End of March we got hit with an illness because Youngest went to TreeFort and brought home some kind of heinous virus. Housemate got hit with strep in early April, so Mum took him to urgent care, where she caught a second respiratory virus while sitting in the waiting room.
Both Bug A and Bug B went through our household like wildfire and cost me pay, cost Oldest pay, and has Mum down for literally weeks.
I managed to give Bug B to Spicy Ginger and that means he is sick on his birthday, which is today. I haven’t seen him f2f in over two weeks.
I am cranky and I’m on my second round of antibiotics because Bug B is a sonofabitch and it morphed into a really shitty bacterial sinus infection. The headache and fatigue are enough to make me insane, but the endless phlegm and nausea are enough to make me fly the white flag. I’m in week 3 and finally went to urgent care (yes, THAT ONE) and they put me on Amox Clav. Good times.
The list of things I, personally, have been doing to fight this crud is LONG and I am so tired of the whole thing. Work is dragging because I have no energy and my ability to think is severly compromised. I will fully admit to some retail therapy tonight. My clothing situation is a bit sad, so I have used birthday funds and some of my settlement funds to get myself fresh clothing. So perhaps getting rid of the bug and new duds will help me feel like less of a slug.
We’re STILL not settled into the new home, but holy smokes it is wonderful. Yes, there are things that need to be done and housework and yardwork, but it’s most definitely our home. The cats are happier, the humans are happier, and I’m thinking that the chickens are good with the change in management. All told, it’s positive in so many ways. We really just need to get our shit in gear – post illness, that is – and get things put away.
This weekend, come hell or high water, I am working on potting plants for the front and back yards. I will put things away in my room and get cleaning done. I will not, hopefully, sleep the whole weekend like last weekend when I couldn’t keep my eyes open to watch tv.
Mum seems happier and I think getting things cleaned up will help even more. She’s gradually getting into a groove here, although she is still stuck in the sick-cycle, so we’ll know better when we get that knocked out and eradicated from the house. What I do know is she’s doing better than she was at her old home and that is meaningful.
Oldest seems to be gradually making steps in a positive direction, too. Youngest is floundering with end of semester school work, but I think that’s somewhat on her and I’m supportive but letting her own it. Oldest’s BFF is a great housemate and I think he’s finding his footing here, too. There is a lot of work to be done in setting up our support systems for staying on top of housework and division of labor, but that will get smoothed out when Mum and I aren’t dealing with this crud. I suppose a lot depends on getting our health back, but right now I can’t let that drag me down.
I miss Spicy Ginger. Even before the huge descent into illness, I was struggling a bit with the new situation. I love being here at our home and SG doesn’t come here to hang out – of course, how can he, when it has been germ central for the last 1.5 months? But he has never wanted to be in my space and always wants to be in his own space. That was fine when I lived next door – mostly – and fine when we were crammed into Mum’s old home, but now we’re here and I love our home. I want him to come here!
I will also admit that I’m very comfortable because I’m with my family. I’m not lonely. No, it’s not the same, but I like my quiet times with my kitty and my little room with so much potential. I want to putter when I’m not feeling like leftovers that have been in the sun for a week.
I also really want to get the sewing machine set up and start creating again. I can feel the itch to create eating at me and I’ve been batting it aside because I am just trying to survive until I feel better. I hesitate to write this next bit, but want to be honest… I’m also feeling the urge to paint. I don’t know how long it has been – decades, maybe? I’ll push it out into the limewash for the brick on the house and the planting pots that I’m going to spray paint and the fence that I’m going to cover in dark stain, but I don’t think it will be enough.
I wonder if the reason the itch to create is back might have to do with the reduced stress of our new home? I love our space and the room to set up storage properly. I love that we each have our own room and great functioning bathrooms (it’s the little things, right?). I love the frustrating kitchen with the cupboards that are almost a pain in the ass, but not quite. I love the dining room space where the table and chairs fits perfectly.
I love this funky late 70s neighborhood, with no HOA, and lots of character. ALL of us are looking forward to the various holidays here, most especially Halloween and Christmas.
I’m not saying things are perfect. Of course not. But there’s so much to love about it. I love it in the way that I love my job – I have been waiting for a safe place to live where the external worries are less and the fit is almost Goldilocks-like.
Speaking of my job – it is still my super happy fit. I am so glad I am there. I am so glad I work with the people that are on our team. I am proud of the culture and the work our company does. We do good work.
It has been over a year and I still love it.
So if I can just get healthy and get work done – both in job and home – I would really like that. And I’d like to see my Spicy Ginger again, thanks much.
Beyond that? Well, I’m just glad to be where I am, with my family, in a safe place where I think we can thrive finally. I’m glad I’m in this little room next to my Mum’s room, where I can keep my “mom radar monitoring system” on alert for her. (By the way, this tickles her no end. She laughs at me about it.)
And now, I think I’ll crash. It’s late and I have work in the morning. Wish me luck as my body fights this crud. I could use it.
Moonfire