Thursday, December 24, 2009

And the stockings were hung...


on a window with flair. This year I decided that we needed new stockings. I never was really happy with our old ones so it was about time I got on it. I had made an ornament out of felt years ago and I loved how it turned out. I thought I would try the same technique on a stocking. and I actually thought ahead and took pictures while I was doing it! Just in case you want to see close up pictures of my hands...maybe you're into that kind of thing. Whatever floats your boat.


I started by making a pattern and cutting out the basic stocking...

I then sewed together the stocking, a contrasting felt and the pattern...


after ripping off the pattern I cut away the excess...



more cutting....




Cassia's finished stocking (my favorite)



Red's



Ewan's (my least favorite. Maybe I'll have to redo this one next year)




Hunter's


Overall I love them. I even made black glitter chipboard letters to go on each one with their initials. I haven't decided it they made the cut... What do you think? Add the initial?

Monday, December 14, 2009

______Sucks!


Most of you know that I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in August but I haven't said much about it. Well, here comes the rant. I have just started down the road of treatment. The treatment is a lot better than a lot of other cancers but I think it still sucks. About a week and a half ago I stopped taking my synthroid (which will make me hypothyroid and cause side effects: possible weight gain, sensitivity to hot or cold weather, and feeling very tired) and started a low iodine diet. I never realized how many things have iodine in them!

I can't have:

iodized salt and sea salt

all dairy products

Margarine

Egg yolks

Seafood (I'm not too upset about that one!)

Foods that containcarrageen, agar-agar, algin or alginate (o...k...)

Cured and corned foods (ham, bacon, sausage, corned beef, tuna, etc)

Marinated chicken or turkey

dried fruit

canned vegetables

bread products that contain iodate dough conditioners (what is that?)

Chocolate (kill me now)

molasses

soy products (soy sauce, soy milk, tofu)

Foods that contain red dye #3


I can have:

egg whites

fresh chicken, turkey and beef

black pepper and herbs

homemade bread made without iodized salt and milk

most fresh fruits and veggies

frozen veggies

canned peaches, pears, and pineapple

unsalted nuts

unsalted matzo crackers and unsalted rice cakes (I know you're jealous)

clear sodas

coffee or tea

popcorn popped in an air popper

sorbet


Basically I can't have any processed food. That kinda sucks! I have to make everything from scratch. I'm not a make everything from scratch kinda person! I like my life easy and yummy. Not happening.

I have to be on this diet till my TSH levels get to 20-30. I just called and got the results of my latest blood work....drum roll please.....0.3....SUCK!!!!! I asked the nurse how long she thought it would be till my levels were right. She said some peoples changes rapidly others...well...you know...but she guessed about 2 1/2 weeks. THAT SUCKS! I am going out of my mind here. I want to be able to pick up pizza when it's been a crazy day! I want to start the day off with a donut and a diet coke! I want ice cream! I want a sandwich! *calming breath*

Once my TSH levels are right I will have a I-131 scan. I will ingest radioactive iodine and been isolated for about 3 days. We are shipping the kids off to the grandmas. I will go back in and hopefully the RAI has killed all the thyroid tissue.

I am just so ready for this whole SUCKY situation to be over. I don't want to have cancer anymore. I want to eat and drink what I like. I want to plan a week in advance and not need to wonder if I will be radioactive at the time. I want to plan the rest of my life without the fear of it coming back...but we don't always get what we want because, well you guessed it....sometimes life SUCKS.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Ewan's Quilt


I'm so excited to get Ewan's quilt! I had picked out the fabric and a pattern but was stressed about getting it done. So, my sister-in-law Amy did it for me. We had a whole trade/pay it forward thing going. As "payment" for catering and photographing her daughter's birthday party, she pieced it for me. As payment to her mother, Shari, for the quilting, she made her mom's ornaments. I love how it turned out! I am a little disappointed in one of my fabric choices but I still love it!

See his name? I love that!

Can you tell which fabric I don't like?


I've always machine quilted my quilts myself. Never again! Shari is amazing! I need to start thinking of a "payment" for the quilting on the next quilt!