BUSY WEEK AHEAD ... following stressful last week!
Learned last week to follow that voice that whispered in my in my ear...."one day at a time". It became my mantra for the week and will continue to be so during the coming week, too.
Last week - our daughter made the painful decision that it was best for her and our two grandson's to leave the situation they were in and move back in in my hubby and I. So - the adults sorted through things to find a way to make this a smooth transition for the little guys. We threw some things away, stored some items, and gave away a load to a local community charity. Then we got creative with what room we have in our small home, so that we all can maintain our routines and our sanity. LOL Still have a way to go, but for the most part we survived their move in, Halloween, the start of basketball practice, a football game (one more to go!), and are feeling much better about the situation than we did a week ago! (Oh -did I mention a puppy came with???)
Adding to the week was a phone call from a very good friend (and co-worker) sharing that she had found a lump, underwent a biopsy, and was given the news that she most likely has breast cancer - all of which she had kept between herself & her husband until after her biopsy. We should know by tomorrow for sure if it is breast cancer & more about the type. Love her so much - hated hearing her cry! We're thinking positive, but prepared to support her in any and all ways should the news not be what we want to hear!
I'd say HOURS of leaf raking had a lot to do with working off the stress of the week (left out the many small crisis that tried to bring us down last week). Did nothing for the 'ol back that seems to think I will go in for back surgery #2 (yeah, right!), but when I finished with our yard and went on to the neighbors it felt good to push beyond what I knew was good for me and get physical.....PD be damned!!!
Tomorrow my Best Friend of over 44 yrs goes in for a total hip replacement. FINALLY! It has been torture watching her suffer until this day has finally arrived. And, PD absolutely will not keep me from being there for her for the next 6 weeks as she recovers! (If worst comes to worst - I will use the skills those of us with PD must learn - and come up with creative ways to support her. My husband and daughter are happy to step in on days I am not able - as long as I can tell them what they need to do. LOL) I'll just be glad when tomorrow is over (for ALL of us) and we begin the "recovery" process with her!
Sooooo...."one day at a time", NO MORE days of working past my 8 hr shift (bad for the health & how else will they learn what can/cannot be expected to be accomplished in 8 hrs if I continue to put in such excessive hrs?), make sure I am getting the proper amount of sleep to accommodate for added responsibilities after work hours, and I know can be the wife/mother/grandma/friend I need & want to be at this time.
Last week - our daughter made the painful decision that it was best for her and our two grandson's to leave the situation they were in and move back in in my hubby and I. So - the adults sorted through things to find a way to make this a smooth transition for the little guys. We threw some things away, stored some items, and gave away a load to a local community charity. Then we got creative with what room we have in our small home, so that we all can maintain our routines and our sanity. LOL Still have a way to go, but for the most part we survived their move in, Halloween, the start of basketball practice, a football game (one more to go!), and are feeling much better about the situation than we did a week ago! (Oh -did I mention a puppy came with???)
Adding to the week was a phone call from a very good friend (and co-worker) sharing that she had found a lump, underwent a biopsy, and was given the news that she most likely has breast cancer - all of which she had kept between herself & her husband until after her biopsy. We should know by tomorrow for sure if it is breast cancer & more about the type. Love her so much - hated hearing her cry! We're thinking positive, but prepared to support her in any and all ways should the news not be what we want to hear!
I'd say HOURS of leaf raking had a lot to do with working off the stress of the week (left out the many small crisis that tried to bring us down last week). Did nothing for the 'ol back that seems to think I will go in for back surgery #2 (yeah, right!), but when I finished with our yard and went on to the neighbors it felt good to push beyond what I knew was good for me and get physical.....PD be damned!!!
