Christmas trees and marriage...

Putting the Christmas tree up today, lugging up that giant box wrapped in bungee cords, all the totes upon totes full of Christmas decorations (have I, somehow, gotten weaker or have these things gotten heavier), putting on the Christmas music to coax myself into a more "festive" mood, and watching my five year old rip through the bins with so much excitement and joy I can't help but smile -- despite my lack of sleep, need for more coffee, and breathing issues that have started to flare up once again... 
Have to be smarter than the fake tree, and for some reason, I struggled putting it together this year.  I blame these darn meds that just make me foggy and dumb anymore.  A side affect that is better than a third arm, I suppose.  After three tries, I finally got it together, only to find one of the strings of lights was out.  Easily remedied.  The bins were emptied--now where to put it all?  Our decorations seem to multiply every year.  And now little G has to wait for Daddy, who is in Iowa City once again, to get home to put the ornaments on.  So much to do, so much to do...

And I started to think about what it would be like to be my husband over the holidays, or possibly any man, for that matter--where everything is just pretty much done for you.  The decorations are laboriously lugged from basements, homes dusted and cleaned and everything put up, totes taken back downstairs, dinners and desserts baked (including all the goodies that go to the neighbors), Christmas letter written, cards created, addressed and sent (all 130), gifts bought and wrapped (he does do shopping for the boys all year round--but the most time consuming gifts are left to mommy), and you just sit and enjoy while the holidays just happen and are created around you.  What would that be like?  Really what went through my mind was "What the 'expletive' would that be like?".  Then it's all packed up and cleaned up and neatly put away for you too.  What a luxury.  I certainly would be far less stressed and much more jolly.

But I don't HAVE to do all these things, really.  I could sit back and enjoy it more, right?  But then who WOULD do it? I truly do believe in the magic of Christmas but it does involve a lot of work and someone has to do it at SOME point. So then I put this spin on it--doing those activities forces me to be present--to not let those moments go by--it builds memories with my children, my friends, my neighbors--without simply letting the holiday pass by.  It gives meaning, focus, presence to the holiday.  But when these 'traditions' start to feel more like chores than fun, is there something wrong with the traditions or something wrong with me?  I'll vote me--it's usually me.  And the truth hits me that depression is starting to take a grasp on my life again and I've got to fight back--HARD! This bah-hum bug girl is not me.  I always have the energy for this and I LOVE doing this for my kids and my friends -- and as my husband always tells me when I go into panic mode-- "you always get it all done."  So what's 'my deal'? I always feel like I'm carrying around something horribly heavy, just dragging it, and it's not fun--really not.

I'm a care taker.  It's what I do, and, for the most part, I enjoy doing it.  I have done it all my life.  All of it.  The oldest of five siblings I can truly say that.  It comes naturally and it comes from the heart.  I do it till I drop--not the healthiest.  And lately, I've been dropping easier, getting tired faster, wanting to sit still sooner--and that annoys me--and I want someone to be there to catch me, pick up the slack, or just sit with me when I can't go anymore.  Over the age of 11.  And preferably someone registered at this address--because I have the most devoted and kick ass girlfriends that will help in a heart beat and that have been my family, my heart and soul--and I've come to know that I couldn't breathe without them--so I know in that realm I am crazy blessed.  Crazy.blessed. 

My thing is, and what scares me the most is, I don't want to live parallel lives with someone--and I really could care less what worked for someone's parents or someone else.  And I don't for one second believe that longevity or simply being or staying together equates happiness anymore than being a member of a church makes you holy.  You have to be a part of the relationship, the service, the script, the dream.  Living your own without a care or thought to where another person's heart or soul is at (mine's fine, so I'm good), doesn't work--unless someone is willing to be the martyr--a self sacrifice I feel someone would almost have to be dead inside to make.

And at the very, intrinsic root of it all is respect--so very simply respect.  I respect you as a good person, a kind person, an insanely amazing person because you were created by God--who doesn't make mistakes--and although you may have faults, cracks, and could also be insanely screwed up--he thinks you are worthy enough to breathe this air, live this life, and he has a crazy cool plan for this life of yours -- that not even you -- know the gravity, bounds, or limits of -- and I am here to build you up, challenge you, and help you be all you dreamed you could be because I believe in that amazingly awesome person he created you to be and I freaking love you.  Even when I don't know how or what you need.  I love you. Period. 

There is no hierarchy in a marriage -- no treating anyone like a child. No holding anyone's past over their head, prescriptions or labels.  We're on the same level here.  The playing field is the same, the team the same, the goal the same.  We trust we're in this together.  If someone insults YOU they insult ME.  I'm HERE FOR YOU.  In fact, we celebrate each other.  Every day we grow, and when we don't, we learn and move on.  No one gets pushed down.  I hold you up and when you fall, my hand is here.   I VALUE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.  And  YOU ARE ENOUGH.  Easy, simple, pretty straight forward.  I wouldn't do anything less for a friend.  That's how I see it, that's how I feel it, that's how I NEED it to be. 

