British Flag Pattern

This is the first pattern I've ever written. If you find mistakes please let me know because I'm learning.

This pattern is ALL Single Crochet (sc) so I will simply list the number of sc's and of each color.



British Flag Pattern

Row 1: Ch 39 (White), turn
Row 2: Sc in 2nd ch from the end, 38sc, ch1,(white) turn
Row 3: 3W, 3R, 4W, 6B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 6B, 1W, 3R, 6W, ch1, turn
Row 4: 2W, 1B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 5B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 5B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 1B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 5: 2W, 2B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 4B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 4B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 2B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 6: 2W, 3B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 3B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 3B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 3B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 7: 2W, 4B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 2B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 2B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 4B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 8: 2W, 5B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 1B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 1B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 5B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 9: 2W, 6B, 1W, 3R, 5W, 4R, 2W, 3R, 4W, 6B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 10: 17W, 4R, 17W, ch1, turn
Row 11: 17W, 4R, 17W, ch1, turn
Row 12: 2W, 34R, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 13: 2W, 34R, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 14: 2W, 34R, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 15: 2W, 34R, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 16: 17W, 4R, 17W, ch1, turn
Row 17: 17W, 4R, 17W, ch1, turn
Row 18: 2W, 7B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 4R, 4W, 3R, 1W, 7B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 19: 2W, 6B, 1W, 3R, 5W, 4R, 2W, 3R, 4W, 6B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 20: 2W, 5B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 1B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 1B, 4W, 4W, 3R, 1W, 5B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 21: 2W, 4B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 2B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 2B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 4B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 22: 2W, 3B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 3B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 3B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 3B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 23: 2W, 2B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 4B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 4B, 1W, 3R, 4W, 2B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 24: 2W, 1B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 5B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 5B, 4W, 3R, 1W, 1B, 2W, ch1, turn
Row 25: 3W, 3R, 4W, 6B, 1W, 4R, 1W, 6B, 1W, 3R, 6W, ch1, turn
Row 26: 38W, cast off

My, how they grow

I know it has been quite a while since I last posted. Sorry. Life has been pretty busy. Iris is active as ever and Lowden just never stops being active. Iris had her cardio check-up at the beginning of September. It went great and she does not need to be seen again for another year. He is still baffled that she doesn't eat. I have gotten past being baffled, even frustrated. Now, I just wait.

Iris continues to see her occupational therapist every week. She is adjusting very well. There used to just be the one, but now there is also a student therapist that attends her appointments. They do various things with Iris, having her touch food and pack and unpack their "picnic" bag. She also helps feed the other children, there is one little girl that lets Iris feed her practically anything, its pretty good. But, the spoon never strays to her mouth. She is finally curious about food though. She always wants to touch what is on our plates at supper time, and we allow her to, encourage her to do it. The ladies at day care claim that she may or may not eat behind their backs. Bites of Iris' bread tend to go missing from time to time.

I may not be the MOST devout Catholic, but I pray to God every single day that he help my daughter eat. Someday.

Which brings me to the topic of God, and death and Heaven. This evening on the way home from daycare, Lowden began talking about all of his grandmas. It started when we were talking about our whole names. After going over all the immediate family, he asked what Grandma Marie's full name was. So, I told him and then he asked about others and I told him Grandma Sandy's full name and Grandma Linda and Grandpa Mick in Heaven.

How do you explain death and Heaven to a not-quite 5-year old? How do you make them understand that death is not a light subject and something not to joke about? He has joked about dying from time to time, and it makes me cringe. I know that he has no real grasp of what it actually means, but I want to help him understand it.

Tonight though, we actually had a serious talk about it, and he asked really good questions. I told him that Grandma Linda and Grandpa Mick watch over him from Heaven and that they love him. He asked if someday, he can see them there. I told him that yes, someday he could, but not for a very very long time, and when he is a VERY old man. Do you realize how hard it is to talk about death to your almost 5-year old? Then he went on to ask questions about if you can open your eyes in Heaven and things like that. I told him yes, because Heaven is a different kind of place than Earth and he would be able to play and open his eyes if he wanted to.

It is such a hard topic to talk about with your own child, and especially at such a young age. I am not sure I gave him the answers he needed, but he seemed satisfied and eventually left the subject of death and Heaven to talk about what else....Transformers.

