Knits For Sanity

Update

Hey All!  I made it back to my blog!  This is a very good sign.  lol!

In my last post I mentioned that I had the chance to meet a certain knitting blogger from Texas last weekend.  Tracy over at Wool Windings and her husband John, spent last weekend in Iowa.  It was so wonderful to finally meet them.  Even though we had never met in person, I felt as if I had know both of them forever.  I've been reading Tracy's blog ever since she has been volunteering for The Preemie Project, which I believe is just a little over one year.  It is really interesting to know so many stories about someone's life, even though you have never met in person. 

Tracy made the trip up to Iowa in order to take part in the Volunteer Work Group Weekend.  It was a great weekend for her to visit, except for a few things:
#1 It was the hottest weekend of the summer
#2 We were told on Friday night that the roofers would be at our house at 7am on Saturday morning to reshingle the roof.  Needless to say our house was definitely louder than usual.  Not to mention the fact that it was nearly impossible to get up to the front door with all of the stuff being thrown off of the roof and the various heavy equipment all over the front yard.  It was like the demolition scene from The Money Pit.  I am surprised that Tracy and the other volunteers didn't turn around and head home for fear of not making it back out alive!

It did turn out to be a great weekend though!  We had a wonderful group of volunteers who braved the commotion and we accomplished so much.  Check out this HUGE pile of blankets we finished!

(All of these blankets will be donated to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.) 

That is a WHOOPING 97 FINISHED blankets!!  97 is a new record for a Preemie Project Work Group weekend.  The most we've ever finished was around 50, and half of those still needed top stitching by the end of the weekend.  This time, every single blanket was completely finished by 5pm on Sunday.  YEA!!!!

Check out Tracy's Post for an in depth look at how Preemie Project work group meetings are run.  (It is an assembly line of sorts.)

I have to thank all of the volunteers who helped out last weekend.  They all worked so hard and many of them never took a break.  One thing you won't see in Tracy's Post is one of my favorite things about work groups.  THE FOOD!

As you can see we did have some healthy alternatives, but that didn't stop me from living on cookies and the other goodies the entire weekend.   Many of our volunteers can bake a mean cookie and a yummy cupcake as well!  They're so multi-talented!

All in all it was a great weekend, and I am so happy that Tracy was able to be a part of it.  My parents and I took Tracy and her husband out for dinner on Saturday night.  It was great to be able to sit down and chat without distractions.  I know that the local volunteers enjoyed getting to know them as well.  Hopefully we didn't scare them off and they will come back soon!  Here is a picture of me, mom and Tracy at the end of the day on Sunday.  We were pooped!

BY the way, for those of you who haven't heard "Little Babies", please go to The Preemie Project's website now and listen.  "Little Babies" was written and sung by John Batchelder, Tracy's husband.  My mom, Linda, and I like to call "Little Babies" The Preemie Project's anthem.  It touched our hearts and I know it will touch yours too.

I will be back soon with some more updates about The Preemie Project, my life, and of course some knitting content.  Thank you to my wonderful readers for not forgetting about me and coming back to visit again.  It means SO SO much! 

I will leave you with a group picture from last Sunday.  Thank you to each and every volunteer, local AND national, for all of the work you do everyday.  Each one of you play and important role in this organization.  Never forget it!

(From left to right, STANDING: ME, My mom (Linda), Carla, Darlene, Libby, Jane, Megan, Hazel, SITTING: Judy, Pat, Heather)

Remember Me?!

Well I am back!  I have been wanting to get back to my blog for so long.  After having dinner tonight with a blogger from Texas, I decided that it is time to get back to it.  I've missed my blog so much!

I just wanted to stop in, say hello, and let everyone know that I am doing well.  I will give an update, including info on the person I had dinner with tonight, tomorrow evening.  Right now I am sleepy from a Preemie Project volunteer work group meeting earlier today and I am doing it all over again tomorrow.  It is so much fun!  I have to be sure to get enough rest so that I can enjoy the day.  I'll be back with an update tomorrow!  Hope you are all doing well!

Still Alive and Kickin'
Laura at Knits for Sanity

Happy New Year!!!

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
hmmm...I don't know?  I guess that I learned some new knitting techniques.  Oh and I learned to crochet too!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any next year that I can remember.  I guess that means that I didn't keep them, huh?  I am making more for this year.  Let's see if I still remember them in a couple of months.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep!  My boyfriend's Sister In Law gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, William Charles Farnsworth.  He was a gift and a blessing.

