Yes, I know...

It's gone bizerk. I'm working on it. Anyone know how to get this in particular to stop? I'd, of course, like all the bars across the top like normal.
Yes, the side bars are at the bottom... and I mean plural, I made a 3 column layout since the 1 side bar was beyond unmanageable. I also moved a ton around, added a 365 Flickr feed and put a scroll bar on the unruly archive list.

I guess this is what happens at 2-3am when there are no kids in my lap and I'm juiced on way too much caffeine. Remind me not to do that again.

UPDATE: ok, so bars are up and blog is down. E gads.

The Magic Potion

Earlier today I thought I was brilliant. Erm, maybe not.

Dory had a mild case of hives/rash on her face that was completely unexplained. I pulled out the Benadryl at John's urging. She wasn't itching and as I said, it was very mild, so I wasn't sure she needed it just yet...
Anyway, she looked at it and decided that something that shade of pink could not be good for your body. I was sooo proud of myself. Other kids would see candy, she saw... "um, no". I had to convince her it was okay just this once to drink something so unnatural looking. I called it 'Magic Potion' like a fairy would use to cure something. That is would fight the bad thing in her body and make the hives go away. She downed it lickity split.
She took a nap.
Fast forward 5 hours... I told her it was about time for a second dose just to knock it out completely. Next thing I know she is coming to my side declaring that she is "not a very good pourer." Can I say my heart stopped as I looked at a few pink dribbled down her dress?
I looked around the kitchen and had to ask her where the cup was, ask her if she took any when said cup was *empty*... One cup full. How high? Up to the top. Where's the phone? *sigh*
While she stripped her dress off and began soaking it in the bathroom I called Poison Control. Guesstimated her weight (later rechecked, overestimated by 3#), guesstimated amount in the cup (for the record it holds 5tsp, I measured later), decided to believe her when she said just one cup. She hadn't been panicked yet, so had no real reason to lie.
Tonya said, I wanna watch her... call me back at 7pm & basically to get her full of food, make sure I can rouse her if she falls asleep again, don't worry if her pupils dilate... and no more Benadryl for at least 24 hours.
Okey doke.
So, she's full of food, bread, apples, cheese, water and a lollypop. Sugary at John's request to combat the sleepiness (I hope that doesn't backfire with a hard crash).
Now, we wait.
Update at 7pm.
________________
And... she's clear. She never fell asleep, just got cuddly and drowsy. Eyes never dilated. Just a grumpy blood sugar crash right about 6. So, we are done with our OD adventures for today.
Separate, yet related note... hives are still there some. I'm guessing it's viral now.

365.Starting

I've known several people this past year who have participated in a project called 365. It's basic premise is that you take one photo everyday for an entire year. I decided to start my own on Christmas Day this year. I was going to wait until the new year, but well... why? It's almost TOO tidy that way. My life isn't exactly tidy, so I don't expect this to be either. Feel free to follow along over on Flickr, or not. ;) Either way... I plan on uploading one time a week, maybe more often if I feel up to it. Some will be from my camera, others from my phone, still others... who knows, maybe my Mac's iSight. Anyway, off I go, on yet another new adventure.

First Dollhouse

First Dollhouse
Originally uploaded by Jonquil Mom

:) I'd say Christmas went well.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I caught Santa!! (kinda)

The kids are never going to believe me...
We were watching Santa's progress all day long. After they went to bed, I had work to do wrapping their gifts. (nothing was wrapped) John, Grand and I were quite busy until Grand was about to leave and Daddy had already gone to bed. (he's under the weather) I double checked on Santa's progress and sure enough.... HE was HERE! Well, in Charlotte anyway. I had to check on Jack after Grand had left, and Santa apparently didn't want to see me either since he dropped by while I was upstairs.
So, I caught him on the satellite, but not in person. Drat. I'll just have to try again next year.

;)

In support of Raw Milk

It was an interesting day today... it started with the funeral of a friend's 23 day old infant. Very, very sad... (Previously posted about that)

...and then moved to my normal bi-monthly milk delivery down in SC. As soon as I pulled up and parked I got a tap at the car window with a guy holding a digital video camera pointed at me asking for an interview. Um, ok. Good ting I wasn't frumpy dirty last second out the door Mommy today! I was still pretty dressed up from the morning.

Turns out his name is Max Kline and he is riding across the country in the next 40 days in support of Raw Milk, stopping at deliveries like ours, farms, and other supporter's homes. Very interesting seeing as food myths are of personal interest to me.

I wish him well on his journey and can't wait to see his finished product. I hope he can help make an impact on our crazy backwards culture.

In other milk related musings... it was last month that I noticed, for the first time since I was about 13, I drink milk without thinking about it twice. Seeing as it resulted in such pain for so long - even sometimes with Lactaid - I was naturally hesitant to just up and drink a glass even though with raw I can. Well, I am happy to say... I can now chug it with the best and not think twice. The pain is a pretty distant memory! Bring on the gluten free cookies and a big tall glass of the creamy goodness. :)

Leaf Piles

Over Thanksgiving, 'Uncle' Andy came to visit. He stayed over at the IL's and spent one of his days raking the front yard into piles 'o fun for the kids - who then had a BLAST. Thanks Uncle Andy!
Follow photo to Flickr for more of leaves...

A Serious Prayer Request

A friend of mine from Charlotte Mommies and Nourishing the Carolinas had a baby girl, Eleni, right before Thanksgiving. She is not well and keeps encountering setbacks. They had no warning of her condition as the ultrasound never picked it up.
This evening there has been news that even after a 15 hour heart surgery a few weeks ago that there now might be a big problem with her intestines. Given her current state, this is not good news.
Please, pray with me for this little bundle of joy. She needs every one she can get right now.

