Why so busy?

I often mention how busy we are. I wish very often for life to slow down a bit so I could take a breather and regroup. (It has slowed a little but still in the fast lane) Why are we so busy? Partly because in technicality we are taking care of 3 households. Our own of course, my mom, and my MIL (Who is actually pretty independent but still needs help at times and I don't mind) For my mom we have to schedule our day around her medications. We have to make sure someone is home to give them to her when they are due (3x a day) so sometimes we have to schedule around them. She also has to have someone prepare her meals and clean and do laundry and dishes etc all that good stuff. For all 3  households we handle getting everyone to appts, doing shopping, etc. So yeah that sort of makes it easier to understand why so busy all the time.  My mom can't do any of the things she used to and we are responsible for her care. The parkinson's has been rough on her. If you would like to know what Parksinson's is think Micheal J. Fox that is what he has. For more on this disease go to that link. *I had written this as a draft and left it up and wasn't done with it and shortly after it came out about Robin Williams having it. I'm sure that had to be a rough blow for him. She also has the Lupus and Sjogren's and several others things going on. Renal failure is a big one for her. Her kidneys are slowly failing we were actually told a couple of years ago she wouldn't be around much longer and our family managed to come in from their states to see her. Here she still is though. She does have some really rough times. She broke a hip back in January and actually recovered rather quickly from that. She is the last of her siblings now which is rather saddening. My aunt passed not long ago with a massive bacterial infection that they almost didn't even know about. She was in a car accident and they thought she had a concussion and they found it when they checked for that. She passed with in a day  or so. Sometimes people are handed some rough cards but sometimes there are gifts in those cards. Different ways of looking at the world through eyes other than your own is one. Empathy. Sometimes it makes you stronger than you thought possible and you are able to handle more than some people because you've all ready been through tough times you have more of an idea what to expect. You can also help guide others through those tough times or just be an ear when they need it because you truly do understand. In any case that is an inkling of why so busy. We are always doing something whether for ourselves or someone else and we cherish any little moments when we are NOT busy :) 

Back to school

 My youngest daughter's school is all decked out in lego people and lego blocks of all shapes and sizes. She LOVES legos. In a bit of a different way than her older brother ...I don't think he will ever lose his love for him I could see him being one of those people who work building the elaborate lego copies of real life buildings etc. He has made a huge plane before that was so detailed it had everything inside made to scale too and even had a turret type thing that worked. Though his real other love is aeronautics. Anyway.... she plays the lego games with him sometimes and she was pretty excited about that. (They also have my love of sims and their sisters' love of pokemon) One of my girls was more into the dance games/karaoke but she got into pokemon some too. Getting side tracked but all in all it kind of helps to get her excited about going. Her actual classroom is ocean themed. She went and met her PE teacher and he told her to save her energy for her first day. I think he'll be in for a surprise LOL She never runs out. My biggest worry is about her sitting still in class. I know she did okay at the Pre-K. Apparently she is a bit of the class clown though. I am hoping that she has some of the students she knew from there in her class this year it would help. I think it will help some too that she took speech over there so had to go to that school some last year. My son had to have it too and I remember he only needed it for a year or so. My son doesn't start til next month so he still gets some time to goof off though he is going to have withdrawals from his game I think when it starts. He tends to get bored. He has been teaching himself some coding too. He got glasses this summer so hoping that helps him some too. He'd been borderline needing them for awhile. 

 Also tomorrow I get to start my physical therapy which I am told will take about an hour *yay me* I don't know how often I will have to go yet. I have never been through it so I have really no idea what to expect. Hopefully it helps. I also go back to see my Rheumatologist this month. Curious how often they test to make sure the RA and all is in remission to make sure it still is. (blood work) They had originally found it via blood work in 2005 also when they found my lupus. I was pretty bad sick around then and it was affecting my liver at that time too. I had to be on potassium and my body had trouble absorbing it. This last time when they found out I was in remission my liver enzymes were too high which led to blood testing for Hepititis and such but all that came out negative. No clue why it was high but am grateful it wasn't anything like that. They put me on a medication for my arthritis when I went in (Meloxicam) which has so far been helping. We are wondering if the reason it went into remission is because I'd been sick for several months and had to be on multiple strong doses of antibiotics and steroids. I was suffering pleurisy not long before too which is usually lupus caused (I think there can be other reasons too) but that was diagnosed at ER via X-ray and I'd been on a strong steroid dose for that. I will have to remember to ask about it when I go in. We are planning on taking our son with us this trip and trying to go to the museum again since he missed out last time. (had to do end of the year school work and only had a couple days left) 

