Finished Skirt and other items of interest....

I really like this skirt!! I started it August 9 and finished August 16. I wanted to get it done quickly so I could wear it to a book signing that I was helping with. Cat Bordhi came to town! Anyways, I did, and I got a lot of compliments from it.

I used KnitPick's CotLin which I like very much. I knit very loose so I used a US 3, woodens, then switched to Addi Lace Needles for the lace section. They helped a lot with the K3tog. I decided to go ahead and do those even though I know there were other options. I started the second size, got about 2-3 inches into it, tried it on and it was too big, so I went to the smallest size. I think it's because cotton expands on you.





In other news. We saw a cardiologist on Friday for John. I have had a heart murmur, mitral valve prolapse since I was a child. I was checked every year until I was about 15 when we moved and didn't keep up with it. When John was 1, his grandpa went in to have a physical and they found he had it very severe and needed surgery with a couple of months. They couldn't repair the valve so had to replace it. At the time I was not seeing any regular doctor because we didn't have insurance unless I was pg and it was Oregon Health Plan. When I became pg with Kim the OB told me to start seeing a cardiologist. I did and they checked me every year, etc. So we move to Beaverton, got really good insurance and had every thing checked out here. Within two years, they told me I needed surgery to repair my valve. Thank goodness for good insurance. It was a massive bill (we happened to get all of the printouts for it) and insurance covered every single bit of it except office visit co-pays. So, we started thinking about the kids, had their doctors listen carefully EVERY year and they knew the story. Finally about 4 years ago, we asked for referrals to a cardiologist. We wanted to have baseline on the kids. All seemed pretty good, Kim does have the murmur, we watch her. John has a functional murmur, which a lot of people have. SO, when we went to the pediatrician last week, he said, "Did you know John has a murmur?" "Um, not audible.". "Well, I can hear it now, hear listen." So we all took a turn and sure enough it's the same sound mine made. So, off to the pediatric cardiologist this week. It turns out that John's murmur is progressing to mitral valve prolapse like mine. We take him back in a year for a check up, just like when I was a kid. He can exercise however he wants, except no body-building, bulking up, or competitive sports. At least they are on top of it now. Kim goes in a couple of weeks. If hers was more severe the first time, it could be something we need to be on top of as well. Faulty genes of my family!!