Big Changes

I have alluded several times to some medical issues over the past couple of months. And not to worry….they are for a good reason! I’m proud to announce that the Hubby and I are having a baby!!

We are over the moon excited and due sometime early to mid October. As of today I’m around 12-13 weeks and moving into the second trimester! It’s been sooo hard to keep this a secret!!!

That being said…..I’ve been MISERABLY sick since about week four. My mother’s side has a history of hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition was highlighted famously last year by Duchess Catherine or Princess Kate, whichever you prefer. While I didn’t have to be hospitalized I did have a steep learning curve to finding ways to cope with the debilitating symptoms. I’ll spare you the gory details but around week two of symptoms I asked my Hubby if he was okay with only one child, lol. It has since become more manageable.

I am currently taking an anti-emetic medicine, eating a very high fiber and high protein diet, a B-6/Unisom combo for bed time nausea, I drink enough water to fill a swimming pool every day, and take a gummy prenatal vitamin because they are easier on the tummy. I eat almost no sugar, no caffeine at all, very little fried food, and eat 5-6 smalls meals a day instead of 3 large ones. I seriously feel like a gastric bypass patient. But most days it works for me. And the plus side that is all this morning sickness (or all day sickness) means a healthy baby, or so I’m told.

I still have a lot of symptoms but I can at least manage to make it through work. I’m hoping this tapers off in the second trimester. But my own mother had symptoms for her entire pregnancy. I’m praying that I don’t have to do the same….

I’m BONE TIRED most days and sleep 8-9 hours every night. I have had little energy to knit or anything fun. I can barely make sure the house has groceries and the laundry gets done once or twice a week. A big apology to my husband for all the sandwiches and chicken nuggets on the menu lately. Seriously, he’s been such a trooper and takes great care of me!

I can’t wait to start our nursery and pulling out all my baby hand knits I’ve been storing up over the years! Not to mention feeling better some day! Stay tuned for updates on our little Jellybean! (I don’t know want to find out the sex so I picked a gender neutral monicker lol)

Hallelujah, I Finally Have A LYS!!!

Hallelujah and Praise the fiber gods!! My happy hamlet of Topeka, KS has officially opened a LYS!

I introduce to you….Yak ‘n Yarn!

They are all about knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and so much more! I have been following their Facebook page and their Grand Opening at the end of March. They are going to even offer classes and Knit Nights! My inner knitting nerd is doing back flips! They have sort of odd hours right now so I sadly haven’t been able to get in there and explore the store. I am definitely going remedy that soon!

What is your favorite part of having a LYS near you?

2014 Stashbustin’ #14: Hexi-ghan

I think I have found my next project and it’s perfect for my current knitting mood! I give you Hexi-ghan by verybusymonkey!

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(Photo credit to @verybusymonkey and Hexi-ghan Rav page)

This afghan beauty is knit one hexagon at a time. After the first one you pick up some of the stitches from your finished hexagon to start the next one. So no seaming!!! This is the perfect project for my mood right now. Instant gratification when you complete a hexagon but it builds to a larger project.

I am planning to use up my stash of Bernat Cottontots cotton. Which is sadly discontinued now! (If anyone has any Cottontots hanging out in their stash they want to bargain/trade/donate PLEASE let me know. I seriously love this stuff!!)

I haven’t decided if I want to do colors by rows or just knit the colors randomly as I go. Do I want a patterned design or free form art….what would you do?

Spring Cleaning

After my hiatus from blogging/knitting the past couple of months, I haven’t been able to generate much interest in any of the WIPs I had on the needles. And I can’t knit something I don’t love, so I did some organizing!

2014 Stashbustin’ #11: Henry’s Sweater – FROGGED

Undated/Unnamed Baby Girl cotton baby blanket – FROGGED

2014 Stashbustin’ #5: Antrose – HYBERNATING

Calorimetry Headband – FROGGED

2014 Stashbustin’ #13: A Plain Rye Sock – ACTIVE WIP

Call it a Spring Clean! I just couldn’t bring myself to work on any of these so I made a frog-it or stash-it decision. Only my Antrose and Plain Rye Socks made it safely out of the frog pond. Antrose is great but it’s a lot more project than I want right now, so it’s safely tucked away! I’m hoping to start my second Plain Rye sock soon!

But all this begs an important question, what to do next? Pardon me, I’m off to peruse my Ravelry queue!

A Little Post Winter Pick Me Up

I managed to get my mitts on a new book. And I’m beyond in love with it!

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Knit to Flatter by Amy Herzog!! I’ve only had time to read the first few pages and flip through the designs. I did manage to snag my seamstress/genius mother to take my measurements and plug them into the measurements page.

I’ve already fallen in love with some of the projects. How amazing is this Flutter Pullover? I’m not ready to dive into a sweater project just yet. So I’m content to just drool for now.

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Has anyone else out there knit a project from this book? I’d love to hear your experiences!

