Allergy

The itching came back. I had to take my sorry butt back to the doctor again this week, two days after telling my friend that I thought this time the medicine was working and I might finally be rid of this infernal itching. I woke in the morning itchy all over my legs, arms and face. I took two Benadryl and headed to the doctor who proceeded to do nothing for me. Not that it mattered because by the time I saw her the Benadryl was in full swing and I was completely lucid and non itchy at that point. I was however hoping they might perform an allergy test because I would really like to know what is causing this. They keep telling me to elliminate things from my diet which is great advice if it were something simple like strawberries or nuts, but I'm thinking it might be eggs, milk, or soy and that stuff is in everything, sometimes under names that you wouldn't think were that ingredient. They need to at least send me to a nutritionist so that I can spot the hidden milk, eggs and soy in an ingredient label. I guess I could confine myself to a diet of only rice for a few weeks, but that really sounds pathetic when I could go in and have them stick me with needles and tell me " Oh, hey, you're allergic to such and such." Just my luck I'm allergic to all three. If I had to pick I think I would choose...... well I really can't choose. Milk is in all my favorite foods, including chocolate. I just found a new love for tofu and I'm pretty sure that there are eggs in all the best foods as well. Or maybe it's none of those and if that's the case I may never figure out what it is. All I know is that I'm really itchy again today and I'm sure that I didn't eat anything with all three of those things in it yesterday. Maybe I'm allergic to myself. Or as the doctor said "I think maybe your skin doesn't like Guam." Well thank you, but can we find a different reason and a solution. Like an ALLERGY TEST! Please, I'm tired of this and I'm just waiting for the day when my reaction becomes so bad I have my life pass before my eyes as my throat swells shut and I can't breathe. I can't afford that right now. I'm a single mom for all intents and purposes for the next few weeks until my hubby returns from his deployment. I can't be sick, or ill, or run down, or even the slightest bit tired. I just can't. Why can't anyone else see the importance of me being well for at least a few weeks. Throw me a friggin' bone!
In other news, Lola lost another tooth last night. The Tooth Fairy had to frantically search for dollar to put in place of said tooth, but was fortunate enough to find one stashed away which is good because otherwise the Tooth Fairy would have had to bum said dollar off of the Easter Bunny who lives two blocks away.

Hobbies

I found another hobby that I want to try. Well actually two. Kite boarding and scuba diving. I really want to learn to surf, but there's really only one good place to surf here and I'm sure they don't want a novice swimming up in there and ruining things. If I learn kite boarding though I have more places to learn without getting in other people's way AND when I go to learn surfing it'll be easier because I will have already learned balance on a board and built up the muscles needed. We're planning on San Diego as our next duty station and I'm hoping my sister is still into surfing because then she can maybe help me and we can surf together..... or kite board. I've been working out to build up the muscles needed for kite boarding so that it'll be easier and I'm planning on taking my first lessons in the "winter". Now if I can just figure out how to do all this and knit at the same time ;-)
I wish I could fix my elliptical machine. It works, but it makes a loud clacking noise that makes it annoying to use. While assembling it you have to have someone on each side tightening the handles at the same time with the same tension. Unless they're the same person they're not going to tighten with the same tension. My hubby, who can bench 300 lbs, is going to tighten a little tighter then myself, who can only bench 160lbs (I know.....impressive......I think.....how much can a normal woman bench?). Anyways, the point is, it's annoying and you can't use it early in the morning without waking the kids. Any mother will tell you they don't want their kids up when you're trying to get in exercise, a shower and breakfast made before they grace you with their wonderful energy.

