The Tender Scribe

Using Communication Device

2011-12-12T11:21:00.001-08:00

We are teaching Emily to user her new communication device. I thought you all might like this video. She is doing so great with it. The green lights on the bottom of the device show that the camera sees her eyes, and all she has to do is look at something to "mouse click" it. Right now she has just 6 squares on each page. When she gets more proficient with the device she will be able to work with more squares (12, 24, etc). Right now I am trying to teach her about hitting the back button so she can choose a different page/screen to talk about different things.

Back on a New Blog

2011-11-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

I've been late to post to this blog but I started another blog, this time about our younger daughter who was diagnosed with Asperger's, which is an Autism Spectrum Disorder. So I've been writing about our adventures and challenges with her here:

Asperger's Girl
http://aspergerlifegirl.blogspot.com/

Emily is well. She is still schooled at home which keeps her health stable. Not much new going on with her. She is excited about Christmas coming up and she wants that doll that poops.....

See you on the new blog!

The Artist Studio

2011-05-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

For a couple of weeks now we’ve been treated to special pictures painted by our resident artist, Grace. She has taken over my kitchen and this week she set up her “Studio”!

She quickly used up all her paper canvas pages and was begging me for more this morning. So when I went out to get her more I found two little easels each sporting a little canvas. I knew she would be SO excited to have these little ones, and I wasn’t disappointed. She kept saying, “Oh Mom, I love you, I love you!”

You’ll never guess the first thing she painted.

Nope, it wasn’t a picture of me.

Scroll down to see…….

The Easels!

Thanks for listening ~

Van Gogh to Tulips in the Yard

2011-05-14T07:23:00.001-07:00

We bought Grace a paint and easel set. She couldn’t wait to have it. I gave it to her last night.

And then this morning this is the first thing she did…

From Van Gogh to “Tulips in the Yard” in less than 24 hours. Wow! She’s inspiring me!

Thanks for listening ~

Favorite Easter Picture

2011-04-25T19:55:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite Easter picture. Adam hid Easter eggs for the girls. Great fun was had by all (including me) trying to find the eggs. Emily was SO pleased to find the eggs and show Adam she had found them.

My favorite saying was at the carving of the ham. Grace looked at the cooked ham and said, “Where’s the crack?” Jeff and I looked at each other and said, “What?” Again Grace said, “Where’s the crack?” I looked at the ham and it had a little crack in the skin so I wondered if that was what she was talking about. “Hua?” Grace, in all seriousness said, “You know, the butt crack….”

I’m laughing as I write this. When I was getting ready to cook the ham I showed Grace the sticker that was on the ham, it said “ham butt”. I said, “See Grace, it really is a pig butt.” She remembered that and now she was asking where the butt crack was! Oh my gosh, I thought I had been tickled before by some things she has said, but this one got to all of us! She was looking for the butt crack. We laughed and laughed over that one.

Thanks for listening ~

Chocolate Covered… What?

2011-02-15T06:08:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! Well, a day late but not forgotten!

Look what Emily got for Valentines Day

Chocolate covered Fortune Cookies!

Sweet 16!

2011-01-27T11:06:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we started planning for Emily’s birthday. Since Emily doesn’t attend school in the school building her teacher said that they would plan a field trip to our house to share her birthday.

The big day came and Emily looked as beautiful as any princess just turning 16.

Her friends arrived and the party began.

After singing “Happy Birthday”, twice because she liked it so much, we ate chocolate birthday cake.

Then it was time to sing songs. We went into the livingroom and sang with the singing program on the Wii. We sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and “The Bare Necessities”.

Emily was very sad when it was time for the party to be over.

She looked like she was saying, “Hey, I was just getting warmed up!”

I told her there is another party on Saturday. “Yippee!”

Happy Birthday Sweet 16!

Thanks for listening ~

It IS Clean!

2011-01-13T14:17:00.001-08:00

I asked Grace to clean her corner. She responded, “It IS clean! I don’t know what the big deal is.”

I know sometimes I’m a little picky but I’ll let you guys decide. A picture is always worth 1000 words.

More Amazing Communication

2011-01-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

What movie do you want to watch Emily?

For those who are just surfing and happen across my blog I have to explain. My daughter cannot speak, she has no functional use of her arms or hands, and most of the time she can't hold her head up. To be able to use a communication box is such an awesome adventure and an amazing miracle that we've prayed and prayed for.

2011-01-11T15:15:00.000-08:00

So we’ve had this communication device since last Thursday. I’ve already made the mistake of letting the battery die…. Bad Mommy! Of course that in turn caused a series of events which didn’t have to happen, and took two hours for me to correct. Good thing I’m not afraid of technology. I jumped in with both feet and got ‘er figured out.

I have been taking short videos of Emily when she uses the EyeMax. This was a good one and short enough to post on here.

Hurrah for Emily!

Thanks for listening ~

I Can Do It!

2011-01-07T11:22:00.001-08:00

Emily was selecting a movie she wanted to watch. I cannot tell you how thrilling it is to see her tell us what she wants. My heart is bursting and my eyes are watering….

She is using an Eye Max by Dynavox. This communication device is hanging on the pole. It has a screen with squares on it. With her eyes she selects the square that says Movies. It opens a new page that has several movies on it. You can't really see the pictures of her movies in this image, but she can! She just directs her eyes to the one she wants and selects it. A voice comes on and says the name of the movie.

She is SO happy. We gave her the movie she wanted right away.

Thanks for listening ~

Pop-Up Christmas Tree

2010-12-08T17:31:00.001-08:00

Grace made this cute Christmas tree for me.

It would be a great card to send to someone so I decided to take a few pictures of Grace making one so you will all know how to do it.

You need a sheet of card stock. Fold it half and then cut out in a half circle. When you open it you have an oblong circle.

Next you fold the half circle in half again so you have a 1/4 circle.

Begin to cut across the paper, but don’t cut all the way to the other edge.

Now, turn the paper around and make another cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch lower than the last cut. Cut across, however you must stop cutting before you get to the edge. Turn the paper again and cut another line, lower than the last, and continue in this fashion, turning after each cut. Never cut all the way to the opposite edge or you will cut your tree in half.

When your cuts get close to the bottom edge stop cutting. This is what it will look like.

Open the paper and carefully separate the pieces.

This will give you a flat paper once again.

Color the paper, add little drawings of lights and decorations on each row of the cuts. When you’ve finished decorating your tree pinch the center of your paper and and carefully pull it up while holding the outer edge in your other hand.

And there you go! A cute little Christmas Tree. To mail your card just push it flat, fold it if you wish, and put it into an envelope and mail.

Thanks for listening ~

It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas!

2010-12-05T12:53:00.001-08:00

We got up and got dressed right away. We were going on an outing. I didn’t let on what exactly what we were going to do.

Look how happy Emily was when she got it all figured out!

Santa knew exactly what she wants for Christmas. This was almost too exciting!

Merry Christmas 2010

Snowman

2010-12-02T12:59:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving left and so did the snow. Today is a sunny day and Grace’s giant snowball is only a few inches across now. Its still cool outside but Emily was able to enjoy her air-filled snowmen. (Thanks Ms Kim!)

Would make a good Christmas card I think!

Thanks for listening ~

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-30T11:12:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving started out with lots of snow at our house.

We didn’t lose our power but a lot of people did, including my sister who was cooking the turkey!

We moved Thanksgiving to Friday the 26th when the roads were more drivable, and the power was on so the turkey could be cooked.

Grace enjoys different textures. This netting that our Satsuma oranges came in makes a good veil.

Emily slept through most of the dinner. She wasn’t feeling that great.

Time for Grandma’s birthday! Emily was awake for the party.

Happy birthday Grandma! Can I tell everyone that you are now 84?

Thanks for listening ~

The Christmas List

2010-11-16T06:54:00.001-08:00

This is the time of year at our house when we start talking about Christmas lists. We tell each other to start writing out a Christmas list. Generally its for the kids, but even Jeff and I discuss our Christmas lists with each other. The only person who doesn’t often have a list is Emily.

The difficulty is in her lack of ABILITY to communicate with us. It’s very frustrating for her as well as for us. Most years she just sits back and waits to see what she gets. And she totally enjoys unwrapping gifts as most kids do. But I often wonder what she really wants.

As we have begun to talk about Christmas this year she has been very interested and even excited to communicate what she wants on her Christmas list. Yesterday we were discussing options and possibilities with Emily and she decided she wanted a stuffed puppy dog for Christmas. She was so happy when we came to that conclusion. Yippee, she has a Christmas list! Today we will put it in writing and tape it to the wall. Then we’ll see if we can eake out a few more items that she would like to have.

She HAS a Christmas list! Have I said Yippee? YIPPEE!

The Truth Be Told

2010-11-12T07:59:00.001-08:00

Grace and Jered and I were eating out this last week. Around the backs of the tables there were flower pots filled with silk hibiscus plants. Not to miss an opportunity to refresh Grace’s knowledge of flowers I pointed to them and asked her if she knew what kind of flowers those were. And without skipping a beat Grace answers, “Yup. Those are fake flowers.”

That’s one smart girl there!

The Perfect 10

2010-10-11T18:52:00.001-07:00

We had a “once-in-a-lifetime” birthday at our house yesterday. Grace turned 10 on 10-10-10!

The party started with poppers. They’re even fun after they’ve popped.

Next was birthday cupcakes (what Grace requested), and our friend at the piano playing Happy Birthday (and she’s never had a lesson!).

After blowing out the candles the presents were handed out. First the party guests were given a card with a $10 bill in it to celebrate Grace’s perfect 10.

And Grace received a few of her own 10’s.

Emily was very happy with the home made birthday card and lovely present she gave to Grace (It was a fuzzy blanket).

Once the cupcakes and juice were eaten it was pinata time!

Emily took her turn before the other three wacked the candy out of the teapot.

Then Grace and the other girls…

Candy and glow-sticks! Yippee.

It was very rainy outside, but very sunny inside.

A Perfect 10!

What’s better than….

2010-08-20T09:36:00.001-07:00

What’s better than watching your little sister eating pop-rocks?

Being able to enjoy pop-rocks also! How fun!

The Unibrow

2010-08-15T20:25:00.001-07:00

Grace has just learned what a unibrow is.

“Mom, I think I have a unibrow.”

“Um, you do?”

“Yah, just look.” She starts rubbing the skin between her brows.

“Grace, I don’t think you have a uinbrow.”

“Yes I do,” she insists.

“Do you want one?”

She looks at me with a half smile. “I don’t know.”

“Well, if you want one now, you won’t when you are a teenager.”

“Why?”

And of course now I start laughing.

“Just you wait. When you’re a teen I’m SURE you won’t want one.”

“But why?”

“Trust me, you just won’t.”

It’s a 10+

2010-08-02T22:01:00.001-07:00

You know, Grace really surprises me sometimes. She has been chasing butterflies and moths picking flowers and blowing dandelions.

So when a friend was in the driveway talking to me Grace comes up and wants to show us something in her hand. I'm expecting a butterfly, a flower, or maybe even a frog or cricket. And when she opens her hand, there in all its sticky slime is 8 or 9 baby slugs! Oh my gosh. My Yuck Factor went up to 10+

I didn’t have my camera there that day but I did today. Here’s Grace and one of her little pets.

I’d much rather see her with a handful of frogs or crickets!

Summer Drawings

2010-07-12T08:22:00.001-07:00

We’re still working on summer here. The humming birds seem to be gone (or are they just down the block now?).

The girls are both well and happy! Yippee!

Grace is still drawing everything. She enjoys drawing so much. Some of her ideas are so cute.

She takes her time and comes up with some really detailed stuff at times.

I should photograph all of her work, but I haven't. I am trying to save her best though.

I hope summer is going well for all of you out there. Enjoy the sun.

Thanks for listening~

Summer's Here!

2010-07-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Of course it doesn't mean the sun is out..... Its been raining almost every day for weeks. When it doesn't rain we try to go out for a walk or work in the yard. Our garden, that I watched over so carefully in the beginning is a mess. The weather hasn't been conducive to good growth, except for weeds.

Yesterday for the 4th we had a visit from my sister. She brought her granddaughter and her little niece. We took all the girls, Emily included, and went poly-wog hunting. Oh boy, that was a big hit. Grace has a jar with poly-wogs that are in every stage of metamorphosis. As soon as they climb the sides of the jar and can hop around I told her she needs to take them out and release them. It looks like they will be the little green froglets.

