A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

Thank you all for the comments and emails re: the last post.  Knowing I have support, even via the net definitely helps!

 We’ve had a crazy couple of days this week; we new it would be nuts on Monday and Tuesday but we didn’t have any idea just how nuts.

Monday we had our next scheduled Drs apt.  We had to be at the hospital by 8:30, which is early for us to manage to get anywhere . . . the little guy stayed with Nonna since I want to be able to focus on the new baby at these appointments, not chasing down a toddler.  It turned out to be a very good thing that we left him behind.

The ultrasound showed that the fluid in the back of the baby’s neck was thicker than the range they consider normal, only by 3 tenths of a milimeter but enough that they were concerned.  I guess that combined with my age means there is a possiblity of problems . . .  so after we saw our Dr and talked to her about the test results and all the other stuff that was already on our list before we walked in the, we went down the hall for a chat with someone in the genetic counciling department . . .

Long story somewhat shorter, we wound up having a test called a CVS.  Basically they stick a big needle through the belly and into the uterus and and take a sample of the placenta.  And yeah, it hurt quite a bit.  

They also mentioned that I needed a shot because I am Rh negative.  Huh? Last pregnancy they said I was Rh positive and never gave me any shots . . . what the ???? So after all lot of back and forth with Drs and nurses and the lab we determined that there had been a mix up last pregnancy and that I really am Rh negative.  They drew blood to test for antibodies and gave me the shot.

We went home to wait the 24-48 hours for the inital round of test results and spent a very sleeplesss night.

Tuesday I was scheduled to have Jury Duty.  Generally not something I would look forward to anyway . . . but now with not knowing if the baby is okay and on basically no sleep and I had to leave home by 6:45 to catch a bus into town (I wasn’t driving, esp. with the Red Socks Parade happening!) and manged to get there in time.   I lucked out that the clerk in charge of the Jury pool that day took pity on me and gave me the only other comfortable chair (other than his own) to sit in and I was allowed to take my knitting (bamboo needles) and so I got a chunk of the Irish Hiking Scarf done while I was there.  I also lucked out that I didn’t get sent into a court room and ended up leaving there by 12:30 and caught the bus quick and got home by 1:00.  I picked up the toddler.  Nonna was very glad to seem me after having him 2 days in a row! And we even got in our afternoon nap which was very necessary. 

Later that afternoon the genetic coucilor called us with the preliminary results of the testing they had done.  It appears that everything is just fine.  She said it was a very good test and though they are still running the “full panel” (results in 10 days) she doesn’t anticipate any surprise with it.   And the antibody test came back negative; which means I haven’t developed antibodies to Rh positive blood and that means the baby should be just fine on that count.  They will give me another shot at 28 weeks and again at delivery just in case we decided to have another though we aren’t planning to. 

The other upside of all this was that, though it was too early to determine the sex of the baby by Ultrasound, they were able to tell us based on the CVS.  Our new little one is a Girl!

I’m already planning a shopping trip for some pink yarn and looking at sweater patterns for girls!  This is going to be so much fun.  And we are naming her after my Grandmother, though we’re using the italian version of the name, with her middle name after Dom’s unlcle (the girls version of the name) and so it will be her own name but also family names. 

Lucky for us my brother has sent tons of girl clothes over from my neices . . .and now I just have to sort it all by size etc and can get ready. I’m glad I can do all that now before I get too big or before I have a baby and a toddler to watch while trying to straighten everything . . .much easier!

And on that note, I’m off to fix lunch and then get cracking on those boxes!

So I haven’t been knitting.  Despite having several (ha!) projects going that I actually want to work on and spending evenings lately watching TV (Go Sox!) I still haven’t been really working on anything.

You see, being pregnant is kicking my arse this time around.  I’ve been queasy to downright ill every day for about 9 weeks now and getting an average of 4 days a week worth of migraines (and the only meds I can take have done NOTHING) and so I’ve been miserable.  Add to that lack of sleep (okay, so I do stay up too late) partly because I just can’t get comfortable and our little darling has been getting up quite early lately . . . .

And two days ago when I dozed off while trying to get the little guy to nap I apparently started grinding my teeth in my sleep again.  I’ve had this happen a couple of times before, always when I’m feeling stressed . . . . I grind my teeth while sleeping to the point where I wake with a very, very sore jaw.  At dinner time I discovered it was bad enough that I couldn’t chew!!!! Great, just what I need! I’m already not eating much because of my stomach and now I can’t chew!

When Dom came home (around midnight) I begged him to go to the store and get me one of those silly rubber thingys that sleep in so you can’t grind your teeth . . .  “Don’t you have one from the dentist?”  Yeah, I did, but I ground it to dust the last time this happened!  So off he went . . .  Luckily, after 2 nights of wearing it to sleep I’m feeling a bit of relief, its still sore, but at least I can eat again . . . .

Yesterday, as if there wasn’t enough going on, I got stung by a bee!  This is the 2nd time in the past few months and I’ve had it with bees.  We have a nest of yellow jackets in the corner of the house, just outside the office window and the little buggers keep ending up inside the office.  Last time I was stung was because I didn’t see one who had landed on the desk and I sat down to use the desktop and put my arm on it.  This time it was one crawling around on the dark colored carpet out in the office and I stepped on it.  It stung my big toe; which is now very sore and swollen. 

I told Dom I don’t care what he has to do, what kind of chemical warfare he has to bring, I want those bees gone today.  So far its only me who has been stung, but what if it were the little guy?  So pack your bags bees, ’cause its moving day! 

