Value T-shirt "What doesn't kill us, still HURTS like hell" Voices of Fibromyalgia

Value T-shirt "What doesn't kill us, still HURTS like hell" Voices of Fibromyalgia

Ribbed Neckwarmer

Ribbed Neckwarmer by Pamel Welsh

4 ply yarn appox 200 yards

Size 8 needles

Cast on 38 sts.

Row 1: K 2, P 2 ribbing across

Row 2: P 2, K 2 across keeping with ribbing

Repeat these rows until 25 1/2" 

Buttonhole row: do 10 stitches in ribbing pattern, K2tog, Yarn over twice, K2tog, 10 sts in ribbing pattern, K2tog, Yarn over twice, K2tog, 10 sts in ribbing pattern.

Continue with rows 1 & 2 until you reach 28".

Bind off stitche in ribbing pattern. Weave in yarn tails.

Sew button to neckwarmer at angle or straight across from one another to match up with buttonholes.

In the picture is the angled way. If you do it across then you will be overlapping the neckwarmer around your neck not downward like I have it.

 

 

Fiber Flux...Adventures in Stitching: Free Knitting Pattern...Bubblegum Cowl!

Fiber Flux...Adventures in Stitching: Free Knitting Pattern...Bubblegum Cowl!: Pin It Bubblegum Cowl By Jennifer Dickerson This cowl is suitable for both kids and adults alike. Knit with chunky ...

My Weight-loss Journey with T.O.P.S.

Ever since High School I've had a weight problem. With my weight problem came several health 
problems. Menieres in 1999, a stroke in 2000 and Fibromyalgia in 2008. In January 2010 I weighed 
in at my highest weight of 360 pounds and was having problems in my marriage. I felt like a beached 
whale and was miserable to those around me. I was severely depressed and unhappy with my weight. 

In July 2010 my husband attempted suicide then asked for a divorce. I left Idaho and arrived in 
Cedar City, Utah in August 2010. Having no desire to eat, a first for me, I lost weight. By the first 
week of February 2011 I weighed 216 lbs and my appetite returned. I was at a plateau and kept loosing
and gaining the same few pounds. I was feeling depressed over gaining a few pounds back when I read 

the community notice in the paper about T.O.P.S. I went that evening to my first meeting. After being

there for ten minutes I felt the camaraderie of others who knew how it felt to be overweight and 

struggling. The following week, March 2nd, 2011, I became a member of T.O.P.S. Utah Chapter 12.

I weighted in at 217.75 lbs that night. I found friends and support at T.O.P.S. like I'd never had before

when trying to loose weight. At T.O.P.S. I've found people who understood my struggles, I've learned
the tools and knowledge needed to achieve my weight loss goals. 

My attitude has shifted from a sullen, moody person to a happy, enthusiastic person. My Fibromyalgia

has gotten so much better too.

In Febuary 2012 I reached my weight loss goal of 150 pounds thus becoming a K.O.P.S.

In June 2012 I was Division 3 First place winner at T.O.P.S. Utah State Recognition Days (SRD).

During this past year, since SRD, life has been up and down like a roller coaster. However, I have 

maintained my K.O.P.S. status by continuing to face the scale, going to my T.O.P.S. meetings and 

encouraging others along their journeys. 

This June I was proud to represent my chapter as the Chapter Queen for UT 12 at SRD. It was even extra special since this is our chapter's 50th Anniversary year.

I am proud to be an example of what T.O.P.S. do.

T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a World-wide weight loss support group. So if you are looking to loose weight, 5 pounds or even 200 pounds, check out T.O.P.S.

Here is the website to my chapters facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/T.O.P.S.UT12?ref=hl

A Country Thanksgivin' (song lyrics):

Mama stuffin' Mr. Turkey
Grandma choppin' gizzards
Grandpa fryin' hush puppies
Papa haulin' white lightnin'.

Outside the trees are bare
Leaves fallen everywhere
There's a chill in the air
Remindin' us winter's near.

Chorus:
'Tis a family tradition
A country thanksgivin'.

Musical Interlude

Cranberries poppin' on the stove
Collards simmerin' with onion
The kitchen fillin' up with love
Smellin' of thanksgivin'.

The time is here, the table set
Turkey, roll, pies on the left
Friends and family sit
Prayer, then eat till nothin' left.

Chorus:
'Tis a family tradition
A country thanksgivin'
'Tis a family tradition
A country thanksgivin'...fade.

Tysabri

My husband has MS and has been currently getting Tysabri infusions once a month. Tysabri is considered one of the best medications to prevent/slow down the progression of MS. You can only get an infusion once every 28 days. This medication has slowed down the progression in my husband. He tried Rebif and the other shots available to no avail--they seemed to aggravate his system. If you are considering Tysabri then you also have tried everything else--because Physicians don't use Tysabri as a first line of defense--it is generally the last line of defense in slowing the progression of MS.

Tysabri is very expensive, around $8,000 per infusion.We are on a very limited income so we can't pay $8,000 per month. However, the manufacturer of Tysabri, does help by providing Tysabri at reduced cost or free. You will have to fill out some papers providing the income of all persons in your household. You will fill out additional information regarding your monthly outgoing expenses. All this is considered in the decision of whether or not you qualify for reduced or free Tysabri.
Then your insurance should tell you how much your part for the infusion will cost you each month. My husband and I are on a Medicare PPO--Humana and pay only $35.00 per month--this January it will be $40.00 a month.