And I don't buy this guys are different than girls bullshit.  Sorry.  Bunch of crap.  We are all this crazy thing called people.  And if we're going to play games of not being able to validate, regard or give to each other due to gender, we might as well go back to the dark ages.  We have this thing called language, a brain, empathy, and the ability to say "I care because you are you" despite the fact of whether or not I understand.  I don't expect anyone, under any circumstances, to understand me.  I really hope you don't--because all that means is that you went through way too much crazy shit in your life too -- and if that's the case -- we can hold hands, pray together and have a good cry -- but I don't expect that from anyone, even my husband. 

But I do expect respect--now I do--and some sort of empathy--and willingness to be there--for all of this "stuff" that I do, we do--that 'is', essentially, life--when you can be.  And I don't care if a person doesn't see it or understand it.  After years and years of trying to explain one's self, I've lost that.  That's gone completely.  This is what I need.  This is what I have to have.  I get that about myself now.  I know now that it's okay to demand that.  I've asked for it for a very long, long time--embarrassingly long time--and now, it's another story. I won't accept less.

I used to not have words.  I was mute.  Completely silent.  I didn't feel like I was deserving enough to speak them or own them.  Thoughts and words were also punishable if they were "offensive" and breathing was offensive to some people.  After years of therapy I got those words and found the courage to breathe in and out and use my words every single day.  Lots of them--maybe not well, but I learned to use them.  Those of you who know me, or have read anything I've ever written know I am a very wordy person.  I have an arsenal of words now--convoluted and messy.  I was under the false impression after being armed with them that if I USED my words, if I USED my voice--something would happen.  I WOULD BE HEARD.  Someone would listen.  Really listen.  I'm sure it's just a psychoanalysts or psychotherapists way of boosting their patient's esteem, but I've found--too often--that this is really not the case.  Many, many times in life, using our words is just as effective as being completely silent--and this is one of my greatest frustrations.  Expressing the same thing over and over and over again--year after year after year after year--to the point where you feel like you are bleeding those words...

This all came out while putting up the Christmas tree with my five year old, wondering what would happen if all the mommies of the world boycotted Christmas (and yes, I mean the trimmings of Christmas, I know the real meaning of Christmas, I don't need an onslaught of messages concerning this please...), and feeling like this extended into so many areas of my life...

I know I am innately blessed--and all of this is so scary to share--this is just a rough time right now.  I have a damn good life, my husband is a great man, the best kids in the world, and yet--life hurts.  I lean on my friends that are my little family, my terrifically awesome boys, my rocks that are my siblings, the grace of God above and pray my guts out because I want everything to work out and I'm a tenacious fighter.  All of my life I have had to.  All.of.my.life.  I can do this.  It will be okay.  What ever happens, it will be okay.  I know this, because I have an awesome God who has ALWAYS taken care of me.  ALWAYS--even in the darkest of times.                     
And now certainly isn't the darkest.                             
He's got this, me, my boys, my husband--he's got it all. 
He knows the plan. 
The perfect plan for all of us. 

Much love from this messy heart, that keeps on loving regardless...