Emily wasn't very excited about frog and poly-wog hunting and sat staring off into space. Well, that is what I thought, ended up she was having a seizure. It turned into a full blown thing and so we came home. But Emily has been doing well, and is very happy these days. I showed her she can talk/see Grandma on the computer. It was a fun surprise for her to see Grandma on our computer in real-time. I think I'll use this idea during school time. She will be able to see kids in her class at school when she is home. That should be a big hit.

We're not going anywhere special this summer, just doing things in our community. I'm trying to take the girls to the library once a week. Grace gets home and reads her books in the first couple of days and is ready to go back! She is a very good reader.

My business is going well. I'm enjoying having a business, even the books part of it. I don't have everything mastered, but I can take care of it.

I hope each of you are having a wonderful summer. If you need anything embroidered just let me know.

Thanks for listening ~

My Working Blog

2010-06-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

(Click on the picture to go to the blog)

I just finished my real first week of business. Its exciting and I'm learning a lot. I've been posting on my business blog for those of you who want to follow.

I feel like I'm neglecting Emily and Grace somewhat. Grace is still trying to figure out how to get the humming birds to sit on her finger. No luck yet.

I've decided to schedule activities for the summer. We'll be going for walks (when it isn't raining), and visiting the library each week. Watch for pictures, we'll be busy!

Thanks for listening ~

School is Out!

2010-06-10T12:15:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is Grace’s last day of school. We had to go through all the books on her bookshelf to look for the ones that belong at school. She loves to read and she borrows as many as she can. This meant she had to take back a lot of books this morning!

Emily had her last visit from her school today. Ms Heather came and played the Wii with her. Emily loves to have company and Ms Heather is a real kick.

On Tuesday Mrs. Mock came to visit and she brought Emily a small book. Emily loves to hear Mrs. Mock read to her.

Thank you so much for taking the time to support Emily while she was at home this year. We really appreciate you! Emily is going to miss you during the summer.

Grace has already asked how many days till school starts……

Thanks for listening ~

Working for a Living

2010-06-07T20:15:00.001-07:00

Today was spent running all over trying to find one perfect shade of Kaki green. Did I find it? NO…. I guess I’ll have to try online.

However, the good thing that happened today was I received a voucher for a free lunch! I headed on over to the Sunny Teriyaki and put the voucher on the counter. I was expecting a nice little entre. What I received was a huge lunch of Sweet & Sour Chicken, cooked salad, rice and soy sauce. And boy was it good. Yumm!

Thanks for the lunch Sunny Teriyaki!

I’m still working on patches. Seems its a big hit. I’ve started on shirts also, putting logo’s on. Everything’s going smoothly for my first week of business. More pictures of my work soon.

Thanks for listening ~

Future Ornithologist

2010-06-05T09:55:00.001-07:00

Mom, look, I can get real close!

How come they won’t land on my finger? Maybe I’ll try a stick.

Wow, look mom!

Can you believe she has severe ADHD and she can sit THAT still?

Communication

2010-05-27T12:16:00.001-07:00

Last week I received a note asking for me to talk about the way Emily communicates with us.

Emily has always been expressive with her face and eyes, however she cannot voluntarily use her voice. There are times when she is very relaxed and sounds come out. She is able to laugh and cry, but to articulate words is just way beyond what her brain-to-muscle connection will allow.

In the past we have tried many different methods of communication. She has a number of switches that can attach to things for her to activate. She has also tried communication with a computer. However due to her inability to control her muscles she cannot with any regularity connect and control anything by herself for more than a moment or two.

Emily talking to her friends at her surprise party last week.

Last week a lady from the University of Washington came to visit us. She brought a computer with her that had a program on it called Eye Gaze. The program focuses a camera at Emily’s eye and watches what she looks at.

To make the program work Emily had to follow a small red dot on the computer screen to calibrate her eye movements. She followed directions wonderfully and the computer program was calibrated fairly easy. Once done we were able to open up a different program so that Emily could click on things just with her eye gaze.

She was really doing it! We asked her questions which she could answer by clicking on one of the multiple choices. And the computer could speak out the answer. I think Emily was quite taken with this program as she continued to play with it and not lose interest as she normally does.

One thing that really impressed me was Emily chose to play a joke on us. We were asking her questions and she clicked on an answer that was not correct but was very funny. We all laughed, including Emily. She played a joke on us! I should have written down what she said because for the life of me I can’t remember what it was now.

In September we are going to borrow the Eye Gaze equipment for 2 weeks and her Speech and Occupational Therapist will help us work with her on it. If we can get a good video of her using this equipment then we can submit it to the insurance for approval for purchase.

Now should I tell you the price of the equipment? Well, you can probably guess, its 10-20x the cost of a laptop. Is it worth it? That is debatable. Most equipment for medical or developmental issues is VERY expensive for what it is, and most people who have children with special needs can’t afford the stuff. Makes me wonder who they sell it all to???

Summer’s Just Around the Corner

2010-05-04T20:37:00.001-07:00

Ok, wishful thinking. Yesterday it was very windy and cold.

Today was cloudy, cool, and a little windy again.

And while this weather creates nice pictures I can’t wait for the sun. I’m aching for it.

Emily has been sick the last couple of weeks. Everything from a head cold to constant movement from her neurological problems, and the forever hip pain. I get very sad when I can’t do anything for her when she is in pain. I hate seeing her like that. She has a ton of pain medicine but sometimes it just doesn’t work.

Emily and her friends from school watching a movie.

Even though Emily’s been ill it seems she is communicating with us a little bit more. Recently she has decided she wants :

1. a surprise party

2. a cell phone so she can text people

The surprise party is already in the planning stages. We’ve invited her friends from school who come to visit her each week. I think I’m going to buy that dancing game for the Wii. Emily would probably get a kick out of playing that.

The cell phone request might have to wait till Christmas. We have to convince Dad that she needs to text people. You see, Mom and Dad don’t text anyone. We aren’t inclined…. Jered said he would text Emily if she got a phone. Her nurse also said she would text her. So even though Emily won’t be able to use her phone by herself (who says that’s a bad thing?) I’m sure her phone will be used. She can always call Grandma and Dad and talk to them (they talk to her while she listens and breathes loud).

So summer is almost here and its cold outside. Well, at least I have my sewing area to keep me busy, and my nice new window to look out while I’m warm and busy inside.

Thanks for listening ~

I CAN Sew

2010-04-28T13:12:00.001-07:00

The sewing area is now finished.

The last thing to go in was the ceiling light and then attaching the counter to wall with the chests underneath. Last night everything was together and I was able to put everything away where it belongs.

And the first thing I saw out the window was this:

Maybe its a sign?

To tell you the truth I never would have thought I would have a sewing area, not in a million years. I never liked to sew because things just never worked out. If I had to read the directions, and it was difficult, I just did it on my own. And if I didn’t have to read directions, well my day was made! I can’t remember what grades I got in home-ec nearly 40 years ago, but it probably wasn’t straight A’s.

My mom is much better at sewing. She can stitch something up and it looks very professional when she is done. It might be the years she’s invested in the learning, but I also have to think that she is just a natural at it.

Recently when I started using the embroidery machine I decided I COULD sew, at least I was going to try. So I’ve made a couple of things, and they still look like a 7th grader made them, but I’m going to keep trying. Now with this new sewing area I feel like I have room to really work at what I’m doing. So things have to look up from here!

Thanks for listening ~

Oh Let the Sunshine In!

2010-04-16T21:18:00.001-07:00

The first cut for my new window.

You would never know it is nice and bright outside.

I went outside to check the progress.

Now to finish the cutting.

Almost finished.

And there you go!

Now to make sure it is even and level.

Sure lets a lot of light in now.

Then I had to step on the dog leash,

while cutting ensued from the outside. The dog would have wrapped herself around the ladder.

Now the window looks great from the inside,

and from the outside.

Framed in and caulked.

Now to finish the inside.

Time to let the mud dry.

The cat decided he wanted to look out and left his paw prints in the window…… Had to apply more mud.

The window, and the rest of the sewing area will be finished next week. Yippee!

Thanks for listening ~

Things - They are a Changing

2010-04-12T20:42:00.001-07:00

The counter is upstairs and sitting on the cabinets. My sewing room is nearing completion.

Next step is to attach the counter to the wall. We bought the window today. It will go in tomorrow! Watch for the new pictures.

Emily is doing much better. She still had a bit of a fever today but she is off oxygen and seems to be getting back to normal.

A couple of weeks ago Emily was pretending to sing to a music video. She really got a kick out of it. We got a kick out of it too.

Thanks for listening ~

Tough Tough Week

2010-04-10T08:43:00.001-07:00

Emily’s had a very tough week. She’s been struggling with the cold that I had. When Grace had it she was sick for about 2 weeks. This was Emily’s first week with it. Thursday night was awful. I spent the night in Emily’s room till she finally settled, which was in the early morning. She was acting like she was in a lot of pain, as well as having trouble breathing. It is difficult to watch her try to deal with pain. That is what I hate the most about her disabilities.

Yesterday we started her on steroids for her breathing problems. She was a little more relaxed during the day (probably due to the pain meds that I gave her the night before…. just kicking in?). Today she is much more relaxed but started the morning out with a seizure. She had a seizure last night also. At least she is not in pain.

Grace and I went out to the pasture to fly a kite on Wednesday afternoon. What fun! Sorry, no pictures this time. I didn’t take my camera out there with me. The wind was whipping up so much we didn’t have to do anything to get the kite in the air. It was cool out but the sun was trying to shine. Hasn’t been sunny here in a week or more. It was nice to be out in the sun. I see my neighbor’s tulips are blooming. (pictures of that later)

Did I tell you its sunny outside today? Yippee. Frost on the ground though. Wonder what is still alive in my garden. The plants are so small yet. I thought I saw a mole hill in the garden. I haven’t been out to inspect it yet.

There is a Daffodil parade going on today. Maybe we can get down there to watch it. Maybe, its 37 outside…..

Thanks for listening ~

Breathe Deep, it’s a Migraine

2010-04-09T11:44:00.001-07:00

I’ve had migraines for at least the last 35-40 years. Seems that the older I got the more difficult time I have had managing those awful headaches. In the last couple of years I would have 2-3 migraines a week. No fun. The medication I used to get rid of the migraine would cause other problems. For me it was severe muscle cramping.

Last fall I changed doctors. I had been to the new doctor once already when I suddenly had a heart problem during the worst migraine I’d ever had. When I went to the doctor she asked me about the migraines and the medicine I was using. She told me to stop taking the migraine medicine that I had used to alleviate the episodes each week. This could have caused my heart episode. Her suggestion was to try oxygen.

I’d never heard of using oxygen for a migraine, but I was game. I went home and with the next migraine I tried the oxygen. 8 liters for 15 minutes was the dose. It worked! Wow!

I had an appointment a couple of weeks later to have a treadmill test. That day I had a whopper of a migraine and I couldn’t take the oxygen with me. So I took a small dose of pain medicine and went to my appointment. I was miserable.

A treadmill stress test is difficult. That is putting it mildly. And with a migraine I felt like I just wanted to die. However, as I got to the end of the test, wanting to vomit and feeling like I was going to pass-out, the migraine seemed to be getting weaker and weaker.

Of course the stress test caused me to breath deeper and faster, and I used lots of oxygen just trying to get through the test. This got me to thinking about my oxygen need. I had to wonder if I took a number of deeper breaths during the day would this help my situation?

That was in November, and at least 2+ migraines a week. Since then I spend a little time each day taking very deep breaths. And when I do get a migraine I start the oxygen right away. I can’t use the 8 liters of oxygen as was suggested because it burns my nose up. But I turn on 5 liters of oxygen and use it for about an hour.

Now, after these months of breathing deep and using oxygen the migraines are less than 1 a week. I no longer use migraine medicine because I’ve had at least a 99% success rate with the oxygen therapy in stopping the migraine. I never would have thought this possible. I am SO thankful.

So any of you out there who have migraines, take a very deep breath, literally, and then ask your doctor about oxygen therapy. It really works.

Thanks for listening ~

Stitching it Together, Sort of

2010-04-07T07:09:00.001-07:00

I’ve been under the weather lately so I haven’t done as much as I’d like to with getting my sewing area together. I bought two cabinets with drawers to go under my sewing counter. They were a great price, but I have to put them together.

This cabinet actually has 3 drawers.

My new counter. This will be put in after the window goes into the wall.

Now to put the other cabinet together….. More pictures soon.

