Cleaning, cooking and crafting

This weekend I’ve spent time staying in, aside from the weekly doctor’s office visit for the kids’  allergy shots and a quick run to the market for essentials (milk, cheese, avocado, and a few things I forgot for dinners this weekend). I set aside Saturday morning (late morning) to make another batch of laundry detergent. I don’t like how much I’ve had to pay, in the past, for store bought detergent and the fact that my kids were always itchy (bless their hearts, all those allergies they suffer from). I went back to my Pinterest to find the recipe for the last detergent I made, and realized the last batch wasn’t right! Oops! The tutorial tells you 2 bars of Zote (they are 14.1 oz) but I was using Fels Naptha in the 5.5 oz size (only used two) I guess I should have paid more attention when I made it. This time, I had enough of the Fels Naptha and still struggled… 2 bars were fresh and slick, so they were easy to grate like cheese…. the other bars were drier and very difficult so I tried the microwaving tip on the tutorial…. it worked but was a pain in the backside. Once cooled, I was able to crumble the soap between my fingers (gloved hands) and mix in with everything else. I filled a JUMBO Ziploc bag (the 5gallon sized) plus a large Oxy Clean powder container and a slightly smaller Oxy Clean container! You literally only need 2T of detergent and it’s amazing! No additives, colors, etc. I don’t remember when I made my last batch, but I will remember when I made this batch, so I can see how long it lasts.

This is the direct link to the laundry detergent recipe: Laundry detergent DIY
I also made some Chicken Pozole in the slow cooker for dinner tonight (it’s still cooking as we speak) and here is the recipe! It smells delicious!  The kids helped me pick up the living room, as it was needed with our busy week, and I then brushed the cat, dusted, and vacuumed the room. It feels fresher now! I also got the kitchen cleaned, it’s closer to my standard (with my surgery and our busy schedules, the housework has been slipping – which drives me mad) so it’s nice to catch up with things. I have to also redo my closet, which is mostly craft supplies and hung up clothes, as the kitty decided it was going to be fun to get into everything and knocked stuff over! It’s difficult to move items and get it all organized with my knee still screwed up, it ends up hurting/getting tired/swelling, and that causes me to stop enjoying it.

We are also going to have some yummy Lemon cake later, thanks to Lucy over at the Attic. I adore her recipes, they always look delish, and they are easy to make. I made it in the food processor, as she did, and I’m glad. It was so simple and my fingers still smell of lemon. Believe me, I am happy about that, as I love lemons!

The cake is out of the oven and cooling… I can’t wait!!! But I am sad to report the cake fell in the middle (I did open the oven during cooking, because I wanted to show the family) so that may have been why AND I didn’t think about high altitude! Darn it! The No Knead bread recipe doesn’t need altitude adjustment, so I just forgot (I live at nearly 5K feet) oh well, it should be tasty anyway! But, I am the weird person that wants a lemon cake with chocolate frosting for my birthday (which means it’s homemade since nobody makes them in bakeries around here) but that’s okay. I can add lemon juice AND zest to make it just the way I like.

The kids are currently playing with a rainy day box I quickly put together (Thanks to Deborah for the idea) and I’ll be stocking it up the next time I do shopping at a craft store. They are gluing, cutting, coloring, writing and using stickers…. my daughter already wrote me a letter! They are so sweet.

I also have been keeping busy with knitting, slowly working on this summer dress for my daughter (obviously no rush as we’ve been having cooler weather and it has been raining since 7am today! – it’s now 120pm!!) but it’s coming along well. This weather makes me want to make a cup of tea, have a slice of that lemon cake and snuggle on the couch next to the cat, as she’s having another cat nap. I think that’s a great idea, so I’m off to put the kettle on and check on the aromatic lemon cake that is teasing me with it’s delicious-ness!

Post Op Week #4 – MPFL reconstruction

Good morning everyone. How has your summer break been?  It has been pretty good here.

Onto my knee progress. This is going to be a short post, but good news!

I found out last week I can’t walk with my brace unlocked… but today I was told by the head physical therapist that I could walk with my brace unlocked to 45 degrees! (Though my brace goes by intervals of 10, so it’s at 40 degrees now) AND…. AND!!!! (Yes it’s THAT exciting)  I was told do to my Nu-Step (recumbent bicycle machine) workout WITHOUT my brace on my leg!!!! WOOOHOO!!! It went very well. At level 3, I did 1079 steps in 10 minutes!

I also have gained a few degrees in my knee hyperextension measurement (about 3 degrees) and I have gained about 9 degrees in my flexion measurement! I wasn’t gaining any progress with either measurement for a week.

