TToT – Short and Sweet
Well, I had grand plans of being ready to go with this post on Friday afternoon.
Don’t know what happened.
Yes, I do. I’ve been denying that I’m having an RA flare for about three days now. I’m moving slowly. I just need to make up my mind to acknowledge it and get through it.
While I’m doing that, I’ll leave you with a short and sweet list of thankfuls for the week.
This first one I’m not sure about…am I thankful? One morning this week as we approached the school building, Zilla asked if she could go up the sidewalk by herself. I was confused. “We’re on the sidewalk right now,” I said. “What do you mean?” She meant stop at the corner where I pick her up and let her cross the little side street with the crossing guard/traffic cop dad and go up the last part of the walk to the building herself. Usually we cross together. What was this about? Ditched already?
But I let her go because I have to. And she’s safe, of course. Most parents stop at the corner, say goodbye, and let the kids go across with the crossing/traffic dad. So for the rest of the week, that’s what we did, too.
So I guess I’m thankful that she’s growing up (but I hate it). I’m thankful that she feels confident and happy enough to skip off into the school on her own. I’m also terribly thankful that she still slips that little hand into mine and holds on tight while we walk across the parking lot and up to the corner. And I’m thankful that she turns around to make sure I’m watching and give me a wave before she disappears through the door.
Sigh.
I’m thankful that on the first day she did it, I could call my Mom and the Hub right away and tell them. They both said “don’t take it personally.” I wasn’t really…I just wasn’t prepared for it! The Hub said she ditched him at some point last year when he was the dropoff guy, too. And given the fact that I’m 44 and calling her to cry about my kid ditching me, I’m pretty sure my Mom survived her first ditching and lived to tell the tale.
Kidzilla had a really good week in school. One of her teachers shared a story about her behaving beautifully in an interaction with another student. She has her new glasses and she loves them, which makes this all so much easier. All of her classmates thought they were cool and told her they make her look “even smarter.” Her teacher helped out and Zilla noticed that she and her teacher are the only girls in the class with glasses. Cool.
![20141109_132807[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141109_1328071-e1416083537649.jpg)
I’m thankful for some beautiful falls days this week. I grabbed the tree photo in this post at church on Sunday afternoon – gorgeous! Zilla and I were standing right under it. And I’ll be a sport and say I’m thankful for the first snow. I do hate winter. But I’m trying to find the positive. Snow sure does soften the edges of the world and make it look pretty.
But I’m still thankful for hot coffee, herbal tea, two different homemade soups, warm blankets, and a functional heating system to take away the chill of these first very cold days.
I’m so thankful for long snuggles with Kidzilla and a girls-only night on Friday while the Fab Hub was out at a gig. I’m thankful that the hub is willing to grab a gig here and there because it allows him to keep playing a bit, gives us girls some alone time, and certainly helps in the finance department a little as well.
I’m thankful that the Hub understands that with RA my body doesn’t always do what I want it to and he’s always willing to help take over a chore or an errand run. And I’m thankful that he understands that when my body craps out on me it makes me more than a little cranky because I hate when that happens. This afternoon I needed help getting down the last three steps in our hallway. I asked for the Hub’s help because there is no handrail there (why not???). He said, “I’ll always be your handrail.” Right about the part where he’s driving me so crazy I can’t stand it, he does stuff like that.
I’m thankful that I didn’t send Rotten Cat One packing to a new home this week, even if he is a pain in my tuchus. I suppose I’d be sad if I had actually made good on that threat and I know Kidzilla would be heartbroken. He’s been fairly well-behaved and over-affectionate for several days. I suspect he’s trying to ingratiate himself again.
![20140802_220734[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/20140802_2207341.jpg)
I’m thankful to the BFF for some unofficial medical advice this morning because that’s what friends do – swap symptoms, Google diagnose, and reassure one another that it isn’t something fatal.
And maybe my biggest one for the day…I am incredibly thankful to the Super Sister today for chauffeuring me and Kidzilla to a kid birthday party because my knee felt like crap and I wasn’t comfortable driving. Not only did she shuttle us without notice or complaint, but she stayed with me for the party! That is far above and beyond the scope of Godmother or Aunt duties so she gets a gold star. And food. There should always be food.
That’s it for me. Now it’s your turn – share your moments of thankfulness here or link up!
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Sorry about the RA flare-up. That’s got to be rough. And enjoy that hand-holding while you can. There comes a moment when it drops away. Poo. I guess that’s what grandchildren are for. To bring the hand-holding back into our lives.
Every now and then I get one. I just hate that it happens.
I will take all the hand-holding I can get!
really nice list. Zilla is really maturing huh? Cool and scary too! Hope the flair chills itself out soon… what a freaking drag… at least the hubs and sis are mega cool about it. Now if we can get you to be cool with the limitation huh? NEVER! Take care of yourself! xo me
It is cool and upsetting all at the same time.
