So Was' up?

Hullo everyone. (I am loopy on dayquil and grammar is not going to be a part of this post. You have been forewarned.)

I'm miss you all!  I love the interaction we have on this little blog here.  It makes me sad when things get so busy around here that I don't get to keep up my end of the interaction often enough. 

So let me catch you up-

I'm sick.  Have been for about a week.  Can NOT kick this bug, but I'm keeping up my spirits by allowing myself chocolate.  Really good chocolate.  

Ethan & Eliza are sick too.  Last week we ended up in the ER with Ethan again.  Have I mentioned his ongoing battle with croup here before?  People tend to talk about croup as if it is a minor inconvenient cough.  Maybe for some, but when he gets it, it shakes his poor little body to even get in a tiny breath.  It always happens in the middle of the night and it is the scariest thing imaginable.  When I had Eliza, I had an array of things go wrong and ended up with some blood clots in lungs and breathing was physically hard.  So seeing him gasping for breath is always miserable for me.  He's better now, back to running around like nothing in the world bothers him.  Does anyone have any experience in preventing croup?  Old wives tales?  I'll try anything.

Prepping for market and the debut of Meadowsweet TWO.  I am loving it-the colors are a bit of a different route for me, but at the same time, I feel it is so me.  I'll share just as soon as I get the final few pieces.

Been playing with the apple peeler Dustin got me for my birthday-apple stuff has taken on a whole new life for me since the pie.

  

Working on finishing up the website.  Again-I love it, but I've told you that already. 

Hmm..  what else?

I have a huge pile of what I affectionately call "rejectamenta" strike offs.  Stuff that I ended up cutting even though I loved it.  That part of fabric design is tough-you don't put anything out there that you don't think you will like!  Anyhow, I'm planning on doing a rejectamenta quilt next month after market so you'll be able to see and appreciate the rejects with me.  :)

Spring has sprung in Missoula finally-it is beyond joyous for me!  This winter has been a tough one for me, and to walk outside in a short sleeved shirt feels like vacation.  ahh..  I can't wait to share a Missoula summer with you.  Speaking of Missoula-

Project Selvedge is right on track and we are down to the final challenge.  It takes place in 3 weeks and the final three contestants are busily (I assume) working on their collections.  Get this-Project Runway got wind of the contest and contacted Selvedge Studio to tell the contestants they should enter Project Runway.  So cool! And I can say I judged them when...

Not that it is a big surprise-look at some of the amazing things they have created!  These were my two favorite from the paper challenge.  Yes, paper-these dresses are made from paper!

 
So, now I think we are caught up.  I'll be back with some new stuff soon-bear with me a tad bit longer!

xo

Sandi

Comments

[sherri]

Hope you feel better soon...can't wait to see Meadowsweet 2...wondering if it coordinates with the first Meadowsweet line?

[DianeY]

Good to see you back & hope you'll get better soon.
My son had croup & his daughter does, too, now occassionally. At the time, my doctor told me that at that first cough in the middle of the night go into the bathroom, turn on the hot water in the shower and the room will fill with steam pretty fast-that gives really fast relief & worked every time. Then I'd use a humidiator in his room for about the next month, just to try to prevent it. I also used it any time he had even a slight sniffle. I will have to say, he never got it with the humidiator on, so if you don't have one, it might be worth the small investment. Good luck!

[Lisa]

Not to add to the craziness of having croup, but my daughter suffers a lot from night time coughing when she gets colds. Most successfully, has been the asthma meds but recently it turned out that acid reflux was the culprit - it can cause a chronic cough, tends to occur when lying down, etc. She had reflux as a baby, so it wasn't a huge surprise. But, we definitely sympathize with you in regards to the scariness of these night time coughs.
Can't wait to see the new fabrics, etc. :)

[Tabitha O.]

It is scarey because we have been through it with both of my daughters--we used brochosaline (usually found over the counter) by itself in their nebulizer and it really helped immensely and cut down their meds use!

