Questions with Answers

Des asks:  How are you and yours doing, Carmen? Is everybody feeling pretty healthy? How is your leg?  which goes along with Young Wife's question:  How are you feeling these days? Are you doing okay after the miscarriage?

Shhhh.  (turning around to make sure the evil eye isn't listening...)

I know better than to say that everyone is healthy.  As soon as I say that, the entire world caves in.  Let's put it this way - I have no NEW medical bills to pay.  I'm still paying off the dermatologist for the melanomas that I've had removed and the physical therapy bill is way up there, but the other medical bills as coming in line.  Asthma usually rears it's nasty head spring and fall, and as long as my runners pretreat before practice, it stays in line in the summer.  My leg feels good.  I started running this week. :)  I did break my toe two weeks ago and that hurts like nobody's business while running, but I'm SO happy to be able to run and take class that I'm just ignoring it.  I've done 4 and 5 miles, running intervals with walking and my leg held up like there was never an injury.  I'm really, really hoping that we have put any and all medical issues behind us.  I finally got a period after the miscarriage, so physically that's hunky dory.  Mentally, I'm still weird about the entire thing, but clarity can't be far around the corner, can it?

Lisa inquires:  How do you tune in to the positive power of small things in your life when you feel that your life is one continuous process of fixing, coping, planning, or cleaning? 

Wait a minute - you mean my life isn't a continuous process of fixing, planning or cleaning?  Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously,  I try to keep myself in balance with computer time, reading every night before I go to bed - I began my re read of the Outlander series, to culminate in the release of the newest book coming out in SEPTEMBER! - and my beloved martial arts classes.  I try, no matter what, to do something for myself every day. I cook a lot, mostly because I like to - it relaxes me.I try to pray before I get up - usually when I'm in a half awake state, trying to see if I can fall back asleep, or when I'm going to sleep. Once a week, I go out with my husband. Even if it's just to get a drink somewhere or go for a walk - we do something together.  He works CRAZY long hours and I badly need the break. I try to laugh with my kids, do something fun with them - mostly the pool - and help them learn to relax as well.

Susan and Kyoot want to know:  What is your family doing this summer?

Relaxing.  We are going NOWHERE.  I really hate travel with my kids.  I'm not the best parent for it - I feel like travel is just me doing my work in another location, and I don't seem to ever get a break.  So we stay home.  I took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge and Busch Gardens, thanks to this blog and the great PR people I've met - so I told the kids that those were their trips. I really feel like I have had a rough year - hosing my leg, quitting my job, money stress, trying to sell the house, the melanoma, the miscarriage - I just need some time that isn't go, go go - and all school year long it's go, go go. We have some really large and tough decisions to make in the next two months, and I want to be able to make those with fresh perspective and not with a speedy, slip shod rush. I plan to take classes, let the kids take classes, and rest by the pool and at the beach.  MY trip - Blogher - is the highlight of my entire summer and I've got that to look forward to.  Basically, we are going to take it easy and spend time not running from school to soccer to games to yadda yadda. 

More answers tomorrow!

Comments

[kyoot]

That's the kind of summer I like, speeding down highways in a tincan and then unpacking and repacking and making sure everyone is happy is work!

[Pattee W.]

awww Carmen! Sorry about the PT bills. I just read you got a broken toe and you're running!? oh no! --I'v been reading your blog since you left us at TTN.
Pretty interested, love your writing.
--Pattee

[Young Wife]

I totally understand about the medical bills. It's very stressful. I'm glad you're having a somewhat relaxing summer.

[Pearl]

"I'm just ignoring it" ...because that worked so well with the leg, right? *sigh*

"just me doing my work in another location"
YES!! and with the handicap of not having your tools, your bed or your bathroom. This is also why I gave up camping with the kiddies. (Well, that and living in a motorhome for 14 mos.)

I hope your summer is restful and without dramatic events. :)

[mm]

This year for many reasons we are having a "stay-cation" ourselves and doing the things our family loves but we have forgotten; making smores in an open campfire, walking on the beach picking up sea shells, leaving carrots in the yard for our visiting wild rabbits, driving down a side road for no particular reason, etc. We only have a couple more years with my oldest daughter before she goes to university and I want to enjoy every moment. Hope you guys can do the same.