Spinnin Skinny

Yes, I am still alive

2009-02-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

You all may have heart attacks when you you realize that I am alive and posting again.
The quads are growing and doing fine. Tyler and Avery seem to be taking turns with hospital stays. Cystic fibrosis is not nice to babies.

I have been very apathetic in the last year. Just had a bad year I guess. I am better now and will try to keep this blog running.

Love to all,
Me.

really skinny

2007-11-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at SAFF. At least the time i had there. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Paul and I had to leave the same day we got there, so I was only there a few hours. But I got to see Sandy, Caroline, Lynne and Maryanne. I missed Blaine and I regret that. It was so nice to visit if only a short time. I brought home some nice fiber and a book on natural dying.
But the big news is that I am doing some spinning for the art director at school. The first ounce I spun, I got 183 yards. I was impressed with my bad self. The second ounce I spun 198 yards! I can't believe I am really spinnin skinny. Wonder if I can spin fat again?

Off to SAFF

2007-10-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

I will be getting up at 4:30 tomorrow morning. Those of you that know me, know I would rather shoot myself in the foot as to get up before 8. It will be worth it because I am goinjg to SAFF for my third year. I will be meeting a lot of my fiber friends there and cannot wait to see them again. I will post again when I get home. Later, Pam

Introducing.............

2007-10-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

Yee Haa!!!! I am going to have another grandchild. And she is a girl!! We all really wanted another little girl and her name is Avery Caroline. Another bit of good news is that there are no white spots on her intestines. So maybe she will not have CF. Tyler is trying very hard to crawl. Babiers are so adorable and funny when they are trying to learn new stuff,. I guess that means they are adorable and funny all of their lives.

And Tyler Too

2007-09-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

I went to see the Grandquads yesterday. Clay, Carey, and Tyler were there too. It's been three months since I have seen Tyler and there are some changes already. He is starting to look like Carey's Dad, Richard. He is a little chunk of lead. I think Carey said he weighs 19 pounds now. He is on the brink of crawling if he could just get that other knee under him. He is a sweet happy baby with a delightful little chuckle. I have new pictures of him so maybe I can post one that ISN'T the same one I have already posted twice in a row. HMMM......maybe I just really like that picture?

JonZReaTom are doing some changing as well. Zachary is a past master at signing the word "more". He certainly isn't going to miss any meals. He also has this matter-of-fact expression he uses as he strings together multitudes of sounds. He seems to say, "of course you know exactly what I am saying." Thomas is starting to walk pretty well. But he trips and falls too. Jim said he stood up in the little wagon they have and tipped it over. Of course he fell out and the wagon handle hit him right between the eyes. The next day he did a nose-duve into a coffee cup and put his teeth through his lip. It happens, of course, but I actually think it is harder on Jim than Thomas. OK, OK, I wanted to cry when I heard it. Raising babies sure is hard on the adults. Reagan has a meltingly beautiful smile. She walks better than the boys and has a wonderful disposition. She is very serene for a baby. Jonathan is almost too pretty to be a boy. He is a laid back little dude and seems happy even if he isn't interacting with the others, I watched Reagan and Zachary wrestle with each other, rolling over and over each other and laughing like crazy. When they get along, they get along well. And sometimes they don't................ Normal kids just like any others.

I had to close out the post and start all over because I put some pictures in that weren't good. So now I have redone the whole thing and AGAIN I have put the same picture in twice. I guess I had just better get over it. I am done and am going to publish.

Dentist cont.

2007-09-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

It's finally over (mostly). After three hours of having someone elses fingers in my mouth, I now have my temporary bridge. Not bad looking, but it was not pleasant. I did really well until the last when Dr. Hasnani extracted the tooth that had been under my old bridge. I swear the roots of that tooth were behind my nose! There wasn't really any pain, I guess the thought and the feeling were enough to make me sick. I sure was glad when that part was over!
Looking at my latest postings, I noticed that I have used the same picture of Tyler twice. I do have others. Speaking of pictures, when I was in Knoxville, Ali gave me about a hundred pics on a disc. They are beautiful pics, The pics in my last post were some of them. Anyway, the gals at Wally World almost didn't let me have the pics because they were so professional looking. A few of them were indeed taken by a professional, but were given to Jim and Ali to use and print. They weren't copyrighted. The joke is, some of the others that are just as good were taken by Michelle, Ali's good friend. What a compliment to her! She is very good at anything she does. Ok, my pain pill is kicking my butt, so I will post again later.

How fast they grow!

2007-09-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

I went to see Jim and Ali and the Grandquads yesterday. I need to go at least once a week to keep up with the changes! They are now 14 months old. They don't eat baby food any more, they are all off the bottle (I was surprised by that-Jim and Clay hung on to their bottles for dear life, especially Clay), they are all walking. Thomas prefers to crawl still, but he can take a few steps on his own. They are learning to sign and are beginning to talk. Reagan has a cute little growlly sound she makes. They are just the best thing that ever happened to me. All five (soon to be six) grandchildren. I just wish I could visit Tyler more. I miss him so much. It is just too far a drive for me and I don't really trust my car. And since I have to have teeth, I can't get a new car just yet.

