I've been sick all week. Ugh. I absolutely hate being sick. I should've stayed home from school, but it's just as much work to prepare for a sub as it is to put in a movie and sit there myself.
This started at 2am Tuesday morning - stomach bug. 'Nuff said. 24 hours. I feel like I still haven't fully recovered. By mid-morning on Tuesday, my voice started going out. I was achy but no fever. No energy. Rescheduled my chiropractor appointment and took myself home that afternoon.
Wednesday - absolutely no voice. Nothing. It's been years since I've had laryngitis that bad. But at least the tummy bug was over. Still achy. Still no fever. Still no energy. But had to go to a Court of Honor for Chris. So I went and couldn't speak.
Thursday - voice was coming back. Still somewhat achy. Still no energy. But...still had to go to the chiropractor, take John to his counseling appointment. Mom's work is never done.
By Friday I knew what I had to do. I had to go to bed. And that's what I did. I assigned the boys some Friday afternoon chores so the house wouldn't look quite so atrocious when Richard came home. I got in my pj's and took to my bed. I stayed there all Friday night and all day Saturday. And my boys were great. They did everything I had put on their lists. And they did it without complaining. (Really!)
Richard came home Friday evening. We had already talked about what was to transpire this weekend. I was staying in bed. He was great about it. He cleaned the kitchen, took the boys to a movie on Saturday while I napped.
By Sunday, I was feeling better, but still not great. I considered not going to church, but then remembered it was the Seminary program and I wanted to be there for that. Well, that was inspired because Chris gave an absolutely fantastic talk - and so did the other youth. (That should probably be another blog post.) It was also inspired because my very in-tune friend asked me if I thought I needed a blessing. Uh...YEAH! There's an idea. (Why do we not take advantage of priesthood blessings like we should? Afraid of overuse maybe? I don't know.)
So I came home after sacrament and put my feet up again. Brother Mac came by later and he and Richard gave me a wonderful blessing. I felt better almost immediately. Maybe my "very in-tune friend" was right. Much of my feelings this week - the not-being-able-to-fight-this-off-well is due to the stress of the end of the year.
We still have 8 days of school. E.I.G.H.T. Everyone else in the known universe gets out this Friday. We get out next Thursday. I've given up cleaning. I've given up cooking. As long as the boys have clothes on their bodies and some type of food in their bellies, I'm good. I'm not even sure if I care if they're clean. And so my blessing was very much needed and told me exactly what I needed to hear.
My back still hurts, my head still hurts, my neck still hurts and I'm still coughing. (Yeah, I'll be chatting with my chiropractor about the first three things.) But I *feel* better. I know that I can make it now. It's going to be a good eight days. I've been promised that and I believe it.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
A Good Weekend
It's going to be a good weekend. It's been a pretty good and relaxing Saturday. I still have to put together my sharing time for tomorrow. But we've all tried to just hang out and relax today.
We're trying to recover from a really busy week. Chris had his awards ceremony this week. He's in the top ten in his class again. James is just trying to get through the year. We've had so much trouble with his teacher this year. He believe that she doesn't like him and I'm beginning to believe it too. She doesn't communicate, she doesn't pay attention to what's going on in class and she doesn't enter her grades so that we can keep up with what he's missing. She also nails him for "missing" assignments that were assigned while he was in LEAP. We're talking with his LEAP teacher about that. It's just so wrong. John is in counseling again. He really enjoys going and I hope we can help him better this time.
Richard didn't come home this weekend. He has final exams next week and so he will spend the weekend making up multiple tests. Boo.
I feel like I want to write, but I feel rather disjointed in my writings. I especially want to write about James's experience this year, but I've started and deleted two posts on the subject. I just can't seem to get it all down the way I want to without feeling like I'm bouncing from point to point to point to point with no real map between them. Maybe I need to put it down in a timeline form or something. Or look back over my blog and see if I've written about it before.
See? There I go again. I guess I'm still just too angry about it to put it into written words properly.
Back to the positives: Chris taught John how to mow the back yard. I made pancakes and bacon for breakfast this morning. I've gotten some laundry done. And I've rested. And that's been the best part of the day.
Hey...since I made breakfast, doesn't that mean I don't have to make dinner?
We're trying to recover from a really busy week. Chris had his awards ceremony this week. He's in the top ten in his class again. James is just trying to get through the year. We've had so much trouble with his teacher this year. He believe that she doesn't like him and I'm beginning to believe it too. She doesn't communicate, she doesn't pay attention to what's going on in class and she doesn't enter her grades so that we can keep up with what he's missing. She also nails him for "missing" assignments that were assigned while he was in LEAP. We're talking with his LEAP teacher about that. It's just so wrong. John is in counseling again. He really enjoys going and I hope we can help him better this time.
