What a great spring & summer of travel it had been & into the fall with a hot trip to Texas.
I got back from Texas at 3:30am on a Sunday & at 2pm that afternoon Danny & I took my mother in law to the ER for a non-cancer related problem. To make a really, really long & boring story short, when she was ready to be released from the hospital, I was voted “Most Available to Be a 24/7 Caregiver”. (*No one asked me. I didn’t vote for myself.)
I’d already had a trip planned to Florida to watch the girls, while Sara & Kevin went on their own trip to Colorado. Thankfully, so very very thankfully, I was still able to go. Danny’s sister came up to our house to stay with Phyllis while I was gone. But, Danny was broken hearted he was not able to go…so broken-hearted.
Phyllis is doing better & eating normally, but much more fragile than she has been. We’ve had PT, OT & Visiting Nurses here. We have grab bars & a raised toilet seat in the bathroom & a new GPS Lifeline. She trying to use a walker but leaves it behind frequently. Danny has taken her to the lake a couple of times to get more clothes & more stuff & to check on her property.
But for me, after practically living outside most of the spring & summer & into the fall, I’m going nuts. *And, I’m not a great care giver; not even mediocre. *Being stuck here for 12 or 13 hours a day, 5 days a week…well, I suck at this. *And everyone in the family, including Danny, would probably agree. But on the other hand, Danny is still working 50 hours a week & her other kids haven’t volunteered. *Many nights when Danny gets home from work around 6:30 or 7pm, I dash out the door to go…do…something! I’m trying to embrace walking late at night up & down Mass street in the cold & dark…but thats not going so well.
However, Phyllis has made plans to go visit her son in Arizona & stay for Christmas. I’m sure they will all have a great time. Besides her son & his wife (both retired), she also has two grandkids & two great grandkids there & it will be warm. And, it will be Christmas! I don’t know if she’s ever spent Christmas there before.
Fall is usually the time I tackle projects. I had fewer on my list than normal for this fall, hoping instead to hit my pitiful two trails around here often to keep in shape & maybe kayak more frequently too—to be outside. *That plan is not working with the current set up.
So, the first thing I did when I could was a big closet project. I really want a Gear Room…but, that’s not happening. So, I figured out a way to switch some stuff around & put the gear closet in the room I sleep in. This worked & everything fit well…all the sleeping bags are hung, as well as all the packs. The tents & rest of the gear are in there too. When I pack for a trip, I usually stage it in my room, so this will also be super convenient. And, crazily, it makes me happy to be by all my gear!
The next project on my list was to make a rag quilt for Emma for her 2nd Christmas. I took a Saturday & went to buy fabric. These are the fastest & most forgiving quilts to make. And, this is the 13th one I’ve made. I’ve learned to put it together pretty efficiently. I’m happy with all the colors & fabrics & made her an additional tiny one she can use for her dolls.
My next super fast project was to re-purpose Mrs. Potato Head into Santa…Potato-Santa Ho Ho Ho! I dug into my stash (my way too-big stash) of fabric, & spent a couple of hours making the change. It worked & I like it! SantaCon will be in about 3 weeks & I’m excited to see my friends (*I’ve haven’t been seeing many of them in the past couple of months) & have a rowdy day out bar hopping in Lawrence.
I have read sooooo very very many books while at home. I usually make about 3 trips a week to the library…they’re open at late in the evenings & I love my local library! So, I’ve been going there to escape. I spend hours & hours reading.
I’ve bought (Thanks Amazon Prime! You’re a great way to shop when stuck at home!) all my Christmas.
I’ve wrapped all my Christmas.
I’ve cleaned & cooked & cleaned & cooked…my to-do list is all checked off.
As I type, it’s Thanksgiving Eve. It’s usually only the three of us for Thanksgiving…it’s been that way for quite a few years, so nothing new or different there. While it’s my least favorite holiday, the best part about it is Danny is off work for 5 days.
But despite all my bitching & whining, I am thankful for so many things.
I really am.
I just need to learn to quit bitching & whining.
Happy Holidays. I hope everyone’s is wonderful!
*denotes bitching & whining