Oh, and if he doesn’t get rid of them today, the first call I make in the morning will be to a professional exterminator and they will be gone.

Speaking of tomorrow . . . we have our next Drs apt in the morning . . . I’m hoping she’ll have some suggestions for managing all the stuff that is going on . . . and I’m hoping since I’m almost to the end of the first Trimester that things will start to get better soon.   This is the last time I plan to be pregnant and I’d like to get to enjoy it for a little bit! 

Oh, and Tuesday I’m suppose to have Jury Duty.  I’m on standby and really hoping that I won’t have to go . . .  now is just not a good time for this sort of thing . . . . besides, MIL is going to have the little guy for hours tomorrow for the Drs apt . . . . having him all day Tuesday on top of that could be a bit rough on her.   

Knitting wise I’m hoping to get back to work on the baby gift (sweater) I’m knitting for a friend of ours; I’d also like to finish up the Lacey Prairie Shawl sometime soon and I’m working on an Irish Hiking scarf that is about 1/3 of the way done . . .  of course to get any of that done I’d actually have to start knitting again, now wouldn’t I? Ah well.

Two nights ago, while I was in the middle of cleaning another mess . . . . the little guy managed to get his hands on an entire liter bottle of balsamic vinegar . . . . by the time I found him he was covered in it and tracking it (via soaked socks) all over my kitchen floor.  It turns out he’d actually dumped the entire thing on the love seat in the living room (which happens to be my knitting spot) and it was covered!

Luckily, a combination of cold water, laundry soap and a whole box of baking soda seem to have taken the stain out of the seat cushion and some resolve multifabric got the stuff that was on the frame.  However, it made for a long and smelly evening and derailed the other things I had hoped to get done that evening, like dishes and laundry folding . . .

Today, just after breakfast, he managed to find a tube of handlotion and covered himself and my bed in it.  Fortunately, it was a thick cream not a runny lotions so it didn’t soak all the way through to the mattress . . .  he’s currently confined to his room, till Noon per orders of his Father . . . . lets see just what he manages to find to get into there . . .

Somehow lately, for every mess I manage to clean someone around here manages to create 2 more . . .  no wonder I feel like I’m fighting the tide most days!

No knitting to report . . . see above for reasons why

Startitis!

I’ve come down with a case of Startitis! I’ve been fighting it for weeks now; I want to start a sweater for myself to wear this winter.  The trouble is that I can’t decide between a sweater that I won’t be able to button by the end of the year but will be able to wear next year and a pregnancy sweater which would fit all winter but I won’t be wearing again after this winter . . .  tough decision huh?

So instead I started as scarf.  I’m doing the Irish Hiking Scarf in Classic Elite’s Inca Alpaca.  I’ve got 3 skeins of a pretty dark green and after working on it for about 24 hours I finished off the first skein last night.  So 1/3 of the way done its at 19 inches long so I expect it will end up about 57 inches when finished. . .  I had started it because I really want something nice and soft to wear with my new Red Fall Maternity jacket.  The green looks a little “Christmassy” with it but its soooo soft that I just couldn’t resist. 

Now the only trouble is that the little guy is trying to lay claim to  it as a “snuggly”! I so don’t think so!

for the emails and comments wishing us well!

Yes, baby #2 is due to arrive around May 9th 2008.  We’re very excited as well as a bit nervous; this will be a big change and starting over with all the feedings and middle of the night stuff . . .  but very exciting and we think Mimmo is really going to enjoy being a big brother (once he gets used to the idea anyway). 

This is also the main reason I haven’t been doing a whole lot of knitting lately.  I’ve been feeling quite sick this time around and very tired so I have been having a hard time keeping up with the general day to day stuff let alone doing much of anything for knitting.   Its starting to get a little better but I’m still taking a nap with the little guy most days and very tired by the time he goes to bed at night.

I’ve also been fighting off a case of “startitis”! I’d really like to start a sweater for myself but I’m afraid to knit something that I’ll only be able to wear this year, like a maternity sweater, and don’t see the point of knitting something that isn’t going to fit until next year . . . which is why “Fern” is on hold yet again . . . not a lot of point since there is no possible way it would fit this year!  Besides it isn’t like I don’t have plenty of other things to be knitting on .  . . the toddler is going to need more winter socks and perhaps another sweater or two and maybe even a new hat and mittens (we haven’t tried on last years yet) and there is the new baby to knit for as well . . . .

Speaking of which, I think the Prairie Blanket is now going to be made regular baby blanket size and given to the new baby.  Mimmo recently got a twin sized bed and new blankets that fit it and doesn’t really need another blanket right now . . . and I’d like the new baby to have a couple of handknit blankets of their own rather than just big brothers  . . . 

I’m also about 70% or so finished with the Lacy Prairie Shawl.  I’ve been working on it again after it was suggested that shawls might make more sense than sweaters for now since they will fit whether or not I’m pregnant . . . I’m hoping to be able to steal enough knitting time to finish it this next week or at least by the end of the month so I can wear it as things really start cooling off.   Trouble is, because its from some early, very uneven handspun, it really isn’t something I plan to wear anywhere . . . its more of an around the house shawl.   That could change once its blocked but somehow I doubt it.  I’ve been amazed as I’ve been knitting with this yarn at just how much my spinning has changed in the past few years (and I dare say, improved . . .

Okay, gotta run, little guy is getting antsy . . . I’m hoping to move the shawl to waste yarn and take a photo of it sometime soon so once I do I’ll post a new picture . . . .