Tuesday, April 04, 2006

An apple a day...and other stories

Ok, I eat apples. Like, religiously. We buy 10 lbs a week, mostly because Bugaboo eats several a day. So, why I am at the doctor's office so often? Either I am there weekly for a specialist visit for the kids, a sick visit for the kids, and lately, for my visit. The same thing happens everytime. I call, wait on hold forever, tell them I am exhausted, don't have energy, have headaches, numbness, etc. They take me in "right away," which usually means in a day or two. There I sit for up to two hours, the doc comes in (takes her time with me and is very caring, I have to give her that) and tells me that I am stressed out, the boys are alot of work,etc, etc. Then I go home with a prescription for MORE antidepressants (which I am not taking any longer) or a phone number for a psychologist. Now, I agree that I could use some counseling. But I really don't think that my physical issues are psychosomatic! I feel great mentally, I really do. And I get plenty of sleep. And I eat very well, and exercise regularly. This is NOT just getting old! I take great care of myself!
That being said, I recognize that parenting my boys is a stressful thing. Two kids with special needs is like having four kids. I don't sit for most of the day, I get VERY LITTLE leisure time and go to bed shortly after they do. I spend 3 days a week running errands or taking them to therapy appts all over God's green earth. So from an outsider, this may seem like a horrible, hectic life. But, I am well adjusted! I feel fine with it! This is MY life, I like it and I deal with it quite well, thank you very much!!!
Sorry for the rant. I am just super-frustrated. I want to park myself on the couch for the rest of the day, but something is holding me back. You see, there is this family tradition when Darling is away, that I have to do home improvement projects that he would SCREAM to see. Like paint the bathrooms with "OOPS" paint from HD or rearrange furniture.
It all started when Darling went away the first time several years ago. He was away for 3 weeks and I couldn't join him in Europe because I was student teaching. So, I went and bought a bed, since we were sleeping on mattresses on the floor. The next time he went away I was preggers and decided to paint one of the bedrooms. Another time I changed all of the furniture around.
This time I went to the Home Improvement Warehouse (HD) and went in with the most sincere intentions of merely purchasing some wallpaper remover, since Dif AND a steamer isn't taking this crap off of the walls. They moved it to the paint section. I tried not to browse! Honest! The next thing I knew, I was getting aqua blue paint for Ian's room, to paint it like an ocean, waves about half-way up, and clouds at the top. Sheesh! What am I thinking? I also bought natural wood stripper to start work on the piano this weekend. I am going to painstakingly restore the wood and replace the ivory keys that are missing. The piano may not be worth much, but to me it is priceless. It was the piano I grew up with, took lessons on, sat on the bench for family dinners, etc. I love that another generation is playing it!
Ok, this is TOTALLY a Tome. I apologize whole-heartedly.

4 comments:

Chaotic Mom said...

M-j, as I read your blog I can actually hear you as you'd be telling this all in person!

I've made calls, haven't gotten my MRI results back yet. A good thing, I hope, no news. But I'm worried about my health, too, and keep getting the "stress" runabout. Stick to your guns. It's frustrating, but I'm doing the same thing, too... ;)

Just Nancy said...

Marj,

Please know that someone in Baton Rouge is praying for you. Keep us informed. And, wow, totally impressed at the idea of stripping and refurbishing a piano! I can't work up the guts to hang pictures on the wall!

Domestic Goddess said...

Hanging pictures? C'mon! Takes two seconds! Who cares if they are even. I just eyeball and stick 'em up. It is fun.
As for stripping the piano, I have to tell you that I have been researching it for about a year, and have stripped and refinished furniture before. But never veneer, so I am a little nervous.

janjanmom said...

Hello from Paducah, Ky. Just happened across your blog from mommy. Have you had the whole thyroid check done?? It is oh so commom in women. My stopped working well at 32. Main symptom is fatigue. Others include mile-severe hair loss and swelling hands and feet.