I'm back!

Ok, sorry for the long delay but computer problems turned out to be bigger than expected. We gave up on dial-up and switched to DSL which took time to get hooked up then dh has had to spend the better part of 2 days to get everything reconfigured and operating properly. Wow, DSL is so much faster than dail-up. :)

Because of the mess all of my picture files have to be reloaded so, unfortunately, I don't have any pics to share just now. Maybe this weekend.

Patty asked when the little guy is due. We're now down to no more than three weeks from today. For better or worse, I've schedule an induction for Oct. 12. For anyone keeping count, that's a week earlier than my official due date. Three out of four kids have been a week or more past their due dates, so based on that, it'll be two weeks early. Why the rush? Normally I would let the baby come when he's good and ready, but I have pretty fast labors. How fast? Last time, I was ready to deliver by the time I got to the hospital, about 2 hours after the labor started. DH has to commute 1 1/2 to almost 2 hours to and from work. A few days ago it took him almost 3 hours to get home. No family lives close by and friends work during daytime. So, things could get very tight timewise if I let things flow naturally. I've had an induction once before and I am not looking forward to going through that again but it's alot more appealing than ending up on the morning news because M. delivered his baby brother at home. Just about everything is ready for the arrival. I've got about a dozen meals in the freezer. I'd like to get some more put away but temps will be near 90 for the next few days so I'll hold off until it gets cooler again.

I'd also like to get a few projects finished up beforehand but we'll have to see how that goes. I've finished knitting scarves for both girls as well as piecing 3 quilts tops minus borders. I want to get the quilt for R. finished as well as make one for M. for their Eid presents but I'm running out of time and I only have early mornings or nights to work on them so, even doing everything on the sewing machine, I'm not sure I'll get them done in time. For those who don't know, Eid is the Islamic celebration that marks the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting). This year, depending on the moon sighting, it will be either Oct. 12 or 13. The timing of the induction means that I'll be in the hospital for Eid, so we'll probably give the kids their gifts on Thur. night. I don't think they'll mind missing a more active celebration in exchange for having the anticipation of waiting for their baby brother satiated.

Oh, I almost forgot! My best friend, who has been dealing with infertility, is pregnant!!!! So prayers had been answered all around. One friend is about to deliver twins any day now and the other has gotten the best surprise diagnosis that you could ask for after such a long wait. I know that they will both make great moms!

Computer problems

I'm having all kinds of computer problems at the moment which has made it very difficult to post. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one will go through.

I've been keeping busy. I finished a robe for the hospital as well as a pair of pajama pants. I also knitted a scarf for my dh's 3 year old niece. I'm not a very accomplished knitter, more like a beginner but I used boa (fuzzy and kind of looks feathery when knitted) yarn which is great for hiding mistakes. I'm about halfway through with a scarf for either S. or Z. with plans to knit another one for whoever doesn't get this one. They'll be Eid gifts for the girls. I'm also working on projects for the boys as well as a couple of little somethings for a friend of mine. Once they're done and sent I'll post more details, but as she reads this blog at least occasionally, I'd rather not say anything more just now.

In the mean time, here is a picture of the computer desk turned sewing table that I picked up for $7 back in May. The keyboard tray is perfect for keeping blocks close at hand but out of sight when it's time to "clean up". It also keeps R. from getting ahold of them. If they're not out in plain view, he doesn't try to play with them. The next two pictures are of the glider and ottoman that I got around the same time as the desk. I haven't gotten around to recovering the ottoman so you can see how grimy the original fabric looked. I didn't do a fabulous job of recovering the cushions on the glider but they're done and the chair gets used often by everyone so I know it was money and time well spent.

Finally, the last picture is from our trip to Persopolis last summer before we left Iran. That lion was originally the base of one of the many pillars throughout the palace. Considering the remains of the palace are over 2000 years old, it's amazing how well so much of it has held up. That's S. in the foreground, dh and R. and sil and her daughter in the background. I'm sure you can't really tell much from the thumbnail but the image should enlarge if you click on it.

I'll post more pictures from Persopolis with my next post.

I'd also like to thank Patty at Morning Ramble for nominating me for the Nice Blogger award. I really appreciate it but haven't been able to thank her yet because of the computer problems. Speaking of which, I'd better try and post this now while the computer is cooperating.