1.31.11

This morning the Children's hospital actually called me. They had set up my appointments for me, next week. Unfortunately they couldn't give me the 2 appointments on the same day. So I'll have to be there twice. I hope to get some answers.

I've been doing some research online. Probably a bad thing because I became very emotional today and was a total mess. I got nothing done. I had no energy to do anything. I cried. Why Baby Q? Why us?

Some research helped me form about 800 (ok, I'm exaggerating) questions for the doctor appointments next week. I've been writing them down so I don't forget what I want to ask. I also wanted to be well informed before walking into the follow-up.

Today I learned that Laryngomalacia:
- Starts at about 4 to 6 weeks of life after a baby is born.
- Occurs when the child is breathing in.
- Becomes worse with crying, upper respiratory tract infections, laying in the supine (on back) position (doctors may recommend that babies with laryngomalacia be placed on their stomachs to sleep instead of their backs, as long as the bedding is not soft.)
- Usually gets worse before it gets better
- Child may have retractions (sucking in of the skin above or below the ribs when breathing in) (Quentin does have this).
- There is no cyanosis (blue color of the skin)
- The baby is otherwise happy and thriving (Happy yes, but Quentin needs to gain weight).
- Some parents have found that cool visit from a vaporizer helps eases the child's noisy breathing. (I will dig out the vaporizer we have in the storage room and put it in Q's room).
- Children with laryngomalacia will do better at a 30 degree angle, or by positioning their heads to relieve or reduce the obstruction. The child should also be held in an upright position for 30 minutes after feeding and never fed lying down.
- Crying exacerbates the obstruction and work of breathing; a pacifier may be useful to calm an agitated infant.

This is a start. At least there is information out there to help me understand better and make Quentin feel as comfortable as possible. I joined a support group for parents who have children with Laryngomalacia. I haven't written anything on the boards/threads, but maybe I will soon. I had a long chat today on the phone with a friend of mine who has a son 4 days younger than Mackenzie, who is going through the same thing, except her son was misdiagnosed until the age of 11 months, and she is dealing with an entire whole net set of issues because he was diagnosed late. At 2 and a half her son is still on formula (liquid diet pretty much) because he won't eat solids. He associates it with vomiting and gagging. She's working with people to train/teach her son how to eat. She told me that I should be glad they diagnosed Quentin at such a young age. I hope to avoid any further problems like she is going through. I also had a long chat with a friend of mine, (that my engagement ring actually comes from - he's a diamond seller), and his daughter has been living most of her life (she's just over 18 months) at the Children's Hospital. He'll actually be there next week during one of Quentin's appointments, so I am going to meet up with him for a bit, but he has seen all the doctors I will be seeing, and he was talking about the hospital to me. It felt reassuring. His daughter actually hasn't been diagnosed with something specific as they are not sure what is actually wrong with her, but she has major stomach issues and has a permanent feeding tube. I ran into him once since he moved to my neighborhood when we were both in the pharmacy parking lot. I was coming and he was going. It would be nice to catch up and meet his daughter.

Then late afternoon, the mailman actually showed up with our mail. To my surprise (I had totally forgotten that I signed up last year for the Tanis Fiber Arts Sock Club for 2011), there was yarn in my mailbox.

Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight in Frost.

Today’s Link Love:
- This frame tutorial. Love the clock in the frame.
- This bedtime calculator.
- Huggies free Enjoy the Ride Rewards Points: BKJZHTRKCNDPPGB

I leave you tonight, with a video of Quentin's Laryngomalacia. It starts up around 17 seconds into the video, where you can hear his "squeaky breathing".

06.22.10 :: 13 weeks

13 weeks pregnant today.
It’s going to go too fast, isn’t it?


Thank you to whomever sent me this kit in the mail.
I love it! Totally wanted it!
I want to thank the proper person, so please tell me who you are!

Sean saw a Pillow Pets commercial this morning. He says he wants one because it’s even machine washable. I couldn’t stop laughing for like 20 minutes. The stuff that comes out of Sean’s mouth sometimes… I can’t believe how smart this kid is. He uses logic in everything and retains everything.

I started taking Dicletin, and I just couldn’t get out of bed this morning. I had to force myself out of bed. I heard that this medication can make you really tired until your body gets used to taking it. I really hope that my body adjusts soon, because I almost much prefer the nausea of the zombiness. Honestly!