Thanks for listening ~

Spring Break

2010-04-06T09:04:00.001-07:00

We’ve started our Spring Break here this week. Although we are still recovering from the worlds worst head/chest cold, we still have time for fun.

We went to a Gymnastics place that was open for a play-day.

Grace jumped,

and rode the slide,

again and again,

while Emily and nurse Bryn watched.

Grace swung on the rings,

and on a rope.

She tried a balance beam,

and then the taller one.

And finally she learned to

do this!

And all that packed into an hour!

Thanks for listening ~

Of Showers and Lofts

2010-03-31T11:15:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess its time for an update. Emily and I have been sick with a sore throat yuck. But we’re both on the mend! Yippee!

We recently got the lift for Emily’s shower and did a few modifications to the area in our bathroom for her. Today she took her first shower in there. Oh it was so nice not to have to try and lift her from the shower chair and back to the wheel chair by myself!

I’ve also been busy the last couple of weeks working in the upper loft of our home. I’ve been clearing out the “stored” things and giving lots of things away so I can create a new sewing space. Here’s what it looks like right now.

I am so excited about the changes that will be made. Soon there will be a window in this wall, and I will have a counter against the wall to put my sewing machine on! I’ll take more pictures as the modifications progress.

Please remember us in prayer. It would be nice if we were all well for Easter.

Thanks for listening ~

Sew Wonderful

2010-03-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

You know, I’ve never liked to sew but this is just terrific! I am enjoying my new machine so much.

Start with one blue sweatshirt.

Add “stay stitching” and then remove ribbing.

Make a collar pattern.

Adding home made bias tape.

Bias tape pinned on, cuffs completed.

Sewing the collar on.

Finished. Now time for the decoration.

Sewing fabric onto the sweatshirt. (I should have sewed the line stitch and then trimmed it before this step.) Now I have to trim without cutting the sweatshirt.

Adding another piece of material and embroidering on it.

Wow, that looks good!

And I did it all myself!

Thanks for listening ~

A Wild Eagle Nest

2010-03-16T09:01:00.001-07:00

In Norfolk Botanical Garden this Eagle has 3 chicks. Here she is feeding her chicks fish. You can watch live video on the Eagle Cam.

Other news from here-- I’ve been busy. The busier I get the less I post. Sorry…

Our garden is growing! Yippee! The seedlings love my greenhouse. I’ve started more plants because the first ones are doing so well.

The new dirt for my garden arrived last week. I spent the whole afternoon shoveling it till I moved the fence-high pile all over the garden area. Jered came home when I was about 1/2 done and he grabbed his barn boots and helped me shovel the rest of the dirt.

We bought a rototiller from a neighbor. Jeff worked it on the outside edge of the garden, which now is twice as big as it was last year.

Last years garden.

The rototiller works great. We were hoping to till in all the new soil but the rain came back.

Yesterday was a nice day and very warm out. I put the greenhouse outside so the plants could get ready for planting in the garden.

Some of the plants are probably ready to be put into the dirt but I want to give them an equal chance at hardening in the cooler outdoor weather.

So for now they are zipped in the greenhouse at night and open to the elements during the day. I’ll start planting in a few days. Grace is excited about that.

I’ve always wanted fruit trees. Now that we don’t have horses in the pasture to knock them down we have room for fruit trees.

On Saturday Jeff and Jered planted 5 trees. They are the short little things with paper wrapped around the trunks. We have 2 cherry, one red and one green apple, and a plum tree that is blooming already. I’m still looking for a pear tree to buy. I know it will be a few years before we get fruit. Hopefully the trees will thrive where they are and produce a lot.

Grace has been on a diet of sorts. We have cut out the High Fructose Corn Syrup in packaged foods to see if that helps with the ADHD. I don’t have much control over what she eats at school. She eats nearly nothing so what ever she eats at school is a plus, even if it is HFCS.

Emily has been sick off and on. She’s having trouble with allergies and wheezing this week. Seems to be getting to everyone around here.

And me, well I’ve been using my sewing machine. I’ll post pictures in another entry. I’ve also been busy spring cleaning. I need to find a permanent home for my new sewing machine so the upstairs HAS to be reorganized. Not my favorite job, probably my least favorite, but it has to be done. Isn’t this where some good Samaritan group comes out of the woodwork for a day of moving and cleaning for a worthy cause??? Na, probably not. But maybe I’ll pray for that to happen when we order our new carpets…. lots of furniture to move around on that day.

Thanks for listening ~

9 Days Later

2010-03-04T09:13:00.001-08:00

And 9 days later we have …..

Sprouts!

Here is a list of what we planted:

Emily -

Chives, Spinach, Watermelon, Cabbage, Long Peppers, Cilantro, Little Cucumbers, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Cantaloupe, Sugar Peas, Corn, and Beef Steak Tomatoes

Grace -

Garden Beans, Small Sugar Pumpkin, Roma Tomatoes, Beets, Iceberg Lettuce, Lemon Cucumber, Jalapenos, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Double Yield Cucumbers, Radish, and Red Blush Onions

I forgot about and will probably plant Sweet Yellow Onions, Squash, Broccoli, and maybe Cauliflower. I should also think about planting some Dill for the pickles I want to make. I have Garlic, Rhubarb, Strawberries and Mint already growing.

There's a nice picture in my mind of how I want my garden to be and I drew it on a paper so I’ll know where to plant everything. I just need to get the garden space ready. We’ll be putting topsoil on our garden this year. I’m hoping to get a couple of nice hills for the carrots, beets, radishes and onions.

So I’m praying for sunny days and enough rain/snow right now so we don’t have a drought. And maybe I should set up a rain barrel?

Thinking sunny and rainy thoughts until next time.

Thanks for listening ~

In Hot Water

2010-02-26T17:58:00.001-08:00

Today I started a new project.

Here’s part of it.

And here is another part.

Emily’s not feeling too well today. She often has cold legs and feet, and when she is sick they can be ice cold. We put a hot water bottle at the bottom of the bed by her feet. But we don’t want the bottle to touch her feet so we will wrap it in a blanket. The other day I had a grand idea. What about making hot water bottle wrap or bag?

So here’s what I came up with. I made the rose one first and then found it was a little difficult to fold the bottle tight enough to get it into and out of the bag.

So with the second one I left most of the top open and put straps and a button on it to hold the bottle into the bag.

I enjoyed this project and it was very easy to sew.

Until next time. Thanks for listening ~

The Little Gardener

2010-02-25T17:41:00.001-08:00

It was Grace’s turn to start some vegetables for our garden.

She helped to break open the little planter pots and put the new seeds inside.

This was the most interesting vegetables we planted this year. It is a lemon shaped/colored cucumber.

And this was the most interesting seed.

Do you know what plant this is? (no, its not written on the list below my hand…. ) I know but I’m not telling! I’ll let you all guess.

So now all the seeds are planted and in their little green houses. In a few weeks we’ll have new topsoil out in the garden and begin planting our sprouts. I’ll take pictures and post them when the time comes.

Thanks for listening ~

Emily at School

2010-02-23T15:07:00.001-08:00

My husband and I both got this notice in our email yesterday.

Please check w/your freshmen student and be sure they have turned in their class registration form for next year's classes. If they haven't, they can return forms to their English teacher or to the Guidance Center. Thank you.

Hummm, next year? I don’t know that I can see the end of this year yet. Emily is doing pretty good, but she is having school at home this year. It seems to be working out well, especially in light of the H1N1 virus going around.

At home we’ve been working on a scrapbook. Each time someone from school comes to visit we either work on a learning experience or we put something in the scrapbook that we already talked about.

Last week we read about Betsy Ross and made a Betsy Ross page in her scrapbook. Today we planted the vegetable seeds for our garden.

Some seeds were large.

And some seeds were pretty small. I put the seeds into the little starter beds and then had Emily poke them in with her finger.

She was not very impressed. We put the top on the little planter box.

And the box is set in the kitchen greenhouse.

Until next time, thanks for listening ~

Feeding Pump Problems

2010-02-19T13:21:00.001-08:00

Emily has visitors from her school a couple times a week. Here we are doing the Chicken Dance for her, which she totally enjoyed! Oy, what a work-out!

I was reading a post of a fellow blogger who was having troubles with her child’s feeding pump. We’ve had our own feeding pump challenges lately.

We changed to a Kangaroo Joey not too long ago, because of the ability to get free water pumped each hour (through a second bag attached to the pump), along with the formula. But oh boy, we had a terrible time with this pump. It doesn't pump correctly unless you hang the bag just so many inches from the pump, no higher, no lower. Yes, that is part of the instructions. What? You mean I can't hang the bag where the top of the formula is more than 6 inches higher than the pump? If I do it pumps too much formula at once… If lower than the pump it doesn’t pump enough formula. How could the FDA allow such a pump into existence?

After I accepted that fact and only hung the bag so the top of the formula is 6 inches from the pump. It worked for a few weeks, then we started having troubles with the bags.

Occasionally I would get a bag that wouldn't allow formula through the tubing, some sort of blockage. Then I had about 5 or 6 bags in one case with blockages in the tubing. With the last case we had I noticed the part you put into the pump so the formula would pump through, well that part didn't fit correctly on the pump.

Our feeding pump dilemmas finally came to full blown disaster when one day I noticed Emily’s feeding bag was still full, even after the pump had been going for 6 hours. What a surprise! 6 hours, on the clock, 6 hours on the pump which measured 300mls, and I thought she was getting fed. Nope.

I looked at the tubing, took it off of her gastrostomy tube (g-tube), and not one drop of formula was coming out of the pump, even though it was humming right along. It appeared that the tubing had some sort of a clog or blockage even though it had primed correctly. Did the pump beep in error like it should have? Nope. It just pretended to pump, for 6 whole hours! Grrrrrrr

I hope we are the only people this has happened to.

After so many problems and issues with the Kangaroo Joey I decided we should go back to the Kangaroo Pet pump. That is the type we used before the Joey just a month or two before. So I called our medical supply company and asked for a Pet pump again. To my surprise there were NO Pet pumps in stock. And they weren’t going to get any new ones.

I was told that the maker is no longer producing the Pet pump, and all the medical supply company can get is the Joey. Oh great…..

I searched Emily’s room and found our very old antique Pet Pump (so old that Jered used it from ages 8-16, he’s now 26). I had recently, in the last year or two, purchased a new battery for it, just in case we ever needed it. Well, now we need it. I was pretty sure this pump would be our saving grace.

After using the pump for a few days it appears that it isn’t pumping correctly, about 10 mls less per hour than is programmed to pump. I called a friend of mine. She has an old “brick”, the Kangaroo 324. Tried and true, it still works. It’s not really portable, but it does work.

We still need a newer pump, and I prefer the Kangaroo Pet, but until one is turned in to our medical supply company, we have two old and older pumps to use. I thought about the special needs child support list I am a part of online, and posted a want ad there. I did get a reply and a lady said we could have her pump. I’m hoping and praying it is on its way. In the meantime we’re watching the pumps carefully to make sure Emily is getting fed correctly.

Thanks for listening~

From Squares to Ships

2010-02-17T22:43:00.001-08:00

Valentines day was fun. All the girls of the house were gifted with talking stuffed animals and lots of chocolate. Yummm!

I started a new project. Here’s a peek.

It will take me a while to make enough squares for my quilt (Yippee, this one will be for my bed!).

In the meantime I took a day off from embroidering squares to embroider a Navy ship on a pull-over sweat shirt for Jeff. He was in the navy for a few years and served aboard the USS Albany, a guided missile cruiser.

I looked around on internet and found a navy ship design that looked similar to the USS Albany. I purchased the design and tested it on a comparable material.

No problems with the test material so I centered the hoop on the pull-over, this was difficult. The material of the pull-over was thicker and more difficult to maneuver. I used a medium stabilizer backing.

The design stitched perfectly and looks great!

And Jeff liked it.

Thanks for listening ~

Oh Happy Day!

2010-02-13T20:05:00.001-08:00

Today I worked on kitchen towels. I started with daffodils. It was a lovely design but the white thread kept breaking. I came to the realization it was the stabilizer I was using under the towel. I persevered and continued threading the machine as the thread broke, and I finally finished the design. A difficult chore but it turned out really nice.

I told you I would show you my next mistake in my embroidery. Ok, here it is. I accidently hooped the second towel in the wrong direction. I forgot how my towel was laying and the flowers were going to lay sideways when finished. I didn’t want the design to be sideways so I stopped stitching and turned the design on the machine (yes it has that capability!).

