Saturday, February 02, 2008

Oh Yeah...

It's definitely flu season. All week, I've watched my children fall ill one by one, while I cram vitamins and Trader Joes' Wellness Formula horse pills down my throat. But it's coming. I know it's coming.

I stood in the store yesterday trying to find the right mix of fever/cough/stuffy nose/runny nose/headache medicine for each child. The perfect combo was on sale, but it was only for children over 6. My youngest is 5, but I could only find cough/runny nose stuff for him. After about 15 minutes of squinting through labels, I decided that 5.5 was close enough to 6. I also faced a wide range of demands for gatorade and waters, then threw in a coupld of vaporizer things, a movie and a new thermometer... because I have a thing about thermometers. (Bring back the mercury... please! My boys broke at least 1/2 dozen of those old glass mercury ones before they disappeared and they survived just fine. Unless... well my oldest... no, I'm sure it's not because of that. Anyway, at least I knew what their temperatures were and this is obsessively important to me.)

On a more positive note, this does seem to be the type of flu that makes them want to lay around like silent lifeless blobs for about 4 days. Except for my middle boy. He's a whiner and moaner (probably gets it from me). He's been placed in another room because I was born with an underdeveloped compassion gene. What can I say?

So while they lay around watching movies and Sponge Bob, I get to ditch school and knit. My 2-at-a-time socks are coming along. I must admit that it's nice to get past 2 heel turns so quick and I much prefer this magic loop technique to the 2 circulars one... fewer needles to deal with and I've been surprised to face very few tangles as well. There does seem to be a few errors (erratas?) in the book however... the most significant one being in the basic instructions at steps 23/24. There is a helpful discussion at the author's forum over on Ravelry that you should check out if you try these.

I also received a package yesterday from Yarn 4 Socks. It was their February yarn kit which included a lovely skein of Yarntini (the color is beautiful and it's so soft) and a lace sock pattern designed by my blogging friend Michelle.

Today I escaped the moans and groans poor little sick ones for a bit to make an exchange at the LYS. Have you ever noticed that your return is always less than your new purchase? Oh well, I indulged in some Noro Kochoran and Cash Iroho. Must cast on soon.


Okay, I must go. It's temperature taking time.

"I thought genius lived in lamps." Patrick from Sponge Bob (just heard it in the background... one of my favorite lines from the show)

15 comments:

Tammy said...

Ohhh, I was going to say how sorry I was that your boys were coming down with the flu UNTIL I saw how much knitting you were getting done! I say just give them their medicine, put another movie on, and knit away! LOL!

Seriously, I do hope they feel better soon and that YOU don't get it, too!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

Charity said...

This time of year, it seems like someone is always sick. Don't worry, spring is coming soon! Until then, enjoy any extra knitting time you get! :0)

knitknerd said...

Isn't that quiet nice? Even if it is fever induced. Enjoy the guilt free knitting time!

Jani said...

Okay, I get it now ... one needle, not two! Just a little slow here. That does sound like a less confusing way to go.

Hope all the kiddos are better soon - and who knows, those wellness vitamins may do the trick for you!

Stefaneener said...

We just hand colds around like party favors. I'm the queen of OTC meds -- I don't care what the CDC says, lalalalala just let me sleep!! I'd get codeine for all if the pediatrician would just cooperate.

Unlike you, though, I'm a casual "back of the hand to the forehead" type -- good your kids know you care deeply about their help. I love the kind of sick that makes them immobile. We just get the kind that leaves them feeling great but snotty during the day, then cough all night and keep me up.

The extra knitting time is a reward for all you do. That Cash Iroha is a treat.

Becca said...

I'm with you on the thermometers. The digital ones just aren't the same. I don't read the ages recommendations on the meds. I figure my kids are the size of small adults by now, so I go with that. Hope everyone is feeling better soon.

Your socks look lovely and that is a very pretty vest pattern!

km said...

Hmmm. I hope ours doesn't last 4 days. 6 just started sounding croupy at bedtime last night. We've got a big week of fun things I don't want to miss. I miss the old school thermometers too. They were way more accurate.

Auntie Pudentaine said...

I do love my Noro! You have to tell what that pattern is...the vest. The gorgeous vest!

5.5 is certainly close enough to 6 but it really is about weight. My sister in law is a tiny peanut of a gal who has to use child doses. Her whole life she was going by the age thing until some doctor told her no way. It answered why drugs made her loopy, taking doses for her age but she is the size of a 10 year old! You can call your doc and see what measurement to give for his weight....that is (insert evil laughter) you LIKE the kids well medicated :-)

Michelle said...

Hope the boys get better soon, and don't infect you!

I loved the Yarntini yarn. She did such a great job.

Laura B. said...

Ugh, hubby's been down with the flu too. Doc gave me Tamiflu to keep me from developing and so far it's worked. Hope your kiddos get well soon. I also love your yarntini yarn, that's so pretty. Also really neat trick of knitting two socks on a circular.

Donna Boucher said...

You know House is on tonight, right??

Get well soon!

Yarnhog said...

Oh, ick. I hate it when my kids are sick, and only partly because I feel sorry for them. I had one home Friday and one home today. Actually, the one home today I dragged to school even though he insisted he was sick, and I got a call from the nurse 10 minutes after I got home. I don't think he needs to be home with a temperature of 99 degrees! I mean, that's less than half a degree above "normal", and normal is subjective. I strongly suspect he had a case of "my birthday party was yesterday and I didn't get to play with all my cool new toys, so I wanna stay home today." I believe my theory is borne out by the fact that he played with his new toys vigorously all day, and his symptoms only resurfaced at dinner time when I served chicken and broccoli with tomatoes. My husband, who is a pushover and who didn't have to spend three hours playing moronic video games with him today thinks I'm too cynical.

Good Yarns said...

I am so sad to hear that you are now coming down with it. The boys should not have sharing this terrible thing! How can you knit with a fever?

Angelika said...

Why should you be spared? We all seem to have a cold/flu or whatever else. I just go over mine and I had the same dilemma as Suzanne. Send them to school and the nurse calls, except that mine didn't even have a temperature. I had an appointment today and was given allergy medicine. Hmm, that might just work, since we started pollen season and my car starts turning a funny yellowish shade. Did I mention I'm not too crazy about where I currently live?

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry for your kids getting sick, but look at all that fabulous knitting and yarn and everything. WOW! Everything is so beautiful.