We haven't disappeared.....

Did you think we did?

I can't believe it is June already! Summer finally seems to be on it's way in and I am ready for it. Although I prefer the low 80's and no humidity, beggars still can't be choosers, the last time I checked.

Things with Iris have been frustrating. I just don't understand it. She will go from being perfectly fine and not throwing up for a while, and then all of a sudden, once again, she can't seem to stop throwing up. It tends to spring up whenever she gets sick though, and especially if she has a cold. Her little tummy just doesn't seem to handle sinus drainage very well. At the end of March, she had a bad cold and a double ear infection. She was on antibiotics for the ear infection twice as it did not take care of it the first time, just when she stopped throwing up AS much from that, her allergies (I think allergies) start bothering her, so she is back to throwing up a ton. BUT, she is growing, if slowly. She had her regular 15 month check up this morning. Her weight was 20 lbs 6 oz and the 10%, her height was a little over 28 inches and the 12% and her head circumference came in at a whopping 70%. But she is following the curve, so they aren't concerned. Plus, her mental development is on track. I just wish she would stop throwing up and start eating. It is still a no-go on that front as well, but she continues to see Occupational Therapy out at the daycare, so we are working on it.

Lowden is good as ever. That kid has endless amounts of energy, it amazes me. He refuses afternoon naps now, and is still raring to go until as late as we will let him......which is usually 8pm or 8:30 at the LATEST! But the kid bounces off the wall at most hours of the day. He is due for a haircut. With this warm weather, it sticks to his neck and I can tell he is hot with it. Papa is wanting to take the buzzer to his head, but that will NOT be happening....whether he thinks it is or not! I would like to cut it before the weekend since I will be in Minnesota visiting Steph...my long lost Ethiopia friend who is now home, but I don't think I will find the time to do it until I get home.

Enjoy the pics!

Until next time...

Anna & The Kings

It's been a while

It has been too long since I updated. I know. The end of January and first two or three weeks of February brought us illness. And not short ones. It started with Lowden. He caught a cold and then passed it on to Iris, and Iris passed it on to Jesse. Lowden's cold lasted about two weeks but Iris' lasted closer to three, and Jesse's lasted about a week. I somehow, managed to escape it....so far.

The beginning of February was really stressful for me. For, with the onset of the nasty cold Iris inherited from Lowden, her vomiting returned. I must say, it brought on a wave of anxiety for me, that still hasn't completely dissipated. Iris is better, and has quit throwing up for the most part, but her tummy shrunk and so she is not handling large volumes. If I give her too much through the tube, it comes right back out.

So that brings us up to the end of February. Iris turned 1 year old just this last Friday, the 27th. We have come a full year and I can't quite believe she is one already. She is such a little sweet heart, and certainly has all three of us wrapped around her little finger. Just within the last week, she has begun crawling. Some of you may think this is slightly behind, which, it may or may not be. But I think she is entitled to taking her time considering her first year. She only crawls to get what she wants as of now. Not to get from point A to B, but to grab a toy mostly. We had her birthday party yesterday. It went well, and of course, she wasn't at all interested in her cupcake. I put a little frosting on her lips, and she gagged at the mere flavor of it, so I figured I would just let her be. It was a good time, and she took a GREAT nap when we got home.

Lowden woke up sick again this morning. He is complaining about his ears hurting and he has thrown up a few times throughout the day. I am taking him to the doctor tomorrow since we already have an appointment set for Iris' 1 year check up.

I have some pictures to get on the computer from Iris' birthday party, but it probably won't happen tonight. I will try to get some pics on here tomorrow so you can see how big she is getting.

Much Love,

Anna & The Kings

Getting there...

Each and every day, Iris seems to come along a little bit more. Her nurse is only going to check her stats and weight every two weeks now, as Iris is gaining steady and doing awesome. She called me a little bit ago to update me on her visit today. She said Iris was a little guarded with her at first, as she thought she was going to give her a shot, but no shots today. Her oxygen saturation was perfect and her weight is fabulous. The little thing bounced up to 18 lbs 5.5 oz. Almost a 1 lb weight gain. AMAZING. It is possible she could make it to 20 lbs by her first birthday, which happens to be next month. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? Where has the time gone? I cannot believe she is so close to a year already! She has certainly come along way.

