Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Here is my work on Debbie's Study in Green RR block. We are to do two seam treatments and one block piece. I used a combination of embroidery sitiches, beads, and crystals. I hope she likes it.

Blocks for American Hero Quilt


Here are three more blocks for the American Hero quilt Julie is making for us.

Monday, January 28, 2008

I have four main goals for this year:


1. Get healthy


2. Keep up my blog better


3. Do more charity work


4. Finish up some UFO's (unfinished objects)

I have been working on American Hero blocks for another person in my WASIQ (Washington State Internet Quilt group). Here are four pictures. Will sew more blocks today and mail them to Julie tomorrow.
I also belong to an internet crazy quilting group (CQ for Newbies). We do a lot of swaps and row robins (working on other peoples work). Here is a block I made for our spring swap. It is currently "naked" - a term for blocks before they are emnellished. Will embellish 1/2 of the block and then send it on to someone else who will finish the embellishment on mine while I work on 1/2 of hers. Then we will return our blocks to their original owners.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Sue's Health Update

Thought this might be the best way to let folks know what I learned at my last doctors appointment a couple of days ago. There is good news. No lupus, RA, bone cancer, lymphoma or hidden melanomas. My system does seem to be in a bit of a mess, but we all knew that. Where to start. Everything found can lead to extreme fatigue and chronic pain.
Here goes with the major stuff we are working on right now:
1. Digestive system - little good bacteria (needed to absorb vitamins, minerals, etc). Total overgrowth with yeast. Treatment: No yeast diet (too restrictive to list. I can eat most vegetables, two fresh fruit’s a day and lean meats. No sugars or starches of any type. No milk products. Am taking diflucan once a day for the next three months (horrible stuff), anti yeast supplements and probiotics (good bacteria). I am absorbing very little.
Not absorbing vitamin D has led to a calcium deficiency, but calcium is not the answer. Mega doses daily of vitamin D and more sunshine (know where I can find some?).
2. Anemia - iron tablets. Also pernicious anemia (very little vitamin B-12). Most folks take one shot of B-12 monthly. My shots are twice weekly for the next three months. Then hopefully, once a month for life. Thank goodness for friends and family who are nurses so I do not have to give myself the shots in my thighs. Even when we go to Germany, both Tammy and Tory are nurses, so my bases are covered.
3. Thyroid - Still very low. Doc says she will be increasing my dose significantly, but it must be done slowly. Will be on that for life. As a result, I have no active T3’s to keep me awake and busy. My are all the inactive T3’s telling my body to slow down and rest. Hopefully the thyroid med will reverse this. Thyroid is also needed to make hormones. So for now, I am also on cortisone. Not too happy about that, but doc says it is short term - at least for three months.
I passed my pee test so I can take estrogen without increased risk of breast cancer, but I am also too low on testosterone and progesterone, so the only form of hormones for me is the shots. Doc says no more shots until the B12 is under control. Then we will chat about risk/benefit.
My bones are producing too many red blood cells. Not related to cancer, so that is good. Again, adds to the fatigue and pain, but the treatment is shots, so we will wait on that also until the thyroid and B12 are more under control.
Doc thinks she can have me 60% back to normal in three months. Do anyone know what that is? Has been too long for me to remember. Then we will also consider other treatment options. So, if all goes well, the fibromyalgia will not be cured, but many of the underlying causes will be alleviated. Keep your fingers crossed and hope this unconventional approach has merit. It makes good scientific sense to me.

Monday, January 21, 2008

I have been busy sewing and knitting for Tammy and Tory's first baby and for Brittany and Stan's first baby. Brittany and Stan are due in March. Tammy and Tory are due the first of April. My niece, Jennifer and Rey are due again the end of May. Scott a nd I are looking to a trip to Arizona for niece Stephanie's wedding on March 8th. Then off to Germany to see Tammy, Tory and our new granddaughter in April.


Close-up of dancing bears.

Side 2 of knit blanket.


Close up of knit blanket side 1.

Front of knit baby blanket for Brittany and Stan.

Close-up of baby quilt.

Quilt for Brittany and Stan who are expecting their first baby.