Let The Son Shine

Happy Monday, all.  One tired mommy.  This weekend was weekend number two of cleaning the house, more mountains of laundry (all the bedding this go round), lots and lots of babies being born to beautiful friends (Halloween was a baby boom :) ), and catching up with family and friends via short phone conversations and nursing a funny tummy and colds (G's nose has been some spooky colors).  All while Marty was in Iowa City--again.  Which is fine.  I just get run down.  Our weeks are insanely crazy--and the weekends offer little respite.  But I am SO thankful for the time with the boys--just to SEE their sweet faces and hear their voices, although the hearing part gets a little wearing as the weekend goes on... (smile)
All the Halloween decorations got taken down and I had Max make a run through of the house one last time to make sure I hadn't missed anything.  The cobwebs are genuine, son, those can't be packed up ;).  Everything was dusted and put back where it should be -- and after that four hour or so process -- everything looked sparkling clean -- and so bare.  Christmas will come soon enough and the Rubbermaid bins and totes will be lugged up from downstairs and painstakingly unpacked and this momma will go crazy on Christmas.  And the thought of all that work after packing up all of Halloween literally made me pass out on the couch--for five whole minutes--because then it was time to make supper. 
I'm blessed with a lot to take care of.  So blessed.  I am not minimizing that at all.  I have never, ever discounted my blessings in anyway.  I'm just also finding that I tend to tolerate quite a bit.  I do so at the expense of my health (which I found at my last job), my rest, my peace, my sense of self -- and I don't know why it is that I do this.  I have my theories -- the way I was raised, the hell I was used to, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah -- but that was then and this is now and why, oh why do I STILL? 
Life is short, though it may seem exhausting and long in this moment, it is ever so short, brief--think of how quickly the time has passed between holding your baby in your arms and the young man or woman that stands before you (I type as my two young men are boisterously running around the house and there is 'noise, noise, noise' as the Grinch would say, so bear with me--as love bears all things--my brain is just fried).  And so I begin to think about what I tolerate, how long I have and what that says about me and takes from me.  It says I am underserving, it says I am less than, it says they or she is more than, it says that I am not who HE says I am--all untruths--and this girl, this momma, does not live untruths.  No wonder my heart is breaking, my peace is disturbed, my soul feels unrest--because this THIS is not authentic--and that is NOT me.  Examine what you tolerate, and if it is not okay at the CORE of you, let it go...
And that's the hard part.  The damn hardest part--especially when it's people.  Because you can walk away if it's only for you--but when it's someone's mother, friend, coworker--ahhhhhhh, that's the tricky part--because we still have to live our lives--and some of us like to live them peaceably.  And my head and heart screams, 'but she lied, she continues to lie, she's so cruel, she stirs up trouble over and over and over again, so deceitful and manipulative, I want no part of that for myself or for this family--and enough really is enough!'  So what do you do?  No, really, what do you do?  Because there is no sane sit down with crazy.  There just isn't.  You don't hash it out or talk it out when truth or honesty isn't in the picture.  There is a verse in the Bible I come to often when I get to this place of ugly with people where Jesus tells us not to cast our pearls amongst swine -- blunt, some people may even find it offensive.  He's simply saying, we shouldn't throw our light, our treasures, to be trampled in the dirt where they won't be received with respect.  You will know this and get a better sense of it when you've tried again and again and again--and not only is it not received--your dreams, your light, your love is marred, mangled and made to look like something the cat drug in -- and if anyone of you have received presents from a cat -- you know it isn't pretty. 
Going back to God always helps.  We aren't here to please men, and generally these types of people can't be pleased.  No matter what you do, they aren't happy and you have to do what ever they say and even then it's not enough -- and they will continue to gossip and talk about you in an unflattering light (and be sure to tell you every unflattering thing everyone else is saying about you as well).  So I go to Galatians, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 
God doesn't expect me to please others at the cost of following him.  Amen.  He comes first.  Period.  This is NOT a popularity contest. And then I look at the spirit behind the intention.  Often it doesn't make sense and it's purely selfish.  The reason you CAN'T sit down with crazy, friends, is because it is COMPLETELY SELF OBSORBED.  So, what does God call me to be?  Not that.  Anything but that.  He calls me to bear the fruits of the spirit.  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."  Galatians 5:22  That's a tall order.  Best work on that and leave the rest well enough alone.
My heart has been so heavy with these thoughts.  I've spent SO much time with these people.  It's just time to be done.  Time for change.  Time for life to really open up and happen--freedom!  I deserve that, my kids deserve that, my marriage deserves that! 
Everyone has choices to make in life.  And we are recipients of other people's choices.  This is profoundly amazing.  Choices.  Sometimes really horrible, awful, bad stuff happens to some of us.  We don't live in isolation.  I think I speak for a vast majority of the population. Most of us haven't lived fairytale lives.  It just doesn't get talked about much at Starbucks.  I have incredible sisters and an amazing brother that were STILL able to make positive, vibrant, healthy, responsible, kind, authentic, empathetic, and loving choices and, dammit world, we ARE STILL HERE -- breathing (my lungs still work ;) ), smiling, moving, being, with some pretty amazing friends that loved the crap out of us --regardless of all of our struggles-- along the way.  We are the lucky ones.  We really are.  So to have to put up with the fabricated petty crap for year after year after year of people with nothing better to do then muck up the world with gossip and twist reality for selfish reasons, to get attention, or what have you--goodness, this momma's got no more time for that! 
I am so thankful for my friends and my siblings who have been the biggest support and sense of family to me.  My boys, who are my everything, and all God's incredible blessings!!!  I'd rather fill up my time he's blessed me with and given me on this earth with all this goodness then waste it on petty crazy where it is not appreciated or respected in the least.  The fear is gone.  "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline." 2nd Timothy 1:7 I have trusted God to get me through so many trials in my life.  I know he will safely take me through any storm.  "For he himself is our peace..." Ephesians 2:14

I am not less than, and the dreams that I have for my life are just as important as anyone else's--because God himself put them in this heart of mine.  Time to start letting them get a little more sunshine. 

Peace and light and love, friends!

13 again...

Not much to say tonight, I just feel like I HAVE to say SOMETHING, it's a curse really...  In my younger days it came out well.  As a tired mommy of two boys who doesn't get much sleep, is often on her own and quiet time is never acquired (the word "alone" is not in my vocabulary and is used for things like catching up -- ha! -- on laundry and housework), so the curse comes out less eloquently and far, far less profound...

But I found myself acting like a teenager again today.  Such silliness.  In tears over that feeling of unacceptance, when I had vowed (vow upon vow) to stop chasing people and that feeling -- like me, like me, oh please like me!!!  Pathetic? Oh yes.  Me? Oh yes.  And I Loathe that about myself (capital "L" intentional).  Absolutely.  Hate admitting it -- as I am afraid sometimes that it will be used against me -- as it so easily can be.  And I've found as I've gotten older that I have gotten SO much "better" :).  I can say "no", I am entitled to "my" feelings, whether they be cherished or not, and I have become somewhat comfortable in my awkwardness and nerdiness that I've never quite been able to shake--and I've stopped trying to shake it.  I kind of gently hug it now :).  But every so often, little lapses occur, weak moments in my soul, like today--where I just for one tiny little insecure moment, want to be that cool kid. 