Richard didn't come home this weekend. He has final exams next week and so he will spend the weekend making up multiple tests. Boo.
I feel like I want to write, but I feel rather disjointed in my writings. I especially want to write about James's experience this year, but I've started and deleted two posts on the subject. I just can't seem to get it all down the way I want to without feeling like I'm bouncing from point to point to point to point with no real map between them. Maybe I need to put it down in a timeline form or something. Or look back over my blog and see if I've written about it before.
See? There I go again. I guess I'm still just too angry about it to put it into written words properly.
Back to the positives: Chris taught John how to mow the back yard. I made pancakes and bacon for breakfast this morning. I've gotten some laundry done. And I've rested. And that's been the best part of the day.
Hey...since I made breakfast, doesn't that mean I don't have to make dinner?
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Blessings from Trials
After my very whiny post of yesterday, I got to thinking about the blessings. There were blessings in those trials of the last week.
There were plenty of people who were willing and able to help us throughout the week. Kathy, Suzanne, Allen, Sabrina and Griff are just a few. I mean really...we could've walked to and from school, but ew! And I couldn't have walked to Chearon (not Chevron) to pick up the car. Even the tow truck driver was friendly and our insurance people called the tow people for me.
But...the biggest blessing of all is that the brakes didn't fail until *after* it was parked in the driveway. Not while I was on my way to school with the boys and most especially not while Chris was driving to or from Target Monday night.
It's so easy to get bogged down in the truly petty problems of the day. Yes, I had to spend $400 to fix the brakes on the car. But...I had $400 set aside for vacation this summer. Somehow or other we'll manage the rest. The blessings will come - and many have already. I just need to remember to focus on the blessings and the lessons - not just the problems.
That's mortality.
There were plenty of people who were willing and able to help us throughout the week. Kathy, Suzanne, Allen, Sabrina and Griff are just a few. I mean really...we could've walked to and from school, but ew! And I couldn't have walked to Chearon (not Chevron) to pick up the car. Even the tow truck driver was friendly and our insurance people called the tow people for me.
But...the biggest blessing of all is that the brakes didn't fail until *after* it was parked in the driveway. Not while I was on my way to school with the boys and most especially not while Chris was driving to or from Target Monday night.
It's so easy to get bogged down in the truly petty problems of the day. Yes, I had to spend $400 to fix the brakes on the car. But...I had $400 set aside for vacation this summer. Somehow or other we'll manage the rest. The blessings will come - and many have already. I just need to remember to focus on the blessings and the lessons - not just the problems.
That's mortality.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
That's Mortality
And I don't think I like it very much right now.
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. We were treated to yummy-nummy lunches and breakfasts all week. It was fabulous!
Unfortunately, that was about the only thing that went right all week long.
Monday - I don't really remember it. How sad is that? I do remember that I didn't jump in and do FHE. Maybe that was the problem with the rest of the week?
Tuesday - Got in the car that morning, started it up, put my foot on the brake pedal to put it in gear and the pedal went all the way to the floor. Whoops. Everyone back out of the car. Called Kathy to see if she was at school yet. She was close, but not quite so she turned around and came to pick us up. I called the insurance people that afternoon. They called their favorite towing company who bills the insurance first. Had an extra choir practice after school. Got Allen to take John to cub scouts (and bring him home). Kathy gave us a ride home after school. Tow truck showed up and towed the car to the shop. Three boys, one parent and no car. Oh...actually two parents. Richard came home to fix the bike and ride it back so that I could have the truck. Unfortunately, the bike didn't cooperate and he had to drive the truck back.
Wednesday - no car. Had to find rides to/from school and rides for James and Chris to scouts/mutual. Thanks again to the McFarlands and Kathy. Couldn't have survived the day without y'all.
Thursday - Found out that the brake hose to the rear caliper was loose/broken/something-or-other and leaked fluid which in turn caused the master cylinder to blow. Car should be done by 4:00. At 3:00, it wasn't looking good. The hose didn't match the one from the car, so they had to get another part. It should be done by 4:30. John had an appointment in Carrollton at 5:00. I called and rescheduled John's appointment - just to lessen the stress. The repair shop and I decided to just hold off picking up the car until Friday. So...Sabrina gave the boys and me a ride home and here we were again with no car. We also had choir practice that afternoon which is always stressful.