The leaf on the right and the stitching to the lower right is the mistake. I started over, re-programming the embroidery layout, and just stitched over the mistake.

When I finished stitching the tulips I can hardly see the mistake. I’m thankful it is barely visible. I pulled out the stitches to the right of the leaves and clipped the wash-away toping close to the embroidery so there wouldn’t be very much to wash off.

After going through the laundry this is how it turned out. Oh happy day!

A nice addition to my kitchen towel drawer.

Thanks for listening ~

Its All Coming Together – Part 2

2010-02-10T06:01:00.001-08:00

Putting this quilt together would be a very big job for me. I have no idea what I’m doing so I decided to go to my sister’s house and have her help me.

I used a flat sheet for the back and a polyester batting for the inside.

My sister Tracey and I used safety pins and started at the center of the quilt to secure the pieces together. Once the quilt was pinned I took it home and began to quilt between each embroidery square.

I used white thread so it is a little difficult to see the quilted area in this picture (you can click on any photo to see an enlarged version). I used a rose design for the quilting.

Once the quilting was complete I hand-stitched around the edges and sewed everything together.

I bet you were wondering who is the lucky recipient of this very pretty quilt. Grace kept asking if I was going to make her one of these…. Maybe another time Grace.

And now its done. Time to pack it and mail it off. Happy Birthday Trista!

Thanks for listening ~

Its All Coming Together – Part 1

2010-02-09T07:41:00.001-08:00

I finally finished embroidering all the quilt squares. Time to start putting them together.

Now I’ve never done this before so I’m just guessing how to do it. I sewed strips of the squares and then cut them apart.

Once they were cut apart I sewed strips along the opposite sides of each square and then sewed the rows together.

Isn’t that pretty?

Time to put the edging on the quilt top. Wow, I actually sewed it together, and it doesn’t look half bad.

Next, the quilting. To be continued….

Thanks for listening~

Sleep Walking

2010-02-04T18:42:00.001-08:00

Well, I know you guys have been wondering where I was. We’ve just been busy this week.

Grace is in 3rd grade and she loves reading books. Yesterday in the car she asked me, "Mom, are there books about sleep walking?"

I said, "What, sleep walking? I doubt it."

"Oh darn."
I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

Then I asked her, "What do you want a book about sleep walking for?"

She said, "Because I want to figure it out."

I started to laugh but knew I had to hold it in because she was deadly serious.

I told her, "Grace, you walk around enough during the day, you don't need to learn to walk around while you are asleep."

And so goes life in our house. Sometimes its hysterical!

I’m still working on projects with my embroidery machine. This was yesterday’s project.

I embroidered a design on a small re-usable shopping bag. I got it a little crooked. I think next time I’ll mark the bag so I get the hoop on straight.

I’m also working on a quilt. This is quite a feat for me since I don’t really like to sew. However the quilt squares are embroidered which makes it fun. They will have sashing (a frame) stitched around each square. All of that will be sewn together and then the batting and back put on. My sister has said that she will help me get it together. So watch for updates and pictures.

Here’s a sample of the quilt squares.

There are 10 different squares and I’m making 4 sets, or 40 squares.

So far so good! I can’t wait to get it all together.

Thanks for listening ~

15 and Counting!

2010-01-29T20:15:00.001-08:00

Emily turned 15 today. She was so excited and could hardly wait for her birthday party.

Big brother Adam came over and nurse Trish was at the party also.

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday dear Emily!

Grace helped Emily blow out the candles.

Trish gave Emily a beautiful Minnie Mouse figure.

Minnie was whispering to Emily.

Oh boy, new decorative scissors for scrapbooking.

Dad shows Emily how the scissors work.

Look at the new shirt and scrapbook supplies!.

Emily hesitant about feeling the bumpy scrapbook paper.

What a wonderful 15th birthday.

Doily Lace

2010-01-28T06:26:00.001-08:00

When browsing the internet for lace projects I found a Rose Lace Doily. I had thought about making doilies when I started making lace. This rose doily looks fairly simple.

I received a new roll of Vilene wash-away stabilizer and today I would use it with 100% cotton thread in the bobbin as well as the upper thread.

As I started stitching the lace I didn’t like it. I can’t pinpoint why, it just isn’t as nice as I was hoping for. I’ll make two more lace panels and then see how I like it.

Next I looked for something to embroider on the center of the doily I would put the lace on. I found a cross stitch flower pattern. I hooped up broadcloth and started the machine.

The more I stitched the more I liked it.

The only issue I had was with all the jump stitch threads. I ended up cutting as many as I could in between each color change. For those of you who don’t know what jump stitches are, look at the first cross stitch picture. You can see threads that are carried across the cloth to the next spot where the cross stitching begins again. If I don’t cut the threads they mess up the look of the finished cross stitch.

Once done I ironed the center piece and then pinned the lace on and began to stitch.

After stitching the lace on I trimmed the material under the lace as close as possible to the edge of my stitching.

Three of the four lace panels still had the wash-away on it. I understood it would be easier to pin to the material and stitch down. When the outer stitching was done I put the finished doily into a warm bowl of water to melt the wash-away stabilizer.

I changed the water twice just to get the wash-away out of the bowl and away from the material. If it isn’t washed out enough the material will be stiff when it is dry.

I patted it dry and then let it dry on its own.

The only lesson I learned with this project is: Cotton lace shrinks. I had washed one lace panel before making the center of the doily. When I stitched the other three panels onto the doily they had not been washed. Once it was soaked in warm water to melt away the Vilene the panels all shrunk. The area where I had stitched them to the center cloth pulled away from each other. Its not too noticeable, except to me. Oh well, live and learn.

The lace looks beautiful and the entire doily worked up so nicely. You can click on the photo to enlarge it and see it better.

That’s enough for today.

Thanks for listening ~

All for Love

2010-01-27T06:58:00.001-08:00

After seeing how nice the bird turned out I decided to do another flour-sack towel. This time I wanted a design that had a few more colors. I found a sweet little design with the word “Love” on it.

Using medium weight tear-away stabilizer I started the design. I enjoyed selecting the colors from my new collection. The design stitched out easily with no trouble.

Although this does look good on the towel I think I’ll make a pillow with this design on the front.

I’m enjoying this embroidery so much! Its easy. And if I don’t have to rip anything out, and if the bobbin threads haven’t gotten caught underneath, then I call it great.

Thanks for listening~

The Bird

2010-01-26T06:48:00.001-08:00

I was going to make a small corner decoration on a flour-sack towel. The minute it started sewing out I knew I was not going to like it. After just a few stitches the flour-sack material looked like it was stretching and puckering.

I took the towel off the machine and cut the dots that had already been stitched. I know I told all of you that I would show you my mistakes, but this project had started and stopped so quick that I never thought about the camera! So with scissors in hand and tweezers in the other I plucked pink threads from the towel.

Once the pieces were picked out I put another small piece of stabilizer under where I had just worked because the stabilizer was torn there.

With another design in mind I tightened the towel in the hoop and put it back on the machine. The bird stitched out quickly and was what I hoped it would be.

The flour-sack towel had a small hole where I picked out the first design. I just sewed the design over the hole. I can see it but it doesn’t look like it will fall apart. I wonder if there is fabric glue I can use on it?

The lesson I learned form this project is: Do not take out stitching unless absolutely necessary. I don’t like taking stitching out. Maybe next time I’ll just sew something over it.

Once the towel was washed (for the second time) it had shrunk again. The shrinkage helped to pull the towel together and the torn area is nearly invisible now. I guess there is something good about shrinkage!

Thanks for listening ~

The Violin Recital

2010-01-26T06:47:00.001-08:00

Last night was Grace’s violin recital. She practiced and practiced.

And when the day finally arrived she waited patiently for the recital to start.

She was a bit nervous but played her piece beautifully.

Her teacher, Mrs. Dirks, is on the left. The other people in the picture are all students.

Battenberg Spiral Lace Doily

2010-01-21T22:03:00.001-08:00

I finally got around to trying out a Free Standing Lace (FSL) doily. Well, its a bit less than a doily, maybe a medallion. I downloaded this free design from Advanced Embroidery Designs.

Wash-away stabilizer was hooped and 100% cotton tan thread was put on the upper and bobbin. I’m using a 75/11 needle.

I was a bit hesitant to stitch the lace design with this particular stabilizer but once the project began to stitch out I could see that it would probably hold together just fine.

When the design was finished I cut away most of the stabilizer and then put the medallion in a bowl of warm water.

I changed the water several times to get rid of the stabilizer. When I was satisfied that the stabilizer was gone I patted the medallion dry and then just left it on the towel to dry.

The medallion turned out soft and pliable. It could be used on clothing or as a doily. This project took about 30 minutes to sew out, no broken threads and no other issues with stitching. This is a great project for someone making lace for the first time.

Stay Tuned

2010-01-20T15:44:00.001-08:00

So just in case you been wondering if I quit stitching or not, nope! I've had a few days off though because Emily has been sick. I'm not sure what the problem is but it is in her gut somewhere. She was in horrible pain the other day and I couldn't do anything for her. That sure is the worst feeling.

Grace has been, well, Grace. She’s gearing up, or should I say tuning up for another violin recital next week. Her violin tune has been memorized so she should do well. Grace has totally learned what the computer is all about and begs me to play video games with her. I’m slow and don’t understand everything I’m supposed to do on an adventure video game, but she helps me along.

So now that I’ve learned a bit about my embroidery machine I’m making a list of projects I would like to do. I want to do more lace and see that there are a few Battenberg laces that would be fun. I also want to make quilt squares. That one I’m very excited about. So stay tuned and don’t change that dial, I’ll be back!

Thanks for listening ~

Design on a Tee

2010-01-17T09:16:00.001-08:00

My new focus is tee-shirts. I’ve been told that it is difficult to embroider on tees so I spoke with Mom

and asked her how to proceed with this project. She advised me to practice on an old tee-shirt first. With that in mind I went to Emily’s room and found an old shirt we use for her summer relaxation wear.

For set-up I used sticky stabilizer inside the hoop and then measuring the center of the shirt I pressed the tee to the stabilizer, but did not hoop the tee.

The design would be stitched in Madeira rayon colors and using a pre-wound bobbin. The neckline design was purchased through embroiderylibrary.com.

The stitching began as it should, but there was a small amount of puckering. The design is not thick and that probably saves the tee from an untimely trip to the recycle bin.

When the design has finished stitching I removed the sticky stabilizer. Wow, looks great. I took it to Emily and showed her. She thinks it looks great also.

Now, time to start on the more expensive tee. This time I decide to put a medium stabilizer under the hoop once I get the new tee on the sticky stabilizer.

As I stitch the same design there is a definite difference. The design lays a bit flatter and just looks nicer.

When the machine stops I see a beautifully stitched embroidery design on a plain tee. Sure did spice it up. After removing the stabilizer I’m pretty happy with the end results. I’m glad I worked the plain tee first and then used the extra stabilizer on the good tee.

Well, that’s the design for today. Thanks for listening ~

The Bookmark that Almost Wasn’t

2010-01-15T07:16:00.001-08:00

I went to the sewing store and looked at new sewing/embroidery machines. Boy, oh boy! I could go for one of those babies. But I’ll have to think about that for a while.

I decided to make another bookmark since the first one turned out so beautifully. I set it up the same as the last one, wash-away stabilizer, 100% cotton upper and bobbin thread, 75/11 needle.

With the stitching well underway I turned my attention to other things…. unpacking 120 spools of colored thread. I had also purchased a wooden rack and so I took the time to set the cones in order. I feel like I’m really in business now.

The beep of the embroidery machine interrupted my thoughts. The thread must have broken. When I looked at my project I almost had a heart attack! The needle was out of the machine, wrapped in a ball of thread and caught on the end of the bookmark. The bookmark was torn away from the stabilizer and all bunched up near the middle of the hoop. All I could think was, “Oh great, I’m almost done and now I’ll have to toss it.”

Just before I started the project I changed the needle. Its possible the needle wasn’t tight enough in the machine. Maybe I just put it in wrong, I don’t know.

I didn’t take a picture of the mess, something I promise never to overlook again.

Rather than toss out the base, which had nearly finished sewing out, I smoothed the edges and decided to try and save the bookmark. I took a piece of thread and worked it through the loops of the area where the bookmark had torn away from the stabilizer. After stretching it tight and tying it to the end of the hoop I held my breath and started the machine up again.