Knee surgery scar measurements at 4 weeks

Four week post op knee comparison

Hello June!

Wait?! June…. already?! My how this year is flying by! I have a few updates but won’t post too much since I have to clean up the kitchen and work on some laundry…. plus knitting… yes, I have to knit! 

I have started, finished, stiffened and mailed off the mandala to Lucy from Attic24 for decorating at Yarndale. This is the link to the project page of mine, on Ravelry. I am now working on two different pairs of socks (randomly working on them in the car, whichever project bag I grab.

I am also working on a summer dress for my little girl.

I am using the cotton/acrylic blend that I was going to use for socks. I just didn’t like the way the socks were coming out, so I scrapped that idea for now. But, I did find her some actual sock yarn that is wool free. I went to my LYS (local yarn store) to get a knitting needle I didn’t have (shocking, I know) and I swung by their yarn display on my way to the counter….. what a mistake. They had Stitch Nation Yarns on close out (discontinued) from $5.99 to $2.99! I showed no restraint (besides leaving behind the black) and bought every other color they stocked…. every single ball PLUS two balls of the wool free sock yarn in a pretty pink and purple color way. I will start those once I free up my sock needles, though I’m not in a rush since it’s a bit too warm at the moment to wear socks.

After my big post HERE… my son got violently ill. In short, he suffered from a bout of food poisoning (through his being sick, I discovered the school lunch for the 19th was under cooked chicken!)  So after him spending 2-2.5 hours sick, I took him to the ER to make sure he wasn’t getting dehydrated since he wasn’t keeping anything down. He was prescribed anti-nausea medications and I was told to give him Imodium (which we didn’t have at home, thankfully a neighbor had some and brought it by a little before midnight since we were at the ER so long…. and nothing in town was open) My son was ill a bit more in the AM of the following day but feeling a bit better. By that evening (the 20th) he felt good. He did go to school the day after (the 21st) and everything has been fine since for him.

At the ER…. I felt terrible having to put my leg up and not sit next to him

At the ER

The next day… The 20th

On the 21st, I went to the surgeon for my first Post Operative appointment so I could get my stitches out and also was given an explanation of exactly what was done to my knee during surgery. I didn’t actually get to see my surgeon, he was very busy. I spoke to his PA after I had my stitches removed though.

The last picture of my knee with steri strips and stitches in

Nurse is removing my steri strips

Steri strips gone

No more stitches!

Another view of my knee, stitch-less

This is the left, lower side of my knee… gross

Another view of the left lower side

The right lower side of my knee – another gross picture

Another view of the right lower side

Stitch free and back in the car (yep, I can sit with my brace unlocked now!)

Yes…. some of the pictures may be gross, but for those that want to know what to expect for knee surgery (namely: MPFL reconstruction) this will hopefully help you know what to expect. I will be honest, I was scared it was going to hurt and it didn’t. The stitches being removed was such a relief because of the healing, they were pulling the skin around the incisions and THAT was painful!

The following pictures show how my knee has since been healing…. as I have had physical therapy use a Scar Pump (aka Scar Sucker) which I have never in my life heard of…. I was told it would be painful, so I was expecting the worse…. and it’s not that bad. I wouldn’t want it again, but it wasn’t so bad that I stopped her from using it (though I do have a high threshold for pain…. thanks to the Army I guess). I was also told to keep massaging my knee’s scars and pushing (yeah it’s painful at times) and I might hear a popping, like when someone pops their knocks, but not to worry, it’s the scar tissue… and that popping is a good thing.   (Let me state right now, I’m not a medical professional and I’m just sharing what I have been told on this journey…. so if your therapist or doctor tells you to do something else or NOT to do what I’m doing…. follow what your doctor said…. and if you don’t, don’t blame me)

This is the stock image I found online of the scar pump/scar sucker

The day after removal of stitches, see how puckered that left scar is?! That’s why the scar sucker/pump

I can’t remember what day this is, but it’s within the last week… maybe Monday?

This was after using the scar pump and after about 2 hours of massaging…. it’s tiring, but watching some TV helped distract me from the discomfort and pain

This was yesterday at the doctor, for the kids’ weekly allergy shots

This was yesterday at the doctor, for the kids’ weekly allergy shots

As you can see I have been knitting a lot since I can’t do anything on my feet really… and wearing dresses (I’m the type of woman that rather wear jeans all year) so this has been a very different Spring/Summer for me, but I’m embracing it because I can’t stand shorts (which I HAVE to wear to Physical Therapy) because of my muscle atrophy.

