I've kept up with chores, cooking, laundry, workouts, and the grandsons' activities. I've also been able to do various tasks in setting up my son and daughter-in-law's new condo. But I've definitely not felt 100% for weeks until just a few days ago.
The biggest problem was fatigue. To the point I started analyzing all the vitamins, and the allergy OTC med (Mucenix), I take on a regular basis. Nothing stood out as a possible culprit. Besides I've been taking all of them for years with no adverse effects.
The other problems were a blocked tear duct, and a severally dried inner nostril and cuticles. And to add to the misery, my nails were going through their twice-a-year pealing. That alone drives me crazy and I've yet to figure out what causes it. The nail tech I use infrequently said it has to do with weather changes that occurred months earlier. Damage was caused to the nail at the cuticle area, but it's not noticeable until the nail grows out. That at least makes more sense than what I uncovered online all of which points to diet. My diet hasn't changed in years.
Anyway, all together these problems have been extremely frustrating, especially the fatigue. Then a few days ago, my sore inner eye improved and it appeared my nails had finally grown past the pealing point. And today my inner nostril is nearly completely healed. But most importantly, as of a couple of days ago, I feel my energy level is quickly getting back to normal.
I have no idea if all the health problems I've been having are related. And I have no idea why I was so tired. I'll probably never figure it out. I'm just glad to be feeling more like myself again.
May 2018
Friday, April 15, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Big Changes
In less than two weeks, my son and daughter-in-law will be living less than a 10-minute drive from our house. It's been 10 years since my son left his home town to teach English as a second language in Daejeon, South Korea, where he met and married Zuae. Five years ago they moved to New York. Daniel continued as an ESL teacher while also becoming a SAT tutor. And Zuae became a professional chef after graduating from the International Culinary Center.
Tired of New York and with a baby on the way, Daniel is finally ready to come home. All of us are excited but I'm also anxious. Daniel was a challenging child and teenager. Good but always going against the norm and making things harder than they needed to be. Honestly, the distance between us over the last ten years has greatly improved our relationship.
Yes, there's no doubt this move will be a test but I'm working hard at thinking positively. I'm looking forward to finally really getting to know my daughter-in-law. And I'm beyond excited to hold my first granddaughter. And I'm glad my grandsons will have more time with their Uncle Dan and Aunt Zuae than a long holiday weekend once a year.
Yep, big changes are coming. And it's all good. . .all good. . .all good.
Tired of New York and with a baby on the way, Daniel is finally ready to come home. All of us are excited but I'm also anxious. Daniel was a challenging child and teenager. Good but always going against the norm and making things harder than they needed to be. Honestly, the distance between us over the last ten years has greatly improved our relationship.
Yes, there's no doubt this move will be a test but I'm working hard at thinking positively. I'm looking forward to finally really getting to know my daughter-in-law. And I'm beyond excited to hold my first granddaughter. And I'm glad my grandsons will have more time with their Uncle Dan and Aunt Zuae than a long holiday weekend once a year.
Yep, big changes are coming. And it's all good. . .all good. . .all good.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Busy Month
Last Monday our home-improvement team arrived to work on our family room and hall. The family room is in the center of the house and was on hold while bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen were updated over the last 10 years.
After a full week of work, we now have updated baseboards and new crown molding. The linen closet at the end of the hall now has a six-panel door instead of a bi-fold, which I've hated for years. And the attic fan is now history. But the most noticeable updates are the formerly golden oak mantel and staircase. Both are now black, making for a better visual flow from our white and black kitchen that opens into the family room. Tomorrow the walls will be painted (trim and ceiling were done last Friday); and the mantel and staircase will get a first coat of polyurethane.
During all the chaos, I've been held hostage in the kitchen when not at the gym, or indulging in a lunch out, or visiting stores I haven't been in for a very long time. Needless to say, I'm "chomping at the bit" to thoroughly clean and put our home back in order.
Thankfully, over the weekend we had a lot of distractions. On Saturday we had our bi-annual garage sale at my daughter's house to raise funds for MS research. (In case you don't know, or forgot, my son-in-law was diagnosed with MS eight years ago.) After emptying out my dad's basement at his request, we were able to raise $700, which my son-in-law's employer will match. And we'll continue to take monetary donations through the last day of the month.
During the garage sale, I escaped with Jonah, my six-year-old grandson, for his first t-ball practice. What a blast! I sure hope Jonah's enthusiasm continues. That boy is built for sports, especially running.