After the sting of hurt lulls about inside for a bit, I get over it, then I get angry at myself--and then, then I can laugh at myself.  Because I am such a work in progress--even at my most grown upness.  I don't know that I'll ever get there--because some part of me is always that scared, lost, so very, very lost and lonely little girl that is never enough to anybody.  Years and years have taught me that no brand name of clothing is ever going to solve that, no house, no car, and for me it would take a personal stylist ;) -- are going to make me acceptable to anyone -- and chasing those people and those things doesn't ever bring comfort because for those people you always need something bigger, more, and better -- and in the eyes of God I am always enough.  Just me.  Silly, awkward, nerdy, me. :)

I have to end this need to purge the day as my eleven year old is shedding tears due to his own heart break -- Saxon math.  We have been working on this together for the past hour.  The loathing is mutual.  He is completely frustrated and I am too.  But, I don't want him to sit and suffer on his own, so we'll suffer together.  Marty is having dinner with his girls -- coworkers and friends -- so it's another single mommy night.  I don't mind.  It's what I do.  If it's not cross country, it's booster club meetings, so I'm glad he's having fun.  My heart is with my boys. 

Just remember how perfectly beautiful and amazing you are.  God didn't create us to just be wandering souls without any purpose.  And that purpose is definitely NOT one that is designated or determined by man.  Our purpose is divine--from the mundane to the fantastic--it is all the same in the eyes of God.  He doesn't care if your furniture is from Walmart or Pottery Barn, if your clothes are from Goodwill or Banana Republic.  But he DOES care about your heart!  And your hands, how they reach out to others, lift others up, that smile, how it can encourage those around you--your words, how they can be a knife or heal and extend love--and those ears, if they do nothing but listen--to Him and to those that need us -- especially our little ones. 

He made us all beautiful, just the way we are -- and to judge that is to judge him.  Go on and rock that person he made you to be -- flaws and all.  Even if you march to the beat of a different drum.  In fact, if that's the case, rock it harder! :)

Saxon is calling me.  Prayers welcome :).

Love and God's blessing to you all!

Go for the great!

It's that crazy time of year again, and while every other parent seems to be shouting "Yay, school is starting!", I am lamenting the loss of summer.  Albeit, our summer was a rather cruddy one.  A tediously sick mommy, no time for our annual family vacation to Madison (how can this be?!?), not even a tiny get away for this family, and it was just as chalk full and busy as our school year it seemed -- but then again, it was a blur of work and doctor's appointments for this mommy -- so it didn't really "feel" like a "real" summer.  And here we are, just a few days away from the start of another school year...

And my "baby" starts kindergarten!  I'd ask "how can this be?" and "how does this happen?", but I know the answer, and as much as I try to savor time, it slips through these ever aging fingers :).  He's ready--getting sassy at all of five--but ready.  He is so excited because he can not WAIT to learn HOW TO READ!!!  Life begins and a whole new world opens up when you KNOW what Mom and Dad are spelling ;) and can open a book and those letters become something that make sense!  He is beginning to put three letter words together and writing so well.  I am so proud of him, but the attitude could use a little tweaking ;).  We're working on it. 

And Max will be 11 in a few short weeks (can't wait for THOSE 3 shots at THAT doctor's appointment coming up either).  Wow.  Talk about time flying.  He is his mother and all the little things that get under my skin--well, they are all so ME.  I find myself losing patience with him for the things I do myself and the irony is not lost on this momma (double checking with me four or five times to see if he's done something right, germ issues, etc. ;)).  He has the biggest heart and tries so hard and loves and has so much compassion.  With that comes lots of needs--just like his mommy--and I am so glad we can still talk like best friends.  He knows I will never be critical of anything he has to say to me.  That's what his little brother is for ;).  Max is looking forward to having a male teacher for the first time EVER!  Very exciting stuff!  5th grade is going to be awesome! :)

I am so excited and BLESSED to have begun a new career with the Carlisle school systems as a preschool teacher associate with Mrs. Wille and Sarah.  It is like breathing new air in new lungs and it feels so good to have passion back!  I am thrilled to be in such a professional atmosphere and to be treated with so much respect, to be so inspired and encouraged.  I am, admittedly, slightly overwhelmed at this point--with all the newness of things--but I am in very good hands.  This is where I am supposed to be.  Thank you, God, and thank you Carlisle Elementary :).

Speaking of breathing and lungs ;), the boring saga of my health has gotten decidedly more boring--and for that I am so grateful!!!  Some of you know that I have been seeing a Pulmonologist.  He is wonderful and I so LOVE him and I highly recommend Dr. Brimeyer to anyone.  Fabulous man!  He was able to get my insurance to approve the inhaled steroid that goes just to my lungs that I have to take twice a day (instead of the prednisone in pill form that was going all throughout my body and causing so many side effects these past eight months) -- yay!!! -- and that has been helping immensely.  After just one week I could tell a tremendous difference!  It's a funky little contraption, as it's not like an inhaler that you use for an asthma attack and it won't stop an attack, but is one that distributes medication--so the apparatus is a bit different.  I was so thankful he was able to override insurance and get that all approved and taken care of.  Over a few visits with him, he detected a few heart issues and I had to have an EKG done (I can admit now that Marty and I were scared) and an echocardiogram the following week (weirdest test ever--an ultrasound on your heart--um, girls, we'll talk later ;)).  Anyway, the top right chamber of my heart is just a smidge larger and a little more active--electrically speaking.  I have syncope and arrhythmia, which I've had since my 20's, so I wasn't super worried, but he said it could be adding to my breathing issues.  Since it is in my right, and not left, chamber, it's not cause for as much alarm.  The echocardiogram didn't show anything too crazy, and although my heart was still displaying syncope throughout the ultrasound, because I have a history of it -- apparently some people's hearts just "do" this -- and no signs of any other issues -- we'll just keep an eye on it and keep on keeping on :).  My "normal" is just abnormal.  Go figure ;).
 
