I'm sick.
I know, I know, you are all thinking, of course you are sick. Didn't you tell us you had Lyme disease. That's sick, right?
Um, yeah, except I haven't exactly been acting like I'm sick. I've been doing everything I've always been doing, working out, going to work, taking care of Michael, making sure this house runs like a (semi) well oiled machine, and keeping up with all of my social and writing obligations. And now, I'm exhausted.
Last week Doug accused of being snappy for no reason. Foster had gotten into the pantry (again) and eaten his second full box of cheerios in a week which meant I would have to go back to the store. Doug didn't seem to understand why I believed this was the end of the world, and I lost it. "I don't feel well, I'm exhausted, my whole body hurts, and I'm still doing everything I always was, and you are not helping." And he acted like I was crazy. And of course he did because I hadn't expressed any of this before, I hadn't asked for help. Besides whining on twitter a lot that I was tired, I really hadn't admitted to any problems at all.
Amy and Tracey both offered me a leave of absence from mamapop and I was all no, I'm totally fine and can totally still write four days a week. I asked for a leave of absence from DC Metro Moms and then promptly kept writing for them. I'm still going to the gym 3-4 times a week (which is down for me) and have not taken one sick day since this whole nonsense began. I'm not saying this to get some kind of martyr award, more to show how truly insane I am.
Saturday night I was supposed to be to a party thrown by two of my favorite people in the world. We had spent the day at the Renaissance Festival and I tried to go, I really did. And then I sat on the couch and the exhaustion set in and I knew there was no way I was getting up from the couch. I went to bed at 9.
I need to do something different in my life, something that is hard for moms. I need to make me a priority, not everyone and everything else. I'm going to start taking yoga, not for weight loss, but because it's good for me and may help with the joint pain. I'm going to post less (sorry) here, and other places as well. If I have to take some time off of work, well, that's what sick leave is for right? Saving it all for when Michael is sick isn't helping anyone.
And, I need to ask for help, from Doug and from other friends who have offered. It's not fair to expect Doug to know I feel like crap and suddenly need help doing something I've always done.
I just said no to an all day wine tasting bachlorette party. Wine tasting people, I said no to wine tasting. I love the bride dearly and really wanted to be there, but I have to be at my sister in law's 30th birthday dinner that night and knew there was no way I could do both. I've never been good at saying no and disappointing people but I'm starting to learn my limitations and that if I'm not healthy, I'm not good to anyone.
I've got two more weeks on the antibiotics and I'm really hoping I start to feel better soon. But, I also need to make sure I'm doing everything I can to help that along.
It’s Time I Admited Something to Myself
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{ 96 comments… read them below or add one }
Antibiotics can only do so much to heal a body; the rest comes once the body has a chance to focus on healing and not putting all the energy into keepin’ on. I truly hope you start feeling better soon.
Bummer about the bachlorette party though. I’m sure the bridge understands, and maybe the two of you can do your own private tasting at home once the wedding chaos has settled down.
Antibiotics can only do so much to heal a body; the rest comes once the body has a chance to focus on healing and not putting all the energy into keepin’ on. I truly hope you start feeling better soon.
Bummer about the bachlorette party though. I’m sure the bridge understands, and maybe the two of you can do your own private tasting at home once the wedding chaos has settled down.
Antibiotics can only do so much to heal a body; the rest comes once the body has a chance to focus on healing and not putting all the energy into keepin’ on. I truly hope you start feeling better soon.
Bummer about the bachlorette party though. I’m sure the bridge understands, and maybe the two of you can do your own private tasting at home once the wedding chaos has settled down.
Antibiotics can only do so much to heal a body; the rest comes once the body has a chance to focus on healing and not putting all the energy into keepin’ on. I truly hope you start feeling better soon.
Bummer about the bachlorette party though. I’m sure the bridge understands, and maybe the two of you can do your own private tasting at home once the wedding chaos has settled down.
I think that making yourself a priority now is the absolute best thing that you can do. Because all the antibiotics in the world can’t make up for lack of sleep. I’ll be thinking of you — feel better soon!
