I have not been feeling well this month I spent several Days in the hospital… with unexplained extreme stomach pain… Just started feeling like I was on the mend 3 days ago. Being Sick has really exhausted me. Still working on Annas health issue and have more testing to do this month. Pretty much we have a whole bunch of know what it is not and more Fuel to put on the fire. We just spend our days trying to make it to the next. More test and procedures for both  of us this month. Apparently I have Hyperthyroidism which is so messing with my Diabetes that I am having some IBD/Crohns. All I know is I hurt I can’t take pain pills and I am so TIRED !!

Exciting things this month iare my Eldest is graduating from high school the Ceremony is on the 6th !!  SO cool then it is time for her to start working most likely she will be working on her Etsy shop to off set her Commission Art she is has been doing for a local T shirt company. I have Pom Puppies due this month and so much finishing work it is crazy. I have a list of Patterns I want to get completed so keep an eye out… and Of course there are improvements to make to the blog Chat later !!

It will be a great MONTH !!

We headed to Doernbechers to be admitted Wednesday evening… They release us lat Friday night after no food… for days and many many many test. Never found a gall stone but they think she passed one that caused all the pain etc. So there is now a consult with a surgeon to get her Gall bladder removed. So why does a 9 year old get a Gall stone ? Apparently Anna has another issue on top of her type one Diabetes and Hypothyroidism. We now are the lucky patience of a fairly new field of a Lipids specialist. Lipid specialist specifically study Cholesterol. Annas Cholesterol is very high. In particular her LDL bad Cholesterol is 236 this is a number a women in her 60 might see. A child is not suppose to be over 100, to add to that her HDL the good cholesterol is way below normal 19, for a active child nothing below 40most in the 60 range. Anna is a pretty active child… she is always moving and specifically rides her bike for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week.

We do eat a high fat diet you know the American Ideal farm life with Farm fresh eggs, butter, whole milk… BACON… sausage gravy and hollandaise sauce is not unheard of here. But Anna does not like these things… not even tater tots.. ALL kids like tater tots right?? Apparently these high fat foods have been bothering Annas stomach. NOW she is on a low Carb non Fat diet Have to avoid another stone till they can figure out what is wrong and how to fix it. Stones can develop in days The likely Culprit is a genetic propensity to high cholesterol.. my side of the Family has a very strong history of young heart disease… Death before 40. Just well just… I don’t know where to focus right now. I guess the dietary needs are the first place.. and actually taking my cholesterol meds, may be a good idea… sigh… BUT the good thing is Anna is feeling much better her Enzymes by no means normal are on a downward trend and if we had not been at Doernbechers on IV Glucose she would have not been able to do the tests that were required.

Anna started puking yesterday morning… Took her to the ER, Since her sugars were fine, no Fever and well I just panicked… her ketones were high and her Liver enzymes are high. They think she may have passed a Gall Stone ? She is 9 for gods sake. More blood work again today and headed straight to Doernbechers if she start vomiting again

I think… we will know more end of the day I hope. We managed through the night and the permethazine kept Anna from Vomiting. Her Ketones are gone but the trick is keeping food in her she has to have insulin to keep her from going ketonic and her stomach hurts so bad she is not eating… There is a reason for the elevated liver enzymes and the diabetic specialist says it is not Diabetes causing it. She was so dehydrated yesterday and they assumed lots of vomiting I kept trying to get across that no she purged once and she is drinking… but her kidneys appear ok..she can’t pee there just is nothing there…

Further along the day… the anti vomiting drug seems to be working but she can take it only every 6 hrs after 4 she becomes more nauseated… She has developed a really awful sounding cough. Maybe a flue… I just don’t know.

8:10pm No Test Results…apparently the anti vomiting drug was causing a histamine reaction and now Anna is taking beandryl for the cough… have not had to give her the Nausea med… So fingers crossed   and she ate 1/2 a sandwich !

I have been having a blast designing these boobly woobly amigurumis any one who sees them automatically is drawn to pick them up and make the ami do a little dance… The neatest part of the design is the legs and arms are crocheted in. I hate sewing body parts on and this way all that is left to finish an Ami is ears.. a mouth a little detail here and there. What else would you make ? I was thinking maybe a mouse ? and I didn’t do a hedgehog or Raccoon … Cow and Donkey keeps popping into my head too. So many possibilities… you know maybe a pug or bulldog..

