Hi all,
YEA!!!!
Doug came home from the hospital yesterday around 4:30.
I know being home makes him feel better....sleeping in your own bed, sitting in your own recliner......napping on your own couch.....having your adoring Little Kitty to rub and meeting Tufa the psycho terror new kitty.
As we drove around the corner on our street Jerry saw us and came over to help Doug get into the house.....Doug did OK ....I think having Jerry there just in case was great moral support :)
Shortly thereafter, Ray showed up with the walker complete with bicycle horn to toot.....Ray says to call Nancy ! Again I think the walker is more for just in case to make Doug feel safer.
Doug's platelets are low so he has to be careful not to bump into anything he will bruise, and he can't shave because if he nicks himself he won't stop bleeding....he is sporting a very salt & pepper very scraggly beard.
He is Neutropenic, low white cells, so he has to wear a mask if he goes out...he can't have fresh fruits or veggies....everything has to be cooked :)
He is on Fluid restrictions 1500mls per day = 50 ounces, because he retains fluids and that makes his sodium level low....and sodium it IT with the bod....if Na is off everything even your mind goes haywire.
I had 3 new med prescriptions to get filled......took about two hours and I only got two of them :(.....went to 2 pharmacies and they called many more looking for the missing med.....the platelet med!!!!
Needless to say I was a total mess trying to be patient....I read the whole People magazine 2008 yearbook in Walgreen's while waiting!
Then pick up a meatball sub from Subway on the way home for Doug's supper ....didn't get home till after 7 :(
It may have been a mistake on my part to show Doug we can look up menus on-line and just call in to-go orders....he wants every meal out, but he can't go out so the meals have to come in.
The new prescriptions are:
Megase - appetite stimulant
Midodrine - blood pressure...to keep it up not down
Amicor - platelet helper so he won't bleed to death
Oh well I'm attacking the missing med problem today.
Now I am not just " manic Susie homemaker" I am Nurse Nancy, chef, chauffeur,.....in the hospital Doug had a nurse, nurse tech, charge oncology nurse, food services, housekeeping and other staff etc.....
now I get to be all those in one :)
I learned how to flush his Pic-line with NaCl....twice a day.
Labeled and divied up his meds into the pill reminder boxes.
Inflicted the Metamucil in Instant Breakfast on him with the pills in applesauce......
One comment from Doug.....the hospital has better pain meds :(
We have a clinic chemo appointment tomorrow at 10 am.
Viki and Larry get back from their farm today and I hope the 4 of us get to sit in the sun on their porch and have wine and beer.... Sharps nonalcoholic for Doug of course.....I guess I can poke a hole through the mask for a straw :)
It is good not to be on any prescribed meds so I can have wine again.
It is good to be home.
Thank y'all for all the prayers, thoughts, alcoholic toasts, and happy dances.....keep it up.
Love Nancy
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Blogger Got Sick :(
Hi everyone.
Well the intent was to keep everyone informed every day.
I got home Friday night and spent the whole night throwing up and down if you know what I mean....if you don't well good don't ask:)
This continued a little Saturday.......I stayed in bed all day afraid to move......but now, Sunday evening, I am fine.
I started reading a book someone brought for Doug, a Robin Cook medical mystery, Critical, about MRSA infections in hospitals....probably not a good thing to read while in the hospital ???
So far it is OK....but it does seem it is written with the intent of becoming a movie starring Brad Pitt, and the other blond guy...leo something....as the two blond doctors.
Oops I got off topic.....
Nurses say I probably had intestinal flu?
I think I ate some bad food that someone brought for Doug....I heated it up....a chicken soup....it tasted OK...but....
Or the antibiotic I'm taking caused it....one of the side effects I was warned about was diarrhea....wow....I know I'm supposed to take all 15 days of the anti cat bite stuff but no way...it is called Augmentin.
Maybe it is just a coincidence but that was rough :( Plus after all that I probably did not lose a single pound.
I did call Doug and tell him I wouldn't be able to come to the hospital Saturday.
He got worried about me and called our neighbor Viki.
Well she of course came over and is calling me on the phone while ringing the doorbell.....I knew couldn't just lay there and pretend I was out to the world....she said her next move was to go knock on the bedroom window....she didn't know I had done the Mad Hatter tea party thing and moved on to the clean sheets in the front bedroom :).....I knew it had to be her or the boyscouts....so I grabbed a t-shirt and answered the door....good thing it was not the boyscouts.....I don't think there is a badge for getting a sick person out of bed....or for having the door answered by a large woman in only a T-shirt !
We visited for a few minutes before my tummy grumbled.
She got to meet Tufa the terror.
Tufa is still a kitten even at 10 months he is into everything.
So far he has not broken or damaged anything except Little Kitty's feelings.
