test is in! (edited)

My son went to the doctor's last Thursday on his 4th day of a fever, sore throat, light cough with the sniffles. I was told it was probably a virus and to do all the things I was to keep him comfortable, rested and well hydrated. When I asked about a Mononucleosis test the doctor said that to test him then would probably give a false negative. But if he wasn't better or worsened they would have to see him again.
He went in again yesterday, he wasn't any better. It's positive- he has Mono (untreatable) with a sinus infection (treatable with antibiotics) to boot....

I posted this entry, or sort of this one, in a hurry. I was on the phone most of the rest of the day (after the app't and the doctor's call with the test results) with the doctor's office, B.'s school, and family and friends. So I posted in haste and having reread it today- it was a mess. Hopefully you can read this a little better.

I had to arrange several things with the school. He has already missed 8 days of school including today. I arranged a few things with his teacher so he doesn't fall behind. I had the doctor's office fax a "out until further notice" note to the school. And gave them a heads up. It looks as though yesterday not including my son that 6 other kids weren't in his class (of about 24 kids)- all out do to fevers, which in case I didn't post it here then, was what he started with.

When I had Mono in '94, it started on my 18th Bday. I missed about 3 weeks I think. It was awful, esp trying to make up Midterms during regular class time. My Anatomy/Physiology grade never recovered. You can't miss that much time dissecting a cat. Just can't make up that kind of work at home! I was dehydrated enough then to be hospitalized and it took months really until I was really back to "myself". So keep my DS in your thoughts and prayers that he gets better very, very soon!

So sorry for the things I haven't finished (Bookmark Exchange, Surprise Send out to you Vicki) and the posts I haven't seen or made. With the water troubles, then B. being sick, etc. I just haven't had a second to take a breath. I will contact my Bookmark Exchange partner today- with an apology, yeah I think I should tell her it's me at least so she doesn't keep waiting..... It will come just later.

Cookies!

Stolen from Outi. Who can resist a cookie test???

You are a peanut butter cookie!
Even if you're not a kid anymore, you probably still appreciate things like stickers, juice boxes, and silly nicknames. Peanut butter is an essential part of childhood, and you have a high-energy approach to life that reminds us of a little kid running around the playground. (Bet you'd love to skip all the stuff you're supposed to be doing today and hang out in the park with your friends.) Your personality is a happy, chewy blob of peanutty goodness.
21% of the people who took this quiz got the same evaluation.

another mental challenge

I was searching for a map for my son for his homework assignment (poor guy has been home all week and is trying to chip at homework) and came across this World Map Game.
Good luck! I got only 2 or 3, and most of the countries I have never heard of!

shopping to soothe the soul.....

I ordered a few things, well not all for me! I ordered the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue, 2007 Magazine from Jenna at One Star's Light for my flosskid Poppy. (That's a record I think for hyperlinks in one sentence!)
And I got the Mill Hill Kit- Violin for myself.

The Lady in Red design should be on its way tomorrow I think, maybe early next week. I keep thinking it would be a perfect ornament!

Normally I would have picked up the magazine from Border's while I am out and about, but I haven't been out or about much. I took my son to the Dr today. He's had a fever since Monday morning (had to pick him up at school) and it will not let up without back to back meds. I am keeping him home the rest of this week for sure and possibly the beginning of next if he isn't better. The Dr said if he isn't to bring him back in then. Let's hope it breaks and he gets better!
The water is still a smidge bleachy (is that a word?) but it is starting to look cleaner- you don't want to know how bad it was! So I did my first dishes in the sink with tap water in over a week!!!!! YEe-hah! Not the dishes part, just that I didn't have to boil everything before using it!

Harry Potter Quiz

Harry Potter Character Combatibility Test created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Neville Longbottom You are Neville Longbottom. You come across as shy, quiet, and reserved. Underneath, you are deeply caring of your friends and/or family and would put yourself at risk to defend them, even though you would usually exclude yourself from arguments. You don't care much for competition or glory. Maintaining peace and justice are much more important to you. Neville Longbottom 72% Hermione Granger 69% Draco Malfoy 66% Albus Dumbledore 59% Luna Lovegood 53% Harry Potter 47% Sirius Black 44% Ron Weasley 44% Severus Snape 41% Bellatrix Lestrange 38% Oliver Wood 38% Remus Lupin 38% Percy Weasley 31% Lord Voldemort 19%

some good news

I have Lady in Red in the works.
Wish me Luck!