I think that making yourself a priority now is the absolute best thing that you can do. Because all the antibiotics in the world can’t make up for lack of sleep. I’ll be thinking of you — feel better soon!
I think that making yourself a priority now is the absolute best thing that you can do. Because all the antibiotics in the world can’t make up for lack of sleep. I’ll be thinking of you — feel better soon!
I think that making yourself a priority now is the absolute best thing that you can do. Because all the antibiotics in the world can’t make up for lack of sleep. I’ll be thinking of you — feel better soon!
I am the textbook bad example for you. Tried to do too much too soon, and after 9 weeks, I am STILL in a cast and am probably looking at surgery and another 4 weeks in a cast.
So – slow down.
I am the textbook bad example for you. Tried to do too much too soon, and after 9 weeks, I am STILL in a cast and am probably looking at surgery and another 4 weeks in a cast.
So – slow down.
I am the textbook bad example for you. Tried to do too much too soon, and after 9 weeks, I am STILL in a cast and am probably looking at surgery and another 4 weeks in a cast.
So – slow down.
I am the textbook bad example for you. Tried to do too much too soon, and after 9 weeks, I am STILL in a cast and am probably looking at surgery and another 4 weeks in a cast.
So – slow down.
Rest and feel better. You can be you again soon.
Rest and feel better. You can be you again soon.
Rest and feel better. You can be you again soon.
Rest and feel better. You can be you again soon.
Totally rest and take care of yourself. Make you a priority. Hope you feel better soon.
Totally rest and take care of yourself. Make you a priority. Hope you feel better soon.
Totally rest and take care of yourself. Make you a priority. Hope you feel better soon.
Totally rest and take care of yourself. Make you a priority. Hope you feel better soon.
Take it easy on yourself. You need time. Rest and get better. We’ll save the wine for you!
Take it easy on yourself. You need time. Rest and get better. We’ll save the wine for you!
Take it easy on yourself. You need time. Rest and get better. We’ll save the wine for you!
Take it easy on yourself. You need time. Rest and get better. We’ll save the wine for you!
Take care of yourself and get better soon.
Take care of yourself and get better soon.
Take care of yourself and get better soon.
Take care of yourself and get better soon.
It’s not the last party Sarah and I will host. There will be more parties, but there is only one YOU. So take care of yourself so YOU will be at one of our next shindigs whenever it may be!
Do you need a casserole or something?
It’s not the last party Sarah and I will host. There will be more parties, but there is only one YOU. So take care of yourself so YOU will be at one of our next shindigs whenever it may be!
Do you need a casserole or something?
It’s not the last party Sarah and I will host. There will be more parties, but there is only one YOU. So take care of yourself so YOU will be at one of our next shindigs whenever it may be!
Do you need a casserole or something?
It’s not the last party Sarah and I will host. There will be more parties, but there is only one YOU. So take care of yourself so YOU will be at one of our next shindigs whenever it may be!
Do you need a casserole or something?
Yes, take care of yourself! You are fighting LYME DISEASE. I guess it is something that strikes a deep chord in me because I know someone who had it and it was quite serious in her case.
Hang in there. It is hard to say “No” – especially to FUN stuff.
Yes, take care of yourself! You are fighting LYME DISEASE. I guess it is something that strikes a deep chord in me because I know someone who had it and it was quite serious in her case.
Hang in there. It is hard to say “No” – especially to FUN stuff.
Yes, take care of yourself! You are fighting LYME DISEASE. I guess it is something that strikes a deep chord in me because I know someone who had it and it was quite serious in her case.
Hang in there. It is hard to say “No” – especially to FUN stuff.
Yes, take care of yourself! You are fighting LYME DISEASE. I guess it is something that strikes a deep chord in me because I know someone who had it and it was quite serious in her case.
Hang in there. It is hard to say “No” – especially to FUN stuff.
I know from my pesonal experience earlier this summer how hard this is but you do need to slow down and take care of yourself. The writing and the wine tastings, the gym and all the other social things will still be there when you are feeling better. Good luck!
I know from my pesonal experience earlier this summer how hard this is but you do need to slow down and take care of yourself. The writing and the wine tastings, the gym and all the other social things will still be there when you are feeling better. Good luck!
