"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Do I look like a pincushion???

This is the question I asked myself this afternoon. No seriously, don't laugh. I had to go to the hospital for an EMG. The electric shocks are one thing but when the neurologist inserted what he called a very small needle into my muscle to test even deeper, I told him I did not think he was a very nice man. He laughed and said fortunately his reputation was not damaged when he started this work. It was nice that he had a sense of humor too. His idea of a small needle is not my idea of a small needle. I hand quilt with number 12 betweens (the name for tiny quilt needles) and I would not want to stick that into my hand or leg either. *grins*

The photo is a giant pincushion I made for a stitching blogging friend of mine this past summer.


So tonight a little cozy candlelight is in order once again. It is raining outside as I write this and the sound of that rain ticking gently on my windows evokes my sense of love of handcrafts. There is nothing like this kind of weather to make you want to take a needle to hand.


Since I had just finished a quilt which you can see on my other blog, I picked up another project I started before I got sick to work on it once again. I have a goal to finish it by the end of this year along with a couple of other projects. This is a tiny quilt created with little stitchery blocks of the story of Noah's Ark. You can see more of the blocks by clicking here. This is a fun technique and easy to work on while talking or watching television. Shown below is the ark which I hope to finish this evening. I have five more blocks to go and am starting to sew them together now as I finish a section.

Needle and thread are the only therapy I need. It helps distract me from the terrible itching I have from the Hashimoto's disease. Well, until I have to go to sleep. We are finding that I am scratching myself until I bleed at night. *sigh* I hope the doctors come up with something to relieve this soon but in the meantime, it is not an extra neurological problem. Thanks to all of you for your words of support, prayers and good thoughts. I so appreciate each and every one of you!

20 comments:

Tammy said...

Hang in there Heidi!
Pretty Stitching!
Prayers and Hugs2u!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

So sorry about this "being-a-pin-cushion" medical thing.

But what a beautiful giant pincushion you made.

Would some sort of mittens, worn at night, be of any help with the itching yourself in your sleep thing?

Carolien said...

I totally agree with the former comments on your entry.

Please take care & hugs & I hope you like to finish Noah's Ark after all!

Carolien

Saskia said...

Hate needles to be used 'that'way.
Was the doctor cute though??..
I envy you with the time to quilt and be creative. Don't know what came into me, to say I want a new bachelor degree(pffft)
Next time I say something like this, shoot me!
Can't you where gloves at night? to stop you from scratching?
there is something you can take from "vogel" that will help you. I will look it up.
See you tomorrow
Hugs
Saskia

Sonja said...

Wat naar dat je 's nachts zoveel last hebt van de jeuk. Dat idee van Saskia over handschoenen dragen 's nachts zou misschien best kunnen werken. Het speldenkussen is een lievie, ookal is ie groot. En nu pas zie ik het verband tussen de verschillende stitchery's: de dieren van de Ark van Noach. Heel bijzonder dat het een verhaal vormt! Overigens heb je mij achter de naaimachine gekregen!!Met plezier zelfs!

Nancy said...

I TOLD you to tell that Doctor your Mommy said he could not hurt you. Even though YOU are not a pincushion, the one you made is really pretty. Happy stitching until bedtime.
Love you, Mom

Suzann said...

Oh Heidi, I feel like I haven't visited you in forever.

I'm so sorry about the additional medical issues and tests.

I am lifting you up in prayer as I type.

May today be better than yesterday and tomorrow be be better than today.

Miss you sweet Heidi.

Rhondi said...

Hi Heidi
I am glad that stitching is therapy for you, but I am sorry that you're having such a hard time and had to put up with being a human pincushion
Hugs, Rhondi

Ginny said...

All the medical tests you are enduring . . . I know it wears on a person. And that itching! I've had chronic hives on several occasions and it nearly drove me nuts. Hang in there.

DonnaTN said...

How awful for you. Let's hope those doctors earn their fees and find a way to help you. I love autumn with clear blue skies and bright sun on colorful leaves. I also love the cozy feel of cool evenings when the sun disappears sooner.

angelasweby said...

Heidi,
You never cease to surprise me. You manage, a little like a tapestry, to weave together your wonderful stitching talents and creations with quite miserable and long standing health issues so that we hardly see the change of thread. It can't be very nice to be itchy all the time and it must be even less pleasant to have to have one test after another especially ones as uncomfortable as the EMG but, you always keep cheerful and you always keep stitching and creating beautiful things! I do hope all the tests will result in the right treatment to sort these issues out and soon.

Your pincushion is beautiful and I'm sure your friend was thrilled with it. I love the colour combinations and the Noah's Ark BOM definitely looks like it's on the home run. i can't wait to see it. it might encourage me to get mine done too :>)
Warm hugs and good wishes Angela

angelasweby said...

Oh dear, as if I haven't already said enough, but I meant to say one more thing - what about some soft cotton mittens to wear at night to stop you scratching. We used to do that to the children when they were babies and they used to scatch themselves at night - just a thought :>) !!
Hugs Angela

Elizabethd said...

What a beautiful puincushion, you could never lose that!
I'm sorry to hear of your continuing health problems. Have you tried Calamine lotion to ease the itch?

Susan in SC said...

I am so sorry that you had to have the needle in your muscle. I know that was very painful. I love your stitching. Maybe you need to wear gloves to bed to keep you from scratching so hard.

Mary said...

Heidi dear, catching up with your life - have been traveling and falling behind! Off to meet some blog friends in Charlotte this coming weekend so that will be fun.

Love those lanterns you found - they look large and really make a nice statement - will you keep them outside?

Heidi, so sorry you are struggling with your health issues still. I think you will be really interested in reading my blog friend Lynn's recent post on her Hashimoto's problems. She has many of the same symptoms you have, has researched and came up with lots of info. Here's the link to her post - you will also see she has a beautiful blog (Nature-kitties-plants-home schooling - I always imagine her as Tasha Tudor for her love of old fashioned living, her wonderful books, growing herbs etc.) She is a very special lady and actually lives here in NC - we are planning a meeting one of these days.

www.amothersjournal.com/2009/10/25/hashimotos-thyroiditis.update/

Love and hugs - Mary.

Mary said...

Heidi, me again. I notice that the link did not show up correctly - trying again -
http://www.amothersjournal.com/2009/1l/25/hashimotos-thyroiditis.update/

If the above doesn't work just go to Lynn's blog at

http://www.amothersjournal.com

The Hashimoto Update post was on Oct. 25, 2009

By the way - I'll be visiting
Rhondi's home for lunch on Sat. when in Charlotte - can't wasit to meet her!

More hugs - Mary

Unknown said...

Heidi, So sorry you have to feel the pain of the needle. I have been there when I was a young girl and never forgot how it felt. On a upbeat note I have to admit that I love, love, love rainy days. My favorite kind of day to stay home curled up or working on a special project or even just being quiet.Thanks for stoping by my sweetromanticnotions. I too, love visitors. Shirley

Tracy said...

Beautiful stitching between the itching, Heidi... Do hope you find some relief to the itching soon! The pincushion you created is lovely... :o) ((HUGS))

Linda said...

When you were describing your latest treatment....I hurt for you. I pray you find relief soon. Noah looks like a wonderful project and I'm happy working on your stitching carries you away to a happy place. hugs, Linda


p.s. Heidi, you make me laugh....I promise there is nothing on the other side of the recipe card...the cookies are so simple and they are yummy too....L

Anonymous said...

Hello Heidi,

That doctor does not sound like a very nice person!! Have you tried a paste of baking soda for the itching? Just a suggestion...

Marie x