Weekend Recoveries

The 'bug' spread to me, and I now can relate to how the kids were feeling.  I've spent a good part of the weekend sleeping and had little energy to do much more than that.

The spinning wheel was dusted off and I sat contentedly spinning a spool's worth of yarn between naps.  This afternoon was the turning point and after plying the yarn I decided to attempt wrapping a warp for my rigid heddle loom.

Last summer Wayne and I found a 'bundle of sticks' at a yard sale in the village.  I had my suspicions that it had something to do with fiber processing and asked how much they wanted for the bundle.  $5 was the asking price and I parted with the money without hesitation.  When we got home, Wayne and I untied the bundle and realized that it was a small warping reel with hand-carved pegs and rods.  Tonight Wayne helped me put it all together, and I reeled the warp for my weaving project on it.  It is amazing to see the ingenuity of the craftsman and I'm thrilled to be able to use such wonderful antique tools in my fiber projects.  I hope to get the warp tied onto the rigid heddle loom this week, but there are several other "to do" items on my list.  I promise myself that I won't have to get sick to return to my loom project--or any of my other 'fiber pursuits' that have been on the back burner due to sewing demands.

Last night I ended up taking Jonathan to the ER due to a severe case of hives.  After his bath he exploded into a rash.  He didn't seem to respond to the antihistamine and the rash was getting worse.  Thankfully, the hives were not in his mouth or throat and the doctor told us to continue treating them the way we were.  It appears he has an allergy to the antibiotic he was on for a tooth infection.  It took 8 days to show, but that is not uncommon--or so we found out yesterday.  Poor Jonathan's face is bright red and swollen into one big mass of hives.  The rest of his body has been covered with a fiery red rash.  He couldn't stand to have any ointments on it, but welcomed a milk/oatmeal bath this afternoon.  Thankfully, tonight the hives are starting to fade on his legs although his feet are still covered with them.  He was so excited to see that they were fading from his legs.  He started yelling, "I'm healed!  I'm healed!"    He's been such a trooper through all of the discomfort.  I don't know if I would have handled them as well as he has!

Katelyn has returned to her normal bubbly self--a sign that she has recovered from 'the bug' and the teeth extraction.  Her typical wit and teasing have returned, and she's been playing her violin and piano again, which is a true sign or recovery.  I so enjoy hearing her play.  Tomorrow she returns to orchestra practice and the regular routine.

How thankful I am that we're on the other side of the week of illness and recovery!

P.S.  We have spring peepers singing!!!!

Temperatures and Tissues...

Everyone is talking about the warmer weather we had earlier in the week, but the temperatures I'm talking about are the children's. 

The past week has been rough on the kids...sneezing and fluctuating temperatures from a cold/flu virus, an infection of a tooth for Jonathan, and 3 teeth extracted for Katelyn.  Jon is on the couch and keeps mumbling, "Oh boy."  For a normally very active little boy, it seems strange to have him taking naps.  Thankfully, his tooth has calmed down now that he's on an antibiotic.  Hopefully, this 'bug' will have run its course before his appointment with the dental specialist on the 17th.  Katelyn is slowly recovering from the teeth extraction, but the 'bug' has added a twist to the process.

So things on the farm are kind of quiet this week...except for the sneezing, coughing, and 'oh boy' sighs.

April Fool's Weather

Today has been a crazy day for weather.  We awoke to sunshine and fairly warm temps.  On my walk to the office I was dodging earthworms on the pavement.

Mid-morning the rain and wind was thrashing against the windows.

At noon we were getting hit hard with hail and wind.

Then the sunshine again but cooler temps.

On our way home from swimming and orchestra rehearsal this evening it was snowing while the sun was shining. 

I guess God decided to give us an April Fool's joke of His own.  I'm just looking forward to those "May flowers" that come after all this weather.