Just keep up the chocolate on yourself and get lots of rest when you can. Can't wait to see a Missoula Summer!

[Coni]

Here's a suggestion for croup -- and this one actually came from the doctor (in whom I have complete confidence, by the way!). After you take them into the bathroom that is filled with steam 'cause you turned on the hot water in the shower, take them out into cool weather (we actually did it in the winter in Utah). The coughing stops almost immediately. Not an "old wive's tale" - it really does the trick. Been there, done that!

[Amber]

Glad to see you back and can't imagine how busy you must be. I hate croup - no suggestions but we've dealt with it before and it is so sad watching your child be so miserable. Can't wait to see Meadowsweet 2 and your "reject" quilt!

[Patty]

Hope yo feel better soon. I sure hope you little guy can beat that croup, does it have some thing to do with allergies do you think?
Those paper dresses are amazing!

[Elaine]

Hope you guys feel better soon! I'm also really jealous of your Missoula spring! I used to live there (in the Wilma) about 10 years ago and have very fond memories. I see a Missoula vacation in my near future!

[Dara]

We had a few troubles with croup this year with our youngest. What seems to help is to bundle them up really warm then drive around with the windows open if it's cold out or with the air conditioning. The cold air helps them breath- not the hot.
I love what you do. I also really like Missoula. We were there visiting friends two years ago and were pleasantly surprised with how beautiful it is. My husband is a fly fisherman and so is his friend- perfect place. Also the carousel is wonderful- perhaps it could be some inspiration for you.
All the best.

[Chris Rebold]

I can totally relate to the croup. We spent 5 days in the hospital with my son when he was 3 because of the croup. The steamy shower doesn't do anything for him. Our doctor prescribed a small bottle of steroids that we keep in the fridge. We give him that and use the nebulizer. They say they out grow it, but he is 12 and still gets it. Thankfully we don't have to go to the ER every month anymore.

[mo]

Croup is the worst! I have a sweet girl who will be 8 on friday and she still gets croupy. I had always thought of it as a really young affliction. I will say it has improved over the years but she still barks like a seal a couple of times a year at least. For us the cold air has helped. Steam has never been a huge help. Warm water or ice chips also seem to take the edge off. We sometimes try Vicks vaporub but sadly, nothing seems to really help with it entirely. It has become a lot less scary as she gets older though. Good luck with your sweet boy.

[Carrie Robb]

When my little girl has the croup we take her outside if it is cold or open the freezer. The cold air helps them breath. It takes a little while to help but when it does it helps a bunch.

[Christina]

Hey, Sandi. Sorry to hear about your croup troubles - both Clara and Elena have had it a few times, but nowhere near like Ethan, it sounds. Even so, we always found that taking them outside at night helped - cool air in the lungs. Sometimes just riding them around with the windows down in the car late at night lets them breathe and get some sleep.

Have so loved getting to know Dustin and watching you judging Project Selvedge. I accidentally scared him last week when I excitedly told him the market had been moved up to May 1! I was talking about my (and your) beloved farmer's market, but of course he was thinking of your MARKET market...still really sorry about that confusion! Have fun at quilt market, but definitely come to first Missoula Farmer's Market...it will totally cure us all of this cursed winter!

Feel better soon...I think you should add sipping peppermint tea (or midnight in missoula tea) to your chocolate for curative reasons. :)

[Kerith]

So sorry Sandi. I can empathize. My 4 month old son just had croup and we were taking him in the middle of the night too. So scary when your baby can't breathe. We just did lots of hot showers followed holding him in front of the freezer. (dr. said cold air would help.)

[Helen]

My twin boys would get croup every 6 months and were hospitalized a couple times - we tried all the hot/cold/whatever stuff, even going as far as setting up a tent in their room to make a little steam room! It usually helped but sometimes not enough. . . The last time they got it a friend gave me a homeopathic croup compound and within a minute of taking it they went from barking to a productive cough and breathing regularly and they've never had it since. This was made up specifically for them so you'd need to see a practitioner.