I know from my pesonal experience earlier this summer how hard this is but you do need to slow down and take care of yourself. The writing and the wine tastings, the gym and all the other social things will still be there when you are feeling better. Good luck!
I know from my pesonal experience earlier this summer how hard this is but you do need to slow down and take care of yourself. The writing and the wine tastings, the gym and all the other social things will still be there when you are feeling better. Good luck!
Good for you! I think realizing we all have limits and making sure you don’t push yourself past yours is an important life lesson. My mother never learned that and so ended up having her first nervous breakdown in her 20′s.
Hopefully the antibiotics will help soon, but definitely ask for some help and don’t feel too bad for saying no sometimes.
And I’ll manage without your daily posts.
we all will. just feed us a photo every now and then. 
Good for you! I think realizing we all have limits and making sure you don’t push yourself past yours is an important life lesson. My mother never learned that and so ended up having her first nervous breakdown in her 20′s.
Hopefully the antibiotics will help soon, but definitely ask for some help and don’t feel too bad for saying no sometimes.
And I’ll manage without your daily posts.
we all will. just feed us a photo every now and then. 
Good for you! I think realizing we all have limits and making sure you don’t push yourself past yours is an important life lesson. My mother never learned that and so ended up having her first nervous breakdown in her 20′s.
Hopefully the antibiotics will help soon, but definitely ask for some help and don’t feel too bad for saying no sometimes.
And I’ll manage without your daily posts.
we all will. just feed us a photo every now and then. 
Good for you! I think realizing we all have limits and making sure you don’t push yourself past yours is an important life lesson. My mother never learned that and so ended up having her first nervous breakdown in her 20′s.
Hopefully the antibiotics will help soon, but definitely ask for some help and don’t feel too bad for saying no sometimes.
And I’ll manage without your daily posts.
we all will. just feed us a photo every now and then. 
If you don’t take care of you, then you won’t be much good for everyone else. Put yourself at the top of the list for a change. You wouldn’t tell Michael to only be 50% of his best self, would you?
If you don’t take care of you, then you won’t be much good for everyone else. Put yourself at the top of the list for a change. You wouldn’t tell Michael to only be 50% of his best self, would you?
If you don’t take care of you, then you won’t be much good for everyone else. Put yourself at the top of the list for a change. You wouldn’t tell Michael to only be 50% of his best self, would you?
If you don’t take care of you, then you won’t be much good for everyone else. Put yourself at the top of the list for a change. You wouldn’t tell Michael to only be 50% of his best self, would you?
Please contact me if you ever want to talk, I have lived your life, and it is still hard saying no after being sick all of these years.
Talk about guilt? I no longer can work but DS is in daycare full time. I can’t care for him 24/7 and I need to be able to care for him, play with him and cuddle with him in the time we do have together. In the end ME becomes all about them!
Glad to see you on http/www.butyoudontlooksick.com. They are a wonderful place for support and for venting!
Be well,
Emily
Please contact me if you ever want to talk, I have lived your life, and it is still hard saying no after being sick all of these years.
Talk about guilt? I no longer can work but DS is in daycare full time. I can’t care for him 24/7 and I need to be able to care for him, play with him and cuddle with him in the time we do have together. In the end ME becomes all about them!
Glad to see you on http/www.butyoudontlooksick.com. They are a wonderful place for support and for venting!
Be well,
Emily
Please contact me if you ever want to talk, I have lived your life, and it is still hard saying no after being sick all of these years.
Talk about guilt? I no longer can work but DS is in daycare full time. I can’t care for him 24/7 and I need to be able to care for him, play with him and cuddle with him in the time we do have together. In the end ME becomes all about them!
Glad to see you on http/www.butyoudontlooksick.com. They are a wonderful place for support and for venting!
Be well,
Emily
Please contact me if you ever want to talk, I have lived your life, and it is still hard saying no after being sick all of these years.
Talk about guilt? I no longer can work but DS is in daycare full time. I can’t care for him 24/7 and I need to be able to care for him, play with him and cuddle with him in the time we do have together. In the end ME becomes all about them!
