January part two
Friday July 17th 2009, 3:40 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare,Friends

I’ve tried to keep it at arm’s length, but it hogs the air around here and keeps finding its way out in bits and pieces on the blog.

I so dearly want to go to Sock Summit. I particularly wish I could thank Barbara Walker in person for her generosity in letting me use some of her lace patterns within the shawls in my book.

I can’t.

I want to go to Warren’s shop in San Rafael, just north of San Francisco, for one last time before he closes his doors the end of this month, to wish a good man well with whatever comes next.

At least I’ll get to see him at Stitches West next year.

I keep thinking of fun day trips to do with Michelle, and she just looks at me and goes, Are you up to that?

Oh. Right. Well, hey, brownie points for positive thinking.

I made it to Knit Night at Purlescence last night; face time with friends won out, and here’s Jasmin trying on the Monterey, to my great delight at her enthusiasm over it.

I talked to pathology today and arranged to pick up my slides to take to my new surgeon (my old one having left) at Stanford.  There is one more test to run first that might delay what seems surely inevitable at this point.  I’ve been bleeding at least ten times a day, no meds are working, (I know–same old, same old), it could easily fistulize and cause an emergency, and that 10″ stump has to go.

When so many of you were praying for the Humira to work last January, and it seemed not to?  But: the rectum healed up enough after those doses that they were able to staple it off rather than creating another stoma with it. Given what the thing has done since then, I am grateful in the extreme for that–it has made this situation far, far easier.

Right now all we can do is wait while I try not to waste my breath wishing the operation  were weeks in the past already.  That day will come. I’m holding my blankets close for comfort: Robert’s, (skip about halfway down the post), the one Elizabeth‘s group made, the two Anniebee‘s group made, and the one from the South Bay Knitters I’ve had for several years now that they made as a congratulations on getting “Wrapped in Comfort” accepted for publication. I still have the nametags on their squares telling who knit which.

I have a new pattern I wanted to rework in a laceweight with more detail than the fingering yarn I first knitted it up in, and what shows up on my doorstep today from Lisa?… Baby alpaca laceweight, my favorite, gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous and dyed and gifted on the spot as soon as she knew.  Wow.  I can’t wait to dive into it. There is such a joy in creating something that’s never been in the world before and then sharing it.

As so many of you did for me.  Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, every square knitter and afghan put-er-together-er and every person who has prayed, read, Thought Good Thoughts.  It all helps, and I wrap it around me gratefully.  Thank you.  This is just a blip, and we’ll get through it just like the last time.


24 Comments so far
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According to my mother, the best time to schedule any sort of surgery is about a month ago. Keep your blankets close around you.
Laura

Comment by LauraN 07.17.09 @ 4:36 pm

I’m so glad you’re literally surrounded by love, prayers and support. And sometimes, we all need someone to be our voice of reason, to be a little bit protective of us. Yay Michelle!

Comment by Channon 07.17.09 @ 4:49 pm

The Power of Positive, Positive Thinking! Yes, a month ago would have been better, but to repeat an old phrase, this, too, will pass. You KNOW that all of us are praying for you, and rooting for you.

Howsabout sumpin’ funny:

My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping channels. ‘What’s on TV, she asked,?’
‘Dust.’
I get out of the hospital tomorrow.

***

John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to clean up the bird’s vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arm and said, “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, “May I ask what the chicken did?”

Comment by Don Meyer 07.17.09 @ 5:25 pm

Oh, dear, here you go again… prayers are with you, as ever. I’m so glad to have been a small part of one of AnnieBee’s blankets! Makes me feel like I’m really there, holding your hand, helping you through.

Comment by Pegi 07.17.09 @ 5:38 pm

I think about you a lot and I’ll continue sending good thoughts. I wish I could wish away naughty stump for you.

Comment by Michelle 07.17.09 @ 6:15 pm

God be good to you, Alison. I know he must be pleased as you reflect His love to all you meet.

Comment by Barbara-Kay 07.17.09 @ 7:10 pm

Big hug.
I love you.

Comment by karin maag-tanchak 07.17.09 @ 8:02 pm

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Alison}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
I am greatly looking forward to your new patterns.

I know the next event looms HUGE but when it’s in the rear-view mirror, it gets smaller so quickly.

I’ll be pulling for you, as I always do :-}

Comment by Diana Troldahl 07.17.09 @ 8:29 pm

Prayers, love, & caring surround you. Let them lift you & help you through the waiting & the recovery. You remain in my prayers.

PS – I can’t wait to see your next Amazing (as I am sure it will be) pattern. I’m sure it will fit that laceweight that I don’t know what to do with perfectly.

Comment by TripletMom 07.17.09 @ 10:39 pm

Waiting is never fun. I’m among the most impatient people in the world, and start getting antsy when a wait lasts more than a few minutes. Imagine me during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy (going back 16 years). I think I just stared at the calendar waiting for the days to change! For the next few weeks you can waste your breath and hold your blankets–just don’t do the reverse!

Comment by LynnM 07.18.09 @ 4:37 am

A great big hug to you, Alison, along with prayers. May the love in each one of those blanket stitches give you strength and peace.

Comment by Joansie 07.18.09 @ 4:46 am

Hang in there kiddo…we’re all pulling for you!

Comment by Betsy 07.18.09 @ 5:23 am

Havent commented in a while but do read everyday!! I hope the wait to get this problem fixed isnt near as trying nor as long as it was at the start of the year. Good Luck 🙂

Comment by Danielle from SW MO 07.18.09 @ 6:35 am

I so admire your spirit, Alison. All of these health problems would wear anyone down but you maintain your love of knitting and wonderful observations of the world of nature around you. I am happy to be one little square in Elizabeth’s blanket (the green one on the edge with the raised heart) and to be able to provide a tiny bit of long-distance comfort.

Comment by Julie 07.18.09 @ 9:29 am

Well, I’m definitely Thinking Good Thoughts; would that you didn’t have to go through this, but knowing that you do, I’m holding you in my thoughts.

Comment by Jocelyn 07.18.09 @ 10:33 am

You are in my prayers and thoughts.

Comment by Leslie 07.18.09 @ 1:52 pm

My prayers join with others for your complete recovery.

Comment by Charlotte 07.18.09 @ 2:15 pm

I was just so very glad to be a part of the blanket group, knitting a prayer for you with every stitch.

Comment by sherry in idaho 07.18.09 @ 5:26 pm

Amen to that! You have hundreds of shoulders to lean on, I’ld like to say from around the world (or just about).

Daily prayers are still going your way: some of thanks for having the pleasure of “getting to know you” through emails and posts and some of determination and peace for all the hardship you are going through.

Please remember to breathe through it all. Oxygen does wonders!

Comment by Suzanne 07.19.09 @ 7:58 am

Pulling for you as always.

Comment by Eileen 07.19.09 @ 7:51 pm

I hope you know the stitches I put in last time are still being infused with hope for you, just from a distance! – we all love you.

Comment by Mary 07.20.09 @ 1:11 pm

::hugs:: We’ll all be here for you, as always.

Comment by Alicia 07.21.09 @ 11:20 am

Okay I’m reading and rereading and I cannot find why you have to have surgery again.

Either way, HUGS! Love you honey.

Comment by Tiny Tyrant 07.22.09 @ 3:38 pm

Drat, crappy news. If surgery is the answer, it must be done, but ugh.

I’m on your team, as always. You have had consistently good caregivers, I expect the same to continue. Your attitude will help as well.

I bet you are just tired of hospitals, huh?

Hugs,
LynnH

Comment by LynnH 07.23.09 @ 9:55 am



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