I seem to go in these spurts where my whole life feels like it is coming apart at the seams, I am moving from one fire to the next, not thinking about what I do next or what I did before. I am truly "in the moment" (Oprah would be so proud). I attribute it to the fact that there is just so much to attend to at every moment of the day. I love to live like this, it keeps me focused, it keeps me from "thinking" about things like...missing the kids when I am at work; will I ever be able to retire?; hmmm, I think we are just about out of groceries, etc. But, after so long, I begin to lose it. I feel like I have lost control in every area of my life. The ONLY thing to do is take it back. That is what I have done (plus having a little help with the calendar) this week.
On Monday, I spend 6+ hours doing paperwork. I have been so busy at work, and when you "live in the moment" (I am becoming an annoying "quote-user"), paperwork takes a big backseat because there is not a free minute to do it. Well, before I know it, my stack is huge! When I have a free half-hour, my stack is so big that I think I'll never make a dent in just 30 minutes...sooo, I'll just check my e-mail. I finally got the paperwork beast under control, and boy does it feel good!
On to the house...before Cameron's first communion, I had this place spotless. Well, I didn't really lift a finger since. So, because I have a wonderful husband who wouldn't let me lift a finger on Mothers' Day, I cleaned it Monday night. He and the kids tried...they really tried...to get the house clean on Mothers' Day, but I've got some pretty high standards that they just couldn't meet. But, I was so appreciative of their efforts! It is nice to be TOLD to lay on the couch and watch a movie. An aside...you know, after almost 12 years of marriage, 3 kids, countless stresses and ups and downs, I realize how lucky I am that we have reached this point, where we understand each other completely. He's a good guy, and I am lucky to have him! Anyway, long story short, I got the house in order too.
Then, the exercise. I have finally fallen into a nice routine of running about 3-4 times per week for almost 2 miles. I think the exercise is what is helping me to re-focus, tie up the loose ends, and finally come out of the fog. BUT, I have developed a pretty bad case of shin splints, and I am torn between working through it or resting. If I rest, will I lose my motivation? Will I fall back into the fog? I could try something low-impact, like biking (which I love), but I don't usually feel as worked as I do when I run. Any advice? I recently bought new shoes (Asics...I thought they were good, but I don't know if they are made specifically for running). I was going to try some arch supports. I think I am pronating my feet, putting stress on the muscles of my medial calf.
I am looking forward to the weekend, our dance recital!!!! Some years, by this time, I have just felt glad to get it over with. This year, though, I am so excited. I think this is our best year yet. Don't get me wrong, I will be breathing a sigh of relief on Sunday evening, when it is all over, but I just can't wait for the performance. I also have a meeting Thursday night, "book club" (aptly put in quotes because we often talk about everything but the book) Friday night, dance rehearsal Saturday, a birthday party for my nephew Nathan on Saturday, and the recital Sunday. So, busy, busy, busy. But next week....nothing. No meetings, no nothin.
The countdown is on...to MY BIRTHDAY!!! I am very excited for my birthday. For those who don't know, I love my birthday LIKE A KID! Because people know this, I usually get lots of attention on my special day, which, when you love your birthday like a kid, that's really what you want! I will be 34, and I am feeling pretty good about it. 33 was, all in all, a pretty good year. I am beginning to feel a little more on my feet, more confident, more competent, and just happier in general.
Anaway, such a busy post. I'm feeling great...feeling like I am finally getting some control over my life and hoping I can keep it for awhile.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wow...
It has been quite some time since I last posted, I'm sure everyone has been anxiously awaiting the next exciting entry of mine where I rant on and on about how busy I am. Well, this one will be a little different, but not much. I will re-cap the past 3 weeks, as they have been very, very eventful.
