Is anybody there?

I guess I've kept you waiting long enough for an update. Sorry.

I had 2 epidural injections in February but unfortunately, they didn't provide the relief the docs were hoping for.

I met with the orthopaedist today and learned that my situation is actually worse than I first thought. There are actually THREE herniated cervical (in my neck as compared to lumbar which would be lower back) discs. The C7 is the worst and pressing on the C7 nerve (as I mentioned before). The C6 is running a close second to the C7 - however, the herniation/bulge is pressing against my spinal cord. The C5 has a very minor herniation. Minor, but nonetheless there.

I have a few phone calls to make to find out exactly what is covered by my insurance (do I have a co-pay or co-insurance?) This is critical and could mean the difference between me having to pay a few hundred dollars ... or several thousand ... because I'm going to need surgery to take care of this. They're going to do an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) on 2 discs (C7 and C6).

The doc wants to do this toward the end of May (yikes!). He assures me it will alleviate most of the pain in my neck, the numbness in my hand and the spasms/cramps in my arm.

I have been knitting, albeit not as much as I used to. I'm going on a knitting retreat this weekend with the Knitting Guild and I can't wait!!!!! My mom is going and so is Friend. I think we're going to have a great time - we'll be at Graves Mountain Lodge. It's beautiful up there. I definitely need this get away.

Long Awaited Photos

I'm hoping to give a health update either Wednesday or Thursday. In the meantime, I thought I'd share some photos of recent knitting here at the Casa de Bling.

First up, the scarf I knit for the other Beth's sister Carrie. This was knit with Berroco Glace and Chinchilla. It was a fun knit, but kind of tedious ... all that garter stitch! Glad it's done ... nevermind that I bought the yarn to do one for myself in a different colorway ::grins::



















Up next is the baby blanket I knit for a co-worker. He and his wife are expecting their first baby ... a little girl! Also for your viewing pleasure is a close up of the stitch pattern. This is actually a very soft lavender color - doesn't show very well in the photos.





















I leave you with the current SIPs (Socks In Progress). This is the 1st shipment from the 2008 Rockin Sock Club. The name of this pattern is Serendipity. I'm totally loving it and hope to have them finished this weekend!

Ouch!

The last couple of weeks have been an adventure. Unfortunately, not an adventure I've enjoyed.

I haven't said anything about this previously, but it's really affecting my day-to-day life. So much so that I've been out of work for the last 2 weeks.

I've been suffering with chronic muscle spasms for a few years now, thanks to a car accident in 1999. It's usually managable, but unfortunately I have flare ups sometimes. The end of October I suffered a major flare up ... my neck muscles became very inflamed and painful. I started going to physical therapy and was actually getting some relief. We were making progress - my therapist was able to break up some of the knots (spasms) and get the muscles to start relaxing.

One morning two weeks ago I was still in bed and stretched, with my arms above my head. I felt something pop in my neck. Major pain ensued and there was numbness in my left upper arm and hand. After two weeks of bed rest, major drugs, multiple doctor visits, consults with orthopaedists, and numerous tests (x-rays, an EMG and an MRI), it has been determined that I have a herniated disk (C6-C7) and it is pressing on the C7 nerve, which is the one that runs down my left arm.

I'm waiting to see a specialist for an epidural cortisone injection. There's no guarantee that this will work, but I'm willing to try anything before I agree to surgery.

Unfortunately the pain and numbness have seriously affected my knitting. My knitting mojo has gone bye bye. I'm ready to get back to my real life and my knitting.

Please think happy healing thoughts and pray for me. I can use all the help I can get right now.

SIPJ Day to the Rescue

You have NO idea how much I need this - won't you join me?!?!

New Years Eve 2007

It's that time of year again ... a glance back and then looking to the future. As you may recall, I didn't really set any "goals" for 2007. My hopes were to keep knitting and keep learning ... and more hand-knit socks.

I definitely kept on knitting. And the FOs for 2007, in no particular order:

Fiddlehead Scarf (Morehouse Farms)
Bella Scarf (Knit Picks)
2 Ponchettes ('07 PatternADay calendar)
Zud Hat (Dulaan Project)
2 Baby Hats
2 Bunny Blanket Buddies (Lion Brand)
Fur-Cuffed Stocking (Lion Brand)
Mistake Rib Scarf (Monet)
Baby Hoodie (Knitting Pure & Simple)
2 Multi-Directional Scarves
Soleil (Knitty)
Glace / Chinchilla Scarf (Knitting Sisters, Williamsburg VA)

And knowing my love for hand-knit socks, I'm sure you'll agree that they get their own category:

Jaywalkers in Austermann Step (MagKnits)
Baby Cable Socks in Regia Bamboo (Sensational Knitted Socks)
Inside Out Socks in STR Med Weight (Feb 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)
Herringbone Eyelet Socks in Cascade Fixation (Finally Waking Up)
Grasshopper Socks in STR Silkie (Apr 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)
Lightweight Stockinette Socks in KP Dancing (Knitting Pure & Simple)
Solstice Slip in STR Light Weight (June 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)
Lenore Socks in STR (October 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)

I had an unofficial goal of a pair of socks per month, but didn't quite make it. That's okay ... there's always 2008!

There was lots of learning going on too. A couple of things I've previously learned about knitting that still hold true: It won't knit itself - there are no knitting gnomes that will finish projects for me - I actually have to pick up the needles and knit. And it's just yarn.

Here's a look at some of the things I know now that I didn't know last year:

Short row toe up socks
Short row heel
Backward loop cast on
Crochet
Sewn bind off
Aran Sweater from the Top Down

There may be one or two others that I can't think of right now, but not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

I also continued taking over the world one knitter at a time sharing the joy and relaxation of knitting by teaching others to knit. I helped bring a hooker crocheter to the knitting side; I encouraged DD#2 to continue to learn new techniques (she's working on a pair of baby socks ... I'm SO proud!); and I taught a newbie to knit via prayer shawls.

Once again I wish the same things for you as I did last year: As the ball drops and we count down the seconds to the New Year, I hope you each find peace, happiness, abundance, joyful knitting and more hand-knit socks. Happy New Year!