About Me

Welcome, my new friends. I know you don’t know much about me that I haven’t shared on the blog already, so I wanted to give you a little insight into who I am and how I got to where I am now.

My name is Julie and my husband since 1993 is John. We have two children, Bradyn (11) and Alyson (5). I am also Mommy to four doggies (Madison, Tala, Lindy and Quetzal), two kitties (Catsanova & Salix) and five hens (Mrs. Raccoon and “the chicks”) round out the household.

I grew up as a preacher’s kid, which means we Moved A Lot. I was born in St. Louis and have grew up in MO, CA, NY, IL, PA, WV, VA. All told, that’s 11 different houses before I got married. I think my parents must be part gypsy. We’ve lived in our current home just north of Colorado Springs since 2002.

On the professional front, I obtained a BS in Engineering Physics in 1992. B.C., aka Before Children, I worked at a nuclear research facility and then as a contractor for the US military. Just after my son was born in 1999, I started teaching part time at the local community college. After a year there, my husband decided to change jobs and we moved to Colorado. More recently, I obtained a landscape design degree.

In 1994, Alyson was born and completed our family. I spent the next several years homeschooling Bradyn, being involved with MOMS Club and just living life. In the winter of 2008, my father-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer. He endured chemotherapy & radiation until he passed away in June 2008. Toward the middle of July, Alyson had a round of tummy problems. After a week, she got sick again. And again. The new-to-our-practice MD blew me off. Then she got sick for the fourth time. I requested The Best Pediatrician Ever for the next appointment who took a finger prick for hemoglobin (it was 6.3; normal is 12ish), felt Alyson’s tummy (enlarged liver & spleen) and sent us to the ER. August 11, 2008 changed my life. Alyson was diagnosed with leukemia. (Her blog is at Alyson’s Journey.)

Cancer changes your perspective, your life and your everything.

I now fill my days with:

• Family
• Pets
• Chemotherapy and Doctor Visits
• Knitting
• Sewing
• Photography
• Gardening
• Construction
• Woodwork
• Paper – collage, cutting, etc
• Homeschooling

and write about all these things.  Knittlebits is about my personal journey through this time in my life. I’m glad you decided to join me.