The machine continued to stitch leaves and flowers, and even a pretty yellow bow as if nothing had ever happened. And then it was finished!

Oh my gosh, I made it through one of the most horrible experiences in my life. Again I have to apologize for not showing you a picture of the mess that it was, then you could have appreciated how nice it turned out.

After soaking the bookmark in a bowl of warm water and patting dry I ironed the wrinkles (from the previous mess) from the end. You can click on the pictures to get a better view of the bookmark that almost wasn’t. It seems like a miracle that it turned out so good.

Today I learned that I need to check my needle before stitching a new project. I also learned that one small 150m spool of white cotton thread only makes 2 white bookmark bases.

Thanks for listening ~

Lace Bookmarks

2010-01-14T07:24:00.001-08:00

I downloaded a set of lace bookmarks the other day. They are so beautiful. However, I’m nervous to try them because of the problems I had with the lace/crochet square. As you may remember, the wash-away stabilizer appeared to be too loose for the hoop and the needle did not catch on many of the stitches.

The bookmark designs are 100% cotton thread. Mom tells me that cotton causes a lot of lint and I need to be careful to brush it away when it builds up. The instructions for the bookmarks also tell me to clean the lint after each project.

I hooped the water soluble stabilizer and put the hoop on the machine. With cotton on the upper and bobbin I began to stitch up the design.

As I stitched I was pleasantly surprised to see the stabilizer staying tight, although I did have to pick a lint ball off the bookmark a couple of times. The design worked up worked up without any problems.

When I was finished I cut the stabilizer close to the bookmark and then put it in a bowl of warm water. I took the bowl to Emily’s room to have her help melt away the rest of the stabilizer. (Nope, didn't get a picture of that.) She’s never seen this before and it was a bit interesting.

With the stabilizer gone I patted the bookmark dry and then ironed it. I’m so happy with this bookmark. I can’t wait to make more of them. This design took about 45 minutes to stitch out.

Thanks for listening ~

Coffee Cup Part Two

2010-01-14T06:40:00.001-08:00

There was a suggestion that once the coffee cup design was washed maybe the background material (broadcloth) would shrink and there would be less puckering in the design. Well, I’ve learned another lesson. Brand new towels should be washed also….

It seems that the new towel had much more shrinkage than the coffee cup appliqué, which is now obviously too large for the spot that it is affixed to.

Last night I washed all the new towels, pillow cases and lengths of material in my possession. The next time I embroider on something there should be no shrinkage factor.

Thanks for listening ~

The Rookie and the Coffee Cup

2010-01-12T06:10:00.001-08:00

While looking around on internet I found a set of coffee cup designs to embroider. They would look great on kitchen towels so I bought the set. It would be a good idea for me to practice since I’m so new at this embroidery stuff, so I’ve decided to work it on a piece of broadcloth first.

I hooped the broadcloth with a tear-away stabilizer and began the project. Once I was committed to the design I realized that I should have pre-shrunk the material! Oops. Once I sew the design square to the towel I’m sure it will get washed a lot.

The material began to pucker a little bit. I either don’t have it tight enough in the hoop, or the material is too thin for this design, but I don’t think that’s the case. Its possible I just need a thicker stabilizer (I used lightweight because the material is lightweight).

When the design was completely sewn out I cut around the edges, leaving about 1/2 inch to iron under. After pinning it down to the towel I looked around for a satin stitch to appliqué the piece to the towel. I told you that I’m not really a sewer. I had no idea where the satin stitch was. I looked in the PDF book for the machine and saw all the decorative stitches, and NO satin stitch. I’ve never done appliqué before so I didn’t know what stitch to use.

I read about all the wonderful design stitches my machine has and figured I might just put a flower or leaf design on the edges. But I don’t want to take away from the embroidery by using a stitch that might be a little too attractive. Just as I decided to look around for the satin stitch again I came across a stitch called “Appliqué” stitch. What do you know!

I tested the appliqué stitch on another towel. It looked okay so I decided to go for it. Wow, this is so much more fun than sewing clothing! When I was finished I realized that the stitching could have been done with another color so it would have shown up. But hey, live ‘n learn!

The only trouble I had with this design/project was with the threads breaking just after I started. They seemed to have gotten hung up on the back. I snipped as much as I could and then started stitching again. No more trouble.

The coffee design was an easy project but it took longer than the 33 minutes that was projected for the stitch-out time. The entire project took me about 3 hours. Well, I am just a rookie. At least it looks good.

Thanks for listening ~

Bobbins and Lace

2010-01-11T06:37:00.001-08:00

So here is what 144 pre-wound bobbins look like.

It will be nice to stitch out a design and not have to wind a bobbin while I’m at it.

As I was surfing the internet I found a website, Advanced Embroidery Designs, that explains about making lace that looks like crochet on an embroidery machine. I decided to practice. The website suggested using 100% cotton, or quilting thread in both bobbin and upper. It also suggests using a type of water soluble stabilizer that I don’t have. The stabilizer I do have wasn’t tight enough and there were many spots that the needle didn’t break-through the medium.

I cut the stabilizer off of the lace and soaked it in water. I left some of the stabilizer on it, to make it stiff, so it would not fall apart (due to the incomplete stitches). All in all it was a good experience and I’d like to try more lace.

On this website I also found information on making Battenberg lace. Wow, it’s beautiful. I’d like to try making some lace doilies with it. Well, one project at a time, one lesson at a time.

Thanks for listening ~

The Penguin Adventure

2010-01-10T09:15:00.001-08:00

I took Emily to the sewing store with me yesterday. I had no idea she would be so interested. She liked looking at the quilts on the walls, the embroidery designs in the racks and watched a demo of a new machine. The lady did a Disney design with Emily’s name on it. Oh boy was she thrilled! I think I might have to get Emily involved with some of the embroidery I’m doing here at home. She might like that.

My next project is another neck scarf. I went to Wal Mart and bought one but as I was hooping it I realized it was two layers and could mess up the design because it is so thick. So I decided to make a neck scarf out of some scrap fleece I have stored away.

The hem job doesn’t look so great, but hey, its just a learning project. So I got the thing hooped and started the design. Quickly I see that I’ve made a terrible mistake. I reversed the design so that the fabric would not be bunched up on the inside of the machine. BAD.

This shouldn’t be done when the design has words on it, they come out backwards. So, I learned a new lesson today.

I stopped the design, un-hooped it and tossed it aside. I’ll use it for testing other designs. I decided I would try again later.

Jeff and Jered and I stand around the kitchen joking about it. I’m half heartedly asking Jered if I can continue, knowing he doesn’t want me to, but also knowing I don’t have another scarf. The conversation went something like this. “Jered, your friend wouldn’t mind having a design that is backwards, would she?” And Jeff adds, “Sure! She can just go look in the mirror when she wants to see what it says.” And of course we are laughing and laughing. Jered, who was probably trying to impress his friends, just shakes his head. So I decide I really will have to start over.

After another trip to the store and I happen to see a very inexpensive neck scarf that I think might work well. So I get home and hoop it up. This time the design is stitched out correctly and I’m very happy with the outcome. I think Jered was too.

Well, another project completed, another lesson learned. Hip Hip Harrah!

Thanks for listening ~

The Flamingo

2010-01-09T06:18:00.001-08:00

Mom went home. So, now I’m on my own. I’m feeling confident and think that I can get some projects done on my own. I purchased a small neck scarf made of thin fleece. One of Jered’s friends likes flamingos so I’ve decided to do one on the scarf.

I got it on the hoop correctly and the design begins to embroider out. As I’m watching the machine starts to beep, telling me that the bobbin thread is going to run out. This is the first time I’ve had to wind a bobbin while I’m working a design.

When the bobbin is empty I stop the machine and pop the hoop off the machine (leaving my material hooped). The bobbin is easy to fill, just like on a sewing machine. So, once its done and back into the bobbin holder I re-thread the machine and put the hoop back on the embroidery unit.

When I re-start the machine I accidently hit the pattern button instead of the “Go” button. Oh no, what is going to happen? OH MY GOSH, I’ve just started my pattern over from the beginning.

It stitched over most everything I had just done, going over the back of the bird and making the beak twice as thick as it once was. How do I get the needle positioned in the design where I was?

Call Mom-

She tells me there should be a back and forward button in the display. If I hit that back or forward button I should be able to go to the place in the pattern that I was at. I try this and the machine again stitches over what I’ve already done. UGGG! I’m getting frustrated.

Time to settle down. I take a few breaths, try to relax, and hit the forward button in the pattern. I watch as the needle flies over the design and continues to move to where I think it stitched to. Oh no, now I’ve gone too far and I made the design progress to the end. Start over with the buttons. Again I hold the forward button and this time I realize I must have been nearly done with the design when the bobbin ran out.

After working the back and forward button a few times (no, I cannot see the design image on my display as it is micro miniature and in amber or black and white, not color. I have no idea where I’m at, there is NO curser on this display) I finally got to a good spot on the pattern and decided to push the “go” button. The machine comes to life and completes the stitching of the flamingo.

Whew, that was a close one. I can tell what I did wrong, but no one else will be able to see it. Chock it up to experience I guess.

So today I learned where the “Back” and “Forward” buttons are on the display, and what they are there for.

Thanks for listening ~

Am I in Embroidery Heaven?

2010-01-06T20:46:00.001-08:00

My sister came over with her card reader and a lot of design disks. Wow, I think I’m in embroidery heaven!

My sister’s card reader is the same one that I purchased so I installed her card reader program onto my computer. Yippee, the program installed perfectly. I was able to take a design from my computer and copy it to her embroidery card. Now the test, to put the card into my embroidery machine and stitch out a design.

I got the robe out that I had ordered for Jeff. Mother helped me get it in the hoop and attach the stabilizer on the top. With the program card in the machine I start it up and let it do its job.

The embroidery is one color, not difficult. Oh my gosh, it looks so good. And easy too! I hope all my projects work up this smoothly. I’m enjoying this embroidery stuff.

Mom is going to be leaving soon. I try to get all my questions answered that I can think of. It seems so easy but I know there is a lot to all this embroidery stuff.

Jeff is happy with his new robe and the new design so I call it a day.

Thanks for listening ~

Looking Back is Good to do!

2010-01-05T06:29:00.001-08:00

I ordered a “big and tall” robe for Jeff. It finally arrived in the mail. I’m excited about embroidering something on the front , however, I still don’t have my card reader. I found a great design site and I ordered a set of monogram designs. Easy to download. Now I just have to decide if I want to put Dad, Pop, Father, or King, on front of the robe.

Mom and I enjoying many talks about embroidery. We talk about pre-wound bobbins and I decide to purchase some. They are fairly inexpensive and will be a great thing to have when I’m in the middle of an embroidery job and run out of bobbin thread.

I used Google to look online. I found a great price, at the same store I ordered the card reader from, and decided on a set of 144 pre-wound bobbins. When I clicked on my basket to check-out I had the option to select the store check-out, or Google check-out. Well, I’ve never been given that choice before. Is it because I searched with Google? I hit the Google check out, no reason really, and I got a huge surprise. With the Google check-out I got a coupon for $20 off of my order!

Now, I’m a bit of a skeptic so I hit the back button. I tried the store check-out to see if I was going to get the same $20 deduction. No siree. It was a Google exclusive. So I hit the back button and selected the Google check-out again. The $20 deduction from my total was still there so I took it. Far be it from me to look a gift google in the mouth.

Well, my card reader hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m satisfied tonight with my purchases. It will probably be on the slow boat from China also, but hey, $20 is $20.

Thanks for listening ~

Emily, Jeff and the pets.

Let the Fun Begin!

2010-01-04T10:04:00.001-08:00

I’m so excited, my mother arrived!

She brought some supplies and has begun to teach me how to use the hoops (I have a medium and a large size). Some material is hooped, but stretchy material is set on top of a sticky stabilizer that has been hooped. There is a sticky stabilizer which keeps the material in place on the hoop.

There are so many different weights and kinds of stabilizers. Some you tear away and some cut away. There is also a wash away/melt away topping and backing stabilizer. Wow, so much to know about. Mom brought an assortment pack for me to practice with. What a nice mother!

Once I’ve learned to hoop material I run around the house looking for something to practice embroidery on. I came back with my robe. Ok, its a bit stretchy so we put the tacky stabilizer backing into the hoop and lay the robe on top. I got some tape and marked a cross in the middle of the area on my robe that I want to monogram. The robe is set on the hoop in just the right spot and we pat it down on the tacky backing.

