I just can't resist

I am not a stay in bed person. Including my time in the hospital it has been 5 days so far that I have been in bed. I don't know how some women do this for weeks and even months.

Yesterday I read blog after blog, half a book, and a couple of magazines. I still can't knit because my hand is a bit sore from some stitches so I had Paul bring out my project bucket. Good thing I drafted all those patterns last week because that would have been impossible without a hard surface. So I'm cutting out patterns on my bed while I lay on my side. Hope I don't cut through my bedding. And I especially hope I'll be up and able to whip these up before the baby comes because it is getting warmer and Maryanna needs some Spring clothes.

These will be some gray linen cuffed bloomers. A knock off of what I saw here.

Baker's Dozen

So I'm on strict bedrest right now. Well at least for the week until I'm fully recovered from the weekend trauma. Cheryl took all my kids yesterday plus hers = 13 kids under the age of 13. Her husband and babysitter were not available to help so the super of all super moms did it on her own. When I asked her how it went she replied "I don't know how mom did it - no wonder our house was a mess and our hair was not always combed". But the kids had a blast just as we did growing up.

I am so lucky to have my sisters here to help. Now they are in Mapleton with Emily. She has 5 kids still at home so that only makes 10 kids with the addition of mine. It is sure to be fun! Hopefully I'll be back on my feet by Sat.

Thanks again to my amazing sisters who know just how to handle a load.

Free toys from the hospital

I went through a few of these barf trays over the weekend. The inspiration came to me just as the nurse saw my quesy condition and shoved the tray in front of me. It is kind of weird but as I was vomitting all I could think about was Peter's little Spiderman guy and how this tray would make a perfect bath for him. Peter loves bringing Spiderman in the big bath but now Spiderman could have his own bath! So upon discharge I requested a fresh barf tray from the nurse "just in case" I needed it on the way home. Good thing I didn't need it because Peter is having so much fun with it. I think it would work great for Polly's or Barbies as well. So if you are planning an up coming visit to the hospital try to bring a few home and offer them as presents when you are reunited with your kids.

I just wish I had a good excuse to request a fresh measuring cylinder for urine. Now that would have been cool for James and William's science box. But they were just as thrilled with the large plastic drinking mug and flexible straw that sounds like a whistle when you blow through it.

Patients learn Patience

And a whole lot more. So much for trying to be the invincible super-mom. I have been in the hospital for three days now due to a major rash. It is thought that I may have reacted to some Codeine that I was given for the horrible flu I had a few weeks ago or maybe just a reaction to the virus. The diagnosis is still non-conclusive but the good news is I am getting better. I don't look too great in the picture but when I came in on Saturday I was unrecognizable.

I thought I would only be in for a few hours of evaluation so I drove myself to the hospital and told Paul I'd be back later in the day. I guess my apperance was quite impressive because I was immediately admitted and the doctors were soon taking pictures of my "impressive" condition. My initial thought and response to being admitted was ..."this is great - now I don't have to cook dinner". But I wasn't prepared for the drama that was to soon follow. I won't go into the details but I had even more reactions to the steroids that were given to stop the swelling and then started going into pre-term labor. But I'm happy to say that I am quite stable now and may even go home later this afternoon. I just need to force myself to rest and be prepared in case the baby does come early.

Just a few more random thoughts that may be added to my lessons learned in 2008.

1. Be well groomed always! If you go the hospital even if you don't think you will be admitted make sure you are well groomed. I must not have been feeling good the morning I went because I took a quick shower without washing my hair and was careless in only shaving one leg.

2. Gratitude for modern medicine, hospitals, doctors, midwives, and nurses. When you don't really need them it is hard to appriciate their great care, experience, knowledge, and compassion. It really is a thankless job especially when you are spending all night on your feet taking care of those in need.

3. Gratitude for family who make sacrifices in their own lives to help each other when in need. I can't believe my mom still has energy to dress 5 kids and get them all to 9:00 am church then sit with them through Sacrament meeting by herself. Even I need Paul's help with that. Also the doctors in my family who were able to visit, consult and really push the doctors through the care I needed. And of course Paul who showed up at the hospital for a short visit then ended up staying for two nights and two days giving up much sleep in order to comfort me like no one else could have.

