Knitting Pharm

Not yet past the petting stage

Not THAT petting stage, pervs!

While I was infirmed, the lovely ladies of the Loop sent over a parcel, delivered by Miz Happy about 15 minutes prior to my surgery.  It contained a gorgeous wood needle case, and this:

 

Estelle Arequipa fingering weight (nylon, wool, alpaca).  It's too squishy and decadent to skein up yet, so I just pet it and rub it on my face every once in awhile.

In the spirit of yesterday's appreciation post, I really need to hand it to the Loop girls.  I live in a small town with no LYS, and I always feel at home there.  It's the perfect, homey shop, with friendly staff and a great selection of both products and classes.  In 2007, they brought the Yarn Harlot to Halifax with nary a hitch, making 200+ Nova Scotians as happy as they could possibly be.

Cheers to Cathy and Mimi (and Bill, the token male, who is also an absolute sweetheart).  You have the yarn store game aced.

We have knitting progress!

In a month where words like thoracotomy, pneumothorax and empyema have featured prominently, stitching of any kind feels like heaven.

Obsessive, distracting heaven.

Upon my return home 8 days ago, I first set about finishing some pre-hospitalization knits.  These came with me to the hospital but, sadly, I was too unwell to make any progress.  No longer!

First is the Charade socks in a Fleece Artist mill end.  You can actually see (on the sock at the top and right below) where the colour changes slightly after a join, but it's better than what I expected from a bargain basket purchase and I'm still very happy.

[64 stitches, toe-up, Magic Loop on my Knitpicks Harmony wood circs]

Next was Bartholomew's Tantalizing socks from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book, in the Black Bunny Fibers yarn I obtained in Philly.  The colours pooled really oddly, but it was a very enjoyable knit.

Christmas morning brought a generous stash-enhancement bag from my parents.  I think my sock yarn problem is genetic, as my mom is almost as bogged down in sock yarn stash as I am.  Here's the haul she put together for me:

I couldn't resist starting a new project from the magical bag o' stash, so I cast on with the red-orange Panda Wool and am officially in love.  Here's a Retro Rib, from Favorite Socks, worked toe-up starting Christmas day:

And, as if delivered by Santa himself, my final shipment from the Rockin' Sock Club arrived at dinnertime on Christmas Eve.  The first sock is worked to the cuff, and I'll definitely use the pattern again.

[apologies for the poor lighting; it seems the blinding white of a snowstorm may not be the best background.]

I am currently buzzing down the sleeves of Thermal and hoping to complete it as I welcome 2008.

I feel I simply must give shout-outs for some great service I received from yarn purveyors in 2007.

Firstly, Knitpicks.  As their new circular needles, both nickel-plated and Harmony wood, were new this year, the folks at Knitpicks were very kind and open-minded about feedback received.  They replaced numerous needles for me this year, first for a design flaw that led the cable to be pulled from the needle join, and later for severed cables that resulted from my overzealous magic looping.  Thank you for taking care of your knitters, Knitpicks.  I look forward to dumping my wallet in your direction in 2008.

Next round of kudos go to the Blue Moon team, who it is generally accepted have some of the best yarns in the business.  I recently purchased a skein of STR from a shop in Toronto.  Through no fault of the shop, the skein was riddled with joins, so I contacted the Blue Moon gals to let them know.  When it was determined that I couldn't get back to the shop for a return, Blue Moon sent me a replacement skein, promptly and graciously.  Service like that will ensure my long-term status as a customer, and is much appreciated.

Who treated you especially well in 2007?

Back to life, or, a really lousy way to lose 12 pounds

I am happy, (reasonably) healthy and home for the holidays.

First up, thanks so much to Steph for taking the reins of the blog while I was infirmed.  I now feel I must up the witty factor of the blog, perhaps as a resolution for 2008.

I received countless, visits, notes, cards, calls and, yes, pressies, while in the hospital.  I can't thank you all enough for your caring and generosity.  It's times like this when you realize how many people you have in your corner.  I am very grateful to be so loved and supported.

Steph was completely accurate in her telling of my medical tale.  A tiny congenital cyst on my lung, of which my doctor and I were completely aware, awakened this fall and developed into a nasty abscess when I fell ill with pneumonia.  When I was first admitted to hospital, it became clear surgery would be needed at some point, it was just a matter of when.  The first thought was to bring me to reasonable health, send me home for the holidays and operate in the new year.  The problem is that IV antibiotics don't tend to reach walled-off areas like abscesses, so getting me better without intervention began to seem unlikely.

