Update

I took Nathan to the doctor again on Friday.  He was complaining of dizziness and vision changes when standing.  This had me really worried.  As it turned out....they think the strep throat is a secondary illness.  While he was laying on the exam table, the doctor informed me that his spleen was enlarged!  So, she did a quick blood test for mono.  Guess what????  It was POSITIVE!  Nathan has MONO!

He has had a fever all weekend!  It averages 101 -102.  I can barely get 6 hours out of the motrin/tylenol.  He is also suffering with a pretty nasty cough that in turn makes his chest hurt.  The doctor suggests "whatever over the counter" medicine that we choose.

I picked up homework for the week yesterday.  He isn't happy about have to do school work.  I'm not going to push him....I know he feels awful.  But, the reality is, he need to keep up.  I told him to just pretend we're homeschooling!

His teacher let me have his science test.  Thankfully she trusts me enough to know that there will be no fooling around!  He's been studying his notes on and off this morning.  I'll have him take the test in a little while so I can drop it off to his homeroom teacher when I pick up the girls.

In other news, my mother-in-law came home from the hospital last night.  We are currently in the throws of getting her settled.  I've set up some in-home care for her so we have an appointment tomorrow morning for them to come and assess her needs.  We are also trying to track down the physician so we can get an order for the hospital bed.  She went back and forth from the chair to the bed last night...never really being comfortable.  The hospital bed will be ideal for her....and for preserving my (and Fran's) back!

I'm so exhausted from all of this than I can barely keep my eyes open...even as I type this.  I missed most of  Downton Abbey on Sunday night.  I'll have to re-watch the episode when I get a chance.  I hear William died...is that true?

Anyway, please continue your prayers!

Thanks.

Please Pray

My mother-in-law was in a car accident this morning.  She was driving a friend of hers home from their weekly St. Vincent dePaul meeting.  Her passenger was released from the hospital this evening but my MIL ended up with a dislocated elbow, a broken wrist and lots of bruises.  She had a CAT scan of her chest as they were concerned about internal injuries.

In addition, Nathan has strep throat...which isn't surprising since for the last several weeks there has been everything from bacterial pneumonia to the stomach flu roaming around his school.  At one point, there were 9 kids out from just his class alone.  I knew it would catch up with us.  It always does.

This family is in desperate need of prayers....as usual.

Thank you for always hitting your knees for us!

A Day Off

Today was my day off!  I really needed it.  After Dan and the kids left this morning, I sat back in my chair with a second cup of coffee and watched old episodes of "19 Kids & Counting".  I then fell back asleep with the cat on my lap until 10:30am!

I forced myself to get up and be productive...although I really didn't want to.  I put away the last of the Christmas ornaments and decorations.  You can actually walk in our bedroom again!  I also put away the Christmas dishes and replaced them with our old plain ones.  Christmas is officially OVER! 

I then tackled the kitchen and got it squared away.  I felt like I had accomplished something.  I felt like I could breathe...just a little.

As soon as I had a chance, I went online to check the balance in the checking account.  Bank of America replaced the fraudulent charges!  Yippee!  Again, I felt like I could breathe easier.  The weight of it all is lifting....ever so slightly. 

I fixed a nice dinner...ham, mashed potatoes/gravy and green beans sauteed in olive oil and onion.  We all sat at the table...like a real family.  Of course, they all complained about the fact that they don't like vegetables...and Olivia reminded me over and over that she doesn't like mashed potatoes.  Sigh.  You know, it really doesn't matter what I cook...someone isn't going to like it.  Night after night of this can really bring you down where you don't even want to cook anymore.    Honestly, my children would prefer ramen noodles and frozen chicken nuggets every night.  My father (the Italian chef) is surely turning over in his grave right about now!  Such is life.

I got the kids in bed early...Dan was outside with the neighbor trying to fix the truck and I sat down with my laptop to watch the Season One, Episode Two of the PBS Masterpiece's Downton Abbey!    I finally have found a show that I can enjoy and look forward to future episodes.  There's been a lot of talk about it on Facebook and so I figured I'd see if I like it!  I do!  I'm tempted to watch the third episode now...but I'm starting to get sleepy and they are over an hour long.

This has been a good day.  A decent day.  A day that I didn't hate.  I'm finding more and more that my stress level is waaaay up on the days that I work.  It's like I'm so spent by the time I get home, that I just can't handle the normal everyday stresses of raising a family....homework, housework, cooking, etc.

We can't afford for me not to work.  So I guess I'll plug along, looking forward to Wednesdays when I have a day off and can spend a few quiet moments by myself without someone wanting something from me.  I know that sounds extremely selfish...and it is, however, time alone is what I desperately need these days.

Well, seven days to go till my next day off.  Wish me luck.

Update:  Dan just came in....the truck is now fixed!  That's a load off!

You're kidding me, right?

I was so hopeful for 2012.  I really was.  Today is January 9th.....that's NINE days into this new year!  Here's what has happened so far.....

1.  The husband of a very good friend died over the weekend.  He was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months back.  They did some chemo, but it just made him too sick so they stopped treatment.  He didn't last long after that.  May he rest in peace!

Have I mentioned lately how much I HATE cancer!!!

2.  The water pump died on our truck!  We can't afford a mechanic, so Dan will have to do the replacement himself.  This is definitely something he can do....but trying to find the time and the right equipment is the problem.  Having two vehicles is a luxury, for sure!  For the last few days, Dan has had to take the kids to school as well as take me to work.  Because of this, his work day is shorter and therefore has to go back to work after we are all home.  This stinks.  Of course, then I'm stuck at home with no car.

3.  Someone got a hold of the debit card number.  We were already running very, very low on funds.  Whoever it was, cleaned us out!  There is now $17 in the checking account!  They bought 3 $50 phone cards for prison inmates!  Bank of America is working on restoring the money to the account.  The only good news is that....I don't have a car (see item #2 above).  I mean, if you're not going to have a car to drive....you may as well not have any money to spend either. 

I don't mind mentioning that I'm nearing  the end of my proverbial rope.  I'm beginning to wonder if the reason I can't find any JOY is because there just isn't any.  Everywhere I look, every place I go....darkness.  I'm tired of being in a bad mood.  I'm tired of yelling at my kids.  I'm tired of being disgusted at my life and my circumstances.

This week, in our Little Flowers Girls Club, we discussed the virtue of HOPE.  I feel as though I have none.  We also discussed St. Monica and how she prayed for her son (St. Augustine) for years and years and years to come back to the Church.  If I have to wait (for peace and joy) that long, I can honestly say....I'm not going to make it!

I'm going to turn comments off for awhile.  I'm very thankful for all of you....your encouragement and support.  But right now, I just need to vent and I don't want anybody to feel obligated to respond to my little rants.

Hopefully, one of these days I'll be able to pull myself up out of this hole.