Shteeni's Knits Again!

Cancer

Oops... I forgot to tell you... if you come here via a blog reading program, stop by the real way, I've added a great Typelist of Crafty Blogs...lots of them.  Have fun!

**Disclaimer** Not the happiest of posts but very informative...**

Let's start with a little update.  If you are not part of my CarePages, you do not know that on Monday I found out definetly that I have a rare form of Brain Cancer and it is Stage 3.  I also found out that my oncologist has a patient with Stage 4 Brain Cancer that is still around and it is 5+ years later.

We got a Nanny to help with the kids, but I'll talk about that when I am less annoyed about the other stuff.

If you live in CT and have insurance through Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield LISTEN UP. The rest of you can listen in and listen up in a minute...  My family has been paying FULL PRICE OUT OF POCKET for health insurance through them for at least 5 years and I had them through work for at least an additional 2 years.  They have a cap on prescriptions every year.  My plan is $2,000.00.  And normally, noone would go through that much money in prescriptions, here's where it changes... My Chemotherapy, that may prolong my life for my 5 little children, only comes in a pill form.  Anthem has decided that at that point it is not a treatment but a prescription.  That little prescription costs around $2,000.00 per week for at least 6 weeks, with follow up of 5 days per month for at least a year.  (you should have seen our faces when we went to pick up the first set of pills and saw an $8,000.00 bill) I am not complaining about the possibility of death coming sooner than later, but how can anyone afford such nonsense.  I have a 19 month, who I would like to remember me, so the chemo is imperative. (We are looking into other insurance, by the way, that will even take me and have no cap on lifetime benefits or prescription plans, but by the time it gets all set up, the bulk of the chemo will be done and have come out of pocket, so much for that trip to Hawaii)  Remember I was an otherwise healthy 31 year old who quit smoking 6 years ago, started to take vitamins, and eat and drink organic and I ended up with a mysterious brain tumor.  Please check out your insurance plans and I have heard that AFLAC is awesome and they have a great cancer plan, pay the extra few dollars to get it.  I can't get it now because my tumor was deemed malignant, but I will be getting my husband and children on it.

Regarding the stash sale, I am so sorry for not getting my act together.  The radiation and chemo are sapping my energy. I can only read when I close one eye.  And I have headaches.  Fear not, I am going to ask someone who wanders over here to help me out.  They are seperated and I haven't forgotten and, of course, there will be surprises in the boxes. Thank you so much for your patience.

I wish you all a peaceful and thoughtful Friday.

Bridezillas and Mothra

So the sister is driving me bonkers.  She has changed her mind about dresses (not hers) not less than 3 times, uh hello, the wedding is in October and I have 5 children that I have to cart around for dress fittings...arggghhhh.

On the Mothra front... I think the real mother has called and left a message on my old cell phone.

I just can't deal with Bridezilla and Mothra at the same time...  maybe I can challenge them to duel each other!

If you aren't paying rent....

THEN GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!

I am having trouble sleeping...  It really all started with the crazy lady next door...then with the step-son and on to my step-mother and sister...and seems to just snowball.

If you haven't noticed...I have a bit of a hard time getting along with others.  Part of the problem is my brutal honesty.  I.can't.lie.  Well, let me clarify... I choose not to lie.

So with really nothing nice to say, I have been trying to lay low.

I am currently still working on blocking Hollis' socks and I have started a tank out of Rowan Summer Tweed.  I'll try to post a pic tomorrow.

TTFN

Well, that went better than I expected...

Like I said before, I don't do too well at wakes or funerals.  My first was my Grandma's (the other half of the Grandpa).  I still miss her terribly.  Thanks for all of the great support.  I am trying to answer you each individually.  Gracie is getting fiesty :)  Here are some pictures of things I think will keep you busy and then I have a brief commentary on a sign posted in a neighbors front yard.
Hollis' socks, I am at the toe of the second sock now :)

Scout wanted to see where we knit so here it is.  Mr. Clean has cleaned it up a bit since I took the picture.

The future Mrs. Wilson.

In case you can't read it... STOP THE INVASION, SECURE OUR BORDERS.
Hey Slick, if we secured our borders you wouldn't be here either!

Well I guess that's all the trouble I am up to today :)
TTFN

Another Good bye

Aw Jeez.
My father doesn't call me very often, usually only if I call him first.  I should have known.  Also, in my family dynamic, I am the last to know anything.  Well, holy cow batman, I was first, a day late, but still first.
My Grandfather died yesterday.  And as my dad put it, right in time for his pinochle game with Grandma.  I can't say that I was extremely close with him, but I did live with him in High School for a short time.  I was always worried about bringing the kids to see him (he had emphysema so bad he couldn't get to the bathroom without stopping for breath), and my kids seem to always be sick.  Not to mention, lately, he really didn't want people over.
He asked for me last year while he was in the hospital.  That visit went okay.  I brought him pictures of the kids and he seemed pretty alert, well except for his discussions about Bush and Rowland needing to go back to where ever they came from...who am I to argue?
Dad forgot to mention that they had gotten Hospice involved during the past week.  I feel like I am always left out of the loop.
At any rate, there aren't a whole lot of things that i will miss Scissor Squad for, but I suppose I really need to go there.  The wake is on Tuesday and funeral on Wednesday. (Hopefully, my mother won't show at either)
I loved him, even if I loved Grandma more.
Sorry for the sad post, I'll try to have something happier tomorrow.

