SweetPea Castle

Whole latta nuffin

That's what I'm accomplishing right about now.  Josiah and Tabitha are definitely both sick with some sort of upper respiratory-thing.  Of course, they are both teething too!  Eliana is being an absolute obnoxious mess.  Poor Noah is just trying to stay out of the way when we're all frustrated and overly tired.  I CANNOT get this!  JoJo would be so much better if he could breath through all this congestion.  But, it's not working.

I've got four rows to finish the heel on my first sock... then I move onto the heel of the second sock.  I'm really trying to get these finished this week, but I'm not sure it'll happen.  This colorway is really loud and definitely not my taste.  But, I thought I'd give them a try and I'm really glad that I did.  For my first pair of knit socks... this colorway and pattern hides a multitude of sins.  ;-)  I'll take and post pics sometime this week.

I emptied out my DVD cabinet this morning in order to re-organize it.  I was running out of room for the children's DVDs.  So, I took out the few of Jason and mine for now.  I'm working on another place for those to go anyway.  But, it feels much better to have all of the Signing Times, Baby Einstein, and other childrens DVDs all in one place.  This way, while I'm recovering, someone else won't have to worry about picking something that we really didn't intend the littlest ones to be watching.

Speaking of Signing Times... we are enjoying learning right along with Tabitha.  Tabi could really care less about communicating most of the time.  But, she is picking up the basic signs and we are thrilled when she actually uses them.

Time to run.  The washer is finished and I need to put in another load.  And, the children really need something decent for lunch before Josiah starts fussing again.

We have a date!

My surgery will happen on May 6th.  This is to repair the pelvic prolapse that happened after Josiah's birth.  The will be introducing mesh support structure for my bladder and pelvic floor.  And, I will be having a hysterectomy.  The Lord has said that we are done.  I will be so very glad to get my body back in proper functioning order again.  Right now, I am constantly uncomfortable and dealing with regular urinary tract infections.  Praise the Lord for His provision of doctors and health insurance.

This WILL mean that a lot of things are on the back burner for a couple of months.  I will be completely unable to lift anything over 8 pounds for 6-8 weeks after surgery.  And, I'll have to slowly work up from there.  I am finishing up my current MudpieBabies custom list and not taking any further customs until after I've recovered.  I'll be working on instock listings until surgery... and then once again after I can stand to be in the sewing room again.  Of course, I'll update my announcements list as soon as I'm ready to take on custom work again.

Josiah is still feeling awful and struggling with a high fever.  So, I'm off to let him swing while I try to get some sewing done.  That's the gist of yesterdays biggest news.  I'll post again tonight after I get some work done and the children are down for the night.

What do you get?

with all four children struggling with fevers between 101 and 104.5?

Nothing much done and a lot of snuggling required. 

Eliana woke up from a rare nap yesterday with a 104.5 fever.  We got it down finally, but she's still over 101 most of the time.  She's got a stuffy nose and just doesn't feel well.  Noah is stuffy, hot and doesn't feel well.  Tabitha is hot, runny and taking a nap right now.  Josiah was up last night with a 103.5 fever and is still struggling to keep it down.  He's sleeping fitfully in his swing right at this moment.

I have a 2:30pm appointment with the ped for Josiah.  Because he is still so young and has such a high fever, they want him to come in... just to be "safe".  The only "good" thing about having to drive down to Winchester... is that I will just have to stop at Starbucks on the way back.  :-)  I'm also taking my knitting bag with me so that I might be able to get some more rows finished on my socks.

Oh... speaking of SOCKS!!!  ooppss... I forgot... that'll be another post when I can sit down longer to write my praises of these new Knitpicks option long cable needles!  They are AWESOME!!!  More later.  I need to sew while my poor little ones are resting.  I have two orders to ship out tomorrow and another one or two to ship on Friday.

This week...

Well, it's been productive so far this week.  I haven't gotten more than two rows knit on my socks.  But, I shipped out six custom fitteds yesterday.  And, I'll be finishing two custom AIO orders this week and starting on at least two more.  I'm also getting some instock stuff done while I'm in the sewing room.  It feels good to be accomplishing something decent.

This is what they look like when playing nicely together.  Of course, the children constantly require my attention and love.  But, we're mostly working this out.  Getting anything done while working with Noah on his homeschool every morning is very difficult.  Sometimes I just need to give in and decide that everything else can wait - except homeschool and playing with littles.  Josiah is also getting more active and needs more hands-on time.  He's growing way too fast.  He'll be 3 months old next Thursday.

Please forgive the bombardment with photos, but I just can't resist.  ;-)

Another of my gorgeous little ones sitting together:

 

And a recent couple of Josiah:

  and

Locked in the sewing room

I have a BUNCH of sewing work to get done and will be locked in the sewing room for the next few days.  Well, today, Monday and Tuesday. I really try hard NOT to spend my weekends working.  It's family time.  I have two more fitteds that are almost finished.  Then, those could ship on Monday to Jenn.  I've also got two orders for a total of 5 AIOs that are in the works.  I'm planning to get the embroideries done on them Monday and then finish them quickly after that.  After finishing the fitteds today, I've got to finish cutting the fabrics for the AIOs and prep the embroideries.