In case y'all didn't notice, Ali showed me how to put links on my sidebar. I have, alas, lost my avatar and since I don't know how to export it it may be some time before she is back. I have such fun with her that I am going to try very hard to get her back. If any of you are interested in internet paper dolls, I will put the links up for you. I know how to do it now!

Dentists

2007-08-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

I went to the dentist today for the first time in I won't say how many years. I am paying for my procrastination this time. Through the nose. I have known for some time that I have issues with my teeth and bridge. Pammy's bridge is falling down. As my front teeth slowly slid down, in went all kinds of stuff that brush,floss, or water pic wouldn't touch. So I have some roots up there somewhere causing infection, but the tooth has long since decayed away. I couldn't just have my teeth cleaned, oh no, they had to be debrided. Hurts. Next I have to have my roots scaled. Sounds like fun? But first I have to have my bridge removed, the roots found and pulled out and a newer, bigger bridge put in. Next, my wisdom teeth are impacted (of course) and since they are causing yet another site of really bad infection, out they have to come. Oral surgery. Are we having fun yet?
When the dentist walked in I just fell in love. The cutest little feller I ever did see. Looks kinda like Ravi Kapoor of Crossing Jordan fame. But I don't care how cute he is, he charges too much for the bridge work and cleaning and extraction, it is just a meager 5,120.00. Oh, the good news: My insurance will pay a whopping 1000.00. How very generous. And that does NOT include the surgery. I may have to start panhandling. Giggle.
Oh well, on to something fun. The quads are starting to talk. They can say mama and dada, and have added sliggle sliggle and similar words. Jonathan actually said diaper last week. I am going to see them tomorrow. I need some joy in my life after Dr. Hasnani.
Taking a page out of Allison's book, if you happen to read my blog, pleas leave a comment saying hi and how you found this blog. I would reallly appreciate it. I could even be tempted to post more often.
Until next time.

2007-07-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

Mother, my sister Kathy, and myself went to Knoxville yesterday to see Jim and Allison and the Quads. Reagan is walking now, and to my delight, we got to see Zachary take three steps in a row for the first time. I am going to be in the middle of canning tomatoes today, so I need to get off the computer and get over the stove.

2007-07-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

My summer hiatus is almost at an end. I have been canning veggies and roasting chilis so we can have yummies this winter. I can always rest when I go back to work. haha
My GrandQuads are thriving and gorgeous. Reagan is walking now. Jim says she gets to tickled at herself that she windmills her arms and knocks herself down. I haven't been to see them this summer except for the birthday. I am going to go this weekend if all goes well.
More grandmother news. Clay and Carey are expecting again in February. I don't know if it was planned or oops but it will be welcomed and loved. Hope it's a girl. Reagan needs another girl cousin.

One Year oldhttp://harrisquads.blogspot.com

2007-06-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

My Grandquads are now a year old. Jim and Ali gave them a huge party and almost all of the family was there. They are so adorable and happy. they almost never cry. If you want to see how it went, harrisquads.blogspot.com is where all the action is. Clay's wife, Carey, has given me my grandmother nic name. She calls me Grammy Pammy. I said the babies would shorten that to "GranPa". A gender change, huh? As long as they call me, they can call me anything. Tyler was at the party too. He even let Clay and Carey come. He is growing so fast and is so adorable.

On a personal topic, I have been spinning and knitting. I have almost finished my dye exchange project. It grew up to be a hexagonal wall hanging or a small throw. I have done some dying as well, and will start spinning soon. Gotta finish the socks first.

A Year Old

2007-06-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

My son Jim has reminded me that I have not posted since March. Ooops. I procrastinate really well don't I?
Tomorrow I am off to Knoxville for the quads 1st birthday. It doesn't seem like a year in some ways, in other ways it almost seems longer. I don't have any recent pictures of Jon ZReaTom (Jim and Allison' word for all four at once). To see them click on the link or go to harrisquads.blogspot.com. It is well worth it. Allison writes a truly interesting blog. Is there anything she CAN'T do? I have yet to see it.
Clay, Carey, and Tyler will also be there. I will be covered up in grandchildren. I can't wait. I will have pictures next time, which won't be long, promise.
Next time.

Tyler

2007-03-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Since I am on spring break I have time to spin (a lot) dye, relax and just indulge in whatever I am into at the moment.

I indulged myself with a trip to Evansville to see Clay, Carey, and my newest grandson, Tyler. He is precious, adorable, beautiful, alert, and an all around great baby. Of course most of you know that he also has CF. So far everyone is coping really well. Tyler has to have enzymes before every meal so his body can access the nutrients in his food. His skin tastes salty because his body has no pathways into the cells for sodium. This was a symptom of CF that I didn't know anything about. Other than that and a need to burp him often, he is great. Well, he is great anyway. And adorable. He is just beautiful. Clay and Carey are good parents and take excellent care of their wonderful baby.