This evening Jamie had ball (in the drizzling rain), and I sat on the couch and caught up on Modern Family (not sure why I watch it, it’s so bad!) and caught up a bit on Parenthood. (I’ve still got 3 more episodes to catch up on). I worked on some knitting, starting & completing the project in 4 hours. I will show you tomorrow what I whipped up. I even had JUST enough yarn to make it. Details to come tomorrow, with pictures. Promise.

Today’s Link Love:
- Love this photo.
- This dress.
- This necklace on this awesome website.
- Wish I were more talented at sewing, I’d love to make a pink/girly material nursing cover. I’m going to attempt to nurse again after I give birth.
- Love this tutorial on how to make your own playdoh!
- Love this sock animal rattle tutorial!
- Love this diaper pouch tutorial as well.
- Love that I picked lettuce from our garden and made a fresh Caesar salad. YUM!
- Love that I was cleaning up my crawl space and found another missing bag of maternity clothes, which included my fave maternity jeans that I thought went missing and was gone for good. Still missing a fave three quarter length black shirt, but I’ll find something else to replace it, because I think it’s gone for good, unfortunately. (I think I’m also done with loaning things out. I never get everything back that I loan out, so it’s not even worth it anymore. Some people just don’t take care of your stuff, as you would their stuff. If I borrow stuff, I always make sure it goes back to the person who gave it to me).
- This video:

Today’s Contest Winners!
Betsey's Braids: KNIT GIRL KNIT!
Roar, a Dinosaur Hat: ANIE!
2 Winners of my sock collection: Carolyn & Nicole!

Next week I’ll be giving away Strawberry Mittens & Flannery by SpillyJane as well as one winner that will get to choose 4 patterns from Jeannie’s Ravelry Store! I am trying to round up a few more prizes for the next giveaway, so stay tuned!

04.22.10

This morning we headed out first thing to Woolaroo.
I had a small wholesale order to pick up for a customer and I wanted to go see the shop.
I did pick up something for myself, which I bought with birthday money.
(Gift = not part of yarn diet!)

After lunch, we headed with Cynthia’s mom to her local knit group at the Mission Library.
We had a nice time chatting with the ladies and I worked on Jamie’s socks.

After the knit group we ran a couple of errands, to pick up some supplies.
We also checked out Chilliwack Wool & Craft shop.
There, I also got myself a small gift, as part of my birthday present.
I was given some birthday money before I left to BC to use specifically for this.
Yarn is permitted this year on my yarn diet, as gifts only ;)
I think I’ve been soooo good this year so far anyhow, not buying a single skein of yarn.
I think a little birthday yarn shopping is much well deserved.
I figured I could stretch my birthday money, and
get at least something in each yarn shop we visit.
(Pictures of said yarn are to come, shortly).

I had forgotten Mack’s toothbrush back in Montreal.
(On purpose actually, because he needed a new one).
Anyhow, once he got his new one, he just wanted to brush his teeth.
He didn’t care he was in the car.

Tonight, after Mack was in bed, we set out to do crafting project #1 :: Dying yarn.
We made a little bit of a mess, but had a wonderful time.
None of this yarn was bought, it came with me from home.

We each dyed up a bunch of yarn.
(Mine are the complete left pink ones on the left hand side,
as well as the lot of indigo ones on the front bar complete left side)

I also dyed a few solid mini skeins for Babette v.1.

Once we were done dying and had cleaned up, we sat in the living room, watched some TV and knitted or crochet. It was nice & cozy and relaxing. I had a really good day today, and can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Though, I had a little bit of a piss off today. I realized that Westjet airlines have now broken another stroller I’ve flown with. They broke a part on a stroller I flew with back in January when I went to Florida. This time, they broke the entire parent caddy off the stroller. It’s quite annoying now that the part isn’t there. It looks like a chunk is missing from the stroller on top.

The reason I only realized today and not yesterday is because I was the last one off the airplane because I was traveling with Mack and had to wait for them to bring me my stroller in the first place. As I was putting Mack into the stroller, one of the stewardesses put my diaper bag purse, and sweater over the handle bars of the stroller. I did not even see that there was a piece missing. The stroller got folded up quickly when we got the rental car and put into the trunk. I only realized today when we opened up the stroller to use it.

