Please Read!

I know this is coming a little late...but it is relevant and bears reading.

The Panopticon

Raining hearts

It has been raining hearts here tonight...paper hearts to be specific. Melodie wanted to make her Grandma something and settled on drawing a heart on red construction paper and then drawing it's face. Well, of course, Harmony wanted her own paper and pencil and proceeded to fill her orange sheet with all manner of lines, squiggles, etc. And then asked for cut hearts...so mommy cut paper heart after paper heart until they were being tossed in the air and raining down on Grandma and Erik and the girls. Much needed sweetness in a rough week. Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend with a little bit of hearts raining.

A Jumble

I think I finally have everything settled in regards to homeschooling Melodie for kindergarten. After numerous phone calls and different stories/directions on what to do(even from the school district) I get to stop by the local elementary school before knitting in the morning to sign a waiver that we aren't enrolling her in kindergarten because of our desire to home school. But they don't recognize kindergarten here nor require any kind of progress reporting(yay for me, less paper clutter).
Our boy is standing up by himself and very proud of himself. His smile is very infectious. Harmony is speaking very clearly...when she wants to and is very stubborn about telling us when she needs a drink versus just pointing, but we are getting there slowly. Melodie is a fifteen year old hiding in a five year old body about 60% of the time right now and it is getting interesting to keep her from turning into 'one of those children', but under all the teenager is a very sweet and loving little girl.
There was a lot more rattling around in my head, but sleep has robbed it from me for the moment. So I will post this and maybe be back later today...maybe not.

Update

Just over a week into August. Time flies. We are, not so patiently, waiting for Erik's first tooth to come in. It is there, just not wanting to push through and make things easier for him. None of us seem to be getting much sleep right now, but it will get better soon. Once our days can go back to their normal pattern I know the girls will sleep better and hopefully Melodie's night terrors will subside again for a little while till we can get a few things rearranged and moved. Not really a whole lot going on other than trying to keep cool and comfortable and unburned. I am currently working on making a few amigurumi owls, but Harmony keeps pulling out the crochet hook and then starts tugging out the stitches...so this could take a bit longer than planned just to get one done, let alone more. Hope everyone is enjoying what is left of their summers!

Life...

It has been a very long few weeks here...the last two or so being especially difficult with two deaths and a mini-stroke sandwiched neatly in the middle. The first death leaving a whole lot of 'why's in it's wake and a small family struggling to wade through it all and still remember there is that little one that they fought so hard for a couple of years ago who needs their love and attention. Our dear, sweet elderly neighbor whom the girls absolutely adore and little boy always has a smile for had a stroke. He's been home since about 3 days after and seemingly doing fairly well...and yet...not being able to really leave his house much is taking it's toll. Hopefully the physical therapist will give him the okay to walk to a couple of his neighbors homes soon so he does not feel so trapped. The second death was just over a week ago and a bit of a shock since the marrow transplant had gone very well and he was up and getting himself to the bathroom within days...and then the bottom dropped out and he was gone in less than 48 hours. This death occured the day after our neighbor got home from the hospital and hit hard and fast. And talking to a friend of over a decade pointed to the fact that it seems a lot of people have either have been having a rough 2010 or it has started since summer arrived. Here is hoping and praying things are better where you are and that they are running more smoothly.

Handwork

Stumbled across this over at MasonDixon Knitting.

handwork

Finally

laughter and gifts

I had to post a link to Franklin Habit. I couldn't stop laughing.

And another super sweet post from Vicki that has a couple of give-aways at the end. Thank you so much for sharing Maddy's tea party!

So little and yet so much is going on. I joined a potholder and a square swap on ravelry and love them. I have 5 new potholders and 12 squares to sew together for a blanket just for me. And since the square group I am in does little games...well I won the last one and got two skeins of pretty dark purple yarn...I think I know what I will be using to sew my squares together.
Erik is growing like crazy and so is Harmony. Harmony's words are much more distinct and she loves telling you all that has gone on for the day if you let her. Melodie is maintaining, but decidedly trying to eat us out of house and home without gaining an ounce. The thrift shop close by is getting bags of clothes that are too small for the three of them. Erik is so long in the body he needs 12 month size clothes already. I'm thinking I'm going to need to start actually sewing pants to fit him without being to short or falling off.

4 little things that make my day:

1. Melodie bringing me a flower every time she goes out to visit gma or play with friends
2. Harmony's huge smiles and 'mama' when I even just come out of the bathroom.
3. Erik's smiles and giggles as he bounces himself on our lap.
4. The hugs I get when Michael comes home from work

4 little things

1. Huge smiles and hugs when I get home.
2. The seemingly never ending rose blooms.
3. Shopping at the farmers market.
4. Making some little things for home and a neighbor.

P.S. Stop by here for a cool give away from here (the newest issue is now live).

