A Simpler Life - Holiday Season Has Begun

Saturday, December 10, 2005 - Holiday Season Has Begun

Currently Reading: One Shenandoah Winter

Currently Cooking: Nothing, but should probably make bread today

Currently Sewing: Dorothy Gayle costume from the Wizard of Oz

For those of you who have been watching for a picture of my jacket ... it's done for the winter, so don't expect it now until spring!

You can always tell when it's Christmas at our house, because life gets exponentially busy! I hate it. I love Christmas, I just don't at all enjoy the busy-ness that goes with it. Fortunately, things got cut back just a little bit this year. I was quite a few weeks behind in my schoolwork. I had something like 3 weeks to take 4 tests. I was also doing a lot of Christmas sewing, and I had a CD recording project scheduled. I also play the piano at an old-fashioned Christmas celebration one evening during 2 weekends in December. I've got auditions for the musical on Thursday. Our church Christmas program is tomorrow. I'm the accompanist for a local voice teacher whose Christmas recital was supposed to be last night. We haven't done any Christmas shopping or baking, and we just got our tree up last night. I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. Then, my serger broke, so it was in the shop for more than a week. That gave me lots of time to do homework instead of sewing. Then, the woman who helps me record had hernia surgery and during the procedure (I shan't point any fingers...) her bladder "got" ruptured. They put iodine ink in to be sure it wasn't leaking, and she was severely allergic to it. She was in the hospital for 3 days instead of outpatient. She's going back today for another ink test (after being on benadryl and prednisone all weekend) to see if it's healed itself. If not, she'll have to have another surgery. So, instead of recording, I got some more homework done. This same woman is the voice teacher whose recital was last night, so it was also cancelled, freeing up some more time. So, although these things aren't at all positive, they have been blessings in disguise. And great reminders of how nice it is to have Christmas evenings at home instead of all over the place!! I will try to keep that in mind when I'm scheduling things next year.

The latest update on the Christmas dress-up boxes: DH hasn't even begun building the boxes. Yikes! DD5's box will contain (forgive me if I'm repeating myself here...): a Renaissance princess (done), a Dorothy dress (just needs the lining sewn down, and hemmed, and the ribbon belt attached), a cowgirl (done), a colonial girl (think Laura Ingalls...haven't even gotten the fabric yet!), and an Indian girl (done except the headband). DS2's box will contain: a knight (done), Davy Crockett/Indian (depending on which hat he wears with it) (fabric is cut out, but haven't started sewing it yet), a soldier (done), a cowboy (done except the shirt), and a fireman (don't have the fabric yet). So you see ... it's keeping me quite busy.

I know this is an abrupt change of subject, but please pray for my daughter. She's so tiny ... about 35 pounds. She's 5 1/2 years old. She's not scrawny, she's just tiny. I think she's 38" tall. Anyway, she is such a terrible eater. She was doing so well for awhile. But then she went trucking for a week with my parents and, (I'm NOT blaming them!) she ate restaurants (basically chicken nuggets and french fries) all week long, which got her out of the habit of eating what we eat. So we have to fight with her at dinner time to even eat 3 bites of everything we're having. Now that winter is upon us, she's started getting sick again. Every winter this happens. It's been kind of silly this year though. She wakes up throwing up, sleeps on the couch all day, and has 100% recovered by early evening. It has happened two times in two weeks. The first time, her temp reached 103.7°. This time, she didn't have a fever, but she just laid there staring off into the distance. I worry about her. She couldn't even keep water down yesterday. But now she's just fine. I don't understand, but I don't question it when she gets better. I just rejoice. But anyway, please pray for her. And for her daddy and me for patience in getting her to eat. She just refuses to listen that her not eating is what is causing her to get sick. It's frustrating. We've been fighting with her about her eating pretty much since she started eating table food. It's getting old. And it's affecting (effecting???) her health.

Anyway, I need to get going. Lots to do (see top paragraph! lol )

There are so many of you whose blogs I used to read daily. I scarcely have a chance to get online beyond email and patternreview.com. I miss reading what you all have been up to. Thank you so much to those of you who faithfully visit my (woefully inactive) blog and continue to leave comments. It's really encouraging and it keeps me coming back, however infrequently. If no one ever commented, I'd probably just drop the whole thing. But I feel like I know so many of you, that I just can't do that :-) Awwwww.... ok, enough sentimentality. I really must go.