Anyhow, I’ve filed a complaint with Westjet, but I don’t think it will get resolved until tomorrow. I will keep you updated to let you know what is going on with that. I even checked a bunch of places today (2 different Walmarts, a Zellers, Canadian Tire, etc to see if I could find a stroller caddy (Jolly Jumper makes one). I found nothing. I also called Toys R Us in the Vancouver “metro” area, and the caddy exists in their computer, but they (nor any store in the area) don’t have any in stock. It’s on back order until May 2010. That does me no good. I will be calling back Westjet tomorrow. I’m also going to try calling the manufacturer of the stroller to see if that piece can be replaced.

Just my luck. I can’t fly with Westjet without them breaking my stroller. That’s 2 for 2.

june two :: 50 weeks old

Mack is 50 weeks old today.
Say what? His 1st birthday is in 2 weeks?
AHhhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm not ready?

This morning from 9-10 am we had our weekly music class. These wonderful ladies (a duo musical group) will be the entertainment at Mack's 1st birthday party which is coming up sooner than I'd like. (I'm really not ready to have a 1 year old).

Mack, as always, had a fabulous time at music this morning. He loves playing with their puppets and is sad when we have to put them away. But after the puppets, out comes the musical instruments, which he likes equally as much.

I stopped at home to pick up my printer (since I need to see why it's still telling me that I have a paper jam) and I got that leftover SWS in the mail from the swap I did on Ravelry. I cannot wait to finish up my Queen Anne's Lace Scarf! Hopefully this yarn will be enough, and if not, I have that other skein that my ex-boyfriend's mother ordered for me from the USA.

I dropped off Mackenzie at my parents house and headed to work. First day back! Took me about half an hour to get to work. It's a long drive, but with no traffic at the time I leave, I don't mind it. Too bad that I can't knit while traveling there. I didn't end up doing the work that I will be doing now that I'm back at work, because one guy was on vacation this week and Frank (my manager - I say my manager because the store is equally mine & my husband's, but my husband runs the store as he knows more about the computer industry than I do) was alone in the store, and couldn't come back into the office to show me what I will be doing from now on. I understand what it is I will be doing, but I haven't ever done this job before, so there is a lot to learn. So instead, I took initiative and did receiving while Frank was with customers and apparently Jamie told me this evening that Frank was really impressed that I took it upon myself to take care of things that needed to get done, and it's going to be a really big help around the store. Frank is used to people being told 25 times what to do - and not someone "getting it" on the first time. Well, I want my store to do well - so I want to be fast & efficient, right? I don't want to be told 25 times how to do something. That's just not cool. Even though I'm "above" Frank if you will, I will still listen to him as he's been managing the store for longer than I've been there, so he knows what he's doing, and Jamie trusts him a lot. I'm glad we have good staff. That's really important. I'm really looking forward to meeting the other employees as well. I stayed for a couple of hours until there wasn't really anything more I could do, so I headed out.

Mack was still asleep from naptime at my parents house, so I came home instead of picking him up and did some stuff around the house. I worked in the garden a bit - planting those new Zucchini plants in the extended area of the garden, and also pot planted 3 pepper plants that needed to get into the earth. I didn't have the heart to throw them out, so we'll see if they will survive (they were a little too long in the house).

I didn't realize I had the dentist tomorrow, as usually they call me. My sister let me know today that we had the appointment tomorrow, but since I have plans, I decided to reschedule the dentist, and now I'm playing telephone tag with his secretary. Apparently the appointment was for me & Sean. (For Sean, it'll be his first appointment, so it's just to get him used to the idea of going to the dentist, it's not an actual check-up).

Tonight Jamie & I finished watching Damages Season 2. Woah! Loved Season 2 - not impressed with the way it ends. Not at all. I guess we'll see what happens next season. I like Glenn Close, so it's been a good show. While watching Damages, I worked on my Misty Garden scarf. I now have 41" of the scarf complete, and by the looks of it, I don't think I'll have enough yarn for for 59" unblocked. Maybe blocked I can get 59" plus. We'll see what happens!

Here's me modeling my Chevron Scarf. Now that I almost have my body back, I wanted to show it off! Gotta love sports bras and yoga pants. (So comfy!) I can't wait for the fall to wear my new scarf! Love it!

april four

I love starting off my days with happy boys. Both boys usually wake up in super moods almost every day. (After an 11-13 hour sleep, wouldn't you feeling very freakin' refreshed and in a super mood too?)

This is one of the last toothless photos of Mack....! As of tonight, his first tooth is about 1/8th out. This morning, it was still in the gums (I've been checking religiously, and I'm sure Mackie just wants to bite my finger off by now!) I'm a proud mama! His first tooth! (Just one too!)

