Happy December Days

So its been 3 weeks now since my foot surgery, and I've done little except sit for all this time.  I did go to SLC last Tuesday, yes in the midst of that horrible snow storm (we got about 18-20 inches from it & the following storms), and get my permanent cast put on my foot, bright red for the season (and because I didn't like any of the other choices available, no golden sunflower yellow, sad for me).  Here we've been so careful for weeks and all that day, then when we got home (only 12-1/2 hours of driving for a normally 5-6 hour trip), I slipped and fell in the garage in melted snow water -- oh the pain, crying, bruises, etc that followed; I took pain pills for the first time since Thanksgiving night.  I actually ended up crawling into the house that night.

My bright red cast has also been decorated with my children's names, we promised them they could do this.  Lol, I must admit, I don't see many people with a cast on anymore that has been written on, has this become an old fashioned idea now?

However, I have started an afghan for my Katie's bed for the day she moves into Ellynn's room using this pattern (imagine it in soft  medium and light purples and cream), though my color scheme is a bit different.  I will take a picture when I have more done on it so you can see what I mean.  I have played with the pattern as I have been crocheting on it so some parts don't look exactly as shown here.





Then I got thinking about making Ellynn a sweater, and went looking for an easy pattern this morning.  This one is what I found, I had  actually read it before so I hunted until i found it.
 
















I will use the same colors of yarn for it as for Katie's afghan.  I sincerely doubt that I will complete either item before Christmas, though maybe the sweater as it looks to be easy.  I really like this version of the hexagon sweater though with its' cute ruffles so may do it instead of the basic one.

I am thinking of making 2 sweaters actually if the first one turns out as easy and cute as it looks, then will use this cute baby hat pattern to make matching hats, though without the stem and leaf.  She has a free downloadable pattern in several sizes, I really like that as I don't have to figure out my own then.  ;)



I think I will also start making flowers again for my Etsy shop, which has been in 'vacation mode' for over a year now, ever since I started fainting while being pregnant with Ellynn.  I may also make more flower (or other different motif) bookmarks too.  Lol, if not for me to sell, than for Ellynn to carry around in her mouth as she crawls -- it seems to be a favorite thing for her to do with mine.

I also need to figure out a few easy handmade Christmas presents too... but better not mention my ideas here (until later) just in case any of that family happens to read here.  ;)

And someday soon, I hope to get my children's pictures from Halloween posted here.  I am rather proud of the costumes I made for both Joseph & Katelynn (aka Katie).

Should I not post again until 2014, may you all enjoy a lovely (and warm -- it's been in the negative temps here already) Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year too.

=) Gayle

October and Foot Surgery

Well Folks, it's October now!  And it sure feels like it too!!!

UGH!!!  Cool today, better than last week's snow, rain, and night temps below freezing -- completely took care of any green life left in my garden, but that's okay with me.  Yep, it really did snow here in Maeser, at one point there was about 1 inch outside, but it had quickly melted before we went to bed.  Rain also fell extensively, and the cold temps outside were enough to make us all seek heavy blankets, winter coats, socks and slippers, and hot cocoa!  However, this cool day has turned out to be lovely with sunshine and light fluffy clouds, so I'm grateful for small things.

In other Jackson family news, I went to my appointment last Tuesday October 1st in SLC at TOSH (the orthopedic specialty hospital) to see Dr. James Morgan.  The end result of that being that he completely agreed with Dr Kelly Gomez (hurray! People actually agreed!!) that my foot would be better off by having the heel fused back under it and supporting the foot and ankle, rather than going with Dr Stan Phillips who insisted that I would need my whole foot & ankle fused together.  Dr Morgan said there is no reason to make me lose my range of motion in my foot while I am still young, and while I would need to be caring for my young children -- yay, I so didn't want to lose the limited motion that I currently have.  I will still limp, perhaps worse than I do now, but he thinks that much of the pain I feeling on the side of my foot will be greatly reduced.  Very happy to know that much of this pain that keeps me awake at night will be going away.
So.... surgery healing timeline is:  8-10 weeks non-weight-bearing, 8-10 weeks some weight-bearing (likely in a walking cast), then 2-4 months of additional physical therapy.  That sounds a whole lot better than 4 months non-weight-bearing, 3-4 months partial weight-bearing, then 4-6 months of additional physical therapy!!

Oh don't get me wrong, I know,  I KNOW, that this is going to be difficult for me to do.  I have 5 young children, ages almost 11, 9, 5, 2, and 8 months -- and I will only be able to do least minimal care for them.  Tasks that I take for granted to be able to do now, will be come extremely difficult and even impossible for me to do while I wait for my body to heal itself, however, I believe that this is the right time to get the surgery done. 