See? I just can’t stand my legs at this point (yes I’m being shallow) so I just wear shorts to Physical Therapy (and yes, I put my brace back on right after)

In my newest dress (which I love)… I haven’t said that about a dress in years

I will not know about unlocking my brace to walk until the 18th of June, which is my 2nd Post Operative appointment/check up. I know it’s for the best, but I’m impatient and want to walk normally…. but if it can’t happen, it must mean by knee isn’t strong/healthy enough yet.

Attic24: Mandala Wheels for Yarndale

Attic24: Mandala Wheels for Yarndale.

I have done it… I really have done it! I have decided (after saying I wouldn’t) to make Lucy a mandala for Yarndale. I would love to go one day (of course, having to actually be in the UK would be helpful for a start!) but I didn’t get to find out about the triangles for last year’s Yarndale until it was too late.

I went on the “We Love Lucy II” page on Facebook BEFORE I picked up my socks that I’ve been knitting a while (surgery really put a damper on my yarny projects) and read Lucy’s blog…. I’m hooked (not even trying to be cheeky this time) and I MUST make a mandala!!!

So, off I go to find a pattern…. the hardest part of nearly every project it seems.

Update for the week.

Alright, it’s been nearly a week since I last posted anything, though I have written when I can (in a note on my iPhone so I can transfer it here when I had the chance, without interruption)  So here I am! Posting updates all in one big blog post; so get a glass of something delicious to drink, have a seat and enjoy.

May 15 – Cakes, breads, coffee and goodies

Oh I wish you could be here I smell these wonderful smells in the house today.

Last night my son baked a cake all by himself!! I made my homemade frosting and frosted it (we were squished for time because bedtime was quickly running after us!!) and it was delicious. We had a boxed cake mix (I hate them but useful in a pinch) and his was fluffier than mine turns out!! I am very proud of my son, only 8 & ½ years old, and he is responsible (he’s been a wonderful nurse during my recovery as well as helping around the house in general with not a single peep of being fed up) and always interested in cooking. *I vividly remember being my son’s age and being forced to start dinner every night because my both of parents worked at that time; mom had to take the busses and transfer a few times while my father worked about an hour away from home (that’s when there wasn’t traffic)

I also sent my son to the market in town on his bicycle with his backpack to pick up frozen garlic bread and to pick out a candy bar for himself and surprise his sister with one as well. That little bugger got me one too, so thoughtful.
*Watch out—- another childhood memory: I was 7, my mother sent me with $1 to the post office to collect stamps and I would scrounge in my pockets and trinket bowl on my vintage ivory and gold detailed dresser for coins to buy a soda, candy and junky toys at the toy shop a block away from the post office… Such fun times*

Whilst my adoring son was off at the store, my little lady and I started the dough for out family’s weekly loaves of bread. I always make a separate loaf for my cousin, he lives for nutty and seeded breads. I can not get used to that sort of bread, it’s just not versatile enough for my liking. (jam on seeded/nutty bread!? Yuck) I prefer a plain bread, maybe with a light sprinkling of grain in the dough and to top it (such as spelt) which is what little lady and I decided to that this time.

This bread is amazing! I can across it through one of my favorite bloggers, Lucy from Attic24 – which she does link to the blog she got it from here. (which I have as a tab opened on my phone’s browser at all times) It’s an artisan type of crusty bread that is so easy, my 5-year-old made it herself. It is also so easy to make custom bread with a few well-chosen mix ins!

(the process of baking the bread is shown above)

Yes, little lady has baking in her blood as well. I’m glad my kids are growing up craving homemade foods and homebaked sweets, breads and cakes. They do get store bought from school parties and complain when they get home “mommy you food is so better then what we had at school” or the typical request from them for class snacks are my Hummingbird cupcakes.

(Here are a few different variations of the cupcake recipes I found on the website listed below)

That’s correct….Hummingbird bakery in the UK, the recipe from their cookbook, but adjusted for high altitude by this blogger: hummingbird high.

Now coffee, oh the nectar of my life.. I love coffee so much more than I ever thought I would. Since being in recovery mode with this darn knee, I can’t keep running errands everyday (which also allowed for a cup of takeout coffee – which is one splurge I won’t do without from time to time, thought it’s been quite frequent lately) I will gladly stop buying yarn to support my coffee habit, granted I do have a bunch of wool to hold me over! I have brewed a large 12cup pot of coffee this morning and have enjoyed it with some vanilla cream. Oh… so heavenly!

I went to take a shower, crutching through the house to the bathroom, and I hurt myself. My crutch slipped on the cat’s food and water mat and I stopped by landing on my right foot (that’s the leg with surgery) I was pretty sore and miserable after that. I did take a couple of naps,  and even took ice in the car when I had to ride along for errands out-of-town.

