Spring is in Bloom!

Hello Readers! I hope you're enjoying the beautiful spring weather that has finally arrived! I can't tell you how much I've been wanting to go to the Boston Public Garden lately...maybe I'll make it out there sometime soon. Spring is my favorite time of year...all the flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining, but not yet scorching, and everyone leaves their states of hibernation (at least here in New England) to be outside once again. 

For me, I got the urge to visit my favorite fabric supply store, Gather Here, to pick out fabric for a quilt. Once again, I find myself turning to sewing to ease some stress. We are now going into our 7th month of trying to conceive, and I have no happy news to report yet. Seven months may not seem like long, but it is much longer than my doctor had wanted us to take. It is sort of a balancing act while I go untreated for endometriosis, because the longer it takes, the more the disease grows and makes it difficult to have a baby. Luckily, my repeat laparoscopic surgery is approaching (just 6 weeks away), and I'm hoping it will be a helpful step in relieving my pain, as well as give us a fresh start. For those who don't know, endometriosis can cause infertility, by not only damaging vital reproductive organs (mainly the ovaries and Fallopian tubes), but by creating a toxic environment that makes it difficult to support and maintain a pregnancy. Hopefully this surgery will be just what we need. 

In any case, sewing is getting me through this tough spot, and making a baby quilt for a future little one is giving me something positive to work on in a process that feels very much out of my control. With my luck, I will never have a girl, and my choice of pink will seem silly. In which case...I'll figure out something. Who says boys can't enjoy a good shade of pink, huh??

How are you celebrating the return of spring?

Dino Tails for Toddlers

I finally gave my sewing machine a little exercise and made a present for one of the little boys I nanny. He turned 3 last week. He's been pretending to be a dinosaur quite a bit, and I had seen this great tutorial at Running With Scissors that looked PERFECT! So I gave it a try...and it was AMAZING! So amazing, in fact, that I whipped up another one! 

I mean, he couldn't be the only dino at his birthday party, right? It's way more fun with two! (Sorry for the poor picture quality...I was in a rush and only had time to snap a picture with my iPhone). I used minky fabric to add a texture to the dino skin, and patterned cotton for the spikes. This tutorial was super easy to follow, and it turned out great! I really want to whip out a few more, maybe with some changes to make more variety. I definitely recommend you head on over and check it out. They're really fun and quick!! The kids spent most of their time wagging the tails back and forth...it was hilarious! :)

I've been focusing a lot of my extra time and energy on my health, and it is really helping. Not only am I feeling a little bit better (more sleep, less stress, time for yoga and meditation), I am able to devote more time to doctor's appointments and procedures that I need to have done. Last year, I never would have believed anyone if they had told me this is what I would be doing, but I'm learning to take life as it comes, and as long as I have support (namely from my wonderful husband), I can make it through all this hubbub. 

The biggest "news" is that I am having a second laparoscopy in June. We will be traveling halfway across the country for that. I spent a great deal of time researching the best endometriosis surgeons in the country to find just the right one. I am actually really excited about it! I've been having near constant pain, some a dull ache, some far worse than anything I've had before to the point I can barely breathe. I believe that this doctor has the skills and techniques that will give me more time without cysts and major problems, and will also give us the best chance as we move forward trying to conceive. Hopefully everything goes well. 

Hope you're all enjoying your first few weeks of spring! Hopefully I'll have more projects to share soon. :)