My aunt Vicky gave birth to my baby cousin, Emma.  She's the most gorgeous baby!!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
My Freedom and my whole Life.  I feel the need to run wild!  With patience things will be much better at this time next year.

6. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
One of them is 9/2/2005.  That's the day that The Preemie Project made the very first hospital donation.  We even made our goals!!!

7. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, an injury.  I've been recovering from a nerve injury in my left leg.

 8. Where did most of your money go?
The Preemie Project, Yarn  (That's what happens when you have no job, no money, no apartment)

 9. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?: MUCH happier
ii. thinner or fatter?: thinner
iii. richer or poorer?: Same, just plain poor

10. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my boyfriend and family.  It was really wonderful this year.

11. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Does deeper in love count?

12. What was your favorite TV program?
24, The Shield, LOST, Desperate Housewives, Gray's Anatomy, The Apprentice, etc.  That's a lot of shows, I know.  Again, that's what happens when you have no life.  Really!  I'm serious!

 13. What did you want and get?
Relief

14. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 23 this year.  My little cousins were in town and they threw my a really cute princess party.  It was a lot of fun.

15. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Since I spend a lot of time at home I mostly wear anything that is really comfortable for my leg.  Pajama pants are my fav!

16. What kept you sane? 
Did you even have to ask?! KNITTING!  The Preemie Project, my family

17. Who was the best new person you met?

The wonderful people I have "met" through The Preemie Project.  I've "met
people from all over the country who continue to amaze me with their generosity.  I'm blessed.

18. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Patience.  I earned that your life is only what you make it.  It may not be exactly what you had hoped, but that's okay/  Sometimes your path in life changes unexpectedly.  There is always a reason for it, even if you don't realize it at the time.  The reason will be revealed when you're ready to see it.  Then things seem to fall into place.  Even though my life isn't what I wanted 2 years ago, I still feel as if I've found my place in a way.

Five things that 2005 taught me:
1. Family is SO important.
2. Remember to recognize your own faults not just those of others. 
3. Your Happiness is up to you. 
4.
5.

I'm Back

I got back from Kansas on Sunday.  It's been a busy week and there is so much to tell.  First I have things to tell about my trip.

For those who wanted to know, my doctor's appointments went okay.  Basically now I'm working with them and my dad to figure a plan for treatment.  I'm extremely lucky to have had the chance to meet with them.  Both doctors are brillant and know a lot about the subject of nerve damage and severe chronic pain.  The orthopaedic doctor's wife has been through a similar ordeal for the past 6 years.  Although I think that her pain was probably much worse.

Anyhow, it's nice to hear some treatment options that I didn't know about.  I've been waiting to suddenly get better for the past 13 months.  Now it's becoming evident that it deifnitely isn't happening over night.  Unfortunately I think that I've been spending this time without having a "treatment" that should help my recovery.  I'm not sure what exactly the plan is yet.  Since these doctors are in Kansas, it makes them treating me fairly complicated.  So I may have to find a new doctor. 

I would like to thank everyone for expressing their concern regarding my condition.  I so appreciate the support that I've found in the blogging world.  It has helped me through some particularly rough times.  It's so nice to know that there are so many kind and caring people out there, other than my family, keeping me in their thoughts.  I am truly blessed.

Back to my trip.  I was able to visit 3 yarn shops total.  As I already said I went to Knit Wit in Olathe, Kansas last Tuesday.  I loved their yarn selection and the staff were incredibly nice.  The owner also had her dog in the store, which I thought was very cute. 

On Wednesday my mom and I visited The Yarn Shop and More in Overland Park, Kansas.  This store was our favorite.  The way they had their yarn displayed, by color and then weight, was very visually pleasing.  The owner and staff were also so nice and helpful.  I actually met another knitting blogger who worked their.  Unfortunately I don't have her site and name on hand, as it is on a piece of paper that I cannot get to at the moment.  I'll definitely be sure to post it later. 

The knitting blogger I met helped me pick out yarn for the Cabeled Mittens in Vintage Knits, by Sarah Dallas.  She also helped me find yarn to make the little bunny rabbit in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.  The Bunny will be a Christmas Gift for Tom's Neice.  I am seriously going to have enough projects to last me until I go back to Kansas!  Sorry that I don't have pics of the yarn.

Thursday my parents and I traveled an hour away to Topeka, KS.  We were there to visit family, but mostly importantly for my cousins wedding.  The wedding was on Saturday, so my mom and I went to the mall on Thursday.  She really needed new clothes for work, so went spent the afternoon shopping for her. 