They are battling over the front bedroom bed.
I've been sleeping there since I started changing the big bed and never finished....so now I have two unmade beds...even if Little Kitty is under the covers and Tufa gets on the bed Little Kitty crawls out and swats at him then gets right back under the covers....Little Ingrate...
They are not snuggle buddies yet but they do have some wild games of chase and are not fighting over food....and they get close enough to each other that I cat pet one with each hand.
When it is not about the bed they follow each other around the house and Little Kitty does his I'm so cute rolly poly flipflops right in front of Tufa.
I think I will order one of those floor to ceiling carpeted cat trees from the Dr Foster & Smith pet supplies catalog....
Oh idea....I should have had a new baby shower and registered for kitty toys etc...since so many folks thought our new Burmese boy was an actual human baby....wonder how much loot we could have scored :)
Someone even asked me to send pictures of the nursery.....It was Jean I think that said well you should have sent a picture of the kitty litter pan....
Lets see we had company today.
Doug & Brenda brought us Chilis hamburgers.
The doc came by and says maybe Doug can go home tomorrow if he continues to do better.....it will be late tomorrow but that's OK.
He is still neutropenic, low white cells, so visitors will have to wear masks even at home :( and he is not allowed to shave with a blade because his platelets are low and if he nicks himself it won't stop bleeding.....Brenda says he looks like a street person....he has a salt & pepper scraggly beard and still has bruises on his forehead from falling the first week we were here :(
A new med for the low platelets was added today.
And the doc is recommending/prescribing prune juice and Metamucil.....what a fight I'm going to have on my hands when we get home.
Well I'm off to join all the other weirdos who shop at wally world after hours....And I've decided to self medicate....no more Augmentin or Celexa....maybe Cabernet :)
Later,
Love,
Nancy
Well the intent was to keep everyone informed every day.
I got home Friday night and spent the whole night throwing up and down if you know what I mean....if you don't well good don't ask:)
This continued a little Saturday.......I stayed in bed all day afraid to move......but now, Sunday evening, I am fine.
I started reading a book someone brought for Doug, a Robin Cook medical mystery, Critical, about MRSA infections in hospitals....probably not a good thing to read while in the hospital ???
So far it is OK....but it does seem it is written with the intent of becoming a movie starring Brad Pitt, and the other blond guy...leo something....as the two blond doctors.
Oops I got off topic.....
Nurses say I probably had intestinal flu?
I think I ate some bad food that someone brought for Doug....I heated it up....a chicken soup....it tasted OK...but....
Or the antibiotic I'm taking caused it....one of the side effects I was warned about was diarrhea....wow....I know I'm supposed to take all 15 days of the anti cat bite stuff but no way...it is called Augmentin.
Maybe it is just a coincidence but that was rough :( Plus after all that I probably did not lose a single pound.
I did call Doug and tell him I wouldn't be able to come to the hospital Saturday.
He got worried about me and called our neighbor Viki.
Well she of course came over and is calling me on the phone while ringing the doorbell.....I knew couldn't just lay there and pretend I was out to the world....she said her next move was to go knock on the bedroom window....she didn't know I had done the Mad Hatter tea party thing and moved on to the clean sheets in the front bedroom :).....I knew it had to be her or the boyscouts....so I grabbed a t-shirt and answered the door....good thing it was not the boyscouts.....I don't think there is a badge for getting a sick person out of bed....or for having the door answered by a large woman in only a T-shirt !
We visited for a few minutes before my tummy grumbled.
She got to meet Tufa the terror.
Tufa is still a kitten even at 10 months he is into everything.
So far he has not broken or damaged anything except Little Kitty's feelings.
They are battling over the front bedroom bed.
I've been sleeping there since I started changing the big bed and never finished....so now I have two unmade beds...even if Little Kitty is under the covers and Tufa gets on the bed Little Kitty crawls out and swats at him then gets right back under the covers....Little Ingrate...
They are not snuggle buddies yet but they do have some wild games of chase and are not fighting over food....and they get close enough to each other that I cat pet one with each hand.
When it is not about the bed they follow each other around the house and Little Kitty does his I'm so cute rolly poly flipflops right in front of Tufa.
I think I will order one of those floor to ceiling carpeted cat trees from the Dr Foster & Smith pet supplies catalog....
Oh idea....I should have had a new baby shower and registered for kitty toys etc...since so many folks thought our new Burmese boy was an actual human baby....wonder how much loot we could have scored :)
Someone even asked me to send pictures of the nursery.....It was Jean I think that said well you should have sent a picture of the kitty litter pan....
Lets see we had company today.
Doug & Brenda brought us Chilis hamburgers.
The doc came by and says maybe Doug can go home tomorrow if he continues to do better.....it will be late tomorrow but that's OK.
