Life at the moment

Life is very stressful at the moment. Evan is ill and we're not sure what is going on. He's passing blood. Last Friday, he was admitted to the hospital after seeing our doctor that morning. Lots of doctors came to chat with him and push on his belly. They did an x-ray that evening, but it was clear. Because he is outwardly fine, eating and drinking okay, they let him come home Friday night, but we had to go back Saturday morning to have blood tests done. After speaking with the paediatrician, we came home, being told to keep a food diary and that an appointment would be made in 4-6 weeks for a clinic appointment.

Nothing really changed over the weekend, but I kept Evan off school. On Tuesday night, Evan was up in the night and I'd had enough. I called the hospital to see if there were any results from the blood and stool samples and was told all was clear. I explained to the doctor why I was calling and that I didn't want to wait until a clinic appointment to have this sorted. The hospital then called me back to bring Evan in.

We saw the doctor I had spoken to on the phone, who ordered more blood tests. They use this cream to numb the area that they are going to insert a needle, but it takes 45 minutes to work. I convinced Evan to go with a spray because that would cut out the waiting. Poor thing nearly fainted when they put the tap in. He mentioned a scope being done but that he would have to find a surgeon comfortable enough to do this on a child. We were then left to await the results of these tests. Eventually a nurse came to say we could go and that a referral was going to be sent to Alder Hey for a scope. I was quite relieved about this, but Evan was not happy. The nurse proceeded to take out the tap, but then another nurse came in apologising but Alder Hey wanted more blood taken. Poor Evan was beside himself. However, we were allowed to come home after this.

Dave took in another stool sample on Thursday morning and later that day, a doctor called to tell me that the results of the blood were all clear and that a referral had been faxed to Alder Hey and they would be contacting us directly, hopefully in the next day or two. As it was Thursday, I didn't think we would hear from them until the beginning of the week.

So, it is wait and see now. I am hoping they find something in the stool samples that will mean he doesn't need a scope.

On other things, Duff is continuing to improve. He's coped really well with this injury.

I'm also pleased to say that I am just about finished Sea Stars. I will be really happy to see this out of here. There seems to be so much personal misery tied up in this one piece--Duff tearing both his cruciate ligaments, my grandmother dying, Dave losing his job and Evan becoming sick. Time to move on.

Time for a stitching update

I have actually been doing some stitching. In the middle of July, I was contacted by Michael Powell to do some stitching. It was a massive piece and took absolutely every spare minute I could give to it. It turned out wonderfully though.

I finished this on 8 September and I was ever so pleased to see it go. It is the middle part of a triptych called Venice Palazzo.

So, now I'm back to working on Ink Circles' Sea Stars for Jayne's Attic. I admit my stitching time has been limited due to work, but this piece is nearly there. I hope to have it finished by mid-October. This is my progress as at today.

He's done it again!

You're probably wondering why I'm posting these photos again. Well, Duff has done it again! On Sunday, 30 September, he tore the cruciate ligament in his other leg. All by simply barking at a neighbour's dog. I knew immediately that he'd done it, as you know, after the first episode, when your child has tonsillitis. He went in for examination on Monday and had surgery on Tuesday. I don't believe it was as badly torn this time, but the vet thought that indeed it required the surgery. The only trouble is it has only been three months since the last surgery and his other leg still isn't that strong. So, it's been very good that Dave has been home to carry Duff in and out. His bandage comes off tomorrow and he should be able to get around much better on his own then.

We had tears at the swimming pool on Monday when Evan went for his lessons. His instructor had to tell him to get out of the pool. We sat and chatted for a bit about what we should do. His instructor does not think that dropping him back is the answer. So, yesterday after badminton lessons, I had a word with his previous instructor, Wendy, who is widely acknowledged as the best teacher there. She suggested some one on one lessons with her, so we are going to give them a go. His first lesson is on Saturday morning at 9.00. Ugh! No lie-in for me then!

An Update on Life

It has been a rather long time since I have posted. August simply flew by with work, holidays and every spare minute being used to stitch a model. We also had Evan's birthday party to arrange, which was a lot of fun. We did a treasure hunt here in the garden and all the children loved it. He had Ben (of course), Kieran, George, Jack, Anna, Kezia and Lucy. They were a wonderful bunch of kids. We also had Dave's Mum and Dad over for that, which meant there was a huge push on to get the upstairs ready for us to move into so that my in-laws could have our bedroom. The curtains nearly finished me, but I got what needed to be done in time for us to move up there on Thursday night, August 30, and my in-laws arrived Friday.

Evan has also gone back to school, which he loves. I'm so thankful for that. We're having a bit of a problem with his swimming lessons in that he's frightened of the deep end, which is where his lessons happen now. I'm going to speak to the instructor today to put him in the picture and find out how we can deal with this without dropping him back a level. Evan and I have had long talks about this, and I think I said a few right things this morning.

I was also working on through the entire summer a rather large model for Michael Powell. It literally did take every minute of every day I could devote to it to get it done. Now, I'm trying to get through Sea Stars by Ink Circles for Jayne's Attic and then that's it for the year. I'm working on my own stuff.