Ooops....& a Giveaway

Seems like time flies. I'm behind on reading blogs and all manner of other things at the moment. Oh well! Little boy has been keeping us entertained rolling and scooting all over the place. I still have not really looked very hard for the camera cable, though I have been taking pictures. As of May 10Th Erik was 20 pounds and 26 inches. He is such a happy little boy and loves to squeal.

I was going to do two separate posts, but there is to much mayhem here (Harmony is on one of her destructive/artistic wall drawing sprees) so I am combining them instead.

I am an avid reader of Melody's blog. And she is giving away a beautiful monotone version of her bubble hat pattern that she created. You have till the 20Th to leave a comment with a chance to win. But you can get that and her Mardi pattern free from her blog. She is one amazing woman!

Saving the past!

If you have any interest in crochet or crochet lace or crochet edgings, please stop by Francesca's blog. She is offering a free lace pattern that she recreated from some linens she had purchased. Francesca's blog is one of about two dozen I habitually visit whenever I get a chance online and I have never been disappointed.
I have been around, just not had a whole lot of time to post or read. We found out the hard way that Harmony is even more allergic to mosquito bites than I am, so I spent 3 days trying to keep benadryl in her to keep the hives at bay. Good news is like Melodie the benadryl does the job on the bites, but that is all it does. It doesn't make either one sleepy or hyper. I was just grateful that my monkey happily would eat a chewable pill when it was time (until she decided she was better and didn't need them...and she was right that she was past the hives stage). Since Wednesday it has been me and the kids for the most part. Michael has been working in the evenings and my grandparents are on their yearly spring week trip. It has been rough going because I can't take the girls outside to play. We have mosquitoes 24/7.
Hope everyone else is doing well!

Another giveaway

There is this adorable, little, scrappy made bear looking for a new home. So if you are looking for something handmade, adorable and from England...visit Silkie Sue.

Colorful Giveaway!

Okay, I listen to this podcast online, weekly. I admit it. I usually get a good laugh out of it and hear about yarn. Well Never Not Knitting is having a giveaway for a book and a bunch of pretty colored yarn. So head on over and leave a comment after this post for a chance to win.

found?

I am stealing a few minutes while Erik is napping and the girls are watching Disney's Aladdin. Found the camera...now the usb cable has gone MIA, yet again. The camera somehow found it's way behind the printer, makes me think my little, curly blond haired girl was up to no good, at some point. And hers is the last picture taken too (looks like a Melodie taken picture). It has been close to a month the camera has been missing according to the dates on the pictures. Hoping everyone is having a beautiful weekend.

A Quote

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales. When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking." ~Albert Einstein~


P.S. Still haven't located the camera, but haven't been looking really with out of state relatives visiting (aunt & uncle will take more than enough pictures). Been busy visiting and playing. Hope everyone is doing well and are healthy.

MIA Camera

Very mundane little post, but I'm hoping it will help me find my camera. I took pictures of Erik last week, went to download them over the weekend to send off to family and the camera is no where to be found. I even checked the 'safe' places to no avail. So this is sending a little message to those mysterious ones who help find lost items, to help me find my camera :) We have family coming down from PA next week and I'd like to get pictures of the little ones with my great Aunt Emilie, since there is a chance I won't get to see her again.

Happy Easter!

Another giveaway!

The lovely Vicki is having a give-away on her beautiful blog. Ya'll have till the end of April to enter and you can enter often :). Her 'sacred yarn room' is absolutely stunning...to have the yarn from even a very small basket would be like walking into a yarn store and finding everything you wanted and some pretty special extra stuff on a super sale. Stop by and say hi and also check out all the stunning things she has made for her newest grand-daughter to be too.

Sale and Giveaway!!!

Randi of FreshSqueezedFabrics on Etsy is having a 20% off everything sale. And a giveaway on her blog . I admit I am posting this to give me an extra entry in her giveaway, but I love looking at all the pretty fabrics she has. I absolutely adore this owl fabric. Michael, Melodie and I are big owl lovers. And I also love this flower fabric and the coordinating ones posted with it. I could go on and on about the fabric, let alone the patterns. I think this and this and this are my favorites.

this and that

Yes, I am still around. We have been having internet connection issues and are waiting for some wires to be replaced outside. I am going to the local Wednesday morning knitting group when I can (yay! I will get to go this week). The little ones are doing will, but have a bad case of spring fever. And Harmony spending much time outside just isn't possible right now with it raining yellow pollen. I realize she desperately wants to be outside, but fighting with her to get allergy medicine into her is draining and a lot of medicine gets wasted, so she is only out for about 30 minutes a day right now. I can not wait till the tree pollen stops so she can run free outside. And I have no doubt she would love not to have to wipe her nose all the time :)

Sweetness

My little boy smiling when I walk in the door.
My Melodie-girl always bringing me flowers home from her visits to grandma's house.
My Harmony and all her cuddles and hugs all day long.
Stealing a couple of hours a week to spend at a local knitting group, even if I am the youngest by a good 10-15 years.
Working in a few minutes here and there to create some gifts and things for us.
Accepting that I may some day master making handkerchiefs with a sewing machine, but have not done so yet.
Knowing that one day we will have our own place surrounded by trees where we can do as we wish without worries of a landlord mowing down flowers and vegetables(just wish this was a sooner rather than later thing).