He is still neutropenic, low white cells, so visitors will have to wear masks even at home :( and he is not allowed to shave with a blade because his platelets are low and if he nicks himself it won't stop bleeding.....Brenda says he looks like a street person....he has a salt & pepper scraggly beard and still has bruises on his forehead from falling the first week we were here :(
A new med for the low platelets was added today.
And the doc is recommending/prescribing prune juice and Metamucil.....what a fight I'm going to have on my hands when we get home.
Well I'm off to join all the other weirdos who shop at wally world after hours....And I've decided to self medicate....no more Augmentin or Celexa....maybe Cabernet :)
Later,
Love,
Nancy
Friday, February 20, 2009
Good & Bad in the Same Day ??? Is Chemo Brain Contagious
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wow what a response I’ve gotten to my blog attempts.
Sorry I got a little carried away with the kitty and knitting stuff….but that’s what happened. …I was tired and waiting for the doc and playing with the computer.
We are both experiencing “chemo brain.”
Back to the real important stuff “DOUG”
Doug did really great yesterday…chemo was started up again……Revlimid/Dex/Velcade accompanied by anti nausea med that is supposed to last several days ??? it doesn’t
Doug is still doing OK today, but he has the hiccups.
Overall yesterday was a little better.
Doug feels good enough to complain about wanting to go home.
He walked a lot yesterday and this morning the physical therapist let him walk without the walker and he did fine so physical therapy is done with him. (for now) ( for good I hope )
He is not connected to any continual IV fluids.
He has a dual port in his arm called a “pic line” so when he does need IV meds they just connect him to the pump or inject the meds into the port.
The dexamethasone steroid doses as part of his chemo treatment always give him hiccups, but when you are in the hospital I guess you are more focused on your symptoms and they are more painful and annoying.
Talked to Dr. Costa last night after midnight.
Since Doug is feeling better he wants to make sure it lasts….and try adjusting/ tweaking a few things this weekend before any talk of going home….plus we have to see how he reacts to the chemo….& hope it doesn’t reverse the improvement.
There are several things that could have contributed to Doug’s improvement.
Antibiotics were stopped…the doc commented that it is amazing how sick antibiotics can make one.
Marinol, was switched for a different appetite stimulant, Megase…it seems to work :)
Doug got two units of blood.
Plus Doug’s sodium is still low so he is on fluid restrictions, only 1000 mls per day…so I try to make those fluids count….gatorade, whole milk, V-8….since he won’t drink the nutritional supplements L
His platelets are low so he has lots of bruises even though he has not fallen lately….I accidentally nicked his big toe nail while trimming his nails and I thought he would bleed to death….it took forever and many stacks of gauze pads before it finally stopped…..I thought the nurses were going to kick me out for injuring his toe…..plus I felt really bad :(
His white blood cells are low so he has to be careful of infection etc….he has to wear a mask if he walks out of the room…and we’re supposed to wear masks while in the room……but not everyone follows that rule…..I don’t…..I just make sure I wash my hands before I touch him and don’t cough or sneeze in his direction….the nurses take care of us….they really did send me home for a day because I “looked like I had fever”
He had a CAT scan of his sinuses this morning to see if that is the source of a constant nagging headache….no results yet…..but if it is like all the other tests and retests they have done the result will be nothing of significance :) so he will continue to get Morphine when he complains about his head.
I think he requests the morphine as a sleep aid since they took the Ambian off the list when he was in ICU.
The explanation was that it is a depressant and would interfere with everything else they were trying to accomplish…..getting him back “on his feet”
I wish they would take the morphine off the meds list !
He is on so many pills and injections even I can’t keep track of them all: sodium tablets, magnesium, Midodrine, Megase, protonics…..
The hiccups &/or the chemo are making him nauseated….so I guess he won’t be sending me out to get a Chili’s supper to go today…..I thought we might try Olive Garden to go this evening….oh well.
Plus he begged for the hiccup medicine and the nurses gave in and gave him phenergan the stuff that makes him hallucinate and makes him so weak he can’t stand….I negotiated a smaller dose by mouth instead of by IV…..but it has him knocked out now….. He also started complaining about the nausea & pain…an “8” and so he is back on IV Zofran, phenergan and morphine.……what a step backwards :( what a way to end what started out looking to be a good day :(
We’ve had company today: Judy, Tommie & Sharon, Ray & Wanda so far.
They were all amazed at what an improvement Doug has made. And Doug was really “Up” while they were here.
So keep on visiting, we both love seeing everyone.
Later,
NMG
Wow what a response I’ve gotten to my blog attempts.
Sorry I got a little carried away with the kitty and knitting stuff….but that’s what happened. …I was tired and waiting for the doc and playing with the computer.