Have a great day, all!

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Comments

Saturday, December 10, 2005 - Untitled Comment

I am having a hard time reading this post because of this post... maybe it is just my screen?

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Sunday, December 11, 2005 - Untitled Comment

That font is much better. You are so crafty, I wish I had the gift.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - Just stoppin' by to say

Hi!!!

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Saturday, December 17, 2005 - Late in responding to this ...

but just wanted to say that I am praying for your precious little girl. That sounds really rough. I will definitely keep her lifted up in my prayers .... it can't be fun for her or you guys.

My 5 yo dd is a healthy 42 lbs but is just a really picky eater. So eating her veggies & "new" things every night is such a struggle for us & her. And we're talking about easy things sometimes like chicken casseroles, soups and shrimp to name a few. She makes up for it (I guess) in her dairy, drinks, fruits & breads (it drives my dh & me batty some nights .... we've tried timers and incentives and giving it back to her for the next meal like bkfst, etc.) Oh and sweets (which makes me cringe!) ...she has such a sweet tooth, she always has. Even as a baby, she wouldn't eat any veggies from any jars ...unless you count the jars of applesauce/sweet potatoes combo.

I do make my girls take vitamins regularly - they take the gummy vitamin types, the emergen-c for kids each day & somedays airborne for kids to help keep their immune systems up & fighting. I have them drink their liquid vitamins with just a little bit of water and then we all have a race (my 5yo dd is competitive in nature so this really helps her want to "win" & drink it the fastest!)

So, I can really relate on some level but will definitely be remembering & praying for your little girl. My heart goes out to you. I really hope there will be something you can find or implement that can help her to eat some more. God Bless You!!!!!! = )

In His Love,
Leslie

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 - Untitled Comment

I hope that your daughter is feeling better really soon.

Your costume boxes sound amazing. I just got a sewing machine for Christmas!!! I am so excited. It is sitting next to the tree. I cannot wait to play with it. The very first thing that I am creating is a bed set for dd's Cabbage Patch kids. I am going to to that patternreview site you mentioned.

Happy Sewing!

Merry Christmas

Chrissy

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Saturday, December 24, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Wow! You have been a very busy mommy! What wonderful things you are making. :o) Praying for your daughter tonight. My 5yo can be a picky eater, too. My middle son (9 years old) is SO active and has such a high metabolism that I purchase ensures for him to drink in addition to his regular meals. Maybe your daughter might like them? They come in all kinds of flavors....french vanilla is what my son likes. The aren't cheap...but I just work it into the budget. Also, does your little one like yogurt? I also make sure to let my kids have this whenever they want....especially in the winter as I think it helps in keeping those bugs at bay.

I wanted to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! I will be praying for your little girl and for your worried mommy heart....Blessings to you all.

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Friday, December 30, 2005 - I am getting ready to start on my first project...

I am making curtains for dd's room.

Did you ever finish the Fire Fighter's costume for your son? My dh is a fire fighter and I would love to see the end result.

Chrissy...who needs to go make room for the craft table.

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Friday, December 30, 2005 - Hi :)

I liked pattern review. I thought that it had some good information. It had bad review for my sewing machine :( but I understand where the lady is coming from. It doesn't have the best lighting..dh is going to get me a lamp to clip on the end of my craft table use.

Your firefighter outfit sounds neat!
200 patterns oh my. I am kicking myself because I threw out a pattern last year and now I can't find it. That will teach me to throw it out even though I didn't have a sewing machine ;0). The curtain came out ok. I started on the one for her closet.We took down the closet door because it was bulky and just ugly. So I am hanging a curtain over her closet door. I will post pictures just as soon as dh hangs it. Right now I am trying to figure out how to make a tie back. I would like to put eye hooks( I think that is what they are called) in it so all she has to do is put the rings on a hook. I am not sure if I explained that or not. I am going to work on her curtains tomorrow afternoon. What I am doing is padding it. It will have 3 layers. The first will be the My Little Pony Fabric, then some padding and finally some pink fabric. I did this once before and it really helped keep her room warm. So I am looking forward to doing it again.

Ooops sorry, I got a little carried away.

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