Fighting Through Illness

Man oh man.

Don't you hate when it feels like you are coming down with something and you are momentarily struck by the thought:  How will everything get done if I get sick?  I'm in that place.  I have the symptoms of a cold right now.  The same cold that has laid two of my colleagues by the wayside in the past week and a half.  And now this same cold has reared its ugly head and placed me firmly in its sights.

I awoke with one stuffed nostril and a throat that ached when I swallowed.  Throughout the day, the symptoms progressed to sneezes, the feeling of an elephant on my chest, and slight nausea around dinner.  I have taken a nap and and am drinking my ginger ale.  I'll be heading up to bed in just a few to gather my strength for teaching tomorrow.

I'm praying that this is the extent of my illness.  I don't like being sick.  Thankfully for me, I rarely am.  Being off my feet with someone else in charge and running the house leaves me feeling a little disconcerted.  It's the whole Supermom thing again, but I am learning to relax a bit more.  My husband is learning to cook more meals and helps with homework and things around the house, which are blessings.

So if this thing progresses (which I really pray it doesn't), I know I'll be in good hands.  Even as I keep my cape tucked under my PJs.   

The Crazy Came...and Went

Wow.  It has been one heck of a time in my household.  We've gotten into the swing of the school stuff (at least, I'm pretty sure we have) and were cruising along quite nicely.

Then my husband had to go away for training for his job. In Des Moines, Iowa (which is several states away from where I live). For a WEEK.

For those of you who have spouses that travel on a regular basis, more power to you.  I extol your virtues.  I had no virtues last week; my week was crazed.  And as an aside, I don't know how single parents do it, either.  Six days was enough for me.

My husband left on a Sunday morning before church and returned very late Friday evening.  The house wasn't the same without him.  We had to adjust our daily routines a bit; my mother-in-law was here at the house to make sure my daughter got off the bus okay and didn't have to wait in an empty house until I got home. (My husband is usually home when she gets home.) Call me paranoid, but things happen.

During the week, I'll admit, I was tired.  Mainly because I wasn't sleeping well.  I was paranoid that someone would try to break in so I put strings of bells on all of my doors and added to my fervent prayers for safety and protection each night.  (Not that I live in a dangerous neighborhood; in fact it's pretty quiet. It's just that, well, things happen.)  I used to put bells on the doors when the kids were little to alert me to any "wandering" that might occur.  That helped ease my mind a bit.  Besides that, the kids wanted to sleep with me in my room.  We did that last time my husband went out of town (four years ago!).  But in all, the kids slept well. Me, not so much.  Between listening for the bells and extracting little legs, arms, and feet from various points on my body each night then teaching my class of 19 during the day, I was wiped out by the time Friday rolled around.

I hadn't realized just how much I depend on my husband for the daily workings of the house.  We have the household chores pretty well divided and it was a bit overwhelming to try and do them all during the week in between homework, grading papers, instrument practice, etc.  The kids helped out where they could, but they had their own chores to do.  I think we did a pretty good job, but truth be told, I'm glad to have my own chore list back.  I can say the experience has made me appreciate my husband more.

The experience was also a bit humbling for me.  I'm so used to what I perceive to be all of the "stuff" I need to do for my household.  You know, or else it will fall apart without me--despite the contributions everyone else makes to said household.  Ahh, yes.  The good ol' Supermom Complex.  I think God knocked me down a few pegs to help me see that I'm not as "super" as I might have thought I was.

I'm getting back into the groove of things.  We all are.  The crazy is gone, I learned about myself, and my husband is back.

Life is good.

Juggling Act

It's been a crazy week or so in my household.  I had a "Wha...?" moment with my new cell phone (See 'Day 20' post on 180 Days.)  I've gotten the diagnosis on my knee, and I've been keeping on top of my children's schoolwork and activities.  Busy!

Regarding the cell phone, trust me.  Read the post.  You will feel so much better about yourself.


My new phone.  Waaaaaay too much technology in such a small device.  Although it is light years above what I had before.  I won't even show the picture for that one.  It's too embarrassing. 

About the knee.  Good news: By grace, I don't need surgery.  Not-so-great news:  My doctor still doesn't know what's causing the inflammation in my knee.  So I'm to stay on the regimen of knee support, ice, elevation, and ibuprofen.  It's sort of nice because I am pretty much parked on the sofa with my feet up after work wearing a rather stylish (not!) ice pack from CVS called Peas.  (Only I feel unproductive and slobbish when I do that.  But hey, maybe God's trying to tell me to slow down a bit.) 

Anyhow, if my knee doesn't improve, I am to schedule physical therapy somewhere between balancing five plates on a pole on my forehead, juggling two dozen eggs in my hands, all while balancing on one foot (on my good leg) on a unicycle.  Have you got the visual?  That's how I feel lately.  My doctor is a really nice guy and all, but I don't want to have to schedule in physical therapy on top of everything else.  We'll see.

Oh yeah! My husband had an idea to send out an all-call for comments, questions, suggestions, and tips from you, my lovely readers.  So I'm letting it all hang out here.  Any comments for me?  Or burning questions as to how I (almost) stay sane? Any suggestions on anything?  Any sanity-saving tips?  Bring 'em on!