Thank you.

Update: Eleni died on the 18th. :( Please pray for their family.

Kitting for Kiddos!

Ha! In a grand return to blogging, I thought you might like to see some recent pics of Jack and his brand new sweater that has sat in the sidebar for what feels like forever. He was not thrilled with my photo session since he had just woken up from the nap he took on the way home from Church on Sunday. I am so stinking proud of this thing. I think it looks great. One of my favorite things about it is the buttons. They are of the 3 billy goats Gruff, Puss in Boots and Rumpelstiltskin! Completely cute little boy troll fairy tale buttons. I got them at Purls in Asheville.
There were a ZILLION ends to weave in. It will be a long time before I do anything striped again. That was murder. What possessed me to think a striped sweater would be a good FIRST sweater? GAH!

--
Bob sweater, by by Kim Hargreaves for Rowan
The Fibre Co. Savannah DK, doubled, in Lime, Bleu Marine, Linen, Marigold and Rum Raisin (a linen, cotton, wool and soy blend)
US8 needle
--

This just proves there are pictures to be had, even if I have been bad about putting them up! More to come, I promise. Think fall leaves.

Cliodna: Mythology Series #2

I am proud to also finally debut Cliodna, also entered into the Malabrigo contest with Chimera. Much more reserved in structure, but with a similar beautiful pattern, Cliodna is available in two sizes, snug and loose. It is a quick knit, using about half a skein of Malabrigo Worsted.
Also available in my Etsy shop.

Via Ravelry with PayPal

Chimera Won! (and finally debuts)

The Chimera pattern was selected by my fellow Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry as one of several winners for the Designing Junkies 08 contest.
What does this mean for you? IT'S NOW FREE!!! See? We all win. :D
Click through the title link for the Ravelry Download of the PDF -or- click the PDF image below. (There are benefits to using Ravelry directly, of course.)
It is fully charted, with chart overview and 3 pages of ready to print zoomed charts. 6 pages and full color.

Christmas Knitting

Wow, I ever understood why knitters started their Christmas Knitting (yes, uppercase 'K') months in advance. Mainly because I had never thought about it in any real sense. I didn't really intend to knit for people this year, but then, well, money was tight and I figured handcrafted goods would be well, good!
So far, it's coming along nicely, but I have no real drive to get it all completely finished right now, which is NOT GOOD. Especially with only a few days remaining. I know I am over half way here though. So, I truck on. Of course, there will be pics here after the gifts are given, but if you are on Ravelry, feel free to click through the links as I am adding pics as I go behind the pretty wrapping.
<3 Jen

Blogoversary!

I made it yet again. :) 3 years strong chronicling the kids and my life. Sure, there are holes, especially recently, but this is the first time in my life I have made it very far into journaling... so I think I'm just going to be darn proud. ;-) (Even if I have been a MASSIVE blog slacker lately.)

Thanks

:) I got a bunch of happy well wishes and understanding. I really appreciate it!
I am feeling a bit better, the start of the week helped - routine and all - and John brought home flowers and treats last night. No, it wasn't apology flowers... he's not been bad! It was good work related news for us. :)
Anyway... things seem a bit better. Thanks. :)

OK - onto a Tea Class tonight with MIL! :) I'm looking forward to it. Girl's night out!

Forgive me

Please forgive me for not keeping the blog up to date recently. I have been feeling like - see right now, words escape me. I can't finish that sentence. It's shameful. It's not quite depression, but more like apathy. Like the fight is being beaten out of me slowly. I hate it. What's even worse is I can't tell you for sure what is causing it. I can point out little things that prick at it... but not the root. So, as for blogging, I just don't even know what to write about. I have some responsibilities that I am falling down on miserably. Things that should not be hard for me to just get done... but seem like unscalable mountains.

So, here you go... I'll dump some out unceremoniously for you:
-Jack said "Walk the Plank, Arrr" on Saturday on the way to the IL's... it's his second sentence. His first was the week prior, "Here you go", as he slapped something into my lap and ran away.
-Dory is Dory... a bit starved for attention, brilliant and opinionated. I'm going to cut up an old sweater that I accidentally felted a few years ago, and still have, to be a winter coat for her. I think it will be a perfect fit.
-Thanksgiving was good. We had Turkey at one house, and Ostrich at the other. We did not celebrate it here this year, opting instead to travel. John didn't want to worry about company coming when he was going to be gone just prior to it on a business trip. Ok, I get it. But see? The fight is gone. As much fun as it was, I hated it. Is that awful to say? Thanksgiving was great! Really! It was! Good food, great company, behaved kids... and yet... Blah.
-John has lost 24 pounds so far and is making tremendous strides towards losing much more. He likely already has and just has not reported it yet. I'm so very proud of him and the accomplishment!
-We've been attending a new church that I am very happy with (or was until the last sermon series... not fond of the new speaker that we have had).
-Jack finally got his birthday celebrated at our Thanksgiving get together, and the weekend prior. I do have pics.
-Uncle Andy made a rocking pile 'o leaves and the kids, he and Daddy spent a good amount of time rolling in them Saturday. I have a video to edit of it to show you.
-More FOs to blog about for my knitting readers. Even a killer swap package that hasn't made it up. (Thank you Amy!!!)

How am I doing? *shrug* I'm doing.
And that's not good. See? I'm even apathetic enough to write this post. The list above just looks like a glaring list of failed posts to me.
So, please, forgive me. For not blogging more regularly like I usually do. For being snippy with you for what you think is no reason. For not being as joyous over your excellent news. For not getting that thing done on the time line that I set.
I'm trying. I am. I just have no zip right now.