Since I am up before everyone I figured I would hop on the computer and ready some blogs without interruption(a rare occasion). A blog I read daily(as daily as she posts) is so very appropriate right now so I will leave you with a link to a Sunday serenity post. Have a wonderful Sunday and good start to a new week.

A Package and etsy

Okay as soon as I finish and post this I will be adding to my etsy shop...just a little as I haven't been able to get quite as much done as I would like, but I can live with that at the moment.
Now for the package part. A huge thank you to Alex for sending me a package, even though she did not have too. I love it. I know it isn't Sunday yet, but I couldn't wait. Purple handled scissors, a couple of wonderful metal crochet hooks, rich chocolate, a little crocheted mouse, a cute DVD (yes it plays just fine), a mum's coupon book, and not one, but two lovely cards, some wonderful Rowan yarn in white and purple, and an absolutely fab crocheted bag that is lined in denim with a special patch. The pictures are not the best as I was trying to keep four little hands out of the chocolate :) till I could get the pictures taken.
Hope everyone is having a good Monday!

Coming soon

Finally found my MIA camera, now to locate the cord so I can download the pictures I took today...then..new cotton things in my etsy store. Yay! So ready for this week to end...just a few more hours to go!

2

It is hard to believe Harmony is 2 today. Off to make a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Have a wonderful weekend.

I really wish the weather would make up its mind. All three little ones are sick. The girls just have something viral that is cold-like, but the only symptom they share is a cough. Erik however has RSV and has to have an inhaler for about a week to ten days because of the wheezing and lung congestion. She tested him for the RSV because of the congestion in his lungs. On the good side, Erik is quite happy and hungry and active still, which according to the nurse practitioner is a big plus. I'm getting talked to and lots of big grins, which is much better than hearing him wheeze as he tried to breath. I am looking forward to a long weekend of tending a very grumpy Miss Melodie(very, very bad cough and fever) and a temperamental Miss Harmony(she is tired of having grandma and mommy wipe her runny nose). Hope everyone else is having a wonderful and uneventful week!!!

P.S. Alex, please forgive but your package won't go out till Monday because I don't want to take the little ones out while they are this sick.

Checking in..

Just taking a few minutes to check up on some dear friends through their blogs and though I'd mention we are all doing well. Just had a lot going on to occupy the heart and mind with a friend's husband starting chemotherapy and trying to get the necessary things taken care of to make sure our wagon can get us where we need to go. And I am trying to get a little extra crocheting and knitting in here and there. I have some ends to weave in and pictures to take and then I will have at least two new things for in my etsy shop. I admit my priority has been trying to get a blanket I started when Harmony was about 5 months old finished finally. I went to KnitNPurl yesterday and bought the last skein I will need to complete it. Now I just have to crochet up the other two before I put on the border. Be well and good thoughts to all.

Snow

Enough said I think :)

P.S. The girls are ready to go out in it now, even though it's 7:42pm...we will see, maybe when Daddy gets home and can watch Erik. And here's to hoping it's still around in the morning, just because I miss snow days.

Erik

Today was his two month check up. He is now 22 3/4" and 14 pounds. He has grown 1/2" since last Thursday already. He is his happy little self again now that he is on a formula that agrees with him. Because even with the eye drops his eye still produces nasty stuff and gets crusty off an on we were told this could go on till he's 6-9 months. But as long as we give him the drops and massage his eye he will be fine and it will not affect his vision. I did have to quickly make two little rice packs for his legs. Evidently the shots have made them quite sore and tender to the touch of even clothes. The nurse said to use warm compresses to help with the pain. So other than the crying that occurred while I quickly hand stitched two little 2"x3" rice pouches, he is doing great and napping with a little smile on his face as long as I keep the compresses warm.
It was also my first day back at work. Not much has changed. It was pretty uneventful, which I am not going to complain about.
And to answer your question Francesca...they don't recommend foods till at least four months. The doctor's office leans more towards six months unless they are really showing an interest. So we have at least a couple of months to go.

Rambling...

