Can't Catch A Break

Once again I feel like the universe is having a great big laugh at my expense. I swear for every step forward I then have to take 3 steps back. Oh, I guess I should fill you in on what's going on, huh?At the beginning of the month I went to the rheumatologist for a check up. I go every 2-4 months. The doc isn't happy with my high inflammation levels and the fact that I'm having more pain and stiffness along with restlessness and waking up in the middle of the night hurting so he decided it was time to move on to the biologic RA meds. He wanted gave me Humira to try for three months but I had to have a TB test before I could start them. Humira and TB are a bad combo. So I got the test expecting like every other time that it would be negative. Boy wasn't I surprised when I had a splotchy red mark on my arm the next morning. Since I'm immunocompromised anything spot bigger then 5mm is a positive. It's 15mm so definitely more then 5mm. So after chest x-rays and more blood work to make sure it's not active TB I'm still going to have to go on the TB meds because of my compromised immune system. Of course I'm only on one med so that's always a good thing. The only good thing is the RA doc moved me to Enbrel which is what he really wanted me on to begin with but I guess the military throws a fit about it because it's more expensive.....gah! So I have to be on the TB meds for at least a month before he'll put me on the Enbrel but it's not as bad as I originally thought. I figured I was going to have to wait till I was done with the TB treatment.

Anyways now that the bitching and complaining is over with I can move on to the knitting portion of the post.

I picked up this lovely corriedale from TLE when I order the yarn for my swap partner.

The colorway is called Apple Pie and I couldn't pass it up. It'll probably be the next thing I spin when I finish what I have on the bobbin now.

Speaking of current spinning, this is what I have on my wheel now.

It's Yarn Love's Scarlett O'Hara which is a lovely merino/bamboo blend which is really nice to spin with. I wasn't sure with the bamboo in there but I'm really enjoying it. The colorway is called Blackberry Jam. I think I may very well have an obsession with stuff named after food.

My latest spinning FO's.

The first one is 8oz of Colonial/Corriedale from Copper Moose. It ended up being about 216 yards of worsted weight. This one is by far the best spinning I've done yet. It's pretty damn even. I could definitely see buying more of this fiber. I do have 1lb of it in a dark blue/purple colorway. Copper Moose has great customer service. I need to order some more of the Ashford sliding hook flyer bobbins. I had no problems plying 8 ounces of fiber onto that bobbin. The second is 4oz of BFL from Spinneretta's Studio. It's more of a thick and thin yarn. The third one is 4oz of BFL from Pigeonroof Studios. I'd definitely love to get my hands on more fiber from Pigeonroof Studios.

I'm making good progress on Shawn's sweater.

The yarn is Miss Babs Yowza. I love love love this yarn. It's a lighter worsted weight. I have some red in my stash that I'll be using for myself. I've just cracked into skein number 2. The hank is 560 yards so there's less weaving in ends.

Kaity's Tiny Tea Leaves cardi is done.

Both the girls sweaters are blocked and dry so tonight I'll be sewing on the buttons and wrapping them up. I love it when I finish stuff on time. I'll get final photos of them in them after Christmas.

I'm plugging right along on Bree's ripple blanket.

I still have lots more stripes to go though. Each colorway will have a total of 6 stripes except for the purple which will have 8 because it's my main color and what I'll use for the side border. I've been trying to work on it every day.

I finished my latest on the go socks.

These were made with Trekking sock yarn, colorway 100. All I can say is that I'm so glad I didn't try to match the stripes on these socks. I can't see an discernible frickin pattern on these socks. They are comfy so all is well.

New pair of socks on the needles for me.

These are CookieA's Marilinda pattern and the yarn is Wollmeise Twin. The colorway is a we're different Ruby Thursday.

I think that pretty much sums everything up for now. I'll leave you with a pic of our new baby.

Name to be determined. We're pretty sure it's another boy cockatiel but he/she is only about 6 months old so we'll know more in the next 6 months or so. We'll probably go with a name that will work for both guy and girl. I do believe this one is a cinnamon pied. It's a lot lighter grey then a normal colored cockatiel and it has a good bit of yellow on the wings and head. It doesn't show well in this photo though.

Until next time......Happy Crafting.

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Aw Trish, I'm so sorry to hear about your medical issues. You really can't catch a break with them. Whoever would have thought that you'd test positive for TB of all things?

Beautiful spinning and knitting, as usual! The baby cockatiel is gorgeous!

Posted by: Susan | 20 December 2011 at 03:42 PM