I think the flare will come under control well enough. I got a pretty good night’s sleep last night for a change and it seems to have helped a bit. We’ll see. What’s bugging me the most is whatever is wrong with my knee right now. General RA flare I can handle OK. This knee thing – I think bursitis – is really annoying.
I will never be cool about the limitation. Grr. But I will take care of myself…promise. 🙂
Awwww, the ditching. That’s tough. But good. She’s comfortable and confident. Maggie reminds me every morning to wave and blow kisses to her on the bus. I wonder how long that will last.
I kind of wonder if you still haven’t had enough of a rest. I feel like you’re getting signs from the universe that you need more down time.
Yay for a good week at school and fall trees and warmth inside!
Yeah, I got ditched. But it’s OK. Zilla is indeed comfortable and confident and I like that. I did melt a bit when she asked me to make sure I watch her until she’s all the way in, though.
I probably haven’t had enough rest yet. But I also wonder if I’m doing it to myself – I’m totally stressed about the lack of business, shall we say, in my new business. It’s really starting to upset me but I don’t want to go bonkers about it here.
I’m so proud of how she handled herself in school this week (minus one rough day that started with some kid calling her names which set her off and caused the day to go downhill). She dealt with new glasses and did so well. And on Friday when I saw her in library she held her behavior in check when many others were way too rowdy for library. I was so proud! And yes, I told her so – that is important.
On that note, I’m going to head straight to bed right after Zilla has her bath and goes to bed.
Growing up is hard to get used to for everyone! But the fact that Zilla can go to school on her own….you’ve done a fab job, Lisa!
I try to focus on that, Michelle – that she is strong and confident!
You certainly found gratitude in the midst of pain. I’m sorry the RA is acting up. Does it get worse in the cold weather? I remember moments when my children suddenly became “big” and didn’t want to sit on my lap, or hold hands. It’s a bittersweet moment in motherhood. Wait till she drives out of your life when she’s 17. I still remember that day. Hope next week finds you feeling better.
My RA does act up when it gets cold, Val. And it went from mid-60s to freezing so quickly this week that it was abit too sudden. My Hub and Zilla are taking good care of me. Hoping to be back to normal soon!
I try not to think about Kidzilla driving…
That picture is amazing!!!
It really is, Scott. And the tree was even better in person. We caught a great moment!
I really like that photo. The change in the weather always irritates my arthritis.
Me, too, Erin. The photo and the arthritis!
I’m sorry your RA is flaring. That tree is spectacular.
Hi, Vanessa. Thanks. The tree was absolutely fabulous and we were standing right under it – great shot!
Oh, I hate that your RA is flaring up. Such a pain in (everything but?) the ass. Glad you have supportive family members who understand and help without question. Now acknowledge the flare and take it easy. 🙂
The ditching hurts. It’s not that we take it personally. It’s what is good and supposed to happen. It hurts because it means our babies are growing up and moving just a bit farther away from us. That hurts. Really badly sometimes. I know you do, but I’ll say it anyway…Cherish the hand-holding and cuddles.
Glad Zilla is doing so well with the glasses and her classmates.
My ass really is the only place that doesn’t get hit, now that I think about it. 😀 This is just part of life here. And I am generally very well-managed, but every now and then things just get out of whack. The stupid weather is not helping – warm, then cold, then warm, then cold. And so damp! That’s the worst.
You hit it right on the head, Christine…that growing up thing is so exciting and so sad all at the same time. I take every moment I get and if everything else drops because of it, I’m OK with it.
She’s doing really well this month. We have four full days and then three half days until Thanksgiving break and I’m hoping we said through with no problems!
That tree is so lovely! I noticed a particularly pretty tree in my neighborhood this week, but didn’t take a picture. Today, I saw the same tree is all bare–the wind seems to remove all leaves in a day here! Good for you for seizing the moment and getting such a great shot!
That’s kind of how I feel about all the trees and color right now – if I don’t grab what I can, they will all be gone. And sadly, we didn’t get to hike on the sanctuary mountain during fall color this year and we missed that opportunity. Oh, well…there’s always winter hikes!
RA sounds so miserable to me. I hope it settles down very soon so you can get out for a walk and spot some more trees like that knockout red one. Wow!
My heart goes out to you on the cross walk story. So many mom moments are like that –a double edged sword. It is great to see our children grow ever more confident, but each milestone does take them another step from us. But when you focus on relationship and teaching the importance of family, they do cross that street the other way to come on home from time to time too!