Iris has become incredibly fond of Lowden. And vice versa. It is really cute to watch those two, and Lowden is the only one who can get these terrific belly laughs from Iris, the ones the crack both Jesse and I up when she does it. Lately, I will sit on the floor and have her sit between my legs, and she is constantly reaching for things on the other side of my leg, and when she does, ta-da, she is on her tummy. She used to hate that. But now, she will simply push up with her arms and just sit like that for a bit. I have been having Lowden sit farther away from her, and try to coax her to him. Not working yet, but I think it soon will, and then that boy will definitely be in trouble....as will I.

So, now I am going to have another birthday party to plan. Iris' birthday falls on a Friday. I am torn between having it that weekend, or if I should wait until the following weekend. I have a feeling that no matter what weekend I decide on, it will snow or rain or cause some kind of drama for me in someway as it did for Lowden's, but, I guess that is what I get for having winter babies. I just truly can't believe she is going to be 1 already!

Along with the 1 year birthday, there are changes to be made. According to safety laws in Iowa, if she does indeed weigh 20 lbs at her 1st birthday, I may choose to face her front in her car seat when driving and also put her in a larger car seat, and not a infant carrier. I will also be experimenting this next month with her formula. She is still on the non-dairy formula and I will switch her to the dairy based formula to see how she handles that. I think she will do fine, as I used a little bit I had sitting around last month when I was running low of the other stuff. She seemed to handle it just fine. If she does fine with the dairy based formula, at 1 year, she will be ready for whole milk. I have also started giving her baby food. She likes her carrots, but not much of anything else, picky girl. I'll keep working on the other veggies though. She is still not fond of food with any sort of texture though, so that is something else we have to work on.

Any way. I am so excited. I am taking on a very part-time job at Curves. Which will afford me to have a free membership so I can start working on those New Year's Resolutions. I am excited, and it will only be a few days a month, so I won't miss out on much time with the kids at all. Work on the closet has ceased for a while. We have been too busy, and it has been soooooooo cold. I am beyond ready for Spring. Bring on the rain and thunderstorms.

Ok, I am worded out for now.

Until Next Time...

Anna & The Kings

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http://oursimplelives.wordpress.com/

Looking Back

I have been meaning to update everyone for the last week now, but I have been busy and scatter-brained, so now here I am, catching you all up. I hope that everyone had a terrific Christmas and is settling into the New Year and grasping those resolutions. :) *snicker*

I named this blog entry Looking Back, because I have been doing a lot of that lately. Over 2008 that is. It was SUCH an overwhelming year! It was amazing, because Iris came to us, but so scary because of her needing to have open heart surgery. It was also a trying year. After the surgery, as many of you know, we had lots of complications with Iris, and I will be honest and say, my patience were tried most days. Some of those that read this blog have been through what we have with Iris, and understand it was the best year, but it was also one of my hardest years. There is no way to explain the emotions that go through a parent who has to watch their child go through painful surgeries and or just bad experiences, period. I am not sure if I am repeating myself here, probably, but I want to say it again. Many friends have said that we are so strong to have gone through this. But I don't really feel strength has much at all to do with it. Only love. We love our two children more than anything and we would do whatever it takes to make them healthy, and I tell these friends, they would do the same thing if it were under the same circumstances. I won't say it wasn't hard. Man, it was hard, and painful, but who was the one feeling the real pain? And look at her now! She is amazing!

Lowden has been through so much. He not only had to deal with getting a new sister, and having that sibling rivalry, but he has also had to deal with all the extra care that went to his sister and not him...yet, he adores her so much. Just thinking of his tenderness with her makes me want to burst out in tears. I know that not only now, but when they are older, he is going to be the best brother any little girl could ask for (whether it is admitted by them or not:)

So, now when I look forward into 2009, I see a lot of hope for how our family is going to grow. And by that I don't mean more children, Heaven's NO! (internal giggle) I believe the magic number for our family is 4, we are content there! But things are getting a little easier and there is so much comfort for me in that. I have been trying some baby foods with Iris, and she is slowly developing more of a taste for them, and not gagging as much with them. She still gags a little, but she no longer throws up from it. Well, she no longer throws up at all, which is SUCH a blessing. I can't even explain how happy I am about that. Now, if I could just get her to sleep more!

I'm all worded out, so, until next time....

Truly,

Anna & The Kings