August 11 2014

I didn't think I'd get a chance to today but here I am finally getting to sit for a few. I went to the foot dr this morning and he really wants me to do physical therapy. I didn't know if I could due to schedule (always so busy!) and location but I found out later that there is one in the town I'm in that does it so I put in a call to see if he wants to go ahead and write the script and have me start it now since he really wanted me doing it though I go back in a month. Didn't help that my youngest dropped a big bottle of something on my foot last night on accident. He told me he wants me to wear the boot a lot more and then told me to get some wraps like they use on horses ankles and showed me how he wanted it wrapped on my foot for extra support. He seems kinda worried that it wasn't doing better but I know I've been pushing it more than I should so I will totally say my fault for not taking it as easy as I needed to be. (of course I hadn't realized that it was technically broken either which might have helped) He said really it would be best in a cast but they try not to do that. (hinders people too much I guess?) So it is boots, wraps, ice, and staying the heck off of it as much as possible. yay me. My Mom got her drivers license renewed. She looks so different in the photo and they couldn't even get her finger prints. (not sure what they did but they did something) I cut her nails for her and all. I really need to see if I can get her to let me paint them for her or something but I need to find some normal colored polish (I tend to go for blues or purples and such) She seems like she is losing her oomph in the idea of going fishing but hoping we can get her excited about that and take her. I think she'd enjoy it. I think the only problem is she doesn't want to have to go get her license even though I think it is permanent now and wouldn't be a big deal to get. I am going to see if I can get it for her. She sounded like she'd just be happy sitting out at the lake. I need to find a good chair for her. She's such a tiny thing anymore. She just celebrated her 76th birthday. It take a lot out of her to do much of anything it seems. I have a number for my dad I had spoke to him awhile back but not recently. (when she was in the nursing home for rehab on her broken hip) and I think she wants to talk to him but she can't figure out that she needs to dial 405 to call him.  Right now I am so tired I can't see straight so hopefully I will get a chance to catch a nap. I definitely need it. I forgot to ask about resuming belly dance but I can assume that is a no since I'm not supposed to be on it really so will have to wait and see. 

 Drawing I did on 2draw.net

One last blog for tonight (I think I'm making up for lost blogging time LOL)

 hat I made to go with my wrap gloves will come next. ...Anyway sorry for the multiple blog posts guys. I am getting it out of my system and I tend to be long winded when I type. I haven't had a chance to do much blogging and I don't expect to have a chance to do much of it this week but may have plenty to say after this week so bear with me LOL :) Plus I'm sitting here listening to glitch mob and sometimes that is inspiring in itself. A bunch of random stuff. I got my hubby hooked on those escape the room games I think. I finally started messing with my tablet more though I don't have the wifi finding capabilities my son seems to have. I swear anywhere he goes there is wifi. :/ I try it and *crickets* Yep. So ....I've decided that every parent should have school year goals kinda like what you might make for new years. (or well for whatever you might like maybe they would be seasonal instead or something...I kind of make those too) 

My goals for this school year are: *and don't forget your kids could make some great positive goals for themselves :) 

1. Of course get my art and crafts going as I've mentioned over and over but I have a lot of them I want to do and I have plans from contests to possibly selling online and/OR preparing for future crafts shows. We have a few coming up but if I can start now I can have some stock going for future years as well as my husband has some planned as well. 

a. Finish my large scale painting that I've had set aside for a few years now. It needs to be completed or at least updates done to it.

b. try my hand at glass etching I have the materials just need the time/space.

c. finish a few pairs of earrings and maybe a necklace or two. I have found a great source for glass beads and supplies for steampunk earrings that I want to try. 

d. Do some more loom crafting and hopefully learn some new types of knitting/crochet/looming.

e. I would like to try my hand at hair ornaments. (like what tribal dancers use) 

(and yeah there is a lot of other stuff but that is off the top of my head. 

2. get more organizing done with my house. I have ideas and such to maximize space and usage of space but need to get them done. 

3. Rebuild our front porch (that is on hold til we get something else done and then we can go ahead and complete it) 

4. pay off my house (happens this spring) and hopefully get some idea where we want to go from there and what all we want to do. 

5. Girl time! :) Have plans to go spend time over with my oldest and my friend and of course play with the grandbaby. 

6. Work on my dancing if I can (pending release from the dr to do so) 

7. Go on walks (again pending release but I can do them so long as I wear my boot) 

8. Fishing. 

9. When the kids aren't doing school go do some of the things we wanted to do during the summer but didn't get to and are still on our checklist. 

10. Clean out the shed. (o.o) and do some other decluttering. 

11. To be decided looks to me like plenty to concentrate on for now LOL :D 

I'd like to start writing too. I've had a story in my head for awhile but haven't typed it out or attempted to yet. 