Here it is O mentor of in your face colors

2007-02-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

HI everyone,

I am trying to post pics on the new version of this blog. Mostly because Sandy wants to see how I am doing. Not a bad thing. This is Blue Jean Baby. Lynne dyed it and I am thrilled to have ended up with it.

Hope I haven't messed up!

2007-02-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I just changed to the New Blogger and I hope it is for the best. I also hope everyone can still get here. I finally got my new pc. It is a Gateway with Microsoft Vista. It is fast, pretty and has loads of storage. It also has a CD/DVD burner and ports for my memory sticks. Now I just need a really good printer.
I will close for now, as I want to see how the new blogger thing works.

Spinnin Skinny

2007-01-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Hi all. I didn't wait a whole month this time. I don't know if I can even post this as I haven't changed to Google. I am so computer illiterate that I am afraid to make any changes. I know. I am so sad. But the good news is that I am going to get a brand new compputer that has never belonged to anyone else so watch out computer world!
I have even better news. My beautiful little Tyler was born by c-section on Jan. 4. He weighed 4.5 pounds. He did test positive for cystic fibrosis but so far has had no problems. He weighs over 5 pounds now and holds his head up already. He didn't have to stay in NICU very long before he was good to go home. Clay and Carey are doing well but are a little sleep-deprived. (Ya think?) The quads are strokin' !!!! They are just normal little babies and Allison is the best mother I have ever seen. She goes through her days serenely taking care of JonZReaTom (their name for all 4 at once) like she was born to do it. She reads them a story in the afternoon, puts them to bed, and they go to sleep!!!!! Jim was NEVER that easy, but they deserve to have good babies since they have so many.
We have new people at work now. Jenny (my boss) hired an executive chef to be a salad maker. Sound like she has no sense? You would be right. He is an Israeli, and has an ego bigger than any cliche" chef you have ever heard about. He has got to go! If he wasn't such an ass I could like him. I admire his knowledge of food but I can't stand his temperament. Anyway, the work place is all topsy turvy these days. I asked the school nurse if she had any narcotic meds I could have. She told me to go home and drink a Budweiser. She is such a hoot.
If any of you are interested, JonZReaTom have a blog. The name is www.harrisquads.blogspot.com. Allison is sure to post more often than I do. She is so organized! Well I have done my duty to my blog and grands so I am going to go to bed now. Later.

2006-12-31T20:44:00.000-08:00

Well here I sit, in Knoxville, on New Years Eve. It isn't midnight yet, but it doesn't matter. I am not celebrating. Jim and Allison ate something that REALLY made them sick. So sick that they called in the Cavalry (that would be me) because they were not able to leave the bathroom long enough to take care of the Quads. So. Here I sit with everyone else in the house asleep and I can't even turn on the TV because I am not going to risk waking anyone. Bummer. But I am enjoying the babies. Reagan has two teeth and is sitting up on her own. For hours yet! They are all incredibly big and have individual personalities peeking out here and there. I love it when they turn their heads to watch me and laugh when I look back. I have been off for two weeks and have been with them three times. It's a record for me. The Wed. after Christmas Jim and Ali brought them to our house. The first long trip away from home. It was splendid to have them there and they were very good for being away from home. I know Allison gets stir-crazy and would do anything to get out more. Jim gets to leave the house to go to work so it doesn't bother him as much. She went 41 days without even going to get the mail!
It's officially New Year now. I guess I will go to bed.

2006-11-30T19:39:00.000-08:00

I sometimes feel llike a failure as a blogger. Life gets in my way and I forget all about the keyboard. Or I'm just too lazy, or nothings happening on this end or fill in the blanks and use an excuse that sounds plausible. Thanksgiving was low-key at our house this year. Jim and Allison stayed at home. Who wouldn't with the quads? Mother and I went to Knoxville a week before and stayed all day. The quads are 5 months old now and starting to teethe. I just cannot describe the joy I feel when I am with them, think about them, or talk about them. They could easily become my whole life. Maybe it's a blessing I am 2 and a half hours away from them. Clay and Carey were also there. Carey is rounding out nicely in her pregnancy. Little Tyler Jacob is growing well and doing fine as far as we know. He is still a prime candidate for Cystic Fibrosis but that doesn't alter in any way my longing to hold him in my arms. A woman my sister knows has three CF children. One of her sons when he was young called ut 65 roses. I love that.

For Angi about Horton

2006-09-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Angi wants to know why I named my spinning wheel Horton. She promised to tell if I did. She asked a long time ago and I am just now getting around to it.
I attended Shakerag in Sewannee TN and learned to spin. Kinda. I just HAD to have a wheel and my wonderful Pauly bought me one. I ordered it ( a Lendrum DT) with all the bells and whistles from a store somewhere out of state. It was supposed to be here in three days. It wasn't. I waited and waited and called UPS and the store and they each blamed the other. Naturally. Finally my wheel arrived. Horror!!! I didn't know one single thing about a spinning wheel, I trusted my expert friends to turn me on to the right wheel for me. They did good. I digress, as usual. With trembling fingers and shaking hands I gingerely put my wheel together. In the privacy of my living room I treddled and treddled getting the feel of things. A good friend (Blaine) told me to do that and it was good advice. But there was a clicking noise. Not good. I didn't know where it was coming from so I called Lynne and arranged to meet her with my wheel. She agreeed that the noise wasn't good. so she just got on the phone and called Gorden Lendrum (and impressed the hell out of me) and he said " they let the elephant sit on it." He told her the adjustment to make and sure enough the noise stopped. (it has come and gone again since then). Letting the elephant sit on it made me think of Dr. Suess and Horton. You know, the elephant that sat on the egg for a year or more? Horton heard a Who too, but that is another story. I HAD to name my wheel Horton after that and I don't even like the name. It fits nevertheless. So now you know the rest of the story and Angi, you have to tell me yours now.