Summerwear and Christmaswear

I'm still in the process of cataloging and picking which sweaters I'm going to recreate from the Buffyverse. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Willow has a yellow and orange mohair (or angora?) overlay that looks like it would be really neat to recreate. There were a lot more then I thought there were and I'm kind of in overwhelmed mode right now. Between that and making out my knitting Christmas list I'm up to my eyeballs in designs, yarn, needles, and lists. I'm also trying to work out how to knit and work out at the same time. If I work out as much as I knit I'll be as buff as..... well Buffy. I was also struck by inspiration. I've had a cone of a cotton/linen blend ribbon yarn and I had no idea what to do with it until I purchased the Summer issue of knit.1. There's a blouson knitted from the top down that looked like I could pull it off with this ribbon. That way I'll have a nice shirt for myself and get rid of this yarn that's been mocking me from the back corner of my knitting drawer.
To keep things simple I have decided that my mom and dad are the only ones getting big knit gifts this year. Everyone else will be getting hats, scarves or socks. As much as I would love to knit everyone a cardigan or sweater I just don't have the time or the money to do so.
I also have been thinking about what I want for my birthday. All knitting related of course. I'm quickly running out of all that yarn that I bought and I have so many projects that I want to get going and done. I also need new clothes. Not of the knitted variety but just your general everyday t-shirt. Don't know where to buy for them here though. Everything's so expensive and if I'm going to order off line I like to do so in one big shopping event so that I have minimal in the way of shipping. There are the local shops that I need to locate, but general wardrobe consists of long skirts and tees..... the local outfit of choice for women island wide. No MuMus! I have seen lots of them sold everywhere along with skirts and dresses which would be nice except in order to wear a skirt of any kind I need shorts underneath. For comfort and modesty purposes. I always feel like my butt is just hanging out in the wind whenever I wear a skirt. If I could find a pair of spankies with a little pocket that would be great. IDEA!!!!! Maybe I could knit some!!!. But first I need yarn and needles!
I dyed my hair. Just thought I would throw that in. Natural reddish blonde. I like it. I'm still getting used to it though. I haven't colored my hair in years and it shows. I'm going to have to redo it in a few weeks because I focused on my roots and should have used two bottles instead of one. The result is that it looks like my hair is growing back in natural reddish blonde. The ends are a little red, but there is a strip of hair (a horizontal strip) that is my original color. But I've been ponytailing it until I can fix it. It'll be okay. For the next dye job I'll focus more on the middle and ends and make sure that I have two bottles in case I need them. This will actually work to my advantage and keep me from getting hot roots. My hair has been growing like crazy and is back to the same length that is was before I cut four inches off of it about two months ago. ohhhh...... m&ms. I just found sitting next to me.

Welcome to Crazytown, next stop... Buffyverse

I've been blogging because I have no one to talk the ears off of. Another sleepless night, but at least the itching is going away and I'm sure I'll have no problem sleeping while we take the kids to see Surf's Up tomorrow. Crazytown placed me in the vicinity of Christmas town and I'm furiously making out my knitting itinerary for the Christmas season. What yarn I need for what project that I'm making for whom. Also while in a drug induced moment of inspiration last week I realized that the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (of which I have all seasons except season 7..... I will have it soon.... oh yes, I will have it soon) has a vast array of sweaters that look absolutely fabulous. I probably never noticed this before because while on air I wasn't yet addicted to the knitting scene. I have already spotted several key sweaters that I think I will begin to design through close study, just as other people have done for Harry Potter and the like. Giles has several tweedy English style classics that would appeal to men, Willow's always sporting something artsy, and Buffy has the fashionable yet classic knits.......most of which are chunky and should knit up quickly and easily. There's one sweater in particular from the episode "Where the Wild Things Are" from season four. It's a chunky turtle neck in St st that has several lines of garter for interest. There is also a bright pink sweater (dubbed the cotton candy sweater by my thoughts) that is a boatneck, but then is a turtle neck and is very bright and pretty. There are also some white turtlenecked raglan sleeved sweaters that look very cozy as well. I shall begin work immediately and posts will follow soon. I'm focusing on Season 4 as of right now and will move on from there. I don't remember seeing many...... if any from the first season, but I'm sure there are and I'll get to those. Starting with season four will put the fashion more forward and keep us from horrid 90's fashion flashbacks, but if I find some nice classics I'll pass them along. Here's to you Joss Whedon and the clothing staff of the show that got me through the last year of high school and into the first year of my marriage. No one else that I knew watched Buffy or gave it a chance, but I could relate to the issues that she went through and that was Joss Whedon's goal. I'd say he did a fabulous job. I wonder if he'll ever come across this blog and if he does I hope that he likes that fact that I took an interest in something that other people might never have noticed. He probably doesn't care either way, but here's to Joss Whedon, Buffy and the Scoobies, knitting, the combination of all and steroids!

