Big BIG biggest day ever!

Jason and Miss Penny went for a harnessed walk on their own today, I walked behind only to assist in refresher training for the ever so spoiled canine. She did pretty well and Jason and his cane were the best! My guy walked the block without assistance, no holding, no steering, no balance support, even with miss Penny tugging to the side of the road to pee. YIPPPPEEEEEEE! party! feista! I am so excited, I gotta go call my mommy!!!! The hospitalization happened June 26th last year and he is walking on his own less than a year later. Is my guy tough or what?

SCORE!

Good Suzi won. Boniva day is tiring because we get up early, and sit up for an hour and then what do we do? Well this Sunday we went back to bed after pills and waiting were over. We had a lovely day, read more of Treasury in the Forest. It's delightful, gotta read book. So what does good Suzi get for winning the Boniva battle - CHOCOLATE!!!!!

The Ginormous Scarf

I just finished a 72" scarf for a 63" young woman who is turning twenty this week. Why so long, so thick, I know she'll think I am crazy and this is what I have to offer in explanation:

As a Douglas Adams fan, a big scarf is like "always remembering to take your towel" and we all know how important that can be.

As a fan of Dr Who, well in my opinion a long scarf that is out of style and out proportion says, "I can handle being different, as long as I am loved, safe and warm" a good thought to put out into the universe.

I was often stuck with mass transit on a long distance in college, even then my meager babysitting didn't buy that much gas money. A long scarf can allow you to cover your eyes, have a pillow and a bit of blankie to nap on during tired stressful days.

Adults often need comfort and sometimes there is no one around to remind you how very much you are loved. I knit this scarf with all my heart hoping it would help her remember how geniune her family is, and that they love her and she is needed in this world. Even when you only have 2 hours left to write a ten page paper on why the impressionists changed the world while studying for a chemistry final. It's all worth it. She is worth it.

I knit it because being an Aunt is a privelage one she has let me do by remote since Jason's injuries. I want to do my best to be there for her even when I am not able to be in her presence. I knit it to remind her that I do sew and do all the girly stuff and when the day comes to make a bunch of bridal stuff because she is ready to start her own family, it would be my pleasure to help her with anything she needs.

I knit it to remind her that both her Mom and I place value on crafts of all kinds and we are here to teach her when she is ready to learn.

I am sending her things not so serious, socks and of course the pre-order on Harry Potter so she gets first dibs while her siblings drool as she finishes every last page.

Happy 20th Miss SugarBaby!!!! Your packages are on their way.

June 9th World knit outside day?

I read in VIP-ewes a knitting online group for blind knitters who tolerate this sightling in their discussions that June 9 is world wide knit outside day.

So my husband suggested that I go knit someplace no one ever sees a knitter. Like in the men's bathroom at madonna inn, (it's a tourist site in the area, Madonna Inn on the 101 in California, San Luis Obispo. The men's bathroom is visited by many a woman because it has a motion activated rock face waterfall for a urinal, even a blind guy can't miss ; ) Everyone who comes into town to visit with us gets a tour. When I was a little older than a kid, for some odd reason I thought all men's restrooms had urinals that acted like that one : ) Realistically, perhaps someone should suggest a better spot to pubically knit in a small town.

Boniva again

Darn it! Tomorrow is Boniva day

Good Suzi: It is going to be okay, it was the testosterone that made the situation worse with the two previous doses.

Bad Suzi: Here we go again, no picnic no fun, the early morning and the medication will have us stuck inside for a few days.

Good Suzi: Oh well even if it does knock him off his game for a couple days, Barbara won't be ill next week, and I have this stash to work with and birthday presents for neices and nephews. I would write out what they are, but they check in on the blog. Enjoy the break and work on fun stuff while he gets the drug out of his system.

Bad Suzi: You'll be too busy working and too tired to care. And you didn't stock up on chocolate!

Stay tuned who wins good Suzi or bad Suzi? Does J really have a problem with Boniva or has it been his recovery and bad timing. We will know this week one way or the other. Will U survive without chocolate until I go to Trader Joes?

Jason's Wellness

So much to be grateful for folks! Jason has been so much better since the kyphoplasty. He is able to roll up and sit, then get out of bed on his own more than 75% of the time. He has reduced his pain meds significantly. He is able to play for 45 minutes now. He is eating all meals at the table and getting out of bed. He is taking longer walks and is ready to start using a treadmill. He has had a geniune reduction in seizures. He is cultivating a more positive attitude, and truly believes that he has beat the odds. He is ready to start using Miss Penny and her harness to walk on his own with her assistance.

Testosterone patches were the key. The daily patch has simulated the natural rhythm of his body and no more emotional outbursts and issues with the waxing and waning of his shots.

This Sunday is music in the park around the corner, so we are planning a nice picnic and to listen to the music.

It's nice to feel normal. I am sure it feels even better to Jason.

Wubbie Bear - A project finished.

So a friends child's wubbie was in a terrible state of distress and in need of retirement. None of us can bear the separation, so I offered to tear apart wubbie and reknit with additional fibers into a stuffed bear, emily chose a bear. So off I went adding ragged fibers to a complimenting and contrasting base of worsted wool. This little bear is now heirloom quality with moveable eyes, a sweet smile and squashy belly. Even Emily agrees that wubbie has been transformed into something worth saving, so she has place wubbie bear in a place of honor on her bed. Anyone who comes to the house must meet wubbie bear. That's a nice feeling. Next time I go over I will try to get a picture of them together.

Of course then there is the one sock problem. Ok on our trip to LA I ran out of the yarn to finish even a one sock. FOr Mother's day similar problem, although since then I finished the sock but haven't had a chance to deliver it. And for my neice who was requesting school colors, and from Cat Bordhi, the cat sock, well, once again by the delivery date I have finished one sock. J is sending her notice that we pre-ordered Harry Potter for her, so she is okay with waiting a week. Then finally there is the felted boot I started a couple weeks ago. Well, it is huge, once again I can't imagine being able to felt this one small enough to make a slipper, not only that to make a second one will require three more balls, when the author only called for two (for both slippers). I have decided to felt this one first if outrageously out of proportion I will turn it into a scuptural peice.

Speaking of scuptural peices, I need to knit a felted mask of J's face. We get to keep the old eyeballs and I want to turn it into total artwork. I think if I start out with the concept of a face mask ski hat and then allow for looseness and shrinkage it should work. I have some stuff in stash to give it a first spin, but I have some very special additions to my stash yesterday that really speak to me to try to be more artistic and develop beyond my practical socks, hats, sweaters and scarves. I am inspired to make something truly representative of Jason with his eyes and my yarn/creativity.

So what is it with my one sock? I understand the ogre sock, I read the pattern wrong and when I changed the increases I in places doubled then and in the wrong places for got the decreases. The ogre sock in on the knob of the shelf next to the bed to remind me to pay attention, and to remind me to laugh at my mistakes. Summer brings on speed projects, knitting for school year, sewing clothes, and repairing those that can for the kids within the extended family. Let's hope some poor kid doesn't end up with one sock by fall.