Now, time to get the hoop on the machine. Its a little tricky to snap it into place, at least for a newbie like me. But once its on I’m ready to go. I’ve chosen a monogram on my embroidery machine that I like, its a giant M with flowers on it.

We look at the pattern and how to tell if it is going to sew in the correct areas. There is a test button to push. This shows the entire sewing area, just in case something might be in the way, like the pins that hold the wash-away stabilizer when it is used.

All is ready and I press the “Go” button. The machine starts slowly and then whirrs into action! The large blue M is stitched out before my wondering eyes. The machine beeps and the thread is cut. It’s time to change colors. Wow, that was quick.

The display on my machine (Brother PC 6500) tells me what color to put on next. Each time a color is completed the display changes to the next part of the design. After a few colors into the design the display asks for a color I don’t have. How can that be? I have 18 spools of color and it wants one I don’t have?

Mom tells me, “There is no Color Police. Choose any color you like.” Wow, never thought about that before. Its art. I don’t have to make it exactly the same colors that the pattern calls for. So Ok, I’ve chosen a color. I press the “Go” button and my embroidery design continues to stitch out.

Emily comes to the kitchen to watch the embroidery machine at work. Its not too loud for her and she actually watches with interest.

When the design is complete I take the hoop off the machine. I cut any loose threads I see and then tear the stabilizer backing away from the robe. Easy does it, and I’m done!

Wow, my first embroidery project. It works! It really works! Now I need to model my project so everyone can see.

This was fun. I can’t wait to do another project. Hopefully my card reader box will arrive tomorrow…..

Thanks for listening ~

Shopping for Supplies

2010-01-03T21:07:00.001-08:00

Lots of things on sale at my sewing store. I just happen to see a 40% off coupon in my local paper so I went shopping. Since I needed a smaller hoop (I only received the large one with the machine) and some thread I figured I could kill two birds at one store.

The medium hoop was $64, sticker shock again… Should I be surprised? Well, with the 40% off coupon it will only set me back about $38. Whew!

Wow, look at all the design packs! Talk about eye candy. I have no idea which ones I can use. Some of them are very expensive. Is anything moderately priced in the machine embroidery business? I like flowers and lacy stuff.

Back to shopping for needed items. I have a coupon for thread. Hummm what sort of thread do I use? I have no idea. Do I need large spools (are these cones?) or small ones? Are the spools fitted to a particular machine? I see tall skinny ones. Can I use these? How do I choose?

Call Mom

Ok, after a short conversation I choose a box of rayon Madeira thread. It is an assortment of 18 colors, and with the coupon it comes to $18. Mom says that is a good price, $1 a spool. Do you know how many colors are available?? Wow! I’m sure 18 colors will be enough. I almost feel guilty for getting so many colors. Maybe I should have chosen a smaller assortment.

Mom will be here soon. Still waiting for recently purchased card reader to arrive. Can’t wait to get started!

Thanks for listening ~

The Card Reader Box

2010-01-03T07:24:00.001-08:00

My embroidery machine, a Brother PC 6500, came with a card reader box and a card. I was so excited. I was going to look at designs and practice putting them on the card while I waited for my mother to arrive. There are a lot of free designs on internet and I was already looking at and downloading some that I liked.

I know nothing about card readers but there is tons of information on internet. I find out that they operate basically like an external drive that is plugged into the USB port. When I found the instructions for my particular card reader box I also found out that I could not install the program and drivers on my computer because I use Vista and have a 64 bit computer. Great. Without the card reader box and card I am limited to the embroidery designs that are on the machine, and that is just a small handful.

Probably a good thing I have to wait for Mother to arrive before I can do a project. I’m panicked.

Call Mom

Mom suggests I call the local sewing shop that sells my embroidery machine and inquire about card readers. The shop is about 1/2 hr away from my home, but in an area I often visit. When I talk to the lady on the phone she is kind and listens patiently to my quandary. She offers information on the type of card reader I need. When I asked about the price, Ouch! I went into sticker shock!

I decide to go online and see what I can find. Once the proper card reader is located I’m pleasantly surprised to find the price is $20 lower (no, NOT $20 total, just $20 lower) than the store price, and the shipping is free. Ordered the much needed part. Website says it should be here in 3 days. That’s when Mom will be here! Great!!

Now I have a little more time for more browsing. I didn’t realize how fun it was to look at embroidery designs.

Thanks for listening ~

Machine Embroidery – The Beginner and the Bobbin

2010-01-02T08:58:00.001-08:00

Bought an embroidery machine from a friend for $400. A good deal I’m told. Started fooling around with it. I don’t know anything about this machine. I can always call my Mom if I have questions.

The machine came with only 1 hoop, a large one. I know I’ll need another one. As I search internet for hoops I gasp when I see the price. Wow!

The machine has an computerized read-out. On it I learn how to thread the machine. Simple, follow the numbers from 1-5. It also tells me the bobbin is empty. I think I could get used to this, a computer sewing machine that gives me step by step instructions on how to wind the bobbin!

I put the bobbin in the case but it went in weird. Then I couldn’t get the bobbin out… Remember the saying “If it don’t fit, don’t force it?” Hummmm

Call Mom.

Had to unscrew the floor-board to get the bobbin case out. The plastic bobbin looks like it should fit, but my guess is it went to the previous owner’s other sewing machine (and I have a whole box of them). Had to crush the bobbin to get it out! Oh my gosh, now I’m having a heart attack. Did I really just do that? I put the bobbin case back into the machine. Maybe I’ll try sewing something to make sure it still sews.

Oh no, the material isn’t feeding through! What did I do?

Call Mom

I look at the bobbin, everything looks okay. I better download the PDF book file that tells about the machine (No, I did not receive a book with the machine. There are reasons for that…).

I’m guessing that the feed-dogs are just lowered (or did Mom just tell me that?). I read the info about feed-dogs in the manual. Yes, I needed to raise them. Had to take the sewing arm off to get to the switch. I never would have found it if I didn’t have the PDF book. Thank goodness for internet and the ability to download.

Enough stress for today. I decide to wait till my mother comes for a visit before I get started on a project. In the meantime I work on regular sewing stitches with the machine. I know I can use the practice.

Thanks for listening ~

Embroidering a Happy New Year

2010-01-01T20:36:00.001-08:00

We had quite a nice Christmas at our house. Family and friends visited, and grandma stayed for several days.

We bought Emily a Wii for Christmas and were pleasantly surprised how happy she was with it. We have to help her hold the controller but she has fun in the competition, playing bowling mostly.

Emily has been sick since about the 27th. She is on oxygen right now but started steroids and seems to be holding her own.

This year on my blog I’m going to focus on my adventures in sewing embroidery. A sewing machine does not a seamstress make. This is true at my house. The women in my family love to sew, except me. I’m the odd (wo)man out.

I love crafts, but I have never enjoyed sewing, mostly because I make too many mistakes. I happened to come across a good deal on an embroidery machine so I purchased it. My mother has crafted with machine embroidery for many years. I knew that if I needed help I could call her. And call her I have! Woah Boy.

I was having such adventures with my new embroidery machine that I decided to make this the focus of my blog for now. I’ll include tidbits about the girls as I go along. That way everyone will still hear the news from here.

So, come back tomorrow and read along as the adventure begins!

Thanks for listening ~

Grace's Christmas Recital

2009-12-12T16:28:00.001-08:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sing to Me

2009-12-11T19:31:00.001-08:00

Friends came to visit Emily and sing Christmas Carols to her.

Emily totally enjoyed the company!

Bryn, one of Emily’s nurses, brought some decorations.

The Grace and the girls helped to decorate Emily’s Christmas tree.

Emily had a wonderful evening. My sincerest appreciation goes to Bryn for bringing the girls over.

Thanks Bryn!

And thanks for listening ~

Merry Christmas to all!

2009-12-06T17:36:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends

And Yer Outta Here!

2009-11-17T20:55:00.001-08:00

One year ago, look at the alignment! (Click on the photos for larger images)

And now after lots of appointments, lots of wires, lots of bands, lots of adjustments

today is the last time these braces will be in a picture!

One last appointment

and after removing all the bands and wires

hummm, feels a little weird.

And now, look at that smile!

No white squares where the braces were (Grace and I were both afraid she didn’t brush good enough!).

Thanks for listening ~

In a Cleaning Mood

2009-11-09T08:00:00.001-08:00

I know you guys out there are missing us. I’m just not in a blogging mood I guess. Still lots of things going on here. Cleaning Grace’s room this weekend was a major job. She just couldn’t do it, even with her medication on board, so I had to help her (do it for her while she watched and held the garbage bag). I hate that she can’t keep her room picked up. It’s not just the clothing on the floor, but lots of things, dirty dishes and food (which are NEVER to be in her room), torn up papers, stuffing she pulled out of some unfortunate toy, etc. So, if you want to know what really gets to me, that’s it.

We’re preparing for Thanksgiving, already! I can’t believe it. How can it already be so close? My goals are to get my house cleaned so the company doesn’t think we live like real people, but like hotel guests….

Emily has been doing better. Last week the Pic line clogged twice. The first time we went to the infusion clinic for the “clot-buster” in the line. It seemed to work, but then it clogged again two days later. So we chose to have the Pic line removed since we aren’t using it. I would have liked to keep it during this flu season, just in case she needed it. But that is the way things go, isnt’ it?

Since Emily hasn’t been at school much I decided to get her pictures taken at the local WalMart. She had the most beautiful poses! I am just thrilled with them. So, here’s one of our beauty queen. Whaddayathink?

(yes, her hair is that long, even AFTER cutting 14 braided inches off for Locks of Love)

Thanks for listening ~

Birthday Bash… #3

2009-11-04T06:28:00.001-08:00

We had the 3rd and final birthday of October.

And here’s the birthday boy. We can hardly believe Jered is 26! Where has the time gone to?

Here’s the birthday brother, Adam.

This birthday sister had loads of fun!

The other birthday sister couldn’t wait for cake!

Thanks for listening ~

Welcome to Fall

2009-10-30T06:13:00.001-07:00

I know you guys must be wondering. We’re still all okay here. No H1N1 here. Emily’s nurse has a yukky cold, but the rest of us are okay.

A new nurse will come out today to do some orientation training. Hopefully things will work out and we’ll be fully staffed by this time next week. I’m glad I know how to care for Emily in the way she needs, but I do get tired at times.

Emily’s been doing a lot of calling and crying at night the last few months. I don’t get a lot of sleep (as with many of you out there who read this). Emily has slept the last couple of days but she is in her room calling out as I type. I think something is bothering her again…. hormones? She is on Depo Provera to help regulate that. It’s almost time for more. She gets a shot every 3 months.

We had a Thanksgiving “trial run” last Saturday. That’s just a fun way to say I cooked a turkey dinner and we invited a friend to eat with us. It was delicious!

Plans for the next few weeks:

Hunker down and keep Emily home from school so she/we can stay as well as possible here.

Birthday tomorrow…. more on that after it happens!

Grace gets her braces off in November! She’ll have to wear a retainer but all the metal in her mouth comes out. Yippee! Will she eat any better? One can only hope. Lately we’ve been trying to tame the candy monster here….

Thanks for listening ~

October Birthdays

2009-10-23T07:41:00.001-07:00

Can you tell I’ve been underwhelmed at blogging? Sorry. I know you guys wonder how we’ve been doing.

Grace had her birthday the weekend before. Jeff had a birthday this week. It was his 31st, no wait, his 7th, no, hummm…. how many candles was it?

Well, it was a lot of candles! He must be pretty old.

He got a Garmin GPS thing for his bicycle. He and Grace have been doing a lot of bicycle riding.

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Emily had an excellent weekend. She was so happy. We took her on an outing to Costco on Sunday. It was almost 2 hours after shopping. She was very ready to get out of her chair when we got home.

On Monday Emily went to school and lots of kids were sick. I decided not to send her back to school right now. She can’t afford to get any of the illness that are going around, especially H1N1.

Emily’s PIC line was giving us trouble on Wednesday so we had to go in to Infusion Clinic. It was flushing but the nurse couldn’t draw any blood back. There was a fibrin sheath over the end, so they said. It acts like a flapper valve and flushes can go in but nothing can come out. A clot busting drug was given to get rid of it. We had to wait one hour after giving it. Then it was flushed and checked again. When everything was working fine we got to go home. Emily was very ready to be home, just about growling because she needed to get out of her chair. Her hips are good, but she still can’t sit for more than a couple of hours.