We are both experiencing “chemo brain.”
Back to the real important stuff “DOUG”
Doug did really great yesterday…chemo was started up again……Revlimid/Dex/Velcade accompanied by anti nausea med that is supposed to last several days ??? it doesn’t
Doug is still doing OK today, but he has the hiccups.
Overall yesterday was a little better.
Doug feels good enough to complain about wanting to go home.
He walked a lot yesterday and this morning the physical therapist let him walk without the walker and he did fine so physical therapy is done with him. (for now) ( for good I hope )
He is not connected to any continual IV fluids.
He has a dual port in his arm called a “pic line” so when he does need IV meds they just connect him to the pump or inject the meds into the port.
The dexamethasone steroid doses as part of his chemo treatment always give him hiccups, but when you are in the hospital I guess you are more focused on your symptoms and they are more painful and annoying.
Talked to Dr. Costa last night after midnight.
Since Doug is feeling better he wants to make sure it lasts….and try adjusting/ tweaking a few things this weekend before any talk of going home….plus we have to see how he reacts to the chemo….& hope it doesn’t reverse the improvement.
There are several things that could have contributed to Doug’s improvement.
Antibiotics were stopped…the doc commented that it is amazing how sick antibiotics can make one.
Marinol, was switched for a different appetite stimulant, Megase…it seems to work :)
Doug got two units of blood.
Plus Doug’s sodium is still low so he is on fluid restrictions, only 1000 mls per day…so I try to make those fluids count….gatorade, whole milk, V-8….since he won’t drink the nutritional supplements L
His platelets are low so he has lots of bruises even though he has not fallen lately….I accidentally nicked his big toe nail while trimming his nails and I thought he would bleed to death….it took forever and many stacks of gauze pads before it finally stopped…..I thought the nurses were going to kick me out for injuring his toe…..plus I felt really bad :(
His white blood cells are low so he has to be careful of infection etc….he has to wear a mask if he walks out of the room…and we’re supposed to wear masks while in the room……but not everyone follows that rule…..I don’t…..I just make sure I wash my hands before I touch him and don’t cough or sneeze in his direction….the nurses take care of us….they really did send me home for a day because I “looked like I had fever”
He had a CAT scan of his sinuses this morning to see if that is the source of a constant nagging headache….no results yet…..but if it is like all the other tests and retests they have done the result will be nothing of significance :) so he will continue to get Morphine when he complains about his head.
I think he requests the morphine as a sleep aid since they took the Ambian off the list when he was in ICU.
The explanation was that it is a depressant and would interfere with everything else they were trying to accomplish…..getting him back “on his feet”
I wish they would take the morphine off the meds list !
He is on so many pills and injections even I can’t keep track of them all: sodium tablets, magnesium, Midodrine, Megase, protonics…..
The hiccups &/or the chemo are making him nauseated….so I guess he won’t be sending me out to get a Chili’s supper to go today…..I thought we might try Olive Garden to go this evening….oh well.
Plus he begged for the hiccup medicine and the nurses gave in and gave him phenergan the stuff that makes him hallucinate and makes him so weak he can’t stand….I negotiated a smaller dose by mouth instead of by IV…..but it has him knocked out now….. He also started complaining about the nausea & pain…an “8” and so he is back on IV Zofran, phenergan and morphine.……what a step backwards :( what a way to end what started out looking to be a good day :(
We’ve had company today: Judy, Tommie & Sharon, Ray & Wanda so far.
They were all amazed at what an improvement Doug has made. And Doug was really “Up” while they were here.
So keep on visiting, we both love seeing everyone.
Later,
NMG
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Our Burmese Kitties
I wrote this tonight as an introduction to a Burmese cat lovers group on the knitting site Ravelry, Feb 19, 2009
Hi,
I share my home with 2 Burmese, Little Kitty is 14 and Tufa is 10 months.
I have had Burmese since I was in High School 1976.
I love cats but Burmese are special.
They are so loving and soft...and I don't think they shed as much as other cats.
The first was Miiko, she lived to 21. She moved in with my husband before I did and turned a non cat guy into a cat friendly kitty care giver. Miiko loved Doug. Turns out she loved most men, what a flirt.
The next two were Bubba and Gurley, after Helen Gurley Brown editor of Cosmopoliton.
Gurley lived to 18 and she was very much like Miiko... a real flirt around men....and absolutely head of the household. At one point I had 6 cats....Gurley was senior female and she ruled...all the other kitties knew to bow and kiss the queen...and they did....when she was getting on in years and being treated for kidney failure, subcue ringers lactate twice a day for 4 years,....the other kitties would check on her and kiss her while she slept....even the cats she looked down on while she was awake :)
Bubba was a lover, snuggler, retriever of toy mousies....but he was terrified of everyone but Doug & I to the point of becoming physically shaking and impaired around company...I came home from work one day and Gurley met me howling at the door....Bubba was very sick....I took him to the vet....and he died before they could do anything :( Doug & I think he scared himself to death...it was a horrible loss.
