Saturday 31 December 2011

Stitchy Content: Stash & WIP

I've been quite good stash wise lately (we do NOT include Violarium's closeout sale to this *innocent whistling*), but when I saw this at Sewandso's sale bin I had to have it, even it is a kit with aida (as that can always be sold or given away):

I liked the sentiment and fact that it can be stitched bigger(whole thing) or smaller (without border) based on inspiration and frame available.
What I don't understand is that in the picture it has been stitched on green evenweave, but the kit comes with brown aida. First of all those beautiful browns used in this kit won't pop up on brown nearly as well as they do on green (or maybe light blue) and one would assume they provide same colour fabric in the kit as is in the model... apparently assuming stuff, even when it comes to cross stitch kits, is dangerous.

Though one reason for lack of incessant S.E.X.es is lack of my mojo, it has basically vanished during these months of trying to get my thyroid back to balance. It's still out of whack, not much, but enough. But now that I am past worst phase of these issues I have actually had found traces of my mojo and started a new project in hopes that it would kickstart my mojo for good (this is my excuse and I stick with it): Ellen Maurer-Stroh's Zoo Baby Book. I'm stitching the animals on separate pieces of fabric so they can be used for a quilt.
I am lacking some of the colours so I only stitch them partially and will continue each one when I have floss to do so.

I'm enjoying stitching these: designs are actually smaller than I thought, but it's not a bad thing. I got these three to this phase between 24th and 26th of this month and I did cook Yule meal and washed huge pile of laundry and so on during those days so it's not bad progress, even though one always wishes for more.
And they are cute little buggers.

Sunday 25 December 2011

Alive and well: 31st week!


I've just been extremely tired and lacking interest towards anything basically because my thyroid values plummeted again last month. It got so bad that I even got two weeks of sick leave because of it (and in here it is extremely difficult to get sick leave based on hypothyroidism). Also put the leave to good use and had otits (media) while at it...

On brighter side of things the Baby Pack arrived in the beginning of this month and just before Christmas I was granted maternity and parenting leaves and allowances, starting from 23rd of January.

It's actually funny that those customers to whom I have mentioned that I am leaving next month have been surprised to hear that I am pregnant... or rather tragicomic because by no means I look this big normally...

My waist is "only" +26cm to where it started from so one could imagine that they would notice at least something, noticing that they see me all the time (and my belly grows forward, it's not spreading elsewhere)...

Now that I have few days off I have finally started a project I've been planning since I got pregnant: I'm stitching Baby W. a play blanket using Ellen Maurer-Stroh's Zoo Baby Book motifs. I'm doing it one square at the time which means that it will be finished as a quilt.
I'll post progress pictures of it to public entries, but won't mention whose baby I am stitching it for...

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Good and bad results

Because I am overweight, have PCOs diagnose, have genetic tendency and I am over 25 I had sugar stress test last week to check if I have developed gestational diabetes. (Actually I have had two of them, first in first trimester, because of my weight.)
I was certain that I would because my fast levels were barely in healthy level in the first test, but was proven wrong today: to my great surprise my sugar balance has basically improved since first trimester despite having sleep problems last two weeks! 

Though this means I won't get size evaluation at 36 weeks and that birth won't be induced unless we go two weeks over due date... but on the other hand: no blood sugar tests several times a day, less restricted diet, smaller probability for a big baby (well, I was 3,6 kgs back in 1979 ) and smaller risk to develop DM II at later age.

But I also got explanation to my sleep disorder and other issues: my thyroid levels are seriously out of whack, again.   And I missed my endo's call today which means he's out of touch for a while, or so I understood when I talked with the receptionist, and decided to be a BAD patient: I just adjust my dose with same done my endo has used lately and get new test done next month.
He'll kill me, but so what?

Monday 21 November 2011

2012 WIPocalypse!

I simply can't remember from whose blog feed I found this from, but I thought it might be fun thing to try.

2012 WIPocalypse! by Measi

And the spiel goes like this:

"
For many years, a rumor has been around that the world will end in 2012.  So really – do you want all of your poor WIP and UFO pieces to be left behind, unfinished?  The guilt!  The shame!  Oh, the horror of all of those innocent little stitchy projects never to be completed!

Here are the rules for the 2012 Wipocalypse:

1. To sign up, leave a comment on this post with your blog address. International bloggers are welcome.

2. Sometime shortly before the start of 2012, make a list of the projects you will be focusing on. Add to and adjust this list throughout the year as you desire.  There are no restrictions regarding new starts for this SAL.  If you feel the desire to start a piece in 2012, add it to your list!

3.
On each full moon (or thereabouts), post your progress photos to your site – even if your progress was slower than you hoped.  Label that post with “WIPocalypse” to make it easy for me to find.

4.
Once you’ve posted, come over to my blog and find my full moon post, and comment that you’ve updated.  I will create a check-in list of URLs each month for easy blog surfing so fellow participants and readers can cheer you on.