Today I played in dyes all day long. It was fun. First I played around with some mini skeins for my blanket. As I'm not repeating one colorway twice in the blanket, I've been trying to come up with some new ones, by playing with the dyes. Let's just say, I'm having a ton of fun.

I also dyed up some Grape Soda. It's another test for a 4 ply fingering weight.

And I also dyed up some Grapecicle, in Flock of Feathers Sock. It's for sale in the shop, check it out. I'm just obsessed with purple these days. If you knew me prior to getting pregnant, the word purple would NOT come out of my mouth, I hated it. And now...!? Love it. Not sure what's the story behind falling in love with purple again...! I can't explain it.

Today otherwise was a real chill day. I love those. A bit of a rainy Saturday, it's what the doctors ordered. Since Jamie didn't have hockey tonight we tried to find a babysitter but we were not in luck, so instead we chilled on the couch and caught up on the last 3 episodes of Lost that were sitting on our PVR. I also worked on my Step-Mother-in-Law's Vest, which is coming along mighty fine. I hope to get it to her by Thursday, when we see her for Passover. (Though we'll be seeing her again on Saturday for Easter, so if it doesn't get to her by Thursday, Saturday's just as fine).

april three

This morning Sean woke up at 5:45 am. Not sure what that's all about, usually I'm the one who is waking him up in the morning. I managed to convince him (after changing his diaper) to come lie down in bed with me. He then wanted to watch TV, but I convinced him to keep quiet so that daddy can sleep another hour (Jamie gets up every morning at 7 am to start his day).

This morning after dropping Sean off at daycare I did my usual check-in at the nutritionist. As of this morning I'm now 21 lbs down!! I've passed the 20 lbs mark! Whoot! Only 14 more lbs to go to reach my goal. I can so do it. Though it's taking a bit less willpower now than it did when I started this, but, it's still freakin' hard. Wow. TWENTY ONE POUNDS! I love seeing the scale get lower and lower and lower each week. This week, I've lost 3 lbs from last week. And I've lost a total of 35.2 inches off my body. I pulled out my Robyn's Nest tape measure with my logo on it.... 35 inches is LONG! I feel so good. It's great.

Music was cancelled today as the music girl has the flu, and next week there's no music either as it's Good Friday. Mack misses his music friends. Oh well, it'll resume soon enough!

So today we stayed in and I did some things around the house, including fixing my purse. I got it 2 years ago at Roxham, and the strap used to be über long, but it ripped in 2 places, so I cut the strap, and (below) used a skirt pin and voila, a bag made new again. I tried contacting the girl who made is on numerous occasions and she kept putting me off "later, later, I'm busy".... so screw that, I fixed it temporarily myself. (Until I figure out how to use my sewing machine properly for stuff like this).

I did some dying around the house today, was playing with colors, and dyed up one of my Knit Picks Sock Blanks. I have a colorway name in mind for this one, but I'll share it at a later date. I want to make sure it works before labelling it. Though, I'm not really sure how to wind this into a cake, as it's double stranded, so what I'm afraid of is a tangle. Anyone have any advice from experience with winding from a blank that is double stranded?

I also made myself some Habs stitch markers. I saw something similar online, and since I had the beads at home, I went ahead and made some. I won't be selling them in the shop (to not step on the other girl's toes who does sell them), but if any of my friends want to get some, please let me know, I will do personal requests for sets. Can't wait to find a project to use them for...

Usually on Friday nights my in-laws come over for dinner, but they're über busy with taxes right now (they do people's taxes) and are going to be busy until the end of April pretty much. We will see them for Pesach & at Easter, but other than that.... we'll have to wait until after May 1st. They do taxes in their free time (they both still work at day jobs) and so I cannot request them for babysitting until after tax time is over. But that's okay, we do have other "babysitters". (My sister, my parents, etc!). So far I've never left my kids with anyone but family (except twice with Jamie's best friend and his girlfriend - but Jamie's best friend is like family to him). I really should look into babysitters that are non-family - incase one day I do get stuck and need someone. (Though I do have some friends I know I could count on if I was ever really stuck).

So tonight, I continued playing with yarn & dyes, and I'm all dyed out right now. (Though I'll probably play with some more dyes tomorrow). I think now I'll go hop on the couch and knit some more on my step-mother-in-law's vest, I would like to give it to her on Thursday when I see my in-laws for Pesach.