My husband is in China on business and my kids have been worried I would be lonesome. Interestingly, my son face timed from Germany on Friday, one daughter called yesterday and the other today. I am thinking there may be more than coincidence at play here! I thought it was so sweet of them to take turns checking in on their mom.
A very large percentage of the time, I am very well-managed and have very little complaint. Every now and then I get slammed – and it’s not always predictable. Sometimes you just wake up and go “wow, I feel like hell.” This particular flare has my hands and my knees in terrible shape, but I’m seeing progress. I think the knees bother me most of all since that makes everything difficult to do – walking, sitting, moving.
That double-edged sword can be a painful one for sure! But Zilla and I are good – we are close and what we have is really terrific and I know that my choice to leave my teaching job has allowed that to flourish the last couple of months/ (Now…if only the self-income would flourish!)
Your kids are terrific – that is awesome that they all called to check in on you and you got to spend some talk-time with each of them. You done good!
I’m really glad that leaving your teaching job was such a very good decision, even if it means the finances are a bit tighter. Those times with Zilla will be ones she remembers and which matter to her. I expect she’ll remember that you stood and waited and watched her go in. And with the ditching, as painful as that must be…it means that you’re doing a good job parenting her, so there’s that.
I hope the RA settles down soon. I love that fab hub was so sweet to you, and that your sister looked after you, too. You are very blessed, and well done for finding the good things about the pain and lack of mobility – those relationships are impacted and strengthened by it, even if it might be better all round if you weren’t affected.
Good within bad and bad within good – ain’t that the way of the world?
The cooking you did sounds GLORIOUS, and that tree is utterly stunning. Well done for making it into the hop 🙂
I know it was a good choice, but I am definitely feeling the pinch of the financial pressure right now. Really trying to launch something that feels like it will go somewhere. I keep praying and working really hard and am trying not to lose faith. As the Hub says, I don’t have time to panic.
The RA is starting to calm down a bit today. I pumped myself full of rest and anti-inflammatory food and drink all weekend. I am very blessed indeed to have family who understand (a couple of them have it too, so it’s kind of life as usual) and will help out. As a result, Kidzilla did not have to miss seeing her Dad play for a local theater production of Aladdin. Fun even with a couple of bum knees! I don’t mind the RA all that much – I mean sure, I’d love NOT to have a chronic condition, but if you’re going to have an auto-immune disease, this is the least horrendous. And I can think of much worse things to have that aren’t so manageable so that’s sort of a blessing.
I love what you said about bad and good – life is all about balance and it certainly does work that way.
The tree is amazing. Not sure what cooking you looked at – the homemade soups? Yeah they were good. The mushroom is posted and the autumn vegetable is coming next week. SO good. That may be my new favorite.
Chrome is giving me fits and I’m late getting around to the hop because of it.
I was going to ask you how the RA affects you, but I read your reply to May and I think I have an idea. Is it randomly in different joints at different times, or is it the same ones most of the time? I have a lot of trouble with my hands hurting terribly from the meds I’m on, and that’s so miserable. Do you take Aleve or prescription pain meds or just suffer through?
My son ditched me about 4th grade, but my daughter didn’t ditch me until she went to middle school. Zilla is showing her independence, and that’s a good thing. That little hand slipping into yours shows she still needs you oh, so much!
Yay for girl time and the Super Sister! And WHAT did Rotten Cat #1 do that put him in the dog house (BAHAHAHAHAAA!)?
I can’t decide if I like or hate Chrome. Some things I try to do on the web work better in Chrome; others not at all. I’m forever switching browsers based on what I want to do. Really. Annoying.
RA is a condition that varies greatly from person to person. For me, I have joints that are sort of generally bothered all the time – my hands and feet, for example, are my biggest and most consistent party-goers. But knees and hips and shoulders can creep in there when they want to. My sister tends to have more trouble with her hips. For me, the hands are the worst because on days when they are really bad, I feel like I can’t do anything. On a really severe hand day, I can’t do the simplest things without pain – zipping Zilla’s coat, using a knife in the kitchen, using a fork or a spoon to eat, holding a pen. I think the pen one bugs me the most.
I take a DMARD to keep the disease progression in check. So far, so good. I haven’t upped my meds since my initial diagnosis and my last blood work was awesome – inflammation markers were actually down from last time. I attribute that to careful selection of diet. Have to admit I was really surprised, though, given the long bout of crap in September/October. Those numbers should have been sky-high. The power of food.