I've been trying some new foods and such lately. Today hubby brought me home a salad that was grilled chicken and fruit (strawberries/blueberries/almonds/pineapple/ and poppyseed dressing) HOMG I think I'm hooked. I know people sometimes use fruit in their salads but didn't think I'd really like it. Well I do like it :) 

Also I intend to do my hair again here in the next couple of days. It is looking fall like so I am feeling that urge to go red. I have found that my hair makes me easy to find LOL I've had a lot of people come up and know who I am due to that which is kinda cool. I feel bad if I dunno who it is though right off but I do appreciate them saying Hi :) I've met a lot of great people on there and been lucky to meet several of them IRL.  I want to start doing my flowers and such again. 

Ok I guess I should go for now and get some stuff done. I've been picking at the house all day as much as possible til I finally gave up and came in here and started blogging when I wasn't able to get anything done for different disruptions.  I am also suffering I have two really big dr appts coming up quickly jitters besides just the school is starting OMG's. 

*random mushroom pics. My son found these in the park and they were so weird looking

these too there were some that looked like tongues sticking out

bubbles under the water formed by algae. 

Thoughts on spirituality

 I would like to say how much I appreciate when my higher power points me in the right direction keeps me on track and guides me down the right path. I used to pay rapt attention to it (in the form of that tugging at the corner of your mind feeling you get or intuition) and then I guess for a long time I didn't follow so closely as I did and I missed those little tugs at the corner of my consciousness. I've been working on de-cluttering in all senses and have found it has come back with a strength that is clarifying and I feel I am back on track.   Again everyone has their own paths. Their path is meant for them. You cannot walk someone else's or have them walk yours.  Your higher power may show itself to you in a way that speaks to your spirit in the form of one religion while mine may show itself to me in another as it speaks to my spirit in a way I can understand it. I get tired of hearing the my religion is right and yours is wrong debate. What gets me is when you hear it from people in a religion that has so many sects to it. (branches so to speak) which one is right? They each think they are. Seems too many focus on that. Live and let live. 

Anyway I appreciate when there is something we really need and we can't normally afford or it is hard to find and I'll get this strange urge to go to a certain place and lo and behold there it is and at a price we can afford. (usually hidden in the thrift store or something when it is something like that or someplace we don't normally go) We find our way to it or it to us.  I appreciate those moments. I try not to ask for them because to me that sometimes seems such a trivial thing to ask for but I appreciate it more than words can say. I will work harder to keep my mind clear and de-cluttered enough to feel/hear those little tugs when I get them. I will continue to work on my spiritual/mental growth and my physical health as they go hand in hand. I will continue to try and pass along what I can to help whomever I can. Whether it be in wishing light and love or whether it is in physical form or assistance. I will continue to learn and hopefully grow. 

I feel like the key to life is balance. It applies to pretty much any aspect of life. Patience is another. Trying to take a moment to see things from a perspective than your own (doesn't mean you need to adopt that perspective just try to get an idea of how the other side is seeing it so you can gain an understanding) Another I've found is do NOT adopt another's perspective or perception as your own. I know this sounds identical to what I just said but there is a slight difference. The first is understanding why a person may think/feel the way they do. The second one has more to do with not letting someone else form your opinion of something/someone FOR you. They may have their reasons for disliking someone or something or liking it and those should not be your reasons. Keep your sense of self. I've mistakenly passed judgement (also wrong) on someone based on things I was told in the past. Later to find out it wasn't true. I've also had people pass judgement on me for the same...basically listening to someone and changing their own opinions/thoughts based solely on words not on what they actually knew for themselves. Things that were not true but they decided due to the words they were told they must be. Later the person who said what they did retracted some of it but by then the damage was done and the person who passed judgement is stuck on the opinion they formed from before. It is one thing to take others opinions and perceptions into consideration but quite another to adopt said opinions/perceptions as your own without thinking/seeing/ perceiving with your OWN thoughts and senses. I see this doing a lot of damage in everyday society. People assume too quickly based on other peoples ideals and not their own. I've seen a lot of people going through this right now and it is sad to see. As conclusion show kindness and consideration to those around you. Stop and take the time to at least get a sense of why/how they feel what they do or act the way they do or think what they seem to be thinking. (it sounds complicated but it doesn't need to be) That being said don't make yourself a doormat either for others. Find your balance. 

Before school rush

 *skip past the lilly pad pic to skip the health issues part LOL With the start of school fast approaching we've been super busy squeezing in some fun time (still didn't do everything we planned but hey) getting supplies, getting appointments done much like everyone else really.  We finally got our fishing licenses which turned out to be way cheaper than we'd thought (if we had of known we'd have done it way way sooner ) Turns out fishing may be the one thing that will get my mom out of the house she wants to go really bad. Sooo we are hoping to take her by to get her license and then when school starts maybe take her when the weather is cool enough. She is honestly pretty fragile. She just celebrated her 76th birthday and we were told a couple years or so back that she basically wouldn't be around but she is still here and doing pretty good for all the health issues she's had. She suffers from Parkinson's which is something I may have to eventually test for. Right now I prefer not to think about it. My Rhuematologist put me on something for my arthritic pain and it seems to be helping enough to help me get around more. Though my severe D3 deficiency (almost very dangerously so) along with calcium deficiency has apparently had their own effects. 