We spent Thursday evening with my grandparents and their dog, Jack.  He is such a pretty dog.

Friday afternoon mom, my grandma, my aunt and I went to Lawrence, KS.  Lawrence is the home of Kansas University.  Anyhow we went out to lunch and then went to Yarn Barn.  I have wanted to go to Yarn Barn for the LONGEST time!  Yes I was REALLY excited.

   

It is located in downtown Lawrence.  It is a really cute shop with a lot of diverse fibery type of items.  The have a nice selection of yarn.  I purchased two skeins of Bamboo and one skein of Soy to make scarfs for my girl cousins.  The scarfs will be Christmas gifts this year.  I also purchased some Koigu to make a pair of socks.  Yes Koigu!  Yarn Barn was the only place I went to that had it.  I've coveted this yarn for so long.  If I only had a picture to show it in all of it's glory right now.

Then Friday evening was the Rehearsal Dinner.  I met my cousins then fiance, Tiffany.  She was just as sweet as can be.  I only wish that I lived closer so that I could get to know her.  The wedding was on Saturday afternoon.  All of that side of my family was there.  I am so happy that I was able to see them.  I was so disappointed when I wasn't able to travel last December.  My family are all such a wonderful support for me.  It was great to see them.

Most important of all I FINALLY met my 4 month old cousin, Emma.  Here we are in the church after the wedding.

I had to show both pictures of her b/c she is just too cute.  It makes me sad that it took so long to be able to see her. My dad's youngest brother is Emma's father and she has two older brothers.  The little boys hardly know me and I hate it.  I think that they are coming to visit in a couple weeks.  I really hope so.  My uncle Joe and Aunt Vicky, Emma's parents, are the best. 

I want to share one more picture of Emma before I end this post.  It's with my younger brother Andrew at the wedding reception.

Isn't that cute?!  Andrew turned 21 in August and I just can't believe it.  He'll always be my little bro, even when he is 50.

Those were the highlights of my trip.  It was SO nice to be home and back in my own bed.  It's been a busy couple of days, but I'll share those things at another time.  Again, thank you all for all of the wonderful support.  I love my blogging buddies!

Still Here (sigh)

WOW so I haven't posted in AGES! Bad bad blogger! I don't know why I haven't posted. I've had plenty to post about. I've just either been too tired or busy. I miss my blog!

Anyway, I have been in Kansas City, KS since Monday. I was really concerned about the 5 hour drive, but it actually went okay. Although I am really sore and tired I am still out of the house. It does feel great. I lived in Overland Park, KS. a suburb of KC, for 5 years prior to moving to Iowa. So coming here feels like going home. I always loved this town. Although the traffic makes me want to go back to my small town. I'm just not used to it anymore. Thank goodness I don't have to drive in it!

I traveled here, with my parents, seeking a second opinion on my leg injury. It has been 13 months since my knee surgery and things aren't a lot better. I've decided that it is probably time to explore my options. I think that it is good to just see what treatment options are out there. I've received some good advice this week and I'm trying to stay optimistic. Right now I'm willing to do what it takes to recover. We shall see what happens and for now I'm just thinking healing thoughts.

My mom and I have been trying to have some fun amongst the doctors appointments. We went to the mall and did some other shopping. The best part has been exploring the local yarn shops. It's SO fun to see yarns that I have been wanting to get my hands on. Every shop we go to is unique.

The first place we went to was Knit Wit in Olathe, Kansas. It is a tiny shop just packed full of knitting essentials. They had a great selection of everything.

I had a great time shopping here. The staff was really nice and helpful. I would definitely be visiting them often if I lived nearby. We came away with red and dark green Plymouth Dreambaby for the Christmas Preemie Hats. I also purchased a skein of Moutain Colors Bearfoot. I love it!

I'll have more pictures and details of the yarn shops when I get back to town. I probably will not be able to access the internet after today. Tomorrow we are headed to Topeka, KS to see family. I am SO excited to see my grandparents and the rest of the family. My cousin is getting married on Saturday so we should see everyone. I was really upset when I was unable to travel last Christmas. Thankfully we should all be together this year.

I'll have TONS to post about when I get back. I really wish that I could blog about my vacation everyday this week. I hate that I have been so absent. Please stick with me and I will have lots to tell early next week. Miss you all!