Steroids: round 2

Here I am hopping the bus to CrazyTown again. Another round of steroids and hopefully a resolution to the itch phenomenon. It might be the dog, it might be eggs, it might be that I'm allergic to my hubby. I hope it's not the dog because then it's going to be hard to go visit hubby's family since they all own dogs. It started really breaking out yesterday bad and I had a plate of eggs for breakfast with the kids Wednesday morning. In fact if I remember correctly I started getting itchy around afternoon time Wednesday. If not then it's hubby who came home on Wednesday evening. Something that he's bringing home from work.....which could be ANYTHING! Or it just could be ANYTHING! Maybe it is the dog because since I got home I've gotten itchier and itchier. It's something in this house! I'm itchier downstairs then upstairs though and the dog resides upstairs. I don't know. I JUST DON'T KNOW! And it's driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!! It's idiotic that you should suddenly develop an allergy to something as an adult. And if it's eggs I'm really screwed because some of the best foods have eggs in them......like eggs. Or maybe it's the cat. She resides downstairs most of the time.....hmmmmm...... I wouldn't mind getting rid of the cat, but the kids wouldn't like it. They love her. And I would have thought that I would have broken out way back when we got the cat. Maybe it's just dust. Okay I'm going to stop with the maybes because they're driving me batty. Off to bed so I can nap and stop itching for a little bit while I'm unconcious.

The Itch is Back

Elton John reference there for all you Elton John fans. But the itch is definitely back. I am freaked beyond belief and hating having to go back to the doctor. My car that I bought still isn't ready so they put me in a rental. The Guam bombest rental they could find.The check engine light is on and the door handle came off in the hubby's hand as he tried to enter the car. This car is one of the Tercels that they had for sale. I'm now forever grateful that they've taken the time to fix up the Camry as much as possible before releasing it to me and if they had handed me this Tercel for $3000 I would have handed it right back and be on a plane to Bali or Japan for a vacation right now. Surprisingly $3000 would not get me to CA either one way or round trip otherwise it would be there that I make my destination.
I was wrong in my posting before about the rainy season. The rainy season starts in July so the rain that we were seeing earlier is nothing. It seems funny that they let the kids out of school just in time for the rainy season. Happy summer vacation. Enjoy it indoors. Hopefully it won't be too bad and most of the rain will occur at night as I have read. We've been here all of the dry season and already almost had a typhoon. The rainy season is, of course, more prone to typhoons and I'm praying that this isn't the year for a super typhoon (or any year that we're here for that matter).
I guess at least it's a payday. That doesn't make the itch go away......in fact it doesn't even make it bearable at this point. You know what, I'm really starting to hate the ridiculousness that has become my life. I know it could be worse, but I also need a break at this point. I would settle for no itch, but I'm also tired of having to throw all my money away on rental cars because they can't fix my car or because they are continually repairing the other car that I have bought and paid for. I have other bills that need to be paid. Like the phone and the cable. It really sucks being stuck in the house with no vehicle or no money when you don't even have cable to make the time pass (no cable equals no tv period).
Well I'm off for the day to get money, see a doctor about some more steroids, and to hopefully get my car.....finally.

Passing

There is a blog that I read frequently, www.que-sarah-sarah.blogspot.com..... A woman named Sarah Toller who is living with melanoma. I just recently found her blog and have gained a new perspective on life by reading what it's like to live with cancer. All her dreams, being a mom in particular, were taken from her when cancer came knocking. She speaks very frankly and emotionally about how she always knew she was meant to be a mom and how she can't now because of cancer. She had been very sick as of late. Her hubby had been blogging for her since she was hospital bound and in and out of drug induced sleep. She died in the morning of the 12th of June stateside time. I never knew her, but I feel like I did and I cry for her. I hope she found peace.

