knitter but I"m really trying hard not to make any more mistakes.

This last picture was me outside enjoying the beautiful summer weather while knitting.  Yes, I got a bit of a sunburn but I love the sun and nothing nicer than doing some knitting in the summer!

almost 4 weeks since surgery

I can't believe i'm almost 4 weeks post-op.  Crazy how fast time goes.  I've had a few post-op app'ts with my GYN and she is quite happy with how I'm doing overall but has said she figures I will be a good 3 months recovering fully with everything I went through.  Hope I can find lots of knitting to keep me busy during that time.

I got the stent out after having the dye X-ray done to confirm that the ureter had healed and that there were no leaks.  My bladder of course was acting up that day and they couldn't get the catheter to drain a little so that they could remove it for me to pee out all the dye.  So what did they have to do?  Use a syringe to get the dye out as the Dr said he couldn't let me go until it was all out.  I tell you, when you walk into a hospital you leave your dignity at the door...LOL!!!  On the 6th of June then the stent was finally removed and I can say I don't miss it at all, even if it was with me 3 weeks.  That thing caused me more pain and grief than I can explain but it did what it was supposed to do.  I got to watch on the screen everything that the dr did to get it out.  Interesting and amazing what these dr's do.  He showed me where the ureter used to be and then showed me where it is now located.  I got to watch him work his way around the bladder to the ureter grabbing the stent and removing it with such ease until he dropped it and had to go back in and start over.  I was going to ask if I could keep the stent as a souvenier of what I had gone through but opted against it.  I did read that people do ask for them.  So now I have to go for an X-ray in 6 months to see how things are and make sure that there isn't any scar tissue blocking anything and to be sure ureter is still as it should be.  I do have to be careful and see the dr if I get any bladder infections because I no longer have the valve that we  normally have to prevent the urine from backing into the kidney.  That valve could not be constructed at the time of the surgery being it was a traumatic surgery that was going on.  To construct the valve it has to be done as a surgery in itself not as a repair from another surgery.  So just hope I don't have any infections and everything will be good!

My Sargaco Shawl is still a work in progress but I'm determined that it will get finished!  Stay tuned for updates on it and the progress

Enjoy your week and weekend!

Recuperating!

So recuperating is coming along well I think, I'm tired and have pain still but that is to be expected.  I was going to attempt to head home yesterday but I just really wasn't up for that car ride.   I took a little stroll again yesterday afternoon just around the corner and I'm sure people look and wonder why the crazy lady is out walking in her PJ's but honestly it's most comfy for me, not tight on me and just easiest to stay in them.

I continue to work on my Sargaco Shawl, knitting and then frogging back a bit trying to figure it all out.  Starting to wonder if I will ever understand it completely.  I've had patterns stump me before but this one takes the cake for me, BUT I'm determined to win.  I know more than anything it is just me and the fibro fog and the anesthetic wearing off my system so I just keep on going.  It is such a beautiful pattern and I am excited about it and finishing it!

When I get home I am also going to be working on some crocheted dish clothes for my mom.  She would like a few longer dish clothes with hooks on them so she can hang them for drying her hands on after coming in from outside!  So that is on my to-do list as well.  I may just have to make a few of them for me as well.

This past month I have found out that 3 of my friends have been diagnosed with cancer, one of them who was an online friend for approx. 10-11 yrs passed away within a week of her diagnoses with this being her 3rd battle over the years.  I keep my other 2 friends close in thoughts and pray that they can both recover and be cancer free and celebrate a wonderful life with family and friends.  This news has been very hard on me as we are all within a few yrs of age and knowing their families must be devastated.  I wish that one day in our lifetime that a cure will be found and that no one would ever have to suffer the devastation and sadness of its horrible grip.  My father is a cancer survivor! Remaining cancer free for 23 years, amazing.  We are all so lucky and blessed to have him with us still.

I hope you are enjoying your week and are continuing to create some new and exciting projects,

Surgery, recuperating and trying to knit

I haven't forgot about my blog I was in the hospital having a hysterectomy for a large fibroid I had that was causing some issues that the GYN thought would be best to remove everything.  I thought that was the best idea as well after doing some research on fibroids and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH)!  The reason for abdominal surgery rather than laproscopic was due to previous uterine surgery, scar tissue and the size of the fibroid which did shrink some, due to some medication I took to help shrink it.