I also have a ton of emails that I NEED to get dealt with.  But, sewing comes first right now.  Emails will be dealt with later today or tonight.  So, if you are waiting to hear from me... I haven't forgotten you.  I just HAVE to get through this sewing stuff before I can deal with email.  Especially since some of my email is about further custom work.  It's not fair to commit to anything else until the current work is finished.

My mom and daddy left yesterday afternoon and will be gone for a week.  They have a bowling tournament and are spending some much needed time alone.  I am praying that they come back rested and refreshed... and that they have an awesome time.  Their absence leaves me without my sewing assistant, but this is a good test of how things will be once we finally sell the house and move closer to church.

Bills have to get paid today too.  I have the money and have it allocated, but need to sit down and take care of it all.  Yuck!  But, at least all of my credit cards but one are completely paid off now.  What an awesome thing that is.  Now, my goal is to keep them that way completely and to pay off the last one.

I haven't gotten much knitting time in... so my socks are still fairly early in the process.  I really wish I could dedicate a bit more time to them.  But, perhaps that is what I will do this weekend.  And, I have some soaker shorts that I want to knit for a good friend's son. 

Time to run or I'll never get myself into the sewing room.  I hear Tabitha playing in her crib and need to get Jason to bring her down so that she can eat breakfast and join me in the sewing room with the other children.  Have an awesome day!  Godspeed... ~ Tiffani

Grumpy babies and clean sinks...

Josiah got his first set of immunizations this afternoon and is one grumpy little man.  Of course, I really do NOT blame him one tiny bit.  I have become a lot more selective in what I believe is necessary of these vaccines.  But, it still tears my heart out to have to give him any.  Today and tomorrow are likely to be a little bit rough.  He just wants to be held and snuggled by mommy.

I threw a bit of a temper tantrum this morning (I needed to get my attitude in control anyway).  I am tired of constantly being responsible for all of the household chore (and doing a lousy job at that) and feeling like I never get any help.  But, I must accept responsibility for creating this condition.  And, in part... it IS my job.  So, I emptied the clean dishwasher and left the dirty stuff in the sink while I took Josiah to his appointment... fully knowing that they would still be there when I got back.  So, I went to my appointment and came back to the same sink (plus a few more) of dirty dishes.  After getting Josiah settled and eating my lunch, I put the dirty dishes from the sink into the dishwasher and proceeded to actually CLEAN the sink... even bleaching it.  My double sink looks and smells CLEAN!!!

I also pulled the fabrics for a customer's fitted order.  And, I got caught up on most of my email.  So far today has been a relatively good day.

This will be a busy week.  I've got procedures at the urologist both Wednesday and Friday afternoons.  And, I've got Tabitha's ENT appointment on Friday morning.  Jason will be taking Noah and Eliana to their dentist appointment on Friday morning.  Fun fun fun!  I between all that, I'm going to be trying to get a bunch of sewing done.

Thursday Ramblings

Things are slowly getting back to "normal" around here.  I had my surgery consult appointment with my OB's office on Monday.  Then, an ultrasound on Tuesday.  And, I have surgery consult with the urologist tomorrow morning.  A LOT of appointments made this week less productive than I would have preferred.  But, that's to be expected and is a step in the right direction... healing.  I am praying that tomorrow will yield a better estimate of when this surgery can be done.  The sooner, the better.  I really want my body and my life back.

The health of my household is a LOT better today.  I am praying fervently that it stays that way for a long time.  It's great to have all of the children healthy.  We are looking forward to the next few months of being able to play more outdoors.

Aren't they adorable?!?  They really are the most amazing blessings and I can't believe how quickly time flies.  Noah will be 7 years old in September!!!

I am also working on my very first pair of knit socks.  I will have to take a picture once I get a little further along.  Of course, that might take a bit because of how much my knitting time is interrupted regularly.  The yarn is so soft and squishy.  I can't wait to finish these socks and get them on my feet!

Sewing is also going really well.  I had a few machine issues to deal with.  But, I'm happy to say that they were relatively easy to deal with and resolve.  I have a really special order that I'm working on right now and plan to have shipped on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.  I want to be sure that it's all perfect.

Time to get off the computer and get everything packed up for tomorrow.  Godspeed...~ Tiffani

Productive Day

It's been a productive day.  Mom and I finished a complete order and our planned in-stock stuff today.  So, I need to get the pics edited and the details up for a Monday MPB stocking.  There won't be any custom slots open yet.  I've still got quite a few in my current list and want to get them all finished before opening any more.  I also have some medical things coming up that will require some downtime.  More about that later.