Glad to see you on http/www.butyoudontlooksick.com. They are a wonderful place for support and for venting!
Be well,
Emily
Yes, please rest. I hear you on being super MOM. I have a major cold right now but I’m still trying to take care of everyone. I have recently fallen into new responsibilities and writing commitments and I don’t want to let anyone down. But! It is crucial to take time for yourself and especially right now, you have to rest. No one will think any less of you.
Yes, please rest. I hear you on being super MOM. I have a major cold right now but I’m still trying to take care of everyone. I have recently fallen into new responsibilities and writing commitments and I don’t want to let anyone down. But! It is crucial to take time for yourself and especially right now, you have to rest. No one will think any less of you.
Yes, please rest. I hear you on being super MOM. I have a major cold right now but I’m still trying to take care of everyone. I have recently fallen into new responsibilities and writing commitments and I don’t want to let anyone down. But! It is crucial to take time for yourself and especially right now, you have to rest. No one will think any less of you.
Yes, please rest. I hear you on being super MOM. I have a major cold right now but I’m still trying to take care of everyone. I have recently fallen into new responsibilities and writing commitments and I don’t want to let anyone down. But! It is crucial to take time for yourself and especially right now, you have to rest. No one will think any less of you.
This is a hard one to get over, and you need to take care of yourself to get there. There will be more wine, I promise you – I won’t drink it all myself. Accepting help when you’re not used to doing so is tough but you get used to it. Jodi needs to be your priority for a while. It’s okay. Let us know if you want us to take Michael for a few hours so you can rest.
This is a hard one to get over, and you need to take care of yourself to get there. There will be more wine, I promise you – I won’t drink it all myself. Accepting help when you’re not used to doing so is tough but you get used to it. Jodi needs to be your priority for a while. It’s okay. Let us know if you want us to take Michael for a few hours so you can rest.
This is a hard one to get over, and you need to take care of yourself to get there. There will be more wine, I promise you – I won’t drink it all myself. Accepting help when you’re not used to doing so is tough but you get used to it. Jodi needs to be your priority for a while. It’s okay. Let us know if you want us to take Michael for a few hours so you can rest.
This is a hard one to get over, and you need to take care of yourself to get there. There will be more wine, I promise you – I won’t drink it all myself. Accepting help when you’re not used to doing so is tough but you get used to it. Jodi needs to be your priority for a while. It’s okay. Let us know if you want us to take Michael for a few hours so you can rest.
Well if you weren’t always away when I came to visit, I’d treat you to a hug or a drink or something. But that probably won’t help much since you’ll be in bed and resting (right? right) and all. I hope you start to feel a little better soon.
Well if you weren’t always away when I came to visit, I’d treat you to a hug or a drink or something. But that probably won’t help much since you’ll be in bed and resting (right? right) and all. I hope you start to feel a little better soon.
Well if you weren’t always away when I came to visit, I’d treat you to a hug or a drink or something. But that probably won’t help much since you’ll be in bed and resting (right? right) and all. I hope you start to feel a little better soon.
Well if you weren’t always away when I came to visit, I’d treat you to a hug or a drink or something. But that probably won’t help much since you’ll be in bed and resting (right? right) and all. I hope you start to feel a little better soon.
I hope those antibiotics start working quickly so you can start to feel better but in the meantime, take it easy and LMK if you need anything!
I hope those antibiotics start working quickly so you can start to feel better but in the meantime, take it easy and LMK if you need anything!
I hope those antibiotics start working quickly so you can start to feel better but in the meantime, take it easy and LMK if you need anything!
I hope those antibiotics start working quickly so you can start to feel better but in the meantime, take it easy and LMK if you need anything!
A friend of mine with chronic illness used what she called the Marble System.
The marbles equal your personal energy.
Allot yourself a certain amount each day, like 5. Budget out how you will “spend” the marbles, like going to your SIL’s party instead the wine tasting.
My friend said it was a helpful tool for budgeting her limited energy.
Good luck! It’s hard, but rest up!
A friend of mine with chronic illness used what she called the Marble System.
The marbles equal your personal energy.