In between all of the above, my son and daughter-in-law took possession of a three-bedroom apartment five minutes from our house, which we've been prepping and stocking for their arrival April 23. For example, today hubby and I lined all the kitchen cabinets.
And there's still much more to come in April: end-of-school concert; MS Walk; Cardinal baseball game with the boys' school; and a trip to NYC to help move my son and daughter-in-law. And, when possible, there's still shopping and prepping to do for our trip to Europe in May.
Crazy busy, but super happy to be up for it all!
After a full week of work, we now have updated baseboards and new crown molding. The linen closet at the end of the hall now has a six-panel door instead of a bi-fold, which I've hated for years. And the attic fan is now history. But the most noticeable updates are the formerly golden oak mantel and staircase. Both are now black, making for a better visual flow from our white and black kitchen that opens into the family room. Tomorrow the walls will be painted (trim and ceiling were done last Friday); and the mantel and staircase will get a first coat of polyurethane.
During all the chaos, I've been held hostage in the kitchen when not at the gym, or indulging in a lunch out, or visiting stores I haven't been in for a very long time. Needless to say, I'm "chomping at the bit" to thoroughly clean and put our home back in order.
Thankfully, over the weekend we had a lot of distractions. On Saturday we had our bi-annual garage sale at my daughter's house to raise funds for MS research. (In case you don't know, or forgot, my son-in-law was diagnosed with MS eight years ago.) After emptying out my dad's basement at his request, we were able to raise $700, which my son-in-law's employer will match. And we'll continue to take monetary donations through the last day of the month.
During the garage sale, I escaped with Jonah, my six-year-old grandson, for his first t-ball practice. What a blast! I sure hope Jonah's enthusiasm continues. That boy is built for sports, especially running.
In between all of the above, my son and daughter-in-law took possession of a three-bedroom apartment five minutes from our house, which we've been prepping and stocking for their arrival April 23. For example, today hubby and I lined all the kitchen cabinets.
And there's still much more to come in April: end-of-school concert; MS Walk; Cardinal baseball game with the boys' school; and a trip to NYC to help move my son and daughter-in-law. And, when possible, there's still shopping and prepping to do for our trip to Europe in May.
Crazy busy, but super happy to be up for it all!
Thursday, March 24, 2016
A New Reality
Consciously or subconsciously children, no matter their age, often mimic the behavior of their parents. Given any situation, they typically respond as one of their parents would have. I've been thinking about this phenomena as I struggle with how to handle my aging dad.
My reality is I've had no example of how to handle an 85-year-old father. Both of my parents lost their parents when they were in their 40s and 50s. And my mom's dad lived the longest of their parents, passing quickly at 80 due to an aneurism. Neither of my parents had to care for a geriatric parent. And neither had to deal with such challenges while they were working to accept and manage their own limitations of being in their mid 60s.
My dad is in good health all things considered. But he can no longer properly manage a house and yard. He needs paid help and can easily afford it. My frustration is his unwillingness to get it. I simply have no patience for dad's behavior, especially since my parents have always been so ridiculously and unnecessarily frugal.
This post is me working through some guilt. I sometimes think I should be more understanding and coddling. But I truly feel that wouldn't get dad moving in the right direction. So instead I remain steadfast as the cold-hearted painfully realistic daughter.
But, in doing so, I don't exhaust my own limited energy and resources, which I need for my husband and my own children and grandchildren. That's my (and perhaps today's) new reality.
My reality is I've had no example of how to handle an 85-year-old father. Both of my parents lost their parents when they were in their 40s and 50s. And my mom's dad lived the longest of their parents, passing quickly at 80 due to an aneurism. Neither of my parents had to care for a geriatric parent. And neither had to deal with such challenges while they were working to accept and manage their own limitations of being in their mid 60s.
My dad is in good health all things considered. But he can no longer properly manage a house and yard. He needs paid help and can easily afford it. My frustration is his unwillingness to get it. I simply have no patience for dad's behavior, especially since my parents have always been so ridiculously and unnecessarily frugal.
This post is me working through some guilt. I sometimes think I should be more understanding and coddling. But I truly feel that wouldn't get dad moving in the right direction. So instead I remain steadfast as the cold-hearted painfully realistic daughter.
But, in doing so, I don't exhaust my own limited energy and resources, which I need for my husband and my own children and grandchildren. That's my (and perhaps today's) new reality.
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