I made it back to the Op shop this week. I’d mentioned before that it was a Salvo shop. It’s a Smith Family shop, actually. WHich I’m happy about as we already support the Smith Family via their Learning For Life program. It’s nice to know I’m supporting them via their shop as well.I checked the linen pile this week and found this set of vintage single bed sheets with original packaging.
The price tag says “Franklins $7.42″. I bought it for $6.50. Not bad considering it’s 100% cotton. It looks as though it’s never even been used and I can see some gorgeous girly outfits being made out of this.
I also tested out the fabric on the foam I had cut for the living room toy area.
Gladly, there is plenty of fabric to cover this seat and leftovers for some coordinating things.
Our mystery virus appears to have gone through the household, though the kids didn’t get affected by it very much. Matt has a followup appointment with the doctor this Thursday so I guess we’ll find out what it was.I’m glad to have possession of a new compact digicam. I felt a bit lost without it in my handbag in recent weeks. I came out to the kitchen last Monday this little gem. Fraser at the helm, while I wasn’t watching. A pity he didn’t really know what he was doing because I would’ve loved this video to last longer.
Last Tuesday was my ‘day off’ before I start working three days a week, tomorrow! I had my hair cut, sat in on a sewing lesson (I hope to do these regularly on Thursday nights), saw a movie (Tropic Thunder -crap!), and did some shopping. Adding another hectic night to our weekly schedule means rejigging the usual menu items and more cooking in advance, where possible. So over the weekend I made some Clinker Slice. Well it’s not for dinner.. but, inspired and all that. Today I made and froze a polenta bake with bolognese sauce, so it all evens out.
I also finished this little bit of sewing on the weekend. I’ve seen pillowcase pants before and have been wanting to make some as they look so easy. I found a boy-coloured stripey pillowcase for $1 at the Salvo shop and bought a contrasting t-shirt. Fraser decided he wanted a rocket on there so I bought some cheapy fabric paint to embellish with. I quite like them and can’t believe how easy they are. I’d planned to make this set as lounge wear but it’s more like pyjamas, and in fact, he’s gone to bed wearing them already.
I’ll be keep a closer eye on the Salvo shop from now on. Hopefully, I come across something more interesting than stripes.
After calling the doctor’s office all day last Wednesday it was late afternoon before I heard from the Doctor, herself. I had elevated lymphocytes, and the ultrasound doctor had recommended a biopsy. (Unfortunately, I only got half that story. The rest of it was that a biopsy was recommended if there were no other indicators of infection.) I told the doctor about Matt coming down with similar symptoms - surely, this must be viral? She said it was possible but she didn’t want to “wave me away just incase, God forbid….”I asked whether it was a Bad Idea to wait and see until Monday, she could check me again, and then if necessary I would do the biopsy on Tuesday. She agreed it was a capital idea.
I commenced a program of mild panic. In the meantime, Matt’s version of the illness got worse. His glands came up, his throat like painful sandpaper. My mind swung from “everything’s fine, viral, viral” to “good lord, I may have lymphoma and the last memory Fraser will have is of me being angry with him about something.” All Matt could express was anger that I’d put the biopsy off to the following week, and how bad his own throat felt.
On Friday afternoon he went to see my doctor about his own health. Thereby confirming, for her, that yes, we had some sort virus. She apologised for the alarm but she’d had a lymphoma patient last year. Things were ugly. I forgave her.
My blood has been sent for re-screening, and Matt’s blood was taken this morning, in efforts to narrow down what this illness is. Thoughts at this stage are glandular fever.
My glands are going down, the night sweats have stopped. I’m coming out the other side. Hopefully, Matt’s not far behind.
…a side order of botox for my concerned forehead, here!
I have a golf ball in my neck that I first discovered while Lincoln was in hospital. It was a bit smaller then. Given the conditions my body was working with, stress and sleep deprivation, I figured I was coming down with something and just let it sort itself out.
A couple of days later I was having nightsweats so I consulted Dr Google and decided my thyroid was acting up. I made an appointment for the following week (which is today) and was happy with my decision that it was No Big Deal. Over the weekend all the other lymph nodes in the neck began popping up and the pioneer lump had grown. But we were away in the Blue Mountains with some other families, so whilst I was a little preoccupied I didn’t want to get alarmed. We were busy having fun.
Lincoln was busy polishing his walking ability as he was surrounded by his peer group of other toddler-babies. There were cheese, crackers and alcoholic beverages; And let’s not forget the special hot chocolate.
As if you would put your questionable health before all that! I soldiered on.
Today I presented myself at the arranged doctors appointment. The GP was slightly alarmed as the inital lump felt quite hard and immobile and all the other nodes in the neck and close by are up but not painful. In other words, lymphoma was on her list of possibles.
I was ordered off for an Ultrasound, after having some blood taken. The Sonographer was quite convinced it’s nothing that a dose of ABs won’t fix. Tomorrow the bloods come back so will get the definitive answer then.
The golf balls in my neck are no more than a little annoying and apart from a sore throat, and a slightly elevated temp I actually feel quite fine.
I finished the cot quilt. It’s obviously the product of a beginner, but I’m pleased nonetheless, with how it turned out. I’ve enjoyed having it on my lap whilst handstitching. It’s nice and warm.
I have a new nappy bag. I’ve been using the old faithful Kapoochi bowling bag for 4.5 years and recently the snaps broke that clip the handle to the stroller. So that bag has been left stocked with disposables supplies and left permanently in the main car. My new nappy bag will be the one I use regularly and will be easily retired out of nappy carrying use in a year or two. I bought it from CafePress.
I love Charlie & Lola. My only beef is …given it’s a BBC show the Americans could stay true to the British spelling of ‘favourite’. I do still love it and may embellish it with some handpainted Lola butterflies.
I bought some new jeans. I’ve always bought Jeans at Jeans West. Once I find comfortable, reasonably priced jeans I stick with the program. I went back there this week to buy the trusty old women’s button-fly in whatever style it was available in. Bitter disappointment. The button-fly is no more. I don’t trust zippers in jeans. Of course, everything seems ok, for a while. And then the zipper stops going all the way up, or is comes back down at random. Let’s not forget that everything only comes in hipster style these days, too. Call me old-fashioned but I don’t like my ass-crack hanging out when I bend over to put on my shoes, or pick up a child. Dejected but determined, I came away with two pairs of zipper fastening, hipster, Boyfriend style jeans. Prove me wrongs, zippers. I dare you.