I'm still here

2006-09-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Just because I don't post often doesn't mean that I don't care. I am usually too tired to care if I post or not. Then I feel guilty so here I am. Went to visit the babies last weekend. They are all doing fine and Thomas is adorable. I had never held him before. They are all growing so fast and changing daily. I don't have any recent pics on the computer, but I'll try to get some soon.
I am back to my day to day boring stuff. I go to work, come home, spin or knit if I am not too tired, go to bed and do it all again tomorrow. I am, however, going to SAFF again this year. I would love to see some of my Twisted Friends there. Still working on SHAWL. I have started thinking of it as an entity destined to show me that I do NOT KNOW HOW TO KNIT! I am going to start a pair of socks out of sheer self preservation. And Horton (my wheel) is feeling pretty lonely so I am going to spin some right now.

Major pet peeve

2006-09-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

As most of you know already, I downloaded an AOL thingie. they said (aol) that it was a security issue and that they would not be honoring the old one anymore. so ok, I did the dirty deed and lo and behold my computer is now a total stranger! Is anyone surprised? Much to my chagrin, I was. My address book is still somewhere out there in cyber-space. I still have all of my addresses on paper, but I cannot access them on my pc. They are still ON my pc, I just can't get to them. I have even been to the places that warn," if you open these files your computer will grow teeth, bite off your nose, and refuse to talk to you." Well it's not talking anyway so what? I am not computer-literate enough to fix this so I am going to have to bite the bullet and get live technical support. Oh my God, it is the dreaded telephone again!! I just want to dye, spin, knit, and talk to my wonderful fiber family. I have NOT been that bad a person even tho I still smoke. NOt much now and when Allison gets her eyesight back, the cigarettes go. I promised myself that and God was my witness. Not even I will mess with a promise before the Almighty. I digress. I don't know if my major pet peeve is that my pc won't do what I want it to , or that I am so ignorant that I can't MAKE it do my bidding. I am all GRRRRR!!!! and stress and venting like a pre-erupting vocano. That pyroclastic stuff don't have nuthin on me!!!! Uh, can y'all tell that I am not meek and mild about this? I am in the process of getting a new computer and not one thing on it will belong to anyone but me. (My computer was a gift from my son, and was someones elses before.) Now if I screw up I will KNOW it's me. OK, enough venting for now. Back to y'all later.

2006-08-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

I took a day off today and I am resting. Got a Johnny Depp movie that I hadn't seen. The Libertine. Ole Johnny is great as usual but this period movie is distressing. Based on real history of King Charles and the Earl of Rochester. the Earl (Johnny) was a debaucher of the finest kind and eventually died of syphillis. The make-up job that Johnny wore at the end was awsome in its gruesomeness. Is that a real word? Or did I just screw up the spelling again? I am so tired I don't even care. Anyway the movie was interesting and the history was mostly real. I have two more days off and I am not moving unless I have to. Later....

Whew!!!

2006-08-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

At long last beginning weekend at school is finished. There are so many activities crammed into every day that it's hard to keep up. F'rinstance, we had two cookouts at the same time in two different places. My feet hurt. Imagine fixing a picnic for 100 people. And don't you dare forget even a fork or napkin. Yeah, I'm tired tonight and I will finally get a day off on Friday. Are we having fun yet?

On the bright side, it finally rained a little and cooled things off and that was nice. Too bad it stopped before the cookouts. (giggle)

I notice my avatar didn't change this time. It's supposed to have a pet pig in it. Maybe it will now, we'll see.

Finally getting around to it.

2006-08-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

It's easy to keep up a blog when all you do is sit on your donkey all day. Not so easy when you have too many things on your plate.

Thomas is home and the Quad Squad is complete. God Bless them. I am back at work and feeding all the people that eat like pigs even when it is 90 plus outside. Notice the avatar pet.

I got some really interesting tomatoes from one of our maintainence men today. They are pear-shaped and black at the top. They are supposed to look like that! They taste good but the color is a little off-putting. We are roasting and freezing green chili from our garden. I grew up in Belen, New Mexico and my family just cannot survive without that luscious green good stuff. Or at least we don't think we can, so we go to the trouble of making sure we have it around at all times. I am famous in the fam for making the best salsa to cross a set of teeth. Probably undeserved, but I take praise wherever I can get it.