On December 10th, I was sent to have the abscess drained, which unfortunately collapsed my lung and created the potential for the infection to spread within the chest cavity.  Placement of a chest tube wasn't helping in draining things, so the tube was flushed with a medication to break up the mess within.  Unfortunately, within 12 hours, I'd developed a full-body rash in reaction to one of my many medications.

Surgery took place on the 15th, where a very talented surgeon cleaned away the infection in its entirety.  Being (reasonably) young and otherwise healthy, recovery was according to plan, and I was home to my family by last Friday.

I'm really none the worse for wear, just tired and a bit sore at the incision and my 3 chest tube sites.  I can't express how happy I am to be home with my hub, little girls and visiting parents.

As for knitting, I was sick enough to do just about none while in the hospital.  18 days in hospital yielded nothing but the toe of a sock.  My resting time at home has been barely more productive than that, but the mojo, I'm sure will return.

And if Cristi is right, I need to pursue a refund on this lousy boob job - STAT!

Here's to a happy holiday and excellent health in 2008.

She'll be home for Christmas!

I'm happy, thrilled and beyond ecstatic to report that Mrs. Barnhill will be heading home tomorrow.

I'll wait a moment for the applause to die down and for the confetti and the streamers to stop flying through the air. 

She said, in her own words "I no longer have tubes sticking out of me!" (Ok, I paraphrased that because the words "ample ch*est" will garner Google hits that aren't appropriate for a knitting blog!) 

She sounded quite cheery and strong of voice for someone who just had major surgery.  She's of hearty stock, that one!  Once she's home, I'm sure that the sight of and hugs from her girls will be stronger medicine than anything that could be prescribed.

I'll be handing the reigns back to Deb now.  I can't say how honoured I am to have been called upon in the Knitting Pharm's "hour of need".  *cue "Pomp and Circumstance"*

To do something so worthwhile for a knit-cause so great... to support a knitter when she's wired to an IV instead of the internet... to taunt the bedridden with nummy yarn that she can't knit with an IV in her arm... to provide information to friends and net-surfers who happen by through a random series of links... that, THAT my internet friends, is the true test of knit-friendship.  And I'm so pleased to have been called upon as one of Deb's many knit-friends. 

*Sniff*

Ok, ok... I should probably get back to writing on my own blog... especially since I've noticed that my stint here at the Knitting Pharm seems to have increased my traffic flow!  Maybe I'll post some knitting to keep you interested.

Thank you for all the warm thoughts, prayers and get-well wishes for Deb.  I have a feeling that after she spends some time with her family, she'll be on here, checking in, replying to comments and feeling all the love and support that the online, knitting community has shown her. Ok, I didn't tell her about the boob job comment (which still makes me laugh) but I know that she'll get a good chuckle out of it. 

Happy Holidays to you and yours. 

Deb will be back.  God bless us, every one.

Steph

Rumour Has It, She's Fine

While you're all waiting for news of Deb with bated breath, I've been holding out on updating until I knew more about how she's feeling.

I popped in for a quick visit on Saturday and was greeted by a cheery Deb who was, as it turned out, only moments away from going for surgery. She looked great.

Deb can choose whether or not to tell you all about what led to her surgery.  I'll just summarize by saying that Deb has had a lung condition that became aggravated when she contracted pneumonia.  They have been keeping an eye on her condition for a few years and when the pneumonia put her in the hospital, they decided it was best to operate to solve the problem.

Please don't fret.  Deb is in great hands.  I've spoken to the nurse on her floor and Deb is just waiting to be moved back to a regular room with a phone.  She's pretty tired, and will probably be pretty sore, but she may, lord and lungs and doctors willing, be home for the holidays.

If not, I hear that Santa has his own set of scrubs.

Steph

At Least She Looks Good In A Johnny Shirt

The attention 'ho is still living the high life at the hospital.  Mostly because she's on some nice pain meds.  Get it, "high life"?  Ha ha ha... aaaaah... not so funny. 

Today we made some bad jokes about trading in her Socks That Rock for "Rock", selling her old stash for a new kind of stash... so we know that she's the same old Deb - she just has a couple extra holes in her.  Or as she says, "Is is the hole I came in for or the one that I'll be leaving with?"

Her news of the day is that she's got some cute, young interns catering to her every wheeze and cough - She said that they were all born in the 1980s (This horrifies me to no end.  I can't bear to think of the day when I'll be older than my doctor.)  I think that hospital security will have to perform a thorough search of Deb when she leaves the hospital, as she may tuck one of those interns in her pocket on her way out. 

Deb's parents will be arriving in Nova Scotia today.  The weather is quite good, so they should have no troubles on the roads.  I'm sure that Deb and her family will be happy to see them... and I'm sure that Mr. Pharm will appreciate the help and the distraction that they will provide for the girls.   