So I got Little Kitty so Gurley would have a companion....she adopted him immediately when we brought him home and they slept together that first night :)
Then I ended up caring for 4 more cats that were left in our neighborhood....and discovered 6 cats & 2 people on a king size bed with the electric blanket is too many ....we didn't use the central heating so they all got in bed with us.
Two of the cats, Baby Maynard and Paws went to loving homes, Max and Three died of cancer..... For years it was just Gurley, Little Kitty and Three.... Gurley died 3 years ago......Three just last month, Jan 2009 :(..leaving me with only Little Kitty.......till Feb 15th.....I found Tufa on the Burmese Breeders rescue site and now he is home adjusting to life in Little Kitty's home....They are slowly beginning to warm up to each other :)
Oh Yeah, I do try and knit with Little Kitty in my lap....I can't sit down with out him in my lap.....he loves to be held and carried around.....he would be perfectly happy for is little feet to never touch the ground.
Tufa has not had a chance to experience knitting yet....but I can tell he is going to be a very paws on participant.
Later,
NMG
Hi,
I share my home with 2 Burmese, Little Kitty is 14 and Tufa is 10 months.
I have had Burmese since I was in High School 1976.
I love cats but Burmese are special.
They are so loving and soft...and I don't think they shed as much as other cats.
The first was Miiko, she lived to 21. She moved in with my husband before I did and turned a non cat guy into a cat friendly kitty care giver. Miiko loved Doug. Turns out she loved most men, what a flirt.
The next two were Bubba and Gurley, after Helen Gurley Brown editor of Cosmopoliton.
Gurley lived to 18 and she was very much like Miiko... a real flirt around men....and absolutely head of the household. At one point I had 6 cats....Gurley was senior female and she ruled...all the other kitties knew to bow and kiss the queen...and they did....when she was getting on in years and being treated for kidney failure, subcue ringers lactate twice a day for 4 years,....the other kitties would check on her and kiss her while she slept....even the cats she looked down on while she was awake :)
Bubba was a lover, snuggler, retriever of toy mousies....but he was terrified of everyone but Doug & I to the point of becoming physically shaking and impaired around company...I came home from work one day and Gurley met me howling at the door....Bubba was very sick....I took him to the vet....and he died before they could do anything :( Doug & I think he scared himself to death...it was a horrible loss.
So I got Little Kitty so Gurley would have a companion....she adopted him immediately when we brought him home and they slept together that first night :)
Then I ended up caring for 4 more cats that were left in our neighborhood....and discovered 6 cats & 2 people on a king size bed with the electric blanket is too many ....we didn't use the central heating so they all got in bed with us.
Two of the cats, Baby Maynard and Paws went to loving homes, Max and Three died of cancer..... For years it was just Gurley, Little Kitty and Three.... Gurley died 3 years ago......Three just last month, Jan 2009 :(..leaving me with only Little Kitty.......till Feb 15th.....I found Tufa on the Burmese Breeders rescue site and now he is home adjusting to life in Little Kitty's home....They are slowly beginning to warm up to each other :)
Oh Yeah, I do try and knit with Little Kitty in my lap....I can't sit down with out him in my lap.....he loves to be held and carried around.....he would be perfectly happy for is little feet to never touch the ground.
Tufa has not had a chance to experience knitting yet....but I can tell he is going to be a very paws on participant.
Later,
NMG
Silent "K's" & Why Do I Knit ?
I wrote this before I know what a blog even was - May 5th 2005
Knaughty Knancy Knightly Knavishly Knits Knots for her Knight with Knifelike Kneedles Kneeling on a Knapsack
Why Do I Knit?
Because it is the trendy craft of the moment?
No.
Maybe that is why I initially became interested in learning how to knit.
I knoted that certain celebrities knitted and that sparked my interest.
{knitting really fast with wool and metal needles can cause sparks to fly}
In the recent past I have tried to crochet and my attempts were met with total confusion and polite laughter when I presented my work to qualified crocheters for error analysis.
What I had done was make a knotted mess by carefully following instructions in a how to book, and viewing instructions, with pictures even, on line.
My mama-in-law and her sisters, my two best friends, my mama, my aunt are all very good at crochet.
Aunt Jeanie turns out many beautiful afgans, large ones.
My mama-in-law makes the whole family Christmas ornaments, angels, snowflakes, bells etc. from cotton thread from Grandma Graff’s stash.
