Still Feel Awful

Swine flu Day 5 (for me)...I am still weak, sick and all that, but I am feeling a little better. I am over the fever and chills part of the flu, I think. I just have this awful cough. I can't sleep (it's been 48 hrs since I have slept) with the coughing, constantly. I lay down...cough. I sit up...cough some more. NOTHING helps! I am exhausted from just the coughing crap. The dry cough that begins this flu progresses into a deep in your chest, rattling, phlegm-wracking cough.

Get the vaccine for the H1N1 if you can...even though the flu is no worse than the regular, seasonal flu as far as symptoms go. The coughing alone is enough to make you wish for death. LOL!

Poor Hubby is sick, sick, sick. He's not as far along in his flu as I am. So, last night he was so cold his teeth were chattering, while buried under the covers, in bed. Me? I was sweating and hot due to my coughing. Hubs ended up going to vegetate on the couch at 3 AM in the morning. He turned the heater on downstairs and I had the fan blowing on me, in the bedroom. It's just all so ridiculous...

I have not knitted AT ALL in 5 days. I certainly have had plenty of time. I just can't with the whole cough thing. So, I watch TV or "try to sleep."

That is about it...I am ready for this to be over already.

Day Three-ish Of My Plague

Well, I am still alive! That's a good thing. I still feel like death, though. The coughing is awful. My head aches and stomach muscles hurt from all of the coughing I have been doing. I go through periods of pouring sweat and then other times where I can't get warm. Cold down to my bones, shivering, chills, etc. I haven't felt improvement for me in the flu-department, just yet. Good news: Hannah, who got sick first, is showing signs of improvement. Bad news: Hubby is now feeling flu-ridden. Unfortunately, he had to go to work today. He misses work, he doesn't get paid or the fear of loosing the job altogether. It sucks! So, now we wait to see if Taelor is going to come down with H1N1 too. She just got over a nasty virus/ear infection too. Hmmmm...?

Sadly enough, I have barely touched my knitting in 3 days. I managed to knit two rows on a hat, last night, and had a coughing fit instead. I knit when I can manage. My energy is lacking...I sleep and stare at the TV, mostly. I drink mass amounts of water and can barely stomach food. MEH! I do have some chicken noodle soup, I may try later...For now, I am going back to bed, I think. I feel a bit guilty over going back to bed when poor Hubs is at work with the flu. HMPH!

Avoid Public Gatherings...

Well, I can now safely say to everyone, avoid public gatherings of ALL kinds, if you have not had the H1N1 vaccine. My daughter, Hannah, did not get the flu from school, as I thought she would. I know exactly where she got it from. Han went to the Teen Night Halloween event last Friday night and so far, at least six other kids that were there that night, that I know of, are sick. Two with confirmed Swine Flu. Hannah hung out with all of the infected kids that night. So, it spreads like wild fire.

I can vouch that this is not just a cold. I have it too, unfortunately. I am about  a day or so behind Miss Han in symptoms. So far this feels just like a regular flu. I feel like I have been hit by a truck. A hacking cough, sinus issues, sneezing, headache, low grade fever, chills, aches, etc. The coughing, I think, is the worst part. It's mostly a dry cough with a bit of rattling in the chest, at least for right now. Coughing until one gags is not pleasant at all. I feel like death...

I am drinking nothing but water and hot tea, constantly. Hannah and I are trying to take care of each other as best as we can. The cats are freaked out and are not sure what to make of the coughing, moaning, snot blowing noises. The good news, I told Hannah, "When we are done with this crap, it's over!" No need for all the Swine Flu hooplah after this. In the back of my mind...I am a bit nervous over my diabetes and the flu. The news media keeps harping on the "underlying illnesses" making it worse and causing deaths. Well, I have had the regular flu with my Type 1 Diabetes before and was perfectly fine. Besides...I refuse to die from the "Swine Flu." My death will not be associated with the word "SWINE!"

And that is all... I am going back to bed for a little while.

The Flu Has Come To Visit

My youngest daughter, Hannah, is sick. She has progressively gotten worse since Sunday afternoon. So, I kept her home from school today. She has a low-grade fever, cough, headache, sinus issues, aches, etc. The flu has finally come to visit us, it seems. Swine Flu? Most probably. Four kids that Hannah hung out with last Saturday/Halloween are now home sick from school and one has H1N1, or so I have heard. Oh goody!

I was feeling okay this morning, happily knitting along on a cute hat. I have had the dry cough for about a day...I knew it was coming. I started feeling worse as my day wore on. I am guessing that I am coming down with this plague as well. That's not good and it has me a bit nervous. I have one of those underlying conditions that can be dangerous when one gets the Swine Flu. I am a Type 1 Diabetic. AND I can't remember the last time I actually came down with the flu. It's been years. I'll be wishing for death in a day or two, I am sure. Sarcastically speaking...