I have been so busy with the Quad Squad this summer that I haven't been knitting or spinning. Needless to say I am Jonesing badly. I will spin when things settle down at work and I can get some time off. Actually, I have been TRYING to knit a shawl. I have been in the frog pond so long I am getting wrinkly fingers. Lace is so TOTALLY unforgiving. It isn't that hard to knit and yos are easy for me, but counting must be a foreign thing for me. I will finish this blasted shawl even if I have to put my wheel in storage. I am getting really mad now and that makes me a very determined gal.

I am posting a pic of the babiers and then I am doing meds and bed. See y'all later.

Babies on the quilt are from left to right, Jonathan, Zachary, Reagan, and Thomas. In the other pic, from top left Jonathan, Thomas, Zachary, and Reagan.

2006-08-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

I tried t post this yesterday. I don't know what is wrong with this site or my pc. Thomas is back in the hospital. His oxygen saturation was very low at his check-up, and they took him to emergency in an ambulance. They don't know why he isn't breathing right but they are doing their best to find out. I am losing my mind. There are already so many people helping Jim out that I can't even go up to Knoxville now. I am going on Friday, tho. I will post when I can.

2006-08-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. My cable service was down and so was my pc. Well,Thomas didn't get to stay home for even a week. He was rushed back to NICU today, not breathing very well. His oxygen saturation is very bad and no one seems to know why. Maybe he needs another Dr.? I don't know. I am very worried and upset about all of this. I will be going to Knoxville on Friday. Maybe I can get a few answers. Until then, please keep him in your prayers. I don't have enought sense to be rational right now so I will update when I can.

2006-08-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's time to get up and get moving again. I go back to work on Sunday and next weekend I go to Jim's to help with the babies. And there will be four of them! Thomas gets to come home today. I am so happy to be able to say that. The other three are giving the parental units fits. It seems that they have their days and nights mixed up. How much more fun can one family have? It was 106 here yesterday. Wanna guess how much I love thinking about going back into that hot kitchen? I've been sitting around getting lazy so long that I don't even have any interesting gossip to pass along. I guess I'll close til next time.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home

2006-07-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

I got home yesterday, slept well last night and still feel like I've been "rode hard and put up wet". Nothing like babies to let you know how much you've aged. I told Paul last night that if I was offered $500 to spin one ounce of fiber I would have to pass it up. That should tell everyone how exhausted I was. Alllison was so insistent that she and Jim could take care of the three babies that are home. I think that last night proved how hard that could be. I hope anyway. I know that she wanted her house to herself and her family, but reality is that it is impossible for the two of them to manage without help. She even sent her own mother home. I feel so sorry for Jim. He is trying to run the household, take care of babies, and still go to work at the same time. Any bets on how long that can last? My vote is that it is already over. Yes I am angry and cranky. I will get over it.
The babies are delightful. Zachary has colic and is only pain-free if he is being held against a warm, calm tummy. Or in my Mom's case a very generous bosom. Reagan has some tummy issues too, but not as bad as Zachary. Jonathan is a laid back little dude. He sleeps while he is taking his bottle. Very little perturbs him. Thomas is improving and is taking half of his meals from a bottle now. He weighs over 6 lbs. As soon as he takes all his meals from the bottle he can come home. The pictures were taken on their 1 month birthday. Gotta go take a nap now. I wish Jim could.

country roads take me home

2006-07-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

Well my journy through diapers and formula and colic ends tomorrow. Of course I will be coming back but for the moment I am longing for my own bed. My babies are wonderful and I love them dearly, but I am not cut out for rocking a crying baby for 4 solid hours while he has a tummy ache. Allison is getting better each day and her eyesight is improving but not yet good enough to drive. The church they attend has arranged for different ladies to come in on shifts during the day to help with laundry, feeding, and general chores and baby stuff. Different ladies every day through the week and three shifts a day. It is a wonderfully generous thing but I have some serious reservations. More when I get home.
Thomas is still in NICU but he is also improving. He is taking a bottle 4 out of 8 feedings a day. When he takes them all by bottle he can come home.
No new pics to post this time. Hopefully I can get some good ones today. Talk to ya later.

2006-07-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

I have been in Knoxville for a week now. I am so used to looking after three babies that it feels "normal". That's scary. It's amazing how much you can accomplish on so little rest. Zachary has colic just like his Dad did. Jim needed to know that you cannot spoil 1 month old babies. Poor little thing NEEDS to have his tummy against someone warm and relaxed. He asked me and Mom how we did it. been there, done that, bought the T-shirt! We knew what it was and what to expect and we didn't have a work schedule to meet or cooking etc., so we could be relaxed and patient. Something first-time moms and dads have to learn. And boy is the lesson painful! For Jim it is twice as painful. He thought he could handle all of this on no rest or knowlege. He is learning.
Thomas is still in NICU. He is not in any danger, he just needs to catch up in the eating and breathing categories. He is improving slowly, like his mom. Allison is doing much better, but her eyesight is still not up to par.

2006-07-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's time to pack up for my trip to Knoxville tommorrow. Ah sleep deprivation, how I have missed you! (giggle). Of course I am taking knitting projects and yarn. And in case of emergency, I am taking my drop spindle.
I will try to keep everyone updated. I am sure that Jim will fix it so that I can. He is one of my two computer gurus. Later, Pam

Bu-bye now.