Why is it important to post each month even if you’ve made little progress?
You’ll earn one chance, per status post, for a giveaway drawing to be done on New Year’s Day, 2013!  I don’t want to discourage folks who may have issues that prevent them from posting for a month and force them to give up entirely on the SAL, but I also want to reward those who do check in every month.

What will be in the drawing?
Honestly, I’m not sure yet!  That will be determined throughout 2012 as I add to the box during my trips to my local LNS.  If you’d like to contribute to the box, email me (address below) and I’ll send you my address. Clean, unmarked charts (respect copyright – no photocopies!), finished items, new floss skeins, fabric, etc. are all welcome.  If you have other ideas for a contribution, drop me an email to discuss."

I may actually have some more time i my hands coming year so let's think...

1. Loy Krathong by PINN

SAT 19th of September - 21st of September, 2008; finish - Share on Ovi

2. Futurecast by Teresa Wentzler

4th of Dec., 2006

3. Madonna of the Garden by Mirabilia

motg - Share on Ovi

4. Rose Sampler by Ellen Maurer-Stroh

HPIM3998[1] - Share on Ovi


5. The Spanish Sampler by Periphaeria Designs (aka. myself)

The Spanish Sampler MSAL, part III a in progress - Share on Ovi

6. Star Sampler by Periphaeria Designs

"Star Sampler" Stitch-A-Long - Share on Ovi

I'm not quite sure are these the latest updates of the projects, but those were the last ones I found from my album.

Sunday 20 November 2011

26th week

...started today. Of course this depends on which due date you look at, but I go according to the first DD I got from my antenatal nurse (3rd of March). Official DD is 4th (based on last ultrasound it would actually be 3rd if they'd change the dates in latter one) and actual DD would be 7th or 8th... complicated much?

Honestly it's unbelievable that we are this far along already. Two weeks from now BW would have over 90% chance to survive if born. 12 weeks and he is officially full-term in local standards. Twelve! (And only eight weeks of work left!)

Health wise I have been better, though suffered of insomnia/ sleeping problems two weeks... after seeing a doc and getting some melatonin I slept last night like a baby - without even touching those pills. Strong stuff, eh?
What was really interesting was that the doc suggested antidepressants even he knows that I am pregnant and as far as I know most antidepressants are forbidden during pregnancy (and in my case certain ones are forbidden because I have thyroid illness). Maybe he forgot? I think he still has eyes on him...


(For comparison: 13+4 weeks when I had some growth, but MUCH less understandably.)

Yes, I am over 30 kgs overweight, but still I have never had that kind of stomach and that doc has seen me few times too often not to remember how I used to look like. (My waist has grown over 20 cm since July and all to front side.)
Not to mention that it is in their file that I am pregnant...
He has had some smart moments lately, but I guess he is not really a winter person then.

What actually bugs me somewhat is that people don't seem to recognize that as a pregnancy belly... even it's growing straight ahead! If it was all fat it would look different... On the other hand no one is trying to touch the belly without my permission.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Writer's Block: Check, please!

Man, of course (assumption being that this is woman - man combo).
I am not a feminist, I am a humanist, and traditionalist in this sense.
Someone could probably say that I am degrading my own sex, but that's bollocks. Men pay because I only accept chivalry and I respect my womanhood. Bite that.

That probably was why I didn't have many dates when I was single (though I was bad being single for a long time when I was)... *grin*

Sunday 13 November 2011

Weather


Safe small talk topic, right?

Last year (and year before that) we had snow in October and around this time it was freezing. And we had snow. But this year... well, let's say that the weather has been annoyingly warm, so warm that... let me show you.


04112011017 - Share on Ovi 04112011014 - Share on Ovi 04112011011 - Share on Ovi

Yes, flowers. Summer flowers. And I took these pictures 4th of November. Unbelievable.

What makes warm weather REALLY annoying? All the viruses and bacteria flourish and I am sick all the time. I want my winter!

Monday 31 October 2011

Odd good sides


I think that having a firm infertility background makes person to enjoy pregnancy even more.
Being a member in one family forum I have noticed that many pregnant women can't sleep even on these weeks (22+2) when the baby is kicking, whereas I find it remarkably soothing, and on the evenings when Baby Wonder has his (yes, we have a boy guesstimation (midwife wasn't sure, but she thought she saw something in "there") and I have felt like having a boy since those two lines) kickboxing practises I fall asleep in no time. Though it seems that we are more morning person in there already...

And to my surpise the only thing I dislike in being pregant is this killer hunger I'm having nowadays. I could eat a cow when I have those hunger attacks... Heartburn, ligament pains and such are just minor things and don't actually even bother me (yes, I am insane).

Let's say that by now I enjoy this so immensely that I could do this again in near future .