Busy and Well...Exhausted

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth.  I'm still here, just busy and exhausted.  My body just isn't what it was, a year ago, before the knee surgery that didn't turn out so well.  I get physically tired so easily that it's almost a bit disturbing to me.  Back in my old life, a year ago, I was a college student who spent her days running here to there.  I was a biochemistry student, so I was always studying.  I had to be right on top of things.  I also worked part time and had other things going on too.

Today I am stuck on a bump in the road that is my life.  I'm still waiting for my leg to fully recover.  Then I will finally be able to get over the bump and back to the life I used to have.  Besides my friends and family, The Preemie Project has become my life.  I enjoy working on this project and it is my passion.  It's really one of the main things that keeps me going.  I just ish that I had more stamina so that I could devote more time to it.  I just get tired SO easily. 

Recently things have really picked up for The Preemie Project.  Oh it's just SO exciting!  I really couldn't be happier.  I've spent the past month gearing up for the project's very first hospital donation on 9/1.  I've also been putting in a lot of hours towards gaining as much local support as I possibly can.  I'm working on many things at once trying to spread the word all over Iowa.

It's been very frustrating to experience more and more exhaustion in the past two weeks.  I feel like I'm hardly doing anything compared to what my life used to be.  Reality has pretty much blindsided me yet again.  I just cannot do what I used to.  It's a hard concept to accept.  I really have no choice in the matter.  I'm pretty sure that it's all the meds I'm on.  They all have drowsiness listed as a side-effect. 

The more tired I'm becoming the more I realize that I just need to slow down.  I haven't had as much time to relax, and knit as I would like.  I also haven't had the time, actually I just haven't had the energy to even think about my blog. 

I know that it's about time to take a week long vacation from my email, and my computer.  This is going to be very difficult for me.  Every morning, no scratch that, afternoon when I get up I think about working on The Preemie Project.  I'm so excited about this project that I just cannot help myself.  I need to take a step back and tell myself, "It will be there when I get back." 

Now that I have it in writing I have no choice but to take a little vacation.  Starting next Monday, and maybe sooner, I will be on vacation.  I am going to work on my Sockapal-two-za socks, and my mom's Clapotis.  I may sneak in some Preemie Project knitting while I'm at it.

GREAT news!

I received more great news about my leg today.  Well before I tell all about it I should probably explain for those new to my blog.  I'll try to make a long story short. 

I've spent the past year recovery from a nerve injury I sustained during knee surgery.  I went in for a pretty large knee operation on 8/13/2004 and came out with my sciatic nerve injured in my thigh.  For those of you who don't know, nerve damage is EXTREMELY painful.  Nerve pain is really unlike any other pain.  It's burning and electrical, literally.

So, once I got home from the hospital 5 days post-op I immediately noticed a difference,  My left calf was really uncomfortable.  Actually I was uncomfortable from my underneath my leg mid-thigh down to my toes.  I came home with a numb foot, that I could barely move, and I couldn't move my toes at all.  I felt for days like my calf was cramping.  When I tried to take my first shower I was sitting on a seat in the shower.  My mom propped my foot up on a trashcan turned upside down.  Even with that my leg was still hanging down and I bawled through the whole thing.  My calf hurt SO bad.

So anyway I can see that this is getting long.  My pain was so bad when my leg was hanging down that i could barely get to the bathroom.  My dad became very concerned when I couldn't get down the stairs of the house to go to a doctor's appt.  They had to hold my leg up while I went down on my butt.  My doctor couldn't figure out what was going on so he sent me to the pain clinic.  My doctor there diagnosed the nerve damage in my thigh.

Since then we have been waiting for the nerve to regenerate.  The only thing we've been able to do was control the pain with meds and wait.  I spent 6 months pretty much bed ridden.  Then once I was taking enough meds I was slowly able to get around.  The more they upped the meds the better I got around.  Now I'm walking with a cane in the house but I'm in a wheelchair out of the house.

I was only supposed to move home for 6 weeks to recover fromt he surgery.  Well six weeks turned into 5 months.  My parents moved my home permanently by christmas '04.  That was really difficult to accept.  I had to put college, work and my life on hold.  Since then it's been a waiting game.

Three months ago my pain doc said that the nerve had grown down to my knee.  This was great news.  That was the first time I had been told that the nerve was regenerating.  Today I went back for a check up.  More GREAT NEWS!  The nerve is half-way down my calf!  I don't feel any better and I can't be up for more than 1-2 minutes, but I'm still SO happy.  My hope is that the nerve will be in my ankle in 3-4 months and I can get back to my life.

