Weekend

Its been a fairly cool weekend here.
I have gotten a lot done around the house. 
Six bags of stuff to donate to the local thrift store,
plenty more to go to the dump.
(We usually burn most of our garbage, but still in a burn ban)
Still lots to do. Maybe this surgery is the kick in the butt I need to de-clutter.


I even got some sewing in.
I got my quilt for baby K back from the quilter.
I wish I knew what his name will be, they aren't telling, want to put a label on it
Got the binding on this afternoon,
tomorrow I will do the hand stitching at work.


I will post a pic when I finish.
I don't think Amy reads my blog :)

duh me!

I was thinking I could do some sewing when I am off work for a few weeks.
I just realized I will not be able to iron.
Ugh.
I am probably in the minority here, but I love to iron!
Instant gratification.
Maybe I can buy a cheapo lightweight one...hmmm...
Or I may have to stick to crocheting and watching movies. 


I have been such a blog slacker.
This was supposed to keep me sewing and hold myself accountable.
Now I am in this frenzy to get my house spic and span.
Good Lord! 
What if someone comes to visit me?
I would die! 
I am such a hoarder lately.
Don't get me wrong, its good stuff.
Just don't always have a place for it.

Neurosurgeon

I have decided to have my C5&6 fused. 
I am scared.
I will be in good hands.
I have tried everything else. 
I am getting by. But its hard to be in such pain every single day. 
Dr D was very sweet. Seemed shy, but confident. 
He told me straight out I would probably not be better.
Nerve damage heals slowly, if at all.
But he feels the weakness in my arms and hands will not progress. 
He promised to get rid of the bone spurs that are pressing into my spinal column.
I am ready for this step.




I think.

Laundry Soap

Here is the recipe I used for homemade laundry soap

1 (76 oz) box  20 Mule Team Borax (in the laundry aisle)
1 (55 oz) box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (laundry aisle, next to the borax)
1 large bar Zote soap ( I got this from Amazon.com, you can also use a bar of Fels-Nappa also found in the laundry aisle. I picked Zote because it was pink )
1 (4#) box  Arm & Hammer baking soda (store brand would be fine, found it in the baking aisle)

Grate the bar of soap. I used my food processor. The soap was very soft, so using a hand grater would easily work too. I didn't worry about 'contaminating' anything, its just soap.  I dumped the borax and both sodas into a small rubbermaid container with a snap on lid. Then added the grated soap and stirred with a heavy plastic spoon. If you are doing this in a smaller container, you may want to add layers of the ingredients to make for easier mixing. 

I also added a container of Purex  crystals. Just so it would smell good. Honestly, I think they are a little over-powering so will probably skip this step next time. I did fill the empty purex container with some of my new detergent and use the lid to measure. half of a lid full got my clothes clean and fresh!

So far so good. I think it cleans well. We live on a farm and trust me, we get dirty! 
It doesn't make suds so I am hoping it will be easier on our septic system and washer. 
The best part? You only use 1 tablespoon for a load. (I used 2 tablespoons for Scott's super grungy barn clothes)  this is going to last a long time!! 

Edited: I read another recipe, just like this. Substitute a small box of Tide detergent for the grated bar of soap.  Make it easier. 

Hoping

and praying that sweet Dr D says no surgery for me.
(I met him before and he is pretty nice as far as surgeons go.
 Most surgeons I have dealt with are jerks)


I have a bunch of questions if he does recommend it.
I also have acupuncture first thing in the morning.


Allison and I are planning a little shopping after my appointment.
At least part of the day will be fun
:)

Weekend

I finished the quilt top for Emma. 
It actually went pretty quickly since its just a patchwork of large squares.
The worst part was getting them arranged....who knew a random look was so hard to do??

I know I bought some of this for the back. --->
But I can't find it.
I hate when that happens. 
Has to be upstairs somewhere.


Scott had his class reunion Saturday.
Man! Some of the people in his class look OLD!  LOL
All those girls that tanned in high school are some wrinkled 48 year olds. 
We overslept on Sunday, missed church
Scott had a headache anyway. Wonder why???  LOL


Sunday evening I made my first batch of homemade laundry soap.
I had to wash a couple loads right away.
I was impressed, dirty barn clothes came out nice and clean.
Even smelled fresh!  
Believe me, farmer and 100 degree temps make for some very stinky clothes! 

Friday

I picked up a copy of my MRI yesterday.
From what I can see
   (not like I know medical terms but after a few years of this I am learning a lot!)
it looks like my neck is stable. I think.


I got an email my pain clinic doctor,
he got a copy of the report too and actually knows what it says!  
He said he wants me to keep my appointment.
I knew he would say that.
Gotta start my list of questions to ask. 
I did lots of research a couple years ago when I went through this, 
this time I am not. Not yet anyway.
There is a lot of good information online, there is also a lot of crap.
And there are also icky pictures....I don't want to know what the inside of my neck looks like. God gave me skin for a reason! 


Oh we did get a little rain on Wednesday evening!
About a half inch
Lots of wind before the rain. Flattened some of our sorry corn
Hoping the rain will help the soybeans and the pastures.  And that it will rain again soon.
Little beef calves are their mamas are looking kinda thin.

going crazy

don't mind me, I am just thinking out loud here


I am making myself batty worrying about my MRI results and my appointment with the neurosurgeon next week.


Should I have surgery? If he even recommends it??
My primary doctor, pain clinic doctor, and my my brother's brother-in-law doctor, one of my chiropractors...
all tell me to do it.
I am not so sure.
The thought of spine surgery scares me.
REALLY scares me.

