When you can't quilt, crochet!

Judy finished this crocheted blanket during her stay with Dad at the hospital this past weekend. We decided it will make a great car seat blanket or stroller blanket. Now that she's done with this one, she has started another crocheted blanket in another pattern. She's also begun, hold on...., a yo yo project!
I was seeing these shells in my sleep! This blanket was fun to make and very addicting. I thought I'd work on it while at the hospital with Dad, but found myself working on it even when I was at home. So, now it's done and I can start something else.

Dad is doing well today. He says he feels a little weaker than yesterday, but I think his muscles are just tired. He's done a lot in the last few days. We're waiting now for them to come get him to go to dialysis. I think he will nap while he's there today and I think I will, too. I'm going to sit right here in his room and snooze the whole time he's gone. Well, after I run get me something to eat. We'll see how far I can get with the new blanket I've started.

Piano man!

Here's Dad at the piano in the dayroom on this floor. He is doing so much better, thank you, Lord! We are now awaiting a new assessment of his condition to see if he will remain here at the hospital on the rehab floor. He is getting stronger each day.

I have not been doing anything quilt-wise, but have been crocheting up a storm. I am about to finish a baby afghan for a soon-to-be great-niece. I can't wait to finish this up to post a picture. Judy has finished her afghan for the baby and I will get a picture of it soon.

I am tired tonight. I worked until about 1 p.m. then went to WalMart and ran home and threw my baggage into the car and headed to Lubbock. We took Dad, in the wheelchair, down to the cafeteria. He'd already eaten so we grabbed some sandwiches and came back up to the dayroom where he played a bit at the piano. I am ready to take my contacts out and call it a night.

Father's Day outing

Recognize this fella? LOL This is Dad on Father's Day. We sat him in a wheelchair and took him outside for the first time in 3 months! I made him wear my sunglasses. It was pretty bright outside and really nice. I think he enjoyed it.

We started out today with high hopes that he will be moved to the convalescent center in Farwell. Things were rolling along smoothly until this afternoon when my sister went to sign papers. She found out then that his records show he has some kind of infectious infection in his stool. The nurse in Lubbock claims he does not, it's just blood in the stool. So, there were more papers faxed today for the nursing home to peruse and we wait.. Please pray that things work out as they should as soon as possible.

Father's Day '07

Here are Brittany and her daddy with the pillowcase she made for him for Father's Day. She was so anxious to give it to him. The picture is not the best, but you can see the beautiful smile on her face. The pillowcase has horses all over it. Her daddy loves horses. She wanted to make a quilt, but there was just no time. She'll be back in July so maybe we can attempt a little one then, especially if we get Dad closer to home.

New quilter!

Here's Miss Brittany at her little sewing machine at Grama's house. She's practicing her quarter inch seam on some scraps left over from Auntie Judy's quilt. We made a Father's Day gift for her daddy, but I can't show that yet in case he happens to read my blog. :-)

Brittany and I went to check out the convalescent center that we hope to bring Dad to in the very near future. When we left, she said, "That's a nice place. I sure hope Big Grampa gets to come there." So, it passed her judgement! lol Passed mine, too. Now if we can just get all the gears in motion...

Monday morning

The QOR Mystery quilt, sans borders. I knew I wasn't going to have enough of the inner fabric to finish the border. So, now I have to try to find something that will compliment the center.
This little cutie is my granddaughter, Brittany. Her daddy went to OK to pick her up last Friday and she will be with us until Father's Day. The first night she was with us, she showed me how to make a scarf with the yarn I mistakenly bought when I started making the dishcloths. She just wound it around her fingers in a pattern, then took it off her hand and pulled it taut. It made a tube-like scarf. She learned how to do it in Girl Scouts. It was so nice to watch her do something creative. I can't wait to have more time with her to show her how to quilt!

I'm sitting here watching the physical therapists help Dad get up to walk. He's much stronger so we'll see how far he can make it today. He started complaining and the therapist said, "He's feeling better!" He retorted, "Why, because I'm complaining?" But, he was smiling when he said it. He walked about 20 feet and now he'll sit in the big wheelchair and I'll take him down to the Dayroom so we can both do some exercises.

...It's now two hours later and we have exercised and had lunch. Dad is back in bed, snoring, and I am beat! I can't decide whether to take a nap or run to the hotel and reserve a room for Judy for when she gets in tonight. That way, I could take my shower today as well as tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, a doctor came in today to let us know that Dad will be getting a more permanent catheter for dialysis. They will do it tomorrow either before or after he is dialyzed. This is in preparation to moving him into another facility.

Crochet marathon

Friday night was spent making these cute little dress dishcloths. Since I haven't had a lot of time or opportunity to work on my quilts, I thought I'd direct my energies towards one of my prior hobbies. I'm really enjoying working with crochet needle and yarn. So much so that instead of waiting until I get back to the hospital with Dad to work on these, I decided to work on them last night. Actually, I had to make at least two of the dresses since they made such a big hit with customers at work! lol I took to work the dishtowels I'd made while in Lubbock last week and, what I didn't give away, I sold! And, consequently, had an order for two more. These are so quick and easy to do that I figured I'd make up two extra ones. If they don't sell, I'll just put them away for Christmas giving.


I'm hoping to be able to spend Saturday night at home this week. Judy is on her way to North Carolina to a national Medicare meeting (thank you, Lord!), so Rob and April (in the picture at left) stayed with him last night and will be with him today and tonight. Thank you, guys! You don't know how much this means to me. Oh, did I mention that these two will be getting married on October 20? This is one of their engagement pictures. The background is a real field of flowers.

Dad is doing better, according to my sister. She insists that I will be surprised at the level of his improvement from just Wednesday when I last saw him. I pray that he continues to do well. If he shows improvement, I think they will agree to keep him on the skilled nursing floor at the hospital rather than move him to a nursing home for his rehab. But, if that's what we need to do, we'll handle that, too.

Since I have an extra night at home, there's so much I want to do! I wish I didn't have to go to work today, but that's not even up for discussion. So, I'm off to get the day started. Thank you all for your continued support and most of all, your prayers!

Last of the birthday blocks

Finally! I always enjoy this swap so much, but it was a little trying this time. I loved working on everyone's blocks, but it was a bit stressful and I was so late with some of them. These blocks are for Kate. If I remember correctly, the names of the blocks are "Brasstown Star", "Coxey's Camp", and "Wyoming Valley". These can all be found at the Quilter's Cache.

We are still at the hospital. Today might be the last day for antibiotics. They drew blood this morning at 5 so I guess that will tell them if the antibiotics can be stopped. I sat him up on the side of the bed yesterday and he was much stronger. I hope to see physical therapy in today to stand him up and walk him. Dad's sense of humor is still intact as evidenced this morning when the aide was in. He placed the bedpan under Dad and walked away saying, "I'll be back in a second". Dad told him, "Make it two!" (seconds) lol The aide came back rather quickly and Dad said, "That really WAS two seconds!"

I am so sleepy. I've been working on another baby afghan and some crocheted dishtowels. I think I'll catch a nap while Dad's sleeping before the therapists start coming in.