SweetPea Castle

Weekend update

First... MY MOM ROCKS!  Well, aside from all of the many MANY things I could write about that say why she rocks... she gifted me with a one year sock club subscription at Little Turtle Knits for Mother's Day!  Of course, she also stayed home with a sick Tabitha today so that I could take Josiah and go to the church ladies' meeting this afternoon.  I am truly so very blessed.

I finished up all of my diapers for my stocking on Tuesday and got all of the orders out on Friday that came in.  I have another diaper that needs to be shipped out on Monday.  My sewing room is officially closed for business for several weeks.  Of course, I have a few diapers I want to sew for my own two little ones this coming week.  But, there's no pressure for those and I'm going to enjoy making something for them that isn't considered a "second".  ;-)  I'm also already thinking ahead to some special things I want to do when I re-open the store.  You'll just have to wait and see!

I am trying to stay busy to keep my mind off of the upcoming surgery.  It'll be "real" enough soon enough.  I don't need to spend the next week stressing over it all and over-thinking things.  I'm going to spend the week cleaning my house and enjoying my family.... oh... and knitting!  I'll post a more detailed update on the surgery itself and what my expectations are for the next few weeks sometime next week.

Right now, I am heading back upstairs to my room to start the heel gusset on my socks while the news is on.  Then I'm going to try to get some much-needed rest while Josiah is sleeping.

It's been a fruitful week

I've actually accomplished quite a bit this week, all things considered.  But, for some reason I still feel like I haven't done nearly enough.  Perhaps it's because I really do still have so much left that I WANT to accomplish before going for surgery.  I think I will take this weekend and re-evaluate what is really important on that list... and work towards those things.

I'm really excited!  I wound two skeins of yarn this evening.  One is a gorgeous sock yarn from Elliebelly and the other is another undyed sock yarn from Plumknits.  The Elliebelly is next to be knit, but i had to get the other skien wound before it got all tangled from hanging on the doorknob to the sewing room.  And, I'm determined to knit quite a bit more on my socks tonight after all the little ones have gone to bed.

I also finished up Christina's order and got it shipped today.  I can't wait to hear how she likes the "B" custom.  I was really happy with how that turned out.  I've got several diapers already finished for Tuesday's MudpieBabies stocking.... and several more in the works.  I'm planning a 9:25pm stocking time to allow a little more time to get all these finished and listed... and a few more west coasters a better chance.

Now, I'm off of here for the evening.  I really do need to get to knitting if I'm ever going to finish these socks.  Perhaps I'll post some pics tomorrow... we'll see how nice it is outside.  ;-)

Fun Stuff

Today is gonna be busy.  As long as Josiah behaves, it'll be okay.  He's been in a bit of a funk the past several days.  I'm not sure if he's in a growth spurt or what.  But, I'm sure it'll work itself out shortly.

I've got embroideries to work on today for Christina's custom slot.  And, I need to finish cutting and organizing the rest of the stuff for her order.  I'm also working on instock items.  I've got 7 AIOs already finished and ready.  I've got a bunch more in the works.

I also need to go to WalMart for bedding and a set of curtains.  We are moving the children's sleeping arrangements around so I can use the crib for Josiah.  I need yogurt from the grocery store too. 

Finally, I need to contact the lactation consultant at the hospital I'm having my surgery at.  I want to meet with them prior to surgery.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

UPDATE... well, I didn't make it to the grocery store.  But that will get done tomorrow.  And, I never did call the lactation consultant.  I'll take care of that soon too.  BUT, I did make it down to church tonight for an awesome presentation by the Jews for Jesus on the Passover feast.  It was really quite fascinating.  I have one more embroidery to finish for Christina's order and plenty of fabrics to cut.  Tomorrow is another day.  :-)

Whew

I got Ramona's custom, Sara's replacement, the GCDH special, and Noah's homeschool annual assessment test shipped out this afternoon.  I also got a much-needed trip to the grocery store - all by myself while my parents watched the littles.

I now have everything to finish Sue's custom order tomorrow.  Amanda's custom and my item for a charity event on May 1st are the next on the list... along with several instock items.  Then, I've got two more customs that need to be finished. 

I'm really excited to be working on some simple instock items for the next couple of weeks.  I'm not quite sure when I'll be listing yet.  I was hoping to list today, but that just didn't work once everyone got so sick.

Finally, I managed to get a few more rows knit on my socks.  I'm already envisioning my next pair.  But, I have managed to resist casting on and having more than one item in the works.  ;-)

Time to head to bed.  If I'm going to get anything done tomorrow, I need to get some sleep now.  Godspeed... ~ Tiffani

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.

A quick peek...

This is what "productive" looks like:

From right to left... Sara's replacement AIO.  The GCDH AIO.  Ramona's two custom AIOs.  And a couple of in-stock/seconds.  I have to put the front snaps or aplix on them, photo them, and then pack them up to ship out tomorrow.  Then, I've got Sue's two custom AIOs in the back of the photo.  They will get their elastic in later today.  Then, I expect to finish cutting and sewing their inners tomorrow.  We'll see how much the littles let me do.  I've also got another custom ready for it's embroidery and another charity diaper to get out next week.  And, I'm also working with Christina on her order and I have another mama that I'm sure thinks I've forgotten her.  I haven't.  ;-)

This is what my poor little sick guy looked like while I was working:

Poor little man.  He's miserable.  I'm off to snuggle with him while I eat some lunch.  Then, it's off for his ped appointment.

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.

Sick... yet again...

Well, here we go again.  I cannot begin to tell you how utterly sick and tired we are of being sick and tired.  This sucks!

Mom and Daddy came back from a week away at a bowling tournament with a nasty cold virus.  They came home on Thursday and I didn't even see daddy until Sunday afternoon.  We saw mom for a little bit on Thursday, but it knocked her on her butt that evening and I haven't seen her since.  And, unfortunately, I think they "shared" with us... as Jason is now upstairs in our bed wishing he could die.  He's been like this since yesterday.

Both of the girls have been fighting off fevers.  Josiah has been a bit warm and fussier than usual.  Noah seems to be holding his own for the moment.  Me?!?  I don't have time to be sick.  I have a stress headache and side effects from this nasty urinary tract infection that is still NOT going away.  I have to call the urologist next and see what he wants me to do since I am now passing blood in my urine.  I'm sure he'll want me to drive out to Reston to be seen... but that is NOT possible today.  So, I'm hoping they will call in orders to the local lab for a proper urinalisys culture.

I did manage to get two more rows knit on my socks last night.  I'm hoping to get more done tonight.  But, I always knew this would be a slow process.

I am also managing to get quite a bit done in the sewing room.  Since the littles aren't feeling very well, they are laying quietly on the floor in my sewing room while I work.  At least it's fairly quiet most of the time.  I've got two orders shipping tomorrow and several more in the works.

So, while it does suck to have the sickies again... God is faithful and is giving me the strength and extra grace to walk through this time.  I will, however, be very glad to have everyone healthy and stay that way for more than a week at a time.

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