About the hat...It's the Java Cloche hat. I am using up some random skeins/scraps of LB Baby Soft yarn and US # 4 needles. It's nothing too complicated. Just a quick knitted diversion. Not sure how much knitting I will be doing this week.

So, if I disappear for a day or three...I am not feeling well enough to knit, type a blog entry, etc. Just wanted to give fair warning. I already feel pretty crappy and it's bound to just get worse before it gets better. I'll blog when I can...UGH!

Monday Recovery

I had a pretty busy weekend. Well, sort of...The kids had Halloween parties to attend and the getting ready was ridiculous. Both girls had slumber-type parties and Hubby and I were alone Saturday night. We should have enjoyed our time alone. After the busy day on Halloween, Hubby and I were in bed, asleep at 11pm. I am not kidding. We were both exhausted. What a party animal I was on Halloween this year. We had no trick-or-treaters, no candy, etc.

I spent yesterday cleaning up the apartment and knitting on Hubby's birthday socks. I also took a two hour nap yesterday, after I slept through the night, before. I thought maybe I was coming down with something...if I am sleeping so much this weekend. I feel fine though. It was a big mistake to catch that nap, yesterday. I was up til the early morning hours swatching yarn and needles. I tried a handful of fingering and lace weight yarns for a test knitting project I am volunteering for.

Yes, since my patterns are finished and submitted to the book project by the deadline, I offered to test knit a hat for Ashley, a fellow knit designer. The hat is called Eternal Love Cabled Hat. I had a hard time getting gauge with the yarn and needles I had. I finally found a close enough gauge to begin the hat. I am using Kashmir BBB (14% Kashmir, 35% Angora, 51% Merino). It's some Euro-yarn made in Italy. It feels so soft. The color is maroon-ish. I've had this yarn for a few years. It was gifted to me by Friend Sheep from Poland. I am finally using the yarn for the hat. So, this is what I will be knitting on for the time being. Did I mention the dinky needles? Yeah, US # 2 and 3.

Alright, I am closing this post. One of my cats took it upon herself to barf on my carpet. I have to clean it up before I step in it. And I would too...Tonight's plan...knit and relax on the couch while watching Heroes. I am still waiting for Disc 2 of True Blood Season 1 to arrive in my mailbox. Mmmmm...Eric!

Crazy Phinn & Other Knitterly Things

It's been a really odd morning around here. For one, I think my cat, Phinnegan, has lost his mind. He's been running around like a bandit for most of the morning. He's been dive-bombing the couch pillow as well. The final event that convinced me...? Well, I walked into the kitchen to get the last cup of coffee and Phinn usually follows me into the kitchen. Only this time, he came tearing after me, stood up on his hind legs and grabbed my calf with both paws (hugging my leg) and proceeded to lick me. I thought he meant to bite my leg, but he licked me to death.

I am not sure what that was all about...Phinn is sitting on the floor looking up at me, currently, as you can see in the photo. It looks like he has something to say.

Oh yeah, I changed my blog design this morning. What can I say? I was bored. I figured I would get a bit festive for Halloween too. I made a new banner, which includes my Urban Bat Sweater with a wacky skull font. I was just goofing around...

A Gloomy Kind Of Day

It's positively gloomy outside today. I had to take outdoor photos of my Urban Bat Sweater in the rain. That was fun. I did it while shivering, cold. I have officially sent in my Urban Bat Sweater pattern and photos, this morning. It's out of my hands now. I can breathe a hug sigh of relief at having made the November 1st deadline with time to spare. I am immensely proud of my sweater design. It turned out way better than expected.

The Urban Bat Sweater seems to be a popular topic over on Ravelry. I have gotten a lot of comments, favorited hearts and personal messages on where the pattern can be had. I am having to say...it's being submitted to a book, you'll have to wait. I will let everyone know what happens with the sweater pattern, when I find out. Pinky swear! So, stay tuned...

I did manage to finish another knitting project, this morning. It's another of my nifty scarf designs. The pattern is free if you'd like to knit it too. This is my second version of the scarf. I love this pink one much better than the original. It's super long - 72 inches. It's light-weight, soft, fluffy and I love it. I have two more skeins of this yarn (Joann's Sensations Angel Hair) in a nice blue. I may have to knit a third scarf. The pattern is stupidly easy and quick too.

Alright, I am now off to get some house chores finished. Then it's off to knit on Hubby's birthday socks. I can finally knit on something other than the sweater design, for a change. I may even grab a quick nap after lunch. The gloomy day is perfect for sleeping...