I have NO witty title

Hubby is due home sometime today and I'm excited. Not because I'll get to see him, but because I'll get a break. And because I'll get to see him, but moreso because the kids will get to see him. They've been asking all week "Where is daddy?" It's going to really get old hearing that quesion everyday when they go away for a few months.
I've spent the last few days looking at going to Japan. I think that it would be nice for us as a family to go around Thanksgiving or Christmas. That way we can experience the cold and it'll feel more like the holidays. This year we're going to try for Southern California. I keep promising my dad that I'll come and visit, but every turn to try to get there has been hampered. I was going to try to fly space available, but came across the problem of how to get back since they only fly out around San Francisco. I would have to be able to have cheap lodging until I could get a flight out. Then I found out that they want you to have enough money to be able to buy tickets back. Well the cost of a one way ticket from there to here costs just as much (actually more) then a round way ticket from here to Southern California. If I had $5000 I would just buy the tickets and save myself the hassle. This all seems highly ludicrous since it would have been cheaper if I had flown out to see him while I still lived in the states. And did you know that it costs just as much if not more to fly to Hawaii from here. It seems ridiculous. Flying to Japan is $400-$500 and flying to Bali (which is further) is $400. Where do they come up with these prices? I guess they charge more for where everyone wants to go. Bali is another place I would love to go....... as well as Hong Kong and mainland China. The China trip would have to be a long one so I could see everything that I've always wanted to see. There is so much that I was hoping to see, but it looks like money is going to get in the way of that. I guess I should be grateful that I've made it halfway around the world from where I started. I've always wanted to see the world.....different places and different faces. There's so much to learn. Then there's also New Zealand and Australia that I'm tempted to see while I'm here as well. First thing I need is a passport ;-)

Seven Year Itch (Feels like)

There was a bit of a worry today when I thought the horrid itch was coming back, but I think it may finally be calming and retreating back to wherever it came from which is a big relief. Try going two months being so itchy that you can't sleep or do anything while trying to watch your kids in a tropical climate and see if it doesn't test your mettle as a human being to the core. I feel pretty darn proud of myself that I made it through without breaking down and crying everyday and I was still able to keep up with the dishes (that was my one goal everyday besides feeding and taking care of my kids.....which is pretty ambitious since I have to wash everything by hand.....something that takes me the better part of an hour.....and any movement could send me into itch hell from which there is no escape until it decides to release me). It's funny how skin problems come and go without you ever really being able to pinpoint what caused it in the first place. This isn't the first time that something like this has happened to me and I fear not the last until I find out what causes the reaction to begin with. Until then I'll just be happy that it's over with......for now. Ominous words.
I was finally able to clean my downstairs. Something that was driving me crazy from the clutter. My friend came over and kept me company while I cleaned and our kids played. Now I just have to clean the rest of the house and I'll feel much better....like some kind of control has been returned. I cleared out five bags of trash. All of it papers and shredded toilet paper (thank you cat) except for one bag that carries my favorite blanket. It's a chenille blanket that I bought from Target before we left the states and I loved it.....until it started falling apart. At first I thought the cat was putting holes in it but noticed that the yarn itself was becoming threadbare and simply falling apart. Washing it is completely out of the question. I would end up with piles of string in my washer. And there are so many big holes appearing daily that it's not uncommon for me to wake with all my appendages threaded through one. It was a beautiful knit blanket.....chocolate brown chenille......but very shoddy workmanship. I could probably search for a chenille yarn that's very sturdy and knit one myself, but it would cost and arm and a leg. If it lasts forever that's not really too bad of a deal. Right now I'm content using my hubby's cotton blanket while he's gone. I found a standard issue hospital cotton blanket which I like except that I wake waffle weaved (my skin, that is). I'm picky about my bedding and like high thread count sheets, fluffy matress pads and pillows and cozy, luxurious blankets/quilts/duvets.
I took a drive around the island in the SUV yesterday (the SUV that I'm renting until I get my car......my NEW TO ME car). I'm actualy getting the SUV for the same price as a compact because they didn't have any compacts and we're friends with the car rental guy (we should be by now because we've had to rent cars from him so much plus you just make friends quickly in paradise). Stop anywhere along the south end of the island and you're likely to be invited to a barbeque. You go to the beach with just you and your family and you bring food, but by the time you leave it's a big party that everyone chips in on. Especially if you have kids. They always want to feed the kids and there's usually some kind of religious festival taking place in one of the villages everyday. The thing I like most about the southern side of the island is the fact that the resorts and tourists have barely touched there and so the natural beauty still abounds. Even on the "city side" I still find myself staring at the coast because I can't believe how beautiful and blue and green it all is. That's nothing compared to what you find in the south. I wish I had my camera because I never got a chance to really snag pictures of the south. I have a few, but even the color in those is not vibrant enough to explain what it looks like in front of your eyes. As you drive along the windy road, over and down mountains, along the coast.....literally hugging the coast, you can see little secluded beaches and some small islands that you would be tempted to swim out to for the day with a hammock and something to split and pierce coconuts. Maybe some water too (too much coconut juice would leave you in trouble the next day). I saw something I would really like to try. Kiteboarding. It's so windy here it's perfect, although can be dangerous because it can pick you up and slap you down hard in the water. It looks like fun and surfing space is limited here (although I'd love to learn to surf as well). Scuba diving is something else I want to take a try at as soon as hubby gets home for a little while and can take classes with me. I think he would be upset if I did it by myself because he wants to learn so badly as well. I would be mad if he took classes without me. I'm just saying ;-P
Speaking of classes, I'm looking into taking some here soon. Automotive technology. A mechanic. After everything that I've been through with the car here it seems like not only a great way to make money, but also a valuable skill in today's world. There is a shortage in mechanics and I'm anxious to get into it although the class list seems daunting upon first glance. Maybe I can get certified and then go for the degree later. I really want to get back to making money so I'm looking for a fast track of some sorts. Maybe the guy that was working on my car would take me on as an apprentice. Most of his mechanics are learning though apprenticeship. Hard on him, but he's giving people jobs and that is commendable. As I've said before they're really good at fixing Toyotas and all the other common brands, but a Saab is a new beast for them. Literally. They don't like my car. They affectionately refer to it as they're personal hell. Ah well. Tomorrow I will have a common brand and then at least one car will always be easy and quick to fix. Ideally it shouldn't break down.....I would say I dare it to break down, but I did that to the Saab and it did about ten minutes later. I'm not pressing my luck ;-@