During the TAH, the ureter was cut which meant they had to call a urologist in to repair (reimplant) he ureter to the bladder and also place a stent to help heal it.  Apparently, there was also trouble with intubation but all that caused was not much of a voice the next day or so.  The catheter was also an issue in the hospital but everything seemed to settle down.  I had surgery on May 16, released from hospital on the 21st and have been staying with my parents since my release!  Dr wanted me near by so she could have me come in a few times a week if needed but turns out I was doing better than expected so only had to see her once so far.

No driving makes it difficult for me to head home as we live 45 minutes away from the hospital and dr.  Whereas staying with my parents I'm only 20 min away.

I am healing nicely which is what we want, the drive today to the dr. was very hard on me and therefore I slept for a couple hours afterwards.

As for knitting, well that has been a challenge to say the least.  My daughter bought me some gorgeous yarn (indigo dragonfly) and a beautiful pattern called Sargaco Shawl by Janelle Martin aka Antheras on Ravelry a local knitter and designer.  My mind just didn't work for the first week and a bit after surgery due to antesthetic I guess and after numerous attempts I finally just had to let it be for a day or so then I picked it up again.  I've frogged it so many times but plan on eventually completing it if at all possible.  The designer has been great with her replies to me with my questions!

Be sure to check out her Rav page and her designs.

Hope you are enjoying your week and knitting or crocheting.

Beautiful Easter

Well that was a beautiful Easter weekend.  The weather here was gorgeous.  Lots of sunshine and warm temps to make us all happy and forgiving of Old Man Winter and Mother Nature for what we have had to endure since November last year.

Was the Easter Bunny good to you?   Sunday we had a fantastic day at my parents with family enjoying great conversation, food and drinks.  After dinner we also got into a fun game of Trivial Pursuit, guys against girls.  They won!  The kiddos all seemed to have a great day to with an Easter Egg hunt at home and then a egg/chocolate/candy hunt in the afternoon as well.  What a pile of stuff they got to take home to enjoy, but of course over a period of time...i'd say with all of it they should be good for the year!  LOL, well maybe not but it sure was a lot.

As for knitting and crocheting, still working on some beanies.  Still need to get some pictures for here.  I continue my search for some cute ones to make so if you have any suggestions please leave me a link in the comments so I can check them out.  Not much happening so I think I will end with this ↓↓↓

i've learned something new

So, I've mentioned before that I have been knitting and crocheting for many, many years and I'm still learning new and exciting things with both of these.  I love learning anything that makes life easier for me and last night I followed a tutorial on Magic Circle by  Moogly.  Be sure to click this link to take you to her blog where you will find this and other great tutorials.

Knitting and crocheting are supposed to be relaxing and calming, which I agree but sometimes looking for tutorials can be daunting and leave you saying  "you do what? WHAT???  Ok, now I"m more confused then I was before I started watching this!"  So when I found Moogly on Facebook and then went to  her blog and started reading and watching her tutorials it made my life easier.

I've just started working on some newborn beanies at this time in crochet.  These little things are just the cutest and can't wait to show you some of the finished items.

Happy Easter and whatever you do this weekend I hope you find time to knit or crochet!

trying to get back into blogging

It's been a very long time since I last posted.  It's not that I've been busy with other stuff that would keep me from here, I guess I just got out of posting.

My last post was about the little crocheted Ballet Slippers I had made for a woman who contacted me. Well, they were shipped and I received a very nice msg from her letting me know she really liked them and couldn't wait to try them on her daughter.  I really enjoyed making them and would like to make more as well as other items that I could possibly start selling.

I've been busy knitting baby hats that I was planning on donating to the "Click for Babies" purple hats for Shaken Baby Syndrome but have found out that they have enough now to do for a while.  So my next idea was to see if the local hospital and the hospital where I was born and where I go for tests, needles and soon surgery needs hats for newborns.  If so that this where they will be dropped off.  I've been making all purple but I can now do other colours as well.  Exciting.

I've also been busy making other items as well such as a crocheted granny square blanket (christmas gift for my grand daughter), socks (christmas gift for my grand daughter), dinosaurs (christmas gift for my grandson), socks for my daughter (just because!), not sure what else may have been made in between.

I learned a new and to me absolutely perfect bind off for me! Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, this worked wonderful on the socks that I knit.

Enjoy your day, week and weekend ahead and remember...↓↓↓↓