Friday - Yay for Fridays! Boo for Tuesday rotations. Most stressful set of classes for the second time this week. Survived the day - lesson plans in, desk cleaned off, no students harmed. Griff gave us a ride out to the repair shop. Car was ready. He couldn't hear the groaning noise the van makes when you turn. Funny...I could hear it just fine by Saturday. Ugh. Anyway, came home with a car and minus about $400. Decided the week is over and so am I. Stick a fork in my forehead - I'm done.
As I started this post on Saturday, I was determined that the horrid week was over and I was going to start fresh. Well, that fell into the sludge by Saturday evening. Ran to the store last night to get milk. (We'd been out for two days.) I had the windows cracked. Pushed the buttons to roll them up. Passenger window rolled on up. Driver window - stayed there. Won't go up or down.
AAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Storms came through in the middle of the night. Richard went out in the rain and put some plastic on the window. I have no idea what it looks like yet. It's Mother's Day now and I'm not sure I want to know. But I'm probably going to have to find out before we head off to church.
I'm really beginning to hate this car. I can't be without a car this week. Cub scouts and two appointments on Tuesday, scouts/mutual on Wednesday, Sandy Lake and another appointment on Thursday (Chris also has his AP test that day), school carnival on Saturday.
I'm really, really beginning to hate this car.
Post edit: We got the window up this evening. Richard said, "Now...leave it alone and we'll trade the car in." Yeah...we'll see.
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. We were treated to yummy-nummy lunches and breakfasts all week. It was fabulous!
Unfortunately, that was about the only thing that went right all week long.
Monday - I don't really remember it. How sad is that? I do remember that I didn't jump in and do FHE. Maybe that was the problem with the rest of the week?
Tuesday - Got in the car that morning, started it up, put my foot on the brake pedal to put it in gear and the pedal went all the way to the floor. Whoops. Everyone back out of the car. Called Kathy to see if she was at school yet. She was close, but not quite so she turned around and came to pick us up. I called the insurance people that afternoon. They called their favorite towing company who bills the insurance first. Had an extra choir practice after school. Got Allen to take John to cub scouts (and bring him home). Kathy gave us a ride home after school. Tow truck showed up and towed the car to the shop. Three boys, one parent and no car. Oh...actually two parents. Richard came home to fix the bike and ride it back so that I could have the truck. Unfortunately, the bike didn't cooperate and he had to drive the truck back.
Wednesday - no car. Had to find rides to/from school and rides for James and Chris to scouts/mutual. Thanks again to the McFarlands and Kathy. Couldn't have survived the day without y'all.
Thursday - Found out that the brake hose to the rear caliper was loose/broken/something-or-other and leaked fluid which in turn caused the master cylinder to blow. Car should be done by 4:00. At 3:00, it wasn't looking good. The hose didn't match the one from the car, so they had to get another part. It should be done by 4:30. John had an appointment in Carrollton at 5:00. I called and rescheduled John's appointment - just to lessen the stress. The repair shop and I decided to just hold off picking up the car until Friday. So...Sabrina gave the boys and me a ride home and here we were again with no car. We also had choir practice that afternoon which is always stressful.
Friday - Yay for Fridays! Boo for Tuesday rotations. Most stressful set of classes for the second time this week. Survived the day - lesson plans in, desk cleaned off, no students harmed. Griff gave us a ride out to the repair shop. Car was ready. He couldn't hear the groaning noise the van makes when you turn. Funny...I could hear it just fine by Saturday. Ugh. Anyway, came home with a car and minus about $400. Decided the week is over and so am I. Stick a fork in my forehead - I'm done.
As I started this post on Saturday, I was determined that the horrid week was over and I was going to start fresh. Well, that fell into the sludge by Saturday evening. Ran to the store last night to get milk. (We'd been out for two days.) I had the windows cracked. Pushed the buttons to roll them up. Passenger window rolled on up. Driver window - stayed there. Won't go up or down.
AAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Storms came through in the middle of the night. Richard went out in the rain and put some plastic on the window. I have no idea what it looks like yet. It's Mother's Day now and I'm not sure I want to know. But I'm probably going to have to find out before we head off to church.
I'm really beginning to hate this car. I can't be without a car this week. Cub scouts and two appointments on Tuesday, scouts/mutual on Wednesday, Sandy Lake and another appointment on Thursday (Chris also has his AP test that day), school carnival on Saturday.
I'm really, really beginning to hate this car.