2006-07-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

My poor babies, (Jim and Allison) finally reeached the end of their ropes this week. I have been looking for it for some time now. Jim has realized that he literally cannot do and be all things to all people no matter how much he wants to and Allison lost it when she thought that she and Jim were going to be left alone with the babies and she still can't see. Her mother and sis are gong home this weekend and my mother and I will be goin up to Knoxville. I don't know why the heck Jim didn't hear me when I said I'd be there when he needed me. Maybe he heard and just didn't think I could be there. I don't know but they were very relieved to hear that I was coming to help. I will be there for 2 weeks. I will try to keep y'all posted. I know Jim hs a computer.
thomas is still in the hospital. His little jaw muscles still aren't strong enough to suck enough formula to keep him thriving. He has gained weight and weighs 5lbs 3ozs now. When he can take all his food from a bottle (instead of a tube) for 3 days in a row he can come home. Zachary has a touch of colic. I KNEW their was a reason he kept drawing his little knees up to his tummy and kicking. Jim had 6 month colic so I knew what I was seeing. (See, I knew Zachary was going to make Jim pay for his raising)
The congregation at mothers' church is collectiong diapers (or maybe gift certificates) for the babies. These nice people have been very supporting for the long haul and we cnnot thank them enough.

little time out

2006-07-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

I went to see the babies on Saturday. Already they are developing distinct personalities. Zachary is fussy and spits out the pacifier and kicks off his blanket. Reagan will not sleep in the crib with the boys, preferring the vibrating bouncy seat. Jonathan is oblivious. He just eats and sleeps and is content to do so . Thomas is still lagging behind. Until lhe takes a bottle every four hours like the others he cannot come home.
I have been so busy with this blog and the other one that I just had to take yesterday off. A little computer time out if you will. But I am back with new pictures. The little blond cutey is Kinley, the quads' first cousin. She belongs to Allisons' sister Jody. she is a year old and absolutely delightful to be around. I got to feed and change Reagan while I was there. They are still so little that they aren't held for very long. They have still got some catching up to do.The pictures are of Reagan and Zachary. I don't know how I ended up with two pics of Reagan and none of Zachary. I will make up for it later.
The

All blogged down

2006-07-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

Blog blog who's got the blog? I tried, I really did, to make the TF blog open to all the twisted friends. Not good the way I did it. Long story short: Lynne is helping me set up a blog (or setting one up herself) that we can all post on. Yipee!
I was such a bad girl at the retreat (diet-wise) that I am now paying for it. My feet hurt so bad I can't walk. Great excuse for sittin&knittin. Paul says I just (just?) have gout. Dunno. Never had it. Whatever the cause, I'm not going anywhere .
Three of the babies are coming home tomorrow morning. Jim says Thomas will soon follow. He is still in formula and sucking training. He is now in the crib with the rest of them. Aren't they adorable? Allison is still lacking about half of her eyesight. In perspective, she can't see well enough to put a key in a keyhole. Don't know if it will ever get better. But she is still with us and that was iffy for a while.
I am going to sit back in my recliner and pick up my needles now. Later. It's later now, like the next day, and this silly thing still isn't where I want it. Republishing.....

Happy Fourth

2006-07-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Happy Fourth of July. I got some pics of the babies today and thought I would share some of them.

I'm back

2006-07-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I am home from Crane Hill and the Red Rooster Retreat. It was one of the best things to happen to me except the Quads. We all had a great time and added three new Twisted Friends to the ranks. We would have had four, but poor Terri wasn't able to come. Next time Terri? How about SAFF? How many of us can meet there? I am planning to be there.
If any of you want to keep up with the Twisted Friends, I have created a new blog for us. The addy is twistedfriends.blogspot.com. Please post comments and give me your feedback.
On a personal note: Little Thomas is off the respirator and is taking small amounts of milk with a bottle. He is still getting most of his nourishment through a tube but is improving daily. Allison still does not have her eyesight back totally. It may never come back but I am praying hard for her complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers also. Here are some pics of our trip. Wish I could get the text under the pics but oh well.
If I left anyone out of the pictures I will get you next time somewhere. I need to knit now. Love.... Hmph! I have been trying since 9:00 this morning to get this post to show up. I am getting frustrated now.

see ya later

2006-06-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

I am all packed up and ready to go. The hardest part is waiting. All I have to do now is load the truck. Well, I still have to take down my wheel but I may want to spin some to while away the hours. I truly am an addict!

I hope my avatar jumps to this posting. Carolyn helped me put her in my sidebar. Since this is a fantastical journey, she is all decked out in fantasy.

I don't have much of an update. Allison is feeling poorly and had to have a ct scan last night. May be something going on in there that was missed. Thomas is now off the respirator. Hooray!

