A 'no question too stupid' knitting pattern question

[piemashandliquer]

I am so embarrassed but have no one else to ask, so here goes:

I am knitting my first shawl (22.5 degrees Martina Behm) pattern is as follows:

Cast on 3 sts
row 1: kfb, k1, kfb (5sts) Mark centre st with safety pin
row 2: kfb, knit to centre st, yo, k1, yo, knit to final st, kfb
row 3 and 4: kfb, knit to final st, kfb

stupid question number 1:
how do I keep tally of how many sts I should have to know that I haven't dropped or increased too many?

stupid question number 2:
Once Ive marked the centre st, does this always stay the centre st? ie, at the end of each row should I have the same amount of sts either side of the marker I placed at the beginning, or do I have to count the sts at the end of each row and find the middle one?

Hope the questions make sense. I'd be grateful if any of you would take pity on a simpleton and help me out.

Thank you both! I have put some pics on ravelry (though hubby took them and they are a bit rubbish!) It's Martina behms 22 little clouds. I'm feeling really ambitious now - got some beautiful yarn by Juniper Moon called Finley DK in a sale and I think it would look great in Megan Goodacre's new Oaklet shawl, its lacy and I've never done that before, it says it's good for a beginner though. I just wish I was better at weaving in ends, got a couple of little pokers on this on that are bound to drive me mad!

BTW, the yarn I used was great and a bargain from Artesano directly on their website £3.25 for 50g, and lovely and soft, nice to work with.

Ravelry isn't throwing anything out behms is a user but no projects. Have another go at giving us your username.

search 22 little clouds in patterns, my project is there on most up to date page x

I found it. Martina Behm is the designer, piemashandliquer is her Ravelry name as well as her Mumsnet one. (Very nice by the way!)

Ah, that was the missing link: same user name, just like me.

Thank you (curtsies!)