For pain, my docs have tried a few things for me, but we’ve settled on Aleve. Some of the prescription NSAIDS are just too hard on my system. I try not to use the Aleve unless I need it because I know too much about the long-term effects of NSAID use, but I do use it when I know I need to. Allowing the inflammation to take over is just dumb. I try to take as little as I need to solve the problem. And I really do try to use food to help. For example, my knee was hugely inflamed this weekend so in addition to the Aleve, I had the Hub add turmeric and ginger to my smoothie along with tart cherry juice and mixed frozen berries. I swear that helped significantly. I also upped my potassium intake since low potassium can cause knee issues. Again, significant effects. It’s fascinating. If I was inclined to get another college degree, I might opt for nutrition. Who knows? Maybe at some point I will. I love going to school. Right now the Hub is taking his turn because that is priority with this new career.
Yours didn’t ditch you until so much later!?!? Now I’m really sad. Well, it’s not like she totally ditched me. Just walking in to school in the morning – but she hangs on tight right up to the corner where the crossing dad takes them. And she’ll hold on every place else we go without question. OK by me!
Girl time is important, isn’t it? And my Sister is awesome. Hanging out at a kid party when it’s not your kid is over and above the call of duty! Probably the best birth control ever, too.
As usual, Cat One mistook the stairway landing for his litter box and left a giftie. Then he left one on the rug in our bathroom. No idea what his problem is. He uses the box just fine – we’ve seen him do it. But every so often he just does his business in one of those two spots. We steam the landing and wash the bathroom carpet so often it’s ridiculous. I know all the research says it points to a little box issue and that cats don’t do things like that on purpose but I don’t buy it. Not with this one. He DOES use the box when he feels like it. And he’s not sick and he doesn’t have trouble with the other cats…blah blah blah. He’s just an ass. Always has been. And here he is now…right next to me begging for love and purring up a storm.
1. I’m grateful you’re surrounded by people who love you so. Both here, and at home. Makes me feel better when someone I like has that!
2. My oldest hasn’t ditched me, but her younger sister has. I didn’t take it personally. The second-oldest, Ms. Independent, still looks for me. I see it, and I see she sees me seeing it. I don’t dare say a word about it.
3. All cats are asses. For real. But they also know how to be just sweet enough to not get put out!
It’s one of life’s greatest blessings to be loved well, Eli. That is true.
I wouldn’t dare tell Kidzilla I love that she looks back to see if I’m watching her go into the school building…I just wave. It’s enough.
I have three who are all total jerks. And annoyingly sweet at the same time.
Oh cap the Walk to School Alone Moment. It’s good that you got to call fab hub and your mother. I’d be in tears.
Sorry about the RD up flare, I hope you feel better soon.
I was fighting the tears pretty hard, to be totally honest.
The flare is under control! I am feeling much better today – thanks!
And you know, it was only like fifty steps from me to the school door…but it may as well have been fifty miles.
Very lovely Thankful this week Lisa:) How sad (but not) that Zilla is insisting on some independence. Double edge sword, eh? They do grow up eventually:) Yet another perk of your recent decision to self-employ – you get to stand across the street and watch her walk into the building.
I don’t have RA so can’t imagine what you’re going through but I’ve heard it can be quite painful and even debilitating. You’re lucky to have the Fab Hub:) and Super Sister doesn’t sound like such a slouch either!
I think that it’s cool everyone has complimented Kidzilla on her new glasses and that she likes them. It’s tough when you are so young to have to wear glasses.
Speaking of seeing – I too love that tree picture. No doubt it was more impressive first hand. Hope you’re feeling better!
Definitely a double-edged sword, this growing up thing. But you’re absolutely right that getting to take her to school every morning is a huge perk.
RA can be so many things – different for everyone. I had a bad couple of days, but am feeling much better! I have great family and friends around who understand (and some who have it themselves) and that makes a huge difference.
I can’t tell you how glad I am that Zilla loves her glasses and that the reaction from her peers was so positive. Kids can be so mean about that sort of thing so I’m really glad this has been a positive experience so far. She’s very responsible about them, too, which is great.
Hopefully your RA will setting back down soon so your body can become your own again. Sorry you are going through this.
I figured Rotten Cat 1’s behavior had to be litter box related. Why do cats do that?!?!? Every once in a while I’ll go to walk into my bedroom and there is a turd in the hallway. Most of the time these are the result of them sticking to my poor kitty’s backside, but occasionally I suspect that there might be more malice to it. Don’t believe people when they try to say can’t aren’t vengeful. We only think they sleep 20 hours a day – they are actually plotting against us.
I’m actually feeling really good the last several days, Tammy! Did all the right things, took care of my body, and I feel so much better.
The vet loves to jump right to the litter box as an issue, but it’s not. And I’m very sorry, but we simply aren’t going to live with extra boxes all over the main living areas of the house. I’d love to think it was random sticky turds, but it’s not. It’s a whole poop job. My Hub might have hit on a possible reason/solution. We’re working on it right now. If this is the answer I will be both amazed and exceedingly happy. Here’s hoping…