Annoyed

I am still battling weird water. It was clear for me to take a shower, then when I started it back up for my son it was brown again. DH and I figured we could shower in it but not the kids. So we packed up out stuff and went to one of my neighbors house. I have done one load of laundry here today - it is so mucky, yuck! So that's why I did it with bleach. The other two loads I took to two different places. What a pain in the butt!
I did a load of dishes in the machine thinking it would use bleach and then heat to kill anything I can't get by hand. The mugs and most of the things along the top rack are black spotted. So I am rerunning them through without anything on the bottom rack.
Wouldn't have thought this water thing would consume so many days.

The well company is coming up tomorrow (*cough) with the bill and to see about why it doesn't smell like chlorine yet. It was supposed to smell like chlorine the day the well pump and stuff was done. They had treated it, as is by law, and I was supposed to run everything - hose and all until it smelled like bleach then I was supposed to let everything in the house sit and stay overnight to kill anything that could be lurking in the pipes/appliances. I let it run Saturday for hours with no change.....

Keep your fingercrossed for us please!

Nuh-uh!

How evil are you? This is not at all the end of the spectrum I thought I'd be on.

Water Well Repair

The pictures in no particular order:

This is what we did Saturday.
The water is on and running pretty clear now.
We will need a water test this week.

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop in the house

Well so far:

• the pump in the well is dead
• it needs to be replaced
• raised
• filled in around it
• with a new cap
• so far it'll run +/-$1500

Good part is we may have water as early as tomorrow morning.

Pic

This is what I received in the "Start Your Christmas Stitching Exchange"......... I received the package over a week ago but just got to the picture posting now.

I also received word that the package for the same exchange I had sent out made it to her. I found the receipts in the "gum pocket" of my purse (I have a zippered pocket on the outside of my purse that is for gum for the kids- never normally put anything else in there!) Sorry I forgot to take a pic before I mailed it.....
Just not myself lately.

We have no water.

I showered yesterday, started to handwash a few things in the sink and began filling the washer up to do a load of laundry. The water worked fine, then as the washer filled it went to a trickle. I thought it was odd, restarted it, the same.Checked the faucets- barely a trickle. Checked the fuse box in the basement- nothing looked amiss. No broken pipes or anything like that.
I freaked. I hopped online and tried to sort out any info I could get. It ended with a call to a plumber. He even tried a few suggestions over the phone. Still no water!
The plumber will be here this morning. The only good news I guess is that we pulled the lid off the well and it's very full.
Keep all of your fingers and toes crossed for us. Hope it's a simple and cheap problem.
The next time I say whoah there's too much stored water- kick me. We are using it now!

Halloween Hangman

It's that time of year again! Time for Halloween Hangman!

not so dark...

A thank you to all who have left comments. I am feeling a little bit better now. The migraines persist, but I am sleeping some now.
*keep me in your thoughts.

Dark place

I will not get into it, but I am in a rather dark place right now. I may not be on as much for a while.
Keep me in your thoughts.

Quickie update

I have closed the sign up the Surprise Giveaway........
I will need to go out of town for a bit Sunday (today). I will post a winner Monday I think. So stay tuned!

mellow yellow

Stolen from Jenna:

Your Inner Color is Yellow

Your Personality: Life's too short not to have fun. Your bright energy brings joy and laughter to those around you. You in Love: A total flirt, you need a lot of freedom to play. But you'll be loyal to that one person who makes you feel safe. Your Career: You love variety in a job, and you probably won't stick with one career. You would make a great professor, writer, or actor.

What's Your Inner Color?

Only 9?

Nine people have signed up for the Surprise Giveaway. I can feel the excitement! I want to do a nice job wrapping "it" up too.....
tick tock, tick tock.

Purple Potter!

This 14ct lovely is on its way to me!!!!!!

I cashed a gift certificate from my dear neighbor Knittykitty over at ABC Stitch.

It is for a soon-to-be Halloween type design. Not sure which. Just had to have it. Once I play with stitch on it I may need to order a bigger cut.

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?
Too bad it isn't available in any higher counts.....

PIF.......

It has been absolute ages. I posted this and had a little info pass and then, "Kerflop!" Nothing.
I wanted to give Paula and Heather a heads up. I will be emailing you shortly to get your snail mail addresses. I have changed emails, yahoo made me mad, so it'll be coming from a gmail account with my username......

AnneR., I already know your address!

So it look like I only have 3.........

Now for some Jane Austen!

Take the Quiz here!

(Whoops, I thought the description came up with it. It didn't.)