FO Friday: Assisted Hatchling

I finally have a FO to show!!! 2014 Stashbustin’ #12 is in the books!

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Pattern: Assisted Hatchling by Elizabeth Ditchburn Dew

Size: 3 months

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda

Needles: US 8 circulars and US 8 DPNs

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I used 217.7 yards of yarn or about 117 grams. This was just over half of one skein of yarn. The pattern is free and well written. I would definitely make this one again. My bind off at the hem went kind of wonky. Even blocking didn’t fix it all the way. Can’t decide if it bothers me enough to rip out and redo, lol. I do love the open neck detail that makes sure it fits over babies big noggin.

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Now I just need to add buttons at the next. Nothing in my “button stash” fits the character of this garment. So I need to go shopping. Or….I’m seriously considering snaps. How easy would those be for a new mommy to fasten!? Any thoughts from the blogging world?

CMA Part 1: Done!!

At the end of February I sat for Part 1 of the Certified Management Accountants exam. To say it was intense was an understatement…I was shaking in my tennis shoes. Not to mention that I was in the middle of some miserable medical symptoms. But once you schedule your test…you can’t back out!

I studied 10-15 hours a week for 9 weeks to prepare.(This was a huge reason for loss of my knitting mojo. My brain couldn’t handle thinking about both at the same time). By the end my test prep scores were in the high 60s and low 70s. You need a 75% to pass. The test is a little under 5 hours from start to finish. But I finished all the multiple choice and 7 out of 8 essay sections. I personally felt that the test prep software was harder than the actual test. So I’m hopeful I passed. Now I have to wait until the middle of April to find out if I passed our not….ITS KILLING ME!

I really need to start studying for Part II, providing I passed Part I, so I can sit for the next test at the end of May. I’m not sure I’m ready to dive back in but no turning back now. This experience has really pushed my professional and education boundaries. Wish me luck!

WIP Wednesday: A Plain Rye Sock

I have been woefully neglectfull of my #SockswithSarah KAL. My knitting mojo kind of went out the window during February and March. All I could manage was a few stitches here and there and only every so often.

But over time those stitches add up! At my last update on this sock I was halfway down the leg. Now I’ve turned the heel and I’m working down the foot.

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This project is mindless and portable….and right up my alley at the moment. I’m not into committing to a huge WIP right now and I DEFINITELY don’t want to have to think too hard!

What is your go-to mindless knitting project?

Puppy 911…Or So We Thought

To be clear this is not an April Fools joke….but it sure felt like it at the time!

The hubby and I have two very happy and (knock on wood) healthy pets, Dex and Chloe. Chloe is a six year old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. She has a minor heart murmur that is under control with exercise and healthy diet. Then we have Dex, a five year old yellow lab that aside from some digestive issues after licking grill goo is very healthy. Until last week…

While visiting my parents Dex developed soreness/pain while jumping up and down from surfaces. He yelped/cried when he tried. Not finding any outward signs of injury we kept him quiet for a few days to ease what we thought was probably a pulled muscle. And for most of the week he continued to show no interest in jumping up and down off the couch or bed. He did absolutely fine running, eating, drinking, and playing.  Then last Saturday came…

After having their supper and evening constitutional the pups settled in for their naps. I took up residence on the couch to catch up on my DVR. I turned around to see my lab hunched on his back haunches, ears laid back, and shaking visibly on his pet bed. To say I freaked out is an understatement…I yelled for my husband who came running. Dex didn’t want to stand or move his back legs. They were stiff and shaking. My husband had to carry all 90 pounds of him to our car to take him to the Emergency clinic down the road.

Upon reaching the clinic and getting settled into the exam room, our dog for no apparent reason began acting normally again. The (very sweet and lovely vet) examined him and found no muscle, skeletal, or neurological issues. So 15 minutes and $100 later we walk out of the clinic with doggy NSAID pain relievers and orders to keep him calm for a week.

I was half mad at myself for freaking out and half relieved that nothing serious was wrong. After five years of doggy ownership, this was our first “emergency”. And it scared the crap out of me. Lord help my husband and I when we have human kids, lol.

Have you ever had a puppy false alarm? How did you handle it?

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Let Me Reintroduce Myself..

Hello, my name is Rachelle and I’ve been an absentee knitter and blogger….

It’s been over a month since my last post. Between the winter blahs and some less than fun medical issues I decided to go “dark” for awhile. I read a lot of books, took walks with my pups, worked on some home organization, and lots and lots of time with my beloved husband. I didn’t read any blogs, used my smartphone only when necessary, and barely picked up my needles at all. I’ll pause for your gasps of horror, lol.

Oh my, was it soooo needed! I had seriously lost my mojo for almost everything. It’s not quite all the way back yet. But I am getting there. I think my priorities have shifted a little. (My home is certainly cleaner for it.) And now I have a better idea of what I want to accomplish in 2014. Have you ever taken a step back to rearrange yourself or searched for a new balance? I highly encourage it in this fast paced digital world!

Stay tuned…this is going to get exciting!