Spring Theme

The Down under Gang

At the Zoo

The Monsters

The Bears

Possible Front Cover image ??

Hi OMG where does the week go ???

This last week was a very busy one. Anna attended the most days of school she has, since being diagnosed with Diabetes back in October. They all had Dr appt. and then blood work and X rays for the 2 oldest. Let alone I spent a day bed bound, did not end up in the ER, Which is GREAT !!! finally figured out how to catch the beginning stages of ketoacidosis  and start treating before I get really bad.

Good Thing is that during all the waiting room time.. I got to spend time with my children and get a bunch of Crocheting done I tend to take my crocheting everywhere with me.. even in College during lectures. Drove the teachers mad but my grades were great so no one really could complain. Where do you like to crochet ?

This guy is from my son Frederick. I like to put a pile of yarn out and ask the kids what do you think I could make with these… they all dive in and I get a wide variety of ideas. Frederick my 12 year old loves the open mouth and teeth seemed a good fit. I think I want to try for more of a row of chompers maybe a blue monster?The tail is crocheted on, I really do not like finishing and less sewing on the better This guys back ridge ?? What would you call it ?? is the only thing that is sewn on and that was fairly fast. By starting at the tail there was no need to worry about spacing.

Well the pile of finishing is calling me. I think Annas purple monkey is next… sigh. This weeks Calendar is empty so lots of finish work !

This is an absolutely must have stitch when Closing your Amigurumi

Invisible Decrease Tutorial

There are many ways to close but this really is the tidiest… though it is a bit tricky with practice you will get it down…

I want to start by saying HELLO !! To all you new Amigurumi lovers and I hope to start hearing from more of you through out the next few weeks… I am vamping up the year with a new Amigurumi body style. This crocheted body style is just so easy to make from start to finish. The arms and legs are crocheted in, leaving little left  to sew on  but ears… giving you lots of time to really work up a beautiful nose like this little black golly bear or placing the eyes on the open mouthed frog

I haven’t decided which styles I want to enter in the Vannas Choice contest Would love to hear what your guys favorites are ?As I get them finished ?  I am just tickled with the little flower dog and I always love lions !!! I also want to offer one of your favorites as a Free Pattern For my Special Valentines gift…. question is which one ?????????

I am may be a little to excited about this Entry I know I am suppose to be working on a schedule and keeping on track… but when an idea creeps into my mind I just can’t let it go

So here is a sneak peek… I’ve decided on a spring theme using the Vanna’s choice Baby yarn. Like I said before not a great selection but I really like the kind of off funky baby bright colors they have to offer.

I am trying to stick to 2 colors or less. I know I will spend a small fortune on yarn but I have a very…very bad yarn habit. Vanna’s choice is a nice texture that stays together nicely but best of all it is very inexpensive. I purchased mine on sale from Michaels 2 for $5… and the design is easily made from one skein.

Like many Craftsters or any Self employed person there is not much distinction between Work and Home. I tend to be working on my Amigurumi until late in the evening. Answering emails early in the morning and just plain Dreaming about new ideas and directions all the time

2nd annual Vanna\’s choice contest This is the years starting project. I want to enter at least 2 items, of each yarn type. They have a very nice color selection in the worsted weight. The Baby weight not as many available locally but I have dreamed up an open mouthed Amigurumi frog that I think may do well. It is a simple pattern with little sewing and all easily accessible parts. I will get pictures soon and show you guys. Closing date is February first so I have to get moving.

Here is my work Spaces at this time…. They are a Disaster!!

This is the Storage area…. unfortunately I can not put all may work space into one Room. My Family of 5 lives in about 1000 square feet.

This the Direct Area by my Desk/ Art Table… and then the Table it self Share Greg and my Bedroom

SO….. If I want to work late ??? Either I have to move to the Kitchen Table or Greg has to sleep through me working … Luckily Amigurumi is NOT Loud….. it is very Portable…. Mine though is a MESS !!!

Sigh………… time to Clean