Bright Sunshiney Day

Tuesday I was itch free and most of Wednesday. Then the itching came back. So now I know that it's the medicine that they gave me for the infection because I take it once a week on Wednesday. It got worse until today.....or at least it hasn't been that bad today. Everything has cleared up though which is a really good thing because now my arms look like arms and not like a blotchy sore mess. Finally things are better and part of that may be from the fact that things are better. I'm sure the stress of the past two months has been helping my skin freak out.
My hubby and I celebrate our anniversary as soon as he gets back from this short cruise that they are on. We're planning on going to one of the Korean barbeques and Polynesian shows that they have at the hotels in Tumon. We've talked about it ever since we got here. Last year we went to the Melting Pot and that was a great time. We had fun talking and eating and enjoyed our evening without the kids. We are fortunate to have someone to watch the kids for us this year as well and might look into getting a hotel room so we can hit a club and drink a few before crashing for the night. There are several clubs down by the hotels as well so it's nothing to walk back to the hotel when you're done for the evening. The only other thing that I would want to do is eat at the Firefly. They have paella and I've been wanting to try some. I would really like to go to Spain and have some paella as well as hit a choclateria and have the thick melted chocolate that is their hot chocolate, but I won't be going to Spain anytime soon so I figure the Firefly would be a good place to try my first paella. Then there are all the Thai and Indian places that I'd like to try as well, but having never tried anything like that the question is where to begin when you enter a restaurant.
I need to buy new shirts. All of mine have holes in them. I found that this was because I was knitting socks. My US 1 needles poked little holes in the bottom of all my shirts. I thought the washing machine was doing this until I was knitting a sock the other day and I brought the knitting chest level and adjusted my yarn. While doing so I used my chest as leverage and wound up with a small hole poked into the chest of my shirt. I thought "wow, that looks familiar" and realization abounded.
I spent my sick time finishing my Create-Along and since spent the rest of my sick time knitting Lola another shirt with the remaining Tahki that I have and making hair scarves from the Kidsilk that I had originally planned for the dress for my Create-Along. I'll share those with the Create-Along blog as well since they are of my own design and are made with the required yarns. I also have some Calmer that would fit into that category as well as soon as I figure out what I want to make with it. So here's to knitting to keep yourself from scratching!