First of all, the most shocking and difficult news we have had in a long time, Ed's brother-in-law was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in April. He sustained a head injury and is continuing to recover at Regions hospital. It has been three weeks, and thankfully, it appears as though he will make a full recovery! It was very tense the first few days, as he was sedated, on a ventilator, etc, but he has made tremendous progress in the past two weeks with his therapy and it looks as though he will be going home in another week or two. In comparison to this, all of the busy-ness and activity of our lives here really seems so minor. We are all so grateful for his recovery thus far, and continue to hope and pray for that complete and full recovery.
During the week that he was most critically ill, we also did not have any daycare. Our daycare provider had viral pneumonia. Our backup daycare is Ed's mom, who was unavailable because she was in the cities. It involved a bit of juggling of our work schedules to take care of Lilly while the boys were in school. Thankfully, Honey (my aunt) was able to watch Lilly for us on Thursday and Friday that week. Thank you so much, Honey!!!
So, when last week rolled around (April27), I was very much looking forward to a week where things are back to normal. Well...didn't happen.
On Wednesday morning, I was up early to go for a run/walk to the end of our road and back, when I saw I had a voicemail. I had 2 messages, one at 2 am, and one at 5:30 am. Being the calm, rational person I am, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that someone was dead, because why else would anyone call me at 2 am. However, the person calling was a parent from school who I barely know. I checked the message, and it was instructions to activate our phone tree. Being on the Home and School board at St. Boniface, it is my responsibility to contact about 12 families if there is ever an emergency that would impact the school. We needed to activate the phone tree because of a suspected case of Swine Flu, letting parents know that school would be closed that day. Now, if you live in MN, you are well-aware of this as the media from all of the local TV stations set up camp here in town for a few days. The suspected case was at the Middle School, but St. Boniface elected to close because St. B shares facilities with the Middle School. So, there was no school W, TH, or F that week.
That is crazy enough, but our Boni-Ball, a fundraiser that we on the H&S board have been planning since the beginning of the year was scheduled for Friday, May 1, and Cameron's First Communion was scheduled for Sunday, May 3. I have known for the past 9 months that this particular weekend was going to be very busy, and I could not wait to put those events behind me. Well, now, there was discussion that both events may be cancelled because of the Swine Flu. So for 2 straight evenings, it seems as though I was constantly on the phone, trying to inform my families for the phone tree, discussing our options if we cancel the Boni-Ball, etc. In the end, both events went as planned.
So, Friday, May 1, I took the day off of work to set up for the Boni-Ball, worked until 1am, got up Saturday morning to clean up, and then get the house ready for Cameron's First Communion. It was busy, busy, busy, but everything went off without a hitch! Monday was a great day, as I was relieved to have those hurdles behind me!
This week was much more typical, but I wouldn't say it was calm. Between the level of busy-ness at work (which is a great thing, don't get me wrong), the need to more carefully manage the therapist's schedules because they are getting so full, the Monday night meeting I had, the Thursday night Happy Hour, etc., it was crazy, but at least there was no major drama (with the exception of Ed's car breaking down at work and having to shell out $250 to fix it...).
I am finally home, on a Saturday. The first Saturday since the beginning of March that I have been able to be home all day. We have had dance practice every Saturday, but there is no practice this week. Next week, we have practice on Saturday morning, and our recital is on Sunday. I am SO excited for the recital, I think this is our best year so far in terms of our readiness for the performance. We even have costumes this year! It really is a beautiful thing, watching these girls with all of their challenges up on stage performing. And even more precious, to me, is seeing the joy on the faces of their parents! It makes all of the effort and the Saturdays away worth every minute! If you are able to be there to watch, it is at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School at 1 pm on Sunday, May 17.
Monday, May 18, I will officially be commitment-free. My term on the H&S board has ended, we have one final Boni-Ball meeting on May 14, and after the 17th, dance is over for another year. I am looking so forward to being home every night after work with no meetings, and I am looking forward to having Saturdays to be home again.
Here's to a nice quiet day at home today, and hopes for the next few weeks to be boring and dull!
