Heel Problems and Nightmares

The weather has been so gloomy. I had another nice weekend at home. Hunter and I made cookies as we have been doing every weeekend for the past couple of months. I made progress on Hunter's sock. I had a bit of trouble on the heel. The instructions did not seem to make sense. I ripped it back and tried again. I followed the intstructions and turned my knitting yet there wasn't enough stitches on the needle for the stitches called for in the pattern. Therefore, I pulled out a book and looked at another sock pattern. Then I kind of did a combination of the two patterns. I only have about 1 1/2" to go on the foot and then I can work on the toe. Now that I see the other parts of the sock, I am having regrets that the leg is so long. I tell myself that it is okay, I have gone this far an am not ripping it back, I will just finish this pair and the next pair I make will be shorter. However, being as anal as I am about things, the length of the leg still bothers me.
I have the urge to rip it back to shorten the leg.

I have decided that my next project will be a pair of matching socks for little Hayden.

Hunter talks in his sleep. He calls out for me and asks me to pick him up in his sleep. I think he is having anxiety dreams because he is not the center of my attention as he was when he was the only little one. It is breaking my heart. I spend time with him. I read to him. Last night we watched a Star Wars episode and I had him sit on my lap while Hayden sat on my dh's. Hunter didn't take his daily nap and became little bratty. He got in trouble because he wouldn't let go of my knitting. Later he go into trouble because he was pulling my hair (hurting me) and wouldn't let go. Maybe that set off his nightmare for the evening. I hate to see my baby in such turmoil at night. I wish I could split myself into three people. One to work, cook and do chores. The other to play with Hunter. The last one to play with Hayden.

Such Dry Hands

Ugh. My hands are so dry that they feel irritated when I type and when I knit. I was reading an on-line magazine article which led me to a business called Majestic Mountain Sage which has recipes for lotions and such. Of course, they sell the ingredients for most of their recipes. I was looking at what the lotions here at work contain and compared them to the ingredients on some of the recipes. What a big difference! The recipes have natural oils. I am thinking of making one of the recipes for my awfully dry hands. I use lotions at home but my hands are extremely dry this winter. Nothing I have is powerful enough to soothe them for a long period of time. I usually wash my hands so much that when I put the lotions on, it only lasts for a couple of hours and I am back to complete dryness. Hands are so dry that they sometimes crack near my fingernail and it hurts like a papercut.

I was able to make some progress on the heel of Hunter's sock on my lunchbreak. I do so love to knit!

I found a web ring for knitters who are blogging about knitting and losing weight. I am thinking of joining. I have been trying to lose weight. I had lost approximately 25 lbs. However, between Christmas and today, I have been struggling with staying on my diet. This past week has been expecially tough. Therefore, I don't know how much of that 25lb loss I have gained back or if I am still hovering around that amount of loss (which is what I hope for). I don't want to step on the scale yet for I am afraid of the disappointment.

I made corned beef with carrots and potatoes in the crock pot yesterday. I cooked the cabbage when I got home from work. I do so love EASY dinners, especially ones that are mostly finished when I get home.

I was 1/2 hr late to work this morning. Hunter usually goes back to sleep after I change him in the morning but this morning Hunter told me that he felt sick and that his tummy hurt. I helped him with some pancakes in the microwave and he just ate a few bites. Although, his voice was a little hoarse, it went away. I evaluated him and he seemed perfectly fine to go to Linda's. My dh was really hoarse and said that his throat was swollen. I told Linda and she said she would watch Hunter. I also explained to her that ever since he got the flu at the beginning of the month, he sometimes says he is sick and I don't think he really knows what it means. I know she will take good care of him. It's just that sometimes only mommy can give him the extra TLC he needs when he is sick. I would stay home with him more often except my boss (who told me during the interview that he UNDERSTOOD that I had children, that they do get sick and that I would have to stay home) frowns on it. It is not like I am totally busy here. Sometimes I don't have much work to do at all. This is the issue he had with my predecessor. Although, when they hired her, they told her that they might be able to make the position part-time, after a few months of working for them, they would not let her work part-time. Thus, she gave notice. She told me that I would finish all of my work and be bored.

Sweet Surprise

Since I had trouble logging in at work (I searched the help posts and learned a trick to logging in with their changeover), I haven't been able to write about what my husband's little surprise. A few weeks ago, after my dh changed the oil in my SUV he said that he did something for me. I said, without much enthusiasm, "What? You washed my vehicle?" He just gave me a little smile and moved on. The next day we went to Sears to look at vaccuum cleaners. He told me that he had to do something. I followed. He asked the saleslady for an item that he had on hold. He showed it to me. It was almost identical to a ring he gave me years ago (which was stolen months ago). It was smaller, the stones were smaller, but I am NOT complaining. He said that he felt bad for me because he knows how much my jewelry meant to me. He went on to tell me that every place he goes, he looks for rings similar to the ones which were stolen. He told me that he plans to replace ALL of my stolen rings. I just could not believe it. Boy, did I have him pegged wrong! I thought that was a very caring thing for him to do. His thoughtfulness has strengthened our relationship (not because he bought me jewelry, but because of this thoughtfulness).