Tomorrow my Best Friend of over 44 yrs goes in for a total hip replacement. FINALLY! It has been torture watching her suffer until this day has finally arrived. And, PD absolutely will not keep me from being there for her for the next 6 weeks as she recovers! (If worst comes to worst - I will use the skills those of us with PD must learn - and come up with creative ways to support her. My husband and daughter are happy to step in on days I am not able - as long as I can tell them what they need to do. LOL) I'll just be glad when tomorrow is over (for ALL of us) and we begin the "recovery" process with her!
Sooooo...."one day at a time", NO MORE days of working past my 8 hr shift (bad for the health & how else will they learn what can/cannot be expected to be accomplished in 8 hrs if I continue to put in such excessive hrs?), make sure I am getting the proper amount of sleep to accommodate for added responsibilities after work hours, and I know can be the wife/mother/grandma/friend I need & want to be at this time.
Replies
Wow!
I am exhausted just reading all of that - I know things are in crisis in many areas right now, but where was there any time for you? You sound a fantastic, supportive friend, mother, grandmother, wife etc (we all get used to wearing so many hats!) but you sound just like me - whenever something happens I rush about (rush is a slight exaggeration) and try to sort it out, usually at the expense of my own needs. I hope you can squeeze a break in there somewhere and remember to breathe. It sounds so easy saying it to you - I just need to learn it now too!
I hope you week goes as well as it can, I will be thinking of you
Julie
Wow - And soon you get to add holiday stress! Honestly, I don\'t know how you are holding up, PG. Like Julie said, don\'t forget to take some time for yourself - which will be harder now that the grandkids are around - I am sure! Sending some extra prayers and hugs your way!
Hugs
Thanks, Ladies for your responses & understanding (you are both so good at reading between the lines!).
Busy, busy, busy week and hate to admit it, but I knew the moment I woke up today that I had \"hit the wall\" - you know that \"someone has sucked every bit of the lifeblood & energy right out of me, leaving zero left to run on\" feeling! But, I made it thru the most important part of the week! Drug my half dead carcass around after work to do a couple of errands so tomorrow I can sleep as long as possible and have a jammie day.
My best friend had her hip replacement surgery on Tuesday. Once they got in there they discovered things were several times worse than the X-rays & MRI had shown. Very long surgery for her, but she will feel like a new woman once she gets thru a long recovery process. Had a real scare yesterday when her blood pressure took a nose dive. As I was preparing to go over and pick up her Mom for our visit I got a frantic call from my Goddaughter (her daughter) informing of the problems she was having. Since she was stuck home with two sick boys, she was checking to make sure we would be at the hospital soon. By the time we arrived she was doing better and they had decided to let her rest the remainder of the day. I quizzed them on every aspect of her health issues and was satisfied they were taking good care of her. Nice long visit with her until the 3 of us grew exhausted. Thought I might be developing a sore throat, so just spoke with her by phone today. Turns out it was the dystonia I get in my throat (never had it during the middle of the day before - usually later in the evening). Do either of you get dystonia in your throat - where the muscles tighten up and stay that way for HOURS? Hopefully she will still get to come home tomorrow as originally planned.
Also, on Tuesday, I found out my good friend does have breast cancer. It is a very aggressive type - so we are all anxious for her to get moving towards treatment. Her doc is on vacation this week and she wants to wait to see him next Wednesday. We are all having OK days, bad days. Really wanted to let it all out - stomp my feet, shake my fists, cry....but, still had to be there for my Best Friend after she came out of recovery and knew if I even shed one tear at that time it would open the flood gates and I would never get myself under control. So - I swallowed it down & felt like I was choking on my emotions. We have already gathered a small army to support her thru this however long it takes & no matter what it takes to let her know we love her and are there for her!
It will be a 4 day weekend for me - going to try to get myself back together while completing those tasks that must get done. Life gives us many things that still need our attention - PD or not!!!
Have a GREAT weekend.....Laura
Enjoy your weekend and rest, rest rest!
Laura..When I reached the end of the Journal, I was hearing the commercial\" I can bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan\"! Like Julie and CM said. Take time for yourself. Your family and friends are truly fortunate to have you in their lives. Brian