Virtual PJ Party

So, in honor of my new found freedom, my flysisters in chatzy threw me a virtual pj party. Lots of chat and ROFLOLs. Even party hats ^ altho one did get a little tipsy and put on a lampshade []:-}
Over the past couple of years of FLYing, these ladies have helped me alot. Not just in housework encouragement, but with dh's army training time (gone for 19 months) and everyday ups and downs. We rejoice together and its been a place to rant and whine when upset....and someone will turn the mood and laughing will start. Births, deaths, child troubles, and child accomplishments have all been discussed and shared.
Most of these ladies were ones that hung around on the old noodlebug chat room that FlyLady used to use for her once a month Q&A. We found that the room was available 24/7 and made good use of it. When it went down, one of the members made a chatzy room for us so we could continue our friendships. Some have dropped away, some come occasionally, some are new to the site, all are welcome. I have even had the pleasure of meeting a few face to face.

On the finger front, I had my assessment yesterday and they gave me a plan of exercises, most of which, I was pleased to see, I was already doing. There is still some bruising and swelling even after 2 1/2 weeks. Mobility is up, but still far from normal. Knitting happens, but I take more breaks now.

Making good progress on the BSJacket. At least 1/3 done.
Need to go thru my stash and find the yarn for The Grim Squeaker Egg Cozy which I may make larger for a TP cover. Thank you sallyinwales for developing the pattern.
I want to make a skirted diaper cover/soaker for newest granddaughter. I have yarn, just need to check pattern.

Life Returns

After a year of watching 2 little ones, I have a life back. Today was the last day for watching them 5 days a week, 9 hrs a day. I love the babies...don't get me wrong...but at my age and with BG still at home and homeschooling, everyday is a bit much. The biggest missing part was being able to go out at the drop of a hat. Getting 2 little ones dressed, sippys ready, diaper bag ready, into car seats, out of car seats, 2 carts at the store....well, you get the picture. I don't know how DD does it all the time...or did before I started watching them.
BG is excited. She is already planning trips for us to the library and COSI and the zoo and...and... And I hope to get her back involved at the rec center for classes again. Homeschooling will be a bit easier too when we get back on a real schedule, I can sit and help her, and we don't have to wait for baby nap time.
I am looking forward to deep cleaning my house (did I say that?). Going to do the Mt. Vernon method in each room. For those not familiar with this method, you start in one corner of a room and really clean that area before moving on to next. If you need to stop for the day, you start where you left off. This way you are not tearing apart an entire room (that never gets put back..SHE that I am) and then its easier to keep clean. Working on my FlyLady habits is another thing I am looking forward to. Too many of them have slipped since dd moved in a year ago and I never was able to re-establish them properly.
Til tomorrow.....

Knittin', Nothin', and Time Wastin'

Last night was our weekly knitting group get together. We had a nice group out including 2 new ladies. It was nice to see progress on everyone's projects (except my QAL). I did get several rows done on the BSJacket before switching over to complete almost a whole round on the QAL. I had to stop a couple of times to stretch out my finger which still hurts. I start therapy tomorrow, so it will be nice to see if any of the exercises I have been doing are making any difference.
Managed to get most of the daily stuff done in the house yesterday, but nothing extra. Just hoping to maintain til next week when I can start working at deep cleaning and decluttering this place room by room.
Over at Ravelry, (Reclaiming the Home) SallyinWales posted a great item about time wasting and gaining an extra week. I will paraphrase: If you can find 12 minutes a day x 5 times a weeks that you waste, and use that time to do something productive towards a goal, you will have gained an entire week of working towards that goal. Fits right in there with what FlyLady says about the 15 mins a day toward decluttering and cleaning your home. I know I spend way too much time just playing cards on the pc. I could be using that time for something more constructive than reaching the next level on Facebook Scramble. (on level 16 with 489 more games to reach level 17 x 3 mins per game + time for starting next game...mentally adding wasting time in my head and guesstimate several hours)

Blog Challenge

The moderator on Reclaiming the Home (ravelry) has issued a daily blog challenge. I don't know if I am up to it or if I have anything worthwhile to say on a daily basis, but am going to give it a try.
Today marks the countdown of dd#3's ex moving back in with her and watching the babies full time....which means I will have my days back. 3 days and counting..lol. Already planning major cleaning and decluttering missions in the house and outtings with bg.
OTN: Arch-shaped socks which keep telling me they would be happier as mittens. Only 2 1/2 inches into them, so there is still time to change over.
BSJ (jacket..not to be confused with BSJ hat) for newest granddaughter.
QAL tablecloth. I am almost done with the 2nd repeat of the last motif to enlarge it. 4 more to go before I lifeline it again and check size on table.