:: L I Z Z Y ::

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of silliness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

okay

I mailed the EMS exchange item for the "Start Your Christmas Stitching Secret Pal" exchange. I sent it West. As of yesterday it had been a week. (Tomorrow being a holiday is no help either) I had this funny feeling and mailed it with delivery confirmation and hung onto the receipt and delivery confirmation slip. I then lost both. She hasn't posted yet that she has received it............
*grrrr. Better not have gotten lost in the mail! If so I will have to replace it and resend.

hm, a surprise ?

I mentioned earlier to watch here for an upcoming giveaway. Well here ya go. Sign up here in the comments by October 14th! I have a little pressie to give, and yeah, it's a good one! I will draw a name with the highly scientific way called "drawing a name from a hat", and post here who wins.

Autumn

Snagged from Laura

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

Good thing, since it's my favorite season!

stitchie good times

I am struggling to make the bookmark. I am just not in the mood to cross stitch! I may have to do blackwork or something if I am to get the thing done in time.

On other stitchie things:
The black/charcoal grey mix Webkinz blanket is coming along. I stitched on it more last night. This pic is of the day before or so I think. I added some stripes to it, a thin one on the end, and a thicker one in the middle. I will add another on the other end. I am not counting or anything, just winging it. It's good mindless stitching.
Here's the test swatch for DH's navy blue afghan. It's the original yarn I picked up, with the same stitch and a (much)larger sized hook,a Q hook.I love how it looks! It feels like a dream too. I am not sure if I will stay with this size or not. And yes I know it's all bumpy, this is my second time "really" crocheting. Check out how much yarn I have used. With the smalled sized hook I had nearly finished the first skein and hadn't even gotten the second row done!

party time!

I am hosting online and by catalog a Pampered Chef Show. Take a peek if you like!
I was asked a little while ago by a family member (Mom) when I would be doing one again. Well, the lady I used to have stopped selling and I managed to find another lady through the newspaper (very close to me in fact) who is a consultant.
So now I can get the things I was waiting to order.

Thank you Deb and Jenna!

game

Try this!
I made it 18 seconds and something, DH made it over 24.... How about you?

MySpace

New pics are up at MySpace.... Contact me and I'll add ya, I only add those I really know since I post pics of the kids there.
Tah!

Soft Navy Yarn

Okay, here are a few possibilities with texture and color:

Red Heart® Soft Yarn™

Red Heart® Grande™

Lion Brand Jiffy®

Bernat® Softee® Chunky Yarn

* Has anyone used any of these? I don't what if these are at the craft store or not to get a look and feel.

Navy yarn

Would anyone happen to know about the yarn called Natura? What it is like?
I am trying to find more yarn in Navy that I can use for the afghan.

I started stitching the afghan - thank you B.!- in a double crochet. It is coming out great but will not stay that way. I have started row 2 and am nearing the end of the first skein. Um, not good. So I think I will restart with a larger hook. Plus I was wondering if I could throw in a another navy color to add weight and size but still have some of the same soft texture. The regular Simply Soft doesn't appear to be available in navy blue.

an afghan

DH asked me (which he never does!) to make him an afghan. He wanted it soft like DD's sweaters and navy blue. DD's sweaters are something chenille like. Erm, too expensive.
SO it began- the search for an easy pattern and the yarn to go with it.

The pattern was this and called for thick yarn. The thick yarn was Homespun which has a bumpy texture, and I have used before, but the color is not so uniformly navy blue. So I grabbed several skeins of it on sale this weekend at the Knitting Festival (aka a sale at AC Moore). Then while at Michaels I grabbed more of it (yeah coupons!) and some of the Caron Simply Soft Quick which is about $3.50 a skein, and is only a 3ouncer (50yd) but the perfect shade of navy blue! It is sooo soft!
DH after "inspecting" them decided on the SQ. So I returned the other yarn and picked up a few more of the SQ. It's going to be expensive.
So the other possible option is to use a different pattern, so loved the fast one, *sigh, and possibly use the regular Caron Simply Soft with the Quick as stripes or edges or something....... Could pose a challenge as they are different weights.

I am going to try and crochet this one- two the girls at Craft Night have done these and wow, they look great and seem to be faster than knitting. Never mind the fact that it's easier to rip out rows of mistakes in crochet than in knit for me I think.

the other updates:Started round three on the Bookmark for the exchange, and again, not liking it so I am going to change tactics completely and do something totally different. Let you know how that goes!


I have put aside the baby blanket. I got too frustrated. Other things to work on at the moment.