[Somer]

My oldest has croup just like that. One night last winter we were both crying and I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance. Finally the breathing treatment kicked in, but it sometimes sneaks up on us, even still (she's nine and they told me she would have outgrown it by now.) Anyway, we use a humidifier at the slightest sniffle and we have a nebulizer and do breathing treatments at home. Sometimes she gets wheezy when she plays outside in the cold too and she said that eating a piece of bread helps, but she may feeding me a line.

[Michelle]

My sons both got croup every time they were sick as little people. We spent a fortune in hospital bills and ER nebulizer treatments before someone (not the doctor - lame) told us to get a prescription for our own! That has made it so we can control it pretty good from home. I have not way of preventing it but use a lot of the suggestions above when they do get it. My older son seems to have outgrown it, hoping the same for you!

[Dena Martin]

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Hope you recover soon.

[Tomi Ann Hill]

I have a little guy who has had every lung problem in the book -- asthma, RSV, bronchitis, pneumonia, swine flu, and croup several times a year. One of my friends got me going with DoTerra essential oils -- they have a blend of oils especially for lung support and one for the immune system. This year was the first time we went without a major respiratory illness. He woke up in the middle of the night croupy a couple of times, but I dosed him liberally with the oils and I never even had to take him to the dr for steroids. It feels totally miraculous. I rub it on his chest and the bottoms of his feet. If you want help finding more info, just holler!

Hope you feel better soon, too!

[Jenn]

My son got croup quite often, but seems to have outgrown it. Steam never helped, but going out in the cool or cold night air and taking a drive through the neighborhood with the windows down usually helped. Whenever he started to come down with a clear runny nose I knew I needed to put the humidifier in his room. We also had a nebulizer and albuterol to use, if needed. Room temp apple juice was also suggested by the nurse and we always kept some juice boxes on hand. We'd curl up on the couch after a drive and drink a juice box while watching cartoons. Once that was done I'd sleep with him the rest of the night to make sure he was breathing okay... I hope he outgrows it soon!

[Lisa]

Ooh, I can't wait to see Meadowsweet 2!!
Poor little Ethan, my son had croup last year, scared the heck out of us, so I feel your pain:-(
As for how to prevent it, I wish I had some advise, all I know is what our ped told us, that when he starts having trouble to put him in the bathroom with the shower running full hot so it gets steamy. Or you can take him outside and let him get some cool air. That really worked with my son. He felt much better in the outside air. I agree with the humidifier also. I hope your little man never has to have it again though, it's heart breaking seeing your baby not able to breathe.
**HUGS**

[Dolores McCune]

I just want it known that when kids get croup and you take them out in the cold air, they should be bundle up warm. I have heard that once a kid gets croup they are very likely to have croup annually. My girl had a mild case of croup. I empathize for you. She also did the nebulizer treatments for her asthma after that. We were living in an apartment at the time and then moved into a house just a few miles away. Ever since we've been in the house her asthma, so far, has not returned!!! Be careful with humidifiers. I read an article about how humidifiers are not that helpful in the long run because people at home do not clean them thoroughly. If you read the directions, they are suppose to be cleaned and have water changed daily. There are a lot of hard to reach places in a humidifier so this is difficult.

[Carrie]

No thoughts on prevention, but we did start keeping a nebulizer for breathing treatments here. It is very scary to wake up to your child almost unable to breathe - as you know.

[sewlindaann]

Along with the steam bath, putting Vicks Menthol Rub in the water helps.

[Ange]

My daughter is three and her croup is not as bad as it was. The first few times she had it I was terrified of that awful sound(despite a nursing background). Steam, cold air, nebulised boiled water are mostly what I used.
I found if I could act calmly and hold and cuddle her a lot, it comforted her, as she was also really frightened.
Hope you all get better soon.
I have pre-ordered your book and cannot wait