Steroids

Here lately I've been sick with something. It's attacking my skin and I feel like I'm fallling apart. Then there is all the itching. And itching. And more itching that is driving me insane, making it impossible to sleep for more then two or three hours before I have to take more Benadryl which really only takes the edge off the itching. I had to finally go a week without any Benadryl because I was afraid I was going to OD on it, that and it started giving me a hangover feeling. I did find that knitting helps stop the itching. Probably for the same reason that meditating or deep breathing would. It's something repetitive that I can focus on instead of the itching. But today I was fortunate (I hope) to be prescribed steroids to help get rid of the itching and pain that has become my skin. A few weeks ago one of the medicines that they tried me on gave me a wonderful allergic reaction and hince all the itching. I'm hoping this will work and I'm slotted to see a dermatologist. They think all my problems stem from an allergy. Actually several allergies and they're trying to find a way to get my skin to stop freaking out. I am grateful that I don't have some kind of flesh eating disease, but this is also no walk in the park. I've finally been forced to stop all activity because anything I do will make me itch or will make me a howling, twitching freak as I try to keep from scratching the intense itching that is my whole body because scratching it just brings burning pain from which there is no relief. My hubby witnessed this last night (he's been stuck on a ship for the past week and hadn't yet seen to what extent the itching intensified) and called to make me an appointment early this morning while he let me sleep in to gain the few extra hours of peace that I could. That's saying a lot because my hubby usually does for himself and lets me do for myself. He must have thought I needed some serious help. I've been on steroids before. In fact the last time that I had a reaction to a drug that I was on several years ago. That is a funny story too. I was 18 at the time and was on an antibiotic for a sinus infection. I had noticed a few hives on the insides of my arms and legs, but didn't know what they were. I was feeling aweful....like I was coming down with the flu. My body didn't want to move and I had a headache and all that jazz. I went to the doctor and they said I had hives and gave me steroids. I went straight home without getting my steroids because I felt so bad and just wanted to sleep. I hit the bed and knocked out hard. When I woke in the morning I felt great. I remember upon waking thinking that maybe I didn't need the steroid. Then I pulled back the covers. The only thought that came to mind was " OH MY GOD!" There were hives all down my legs and all over my arms and hands. I ran to the mirror. My face was bright red and my neck had a rash. I started pulling off clothes saying "Oh MY GOD!" with each piece because everything was covered in hives. Then came the realization that I still had to go out in public and get the steroid. That was one of those times when I just had to crack up laughing. I strutted into public not caring because what else was I going to do (although I did make my friend come with me for moral support). Then at the pharmacy the woman took my insurance card without looking at me and started asking me questions. When she got to "Do you have any allergies to any medications?" I stayed quiet until she looked up and replied "That would be a yes......" It was pretty darn funny. And it only took a month and a half for all the hives to finally go away (ha ha.....not really......ha ha). The itching goes away after the steroids and I'm hoping this is the same. Actually I wish I didn't have any problems with my skin. Especially since you can't hide behind sweaters and jeans here. You would die within an hour from heat exhaustion.
Our car broke down.......again. Same problem. The clutch cable. The mechanic kept complaining that the cable was an inch too long which can't be because it's a genuine Saab clutch cable......so that means they're missing another piece or they're putting it on wrong. It didn't feel like it broke, but it feels like it stretched out and it's now difficult to impossible to get it into gear. I was able to jam it into first and get it home and we called for a rental car. Luckily we already have our loan money and are in the process of buying another car from the guy that we rent cars from. Right now we're renting this SUV and I've never driven an SUV before. I'm all of five foot nothing and I'm not used to looking down on the world. I like it. I almost don't want to give the vehicle back. But I also can't afford to keep renting it......well we can, but there's something we can get cheaper and who doesn't like to save some money.