So, doing good!  Lots of very happy things to report!!!  God is so good and is taking such incredible care of this family!  I truly appreciate all of your prayers, support, and love!  We couldn't do it without any of you.  My sisters, my friends who are my sisters, the occasional text from my brother (Tim, how are you :) ?), Mom, thanks to all of you.  God is so amazing.  And, of course, my husband--who is stressed beyond his limit with coaching and school and the 10,000 hats he's wearing and plates he's juggling right now -- and this crazy wife of his who keeps asking him all of these questions about HER new job ;).  LOVE you all and feel so insanely appreciative and blessed by all of your support and love.  THANK YOU. 

Need sleep, and so do the boys.  Having a hard time getting back on "schedule"--we've got this "fly by the seat of our pants" thing going on right now--yikes!  I WILL get up and work out tomorrow--it's been a few weeks.  We WILL eat healthier tomorrow (what's wrong with pop tarts and cookies for breakfast? there's oatmeal, peanut butter, and flax seed in them! ;)), and it will all be okay as we breathe, pray, and thank God for his grace and one more day. 

Much, much love to you all.  So much!  We are thankful for all of you.  It's been a crazy summer and it'll be one adventure of a year!  But we are SO looking forward to it and so thankful (the word of the moment is 'thankful' for this Mitchell family :) ) for the way God has plucked us up from such deep health issues, career questions, heart and soul contemplations and told this family--"I've got THIS, I've got YOU!"  We're just going with his flow :).  He, clearly, knows better than we. 

Peace, and rest, my friends!  Time for this momma to get her little boys to sleep.  They just want to snuggle.  And that's all right with me...  Because at the rate time is going, they will be in college in just a few months... ;) 

Snuggle on! :) (never mind the karate chops to the back in the middle of the night--we will miss those one day ;)) <3

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. "  2 Samuel 22:31

Missing...

I love this--just so perfect for today--just made me smile :).

So today was a day.  Not awful, not particularly pleasant—just a day.  And now I’m missing my boys as they are at Adventureland Inn swimming with their cousins and Marty’s parents as it is THAT weekend of the summer and this momma is worn out from said day—I think five hours at any doc’s office would wear anyone out.  It’s been a week, a summer, a winter and I’m, admittedly, kind of an emotional basket case tonight and I just want my boys—all three of them—need them around me, to snuggle up close and feel their wiggly little bodies, hear their voices all vying for attention, the chatter getting louder till it culminates to the point where it’s audible but not understandable (you moms know what I’m talking about), and to just be.  We haven’t had a night like that in ages.  My mind is tired, my body is tired, my soul is tired. There is just so much going on.  We didn’t even have time for a family vacation this summer—not that our get aways are all that elaborate—a trip to Madison, WI for a week or so is as crazy as we get—but we cherish and recharge and this summer has raced by too quickly and this silly momma has been too sick.

So, I didn’t want to take this night away from my boys and be selfish and ask them to stay home for me—because I needed them.  Part of my “down in the dumps” is that my husband went out last night as well before this big specialist’s appointment and I was feeling a little bit abandoned in the process and night number two may be hitting harder for that reason.  Thankful my sister spent the night with the boys and I after watching my little guys all day.  They so love their Aunt Jen.  Its funny, as a mommy and a sibling, watching how much your son and your sister are alike (G and Jen are two peas in a pod, as the saying goes).  Trying to gear up for a big day of gallivanting around Adventureland park with Marty's family tomorrow when walking around my house and up and down my stairs wears me out—but I want to be there for my kids.   It gets crazy, and I want someone to be there who has their best intentions at heart from the get go—always protective of my boys.  I've had too many strange incidents happen to show me otherwise (one involving my son's asthma).  So, this is all just happening at a very inopportune time—but that’s life.  It's not always convenient. 

One job ending, another beginning and they are meeting in the middle as our Carlisle preschool picnic at the elementary school and meeting the new kids and parents will happen the evening after working a ten hour day of preschool (a Monday, no less—a 4:30 a.m. blessed Monday) with my “old” center.  So many things happening all at once.  Marty started coaching three weeks ago, school starting for the boys, G starting soccer, and all the blessings of being so busily blessed.  Just trying to find my voice in all this busy, and hanging on to those things I treasure—our Bible story time at night, reading with the boys in general, saying our prayers,  building our relationship with God, patiently communicating (I preface it with this, because the quick ‘how was your day’, ‘fine’ banter is NOT communicating) and living a healthy life style in terms of exercise and eating (enter “nutribullet” into our lives—love this little gadget!!! – never have I ever cried during an infomercial)—those things are all important to me and I can NOT give them up. 