I worked on Hunter's sock today. Knitting relaxes me and it makes me feel so good. I knit a few rows of the heel. I really like knitting the sock. However, today I had thoughts of how I am dreading the second sock because the leg part is a little long and it took me a long time to do because I don't get to knit as much as I would like to. The boys come first, chores second, and last is leisure time (knitting). Working full-time with two little ones does not leave me much leisure time. I do know that this will soon pass. I know that some day, the boys won't want me to play with them much, they won't want me to hold them, and they just won't want to hang around with me. So, I am treasuring my time with them.

Did I mention that I am also nursing? I am still at work and it is time to use my breast pump.

Logged In!!!

Aaah! I am finally in. I haven't been able to log in at work and have been way to busy to log in at home.

Hayden is doing well. He went to his follow up appointment. Hunter has a the cold also. They are both coughing a bit but luckly not much.

I was able to do some knitting this weekend. Hunter was out front playing with the neighbor kids. I brought Hayden out to watch. While I was out there, I knit. It was a nice, relaxing weekend. The house was clean, the boys didn't fuss too much, and I was able to knit. That makes for a very nice weekend for me.

I have been using the pattern from Knit Simple magazine, Winter 2006/2007, sock pattern on page 40 for Hunter's socks. I like it. It is simple and basic. Good for a beginner like me. Whoever did the pattern did it in an awesome way. They listed the pattern on one page with blanks for the number of cast on stitches, etc. and on the next page there are three tables. Each table is for a different yarn weight. Inside each table is the various sizes of sock along with how many stitches to cast on for each, how long the ribbing should be, etc. Then, you look up the yarn weight you have and the size of sock you wish to make. You plug the stats from the table into the blanks on the pattern. How cool is that?! I made copies of the pattern and write in the stats for Hunter's socks. The author is very, very clever!!

I think the leg is too long. I like socks that are more crew-like. I don't like crews too short. Therefore, I am knitting the leg one inch shorter than the pattern calls for. I am using Knit Picks brand yarn called 'Essential' in dusk. I like it. Today at lunch, I expect to start on the heel flap and I am excited.

Emergency Room

Thursday morning, around 1 am, Hayden was mucusy and having trouble breathing. It was pretty scary. He would sleep for a little bit and then wake up struggling to breathe. I called Kaiser's advice line and they suggested we take him to the emergency room in Walnut Creek. It was pretty scary. So around 2:30 am, we dropped Hunter off at my Mother's and took Hayden in. They checked him out and said that the mucus was not in his chest, it was in his throat. They said that he has a cold and that his throat was constricting and had mucus in it. They gave him a shot for his throat and some vapor for his mucus. We got home after 6 am and (Hayden and I) went back to bed. He pretty much wanted me to hold him most of the day until around 1 pm when he finally took a nap. I got went to work doing as many chores as I could until he awoke around 3 pm. Then Hunter spent the day with his Grandmother so Hayden could get some sleep and attention. Hayden just would not let me put him down the rest of the day/evening. Hayden is better now. He sometimes gets a runny nose and mucus.

I worked 1/2 day today and took Hayden to his DR for a follow-up appt.

I haven't even been able to knit. That's okay. Hayden needs me.

Blog

Finally, I am able to log in. They have been changing things around and I have not been able to log into my account. I usually blog at work because it is very tough for me to get on a computer at home because of the boys. I tried to access my account today and was unable to. I thought I would try to do it on my home computer and here I am. At least I can get in. Now I need to figure out why I can't get into my blog on my computer at work.

I have been working on Hunter's socks. I find it a little challenging to work with five double pointed needles. However, I will get the hang of it. I dropped a stitch and it ran down several rows. I watched the video on repairing dropped stitches at knittinghelp.com to learn to repair the run. However, I used a crochet needle to do the repair and it was much easier.

I had better go. It is time for bed.

Socks

I knit my first row of my first pair of socks today. I am knitting a pair of socks for Hunter. I am using an acrylic yarn. What I plan to do is work my way up to the 'good stuff'. I figure I would use the acrylic for my first pair and then move onto a wool. I plant to use the hand painted wool when I am totally comfortable at socks. However, I am having second thoughts. I am thinking of not using this yarn and at least moving onto some sort of wool or wool blend for my Hunter's feet. I am still debating. You see, I got the acrylic yarn as a gift from my Grandmother. Hence, the yarn has meaning to me. Maybe I will use the yarn for something else. The winter is causing me to have really dry hands. Therefore, the yarn doesn't feel that good in my dry hands. I don't want it catching on my baby's toenails. Well, I think have just convinced myself. I am going to scratch this and use a superwash wool or a wool blend for his socks. Tonight, I will go through my yarn stash to see what I want to use.

Now, being the type of person I am, as I work today, my mind is going to be going through my yarn stash to try to decide what to use. However, I don't remember all of the yarn that I have so I just need to try to think of something else because I am going to drive myself nuts.

