..... strong enough to move to the city with my girl. Just me and my girl. Though the move actually took Three Men and a Truck.... and this truck was full! No more woodland setting as we are in a lovely 3rd floor urban apartment with soaring ceilings and lots of natural light.
Meanwhile I made Simplicity 2188 again out of a breezy crepe fabric from Hobby Lobby..... lengthened and curved the hem. I did not think to size down and you see the top simply hangs on me here. I've lost at least a full size all around. Around this time I began losing my hair..... in clumps..... so much so that the glorious mane is gone. I figured it was all the illness and stress taking its toll and the hair loss began to subside end of June. I thought I was finally on the road to recovery and felt my strength continuing to return. I was enjoying walks with my dog and daughter and be-still-my-heart.... our apartment is close enough to walk to the grocery store!!! LOVE!!!
The original Simplicity 2188 made in 2018 (below) can be found here . Big difference in hair, no?.
End of July I woke up one Saturday morning and just knew something was wrong with crushing fatigue and labored breathing. My daughter took me to our MD360..... a place to receive doctor care instead of being in an Emergency Room..... and was diagnosed with Bronchitis and pneumonia..... again. Prescribed a 2nd round of antibiotics, in a different tier than the first and did not get better. This time was able to see my primary care physician and my lungs were worse and I was now wheezing. It was definitely pneumonia and not getting better. She bumped me up to a higher tier of antibiotics at the highest strength, adding steroids on top of the mix. I am finishing up those this week and can say I finally feel more like myself again..... and it feels GREAT!!! It feels great to be able to breathe and get a good lungful of air again.... to not cough and hack all day/night...... it just feels great to feel better. So much better that I felt like taking a few pictures this morning, taking advantage of some of the beautiful natural light pouring in from the sunroom to share with you my new dress.
Ottobre 02/2015 no. 4 Sheath Dress |
c. 2018 |
Proud of my pocket!!! Love all the seamlines and decided to topstitch everything and everywhere. Envisioning this dress with a denim jacket and think may add that to the queue.
Guess you can tell I did not iron it before wearing it this morning!! Oh well. Invisible zipper and can you believe after sewing the lining to the zip..... one of the last steps of construction..... I caught the lining in the zip as I was testing it out and tore a hole in the lining. Got out the needle and thread and sewed the hole up as best I could. So glad I am letting go of perfectionist tendencies as this didn't phase me at all. It feel so nice to have a new dress to wear.
Before I go I wanted to also explain that when I first became ill in March..... not only this blog, and sewing in general..... but Instagram became overwhelming to me. I deleted the app from my phone and stopped checking in. It felt so odd..... missing the interaction with the sewing community there.... missing my sewing friends.... but felt I needed to concentrate on getting well. I am sorry if it seemed I fell off the face of the earth.... in some ways it felt that way to me. But I am doing so much better and 'life' is very good. Melissa was hired as a 2nd grade teacher at the elementary school where she wanted to teach and this summer has been such a delight in helping her pull together her classroom. She will be the BEST teacher. See those pillows down there..... it was an honor to make those for her Reading Center for the kids to plop down on. She chose the fabric and piping color and wanted the zippers nestled in the piping so nothing would scratch the kids. Took me a little bit to figure that out.... but all-in-all a super easy, fun project. She's got a fox rug ordered for this center area.
Happy Sewing All!!! :)
Thank you so much for this post. I did reach out to you about 3 weeks on Instagram hoping to hear how you were. Now I know that you've left and I totally understand. Glad that the moving wasn't too hard and that you've started a new adventure. I will look for updates here now and I'm so happy that you're feeling better and more like yourself!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so very much Carolyn!! You mean so very much to me. :)
DeleteAs you know, I already knew about you leaving IG and after our emails to each othet I often thought of you. What a dreadful time you've had! Its so good to hear that you're slowly on the mend and sewing again. And looking lovely. Take care and embrace every well momemt. Xx
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so very much sweet Diane!! You mean so very much to me too. :)
DeleteOh wow! What an ordeal you have been through! I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better. You have been through so much and top that with a move too. I'm happy that the dust has settled and you are getting back in the swing of things. I love your dress; it looks like my kind of style too! The pillows look fantastic and how fun is that to sew for a classroom!
ReplyDeleteYes!! It brings me such pleasure and enjoyment to sew and be a part in some small way, of my daughter's classroom. Thank you so much Shirley!! :)
DeleteDear Lisa, I have been thinking of you! So glad to see your post and know that you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteYour new dress and those piped pillows are so pretty! So happy to hear your daughter has found her dream teaching job, she's making such a bright cheering reading space for her students.
Take care and have happy days, Lisa!
I've missed you Erin!! Thank you ever so much!!
DeleteSo sorry that you have been so poorly. I had pneumonia (and some complications) back in 2014. I also lost a lot of hair, I think it is the body's way of dealing with the trauma. It's great that you are feeling better but it can take a long time to feel properly better, so be patient and kind to yourself.
ReplyDeleteThat's what is sort of hard to do sometimes..... be 'patient and kind to oneself'. So used to being the 'strong' one.... it's hard to sort of embrace weakness within myself. Thank you so much for your kind.... and comforting.... comment.
DeleteI am glad you are feeling better and that life is good for you again. Influenza can be so nasty and lots of people think it's just like a bad cold and it sounds like on top of that you have had other challenges.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right..... and the flu.... at least this one.... is a killer strain. For one who is generally healthy and never sick.... this one threw me on my butt. Thank you so much Janine for your care!!
DeleteI read this post with a mixture of relief and horror. I'm so sorry that you've been so unwell, but how wonderful that you've got your life together and that everything is good again. So glad to have you back!
ReplyDeleteIt is true... 'life' is really good right now.... I just need to get well. I am so ready to be back Sue!!! Thank you!!!
DeleteHello Lisa...I think this was a wonderful blog post - I was wondering how you were going to approach the topic when the time was right. So sorry to hear your health took a relapse, but hopefully that is all behind you now. Melissa is settled and doing well - next, your turn!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Sarah Liz as I was a little unsure how to sort of bring everybody up to date in a tactful way. Thank you ever so much sweet friend for you care and concern!!! :)
DeleteSorry to hear about your health issues. I am praying for your health be restored and you get your energy back.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you ever so much Kay..... please do pray for me. You are so very kind. Thank you.
DeleteLisa, so glad to see this post. I felt guilty that our emails petered out after spring but now knowing that you had several relapses, maybe my poor follow up was "meant to be!" as you needed the time to recover. Praying that your body regains it's strength and you stay well during the coming colder months. Your dress is lovely and the view of the pond and clock tower easily rivals your former country setting. Keep looking forward and pamper yourself. Whenever (or if ever) you decide it's time to rejoin the merry-go-round that is Instagram, we'll be there to welcome you. No hurry.
ReplyDeleteI do miss seeing you on Instagram!!! Thank you for checking on me and for your sweet concern. :)
DeleteHey Lisa!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad to hear that you are recovering for real this time. What an ordeal, I wish you all the best and a quick full recovery. Even with a few kilos and hair less you still look lovely and that dress is beautiful. Congratulations to Melissa on the Graduation and the job, I hope she has a great start, the pillows will certainly help :)
Oh thank you so very much Katharina! You are so very sweet. And will relay your good wishes to Melissa!!!
Delete