Even my husband was able to learn crochet, but he didn’t continue.
He also has made loom placemats and pot holders.
So I started collecting finished crochet products:
Hugh stacks of afgans in 70’s colors…{ we can survive a power failure during a freeze :) }
Small drawer fulls of 50’s doilies, pot holders, coasters, pin cushions, little sewing kits…
Pot holders in all sorts of animals and objects…
Aprons for dish soap bottles, Barbie doll dresses…
Even my Dad’s mom crocheted.
She crocheted a great black shawl with a border of pom-poms for Mama to wear over square dance skirts and petticoats….I want it !
But she was a knitter.
So, do I knit because my grandma taught me?
No.
I think one of the reasons I knit is to honor her memory.
She did teach Jean & me to knit when we were little.
I vaguely remember knitting rectangular garter stitch Barbie shawls, more because I still have little hand knitted wool & cotton Barbie shawls, but I am not sure which one of us made them?
I don’t even have knitting needles saved from my early knitting experience, and I save nearly everything.
I also don’t have any of the Norman Rockwell memories of grandma in the rocker by the fireplace, with Jean & I at her knee, teaching us how to knit, while playful kittens bat balls of yarn…
Grandma Mac knitted mittens, hats, slippers, scarves, little purses, doll clothes, sewing kits, Christmas decorations, bun covers, shawls… I still have them.
{ the slippers really hurt the bottoms of my feet so I didn’t wear them?}
Every Christmas we would get a matching hat and mitten set and a flannel nightgown.
I loved the flannel granny nightgowns and wore them until they were falling apart.
I still wear flannel granny gowns.
A friend tells me you can get really good heavy weight flannel by shopping where it gets cold in the winter, like Colorado. The flannel sold in Texas is too lightweight.
Daddy has saved items his mom knit for him including a turtle neck sweater of very small fine stockinet stitch.
Maybe years from now I will be able to knit like grandma and feel a connection to her, like inheriting the family knitting gene.
My sister quilts. My country neighbor quilts. My nieces quilt.
I do not feel compelled to quilt.
I have a box of sentimental scraps in case the quilting bug bites.
For some reason I do feel compelled to knit.
I do not knit for relaxation or to calm my nerves as many knitters will tell you they do.
Knitting has an almost opposite effect on me?
It requires intense focus on my part and I grip those needles till my hand cramps and keep on going…on into the wee hours, { especially if I can sleep till noon the next day J }
If I was using small size Brittany needles they would snap like pick–up-sticks.
I try to approach knitting scientifically and understand how it works and I don’t want to make mistakes! I have learned several ways to rip out my work back to an error, including knitting in reverse.
I will persevere.
I have been a knovice knitter for about three years now and can even do lace patterns.
I still use Wall-Mart yarn because I am not accomplished enough to use the good “Viki” yarn.
I rarely finish a project due to fatal errors that the perfectionist and penny pincher in me compels me to rip it completely out…don’t want to see my mistakes and certainly don’t want to waste yarn on an imperfect creation.
I did manage to complete several garter stitch scarves for family.
I decided to choose a craft and stick with it.
Pottery is so inviting.
Occasionally I walk through the pottery/sculpture studio and want to play in the mud, and own my own kiln and potters wheel…I keep a little notebook of my pottery ideas…I have just recently started having knitting ideas….
Leg warmers with pockets for knee pads
I even day dream about how I could incorporate knitting and pottery…..and raising my own sheep & alpacas, and spinning my own yarn…
But I am committed to knitting.
Knitting is more affordable than pottery.
Knitting is portable.
Projects have definite beginnings and ends.
People are always amazed at seeing a person knitting and usually relate memories of family members who knitted, so knitting in public is a knifty conversation starter.
Friends and family love hand “knitted with love” gifts made with trendy feathery yarns.
Gift washcloths are proclaimed to be too pretty to actually scrub anything with.
So I guess I knit because I am stubborn, and I like the attention.
The end.
Knaughty Knancy Knightly Knavishly Knits Knots for her Knight with Knifelike Kneedles Kneeling on a Knapsack
Why Do I Knit?
Because it is the trendy craft of the moment?
No.
Maybe that is why I initially became interested in learning how to knit.
I knoted that certain celebrities knitted and that sparked my interest.
{knitting really fast with wool and metal needles can cause sparks to fly}
In the recent past I have tried to crochet and my attempts were met with total confusion and polite laughter when I presented my work to qualified crocheters for error analysis.
What I had done was make a knotted mess by carefully following instructions in a how to book, and viewing instructions, with pictures even, on line.
My mama-in-law and her sisters, my two best friends, my mama, my aunt are all very good at crochet.
Aunt Jeanie turns out many beautiful afgans, large ones.