I do have to be realistic.  They still cannot tell us if the pain will go away as the nerve comes back.  The do hope that it will be they cannot say indefinitely that it will.  That's hard to swallow but I'm staying positive.  There's just no other way to be.  For now I'm going to put all of my nervous energy into The Preemie Project and hope for the best. I still have faith...

Too Sick to Knit

I woke up Tuesday morning with a high fever and terrible sore throat.  Of course the fever gave me body aches.  The body aches caused a lot of extra pain in my bad leg too.  I spent all day in bed watching TV and sleeping.

Then I was up all that night getting sick about every thirty to sixty minutes.  Wednesday wasn't much better.  Well it was actually worse.  My fever was worse and my throay hurt more.  At least I was able to get some food and drink down.

Today mom took me to the doctor.  They tested me for strep and mono.  Both tests were negative.  I was kind of hoping I had strep so that I could take antibiotics and start feeling better.  I always have some yucky virus.  It's making me so incredibly tired.  I got up at 11am today, fell back asleep at 3pm and woke up at 10pm.  I'm so tired.

My fever is finally down.  So, I've finally checked my email and replied those that were urgent.  Now I'm going to climb in bed and go to sleep.  I'm still too sick to knit. Yuck

I was RAOKed!! Tomorrow I'm Missouri Bound

I have a much delayed thank you to post.  I've had numerous problems with my internet connection over the last week.  It has hardly been working during the day and it's rather spotty in the evenings. 

That said, I apologize to Caitlyn for not posting the RAOK I received two days ago sooner.  I apparently cannot live with technology but definitely cannot live without it.  I never actually realized how much time I spend on the internet until I was unable to use it.  It's driving me crazy not being able to be on the computer during the day.  That's when i get cauht up! 

Caitlyn, your RAOK was very touching.  Thank you for thinking of me.  Just like all of the other wonderful RAOKs I've received, this came at a perfect time.  Your package really put a smile on my face.

Thank you for this!  Your card was really very touching inside, and out.  The blue refrigerator magnet is inspiring and I've been looking at it at least once each day. 

For those of you who can't read it, it says "just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."  That's something that I'm keeping in mind. 

I also love the little notepad and the sweet coin purse.  I think that I may use it to store some of my stitch markers.  I have quite a collection going with all the stitch marker exchanges I've taken part in.  Caitlyn, thank you so much.  I must say that Random Acts of Kindness are the very best kind.  Thank you so much!

Well, I'm headed out of town for a little 4-day vacation tomorrow.  My parents and I are headed to the Mark Twain lake in Missouri.  I believe that it is approximately 30 minutes away from Hannibal, Missouri.  We are meeting more family members there too. It's going to be a family reunion of sorts but with only half of my mother's side of the family.  We're going to be staying in cabins by the lake, which I think sounds like a blast. 

It may be a tough weekend for me but I decided weeks ago that it will be so worth it.  I'm so extremely excited to get out of this house for a whole 4 days.  I will no longer be a caged animal!  Even with pain it's so completely and totally worth it.  Plus I'm going to see my family who I have missed dearly.  Remember my three little cousins who were here for my birthday?  I'm going to see them too!

Unfortunately, I do not have any knitting pictures to end this post with.  I've already packed my knitting things up and don't have time to stop and take pictures.  (I know...BAD BLOGGER!)  I have been somewhat productive and I finished 2 bereavement gown sets.  I used this pattern and crocheted one in white Bernat Softee Baby, which I posted about the other day, and the other was done in purple Plymouth Dreambaby DK.  The Dreambaby gown set turned out much better because the yarn is more delicate.  I hope to have pictures of these sets and another one in pink Dreambaby when I return on Sunday.

I am, of course, taking knitting with me too.  There is no way that I can survive on crocheting alone.  I'm taking a skein of Bernat Softee Baby for hat and bootie sets.  I'm also taking the yarn for my Sockapal-2-za socks.  I really need to get going on them.  I should have a ton of knitting time, especially without the computer to distract me.  I should have a lot to show for my weekend when I get back.  I hope to have pictures of the vacation too. 

I apologize to anyone who emailed me and hasn't received a reply.  I just couldn't get caught up this week with all of the internet connection problems.  I promise to email you on Sunday evening on Monday afternoon.   Oh yeah, I'm going to take everything in my new felted tote!  Now that it's dry I really love it.  It's a lot larger than I thought it was going to be. I'm so happy that it turned out the way I wanted. 

Have a great weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

You Are 78% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

How American Are You?