Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Super heroes, the Super Bowl and diabetic cats...

Since my last post, the Ravens won the Super Bowl!  And my husband and I are such die hard fans that we will remind each other of this simple fact for weeks, months and even years to come.  I really only mention it here because I came up with such a clever title.

In my last post, I told you all about Zena a.k.a. "Beansie", one of my cats, who had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. I have wonderful news to share - after just over two weeks on insulin injections, the vet declared the diabetes to be in remission and I was able to quit giving her shots. Praise the Lord! It wasn't as simple as just giving her shots and then - bam! - no more diabetes, she went back for all-day observation and blood tests twice. After the first blood glucose curve, the vet increased the insulin. Well, on the third day of the increased insulin, my husband called me worried sick (yes, crying) that she was dying. I freaked out and raced home. On the drive, I called my sister ("Why are you calling me?! Call the vet! Now!") and the vet. Low blood sugar. Get her some Karo syrup, and then feed her. Well, that did the trick, and then the vet reduced the insulin. It would have been nice if someone had warned me that could happen... After the second blood glucose curve, we were told that Beansie's numbers were good all day and we could quit the injections. The upshot of all of this is that she is at a healthier weight than she used to be and she is more affectionate than ever. To quote my four-year-old, "I love Beanser; she's my number one love cat."

That same four-year-old was recently invited to a birthday party for twin boys in her pre-school class. I always cringe a little when the invitations come home from school with the words, "Come dressed up." And no, they don't mean to wear your Sunday finery. Don't get me wrong, I am not daunted by the thought of making a costume, but the invitation said this party had an Avengers theme. I am pretty out of touch with pop culture, so I had a vague idea of the Avengers being super heroes, but did not know any details. Well, my daughter told me she wanted to be Firestar. I am 99% certain she has never seen said Firestar, but had learned of her from classmates. A quick Google search revealed some VERY adult images of Firestar and I feigned ignorance declaring, "I don't know how to make a Firestar costume. Let's invent our own super hero. How about Vegetarian Girl? She protects animals and makes them well if they're hurt or sick?" It didn't go over very well initially. But the day before the party, I told her again that I couldn't make a Firestar costume and she'd have to go without a costume. She reluctantly asked, "Well, what about that other one you said? Vegetarian Girl?" So I found this fabulous super hero cape tutorial.  I couldn't resist making a matching skirt. 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Bra alterations for cat medication


Did the title catch your eye?  I can imagine anyone just passing by might stop to see what that could possibly mean.

It's a new year and a lot of new things are on the horizon.  We'll start with my Etsy shop, EverSewSweet.  My "original" Etsy resolution was to create a new listing each week.  Well, so far I don't have any new listings in 2013, but I have a lot of things in the works.  I managed one new listing on New Year's Eve, these sweet American Girl pajamas




Tonight, while at my sewing machine, I discovered an easily fixable mistake, but it made me quit sewing in favor of a blog post.  And I've made a list of sewing projects that I need to work on, one of which popped up today.  I had a text from a recent customer who had me add straps to a strapless dress.  So she must have a strap "thing" because today she asked me to fix the straps on 13 bras.  Yes, 13.  She brought me a huge shopping bag full of bras!  Part of me says, "Bra alterations?  Did I really sign up for this?"  But the practical part of me says I need the dough.

Last Friday, one of my cat companions (I'm a cat lady, I admit it) was diagnosed with diabetes.  I am giving her insulin injections twice daily, which is going to get expensive.  But she's my love cat, my Beansie, and I will do what I have to do, including bra alterations!

Here she is, the fatty on the right.  She topped out around 16 pounds, and now weighs under 10.  On the left, is Fat Sera (yes, that's what I call her).