Post edit: We got the window up this evening. Richard said, "Now...leave it alone and we'll trade the car in." Yeah...we'll see.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Better
I wrote a depressing post yesterday. I try not to do that. I actually have a private blog and a handwritten journal for my most private, depressing thoughts. But yesterday, for whatever reason, I wrote it here.
Things are better today. I was reading a really great blog today, Andrea Merriman: The Unexpected Life, and I was reminded that when the trials come - well, we just need to press on. I was reminded of that at Stake Conference today as well. We cannot choose many of the things that happen. We cannot choose how others decide to respond or how their actions may impact us. But we *can* choose how we respond.
So...when Richard's switch flips as it did yesterday and he chooses to take himself out of commission for the whole day in order to spare us his anger and wrath and basic insanity, how am I going to respond? Was his response a good thing? Maybe. Maybe not. It was probably better than him blowing up all over a bunch of people who did nothing to deserve it. I hate that the switch flipped at all and wish we knew what caused it.
But...how did I respond? I was supportive (I thought) as he told me about being so angry. I tried really, really, really hard not to show my frustration to the boys throughout the day as Richard slept and I shopped and harvested my crops and made dinner and cooked meals for my Cafe and did Richard's laundry. (That last one right there should nominate me for sainthood.) I tried my very best not to be passive/aggressive.
By this morning, Richard was feeling much better. And he was understanding that it might take me a little bit to recover as well; that I can't just jump back into everything's-hunky-dory-again. I must say that he could be doing a bit more to help the process along (chocolate, anyone?), but he did make a really yummy breakfast this morning.
So...it's a new day. We had a wonderful stake conference meeting today. Inspired talks and a simply fabulous primary choir. I love hearing children sing. James and John were part of it. Chris went to the broadcast at our ward building while the younger boys and I went with friends to the stake center. We had to be there extra early for choir rehearsal, so we got good cushy seats. First time in forever I've sat in the good seats for stake conference! Yay! Richard stayed home and worked on his motorcycle. That bothers me a bit, but again...I can't choose his actions.
I can, however, choose my response. Today I will choose to smile, give him a hug, tell him what he missed, and go harvest my crops. ;-)
Things are better today. I was reading a really great blog today, Andrea Merriman: The Unexpected Life, and I was reminded that when the trials come - well, we just need to press on. I was reminded of that at Stake Conference today as well. We cannot choose many of the things that happen. We cannot choose how others decide to respond or how their actions may impact us. But we *can* choose how we respond.
So...when Richard's switch flips as it did yesterday and he chooses to take himself out of commission for the whole day in order to spare us his anger and wrath and basic insanity, how am I going to respond? Was his response a good thing? Maybe. Maybe not. It was probably better than him blowing up all over a bunch of people who did nothing to deserve it. I hate that the switch flipped at all and wish we knew what caused it.
But...how did I respond? I was supportive (I thought) as he told me about being so angry. I tried really, really, really hard not to show my frustration to the boys throughout the day as Richard slept and I shopped and harvested my crops and made dinner and cooked meals for my Cafe and did Richard's laundry. (That last one right there should nominate me for sainthood.) I tried my very best not to be passive/aggressive.
By this morning, Richard was feeling much better. And he was understanding that it might take me a little bit to recover as well; that I can't just jump back into everything's-hunky-dory-again. I must say that he could be doing a bit more to help the process along (chocolate, anyone?), but he did make a really yummy breakfast this morning.
So...it's a new day. We had a wonderful stake conference meeting today. Inspired talks and a simply fabulous primary choir. I love hearing children sing. James and John were part of it. Chris went to the broadcast at our ward building while the younger boys and I went with friends to the stake center. We had to be there extra early for choir rehearsal, so we got good cushy seats. First time in forever I've sat in the good seats for stake conference! Yay! Richard stayed home and worked on his motorcycle. That bothers me a bit, but again...I can't choose his actions.
I can, however, choose my response. Today I will choose to smile, give him a hug, tell him what he missed, and go harvest my crops. ;-)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
It was 17 Years Ago Today...
that Richard and I got married. I would love to write a blog about how wonderful he is. How amazing he is. What a great husband and father he is. How he is my best friend. And I really want to write that blog today.
But I can't.
Because he's grumpy today. He's bitter today. He's very, very, very tense today. And because I'm ticked at him today. Maybe tomorrow I can write about how wonderful he is.
Because he is wonderful. Just not today. Rats.
But I can't.
Because he's grumpy today. He's bitter today. He's very, very, very tense today. And because I'm ticked at him today. Maybe tomorrow I can write about how wonderful he is.
Because he is wonderful. Just not today. Rats.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)