I knit a couple of pairs of slippers for my mother last year so I shouldn't have too much trouble knitting socks.

No Childcare

Friday morning I showed up at the childcare to drop off the boys. Linda was so sick. She said she left a message for me. I didn't hear the phone ring that morning because the ringer was turned off and nobody turned it back on. Anyway, I wish I would have heard the phone because she called before I would have woken the boys up and I could have let them sleep in. Anyway, it gave me a chance to do a few chores, spend time with the boys, and finish Hayden's hat.

We went out to dinner Friday night. It is tough to go out to dinner with two little ones. Towards the end of our dinner Hayden started crying because he was tired and wanted to be held and Hunter wanted out of the high chair. It is okay. I understand that it can be tough for them to sit there for such a long time (or at least a long time for babies).

I usually don't get to purchase nice yarns because a) it is costly, b) the yarn stores are so far away, c) it is hard to browse and make such a purchase with two little ones. However, my husband gave me a gift certificate for a yarn store in Castro Valley and I also got one for the same store from an Aunt. I went there with the boys on Saturday. Hunter started getting bored while I was making up my hard to make up mind. The ladies there were just not really friendly. I was asked twice if I needed help. However, I didn't feel the friendliness you feel in some stores. I just felt that they were going through the motions. How disappointing. I often read how local yarn stores (LYS's) are complemented for the very helpful and friendly people. I wanted to find a place like that where I can frequent. I got the feeling that they did not appreciate the fact that I had two little ones. At least the gal who helped me showed me Addi Turbo 12" needles and how she was using them to knit socks with them rather than using 4 double pointed needles (darn it, I love my Denise kit and the cables aren't short enough to knit the socks so I bought some Addi Turbos). I was so happy because I was researching methods to knit socks and I like using circular needles.

Sunday, I cleaned house and the inside of my poor SUV which hasn't been cleaned out for a long while.

The Pants Actually Fit

Hey. Allright!! This morning, I put Hayden in his pants for the first time. The pants fit perfectly. Yay!! I was so worried that I miscalculated the stitches and may have messed up on the gauge. I honestly didn't think that I could create it so it fits (Oh gee, Cynthia, you have so much confidence in yourself). However, I did well. Linda, the daycare provider, said that the pants looked warm. I proudly told her that I knit them myself. Give me a high five because I am feeling good, baby!!!

I was only able to knit a round during lunch. I was watching a video on purling continental style while I was knitting and found myself purling!! Pay attention woman!! I had to rip back some stitches and it took me a while to do so because I was having trouble telling which way the stitches go (I need to do more research and gain more experience in this).

I was looking into 'magic loop' style knitting for socks when I stumbled upon a site for help. It is knittinghelp.com. I have used books to learn how to knit and then I used books to learn how to knit continental style. This site shows how to knit, purl, cast on, etc in continental style using video clips. It is so awesome! Why didn't I find it earlier!?

The Flu for the New Year

I had half of Friday, the 29th off and returned to work on Jan. 3rd. I had a very tough weekend. Friday, when we took Hayden to get his shots, Hunter was acting up. He was one of those children you look at in public and say to yourself, "I sure am glad my son doesn't act like that!" It wasn't until later that evening when he threw up did we learn that he had the flu. Poor little guy. He was just miserable. That is why he was acting up. He only acts like that when he is sick. I should have caught it. That night, he must have gotten sick almost a dozen times. We went through so many sheets and towels. It was so sad. He would scream while throwing up when there was nothing left in his stomach and it hurt. It was awful. Thankfully, he spent most of Saturday sleeping. Sunday, Hayden and my dh got it. Hayden didn't get as sick as Hunter had gotten. My weekend was so tough. I wished I could split myself in two and have one of me hold Hunter while the other held Hayden. However, I could only hold one. Since, Hunter was better on Sunday, I held Hayden who needed to nurse and sleep. Poor Hunter had such a tough time because I had to care for his brother too. Hunter was so used to being the only child. When he was sick, I would spend most of my day holding him. It was hard for me too to see Hunter so sad and frustrated because I had to give Hayden so much attention.

We did not do anything for New Year's Eve. We went to bed because everyone was sick. Of course, dh & I were woken up by the yelling and fireworks. Thankfully, the boys slept through it.

While the boys were napping, I worked on a hat for Hayden. It has ear flaps. Hayden has grown out of his other hats. Furthermore, none cover his ears. I wanted something to cover his ears and tie. My Aunt had knit a hat with ear flaps. However, Hunter won't let Hayden wear it because it is 'his'. Therefore, I pulled out my favorite baby knits book for beginners, Knitting for Baby: 30 Heirloom Projects with Complete How-to-Knit Instructions> and began making a hat. I finished both of the ear flaps and am now working on the decreases on the top of the hat. I am using Jo-Ann Sensations Bellezza Collection Tesoro Yarn - 100% Wool(don't be a yarn snob). I like the way it is turning out. It is so much better to knit with a smooth wool than the fuzzy yarn I used for the pants. I can now see my stitches clearly.