My mama-in-law makes the whole family Christmas ornaments, angels, snowflakes, bells etc. from cotton thread from Grandma Graff’s stash.
Even my husband was able to learn crochet, but he didn’t continue.
He also has made loom placemats and pot holders.
So I started collecting finished crochet products:
Hugh stacks of afgans in 70’s colors…{ we can survive a power failure during a freeze :) }
Small drawer fulls of 50’s doilies, pot holders, coasters, pin cushions, little sewing kits…
Pot holders in all sorts of animals and objects…
Aprons for dish soap bottles, Barbie doll dresses…
Even my Dad’s mom crocheted.
She crocheted a great black shawl with a border of pom-poms for Mama to wear over square dance skirts and petticoats….I want it !
But she was a knitter.
So, do I knit because my grandma taught me?
No.
I think one of the reasons I knit is to honor her memory.
She did teach Jean & me to knit when we were little.
I vaguely remember knitting rectangular garter stitch Barbie shawls, more because I still have little hand knitted wool & cotton Barbie shawls, but I am not sure which one of us made them?
I don’t even have knitting needles saved from my early knitting experience, and I save nearly everything.
I also don’t have any of the Norman Rockwell memories of grandma in the rocker by the fireplace, with Jean & I at her knee, teaching us how to knit, while playful kittens bat balls of yarn…
Grandma Mac knitted mittens, hats, slippers, scarves, little purses, doll clothes, sewing kits, Christmas decorations, bun covers, shawls… I still have them.
{ the slippers really hurt the bottoms of my feet so I didn’t wear them?}
Every Christmas we would get a matching hat and mitten set and a flannel nightgown.
I loved the flannel granny nightgowns and wore them until they were falling apart.
I still wear flannel granny gowns.
A friend tells me you can get really good heavy weight flannel by shopping where it gets cold in the winter, like Colorado. The flannel sold in Texas is too lightweight.
Daddy has saved items his mom knit for him including a turtle neck sweater of very small fine stockinet stitch.
Maybe years from now I will be able to knit like grandma and feel a connection to her, like inheriting the family knitting gene.
My sister quilts. My country neighbor quilts. My nieces quilt.
I do not feel compelled to quilt.
I have a box of sentimental scraps in case the quilting bug bites.
For some reason I do feel compelled to knit.
I do not knit for relaxation or to calm my nerves as many knitters will tell you they do.
Knitting has an almost opposite effect on me?
It requires intense focus on my part and I grip those needles till my hand cramps and keep on going…on into the wee hours, { especially if I can sleep till noon the next day J }
If I was using small size Brittany needles they would snap like pick–up-sticks.
I try to approach knitting scientifically and understand how it works and I don’t want to make mistakes! I have learned several ways to rip out my work back to an error, including knitting in reverse.
I will persevere.
I have been a knovice knitter for about three years now and can even do lace patterns.
I still use Wall-Mart yarn because I am not accomplished enough to use the good “Viki” yarn.
I rarely finish a project due to fatal errors that the perfectionist and penny pincher in me compels me to rip it completely out…don’t want to see my mistakes and certainly don’t want to waste yarn on an imperfect creation.
I did manage to complete several garter stitch scarves for family.
I decided to choose a craft and stick with it.
Pottery is so inviting.
Occasionally I walk through the pottery/sculpture studio and want to play in the mud, and own my own kiln and potters wheel…I keep a little notebook of my pottery ideas…I have just recently started having knitting ideas….
Leg warmers with pockets for knee pads
I even day dream about how I could incorporate knitting and pottery…..and raising my own sheep & alpacas, and spinning my own yarn…
But I am committed to knitting.
Knitting is more affordable than pottery.
Knitting is portable.
Projects have definite beginnings and ends.
People are always amazed at seeing a person knitting and usually relate memories of family members who knitted, so knitting in public is a knifty conversation starter.
Friends and family love hand “knitted with love” gifts made with trendy feathery yarns.
Gift washcloths are proclaimed to be too pretty to actually scrub anything with.
So I guess I knit because I am stubborn, and I like the attention.
The end.
Code Red in Room 112
Doug feels a little better today.
He is up talking and walking and even eating.....amazing....he was switched from Marinol to a different appetite stimulant....I think it works :)
He requested supper from Chilis....the Triple Play appetizer selection....we thought it would just be one each of the 3 choices.....no it was 3 of each....he did not eat it all....but he did eat a little which is more than he has had in months ')....really probably more in total caloric intake than he has had for the last two months....the doc mentioned possibly starting him back on IV nutrition- Clinimix, a mixture of electrolytes and amino acids and lipids.
We had some fun today.
A fire drill.