Those all take time—LOTS of time.  So, no, I don’t really care if I don’t have a social life at this very moment in my life, or if at the end of an evening I’m too tired to have one.  In this moment, at this time, I am doing the best I can with these insane treasures called children that God has entrusted me with and I don’t have enough energy in this body or enough time as it is to be the mom I want to be to these incredible human beings—so if I’m the biggest dork and most unsocial nerd on the block—so be it.  I need to take time for myself too, to replenish my soul—and if I have two hours to do yoga or read, I’ll chose that over a bar scene any day of the week (and my “me” time is in the wee hours of the morning or evening).  I’m doing the best I can with the body, mind, and soul I’ve been given.  I’d like to think we really all are, right?

So, I’m sitting here in this quiet, missing my boys, knowing they are having fun, but sure needing their hugs and giggles right now—needing G’s “I love you more than chocolate!  I love you more than chicken!”.  Needing Max’s exciting stories of all the new cities he’s building in Mind Craft or the latest books he’s dreaming about writing—and just my husband’s presence would be nice.  Special blessings to my sister for babysitting the boys these last two days straight as Marty and I both worked and I had an arduously long specialist’s appointment today.  What would we do without our Aunt Jen?  Thanks a million.  It will be so hard to say goodbye to you again this summer.  Wish my sisters would move back to the Midwest.  The East Coast has claimed them all.  Damn exciting, open minded, artistic, music, green, global loving filled culture! 

I was given instructions to begin packing for our day tomorrow.  I may finish "Reconciliation" first.  Just need a do nothing weekend before all the madness begins--just one.  Would love, while I'm making wish lists, one more pool day before school starts as well.  That would be heavenly.  Wishing you all happy wishes, deep breaths, and healthy hearts.

As always, with much love...

Why Yes, I Am Super Woman...

PFT's today--Pulmonary function tests.  Just felt cooler calling them by the letters.  Rough morning.  Didn't know the damn things were going to make me cry. Or keep me sitting in the doc's office forever.  Couldn't leave till I could drive.  6 longest seconds of my life--three times.  Bleck! 
As most of you laboriously know, I have been sick... forever...  And this morning, well, after bombing my PFT's (just say it, it's fun :)), I'm pretty damn proud of myself for existing, functioning, working, breathing, being at all...  Why yes, I am superwoman...
To those of you who have the infinite pleasure of living your life asthma free (lucky bastards) -- you've probably never giving much thought to breathing, your lung's function, or how it all effects the rest of your body in it's entirety.  Those of us with it and with children with it, think about it on a daily basis.  And when we get hit with respiratory illnesses it is especially unpleasant, but as of late, my body has been feeling just plain awful.
So, the numbers--the ranges...  Here we go.  A "normal" range for a pulmonary function test reading is somewhere between 80 and 100.  "Moderate" is anywhere between 60 and 80.  "Bad" is 40 to 60.  Mine?  Go big or go home, was--da, da, da-- 34.  Awesome.  My doc wanted to know how I was functioning at all and commenced freak out-- "we must fix this!!!"--mode (God, I love her, she really is the best).  I was, amazingly, calm and chill--well, I really am comatose at this point ;)--no air coming or going ;).  And, after all of this "stuff"--if it's one thing I've learned--it doesn't pay to freak out.  There will be another specialist to see and more tests to be done ;). 
So when I'm sucking wind and feeling like I have a ton of bricks on my chest all day at work and can barely make it up the steps?  Totally get it.  When I'm sick and my body is running a raging fever at the end of every stinking week because it's expended ALL of it's energy just trying to breathe?  Get it again.  Oh, and the kicker?  My lung's "age"?  100.  Yeah, 100.  I've always felt like an old soul, but come on!  People, I am kicking ass for 100!!! :)  Laugh, that's funny. 
So, on prednisone (called it!) again for the next 30 (yes, that says thirty) days.  And on another kind of inhaler 2 times a day (except that my lovely insurance denied it since I'm on another inhaler for my "regular" asthma and I have to call the pharmacy back in three days -- since it's the weekend and all -- and see if it's been approved -- the pharmacist asked if I was having a really bad time with my asthma and when I explained the entire situation to her, she felt so horrible and said, "Unfortunately your insurance company doesn't care.  They just don't want to have to pay for it."  Nice.  So, I guess I'll just wait till Monday?) that is a different kind of steroid than my other inhaler to try to get my lungs functioning to a regular kind of "bad" ;). 
Then, it's off to see a Pulmonologist and get inflicted with other fun tests--I mean get the privilege of taking other tests.  I just go with it all now.  My body truly amazes me that it even moves at this point ;).  My PFT print outs go with me with all their "very severe" flags and graphs and percentages and the thought of being on prednisone for an entire month just makes me ...  I don't even know if there are words...  Marty's packing up his essentials to go live else where for awhile ;) ...
So I'm just going to go ahead and pat myself on the back and give myself a heck of a lot of credit for doing as much as I'm doing for a body that is functioning with as little oxygen and as low capacity as it is.  No wonder I'm so freaking tired.  On top of everything else with my lungs, they just don't flipping work.  So there, world.  Lay off.  This 100 year old is doing pretty well, thank you very much :).  And if you could do better, you're willing to walk a mile.  Here' my shoes... :)

The More You Know...