Yesterday Emily wasn’t feeling very well. This morning she is still sleeping. I am hoping she is just tired.

Well, all for now. Next week will bring more exciting things, and one more birthday! Can you guess who is next?

Thanks for listening ~

All Pooped Out

2009-10-15T07:34:00.001-07:00

Its finally cool here. The wind was whipping up for a couple of days and there are branches and leaves all over. So it really is fall. I am enjoying the colors so much. They seem really bright and beautiful this year. Maybe that is because it hasn’t been raining non-stop like it does some years. I’ll take some pictures to post in a later note.

Emily had a barium enema test on Tuesday to see how her bowels were doing. I can say that they are pretty slow. She returned 1/3 while they were taking pictures of her bowels, and 1/3 in the middle of the night (4am), and 1/3 just before more pictures were taken in radiology the next day. She’s having little bouts every few hours. I feel so sorry for her, her bunns are getting pretty sore.

Now the surgeon will look at the results from pictures, and the radiologist notes, and let us know how her bowels are functioning. We’ll probably have an appt with him again next week. The advice given will likely be something I don’t want to hear, or make a decision on. I’ll post another note about it after the next appointment.

On a nicer note, Emily is feeling better and she’s been happy this week (in between poop episodes).

Please keep Emily in your prayers.

Thanks for listening ~

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Birthdays!

2009-10-12T10:21:00.001-07:00

Well, guess who had a birthday this last week…. Grace!

Nine candles on that chocolate chocolate cake.

Emily was so excited. Aunt Tracey and Uncle Rueben came over, as did brothers Adam and Jered.

Tracey’s gift was wrapped in beads.

The present was bracelets to decorate.

The orthodontist sent a birthday card with “ortho-bucks” in it. Grace can trade ortho-bucks in for little presents.

Aunt Jackie made a beautiful card and sent $10. Grace exclaimed, “I’m rich!”

Grandma gave Grace a purse that also had money in it.

Grace enjoyed opening her presents.

Then she enjoyed putting together the 1000’s of pieces after the party was over.

We went outside for a bit and look who was in the pasture again! They really like our pasture. We had such a nice day, and were truly blessed to have Grace and all her wonderful birthdays.

Thanks for listening ~

What’s Cooking This Week

2009-10-08T06:56:00.001-07:00

I’m getting mail again asking where we are and what we are doing. I’ve been so bad about not keeping up!

My craft this week has been apples.

Trish, our wonderful nurse went and picked apples for us.

So I’ve been peeling,

and cooking. This was the second pot. The first pot I cooked down to applesauce. It turned out so YUMMY! I store the cooked apples and applesauce in the freezer.

Emily continues to have troubles and pain in her tummy. Tests in the summer, after being hospitalized twice, showed that food moves very slowly through her system. It got a little better after changing to another formula however now she’s having trouble with it again. So on Tuesday she will have another test to see what is going on.

The good news is the cyst that was on her right ovary is gone! I am so thankful. It was there for months, and continued to grow between the first two ultrasounds which were a month apart. She had another ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and the Lord caused a miracle and now the cyst is gone!

Grace has been up to her old tricks. Last weekend the ADHD about drove me crazy. Was it because I had a 2-day migraine or because she ate a whole “cheezy-bread” pizza by herself? Her behavior lasted for a few days but by yesterday she seemed back to normal. So after a 3-day scissor-bender in which two afghans were turned into sleeping carpets for her Webkins (stuffed animals), and the mouse pad on her desk was turned into spaghetti (she just had to see what was inside the wrist support) I’ve hidden the scissors.

Thanks for sticking around, even when I am not good at posting new news.

And thanks for listening ~

A Good Night’s Rest

2009-10-02T07:39:00.001-07:00

I forgot what it was like to sleep all night (well at least for 5 or 6 hours straight). Something I like to do but haven’t had much of in the last couple of weeks. Emily has been having a lot of pain and isn’t sleeping well. Last night was the first night she had a regular sleep.

She has another bladder infection and is still having bowel trouble with slow movement and some pain. She had an appointment with the surgeon yesterday and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the cyst that has been on her left ovary for a few months is gone! Talk about a miracle, wow!

So for now we’ll let her rest and hopefully much of the pain will be gone once the bladder infection gets under control. Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.

And thanks for listening ~

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 23 Musical Instruments

2009-09-28T06:15:00.001-07:00

(this is an old ukulele I found at a thrift store)

Music is such a blessing and I love to listen to as well as play music on various instruments. I have a number of musical instruments, from a piano to a small recorder (wooden flute). Last week I was filling out a “Getting to Know You” form and there was a question about what was on my closet floor. And among the variety of things stored there I had a baritone ukulele (small guitar).

I had nearly forgotten about the baritone ukulele, one my mother had given me a few months ago. It is much older than my soprano ukulele, and had a broken string hanging off of it. So when I took Grace to her violin lesson last week I purchased a new set of strings for the thing.

(Grace practicing her violin)

After setting the new string I began to strum a tune. And of course Grace immediately wanted to play it. We have an old soprano ukulele also so I had her go get that. The two of us played for a bit and then we put it all away.

Now I don’t practice on my musical instruments with any regularity. As a matter of fact I don’t play with any regularity either, only as the mood strikes. So at 4:30 this morning as my husband was getting ready to leave for work I reached for the baritone uke.

I had guitar lessons as a teen and playing this instrument is very similar. I played one song after another and before I knew it an hour had passed. I have to say there is no better way to start a Monday morning than to begin it with music in your soul.

I know I’m not the greatest at strumming or remembering the chords, but having a musical instrument to play when the mood hits is such a blessing to me.

Thanks for listening ~

Conversations with Grace

2009-09-25T08:06:00.001-07:00

One day Grace was asking me if I was going to grow taller. I told her “no” because I was older than 50, and people who are older than 50 are over-the-hill and they start getting smaller instead of taller.

Today Grace asked me, “Mom, when’s your birthday?”

I told her. Then she asked, “How old are you?”

I told her I am 51. “Oh, so you’re getting shorter now.”

And then she just walked away, pondering my height (though not much of it to ponder).

For Locks of Love

2009-09-24T11:26:00.001-07:00

In the last couple of weeks we have made Emily cry on more than one occasion as we brush her hair out. It is so long and so thick, and the tangles are almost un-doable and unbearable.

Two years ago I cut Emily and Grace’s hair and we donated it to Locks of Love. What a wonderful gift to give to someone who doesn’t have hair!

So, today was the day. Emily got her shower, washed her hair really good, and then dried it good and dry with a hair dryer.

Then I put her hair into a ponytail. After admiring the length and taking a few pictures I decided it was time to get the scissors out.

It really does pain me to cut off that long beautiful hair. But all I had to do was think of the last time she cried when I was brushing her hair.

Emily doesn’t normally cry when her hair is being brushed so it must have really bothered her. That gave me the incentive I needed to follow through with the plan.

And the deed was done.

I trimmed it up and look how beautiful it is! Wow!

And how much is she donating to Locks of Love?

Looks like near 14 inches! Someone is going to get a beautiful head of hair, that’s for sure.

Thanks for listening ~

The Great Cookie Experiment

2009-09-23T06:45:00.001-07:00

The results are in! (See yesterday’s post)

Yesterday morning was awful. Grace couldn’t pay attention to anything. She was running, jumping, flipping things around, and eating cookies and milk for breakfast. Yep, eating it again for breakfast. I didn’t say anything to her about it. Yikes, I really felt sorry for what her teacher and her classmates would have to endure for the day!

A bit later in the morning I had to go to school because I forgot to send lunch money with her. I found her eating lunch, or supposed to be eating lunch at her table in the cafeteria. She looked ragged and tired. I told her why I was there and we went over to the lunch room assistants and handed over the lunch money. As I walked her back to her table I told her I thought her lunch looked yummy (she was munching on grapes but the soft taco was left un-touched).

When Grace got home from school she looked tired. I offered cookies but she refused. She sat around reading books and then tried to practice her violin. Her behavior was not very acceptable (especially with the violin in her hand) so she had to go to her room for about 15 or 20 minutes. I’m sure it was still residual from lots of cookies and not enough good food to eat. (And if I was lucky she had cookies in her classroom for a snack!) So we talked about her behavior and how eating good food or junk food can affect it.

I was making a roast for dinner when Grace told me she was hungry. She couldn’t wait for dinner. I asked her if she was having cookies, to which she replied and emphatic NO! As we discussed the cookies I told her that IF she was having dinner with us she would NOT spit any food out. She would eat her meal and not complain about it. We came to an agreement.

Dinner was ready and we sat down to the table and began our meal. And guess what? She complimented me on the roast, told me how wonderful it all tasted and….. she finished eating the same time I did! Wow! The great cookie experiment worked. I was in awe.

After dinner she followed me around like she always does, loving on me, telling me nice things. And when it time for bed she did her night routine without one complaint! Wow, cookies make a lot of things better.

She went to bed and didn’t even get up for her nightly “I need this ….” or “Mom, what day did you say your birthday was on?” It was like I had a new kid.

So, there you have it in black and white. And all’s quiet on the homefront. Well, at least for now, Grace gets up in an hour and then we start all over again. But it was good while it lasted.

Thanks for listening ~

Perfect Mom News Flash

2009-09-22T06:47:00.001-07:00

Ok, all of you out there who think I’m the perfect mom, I’ve got a news flash for you…. Grace said I really don’t care about her!

Grace has a problem with eating meals. She will eat as little as possible, shoving it all over her plate and calling it clean. After depositing mouth-full’s into her napkin she will spit out anything left in her mouth once she leaves the table (and I mean spit it out and leave it on the floor, book case, or where ever she is standing).

As soon as she can after eating Grace begins to ask for any available sweets, treats, junk food, etc. If she doesn’t get the sweet treat she wants she will get up after we have gone to bed and she sneaks it and takes it to her room.

I am so tired of cleaning up crumbs, pieces of hard meat, vegetables, and other partially chewed food. And then when I go into her room I find torn packages of food under blankets and in drawers.

So yesterday after finding a semi-large piece of chicken tucked behind some books I decided I’ve finally had enough. I told Grace that if she wasn’t going to eat her dinner (and I made sure to tell her how tired I was of finding old pieces of food laying around where ever she decided to hide it) that she could just have cookies for dinner.

Hua? Cookies? At first she had this look like, “Wow, that’s cool!” But in a few seconds she realized she wasn’t going to get any real dinner. Then the crying and begging began.

Can you believe it? I had a child crying and begging NOT to eat cookies for dinner! And I followed through with the threat. When dinner was ready I called Grace to the table and told her that her Cookies were ready. I gave her the bag of cookies and told her to eat till she got full.

Oh boy, the tears flowed. We sat down with our “real” dinner and she had to eat cookies. “Please Mom! Please let me have dinner!” I told her she was having dinner. Since that seemed to be all that she really cared about, the sweets, then I wouldn’t have to pick up any more yukky old food from her little hiding places in the house because she likes cookies, and I just KNEW she wouldn’t spit those out.

Well, she reluctantly ate the cookies, and then she again cried and cried because she didn’t get a “real” dinner. I was stoic.

I wonder how she will act today. Will it be my worst nightmare because she had cookies for dinner? (remember she also has severe ADHD)

So, am I a bad mom, or will this reverse psychology work?

Thanks for listening ~

So, inquiring minds want to know….

2009-09-21T10:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday’s Visitors

Last week was scheduled to be great… However, Grace came down with an illness that that produced a 102 fever for 2 days. I think Emily was trying to come down with that also as she had a low-grade fever all week. She never made it to school.

Emily has just spent the last 3 days in pain, and I’ve been up with her for 3 nights in a row. Not sure what is going on. I’ve called the doctor and expect to hear from him this afternoon.

Its sunny outside and I’m still gathering tomatoes from the garden. I love tomatoes. We finally ate one of the watermelons and it was very sweet, but not quite ripe. I had no idea how to tell if it is ripe. There are 4 more out there. I guess I’ll leave them till the vine withers.

I love fall. The leaves are starting to change and the animals always visit our pasture. The above picture was taken yesterday afternoon. I think this may be the same deer that have visited before, only now there is just one baby. He/she is loosing the spots and looking more mature now. They stand very still when I walk out to the pasture to shoot pictures of them. Once I’ve been there a bit and don’t move any closer they start to move around again.

Then, quick as a wink, they are over the fence and into the little wood that adjoins our property.