Well, I will "see" y'all on Sunday or Monday. With pictures. Ta ta.
news flash:
Allison is doing great!!!!! Scan showed nothing but fluid and her 100% normal kidneys will take care of that in due time. She is still partly blind. I don't know much about that except that it usually clears up in time too. She got to see her babies for the first time yesterday and held and fed Jonathan. (note the corrected spelling of his name) . The dr. says she may get to go home this weekend. I believe the babies will be staying for a while. I just had to tell y'all the glorious news. Angi (note the corrected spelling here too)I still can't post on your blog. What url should I use?

Start packing

2006-06-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

Well I have been sorting my rovings and yarn and trying to get organized for the trip to Alabama tomorrow. Tomorrow, tomorrow, is only a day away. I just can't believe it's been a year since I first learned to dye and spin. I will be picking Jennifer up at the airport in Nashville and then we're off to Crane Hill and a reunion with our "Twisted Friends".

Allison has been moved to another room and is no longer catherized. She is a little nauseous still and hasn't seen her babies yet. Maybe today. I hope.

I have borrowed an idea from Caroline and made myself an avatar. Wouldn't you just know I could have a lamb for a pet? Ya gotta love it. AT Yahoo she moves. I 'll be playing with her more later. Gotta start packing. I mean cleaning. Can't pack it until I can find it

2006-06-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

Allison is doing great. I went to see her and the babies yesterday. She was sitting up in bed eating. She still cannot see very well but her vision is slowly returning. Thomas is improving too and may be off the ventilator today. The other three are all in the same big crib together and they have no I V's any more. They are all eating REAL well. I almost got a chance to hold one but Jim (and rightfully so in my opinion) said he didn't want to do that because Allison hasn't even seen them yet (that she remembers) and she is their mother. All of you already Grannies: is it always that hard to give in to the wishes of the parents and not do what you are longing to do?

I am going to have a busy day today. I am going to start packing for our reunion/retreat in Alabama. If I don't start now I am liable to forget something vital. I have so much that I want to take that I am mostly going to be choosing the things to leave behind.

small update

2006-06-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Allison is better this morning. Thank You God. Her vision is improved and her urine output ils better. You go girl! Flush that bad stuff out of your body. That is all I know for now.
Anji asked me about Carey. I didn't forget about her I have just been a little pre-occupied. Seems like the shadow on the ultrasound was a cyst. The doctor drained it. Carey is pregnant and due about Feb. if everything goes ok. Five grandchildren within two years! They sure are "gittin r done". That last is for Jennifer who just listened to Larry the Cable Guy for the first time.

A ps: Allison is awake, alert, at herself, eating a little, and passing urine like a Missouri mule on a flat rock. Hooray!

And while I was worrying and praying I dyed my silk. Notice the difference in color from outside to inside. Neither pic does it justice.

new update

2006-06-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Good news and bad. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? Allison was sitting up and talking last night. This morning she is almost totally blind, on oxygen, and having a tube attached to her neck to receive medication. Good news: this will all reverse in 14 to 20 hours. The reason for all of this trauma is the magnesium she was given during the birth process. Her bp is normal and her output has risen from 24ml and hour to 261ml an hour. As soon as her kidneys flush out all the magnesium she will be ok. I, however, may never be the same again. I thought the nurses in nicu were unusally upset over the magnesium. The babies got it too, of course. Thomas is still on oxygen. He is the second one from the top in the pictures. Johnathan (the third one) and Reagan (the fourth one) are eating now. Reagan has a little jaundice and is under the light. The nurses have put a bow in her hair and sunglasses on her eyes. Jim says she looks like she is sunbathing on the beach. I don't know anything new about Zachary (the first one). I will keep updating as often as possible. Thank you Anji for your sweet email. I don't usually open them from people I don't know. Yours just "felt" special.

update

2006-06-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Three of the babies are doing fine. Little Thomas still has a breathing problem. They are hoping medication will take care of that, if not, a simple surgery procedure will fix it. Allison on the other hand is one very sick lady. She has pre-eclampsia, had lost a lot of blood . Her blood pressure at one point was 51 over 30 and we thought we were going to lose her. After 5 units of blood things are improving and her bp is now 109 over 65. Not great but a lot better. Her kidneys were not producing either but that is improving now. We are all praying very hard for her.

On a lighter note: Jennifers' little bear. Is he not adorable? She did him with a merino batt. I gotta learn how to do that. you all know that I am going to pick your minds for all the info I can get when I see you next week.

They are here!!!!!!

2006-06-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

At 4:30 today my babies were finally born. Well not really mine, but I claim them all the same. We were surprised that one of the boys was larger than Reagan(the girl) He was a whopping 5lbs+. The rest were over 4and a half pounds. Little Johnathan, Zachary, Reagan and Thomas are all doing well. Only two of them are on respirators and little reagan is already sucking a pacifier. She is the one being held up. I haven't sorted out who is who with the boys. I didn't know babies that were premature had to learn how to suck but they do. Allison lost quite a bit of blood and is nauseous. All seem to be doing fine over all.

I was in the middle of dying roving when I got the call. Needless to say I came home to a soggy colorful mess. ( I took some of the color with me on my arms and hands) I wasn't too concerned with appearances. Well here are some pictures of my lovely younglings:
The babies aren't very small as you can see. I am so thankful that they are here and Allison can get some relief. It is past midnight now and I am off to bed . More later.