4. Life is a precious gift. We may be in control of so many things in our lives but the most important things we have...our breath, beating heart, and functioning brain are not ours to own. They are given to us for a purpose, not to be idle or distracted by frivolous things. We must make the most of them in making this world a better place, that is why we are here and that is why I feel I was spared during this whole ordeal.

Lost in Translation

I spent the last few days tracing and drafting patterns from these Japanese sewing books. The kids were funny and super impressed by the project - James said "wow Mom, that looks like the hardest thing you have ever done". But since I have experience in pattern drafting it is really not that hard - it just looks confusing at first glance with all the lines and Japanese characters plied on top of each other. It was helpful though to spend a few afternoons with Yuka (a Japanese Student at U of U). I helped her sew her dress while she helped me with some translation. I'm excited about the projects that are now ready to be cut out and hope to post some of them by the end of the week.

I like how Yuka's dress turned out but I will say it was somewhat humbling fitting a skinny Japanese girl while I am 8 months pregnant. That is why most of my sewing projects are for the little girls and not myself.

Thank You Mr. Building Inspector

This bookshelf was built to meet building codes for Maryanna's bedroom windows. I had the option of digging out the window well and cutting down the window or having a piece of furniture installed that would act as a ladder in case of an emergency. Getting this piece of furniture built and installed was a lot more fun and way less expensive than the first option.

Here is the original design idea. I think the guys at pragmatic design lab did an excellent job! I have a bunch more projects that I'd like them to do as I've been spending way too time browsing for ideas at 1stdibs.com. Next project - maybe a new bench for our entryway.

It's been a long week!

I really jinxed myself with the earlier post titled "coping" - that should have been called "bracing oursevles". I look way too happy for the reality that was soon to follow. What I thought would just be a quick flu ended up lasting all week and pretty much wiped out all of us except Paul who was luckily out of town. Thankfully he returned home just as I became non-functioning. He said the scene in our bedroom was quite interesting and reminded him of an ad for "save the children" with all the kids laid out in sleeping bags and make shift beds around our room. It was the only way I could care for them all and myself at the same time. The whole week was quite miserable and it really isn't over yet but I feel happy to have gained some insight from it all.

1. Compassion. I never really get that sick. I remember once in college being out for a week but other than that I'm quite resilliant. I use to fake sick in high school a lot so I guess when others say they're sick I don't give much compassion because in the back of my mind I'm thinking "yeah right- they just want a break from work or other responsibilities- what a baby". I never understood the term "achy" I thought it just meant people were too lazy to get out of bed. I have learned much from Paul's example of compassion this week. He knew just how to show love, care and patience. That was better than any medicine.

2. Letting it all go. I've become quite task oriented as a homemaker. I often feel like I shouldn't sleep, relax or enjoy myself until certain tasks are completed. One of my sisters called and asked how I was feeling... her next question was "so how does your house look"? I was honest in both resposes. I never felt worse and my house was pretty disgusting. But I realize there's no need to panic. It's okay to have a sink of dirty dishes and my floors sticky with spilled Gatorade (it is actually worse than I'm able to describe). I just have to let it go and let myself recover. I have quite a bit of clean-up and catch-up but will not attack it in a frenzy like a typically do. I'll take my time and just let some things go until I'm back 100% - that may even mean the Easter dresses I was sewing for the girls :(

3. Enjoying my family. Today William was jumping all over the couch and tossing the pillows around. Typically I would have stopped him but I didn't - I was just so happy to see him smiling and bursting with energy. Peter and James have been making messes with LEGOs and Playmobil all morning, Maryanna tried pouring her own smoothie and it went all over the counter, then Clara had another major blowout in her crib. After a week of watching them suffer through fevers, aches, and coughing all night I am just happy to see some signs of recovery.

4. I need to find a Doctor that makes house calls!