Happy Aloha Friday.

I agree I'd rather have fibro than some of the other things out there. We have good days and bad days and can appreciate our good days with something productive.

Sleep was so broken I don't know if there was any real rest in there. I'd fall asleep and begin dreaming then suddenly be jolted back to awareness, hear my heart beating / racing. This occurred all night, ugh. I know when I went to bed I had some issues weighing on my mind so it could have been anxiety. Plus, back pain.

I have my Voc Rehab appt today where I have to tell the counselor my decision on whether I want to go back to school (for long term employment) or let the VA support a hobby of my choice. I've been pretty eaten up about this decision. Feels like an all or nothing choice.

I volunteered to donate some items for the military widows annual get together they're having.... and have to go buy the stuff (like *today*) and mail it asap if I want to make the deadline. I told them I would send them Hawaiian trinkets. They sound excited. So, I guess I have a long day ahead w/ a rough start and hope I can get it all done.

The church is have a valentine's dinner tomorrow. I signed up to make bread pudding. It's actually a surprise 30th wedding anniversary for the pastor and his wife under the guised of a valentines celebration. lol. We the congregation wrote little, colorful appreciation notes with our favorite Bible verses. I look forward to going (where usually I avoid these events), but my husband and mom don't seemed to be in the mood.

Back in a bit.

Hi Peeps- I've been reading but not participating the past few days. I have not been sleeping even with Ambien. That stuff is a total waste on me. It has no effect which the surgeons PA found amazing. After joint replacement you are not allowed to use supplements or even take a daily vitamin for 90 days, The concern is that they may cause bleeding in the joint or inflammation. She let me go back on OTC Calms Forte which mercifully more or less worked last night. I got a few hours of sleep after days of nothing but a cat nap here and there. So today, I feel a bit more human. I may even try to wash my hair.

At the moment, I am on my phone while on the couch. My knee is a bit swollen so I have to assume a rather unladylike position to get the swelling down. There is no comfortable position whether my leg is up, down or in motion. I start PT on Monday which I am pretty sure will not be fun.

I just want all of you to know how grateful I am for the hugs, encouragement and support. I am always thinking of all of you and hoping for better times. We all deserve a break. Have a good afternoon. I may try to check back later.

Leo, what a very good point. I know this feels like death to us, but there are other people that feel like what they are going through is worst, and most of them are. I hope you have a better weekend, and you get to have some fun and rest. You deserve it. Thanks for the chocolate and hugs!

kel, hugs to you my friend. I can't run either, but my girls want to teach me all the time. ;-)

miki, I'm glad you got to run. Keep up the exercise as best you can, it helps improve the mood.

Maynard, I love the positive attitude. I hope you get to feeling better.

bbmom, you never slow down. You worked last weekend, and now you have to do a garage sale tomorrow. I'm proud of you for donating your time though. You are great!

ida, I'm glad to see you found a house you like, I'm praying it works out.

crumbs, I'm glad you don't have to pay that bill. I hope you don't have any smoke damage?

Angela, I'm glad your tough day is over. Hang in there, it will get better.

Blue, I hate those nights. sorry it was so rough. I hope you get more sleep this weekend. I hope your back feels better too. You are so awesome to donate your time and money. The church surprise sounds like a lot of fun, I hope you have a great time.

Fantod, I'm glad you are hanging in there, and things are healing. I will be praying for you come Monday double time. I'm glad you get to take calm forte again. I hope your sleep improves, and I'm so glad you got some sleep last night. I'm thinking about you.

I just saw my natural doc, he wants me to try CBD oil for my neuropathy pain. I would love to, but it cost $200 for the oil, and then $85 for the vape. Good grief that's expensive. Anyways, he also suggest trying 5-HTP or St. John's Wort for depression. He said he didn't like either of them personally, but some people get relief. I think I've tried 5-HTP, but I can't remember, I've tried so many things. The weekend can't come fast enough, and I start marriage counseling next week. I told him to get out on V-day, but he refused. He actually said no, let's try counseling first. I'm still in shock!

I hope I didn't miss anyone, I was getting overwhelmed with all of the post.

Wow Miki and Maynard, envy the workouts :)

Crumbs, love the quote you posted. I hope you get everything squared away in dealing the fire's aftermath stuff. One thing that bugs me is the smell.

Bbmom, oh man a head shave? I hope you post a pic! You're so brave. When I was in my mid teens I wanted to shave my head and get a tribal tattoo on it.... then when I got out of the Marines I thought about it again. People kept talking me out of it so it never happened, but you never know. Hey, I haven't gotten off my chocolate diet since Thanksgiving so... you can have some of my stash too if you like.... we'll just sit and eat it together ;)

Kel, glad that almost fire was just an almost. Sounds pretty freaky. The only thing I can think of comparable to that is back when we had the gas water heaters inside our bathrooms (overseas) and one pretty much blew up in my older brother's face, taking off some of his eyebrows and hair. My parents had the water heaters moved outside that very day.

Ida, prayers you get the brick house! Sounds pretty neat.

Angela, sounds like a good soup. I like anything with cheese in it :-P. Too bad my sinuses don't.

Fantod, I'm sorry your knee is swollen. Glad you'll be starting rehab soon, though. You didn't start immediately after? My mom started like 2 days after surgery for both knees. They wanted her leg strong and walking. I guess everyone's recommendation is different. I'm sorry you're uncomfortable. Hopefully it will get easier for you soon and the discomfort will back off.

Twin, hope you don't have a lot of errands this weekend. Enjoy the birthday party. Hugs!

Twin, I'm shocked about your husband wanting counseling too. Mine tried to tell me he would only go like once a month (w/ all the fighting we do -eyeroll), but then at the appt he said every 2 weeks is OK. So I hope yours does the work he needs to do to keep you guys together. I'm feeling hopeful for you.

Blue, I hate broken sleep. I had that too last night. Someone brought it to my attention that I messed up on 2 of the kids recruitment schedules last week and that ate at me all night. However, they are all adults and when they knew everyone was going a location and that whole time frame was missing on their schedules they should have said something. I sent them an email apologizing. Oh well. Anyways, I hope you can get all of your errands run without much issue. The church dinner sounds nice. I love surprising people. I hope your back feels better and the anxiety is gone for tonight's sleep.

Fantod, I have been thinking of you. I am glad they are letting you take something that may help you sleep. Vicoden is like that with me. No effect. I think I could eat it like candy and it will not take the pain away or put me to sleep. Sorry your knee is still swollen. I hope elevation and ice help. I will be praying for you Monday. PT is hard work, but worth it in the long run.

Twin, I cannot believe he wouldn't leave. Well yes I can. I can't believe he wants counseling. YAY! I hope he is serious as I know he has done a lot of damage to your relationship. I think you tried that HTP-5 a year or two ago. I remember it. I don't remember why you stopped taking it though. I hope you have a good weekend. You and the girls have plans?

Sonny is supposed to race again this weekend. I think on Sunday, when I was supposed to go to a wine and paint party. I won't miss his racing and my ribs hurt from working out and raising my arms is a struggle, so watching racing will be more fun. However, his last race we all know what happened. He has a new bike now that he says rides a lot nicer. We will see. It is supposed to be in the 50's which is like t-shirt weather around this time of the year.

Hugs and happiness to all of you.