Maternal instincts

Yesterday I had a stubborn bronchospam and I had to head to ER and my only worry was that Baby Wonder gets enough oxygen, no matter do I get enough of it after BW has taken his share.
Luckily my oxygen saturation was good when I arrived the ER and while waiting (3 hours) I was deliriously happy about that aerobics lesson taking place in my womb. I guess people looked at me a bit long, but let them look.

To my surprise I have bronchitis, again, despite lack of "real" symptoms. And even more sick leave (it started on Wedneday and now I'm off this week too). Maybe I find time and energy to finish one hat I started for BW.

Thursday 27 October 2011

Gosh, time is going SO fast!


First, thank you all!

Yet another antenatal appointment later (which went well, thank you for asking. Only my thyroid values are still low, but have risen with higher dosage so we are going to good direction)... I am now officially far along enough to apply for this:

Government gives every expecting mother maternity grant. It's either a BIG box full of baby stuff or 140 € of money. The box contains about 270€s worth of clothes and necessities (more pictures at SII webpage: here) so any guesses which one I am taking?

This grant was initiated after WWII to support poor families, but nowadays everyone residing here gets it after 154 days of pregnancy (mine is officially 154 days on Sunday) if they have taken care of their antenatal appointments (and got tested for HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis). Many people dislike the clothes because they are so neutral... well, I like personal and colourful clothes, yes, but FREE high-quality stuff is something I won't say no to. And I can always dye those white and bland clothes anyway.

There's actually few things I have to apply for: maternity allowance (paid during maternity leave), parenting allowance (paid during parenting leave) and child allowance. So many allowances (and I still need to apply for caretaking allowance which will be paid after parenting one ends: this one is smaller, but still quite a good sum of money and I can basically stay at home three years, if our finances can stand it, that is).
First two basically mean that for the first ten(ish) months my income is only slightly lower than it is now, child allowance (appr. 100€/ mo. at the moment) is paid monthly until Baby Wonder is 17...

Sometimes I kind of like this Nordic welfare system thingy.

Less than three months from now and my maternity leave begins! Yay!

Friday 21 October 2011

Things, they are a-changing... SECRETS!


The reason for my absence from online world is small, but still great.

The reason has made my thyroid values to drop, drop, drop, regardless that I take higher doses than ever before.

But it is all worth it. Thousand times worth it.

Only few people can see this post. You are the ones who I trust to keep your mouths shut everywhere else as this is still a secret in FB or in the forums I frequent(ed). And probably will remain one few months.

Sunday 18 September 2011

Signs Of Life and Writer's Block


No, I haven't vanished from the face of the Earth. I am still alive and kicking, last months just have been interesting.
And lately I have had all kinds nice side effects of autumn... and now my asthma has gotten worse. Maybe I even get back to work someday...

 

 

The original (Hong Kong/ Singapore) The Eye and The Eye II.
Even old horror flick lover like myself find these ones really scary... there aren't blood and guts like in Hollywood flicks, but to me gore has never been scary in horror. What is scary is what you don't see.

Saturday 20 August 2011

Goodbye Mr. Furry Diabetes

 

Neko
June, 1999 - 20th of August, 2011

Apparently cancer won and Neko had to be put to sleep this morning.

Monday 4 July 2011

Good grief!


That's it! I have gotten old!

I have celebrated my birthday (32 years, yikes!) stitching "Rose Sampler" and noticed that I simply can NOT count. Or then little stitching gnomes restitch that thing when I am not watching...

There are extra rows between the alphabet (which is easy to fix, the sampler just will be longer) and it seems to me that they are also too close to the left border... AAARGH!

Regardless, progress!

(Previous pictures can be found here.)

Sunday 3 July 2011

Star Sampler WIP


I got stuck in a rut after I started "Star Sampler" (Stitch-A-Long by Periphaeria Designs) and haven't touched it since... before yesterday!


Nice progress I must say even it didn't feel much.

I have been under the weather for few days, mainly because my neck hurts and I am quite tired. GP thinks it's laryngitis, I think it's thyroiditis (in my opinion my thyroid wouldn't hurt if it was laryngitis), but we are none the wiser before Tuesday... which has meant that I haven't been stitching much.
I did stitch one sampler the other day, which I can't show as it's one of my designs, but didn't got much progress in it either. Wanted to stitch one corner tile, but made about half of it... but, hey, I can always share a material toss!

Thursday 30 June 2011

Cats, Hedgehogs and a Squirrel


I thought I was looking after these guys...

HPIM3554 - Share on Ovi HPIM3842 - Share on Ovi HPIM3556 - Share on Ovi

... but it seems that I am also personal slave for two hedgehogs and personal lifesaver for one squirrel who loves cat food...

Yes, that squirrel is in a cage of a kind: my mom has outing space for cats on the patio. They can get out and in by themselves as long as the living room window is open.

It just isn't squirrel proof.