Allot yourself a certain amount each day, like 5. Budget out how you will “spend” the marbles, like going to your SIL’s party instead the wine tasting.
My friend said it was a helpful tool for budgeting her limited energy.
Good luck! It’s hard, but rest up!
A friend of mine with chronic illness used what she called the Marble System.
The marbles equal your personal energy.
Allot yourself a certain amount each day, like 5. Budget out how you will “spend” the marbles, like going to your SIL’s party instead the wine tasting.
My friend said it was a helpful tool for budgeting her limited energy.
Good luck! It’s hard, but rest up!
A friend of mine with chronic illness used what she called the Marble System.
The marbles equal your personal energy.
Allot yourself a certain amount each day, like 5. Budget out how you will “spend” the marbles, like going to your SIL’s party instead the wine tasting.
My friend said it was a helpful tool for budgeting her limited energy.
Good luck! It’s hard, but rest up!
Yes, yes. Post less everywhere, put yourself first. Come back to your personal blog when it invigorates you, never as a chore.
I hope that you are feeling better soon!
Yes, yes. Post less everywhere, put yourself first. Come back to your personal blog when it invigorates you, never as a chore.
I hope that you are feeling better soon!
Yes, yes. Post less everywhere, put yourself first. Come back to your personal blog when it invigorates you, never as a chore.
I hope that you are feeling better soon!
Yes, yes. Post less everywhere, put yourself first. Come back to your personal blog when it invigorates you, never as a chore.
I hope that you are feeling better soon!
Oh my! I know exactly how you feel. When I said earlier that I needed to catch on Google Reader, I basically cleared it all out and am reading only a select few. It’s my way of taking back my time.
I do hope that you are able to rest and take care of you. Meds can only do so much.
Hope you feel better!
Oh my! I know exactly how you feel. When I said earlier that I needed to catch on Google Reader, I basically cleared it all out and am reading only a select few. It’s my way of taking back my time.
I do hope that you are able to rest and take care of you. Meds can only do so much.
Hope you feel better!
Oh my! I know exactly how you feel. When I said earlier that I needed to catch on Google Reader, I basically cleared it all out and am reading only a select few. It’s my way of taking back my time.
I do hope that you are able to rest and take care of you. Meds can only do so much.
Hope you feel better!
Oh my! I know exactly how you feel. When I said earlier that I needed to catch on Google Reader, I basically cleared it all out and am reading only a select few. It’s my way of taking back my time.
I do hope that you are able to rest and take care of you. Meds can only do so much.
Hope you feel better!
Take care of yourself. Sometimes you need to start from a clean slate and then gradually add activities back into your life.
Take care of yourself. Sometimes you need to start from a clean slate and then gradually add activities back into your life.
Take care of yourself. Sometimes you need to start from a clean slate and then gradually add activities back into your life.
Take care of yourself. Sometimes you need to start from a clean slate and then gradually add activities back into your life.
Aweee, I really hope you start to feel better soon. And I’m really happy that your making YOU a priority..
((HUGS))
Aweee, I really hope you start to feel better soon. And I’m really happy that your making YOU a priority..
((HUGS))
Aweee, I really hope you start to feel better soon. And I’m really happy that your making YOU a priority..
((HUGS))
Aweee, I really hope you start to feel better soon. And I’m really happy that your making YOU a priority..
((HUGS))
You have to take care of you if you don’t nobody else will. Hope you get better soon Babe!
You have to take care of you if you don’t nobody else will. Hope you get better soon Babe!
You have to take care of you if you don’t nobody else will. Hope you get better soon Babe!
You have to take care of you if you don’t nobody else will. Hope you get better soon Babe!
I’m kind of laughing here to myself because that’s how I can be when I’m sick — I just go into denial and keep doing business as usual!
I’m kind of laughing here to myself because that’s how I can be when I’m sick — I just go into denial and keep doing business as usual!
I’m kind of laughing here to myself because that’s how I can be when I’m sick — I just go into denial and keep doing business as usual!
I’m kind of laughing here to myself because that’s how I can be when I’m sick — I just go into denial and keep doing business as usual!