The facilities guy came by and told us about it so we knew what was going on...the "Fire" was in our room :)
At first we thought he was joking because Doug keeps the thermostat on surface of the sun fusion degrees and when you just walk past the room in the hall you can feel the heat :)
So when the facilities guy told the nursing tech there is a fire she thought he was kidding too.
When he explained it was a drill and asked her what she would do she said save the patient....wrong...the fire is in our room and we are all burned up......she was supposed to pull the alarm.....so he had her actually find and pull the alarm.......wow......."code red in room 112"..... all the doors close automatically and people come running....someone is supposed to turn off the oxygen.....someone is supposed to bring the fire extinguishers......they all had to answer questions and sign a roster. I don't think they passed :)
He asked some questions they didn't know the answers too...
I am so glad Doug is "up"....I thought I would be able to relax....but I don't want to leave while he is feeling so good.....I'm afraid he will crash again....
Especially since chemo was started up again today, Revlimid, Dex, and Velcade.....we'll see what tomorrow brings ......
Later,
NMG
He is up talking and walking and even eating.....amazing....he was switched from Marinol to a different appetite stimulant....I think it works :)
He requested supper from Chilis....the Triple Play appetizer selection....we thought it would just be one each of the 3 choices.....no it was 3 of each....he did not eat it all....but he did eat a little which is more than he has had in months ')....really probably more in total caloric intake than he has had for the last two months....the doc mentioned possibly starting him back on IV nutrition- Clinimix, a mixture of electrolytes and amino acids and lipids.
We had some fun today.
A fire drill.
The facilities guy came by and told us about it so we knew what was going on...the "Fire" was in our room :)
At first we thought he was joking because Doug keeps the thermostat on surface of the sun fusion degrees and when you just walk past the room in the hall you can feel the heat :)
So when the facilities guy told the nursing tech there is a fire she thought he was kidding too.
When he explained it was a drill and asked her what she would do she said save the patient....wrong...the fire is in our room and we are all burned up......she was supposed to pull the alarm.....so he had her actually find and pull the alarm.......wow......."code red in room 112"..... all the doors close automatically and people come running....someone is supposed to turn off the oxygen.....someone is supposed to bring the fire extinguishers......they all had to answer questions and sign a roster. I don't think they passed :)
He asked some questions they didn't know the answers too...
I am so glad Doug is "up"....I thought I would be able to relax....but I don't want to leave while he is feeling so good.....I'm afraid he will crash again....
Especially since chemo was started up again today, Revlimid, Dex, and Velcade.....we'll see what tomorrow brings ......
Later,
NMG
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
31 days in the hospital
Well Doug was admitted to Medical City of Lewisville on Sunday January 18th with pain and nausea.
He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in March, 2006 so his immune system is compromised.
He gets sick easily.
Turns out this time he had Chicken Pox.
The Chicken Pox is gone, but he is still very sick.
Has at least 6 doctors working on him and they are stumped
: oncologist, cardiologist, pulmonary, nephrologist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease, endocrinologist.....
Oncologist thinks now it may just be the Myeloma making him so sick so the plan is to start chemo again, Revlimid, Dexamethasone and Velcade and see if aggressively attacking the cancer brings him around. We need Dr. House or the docs over at Pine Valley Hospital :)
I am sitting here while he sleeps off the morphine and benedryl while getting blood transfusions.
He won't eat. I don't remember to eat.
He has the temperature up so high in the room it is like a sauna.
I am on leave from teaching to be with him.
This is very stressful, more stressful than my real job, more hours than my real job, more emotional, tiring....
Took my first Celexa anti depressant pill today.
And went to the doc myself....new kitty bit me and so I've got antibiotics now too....the new kitty, Tufa, is fine.
OK this is my first blog.....more later.
NMG
He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in March, 2006 so his immune system is compromised.
He gets sick easily.
Turns out this time he had Chicken Pox.
The Chicken Pox is gone, but he is still very sick.
Has at least 6 doctors working on him and they are stumped
: oncologist, cardiologist, pulmonary, nephrologist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease, endocrinologist.....
Oncologist thinks now it may just be the Myeloma making him so sick so the plan is to start chemo again, Revlimid, Dexamethasone and Velcade and see if aggressively attacking the cancer brings him around. We need Dr. House or the docs over at Pine Valley Hospital :)
I am sitting here while he sleeps off the morphine and benedryl while getting blood transfusions.
He won't eat. I don't remember to eat.
He has the temperature up so high in the room it is like a sauna.
I am on leave from teaching to be with him.
This is very stressful, more stressful than my real job, more hours than my real job, more emotional, tiring....
Took my first Celexa anti depressant pill today.
And went to the doc myself....new kitty bit me and so I've got antibiotics now too....the new kitty, Tufa, is fine.
OK this is my first blog.....more later.
NMG
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