Getting better and better

Hi everybody.     I'm back from last week's five month check-up at Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology in Baltimore MD.   The course of action and treatments begun last summer is working,  and I'm doing very well,  scoring 47 out of 49 on their standard neurological test this time,  a huge difference from my score of 27 when they tested and examined me last June.   When I was leaving, my doctor said I looked so good that I shouldn't be in a hospital.    I remain on the immune suppressant - same level as organ transplant patients,  and go back for another check-up early next fall.    They think the immune response has stopped but don't want to take any chances.    As I've said before, nerves take a long time to heal and regenerate.   This drug can encourage some cancers so they don't want me on a high dose for a long time.   In the meantime, they will be monitoring me through periodic blood tests done here.


So,  I am living and doing many things I could not do for so long,  and, at times, wasn't sure if I would be able to do them again.   I'm not running around yet,  but I am able to do most anything I used to do, including drive.     No wearing heels yet,  but my feet, toes and ankles are getting stronger.    I am wearing the garments I sewed over the winter and last spring/summer and enjoying the crazy warm spring we're having here, but not the high pollen count.  


As you can imagine,  I've got a backlog of things I need to do and take care of.    I hope all of you are enjoying good health, good weather and stay safe from  these bad spring storms around the country.  When I sew something worth taking about,  I promise to post it.


Thursday Note:     I want to thank all of you who commented for your good wishes and support.   To clarify a bit,  my score on the neurological test is based on answers to a number of questions about being able to do simple daily tasks without difficulty, like making a sandwich or being able to wash my lower body.    The answers are 1) can't do it at all 2) can do it with difficulty or 3) can do it with no difficulty.   Last summer I had to answer #1 or #2 to many that I can do with no difficulty today.  I still have a way to go as far as rebuilding my strength and endurance.   It's a "Catch 22" situation, since I can't build muscle to be able to do things like run, walk fast or far until the nerves in my feet and legs and knees have completely regenerated and repaired.

Weekends in Raleigh and then Atlanta

Two back to back weekends and I'm back home.   The first weekend in March I attended the North Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution 112th State Conference at the North Raleigh Hilton - same weekend as the Duke-UNC basketball game.    The weather was hard to call, and temperatures inside hotels, especially inside large ballrooms,  are often cool no matter the outside temps.     My husband did not attend any of the DAR events but met some men he knew from Asheville who were attending the NC Disabled American Veterans conference there.     We both donate our time and charitable items to the veterans support groups here.    He had a good time in the bar with the fans eating and watching the game Saturday evening.    I took and wore exactly what I planned with one change,   I wore the coral silk dress Saturday evening and this  Babette SF velvet burnout jacket and top with a softly pleated skirt to the Friday evening dinner.    I actually walked in with the other chapter regents Saturday night after standing in line for 20 minutes - all without a cane.    My chapter members who attended were very happy to see me do that,  and so was I.    


The weather in Raleigh on Friday and Saturday was overcast and cool.  The sun came out Sunday as we were leaving and for the entire trip west until we got to the grade between Old Fort and Black Mountain, climbing up and over the eastern US continental divide.  We could see the dark clouds on the mountain, and as we climbed, we drove through a blizzard of snow with temperatures dropping to freezing and then turning to sleet and snow at the top.     I took some photos of this event as we drove - typical of the higher elevations where it snows and stays because of the low temps.     When we got to the top you could see that Black Mountain and Asheville were sunny with temperatures in the high 40's.     I could still see the tops of the mountains covered in snow the next day driving to my physical therapy appointment.


Our temperatures have been milder than usual and the drive to Atlanta on Friday was sunny and pleasant.    It's only 180 miles to the convention center that takes about 2 1/2 hours since it's interstate or 4 land highway all the way.   Friday I wore my 2X4 top with taupe narrow One-Seam Pants and was very comfortable in the nearly 70 degrees.     We got to Duluth around 5 pm and I decided to go buy my ticket for the expo so I wouldn't have to stand in line the next morning.     I am able to walk easily and stand without any problems but since I'm on immune suppressants,  I must avoid crowds and sick people, and as such,  planned to stay only a limited time.      I bought the ticket and went in to see Louise and Sandy before leaving.   It turned out that all the attendees were on the other side of the hall at the big drawing and they were alone in their booth.  Both looked very tired after another long day following all that travel and setting up back to back from the Puyallap Sewing event.      I only stayed a few minutes and they were glad to see me in much better shape than I was the year before.  


Saturday I went in a couple hours after the crowds got there and again saw Louise and Sandy at their booth.   I wore my Shapes outfit of the Nine Lives top and Eleven Eleven Skirt in shades of brown.   I didn't walk through the entire expo because there were so many people and some coughing badly.  I did not take any photos at the expo this year.     


Here's what I did to the 2X4 top that I used one of Louise's bias techniques for the neckline.   When I first sewed this out of a very stretchy cotton/lycra,   I used the bias neckline techniques from her Threads issue #121 Master Class article.     Due to the nature of the stretchy fabric, the bias wanted to curl on itself and didn't stay open.     To correct that and make it pretty,   I used the Viking E1 card stich #12 with a stitch in the ditch foot to make it stay open.     Here are some photos of the before and after.    

Before - bias is curling on itself

After - bias has been stiched down using the E1-12 stitch

Click on this photo to see the stitch detail

DVF does my Ebb dress

How about this --  today's e-mail from Neiman Marcus and there's my Ebb dress in their Diane Von Furstenberg spring collection.     She's calling it the Leeandra floral lace dress.   It's a little short for my taste (and age) but it's pretty close except it doesn't have the seam just below the placket and has a collar that I could morph from her new blouse pattern if I desired one.   As usual, Louise is ahead of the game in terms of interpreting fashion trends.    Check out the collection and you'll see more things you can use her patterns to interpret your way.    Her hanky short sleeve blouse sure looks like a longer version of the ABO top and the pants like the One-Seams.