I know another post. This one is just to occupy me while I wait for the Dr on call to respond to their pager. I did as the little ones' pediatrician asked (okay if you want you can quibble over a day since I technically switched his formula last Wednesday and it is still Tuesday)and waited a week. He is still throwing up 1/4 to 1/2 of what he drinks, then wants more because he's no longer full and repeat process...add in a lot of painful gas (seemingly made worse with the gas relief drops) and I won't go into the poop part of it all. All in all, Erik's little tummy does not like this formula, which I figured since Melodie and Harmony couldn't stomach it either, but wic doesn't count it unless it is a known food allergy(yay I don't have to try the soy version with him since everybody is allergic to soy). I know what I will be told over the phone, just don't know which brand of formula they will suggest since I don't know what the other Dr's in that office prefer. I'm thinking it will be the same as Harmony ended up on just because they will ask his normal Dr and go with his preferences. I have no doubt my ramblings are in a strange or circular logic or something since we've been getting less and less sleep as the days/nights have passed. I don't mind holding him to keep him comfortable, but it means I'm not sleeping as much since I worry about him and having another incident of me passing out and him giving us both a nasty throw up bath. The good from that was that he and I took a nice, warm, leisurely bath at 5am yesterday to get rid of the smell with no interruptions or big sisters wanting to join us in the tub. Time to cut this off since we are off to wally world land to buy a can of formula.

this and that

I received an interesting phone call this afternoon. It was the little ones' pediatrician's office. Evidently he will be out of the country for two weeks and we needed to reschedule Erik's two month check up(hard to believe it's that long already). I told her I was fine with him seeing the nurse practitioner as she is a sweetheart. Then out of curiosity(was already pretty sure my guess was right) asked where he was going. He will be on his way to Haiti in a matter of days for two weeks. I, in a way was waiting for this call, just was not sure if it would be for Erik's check up or Harmony's two year check up. Dr. L is amazing with the kids and whenever there is a major disaster where children are injured he always goes for at least a short time.
This call was just a small reminder that they still need help. And that there are those willing pay their own way to volunteer their time to help those in need.

Happy little boy!

His pink-eye is obvious in these, but they are the only ones that he's smiling in...
always so serious once the flash goes off.

What to say...

It's been a little longer than planned between posts. But Michael had three days off, in a row. We spent those days trying to catch up on sleep and letting the girls get in as much sleep and play as they could since they have had colds. And letting Melodie play with Grandma since she is officially on her way to Florida, with Grandpa for a week. Not that this is new, they go every year to spend a week with Ruth and Jack. Ruth being Grandma's best friend from college (they graduated 62 years ago in spring).
I've spent my time trying to catch up on some laundry courtesy of night-time accidents while the girls were sick and Erik doing a lot of throwing up from a formula switch to keep WIC happy. Poor little boy also has a case of conjunctivitis(aka pink eye) courtesy of a tear duct that didn't quite open right. Let me tell you, no matter how small or tall, getting eye drops in the eyes of the males in this house is a battle.
Feeding time. Hope to be back in a couple of days with pictures of a little boy smiling. He smiles a lot, just likes the serious look for the camera it seems.

Etsy

Just a short post today. I have donated a set of knit and crochet washcloths to Craft Hope's Etsy shop. Since we just don't have the extra money to donate, I thought this was our best option at the moment. I have also put some up in my shop again(finally). I am slowly working on getting more to add, but have only singles at the moment and I have something else to add too once I have a few more made.

Erik & Harmony

taken by Melodie (yes my camera's date is off)








taken first night at home 12/4/09

Didn't think so.

We got no snow, not even a flurry. It is just plain cold for here though. And I've been pestering our sweet elderly neighbor daily since he hasn't been feeling well. Though he actually appreciates the daily call even if it is only to tell us his arthritis, which is all through his body and severe enough for prescription pain killers, is still making him feel miserable. I did brave the cold today with Melodie(insisted on coming) and Erik to get some much needed groceries. Lots of brave souls at AC Moore, but the grocery store was empty. I guess our priorities in this weather are obvious, especially since all the clearance and sale yarn bins were looking very, very empty. And no I did not buy yarn today...just some glue to repair a chair. Time to save the house from Harmony.

Cold!

It is actually cold here...still. In the 4 years we have lived here this is the longest cold stretch we remember. And some are even saying we might get flurries (doubt it, will let you know) since we are supposed to have rain. I have a short list of places I need/want to go, but the thought of dragging all three of my babies out in the cold doesn't really appeal. I think I've got it down for getting them in our wagon, but either Harmony or Erik is stuck outside while I get the other into their car seat(thankfully Melodie can get herself into her booster alone). Might impose on Grandma tomorrow to watch at least one of them.
Melodie finally decided to try hot chocolate last night(after seeing 'Toot & Puddle' making/enjoying it). And surprise, surprise, she likes it. Not that I am surprised since she loves chocolate, just took a while. Though I shouldn't complain since she really is not a big fan of most candy and won't touch sodas. Nothing much else new here other than a growing little boy and my having to go through some of the clothes we were given to give back/away since he has grown out of a few sleepers. Hope everyone else is keeping warm!!