Thanks for listening ~

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 22 Art

2009-09-14T07:30:00.001-07:00

First of all I need to update. I have received quite a few notes about Emily. She is doing great! She has pain at times, but no where near the pain she experienced in her hip before surgery. I am SO thankful (and I’m sure she is too!). She will start school this week, going for an hour at a time so she can get used to sitting in her chair again.

Yesterday she was in the livingroom with us and was staring at the cuckoo clock. So Jeff set the time to 12 and made the little bird come out of the little door and cuckoo. She was thrilled.

Ok, back to the original post…. Art and creativity has always been a passion. As a child I was very interested in pioneer arts, crafts, and trades. When I became and adult I began to dabble in fiber arts. I’ve tried a lot of different things, but usually come back to some sort of hand and fiber/yarn art or craft. I’ve tried weaving, knitting, crochet, bobbin lace, tatting, spinning, and various forms of knotting. But I also enjoy looking at and taking pictures of art.

This wall mural is one of my favorites. It is inside the new clinic building at Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma. (If you click on the picture it will enlarge so you can see it better) Every time I see this mural I just have to touch it.

Today while I was thinking about art I happened across a really neat blog. It’s called “Just Give Me Stamps” by Laurie Schmidlin.

I don’t really know anything about making cards or stamping. However, I find it a total blessing to see how creative some people are! Her website is full of eye candy. One of my favorite designs was posted on September 2. The card and gift bag was so cute it made me want to host a tea party! For those of you who enjoy art, especially cards and stamping, you’ll enjoy this website.

Thanks for listening ~

To Be Born 100 Years Before

2009-09-10T20:04:00.001-07:00

If I was born 100 years before my actual birth date:

California would have recently been admitted to the union. However, my family would most likely have been living east of the Mississippi river for another 10 or 20 years.

Franklin Pierce would be President (Inauguration 4 Mar 1853). He would be succeeded by James Buchanan (inauguration 4 Mar 1857).

There would be no phones. James Buchanan would use the new trans-Atlantic telegraph cable to exchange greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (16 Aug 1858).

Mail would take forever to arrive. However stamps would become such a good money maker that the price of a stamp would be lowered to a common value of 3 cents each during this time. The Civil War is on the horizon. When it arrives it puts the postal system into turmoil.

My father and older brother probably would have been inducted into the armies of the north or the south during the Civil War. Of the wounds recorded, 70% were to the limbs and were treated by amputation.

(Florence Nightingale)

My mother would have nursed our wounds and illnesses as well as help the neighbor women when they were about to give birth.

She would make bandages and our clothing, probably sewing all by hand. There were sewing machines available but the 1850's were a time of sewing machine patent wars.

Mother and my older sisters would have been cooking over an open fire, and raising our food, be it vegetable or animal, out behind the house.

What else would have been behind the house? …. the outhouse.

My sisters would have washed the dishes and our clothes in a wash tub, hauling water from the river, or should we be so fortunate, pumping it from the well in the yard.

Grandma and Grandpa would live with us when they got too old to continue to live in their home on the farm. Grandma would have taught me to spin wool, and possibly knit and weave. Grandpa would have told stories of his father’s service in the Revolutionary War.

I would have enjoyed going to school, like most kids, but only at times when my family didn’t need me to work on the farm. And instead of school or work opportunities when I became of age I probably would have been married by 1876.

I would have looked forward to being married and having a new family. I also would have looked forward to seeing a new century, when life would be a little easier. And life expectancy, for those who survived infancy, would finally be greater than 45 or 50 years of age. I guess its a good thing I was born 100 years later, I’ve already outlived the 1850’s life expectancy.

Thanks for listening ~

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 21 the Washing Machine and Dryer

2009-09-09T07:29:00.001-07:00

I feel like I am so blessed to have a washing machine and dryer.

It’s not that I love to do washing, but just think how much more work there would be if I didn’t have one.

I remember back when I was a young single mother. The house I rented did not have a washing machine. I had to walk to the laundry with my bags of clothes and little son in tow so we could have clean clothes.

There were a few times when I had spent the money on other things, like food, and I didn’t have any change left over to pay the washing machine and dryer at the corner laundry mat.

Clean clothes were a must. So I put some music on the stereo, threw the clothes in the bathtub and added soap and warm water. I got in and just like stomping on the grapes, I tromped around on the clothes, agitating them to the beat of the music.

Dancing around in the bathtub on a bunch of dirty clothes does have it merits, but probably only for those young enough and poor enough to see it. After adding clean water and stomping some more it was time to wring and hang the whole bunch.

There was no clothes line outside so I had to string lines through my tiny house and then turn the heater on so the clothes would dry.

Wow, those were the days, and I’m not talking cowboy days! It was much more difficult to wash the clothes back then, without the advantage of having hot running water (see earlier blog note on that one) However, I’m glad to have had that experience, and know that I could do it again if I had to (but hope I never have to).

So for today, I feel very blessed to have a washing machine and dryer, even if it’s not used as often as it should be….

Thanks for listening ~

Third Grade

2009-09-07T08:22:00.001-07:00

I forgot to take the picture of Grace getting on the bus on the first day…..

….which was too bad. She looked so cute before school.

This is what she looked like after school. Any of you have a day like that?

But the weekend is for relaxing, even if the slipper shoes

don’t match.

Feeling Better

2009-09-03T14:59:00.001-07:00

The seizure medicine is working and Emily is feeling so much better! She was able to sit in her chair for a short time today. We are celebrating that she’s had no more seizures. Thank you all for your prayers and concern.

Another Day Another Hill to Climb

2009-09-02T07:00:00.001-07:00

Well, she looked like my daughter, and then she had this awfully long seizure. I gave the valium and then after 25 minutes I gave another dose because the seizure was as strong as ever. It was 20 more minutes before the seizure finally stopped. Emily’s had 3 large seizures in 24 hours.

I called the neurologist office and the nurse took my information. She got back to me an hour later with instruction as to which medicines to increase. And then, after lots of prayer, and increases in medications, in the evening I had my daughter back again.

The doctor is thinking that the surgery just took a toll on her. And if she did have an illness that could have certainly caused increased seizures. Hoping for a much better day today.

We were supposed to go to infusion clinic to change the dressing on Emily’s PICC line today. But after talking to them I was told that someone would come to our home to change the dressing. I am so thankful!

I didn’t know how Emily was going to make it with a one hour drive there, 1/2 hr in the clinic, and a one hour drive back. Her leg/hip may not survive the drive without more pain issues. The day is looking better already!

Thanks for all your prayers. And thanks for listening ~

My Hope is in Him

2009-09-01T06:26:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was perhaps one of the most difficult days I’ve shared with Emily in a number of years. I think she had an illness to go along with trying to recover from hip surgery.

She began wheezing a few days ago and we didn’t know if she had a cold or was allergic to something from the hospital. Yesterday she began to have multiple seizures as well as the wheezing. There was pain in her hip and her tummy. Her skin was white and waxy and and it looked like the life was flowing out of her.

There was absolutely nothing I could do for her. There was no pain medicine, no breathing treatment, no seizure medicine that was going to make things better. We tried them all.

I prayed for her constantly yesterday; I put my hope in God. Emily has another seizure before she goes to sleep for the night, and I’m still praying. During the night Jeff hears her calling and he rouses me. I go in and comfort her to the best of my ability and then go back to bed.

This morning I am awakened by the sound of her voice, “Om? Om?” When I go into her room I see my daughter, just as she always is. No pain really, waiting for me to adjust her blankets and looking around for someone to talk to. And then I realize, I have my daughter back! Wow!

Thanks be to God covers me with his loving kindness and shows compassion on the weak! My hope is in Him.

52 Week Blessing Challenge – Week 20 PICC line

2009-08-31T06:21:00.001-07:00

I feel so blessed for both Emily and myself that she has a PICC line. Seems a little harsh to wear an IV that is sort of permanent. But this PICC line, which has been in for about 2 months now, has been an awesome and convenient help.

Each time Emily goes to the hospital she generally gets poked a number of times before the IV team finally gets a line in place. Then in a day or two the line blows and Emily needs a new line.

When Emily was in the hospital at the beginning of June it took 6 needle sticks to get the second (or was it her third?) IV in place and working. It was 6 times of poking, digging, squeezing, holding and hurting for a single IV start.

Those are the days during the hospital stays that are the most difficult for me. I know Emily is in pain already and then she has to have more pain to try and stop the pain she is in….

After that hospitalization Emily came down with another bladder infection. The culture results came back and it was decided that the best medication for the infection would be an IV antibiotic. At this point Emily would either have to go back to the hospital (but she wasn’t really sick in any other way) or she needed to have an IV line inserted and our nurse here at home could help me take care of it. I chose the latter.

(Here I’m getting ready to start her IV antibiotic)

Inserting the PICC line is just like inserting an IV, but it has to be done in a very sterile way. Everyone wore a mask, all the items to be used were sterile, they were opened on a sterile field, lots of gloves, and no breathing on anything. The reason everything has to be so sterile is because the line goes directly to the heart.

It didn’t take very long to get the PICC line in and tape it up. Once it was in place Emily had to go get an x-ray to make sure it was in the correct spot. The nurses in the Infusion clinic were so wonderful. They made the time pass quickly and then trained Emily’s nurse and I how to use the PICC line, and how to use the infusion pump. Emily had her first infusion of the antibiotic at the clinic just to make sure it all went well.

Since that day the PICC line has been used as an access site for the Lithotripsy procedure, blood draws, two rounds of antibiotics, and most recently Emily’s hip surgery. No more needle pokes!

(Hooking up the infusion pump)

Each week Emily has an appointment at Infusion Clinic to get the dressing changed on her PICC line. This is still a sterile process, and the reason it has to be done at the clinic.

(Emily’s antibiotic running into her PICC line)

The PICC line can stay in as long as Emily needs it, and as long as she is infection free. A nurse told me that some PICC lines can stay in place for as long as a year unless infection becomes a problem. This little device has saved Emily and myself much pain and emotional turmoil, and I feel very blessed for the both of us.

Thanks for listening~

Book Review – Rachael Scdoris No End in Sight

2009-08-28T11:29:00.001-07:00

by Rick Steber (c. 2005, Two Star, a Division of Bonanza Publishing, Prineville, Oregon)

(cover photo taken my Michelle Detwiler and is not the promotional image. I thought this cover image was much nicer than the older one shown Amazon)

Last month a television news program (Q13 Fox Morning News) was interviewing a sled dog racer, Rachael Scdoris (click name to open her website). I watched the interview with interest as she talked about her experiences with sled dog racing. This seemed like an interesting topic so when the news anchor asked people to send an email if they’d like to win a copy of her story I did just that, and won the book!

As I began to read her story I learned that Rachael grew up around sled dogs. At a young age she begged her father for a chance to run her own sled. While many parents might be hesitant to allow an 11-year-old to run a sled by herself in the wilderness, Rachael’s dad had one more reason, she is legally blind. What does Rachael see? Some shapes and shadows but not much more.

Blindness aside, Rachael’s story, No End in Sight, tells of enthusiasm and courage in the face of a myriad of obstacles set before her. As well as training for sled dog races, Rachael faces challenges from people who think her blindness is a reason not to allow her to race.

I was amazed at the blunt truth written about the hardships of sled dog racing, and amazed at Rachael for standing up to so many trials along her journey.

This book is an interesting and thought provoking read, especially if you are interested in learning about sled dog life through the eyes of someone who is legally blind. Now that I’ve completed this book I look forward to hearing more about Rachael Scdoris and her sled dogs in 2010. Way to go Rachael!

Thanks for listening~

On the Road to Recovery

2009-08-27T14:01:00.001-07:00

Thank you all for your wonderful support and prayers! Emily did so well yesterday. I was able to get her to a sitting position on the edge of her bed without too much discomfort.

Today she was doing well enough to travel home. The journey was uneventful and she was happy the entire time. Now she can rest and recuperate in the comfort of her own bed. The way things are going she will be feeling much better in a week or two. She’s already feeling better than she was the day before surgery.

Keep praying, and thanks for listening!

Post Op

2009-08-26T10:22:00.001-07:00

Emily did awesome! She is on pain medication but I think this has been the easiest surgery she has ever endured.

Grace did great while we waited for Emily.

The view from our room. Not much different from the last hospital stay. But Grace had some optimistic words.

“Mom, look! You have a room with birds!”

And this is what I saw when I opened my eyes this morning.

We’re hoping to go home tomorrow. Please pray that Emily will be able to sit in her wheel chair for the 1 hr drive home.

Thanks for listening ~