I have faith in Heavenly Father that he will help me get through this painful trial, and i am hopeful that I can find others in my Ward and neighborhood to help me with my concerns regarding getting my boys to and from school.  I have already talked to my Ward Relief Society presidency about them arranging meals for my family for the first couple of weeks, after which time I should have my pain regulated enough that I can help my family out a tiny bit.

I have begun to make freezer meals, and casseroles, that can be easily pulled out to put to cook either by my husband or by one of older boys - with Mom's supervision - for that night's dinner.  I am going to be teaching my older boys how to wash laundry.  I am sorting through clothes, and putting baby E's next sizes close at hand so should she grow out of her current size, then her clothes can be easily changed around.  Same thing for K who will be 3 in December.  The old out-grown clothes will be sold or given away (as will any sizes 0-3T boys stuff that I still have).

I will also be setting up a diapering station in my living room as I believe that starting to toilet train K now would be a bad idea.  I plan to continue to breastfeed baby E, and have done extensive research regarding nursing and anesthesia/pain killers coming out in breast milk, and I believe that we will be okay.

But if anyone wants to come stay with us to help for awhile, I will be thrilled.  Our guest room is always ready for visitors (okay I need to clean off the out-grown clothes first, but that takes just 5 minutes).

I fully admit to being a bit scared about this coming event in my life, but I am determined to put my faith in Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.  Maybe I will even be able to get some sleep between now and then too... well a girl can always hope, yes?

And now, my darling daughter K has informed me "I stinky Mama, change me," so I'm off to take care of her before we need to go pick up her brothers from school.

September is half over

Wow, I just got used to August being here and then school started, now September has blown in and is more than half over.  On this day 12 years ago, we were signing our rent agreement with Mrs. Mary Ellen Olsen - then we lived there another 7-1/2 years after that first year.

I just have to chuckle now though.  Little E has been running a fever (so Not funny at 100.4), but when I [try to]give her fever reducer, she scrunches up her face, purses her lips and turns her head away -- kind of grumbles at me too.  She grudgingly accepts it and swallows when its squirted into her cheek, but there's none of the opened-mouth eager reception her siblings had done as babies.

Speaking of little Miss E, she's 7-1/2 months old now.  She is the daily delight of our family, no one gets the chuckles from her better than her brothers and sister, oh especially her sister.

So...

Happenings with the Jackson family:  I canned 6 quarts and 1 pint of very concentrated plum juice yesterday (works much faster in little bodies than prune juice from the stores, probably makes fantastic jelly too), and I need to get the pulp out of the dehydrator now too, its all dried into fruit leather.

I did end up canning 7 quarts of tomatoes on Labor Day Monday.  The 2 more that didn't fit in canner went into fridge.

A week ago, Monday Sept. 9th, I had a molar pulled (lower right side), it was deteriorating pretty good with nothing to bite against.  I wonder how long my jaw will hurt thought because last night my jaw felt like it was on fire, so I took a Ibuprofen and a Tylenol Extra Strength -- woke up about 1 am with jaw still throbbing so I took a Lortab, that did the trick.

A few days after tooth pulling, I called SLC  to Dr James Morgan's office and got my appointment moved up 6 weeks to October 1st.  I also got on his surgery schedule for November 18th.  Really, I would like to wait until E is a year old and walking, but my foot [and ankle] is falling apart too fast and hurts so badly that waiting unnecessarily is foolish, besides we met our deductible with E's birth this year.

Last night Cole received his Wolf at the Cub Scout Pack Meeting, hurray for him 'cuz that was a lot of hard work (for us both).  Next month's Pack Meeting, Joseph is to get his Arrow of Light, big Hurray for him -- our ward likes to do these in bunches, so even though he won't be 11 yet, they are still doing it then because another boy is getting his then too.  He won't get his Webelo until November though.  I need to remember to invite my Dad and stepMom to come though I imagine they won't be able to because Tuesdays are their Temple day, but will still try.

Soon it will be time to make Halloween costumes, and while I'm sewing, I'd best make Christmas dresses for the girls.  Just had a thought of making red ties for the boys too.  But speaking of  Halloween, K is very much into "princess" so thought I'd make her a princess outfit in pink of course.  And maybe make E either a black cat or tiny witch

I'm finding myself dozing off and baby E is nearly back to sleep, her Daddy's alarm woke her at 4 am, it's now almost 5:15 am.  I guess it's time to put us both back to bed.