It's a top!
Double Irish Chain
71 x 91
All blocks have cream/tan/taupe backgrounds and dark brown chains. The other chains in the block were made from scraps in the RSC color of the month. I made these blocks in order to use up a lot of 1.5 inch width scraps.
When it came time to join the blocks I just could not figure out for the longest time what color(s) to use to finish out all the colored chains. Then it dawned on me to try a multicolored fabric. I happened to have enough of a multicolored piece of woven looking rainbows left over from the backings I used to make quilts for the friends of my deceased granddaughter.
Now if I can find a backing it might just get quilted in January when the theme in my sewing space is "Blues and Browns".
And sew on...
***
Health Notes - Hubby
About a week ago I noticed that it appeared hubby's G-tube was starting to come out. I made an appointment with the surgeon's office to have a new one put in on December 26. I had to go pick up the new G-tube from the pharmacy where we get the enteral feeding supplies and take it to the office visit. Well, of course, the G-tube came out completely at about 4:30 on Christmas Day about 1/2 hour aftter I had hooked him up for his pump feeding. I know the stoma and tract in the stomach would start to close up immediately so we had to get somewhere to get a new one put in because we could not make it until the doc appt. on day after Christmas. So I called 911 to ask what to do and they sent medics to look. They taped him up and told me to take him and the new G-tube to the ER and they would put it in. So off we went to the ER. They tried to put new one in but could not. They put a foley cath in temporarily to keep tract open until doc appt. on 26th. That took 4 hours. Then we went to doc appt. yesterday as planned. What should have been a 15 minute procedure to put in a new G-tube ended up to be a 4 hour wait in the doc office. It turns out the G-tube the pharmacy gave me was the wrong one. And that is why ER staff could not place it. Well, we had to wait to see if the correct type could be located. Then when they did find one we had to wait for doctor to see his other scheduled patients and then to make rounds in the hospital and then come back to the office to insert the correct G-tube.
The surgeon advised me to watch the procedure and to keep a correct G-tube on hand at home so if this happens again I can actually insert the new one and avoid visits from medics, to ER and to doc appointments. It makes me queasy to look at holes in people or at other people's bodily fluids but I watched the simple procedure and am going to order another one of the correct G-tubes and if the time comes I will psych myself up enough to get it inserted.
I have to say I kept thinking of those old cartoons where a character has holes for whatever reason all over their body and then drinks something and the fluids starts spurting out of all the holes.
What we do in the name of love!
It's exhausting work.
Think I'll go (try to) sew!
18 comments:
I would hate to have to learn how to do that stuff if I was not comfortable doing it - I'm surprised when you were at the ER that they couldn't get it done and have correct tubing there!
Love your double chain quilt
You are strong and brave
Creative and giving
Be sure to rest.
This quilt is spectacular.
I totally get what you mean about looking at holes in people. When younger son was finally discharged after double viral pneumonia, his trach had only just been removed so the hole was open and startling (to say the. least). The nurses had explained how to clean it but when DH helped him shower/bathe the first morning at home, I thought even DH was about to pass out when the bandage was taken off. And yes, the things we do for love . . . things we NEVER thought we would have to know or do. Bless you.
What an amazing quilt top!! I love all the color in it - and the design is fabulous.
So sorry about the stress and trouble - I am with you - holes are scary - but!! I love your sense of humor and totally see the cartoon you are imagining... hugs my friend - you are tougher than you think you are!!
Oh Cathy, God bless you! Yes, the things we have to learn to do out of love for our people. I hope you don't have to do that again anytime soon. Meanwhile, there are scraps to sew beautiful quilts with - thank goodness for that!
Bless you, Cathy. I forget that along with all the wonderful quilts you make, you are also the primary caregiver to your husband. In the name of love is so accurate! Most of us think of the person who's ill and ask about him or her, but forget to ask how the caregiver is doing, not understanding that it's nearly as hard (and maybe sometimes harder) to care for someone than to be ill.