Work has also been very busy for me lately. I've tried to pick up more hours, especially since Dave is out of work at the moment. I did some fantastically fun work over the weekend for another agency and hope to spend more time working for them as I make more money with them.

Rugby Fun Day

I haven't posted in a while because things just got so busy with Evan finishing school and work. I've had work most days so haven't really had any time off at all. Any spare time I do get is spent working on the model.

Last Wednesday, however, we did go to Liverpool. It's been quite a while since we've been and it was nice to get away. We visited a few tile shops and bedroom shops but didn't find anything. I did manage to get some chips and curry on the way home though.

Today, we've been to the local rugby club for a fun day. They are trying to attract fresh interest in the sport. After some convincing, Evan finally joined in the training they were offering to the kids and thoroughly loved it. I am hoping that he will go to the training every Sunday starting in September.

Tatty Ted Finish

This is a piece I stitched on my friend's RR. I offered to stitch Alli a square to help her get it finished in time for Baby Harrison, who is due to arrive in early September. I'm afraid no amount of love for either my friend or her unborn baby could make me stitch another one of these again. This piece is called I Love You. The actual stitching part wasn't bad, but the backstitching was horrible. I'm not one for cute designs at all, but this piece does make you smile.

After some confusion on the weekend and thinking I would not be able to stitch a rather large model in time for a deadline, finding someone else to do it, and then finding out I would have time as another model was not needed in a huge rush, I will now start stitching on that model. It is huge, but will be well worth the effort.

Yesterday, Evan and I went into Bangor to find some plastic boxes for his toys. We need to have a good clean out and tidy up before he moves into his new room upstairs. I bought four to start with but will have to see if we need more as we go through his room.

The last day of school!

It is finally here, the last day of school! And the weather is horrible! It's been pouring down all day. Do we really need so much rain? I hope the weather picks up for the summer.

Well, it's been a good week, stitching-wise. I finished this piece for Evan's teacher on Wednesday morning. I then made a dash over to Kit 'n Kaboodle to see what I could find for fabric to put a border around it before attaching it to the bag. I was also looking for thread, until Sue mentioned Bondaweb (which is now my new best friend). It is an adhesive that allows you to put two pieces together. I found some great fabric, even better buttons made of coconut shell. However, I was then kept busy with work and never got back to it until the evening. Then, I was pondering how I was going to get it all together and worried myself sleepless that night.

After a quick phone call to Sue on Thursday morning, in which she reassured me that the adhesive would not come through the front of the stitching, I went out to deliver the papers. It was so nice yesterday morning. I only managed to get the papers done when it started raining again.

After I was showered and changed, I began to sort out the assembly of my bag. I glued the fabric edges down and left them to dry for a bit. I then had work to do so left it until after supper.

The Bondaweb is so easy to use and perfect for this project. I love my stitching but I hate sewing. It took me quite a bit of time, trying to get the fabric strips lined up properly and evenly, but the finished result is so worth it. Why haven't I made a bag for myself? I love it! I sewed the last coconut button on at about 9.30 last night.

This morning, Evan and I took the gift in for his teacher. Normally, the teacher is never in the classroom to receive her gifts on the last day, which I think is wrong because the children are so excited, so I waited. Evan gave it to her immediately when he saw her and she dropped everything to open it. She was really pleased and surprised and I think she really loved it. If not, I'm having it back! She mentioned it would be good as a school bag. I do hope she uses it.

I didn't get to do my papers until much later this morning, but they are all finished now. I somehow managed to find a dry spell to do them in.

Off to do some vacuuming and tidying up now and get Evan's grading present ready, which he already saw. I forgot to hide it in the chaos on Wednesday, but I've still hidden it away.

Frantic stitching!

The last week of school! How fabulous! I can't wait for Evan to be finished.

Over the weekend, I managed to get Sea Stars to a spot I was happy to leave it at while I began stitching Lizzie Kate's Children are People for Evan's teacher. I started that piece on Sunday and should just about have the stitching done today. After brainstorming with Alli via MSN on Friday afternoon, I decided on that particular design to work for Evan's teacher in two ways: one, for the children she teaches, and two (most importantly) for her three children. I decided to attach the stitching to a canvas shopping bag, as his teacher is always carrying bags full of books. I found a large canvas bag on eBay, which arrived yesterday and the buttons this morning. I'm thinking of putting a fabric border around the stitching before attaching it to the bag, just to make it pop a bit more. We'll have to see how much time I have left to play around with it.

I had an eye appointment yesterday and was very happy to learn that my prescription for my glasses, at least, didn't need to be changed. I go for a contact lens check next month and I feel they may need to be changed. My glasses are a stronger prescription than my contacts.

A new model arrived this morning from Michael Powell. It is truly massive and is only one part of a three part series. Funny how I ended up with the largest piece. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew. Meanwhile, Alli's Tatty Ted RR keeps screaming at me.