Now into the hair subject… As a reminder, I partially shaved my head last summer, around 10 months ago. I loved it, for a few weeks, then I was so over it – that I couldn’t wait for it to grow. Once the short shaved sides became long enough, I turned it into an evened out pixie cut that looked quite cute. Regular trims and jumping outside of my comfort box by attempting styling techniques I wouldn’t have normally done otherwise, helped to tame those in between periods when the hair was looking scraggly and hopeless. I fought the urge to chop it off and keep it short, I made it over those awkward stages and I’m still here to talk about. I say this because hope women feel hopeless growing their hair out and might come across this post and realize it’s possible and far from hopeless. I am normally very impatient and spontaneous, so you can imagine the internal struggles I had as I had to resist cutting my hair drastically short again. I reminded myself of how warm and snuggly long hair is in the winter, of how cooling it is to pull up into a pony tail,bun or even a braid!!! Great, now I’m making myself anxious for growth.

May 16 – PT Day 3

Oh my goodness. After physical therapy (which went pretty well, with nothing interesting to report) Some slight bruising was showing today, but nothing major. It was a boring and slow day today.

May 17/18 – Weekend Madness

This weekend has been very stressful, because of the carrying on and fighting between the children. Saturday started out with being woken up by the cat, sitting on my knee that has just had surgery. She’s never felt that heavy before! I woke up screaming from the pain, which caused her to hide for over an hour. When she finally did come out of hiding, she was loving on me, sleeping in my arms or on my chest as I laid back with my knee elevated and ice on it. The kids just fought and argued over every little thing, talking back to each other to the point I gave my son a few dollars and the keys to the post box, so he could get out of the house and away from his sister’s badgering. He got a letter from his grandma (his dad’s mom) which excited him… she’s a wonderful woman and such a loving abuela (grandma in spanish). Later that evening my daughter got sent to bed early (she kept pulling and squeezing the cat’s tail after being told not to), and her brother stayed up to help me bake some scones (American scones… totally different from UK scones) We made some yummy fresh raspberry and white chocolate scones… mmmm.

Sunday was a little calmer; the kids played quietly and let me sleep in, but did start in on their fighting after breakfast. I send them to play outside, and afterward they did some of their plastic canvas sewing, then perler bead crafting (which they dumped back into the bin since they didn’t want them heated) They went to bed with no problems and I fell asleep on the couch until 330am!!! yikes!

May 19 – PT Day 4 and freedom

Alright so I woke up around 7am, which is later than I wanted, but after dragging myself to bed at 330am, it seems that I couldn’t get to sleep until around 4/430am! What a night! My son was excited to get to ride his bicycle to school, only to find out he lost is lock key but nobody touched his bike, so that’s good. My daughter was less than pleased she was once again left out of the activity, and had to take the bus, but she was happy to wear a hat to school, so I guess that makes it a good day? She’s really silly sometimes.
After the kids left, I got cleaned up and ready for my PT appointment and found out the cat had chewed my shoe’s laces on one side! Really?! Thanks fur ball! I could still tie them, so I put them on and headed to PT, driving myself…. oh that’s right, I can drive with my left and right foot (right foot hovering above the gas, because of where the brace makes it stand out at and then just pressing the gas or taking my foot off the gas as needed and using my left foot on the brake) this isn’t my first time driving like this, I had to do it with my manual transmission car (very carefully) in Germany after my accident which started this whole stupid knee injury nonsense. Again I practiced it when I hurt my knee earlier this year. I actually lifted my leg for all my exercises by myself! No help what-so-ever!!!!

I picked up a gallon of milk at the market, then went home… did some cleaning then took a break and iced my knee for about 30 minutes. I finished some cleaning in the kitchen, then made myself some lunch (a yummy sandwich with my homemade bread from last week) before icing my knee again and taking a short nap. Once my kids got home from school, it was time for my daughter’s appointment at the doctor to see when she’s coughing so much, etc. Allergies kicking up might be why, so we will see. We also walked around town after the doctor appointment, checked the mail and picked up my daughter’s medication. It felt so very good to walk around and stretch my legs out of the house in the wonderful warmth of the sun today! Well, we  just finished dinner and had ice cream for dessert (mint chocolate chip!!!)  which was delicious! Now we will watch some “Leave it to Beaver” before it’s time for bed.

So all in all, my knee is doing well, and I’m doing my exercises at home that I’ve learned in PT. Also, I go to my doctor for my post op appointment, and to get my stitches removed on Wednesday. I’m very excited for that, because that afternoon I have my next physical therapy appointment, and if we get the okay from the doctor, I’ll be able to bend my knee (unlock my brace from being in full extension)!!! Cross your fingers for me!!!!