Snow Day

Today, we got another snowstorm and are stranded in the house for yet another day.  I'm still recovering from the surgery so trying to find some fun things to do with a 4 & 5 year old can sometimes be difficult.  However, today, I think we had a pretty creative day and thought I would share what we did so that if there are any other home-bound days we can still have fun.

1.  Sent the kids out in the snow in the backyard and watched them sled down a very very small hill from the warm comforts of my kitchen.
2.  I had picked up some little statues from Michael's so we spent about an hour painting them today
3.  A nice warm bath with toys that we hardly ever play with
4.  A family movie, cuddle time
5.  Playing Wii
6.  Coloring
7.  Playing with toys that had been stowed away for days just like this
8.  Putting on a puppet show

Considering the kids were up at 5:30am and it is now almost 5:00pm and they have only watched a few hours of TV, I feel like today was a success...but, man, am I tired!!!

Kindergarten Registration

I can't believe that I am going to register my little girl for Kindergarten today.  It seems like only yesterday I found out that I was pregnant with her and praying that she would survive the pregnancy and now I am registering her to go to school.  Where has the time gone?  5 years have flown by in the blink of an eye and it seems like I can hardly remember any of it.  She is a happy, adjusted child that is caring, sensitive and loving so I guess somewhere along the 5 years, we did a good job.  Part of me is looking forward to having some time to myself to rest but part of me wants her to stay with me.  I know it will be good for both of us to have some time apart and the rest will allow me to rejuvenate and have more energy for both of my children but it still makes me sad.  L, on the other hand, is super excited for big-girl school; which is the way it should be.

Mind over matter

I was talking to a friend yesterday about mind over matter and how sometimes the placebo effect can really help with certain things.   I truly believe it can.  I ordered some essential oils to see if they can help me with the unending fatigue and depresseion of living with a chronic disease and I'm not sure if they are going to work or not but figure they can't hurt (did get a doctor's approval).  Even if they work due to me thinking they work, that  is fine with me. 
All of this positive thinking has gotten me into a great mood today.  I got up, showered, did my hair and makeup and it is amazing how doing these little things can help your mood and in turn your physical body.  Granted, I'm still exhausted and in pain but my emotional well being is better.  I have an apt today with my surgeon and I'm determined that it will go well and I just hope that my optimistic bubble will not be burst today.
Please.... Let me just have one day full of good things;)

Sometimes Lupus isn't that bad....

My daughter noticed that I wasn't feeling great today and she came up to me and said "Mommy please let me give you a massage and help you feel better".  I proceeded to lean down and let her massage my head for me and I have to be honest, it really felt better afterwards.  The look on her face of pure satisfaction that just rubbing my head made me feel better was priceless.  I'm not sure what it was but it definitely took the pain away for a bit and it made me smile to see the kindness in her eyes.  Sometimes, I am grateful for my illness as it gives me a deeper insight into the true kindness of people, including my children.  My children may not know this empathy if it wasn't for my lupus so for that I should be thankful as in the long run it will make them compassionate, caring, kind adults.

WooHoo

I'm so excited!!!!!  I must be feeling better because I just booked a trip for my husband and I to St. Lucia for August.  I do feel bad going without the kids but feel that my husband and I need this time to reconnect.  C and I have been through so much over the past few years between him switching jobs recently and all of my health problems that we have really lost touch with each other.  We still love each other very much but have turned into roommates so hopefully a week trip to St. Lucia will help us.  I know that we need this for us to help us "survivive" but I can't believe we are leaving the kids for a whole week.  They will be in great hands with my parents but can't believe we are doing it.  I'm very excited but also very nervous to leave them for so long.  However, I've learned that I give all that I have to my children and often C gets forgotten along with myself so this will be a much needed reconnection. Don't they always say that a Happy Mommy makes for a happy house;)

What to do when sleep just won't come?

It is now 2:59am and I can not sleep to save my life right now.  I'm cuddled up on the couch with my dog and the Winter Olympics and getting so annoyed with everything because I can't sleep.  I can hardly keep my eyes open but as soon as they close my mind starts working and prevents me from drifting off into sleep.  So, instead of getting annoyed I thought I would make a list of things that usually help me to fall asleep that I have tried tonight that are not working.
1.  Just getting into bed---no way that was going to work today
2.  Cuddling with my dog---doing that but sleep is still not coming
3.  Reading a book---tried that and after an hour I just got a head ache
4.  Watching a little tv---not working yet
5.  Watching the TV show Dexter---for some reason no matter what this always puts me to sleep but it didn't work this time

At this point, my son is going to be up in 2 hours so not sure what else I should try to do.  If I run a bath, which I know would help, I think it would wake my son up since he is such a light sleeper.  Warm milk just makes me gag and I'd love to take a Tylenol PM or something like that but because of my liver damage I'm not allowed to.  Ugh, I have no clue how insomniacs do it. 
This just sucks and my heart goes out to insomniacs all over the world.

Whiny Post

So, I'm just going to write a quick post about being sick so this is a bit of a whiny post.  Not only am I still recoving from the surgery, which is taken longer than expected, but now I have started to throw up.  I HATE vomitting....I don't think there is anything worse than that.  I'm sure that there is but I would rather do almost anything but that.  I'm not sure what brought it on since I don't know anyone that is sick but hopefully it is not the start of the a stomach bug in our house!!!!!