After KOL on Tuesday night The Ninja and I dropped off a card at the hospital.  (The Ninja, who is 7+ months preggers, wisely waited in the car while I dashed in and out of the hospital.)  We included a print out of her blog comments from Tuesday so that she would know you're all rooting for her.  She was quite happy to see all the get well wishes.

I'll be printing this blog entry for her tomorrow afternoon (around 4pm Atlantic Time), so if you want to ask Deb any Azure questions or if you just want to say "hey", you've got time!

:)

Steph

The Continuing Story of a Knitter Gone to The Hospital

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update on Deb's status:

Late yesterday afternoon while the doctors were draining fluid from Deb's lung, her lung collapsed. The medical team was completely prepared for this and quickly inserted a chest tube. She called this morning with that update and while she's no longer coughing incessantly when she talks, she says she is a  pale and worn out from yesterday's excitement.  She says it's the first day she's actually felt like a hospital patient. 

Deb is still not knitting as she now has tubes sticking inconveniently out of her person!  Ooooo... what an opportunity for an art project:  Fair isle with DK wool and surgical tubing anyone?

As for her family:  Mr. Pharm is wearing a path between home and the hospital.  The roads have been clear so far, but it is winter in the Maritimes.  (If you so inclined, please pray for Mr. Pharm's continued safe travels.) 

Their darling girls are doing well in Daddy's care - although I think they do miss their Mommy being home.

Deb thanks you all for your well-wishes and prayers.  (I read her blog comments to her over the phone this morning.)

I'm hoping to stop by to see Deb this evening and will print any messages that are left on her blog before 4:00pm Atlantic time.  If you have a moment please feel free to leave get well wishes, tales of hospital gowns gone wrong, misadventures of meeting McDreamy when you were McSicky, or sock knitting hits and misses.  We must encourage our Sock Knitting Superstar!

Thanks so much!

Steph

Guest Blogging for the Sock Knitting Superstar

Hello everyone...

Deb can't come to the blog right now.  Please leave a message after the... oh, wait a second, I can't leave you hanging like that.

I'm guessing that there are a few of you here to compliment Deb on her fabulous new sock pattern in Knitty,   Azure - It's lovely isn't it?  I've already set aside a couple skeins of stashed Sweet Georgia in Life Aquatic to knit the pattern.  If you have any questions about Azure, please leave them here.  When Deb gets back to the blog, she'll be more than happy to answer them for you.   

_________________________________________________

In the meantime, I know you're wondering just what on earth I've done with Deb.  Well it was only a few weeks ago that we attended the same meeting in Toronto. We arrived in the T-dot and hit Lettuce Knit within the hour.  Yes, we are that good.  With less than 10 minutes to spare, Deb whipped out her wallet, bought yarn and then ran out the door.  Here she is, giving her Visa a serious case of whiplash:

Henry, who surveyed the entire scene, was immediately enamoured with her. Deb is obviously a woman who knows her mind when it comes to yarn.  Henry is a yarny monster who knows his mind when it comes to women.  He decided then and there that he must find a way to woo her.

These last few weeks, he has been emailing her constantly; calling her house and serenading her voicemail; sending flowers and candies to her door and anxiously awaiting the return of her affection.

It all came to a head a couple of weeks ago when Henry bought plane tickets for the two of them to Scotland.  He thought that the smell of Aran wool wafting through the highlands would intoxicate Deb and draw them closer.  Late that night, Mr. Pharm arrived on our doorstep, rang the doorbell and when Henry answered, threatened to ring Henry's neck.  I intervened as best I could (Mr. Pharm, I hope you were able to extricate that roving from your nose) and have sent Henry for counselling.  Deb, for her part, has taken out a restraining order and has gone into hiding. 

I think most of you knitters will understand Henry's perspective.  He's just a tiny green knitted monster who isn't very mature and really doesn't understand human relationships.  He thinks that because he's made of yarn, an affair with him isn't really cheating. 

Oh come on... don't tell me that your sock yarn doesn't mind when you flirt with cashmere.

_________________________________________________

In actual fact, one Mrs. Deb Barnhill is recuperating in hospital from what is best described as complications from pneumonia.  She is in good hands and while she is on the mend, she has confessed that she hasn't felt much up to knitting.  And in case you're wondering, the wunderkind has already finished her Christmas shopping.  Not only can the woman knit a sock in a day, but she finishes her Christmas shopping before December.  She is a superstar sock knitter!

Hopefully, Deb will be back to the blog soon and Henry will be more respectful of boundaries.

Take care,

Steph