Prepping for the Olympics

I've discovered that in order to participate in the YarnHarlot's Knitting Olympics, I will need to have my own Knitting Championship to finish current Dale project (11604 - Agave) - plus complete some of the socks on needles ( I have around 3 - I suffer from 2nd sock syndrome, it's a serious condition..but there is hope). Not forgetting all the swatching (training) that I have to do to prepare for the Olympics.

I decided to do the Color My Own Philosophers Wool Cardi, and in my crazy dreams, I'm thinking I'll do the matching cardi for my daughter (4). Realistically, there is not a chance in Hades that I'll get both done, but one can dream. I've decided that the key to completing Color Own sweater will be to not sleep. Last night I took my sleeping pill (insomnia - a problem for some, but may work for my advantage during the Main Event) and tried to knit on the sleeve of my Dale. The colors for the main part of the sleeve are green and black; I had set a goal to complete 12 more rows before I went to bed and pill took effect... only problem was that after a while I noticed that some of the stitches looked blue and then pink and yellow and red. Bloody Hell! The pill took effect too quick. I'm wondering about cutting sleeping pills in half and only taking half doses so that I can get some zzz's but still get more knitting time.

Sometimes it feels like a Catch 22 - I'm a mum so I have lots of people who are more than happy to wear my constant stream of knitted goods, but they are rude enough to require my attention and time - especially the 1 year old. I appreciate all the sporting events they are in, as I can have an excuse to sit and knit all day long watching them and occasionally remembering to cheer (hopefully when their team scores goal, not their opponents - believe me, it's happened). There are also all of those doctors appointments where I am more than happy to sit in the cough infested waiting room, but then my preschooler has the nerve to want to be held because she has a fever. I have tried knitting with a 4-yr old with a fever on my lap, but if you can manage to get your arms around them and their blankies, you can't keep hold of the needles for all the sweat pouring out of your body because 4yr old has 104 Fever. Very inconvenient. My boys, 7 & 10 have taken quite a liking to the yarn store, but then pester me to teach them how to knit. I have, but it cuts into my knitting time answering their questions and picking up their dropped stitches.

Need to run and put 1yr old down for nap, find project (nee Cartoon on TV for child to stare aimlessly at and playdoh to smash into carpet) for 4 yr old, so I can get some more knitting on sleeve of dale done. I am 1/2 way done on 2nd sleeve. I forced myself to do sleeves first (helpful for guage swatching) and get the pain out of the way.