 I have lost several teeth due to breaking (may also be attributed to Sjogren's) and this last one I had pulled had an unusually long root so it was quite an experience for the dentist as well to get it out. I was beginning to worry. I am still pulling bone and tooth shards out. Though I will say it feels a lot better. The other complication is my bones. My feet especially my right suffered fissures in the bones so that now I only put weight on my heel and my big toe on that foot. I was seen by the foot dr. who put me in one of those walking cast boots and unfortunately rubbed a hole in my leg the size of a quarter. (still healing) also not long after my hubby severely sprained his ankle and isn't supposed to be on his either so neither of us were able to stay off them as much as we needed. I had thought a fissure was not as severe as it was. I knew the bones were bending upwards in a bow shape which the dr pointed out and that that was not good and that my achilles tendon was way too tight (gave me exercises to do) and I knew fissures meant something like small cracks...I did not even realize that technically that means a broken foot. Especially when all the toes except for the big toe are involved (he checked) Sooooo guess I need to take it easier and wear the boot like I'm supposed to. I had thought for a broken foot they do a cast. They actually don't. Depending on the type they do like what they did with me. So anyways I go back in soon and see what he says about my healing. He did say it would be a long process. 

 Anyway enough about the health issues. Otherwise things aren't too bad. I have a ton of craft/art projects lined up that I am anxious to start on but am waiting on school to start (which it is next week) to start on any of those. I want to either maybe start selling them online or get a booth maybe at the flea market but I dunno if that is feasible or whatnot yet. There are a lot of things planned for when school starts. Fishing of course when we can. My son enjoys it and is good at it. (My oldest was super good she could kill/clean/ and cook them herself whatever she caught and she always caught decent sized ones) My 2nd oldest I think was always like me. She wasn't so fond of the killing them part. My youngest likes it but gets bored easily. This last time we went there were turtles everywhere. They would swim around the bobbers. We found lilly pads growing out at the lake and now we have ducks and geese out there sometimes too which I think is great. 

 (my son took this one with his phone)    We did a trip to the park where my son and I ran around and took pics while hubby sat with Abby (couldn't do the walking) Still hoping to stop off at the museum next time I go to the Rheumy. We aren't so much into big expensive type trips as we are about finding stuff people tend to forget is there or to not notice. (though I do want to make a trip to the zoo and omniplex...sorry it will always be omniplex to me and the bone museum.) Anyway. This summer hasn't been bad at all just busy but busy is the norm for us really. My grandbaby is growing like a weed of course and her Momma is doing good. My 2nd oldest is doing a lil better than she was. They had work but then the guy they were working for wasn't doing it anymore so it looked rough but her fiance found work. She is still looking for some herself and thinking about going back to school. 

My son still has about a month left before his schooling starts. Hoping for a good school year for both the kids. I swear though if my youngest is going through yet ANOTHER growth spurt. O.o She acts like she is and while she just turned 5 she is getting her six year molars. She gets mistaken for a 7 yr old all the time even the dentist told me that the teeth she has in are those of about a 7 year old. It is so weird. She is wearing the clothing size to fit too. 6x is too small and she is going to be very tall which is kind of interesting. My kids all seem to go in height from the oldest being the shortest to the youngest looking like she will be the tallest. In that order. LOL I think my son is disappointed because he liked being the tallest :) 

 He took this one too. The other day we went on a trip downtown in Shawnee which I hadn't been in forever. Finally got to revisit the old flea market. Seems so different in some ways. I love all the murals and such on the buildings I would have loved to have done one. We also went and checked out the discount walls thing. I didn't think we'd find anything we were looking for a toilet tank to replace my Mom's but they actually surprised me. They had that but they also had marble sinks and such for super cheap so if I decide to remodel/renovate this house instead of moving then I know where to find some of the things. Will do another post here soon. :)

Just a thought: (a short short blog)

I think all parents should keep a little book of weird sayings and short conversations around their house.  
Especially when they have younger children though teenagers come up with some pretty awesome stuff. This should then be compiled into a book when the kids are all grown. 
Things like the convo with the youngest. "Yes you can ride the invisible T-rex around the yard so long as you stay where I can see you" (I was out doing yard work) 
I've heard some doozies not just from my own kids but they are always conversations where you are left going wow I never imagined having that convo or saying that LOL.