2006-06-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my oldest son, Clay, and his wife Carey. Today is her birthday and she got the lousiest gift in the world. For the 2nd time in 5 months she has to have surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. One of my sons has enough babies to share, and the other cannot seem to have even one. God surely does work in mysterious ways........A PS to this post. Turns out that Carey had a cyst on her tube and is either still pregnant or has had a miscarriage. I may not survive my children having children.

2006-06-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well here is the latest pic of Allison. I don't know how she can go much longer. I hurt for her. She is still doing great but I think she looks tired. Can't imagine why.
I told Caroline that since she showed a dye job she hated I would show one of mine. The colors were all supposed to be as bright and crisp as the red. I dyed other rovings that day and they all came out good. I used the same technique and even used fresh dye. All the colors washed out except the red. It's all muddy looking. The other roving was dyed that day too and I honestly did not plan for it to come out the way it did, but its kinda neat. the purple is in the middle and the green is on either end. I made two coils of the roving and pour dyed it. And it just came out that way. I wish I could remember how I did it.

2006-06-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

A little nostalgia here. Remember my brains and dredlocks? My very first spinning on a drop spindle. The yellow was at the end of the Shakerag class taught by Lynne, Sandy, and Lori. I am now hearing I-told-you-sos from friends that were in the class with me. For those of you who don't know, Spinnin Skinny is the title of this blog because I really really wanted to learn to spin like everyone else in the class. I am there now and wish I could spin designer yarn on purpose. I have been dying today and I am never satisfied with my results. Everyone else loves my rovings and I just want them to come out like I see them in my mind. Of course I am not right in the head so maybe that is the reason.

Allison is in week 32 and going strong. Her doctor is is amazed that she is doing so well. I guess that the babies are going to come here full term. Or almost Thank you God for taking care of the babies. Poor Jim and Allison were kind of hoping to have Allison come home without the babies so Allisom could recuperate for a while. I don't think that is going to happen. I think that they are coming home with her. I am so scared that they will be born while I am supposed to be in Alabama. I have obligations that I cannot ignore. Stuff happens. I am still going to the reunion/retreat and having a great time.

2006-06-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting up some socks to take to the reunion and spinning up some stuff I dyed. I cannot believe that I spun that merino/tencel so blasted thin that I wish I had navajo plyed it. I had to cast on 72 sts it's so thin. It will take me a week and a half to knit these socks instead of a day and a half. My nursie sis Kathy wants to pound on my head for wearing my socks instead of selling them as art. HMPH! I don't have enough socks yet. Does one ever have enough socks? Here is what I have been working with: OOPS! I really wanted the pic here. Oh well. I am still learning and just proud and happy to have the picture anywhere. Note the middle left cuff. That is the skinny stuff but it ain't the only one. 'Give me some feed back. What do think about my colors. Don't be afraild to be honest. I don't take it personally and I really want to learn
Baby update. Allison is going into week 32 and doing it like a pro. Her Dr. sent her home for another week. She is just amazing. Babies probably weilgh close to 4 lbs each now. We have names. Reagan Leanne for the girl. Johnathan Carl, Zachary Frankllin, and Thomas Ervin. The Ervin is my Dads' middle name. My Mom cried when she found out they named one of the boys after Daddy. Well darn it I got a litle teary eyed myself.
I gotta go. Alumni weekend coming up and all those people want to eat and drilnk and breath and drink and play and drinkand drink and drink and make our lives as miserable as possible. But I am free as a bird after this. Than you God. I don't have a thing agailnst drinking but these people take it to new limits. And expect us to have ilt ready for them. Oh well. Later.

2006-05-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hey, Sandy,
I will post pics of Allison if I get any more. Jim is supposed to send me some but he isn't very reliable at sending stuff. But here is a pic of my latest sock: Meloncolored Baby. The key lime isn't as deep as I would like but overall I like it. The colors are yellow, key lime, watermelon, and cantalope, hence "meloncolored". My bad. It's ninety degrees and breezy here today just right for dying but unfortunately I think I picked up a bug somewhere and don't feel like doing much of anything. Did you see Carolyns' colors on her blog? Fabulous. I have been looking at the silkworkers rovings. I really like her colorways. I wish I could duplicate them. Or maybe just get close.
I will close for now. Feeling yucky.

Startin all over

2006-05-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I got so frustrated with my blog that I deleted it and am starting alllllll over again.
Babies update: Allison is sailing into week 31 and doing great. Her doctor thinks she may go as long as 35 weeks. If she does the babies will be normal birth weight. They are currently over 3 and a half lbs each now. That is normal size for a single birth baby. Poor Allison will neever be the same. I hurt all over for her.
Fiber stuff. I am spinning up some things I dyed last month. I can't seem to get to my needles for the wheel but I am going to knit some socks to take to our reunion in June. I can't wait to see everyone again.
This was Allison at approximately 16 weeks. I can't imagine what she looks like now. I havent seen her is a while.

.`-