Claire's Birthday Gift

(Ravelry notes HERE)

 I have Claire's birthday gift almost done! BUT I was losing the motivation to finish because (insert whiny voice) the sleeves are my least favorite parrrrrrt. I really can't wait to see her in this sweater so today I picked out this outfit and hung it all up together. I was hoping that it would give me the motivation I needed to finish these sleeves today. Oh my goodness! She is going to be so cute in this! I'm doing it! Another major motivation is that I'm going to the yarn shop this week and I make myself finish a project before I can get the yarn for the next one.

 

Can you believe it has been almost a year since my little miracle baby was born? I can't. I just don't see where the time has gone. I do know that I have made the best of it! I'm not going to look back over her first year and wish I had spent more time with her! Nope. I have gobbled it all up, soaked it all in, let all of the other stuff go, and really enjoyed my baby. I don't know if it was my age, fourth baby, or how long we waited and how hard we fought to get her here, but I did enjoy my baby, and I'm really proud of that. We all have really! She has every single one of us wrapped up! Just this morning Molly was saying "Mama, aren't you glad she's ours?" Yes Love, I'm so glad. xo, Sam

Sometimes....

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do, in order to knit one more row. Babe asleep on the end of my recliner...Perfect. :) xo, Sam



Tornadoes in Alabama

We are safe. We don't know the damage done yet, but all of our family is safe and has no major damage. My Aunt Wendy said that she knows of people who lost their homes by word of mouth, but that's probably all we will know until daylight. I just wanted to check-in. Praise God he has protected us once again! I will never take that for granted again! The kids and I stayed in the hallway with a mattress underneath and a mattress over our heads! I'm not sure that I have ever talked to so many friends and family members on the phone at 3 AM before. I just got all of the kids back to sleep, poor babies, Maddie was absolutely histerical. It is very REAL to us still. I've had 1 hour of sleep so I'm headed to bed. I'll be praying for those who have lost property, and praying that this didn't take any lives. Blessed. xo, Sam

P.S. Just got the news that someone in our area was killed. Praying...

My two pictures

Market was this past weekend and this is literally THE ONLY two pictures I took the entire time! Oh well, we had a good time! Claire is wearing the Miss Claire skirt, I just left the edges unfinished and added some gathered netting peeking out between the layers. I plan to get better pictures of it this week (as soon as I find my camera charger).

(waking up from her nap)

Tonight I'm gearing up for the madness that is our Friday routine. It involves taking eight kids to ballroom dancing class, Paw-Paw day, and bike riding. Bring it on. :) xo, Sam

A few things I've started :)

This is my PILE of works-in-progress right now...I know. Let me explain. I started the little green fairy hat first, but then I decided to change to 16" needles instead of using 2 circulars. I ordered them from THIS nice lady and they are on their way (probably in my box now!). Then I started the brown baby hat so that I could have something going while I wait on those needles.....THEN, I got a chance to visit the yarn shop and I decided that I MUST get started on a new cardigan for Claire so that I can give it to her for her birthday...so there you have it. All of my excuses why I need three projects going all at once. Seems perfectly reasonable to me. :)

Oh, and because I know someone will ask. Yes, that is the Stitch' N "Knit" The Knitter's Handbook in my bag. It was the most helpful book (because of the lack of knitting lingo) I used (and still refer to) as a beginner. Yes, I taped over every single "word" on the covers, and I spent a very long evening covering every "word" inside with a sharpie. Yes, I'm that mom. Moving right along... :)

Just so that I don't seem too bad, I should tell you that I did finish this hat! I wanted Ben to have a new hat to go with his favorite jacket. He likes it because it's not itchy like last years hat. :)

We are at a place in homeschooling, with a new reader and new curriculum, that I need to be available (sitting close by and able to drop what I'm doing) the entire time we do school everyday, so I'm getting a lot more knitting done lately! I also take my knitting with me for our Granny day so I hope to have lots of finished projects coming up soon! xo, Sam

PS. Thank you guys SO MUCH for all of the comments, emails, and information about Granny! I feel like we have a few leads, and that gives me HOPE! You guys are AMAZING and I love you all. xo

My Heart

My heart has been in knots for the last few weeks. My sweet Granny, my best friend, my biggest fan...is battling a horrible disease called Parkinson's. We have known this for years. In fact, I was the one who noticed the first sign that something was wrong. It was during one of our long lazy days that Granny and I call "porch days". It feels like my heart is being wrung out almost constantly. For the last several weeks she has been struggling...suffering...and I can't stand it. A few months ago she was keeping my kids while I would go to the doctor, or store, or to run errands, now we are going to take care of her for the day. She can't sleep, she is so stiff that she can't turn over or move. She isn't responding well to medicines. She isn't even "old"! She's only 64! She believes that God is going to heal her, when she is up at night, not able to rest, her and my Paw-Paw read the Bible and cry out to God. She is leaning on Him for every step...and so shall I. Sometimes that's a really hard thing to do though, and I admit I'm struggling a little.

So all of that brings me to this...A cry for help. We have searched high and low, emailed, Facebooked, and called, if anyone has any experience with Parkinson's treatment please let us know. She has tried all of the medicines but they just aren't working. She would really like to try some natural/herbal medicines, but we have no idea where to start. The information on Parkinson's is so...well, nonexistant. Her major problems right now aside from the usual unsteady, shaky, Parkinson's symptoms, are weight loss (she is down to 90lbs), trouble getting sleep (a four hour night is a good night), and being stiff. And extra prayers would be greatly appreciated too. I know that God has a bigger plan for my precious Granny!

If you need to get in touch with me you can call me at 205-433-9040, email me at mamacaffee@hotmail.com, or comment here. Thanks friends. xo, Sam

PS. Isn't she beautiful?!

Why Hello!

 Hello friends! 2012 has found us in our favorite place in the world! Outside. :) We have had a load of 60 degree days since Christmas, and with new bikes to play with, we haven't been home much. All of the kids (besides Claire) are now old enough for big bike rides, so we have been on several new adventures.

We have had some major stress going on too, but I'm not quite ready to talk about that. I've been doing some knitting therapy. :)

 

 I really really miss you guys. In (almost) five years I have never been away from my blog for this long. I want you all to know that I really do appreciate each and every one of you. I guess I have realized that more since I've been gone. I'll be back soon, I promise. :) xo, Sam