I am a little more open to the option of a disc replacement
but insurance says its experimental 
(excuse me but I don't think of 20 years of successful outcomes to be experimental but you don't listen to me)
Although one insurance rep told me to find a doctor that would plead my case and fight for me, It could get approved.


If I have fusion there is no turning back.
What if I am worse? What if I can't turn my head? 
You can't live in the boonies country and not be able to drive, I would be totally isolated. 


I worry way too much
I got that from my grandma and my mom
I can still hold out hope that my neck is stable and I can keep putting this off.
But it hurts so much I am miserable,
Chronic pain wears on a person. 
But I have met my deductible this year already
Still have about $4000 more to go in co-pay before I max that out.
But if I wait, I will have to start over again.


See? I flip flop a million times in a day.




arrgghhh
I need a nap and that is so not going to happen.
Tomorrow I am going to pick up a copy of the MRI and get the radiologist report,
hopefully I can see what he thinks

work in progress

A little rearranging
A little more stitching
A lot more pressing
And figure out something for the backing
Hoping this  baby will be finished in time for Emma's August birthday
I love the red and black
and the big squares

MRI

I survived. 
I kinda figured I would ;)


Darn, no Steve. He has done my last 4 MRIs
Oh well.
I had forgotten just how loud and annoying that thing can be,
just counted the thunks and bangs until I lost count
then I started again.
And again.
ditto. 



I made a potty stop and got a diet coke at McDonald's on the way out of town.
Someone was watching over me.
I missed a fatal car accident by minutes   :(
(I am sad for the family, I knew Jerry, was a very nice man, quite a talker)


Today would have been my mom's birthday. 
She was my angel, telling me to "pee when you get a chance"




I have goosebumps now.

t-shirts

I brought a tote bag full of old t-shirts to work with me today. 
Decided to cut them into long strips for t-shirt yarn.
Not sure what I will do with said yarn.
It might made a super soft bath mat someday. 
Upcycle.  Its a great concept. 
But who has time? 


I also have a tote full of old blue jeans....hmmm  :)

No Idea

I have no idea why this song has been stuck in my head all morning. Christmas in July maybe?

Now you can listen too!
 Maybe it will get stuck in your head
and I will not be the only one singing like a silly elf!


:)

Pain clinic

Today I saw my doc at the pain clinic. I am  concerned about my worsening symptoms
 tingling, dropping things, weakness in my hands, dexterity issues, losing feeling in my finger tips. He is more concerned than me. 


He poked me with the pin. (They all poke me with pins.)
tested my strength in my hands and arms.
Sat and chatted. 


He scheduled am MRI for Friday, At least I can have the MRI close to home.
This way I get the nice MRI guy, Steve, he knows me well after all these years.
and a visit to a neurosurgeon in a few weeks back in LaCrosse.
I don't like that.


I told Michael, 
(and pretty sure he knows this about me since I have been seeing him for 4 years now.)
The thought of spine surgery scares the crap out of me.
But I also know there will come a time when putting off surgery will no longer be an option for me.
I am praying the issues with my neck have not gotten worse and its just nerve issues...oh wait - then I might have to have an EMG...dislike those!


On a lighter note, we went to Rudy's for onion rings . Yum :)
Then Target, got nothing exciting there.
And a few groceries on the way home.

too hot

Obviously, I have few followers.

Probably because I have few posts.
Its just too darn hot here to do anything you don't have to do.
Sewing in my old house upstairs is unimaginable.

I have some yarn and a potholder pattern here at work.
But the thermometer in my office says 94.
Bleeeccchhhh. I hate hot, and this big old brick building holds the heat like an oven.
I am not about to touch yarn! LOL

I really feel for people working outside.
And those milking cows, don't miss that on these hot days.
I just talked to one of my farmers and he hoped his cows would survive.
Oh the poor cows just pant when its like this :(

Someday I will be creative again.
In the mean time, pray for rain. Our corn crop is beyond hope now. It is tasseled out but will not make ears. We can only hope for moisture and be able to get some hay baled. It will be a long winter and feed costs will be unbelievable :(

Yay!

Acupuncture is amazing.


I still have pain, but I can lift my arm again. 
You don't realize how often you raise your arms until you can't do it.


Really wish Scott would go to acupuncture school ;)

Dry weather

OK people. 
I know its dry. 


Seriously, quit bitching about your brown grass and wilting flowers. 


Farmers livelihoods depend on their crops getting rain. 
You think food is expensive now? 
Just wait.


This ends my rant for today. 

Secret Pal Afghan

Before (I did use more yarn, this is just what i started with)
















I finished this a couple weeks ago, just got around to taking a picture. Its teal and cream, I think it looks more blue in the picture than in real life. Its for my church secret pal for Christmas. 


After

July

July 1 - time to make a to-do list

• square up what I have sewn to far and...
• finish sewing Emma's quilt top
• Add binding to  baby K's quilt (must get it back first)
• cut up old t-shirts for crochet rugs
• start sorting squares for I spy quilt
• spend lots of time at acupuncture, Jim thinks he can help my shoulder   Yay! 2 visits and I can lift my arm again :)
• try to get into the pain clinic, I have a list of questions for my doc there and hate doing that much by phone or email.   I have an appointment next Tuesday. 
• putting Aaron's t-shirt quilt on the back burner til he comes home and tells me which shirts I can chop up =D