What day is it?  Where am I?  It's been a fun couple of days (dripping sarcasm) -- and I am only writing this to update friends and family.  It is not fun--it will be very, very boring (maybe all of my blogs are ;) ).  It's just easier for me to relay information this way then to have to call everyone--that and my voice is not all the way there yet.  And Griffyn still persists, "What?!?  What did you say, Momma?  I tan't weally hear you so dood." with his mischievous grin and giggle.  Three days of not being able to talk has been so frustrating!  I thought my husband didn't listen to me before ;) ...

We spent the morning and a good part of the afternoon in radiology today.  A little mix up at the front desk.  Apparently there are several radiology departments.  Such sweet people. So very kind.  I just couldn't stand--this whole breathing deal.  I'm just really weak.  The kind souls kept wanting to bring me a wheal chair and didn't want me to walk.  I opted for a regular chair until everything got sorted out.  It did, and I got a pretty little bracelet (above :)) for all my troubles.

More tests, more x-rays, story of my life for what feels like forever.  I live at my doctor's office and occasionally vacation at specialist's (my ENT being my favorite spa get away--they have the best coffee ;)).  This was a little scary.  I have scar tissue on my lungs, but we were making sure that that was all it was.  Ruling out tumors again.  Had been through this with my MRI for my head "issues", and now we were checking out the lungs.  I knew it wasn't.  It just wasn't.  But, it's always a little frightening.  Especially when you're so darn sick all the time.  I allowed my mind to go 'there' for five seconds.  Then I was done...

Marty drove as I couldn't.   Max is in IC at basketball camp, so we were down one kid--the most well behaved one ;).  But, G was so good.  He was promised a giant cookie :).  He was amazing, actually.  Maybe he felt my somber mood .  Maybe he just really wanted that cookie.  We did our thing.  Then it was time to wait.  I hate waiting.

Nothing new.  I had heard what I heard before.  Scar tissue.  Just hanging out within my lungs due to previous infections--pneumonia, various respiratory infections, what have you--pick, I've had a plethora ;).  But, what I hadn't had before was all the information to go along with this.  Scars don't sound so bad, right?  Turns out the nasty buggers ARE what is causing all of my issues (on top of my preexisting asthma and allergies, of course).  Amazing what being given information can do!

Good thing is, they're not contagious.  I can't give them to you or my kids.  Bad thing is, there is no "cure" and they really won't ever go away.  But, I can learn to manage them.  Again, information is a wonderful thing. 

Here's the break down.  Try to stay awake ;).  Scar tissue replaces healthy lung tissue, which causes my lungs to swell and stiffen, making breathing difficult.  I'm going to get all science on you now (well, as science as I get ;)):  the tissue that lines and supports the alveoli, rather than expanding and contracting like they normally do like balloons, become less soft and elastic.  They become stiff.  This is what makes it so hard to breathe.  This was my light bulb moment.  I kept explaining this "rubber band like" feeling over and over and over again to my doc and ENT and my friends--it's like I can't get a full range of motion with a breath--it pulls like a rubber band when I take a breath in--catches and pulls back.  Now I get it!  And I keep using my inhaler and it just doesn't work--well, it won't work for that!  I just needed someone to explain it to me.  So, when I have an asthma flair up, get sick or get a cold or experience respiratory problems, that scar tissue gets all inflamed (and angry--Griffyn said :)).  I really need to try to avoid that as much as possible.  That's when I get blasted and all the really bad trouble starts...

Scarred lungs reduce the amount of oxygen that enters the blood stream and circulates within the body, causing lower then normal oxygen levels (hello, always being cold, poor circulation, and blue toes and fingers!!!)  This also cause my shortness of breath, my inability (they called it 'reduced capacity for exercise') to run all this time, fatigue, and confusion--see, my love, it's not ALL my fault ;).  It can also cause the mild frontal chest pain I've been experiencing (that ton of bricks and heaviness I always seem to feel and walk around with daily) and this off and on again cough.  The meds to reduce the inflammation (hello, my best friend -- NOT -- prednisone!!! -- that I've been on at least eight times since January) completely negate your immune system and it says right on the darn bottle to avoid people with infections.  I work with kids.  So yes, I get sick all the time.  I'm on a drug, constantly, that helps me breath, but completely wipes out my immune system.  So the being sick all the time?  Guess I'll have to start wearing a mask ;).  The trick is to avoid being in places where there are a lot of germs when you are on prednisone.  But when you are on it as often as I am, that's tricky--and do what I do, I should add.

So, if there is no cure, no wonder drug (beside insufferable steroids that are only temporary fixes to reduce inflammation during bad flare ups), what the heck am I supposed to do?  Here were the suggestions and "prescriptions" I was given.  Breathing exercises (yay, I get to utilize my yoga as therapy :) !).  Managing stress and anxiety and making life style changes to stay as healthy as possible.  ALWAYS avoid second hand smoke, moderate exercise like walking and yoga (yay again :)), eat very small but frequent meals to reduce stomach fullness so it's easier to breathe, get lots of rest, maintain a positive attitude (no really, we talked about this ;)), practice relaxation techniques, and avoid situations that can worsen your condition such as allergens (please people, take me SERIOUSLY NOW--all those many, many years of putting up with people not giving a damn about me or my kid's allergies certainly didn't help any of this, I'm sure--I'd always come home afterwards with an upper respiratory infection, sinus infection or bronchitis--just adding to the scars and mess), stress, high altitudes (traveling by air), etc.