I don't know if I could be as strong as you, to change a G-tube. I'd certainly have to try it with an empty stomach.
Take care.
Cathy, I am so sorry your Christmas turned out so stressful. Having a spare anything around is always a great plan. Whenever I buy a new faucet or anything with replaceable parts, I buy extras immediately and tape them close by the piece because finding the exact one is difficult. I don't know how many times I have bought parts, assured by the seller that they were the right ones and they did not fit in an emergency. I will pray that you will have the strength and wisdom to do the right thing when needed. Once I had to pluck my grandchildren out of a burst and exploded glass shower door to determine injuries and get them help as the parents were in shock. I still can't believe I was able to do that calmly and accurately, I believe God gave me the ability and calmness to do it. Later I collapsed.
What a time you are having, medical emergencies, visits to ER, and having to learn new medical skills. Sending cyber hugs to both of you.
The quilt is beautiful and so many little pieces in it.
I can't even imagine a dr. saying do it yourself but I guess he really knew that it could be done by you. I hope you never have to do it, that you will always be able to get an appointment quickly.
Love your Irish Chain! This is on my someday to-do list!
You are strong and beautiful, Cathy! May the Lord bless you and keep you! :)
What a wonderful quilt! I love it!
I know it’s not the same but I once remember staying with my uncle who had a tracheostomy. I stayed so my aunt could go to her sisters funeral. I had to clean the trach multiple times on a very grouchy old man! When it was time for me to go, he wrote “Thank you, Bunk!” on his white board. I’ll never forget that. I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. I know it’ll be the same for you.
I had to read this post 3 times before I found the rainbow fabric you were talking about. Oh my! You did a great job selecting that. I can't believe you work with such tiny pieces. It is really a work of art. The dark fabric around the colors really makes it interesting.
I smiled a little when you talked about the old cartoons where they had been shot and when they drank the liquid squirted out all of the holes! I also know what you mean about having to insert the tube. My son had a long-line catheter when he was taking chemo and I had to clean around where the tube was inserted every day. It was a sterile procedure and I had to go to a class and then prove that I could do it. That was horrible, but after doing it for two years, it became part of daily life. No "biggie!" I'm just glad you can maybe avoid the drama that was involved. I'm so sorry you two are having to go through that.
Lovely the flimsy, it will be a stunning quilt. Poor hubby, what a horrible experience for him. And for you, expected to suddenly become a stoma nurse. Good idea to have a spare tube in case this suddenly happens again but I can fully understand your anxiousness over having to do the procedure yourself. But, as you say, it’s amazing what we are able to do once the chips are down. My best wishes to you both for a calmer 2024.
Ah, the things we do for love. I fed my husband through his tube, which went well except for the *one* day when a friend was over. He was talking to my husband and made him laugh just as I finished pouring the liquid nutrients through the tube. You know the term "belly laugh"? Yeah. When the muscles contracted, we got a fountain right out of the feeding tube!! I still laugh when I think about it (though the cleanup was legendary!)
Great quilt. Maybe someday my mind will settle down and want to piece things again, and if so, I think I'd like to make that design.
Take care.
The rainbows in the sashes are just perfect, Cathy -- and you need a rainbow these days. What a scary experience for you and John. Hope you're both feeling better and able to relax.
The multi-color fabric is absolutely perfect - what a great solution! It makes all the colors just flow into each other and continue the chains so smoothly!
I do hope you've got someone who can give both you and your husband sustaining hugs as you both forge on. (Pretty sure you're doing it for each other, but it's good to get some extra love too!)
A stunning quilt made by a stunning woman. There is so much to admire about you, Cathy. I am in awe of you.
Oh my goodness Cathy, what a time you and Hubby have had!! I'm with you on the insertion of a new tube, I can do most things but bleeding is the problem I have - I'm guessing I'd also have trouble with inserting another tube. Ho[e all goes well and it doesn't become necessary for you. On a happy note I love your quilt!!
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