stannum.net – reloaded

I first noticed the lump in my right breast last summer, but thought nothing of it until I went for a physical exam last August 15. After the doctor said it might require surgical evaluation, I hied off to DLS-STI Megaclinic with Dern in tow. After a session with an ob-gyne and the recommended breast ultrasound, I received a report, excerpted as follows:

There is a well-defined, slightly lobulated, hypoechoic solid nodule at the 2 – 3 o’clock position (zone A) of the right breast measuring 3.9 x 3.1 x 2.9 cm

IMPRESSION:

SOLID NODULE, RIGHT BREAST, AS DESCRIBED, SUGGEST FOLLOW-UP

Right. Well, I wanted it out and examined. Who knew what this thing might turn out to be? I talked to Dr. Agno, the surgeon on call, and she scheduled me for an excision biopsy on August 22. I spent the intervening week cleaning up my office files and trying not to think of the procedure.

It wasn’t as bad as I thought. They gave me a local anesthesia and a curtain to keep me from seeing the proceedings in all their gory detail. After about an hour, a lump vaguely resembling a miniature brain was extracted, and I was all stitched up and ready to go home.

We picked up the biopsy results from the lab today. Again, an excerpt:

Sections disclose a benign breast tissue

Highlight mine.

I’m healing nicely now. Thanks to Dr. Agno for her care and attention, and to Dern for being more patient than the patient herself.

Mom and Diana took some photos of me wearing this shrug back in May, but they were sadly blurry and I had to scrap them. My hand was steadier (even though it was the left hand holding my phone, and the photo was taken six days after the biopsy):

I made this an XL size, and it fits more comfortably than the white L-sized Romantic Shrug. I’ll give that one to Daren and start another one in XL for myself.

(And I didn’t notice the fire extinguisher in the background until now. Sigh.)

I had planned on crocheting something for each of my friends in RSCI, but as it was not humanly possible to accomplish that by August 28, I settled for the first three on my list.

First there were the Short Crochet Wristers in Cinnamon, for Ging. She loved my black ones so much that I decided to make a pair for her, using the same pattern and with the same modifications. I started them on August 11 …

… finished them on August 24 …

… and gave them to Ging the following morning.

Next there was the Junior Beret in Navy, requested by Jill for her son Gab. I started working on this on August 13, using a Lion Brand pattern. Had to make some changes because I was using a different weight of yarn than required. I added 3 — or was it 4 — rounds to the beret, then crocheted 1 sc per sc as per pattern for about 1.5 inches. I also made the band 7 sc wide, and it measured about 18 inches long before I sewed it onto the beret edge. I think it turned out well:

So did Jill, who tried it on for size:

And last, there was the Fan Pattern Shawl in Rose Pink, which I started on July 31 for my very good friend Tintin V. I had wanted to make another shawl, but it proved too fiddly given my limited time. It was done on August 21, and I handed it to her today:

Girls, thank you for your appreciation. It was worth every hour.

And to think, I wouldn’t have known if not for Mimi. Thanks for the heads-up!

Here’s my second attempt at the Bride’s Purse design, using the size 3.0 hook:

This would have been the first of a series of Christmas gifts, except that Diana already sequestered it.

I also tried making a pair of Short Crochet Wristers, but the leftover thread from Diana’s shrug was only good for one piece:

So much for stash-busting — I’ll need to buy another ball of this thread if I want to complete this pair. (Plus, I forgot the put the edging on the thumb.) Then I bethought myself of my black Cannon thread and made a second pair. Pardon the photo, my location was none too bright:

These were intended to help ward off the cold in the office, but I doubt whether I’ll be using them much after I return to EEI in September.

Yes, that last bit was the announcement.

When Daren arrived thirteen years ago, the midwife at the lying-in clinic was surprised because our baby did not look at all like a newborn. She was solidly built, weighed 7.48 pounds, had a full head of hair, and demonstrated the strength of her grip by hanging on grimly to the top rail of a crib when lifted out of it.

Daren learned to smile for cameras very early, after my mother thought of cooing and waving at her from behind the photographer. She started talking at nine months, and skipped the baby-talk stage entirely, because she lived with a houseful of adults. She had all our attention, but could be subdued with a stern look or a single word (No!)

She cracked her first joke at the age of two, while watching a Jackie Chan film. Marcus can attest to this.

Daren, pointing at the TV: Jackie Chan.
Pointing at her middle: Laki Chan.

She threw her one and only tantrum the week before Diana was born, refusing to let me out of her sight when we arrived at school, and yelling at the top of her lungs when I decided to take her home instead. The scolding she got from Dern and Marcus afterwards convinced her never to do it again.

Today, at thirteen, Daren looms over me at five feet three inches and takes a size 9 shoe.

I will not report her weight, because then she might post mine.

Her hair troubles her, as it exceeds the known limits of human growth and abundance. We thought about having it rebonded, but what might that do to it?

Her schoolmates have described her as serious and scary — my fault, because she is indeed too serious for her own good, and forgets to smile half the time. This is a pity, because she has a face that is made to smile.

She has inherited my Evil Eye, and uses it without compunction on unruly members of her class.

She drives me up the wall with research assignments that must be submitted without fail on the very next day, in obedience to (demanding and thoughtless, IMO) teachers.

And yet, she looks after Diana with patience and care, qualities I never showed at that age. She does her chores, not merrily, but with fortitude, the sooner to move on to other things — like anime, and writing fan fiction.

When I get home, she always greets me with her customary kiss and hug, and seeks reciprocation right up until bedtime.

A baby no longer, but my baby still.

Happy birthday, Daren Christine.

I was on an early search for Christmas gift options when I came across an attractive pouch design on FreePatterns.com. (It’s called Bride’s Purse, but what the heck.)

I made the pouch in variegated yellow Monaco thread, using a Size 1 steel hook (1.65mm), and without the beads, as this is just the first try.

I called it a Mini Pouch because the finished item is about 3″ short of the size stated in the pattern.

Hmm. Methinks I should use my size 3.0 aluminum hook for the next one.

Here’s the first sleeve of the Simply Striped Shrug I’m making for Daren, following yet another pattern from the fabulous Mimi:

Daren wanted this in black, and I’d just gotten started when I remembered my beef with black Cannon thread. I may try Monaco Raylon for her black shrug, instead. Would love to make this shrug for myself, but it would reveal all the wrong curves. Alas.

Just wanted to post a few new photos before Daren takes the PC back (again).

Here’s the white Shells and Flowers Shrug, or more accurately, one of its sleeves:

In my defense, it IS difficult to take a photo of yourself with your camera phone when you don’t really want anyone to notice what you’re doing.

And here’s Dana-mee’s finished place mat, which she is happily using every day at school:

Right. Logging out now.

A year ago I didn’t even know there was such a thing.

However, since I still have not learned how to wield knitting needles, I shall have to make do with my trusty crochet hooks. Let’s see … the last time I crocheted in public was in November 2008, in a hospital corridor doubling as a doctor’s waiting room February 2009, in church, while waiting for Daren and Diana to come out of choir practice. Other than all the lunch hours spent crocheting at my desk, of course.