My surgery is set. We have to be up at an unholy hour to get to the hospital on time tomorrow. I’m as mentally and physically ready to do this as I possibly can be I think. It’s time to get this done.

I want to use this post to remind myself of the state that I want to come back to. You see, we found out about my condition less than two weeks after we got engaged. We were so amazingly happy. I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy before. It was crazy.

And then it all came crashing down all too soon. We’ve been through a lot. I continue to joke that I really didn’t mean to test out the whole “for better or for worse, in sickness or in health” thing *before* we got hitched. But if this experience has confirmed anything for me, it’s that I’ve made the right choice in my life partner. I can’t wait for the day that we get to celebrate our decision amongst those we love the most.

So that’s what I want to carry with me in my next step in this experience. My energy will be focused on healing quickly and returning to that joy and happiness we had before all this happened. I even have a few pictures to remind me.

I took these the day before I found out about my condition and never got to post them. This is the sweater that will forever be known as The Engagement Sweater since it’s the one that I found my ring on.

I also just happened to be wearing it when I was told about my condition. At the time it filled me with sorrow because I thought I had ruined the memories that I would forever associate with it, but thinking back on it I’m glad that I was wrapped in a garment that was infused with more love than I ever thought possible when I was told one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to hear in my life.

Now that I think about it, it may just have to come to the hospital with me, even if I can’t wear it.

See those smiles? That’s what I will return to when I get back. That’s the joy I’m going to capture again. When this is over I’ll be able to return to that feeling and really start planning the day when it will all come together. I’m so very lucky to have so much to look forward to after all this is done.

Your continued good thoughts and well wishes in the coming days are greatly appreciated. Please also think of HWJF and my parents. As difficult as this will be for me, standing by and watching it all happen will be as difficult, if not more so.

I’m ready. Let’s do this.

See you soon!

… the tough cast on another sweater! After my recent, well documented steek troubles, I decided to cast on for another sweater. A pullover! No steeks!!

Apparently I was itching for more colorwork, because the Lopi Roses Pullover pattern that I bought while we were in Maine for Christmas jumped onto the needles. Instead of Lopi, I bought Lamb’s Pride for the sweater in black, blue and green. While the bottom ribbing of the body seemed to take forever, the rest flew along pretty quickly.

Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea. I’m a little bit concerned about two things with this. First, The band of colorwork around my not so svelte middle may not be the most flattering thing in the world. Also, I’m making the smallest size yet it’s still going to have about 3 inches of ease. I keep having horrible images in my head of those awful baggy sweaters from the 80s that basically looked like you were wearing a sack of flour with leggings. Oye. What the hell *were* we thinking back then? And yes, I had the straight to the sky bangs to match and no I will not share a picture!

Despite these concerns, I’m trucking along. As I mentioned before, we’re going to Chicago next month and I expect it to be damn cold. A big comfy and seriously warm pullover with some color might not be the worst thing. And if the fit is awful? I can always wear it around the house and/or make another one some day. I love this pattern too much not to make it at least once.

I’ve also finished off the first sleeve and have begun the second. I hope that I won’t be on sleeve island too long. I seem to be very distractable these days and Turn a Square hats keep wagging their lovely Noro at me.

I was also reminded at SnB last night that I have yet to tell you that I joined The Society for the Appreciation of Yoke Sweaters on Ravelry, the brainchild of Whitney. I have more than just the roses pullover planned with this construction, so it seemed like a good idea to find some creative inspiration with others. Come check it out!

I’m hoping to have an FO or two or three to share with you next week. In the meantime, here are some of the images you didn’t see on the blog from the week.

Have a great weekend!!