Before my husband started Tysabri he had to get a specific blood test to see if he was more or less susceptible to PML. He was susceptible therefore every so often they need to do another blood test to be sure he hasn't contracted PML.
PML can be deadly. The rate of PML cases is very low though. Your doctor will discuss the problems associated with PML--then it will be your decision as to whether or not you wish to go forward with the Tysabri.

Knit Baby Booties

These are the baby booties I knit for our fifteenth Grandchild.

Recipe Corner: Fruit Gel

Fruit Gel

Makes about 4 cups
This is an all natural alternative to Jell-O. Agar powder and kudzu (“kood-zoo”) are natural plant-based thickeners available in natural food stores.




1-1/2 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen


3/4 cups apple juice concentrate

1/2 cup water


1/2 teaspoon agar powder


1 tablespoons kudzu powder


2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen






Chop strawberries by hand or in a food processor. Transfer to a pan. Add apple juice concentrate, water, agar, and kudzu. Stir to mix.


Bring to a simmer and cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and chill completely.


Fold in blueberries and transfer to serving dishes.



Per 1/2-cup serving: 77 calories; 0.5 g protein; 19 g carbohydrate; 0.2 g fat; 2 g fiber; 9 mg sodium; calories from protein: 2%; calories from carbohydrates: 95%; calories from fats: 3%



Recipe from Healthy Eating for Life to Prevent and Treat Diabetes by Patricia Bertron, R.D.

Knitting Corner: Amber's Dolly

I knit the cute Fairy Doll on pages 24 to 27 of "KNITTED TOYS" by Zoe Mellor for my Grand-daughter's second birthday. I made my own changes though. I didn't make the doll a fairy as my grand-daughter is a bit hard on some of her toys therefore I opted for No Wings. I also did Not use as many stripes in the project. However, it turned out great. The directions for knitting are very easy and straight-forward. I was a little bit confused as to why she did not have the arms knitted unto the project, like the legs, to where they also could be stuffed as one with the doll. It still turned out fine. I found she posed nicely even. When my grand-daughter received her she was very happy as I did her in shades of "Purple" her favorite color. I did change the way I put on the hair though. I used a crochet hook and hooked it under the yarn on the skull. That way my grand-daughter would not be able to pull the hair out so easily. I know how 2 yr. olds are. We have 14 grand-children--10 girls and 4 boys. Our grand-children range from the eldest of 20 yrs. (girl) to the youngest of 2 yrs. (girl) and a 15th on the way (girl).

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day:

My Knitting Corner: Knit Doll from Yarn Stash

I knit this Doll for my niece's second birthday this year. The dress is attached to the doll so nothing is able to be taken off (except the hair ties). The doll is small but a nice way to use up your scrap yarn and a good size for small hands. The pattern is in the book "KNITTING WITH LEFTOVER YARN" by Ruth E. Braatz on pg. 72. It was easy enough for me to knit. I would say Advanced Beginner - Intermediate (maybe?).

An Alternative Way to Rid Yourself of Ants/Roaches

Use rubbing alcohol to get rid of those pesky ants and/or roaches. It is safer and cheaper on the pocket-book. Not to mention a lot safer around your children and pets than the poisons they sell on the market.
Put the rubbing alcohol, straight (undiluted) into a spray bottle and squirt it along your counters and other areas where you have seen ants and roaches. Do NOT rinse it! The insects will become dehydrated when they walk through it which will cause them to die. You can also spray the roaches directly with it--as they take a bit more at times.
This is a much safer alternative and cheaper too compared to all the insecticides you will find out on the market. If you are like me, times are tough and I live on a budget--especially these days. So if I can find an inexpensive, yet effective way to do something, I will do it. It is even better if it doesn't mean a lot of chemicals involved since I am hyper-sensitive to chemicals and my husband has asthma. Hope this is helpful to somebody else. Thought I'd pass this tip along as someone passed it on to me.

My Knitting Corner: Sleeveless Top

I love to knit. I find it "mostly relaxing." There are moments when I can get frustrated. It is then that my hubby goes and hides in the bedroom-LOL. It also keeps my mind sharp, most times from the "fibro fog" I experience from Fibromyalgia. Also, I find it keeps my fingers nimble, helping with the fibromyalgia (once again).

The sleeveless top below I knit for my Grand-daughter's 12th birthday. I combined a series of three yarns to come up with the effect. It was knit on a size 15 needles so it knit up quickly. I found the pattern in the book "Hip To Knit" by Judith L. Swartz. It is the "No Sleeves Funnel Top" on pages 48-51. You can knit a single-strand version with a chunky yarn or a multi-strand version with three differing strands of yarn-which is what I chose to do. On page 51 the author explains how to combine your own yarns, if you wish to use yarns you have readily available (or de-stash your stash) instead or buying the yarns she has listed in the book. I used yarns from my own stash. I used a cotton Tahini and Cha-Cha yarns.