Another Month Has Gone By....

and I am still working on the QAL shawl. Well, not right now, as I have 2 of my fingers splinted together. Tuesday I tripped over the humidifier in the hallway and didn't quite catch myself with my hand. Instead, I managed to dislocate my ring finger on my right hand. Spent 4 hours in the ER getting x-rays, feeling stupid, getting peeled off the ceiling when they popped it back in place cause that took the pain level from a nice throbbing 3 to off the chart bad, more x-rays to make sure that it was indeed back in place, and a wonderful splint that doesn't allow my to use my middle or ring finger..all for 100.00. Wednesday saw me back at the hospital seeing their Ortho clinic where they resplinted and referred me on to an Ortho specialist. Today I saw the specialist who (for the low cost of a 25.00 office visit) removed the splint, taped the 2 fingers together and referred me on to physical therapy at...you guessed it...the hospital. 2 nights of taking vicodin has revealed a slight reaction to the meds, so won't be taking them again. Still watching babies, so occasional bumps to the swollen knuckle are to be expected.
Frustrated that I missed yet another night of knitting group, I started a straight knit scarf of larger needles. I tried working on the sock, but couldn't hold the yarn tight enough to keep tension.
Went to visit my newest granddaughter (and her parents..lol) this past weekend. My she is growing so fast! The first year goes by so quickly it seems. Her colic is better as dd-i-l is drinking camimile tea everyday. Seems to pass thru the breast milk and soothe dgd. Not a big napper tho. Short cat naps are all she seems to get during the day. She laughs and coos and loves looking at her toys. DD-i-l told me her doctor said she was beyond her age in some areas, which is good.
Got my package from my Igorina swap partner. Still finding little things to tuck into the box I am sending her. This turned out to be a good swap if I say so myself (being the moderator of it). Everyone seems happy with it.
Not much else happening in this little life. I hope to blog more often, but then I have said that before.

New Year, Lost Marble

Another year is in progress and I have been so bad about posting. I have a few reasonable excuses...well, reasonable to me.
Have a new granddaughter (#13 in line-up) born Nov 15th. I went up to be with son and dd-i-l at the hospital and as labor progressed, dd-i-l asked everyone to stay. Out of the 13 grandkids, this is the first that I actually got to see being born and it was amazing! Granted, I was present for the births of my own 4, but was a little occupied to view the process. Leeve came into the world at 7 lbs, 12 1/2 ozs and is nursing well, putting on weight, and generally causing lost sleep and miles of walking as most newborns do.
Family Christmas gathering was at dd#2's this year and not all the kids could make it. Still, we had a good time, exchanged gifts, ate way too much and generally laughed ourselves silly. Christmas day was spent at dh's parents' home as usual. It was nice, quiet and I actually got a little knitting in.
New Year's Eve, BG stayed up with me to watch the ball drop. DH even came out of the basement long enough to say Happy New Year and to exchange kisses. New Year's Day, BG and I went to dd#2's to watch the parade and snack. We also started stripping the wallpaper off her living room...which may have led to the events of the next 3 days.
Jan 2: dgs#11 (in the grandkid line-up) decides to puke.
Jan 3: dgd#8 pukes.
Jan 4: I puke, BG pukes, dd#2 pukes, but is busy cleaning up puke from her dh, dgd#3 and dgs#6. dgs#4 is visiting his real mom for the weekend...pukes, followed closely by his mom.
10 people in 3 days...I think we set a record of some sort.
Jan 6: dd#3 wants to know if I disinfected the entire house before she brings the babies over for me to watch....uh...NO. Babies show up with snotty noses and coughs.
Jan 8: Babies are now puking, so I go to dd's house to watch them instead of bringing them here. sigh..
So here it is: Jan 12th. I think we are all fairly healthy, dd#2 has repainted her living room, I saw my only marble over the holidays, but I lost it again.

Oh yeah, knitting! QAL still going, scarf for sis-i-l who mentioned she would like to have one for Christmas (on Thanksgiving), Mystery Socks.
Ankh-Morpork Knitters Guild News: The Igor Thwap has started over at Ravelry. I am a swap-moderator virgin, but don't think I am doing too bad. 46 showed interest, 42 returned the questionaire and were paired off.
Let the lithping begin! (insert evil laugh, thunder and lightning here). Now where did I put that thpare body part?

Son's Visit Home

DS was here for 2 weeks on leave and was able to bring his girlfriend along. We had a good time introducing her to some of the sights around Ohio. This picture was taken outside Sol's Exchange in Berlin, Oh. She was excited to see scenes of the Amish community there and to learn that they were of German descent.

She got her hands into making her first jack-o-lantern. I guess they don't do Halloween like we do here in the states. They even dressed for the occasion in traditional Moroccan dress that they brought from her parents.

. Also, we celebrated my youngest granddaughter's 1st birthday. The little princess got her first tricycle, but brother wants it, too. These are the 2 little ones I watch every week so DD can work.
In knitting news, I finished my Morpork Pie shawl and blocked it out. It's 72 inches across and feels nice and warm. Thanks to MMario for such a great pattern.