Giveaway! Free Tools, We love Free!

 The wonderful blog, The Handmade Home.net is giving away tools!  I love watching my cute hubby using tools! So do you want tools, dumb question, I know.  Go on over to thehandmadehome.net and enter!  Good luck and let me know if you win (so I can be jealous).

July is PCOS Awareness Month

 

What in the world is PCOS?

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.  It is a condition that is different in every women, but it caused by cysits in the ovary.  PCOS causes irregular periods, problems with blood sugar, and infertility.  PCOS is the number one reason for infertility in women, including me.  

I was diagnosed at the age of 21, which was good, I was able to educate myself regarding the disorder and how to help my body.  I have cysts rupture about once a year, they hurt really bad, but we now know there is nothing that can be done but letting it happen (we learned this after a few trips to the ER with no help).  I sit on a heating pad for a week and all is well. 

I was very lucky to get pregnant, with the help of infertility medication, Clomid and Metformine. It was not so much fun, the mood swings, hot flashes, and cramps, but completely worth it to get our daughter.  We think taking the medication, as well as other factors like Gestational Diabetes, and problems during the birth, made for a perfect storm causing my Occipital Neuropathy and Chronic Migraines.

There is not much in the way of a cure for PCOS, only dealing with the symptoms.  The more aware people are of PCOS and what it is, the better the research and management of the disease. Even though PCOS is not life threatening, infertility is one of the most heart breaking experiences a women (and couple) can have!  It is so hard, if you are dealing with infertility hang in there and reach out to others who understand what you are going through! July is PCOS Awareness Month, help get the word out!

Crochet to the Rescue!

So since the last few weeks have been rough, too many headaches, I have been home.  During the hours I feel okay, I have been crocheting.  I have been working on a blanket for my wonderful little one.

This is a great pattern, because it is easy and can be done with little thought.  I can just sit and work on the squares.  I am making a bedspread for her Shabby Chic room, so lots of colors, and big.  It will take me a while to finish, but I will keep updating progress.  So far, I LOVE it!

Here is the pattern:

R1:Chain three, join with a slip stitch.  Chain two (count as first dc), dc seven in the circle.

R2:Switch color, join anywhere.  Chain two (count as first dc), dc in same stitch, two dc in next stitch, chain two, repeat around the circle for a total of 16 dc and 8 ch. 

R3: Switch color, join in one of the two chain spaces. Chain two (count as first dc), one more dc in the chain two space.  Dc in the next three stitches. Two dc in the two chain space, chain two, two more dcs in the two chain space. Repeat until you get back to the beginning, sl st in the first ch two dc.

R4: Switch color, join in one of the two chain spaces.  Chain two (count as first dc), one more dc in the chain two space.  Dc in the next six stitches.  Two dc in the two chain space, chain two, two more dc in the two chain spaces. Repeat until you get back to the beginning, sl st in the first ch two dc.  

R5: Switch color (I put white on R5, then joined all the squares with white), join in one of the two chain spaces.  Chain two (count as first dc), one more dc in the chain two space.  Dc in the next nine stitches.  Two dc in the two chain space, chain two, two more dc in the two chain space.  Repeat until you get to the beginning, sl st in the first ch two dc.  

Work in all ends.  I will post later this week how I join my squares.  There are lots of different ways, I just have one way I like.  Check back to see it.  

If you make these squares, please post a link so I can see them!!!