Christine is still trying to find her groove

Confused and tired is the best I can describe the mood these days.
I used to be so much fun.  What has happened to me, is this a normal 30 yo thing?
There are days when I just give up.  I don't want to do anything, not knit, not play, not even breathe, sometimes.  It is getting so bad that I think maybe a psych eval is in order, especially with my family history.  Better to nip it in the butt than have everyone including me suffer.
I have finally uploaded some pictures...wanna see?
Look I got my sockapaloooza socks with great guilt (I am waiting for Mr. Clean to be home for a post office trip by myself...they are done and ready to go)  My pal was Michele.  And she is going to have a baby.  Go congratulate her and help her out with her yucky prego feelings!  Thank you Michele, I love them!  I am sorry I am so late on thanking you.  Maybe I can make you something baby related...if I get out of this horrible funk.  I love me some babies, I just don't like incubating them myself.
This is a progress picture of my pal's socks.  I made mine from Dani's Sunshine Yarns in Shamrock.  They really are pretty.  Just a plain ribbed sock.  I hope 1. Mr. clean gets his butt home early one of these days and 2. she likes them!

It's my one and only yarn monster Gracie!

We had a craft swap at my house.  What fun.  My kids hoarded what was left over.  I tried to tell them I was trying to get rid of stuff not get more...but they wouldn't listen.

Eva and Gracie...Mama takes out the camera and it's all smiles :)

Well, that's it for now...Toodles!

Wow, it's been a while

Lots of stuff happening here.

Gracie is 1 today...more on that later...

I believe I am missing some emails... I will find them today and try to respond by evening...sorry for any inconvenience.

My brother-in-law passed on Friday so I have been trying to stick close to home, in case Mr. Clean's sister needs us.

I am still working on the Give a Little Socks.  I think I have gotten it by golly!  I didn't think it would be as hard as it was to make a pair of socks from a different weight yarn.

It looks like I need to find a job with health insurance!  Anyone know of any?

That's it for now!

Later more on Gracie!

On our way to Target

Gotta love Target.  The dollar spot is awesome!  So, Mr. Clean and the kids and I are headed over to the mecca of shopping to get a couple of alarm clocks and Easter stuff.  I was telling him how I really would like to have him plant some flowers by our mailbox (the neighbor has lovely dafodils).  He said we need to clean up the whole front area by the street.  (This is a huge undertaking as we live in the boonies)  He says "we'll make their flowers look bad", and I say to him, "I don't want to make anyone's stuff look bad, I just want to like our area."  "And besides, they already don't like us."  He says "yeah, and they never even talked to us."  These are common conversations we have amongst ourselves :)  Then T pipes in and says "Hey Mommy, remember when the police dot (got) you?"  Speaking of the speeding ticket the other day... Geesh... I just can't catch a break!

A finally went back to school today!  She has the ick and is happily spreading it to the rest of us.  Annie, I don't know if it is safe to intermingle with us tomorrow.  So I thought I would give you an update.

Go check out Mama Snooze's Blog (she's got a really funky toilet there).  I am scared to click the comments to see how a chick uses one of those things.  Which by the way, I was talking to Mr. Clean about.  And he said you would have to get an 18" bowl extender...he should have been a comedian...ha!

Yep, lots going on in Chez Shteeni

Last night, just plain fun...except for the fruit flies.  Michelle and I sang GNR Patience.  Fun was had!  D (the eldest was there to cheer Mom on and of course knit).  Sarah seems to be getting out of the I want to kill everyone phase of quitting smoking!  Yay. Jennie brought in her fun fur Davey Crockitt hat...too funny. And Annie (still blogless) is knitting some beautiful Koigu socks!

A the second child is home sick again (since Monday and she seems to be getting progressively worse, which means the ick will be visiting a cranky shteeni near you soon).  I fed her some mint tea with honey and it seems to be breaking some of the stuff up.

Gracie is just so cute, I could kiss her all day.

And there is more, I am sure... just can't get the old brain to function.

Thank you and a meme

Hey, I just want to say thank you for not thinking I am some sort of freak and offering your woods up to me and the kids.  It's not that I don't have woods, I do, I just don't like being outside.. heh.  Hey Papa Scott, I may be at your house before you are at mine :)

And now for the meme from Dani

It's the first 10 song shuffle:

Here's mine and don't laugh, cuz I'm watching you!

1. California by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. She won't let me by Afroman
3. Before I knew your name by Joel Lindsey
4. Travelin' Soldier by the Dixie Chicks
5. Human Nature by Madonna
6. Suzie Snowflake by Rosemary Clooney
7. Philosophy by Ben Folds Five
8. Respect by Pink featuring Snatch
9. So long ago by Nanci Griffith
10. Junkhead by Alice in Chains

I have a VERY LARGE Combined Music Collection with Mr. Clean.

Christmas before my biological Mother ruined it was big in our house, so I am really quite surprised that there was just the one Christmas song on there.

If you want to do this meme...have fun and leave me a comment so I can check yours out!