Then we got into diet.  Fruits and veggies, of course :).  Anything rich in vitamin A and C--to fight deficiencies often caused by this issue--and to fight the physical weakness that goes with it and my increased risk for colds (my doc is a mega vitamin pusher--I take both of these already, but will look for foods high in them as well :) ).  Whole grains to stabilize blood sugar.  Anyone that's on prednisone as much as I am knows how it screws with your blood sugar.  Holy toledo!  Fun times! ;)And fatty fish.  It helps reduce inflammation associated with lung diseases such as asthma.  It also provides ample protein which supports tissue repair, improved muscle mass, and immune system function.  Salmon, albacore tuna, herring, flounder--all examples with maximum benefits (okay, I'll admit it, I had to look these up as I know nothing about fish).  I'm sure Marty and the boys will welcome ALL of these additions to our diet whole heartily!!! :)

I kept asking about the extreme fatigue.  I mean, this is more than "I didn't get enough sleep for a week".  It's "My whole body hurts and I can barely move and can someone carry me, please?"  All, apparently, normal.  Yay--I think?  Once your lungs have been damaged, you will experience shortness of breath and severe fatigue.  You may even struggle to preform the simplest task--like brushing your teeth (or in my case, the whole taking a shower thing just wipes me out).  She stressed breathing exercises and doing them often. The lung's major function is to take carbon dioxide from your blood and replace it with oxygen and then your blood travels through your body and exchanges these gases in your muscles (I think I'm remembering this right).  By adding moderate exercise and breathing exercise, you can improve your blood circulation which will enable your body to exchange as much oxygen and carbon dioxide as possible with your muscle tissue to optimize the impaired output of your lungs.  When my carbon dioxide levels get too high, I will feel even more tired and I build up this thing called lactic acid in my muscles, which makes me feel sore all over (explains a lot also--that "whole body ache--even my bones hurt" feeling).  So, I'm supposed to breathe in slowly and deeply and purposefully (this sounds just like my yoga mediation breathing :)).  Fill my lungs completely then exhale slowly as if I am blowing out a birthday cake full of candles.  I'm supposed to repeat this breathing exercise until I no longer feel tired or short of breath.  If you see me doing this in public, do not be alarmed, I'm just blowing the imaginary candles out on my imaginary cake ;).  Griffyn thinks it's fun.  His is a bit spitty, however ;).

I go back in to see my regular doc again on Friday.  That's our day :).  Friday.  We're doing some more lung tests.  PT something, I've forgotten already--it's the lack of oxygen--makes me forgetful ;).  Just going with the flow, I am not going to get stressed, I am going to realize how serious this is and take better care of myself.  I cringed when my husband's mom called to see what happened today and he said, "oh it was still JUST the scar tissue".  Turns out, it's a bigger deal than I thought it was.  Now I need him to understand this as well.  I'm going to need his help in all of this.  It's going to be a big change for me--a person who pushes and likes to do everything themselves and is very OCD :).

I can't make it go away, but I can do my best to not make it worse.  And I will.  Zen-fully so :).  Positive mind, breathing exercises, only good in, bad out, healthy eating, and not pushing a thing.  Life will always be crazy--that's the nature of it--but how I chose to react to it does not have to be.  I may get more worn out or tire more easily than some people, but that's okay too.  I am learning to expect less from myself and learning I do not have to do it all.  This is me, and this is my body.  I'm no less of a person because of it--and just because you can't see the scars on my lungs or know why I am the way I am, doesn't mean I need to apologize for it or push myself to make other people happy.  I'm just not doing it anymore.  And there is such a peace in that for me today.  Such a peace.  Maybe it's the breathing exercises. ;)  Or maybe it's knowing that if I don't take care of this, it will get worse, and it's not worth it to me to go there. 

And the metaphor lover in me (oh my friends, they are everywhere :)) can't help seeing the analogy of my life and all the things I've been through and my "soul scars", as I call them, along with this scar tissue on my lungs that makes it so difficult for me to breathe.  My soul scars do too.  But with a lot of patience, slowing down, taking the time to focus on the good, turning my eyes to heaven, and really, really, for the first time in my life genuinely not caring what anyone else thinks or expects from me, just maybe, I can start to heal.  The scars that are there will always be there.  But I certainly don't need to make new ones.  I'm excited to start this journey, scared, yes, but fresh and new--brave now--and thankful for the entire experience.  There is a reason for everything and God always has a plan. 

I'm a stubborn child.  God needed me to walk a different walk.  A walk that did not depend on an existence deemed by the value and merit based on the opinion of others.  I look too much to that--and I know all the psychological ramifications for it and all the reasons for the need for that acceptance.  But God doesn't want me to continue to walk that way and I just can't seem to break those chains.  Now, with this new way to breathe, I can.  I really think I have to.  It's a physical reminder.  One that makes me stop to think and breathe--literally.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you.

And that is all, my friends.  I'm good.  Fighting this nasty cold and respiratory virus still, but so very, very good. 

Love to you all, as always.  And so much peace :)!