First of all, the most shocking and difficult news we have had in a long time, Ed's brother-in-law was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in April. He sustained a head injury and is continuing to recover at Regions hospital. It has been three weeks, and thankfully, it appears as though he will make a full recovery! It was very tense the first few days, as he was sedated, on a ventilator, etc, but he has made tremendous progress in the past two weeks with his therapy and it looks as though he will be going home in another week or two. In comparison to this, all of the busy-ness and activity of our lives here really seems so minor. We are all so grateful for his recovery thus far, and continue to hope and pray for that complete and full recovery.
During the week that he was most critically ill, we also did not have any daycare. Our daycare provider had viral pneumonia. Our backup daycare is Ed's mom, who was unavailable because she was in the cities. It involved a bit of juggling of our work schedules to take care of Lilly while the boys were in school. Thankfully, Honey (my aunt) was able to watch Lilly for us on Thursday and Friday that week. Thank you so much, Honey!!!
So, when last week rolled around (April27), I was very much looking forward to a week where things are back to normal. Well...didn't happen.
On Wednesday morning, I was up early to go for a run/walk to the end of our road and back, when I saw I had a voicemail. I had 2 messages, one at 2 am, and one at 5:30 am. Being the calm, rational person I am, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that someone was dead, because why else would anyone call me at 2 am. However, the person calling was a parent from school who I barely know. I checked the message, and it was instructions to activate our phone tree. Being on the Home and School board at St. Boniface, it is my responsibility to contact about 12 families if there is ever an emergency that would impact the school. We needed to activate the phone tree because of a suspected case of Swine Flu, letting parents know that school would be closed that day. Now, if you live in MN, you are well-aware of this as the media from all of the local TV stations set up camp here in town for a few days. The suspected case was at the Middle School, but St. Boniface elected to close because St. B shares facilities with the Middle School. So, there was no school W, TH, or F that week.
That is crazy enough, but our Boni-Ball, a fundraiser that we on the H&S board have been planning since the beginning of the year was scheduled for Friday, May 1, and Cameron's First Communion was scheduled for Sunday, May 3. I have known for the past 9 months that this particular weekend was going to be very busy, and I could not wait to put those events behind me. Well, now, there was discussion that both events may be cancelled because of the Swine Flu. So for 2 straight evenings, it seems as though I was constantly on the phone, trying to inform my families for the phone tree, discussing our options if we cancel the Boni-Ball, etc. In the end, both events went as planned.
So, Friday, May 1, I took the day off of work to set up for the Boni-Ball, worked until 1am, got up Saturday morning to clean up, and then get the house ready for Cameron's First Communion. It was busy, busy, busy, but everything went off without a hitch! Monday was a great day, as I was relieved to have those hurdles behind me!
This week was much more typical, but I wouldn't say it was calm. Between the level of busy-ness at work (which is a great thing, don't get me wrong), the need to more carefully manage the therapist's schedules because they are getting so full, the Monday night meeting I had, the Thursday night Happy Hour, etc., it was crazy, but at least there was no major drama (with the exception of Ed's car breaking down at work and having to shell out $250 to fix it...).
I am finally home, on a Saturday. The first Saturday since the beginning of March that I have been able to be home all day. We have had dance practice every Saturday, but there is no practice this week. Next week, we have practice on Saturday morning, and our recital is on Sunday. I am SO excited for the recital, I think this is our best year so far in terms of our readiness for the performance. We even have costumes this year! It really is a beautiful thing, watching these girls with all of their challenges up on stage performing. And even more precious, to me, is seeing the joy on the faces of their parents! It makes all of the effort and the Saturdays away worth every minute! If you are able to be there to watch, it is at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School at 1 pm on Sunday, May 17.
Monday, May 18, I will officially be commitment-free. My term on the H&S board has ended, we have one final Boni-Ball meeting on May 14, and after the 17th, dance is over for another year. I am looking so forward to being home every night after work with no meetings, and I am looking forward to having Saturdays to be home again.
Here's to a nice quiet day at home today, and hopes for the next few weeks to be boring and dull!
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