I have some long circs and yarn that are calling to me... they are calling with a sock pattern that has my name on it.  I can hardly wait.  My mom knit me the most wonderful pair of socks for Christmas and that did it for me.  I have come over to the "dark side" and am going to knit myself some socks.  It's an addiction that I can handle.  It's a small project that is easy to carry with me and it's a nice luxury for myself.

On the downside, Jason is definitely sick.  I am glad that it took him this long and that the Tamiflu seems to have helped a little to keep things from being any worse.  I still wish he hadn't come down with it at all.  It just sucks to have my family sick.  We're still praying that the girls continue to stay healthy.

I'll post an updated to-do list on Monday with my current MPB custom list and status.  I'll be out of town all day Monday at doctors' appointments.  I should have an update either late that evening or the next day.

In the meantime, it's time to play with the littles for a bit before bedtime and then get my store stocked for Monday.  Our family will be spending the day home resting tomorrow so that everyone gets better.  I miss church... but we HAVE to get and stay healthy.  Godspeed... ~ Tiffani

The sickies strike again!

Bah!  Everytime I think we might be ahead of this, we all get sick again.  This time, nearly the whole church is fighting off the various forms of the flu.  I started feeling poorly on Thursday and just got progressively worse.  It started as a tickle in my throat and a chesty cough.  Friday night I gave up and realized that I was seriously ill.  I spent all day Saturday and Sunday in bed.  I NEVER stay in bed all day.  Every time I got up, the room was spinning and it was all I could do to get right back into bed.  The chest cough is one of the worst I've ever had and my throat is still raw.  I struggled with a fever of 104ish for over 24 hours.  It finally broke sometime last night and I am beginning to feel human again.

Noah started feeling poorly on Saturday afternoon.  It started as a simple cough and sniffle.  I thought he was going to end up the same as me.  He was bored watching TV in my room and decided to go lay in his own bed and play quietly.  He wasn't gone for 15 minutes when he came back through my bedroom door barfing.  Uhm... yuck!  His bathroom was definitely closer, but he wanted comfort.  Pappy (God bless him!) came over and cleaned up Noah's bed and my bathroom while we got Noah situated.  He's still down with the fever and upset stomach.  There seriously isn't anything left in the poor little man's tummy.  I'm praying that the fever breaks this evening and he gets some good rest so that he feels better tomorrow.

Josiah has been cranky and unsettled all day.  I can only pray that this is as bad as he gets.  Jason said that he's feeling a little funny this afternoon too.  That just leaves the girls (in our house) and I really can't fathom anyone else being sick right now.  Of course, mom went home a little bit ago.  I think she too has succumbed to this sickness.  Pappy?!?  Well... he hasn't said one way or the other if he's got this for sure or not... but then again... he is usually too stubborn to tell anyone when he's sick or let it disrupt much of his daily life.

So, if you were expecting to hear from me recently or soon... please know that it may be a couple more days or so.  I didn't look at my computer nearly all weekend and didn't respond to anything.  I'm still not responding to anything yet.  I don't want to make commitments that I just can't keep yet.

Praise the Lord... I just cannot wait until His triumphant return and pray even more fervently that it is soon.  No more pain, sickness, fear, death... that will truly be Heaven!

Broken in body, but not in spirit

I know that the only way I am going to get my health back in order is to get into regular exercise and proper eating again.  My blood pressure is awful high and my weight is just as bad.  I do NOT want to have to go back on the bp medicine again.  So, I am working hard right now to reign it in.  However, I have been feeling really awful the past week or so.  I know that most of it is directly related to the pain from the bladder prolapse issue.  But, that just isn't very comforting when it is so dangerous.

But, this is a physical and spiritual battle for me.  I need to be a good steward of everything that God has given me... and that includes this frail body.

On that note, I am excited to say that I've managed to do my elliptical workout every day since the doctor released me to be able to exercise again!  I am also drinking more water and making sure that I get plenty of rest.  I am 5' 2.5" and 37 years old.  My goal weight is 140 lbs.  I'd love to get lower than that, but that is realistic right now.  My starting weight was 196 on Friday morning before going to my doctor's appointments.  I intend to weigh in every Friday morning.  I am also nagging... erm... I mean... spurring my husband on in his own weight loss efforts.  ;-)

I have an appointment in two weeks to get the ball rolling and get surgery scheduled to fix this prolapse issue.  I am nervous and yet very excited at the same time.  I am sure that the Lord has this in His hands and I am resting in that.  So, working on my health in the meantime is an excellent plan.

Knitting is going well... and sewing is starting to get a bit more productive too.  This is going to be an odd week though.  Jason is out of town from Thursday through Saturday.  I'm going to have my hands quite full.  But, next week should be less stressful.  Tabitha has her 18 month well check at the pediatrician on Friday.  So, I will check in again after that... if I don't do so before then.  Godspeed... ~ Tiffani