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| Ever feel like this? |
Anyway, getting back to my narcissistic fantasy that you've missed me: I've been off dealing with, well, some Very. Important. Crap. (Meaning I think it's important. Not like World Peace or Syria or world hunger or women's rights, but you know, important on a me-me-me-me-me level). You know, the stuff that distracts us from what we like to do. The stuff that pays the bills or otherwise occupies 90% of our waking moments. You have that as well, yes? That stuff that keeps you awake at night with your mind spinning around like a gerbil on a Habitrail wheel?
Let me bring you up to speed:
1) Sugar has had a second bout with a corneal ulcer. We noticed it right before I left on a business trip. It seemed small and insignificant at first, but while I was away things seemed to get worse, and thevet was called a couple times and it felt like being far away from your kid while she was injured and in hospital. Bless the grooms at the barn we're at - they were on top of everything. Bottom line is she has an indolent corneal ulcer and things look like they are slooooooooowwwwlllllyy improving. We hope.
2) James, the OTTB my kids ride, has ulcers and some issues in his hocks/stifles, which makes the poor guy a bit cranky. Who can blame him? So we try to keep him comfy with chiropractic. acupuncture, and massage until my BO comes back from Florida and we can explore other options for him. We're probably looking at injections in the hocks and stifles. GULP.
3) Oh yeah, it's time for Sug's yearly injections. Double GULP.
4) Sophie is having a hard time adjusting to James. It's tough going from a pony to a horse. He's also a Thoroughbred and a more challenging ride. If she had her way, she'd like to go back to ponies. My son loves James, and is working his butt off to learn to ride better so he can be a better partner to James. We started working with James as he is a sweetheart, and a cost effective option that we thought both kids could share, as our budget does not stretch to having 3 horses. So Sophie is not happy, and if I am to be honest, she does like to press the easy button. Noah is happy, and accepts that success with this horse will take some work.
Assuming James' health issues are resolved, do we ask Soph to "pony" up to the challenge? If we don't, I can see her losing interest. Then again, that's not the end of the world. Alternatively, I could let her share Sug with me, and Noah could focus on James. Problem there is Sug is 17. I'm not comfortable asking her to jump as often as Sophie and I need to in order to improve. Oh well, none of this is earth-shatteringly important and it will sort itself out, but it's the sort of situation that makes Mom want to wring her hands and reach for a large glass of Malbec.
5) Add in the fact that I've been dealing with an upper-respiratory/ sinus thing/ cough for darn near a month and a half and it got worse last week when I went on a business trip and I had a senior moment and planned a business trip for the week my kids have Spring Break and my husband is ready to kill me and I have 3 more trips planned in the next month and a half and work has been Super Stressful I don't even want to get into that right now and I just hope I can keep my job so I can pay these vet bills.... BREEEEEEEEEEEATHE!
6) Those darn green-glad imps of Satan have been around selling their crack-laced cookies. Have you ever been able to turn a Girl Scout down?? No way, right? If you do you risk becoming the neighborhood pariah! Well, our little neighborhood sales mavens know that I'm an easy mark, and hit me up for 24 boxes. Other people hoard pets or chachkes, I hoard Girl Scout cookies.
Well, given the above mentioned stress, I've been on a sugar and carb induced binge. No lie, one morning I woke up with two empty wrappers in the bed next to me and an empty box of Thin Mints on the floor next to the bed. Yep, $h!t just got REAL!!
Given the current lack of fitness regimen due to the inability to breathe courtesy of the illness combined with the constant influx of cookies into my gaping maw, I'm thinking I'll be quailifying as one of the contestants on the next season of the Biggest Loser. I hope I'm on Bob's team. Jillian terrifies me.
So that, in a nutshell, is what's been going on. Thanks for letting me rant.
Could you pass me a cookie, please?
I also have what I have been calling the black lung... I have had it for pushing 3 months now. Basically the adult version of whooping cough. I have done steroids, had a steroid in injection, taken a zpac, and even an inhaler. It is not as bad now but pretty awful. Hope the ponies feel better!
ReplyDeleteOMG! That sounds awful, though I love the humor you showed in naming it the Black Lung. Mind if I borrow that phrase? I had 2 rounds of antibiotics a few weeks ago and the DR is loathe to hand out more. Steroids?? Aack. Feel better soo, Hillary!
DeleteYou can totally use the terminology! (thank you zoolander...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6QLMUwVBeY
DeleteYou know who gets hit up even more to buy girl scout cookies? The parents of Girl Scouts! This was our first year and all I can say is "oh my!"
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon!
Amanda, I can only imagine. My good friend and neighbor is mom to one of the little urchins that hits me up each year. I see what she goes through. And I feel that I help in one small part, since my order is about 1/3 of her daughter's total I reduce the amount of running around she needs to do on delivery. All she needs to do is load up the wagon and head down the street!
DeleteSeems like life has decided to whirlwind you for a while huh? As much joy as horses and all of that gives us, it also causes a lot of stress. With Sug's issue, financial demands, trying to balance the kids' wishes and the needs of the horses, you sure do have a lot on your plate. Plus you work full-time, and have the cruddiest cold ever. Moms lives suck sometimes!!
ReplyDeleteWhen we were dealing with the realization that Pippi was no longer the right horse for Miranda, and then Pippi getting hurt, and all of that, I swear I felt so stressed and I became rather depressed. The pressure to follow my heart for both horse and kid was just so heavy.(Even now that this has been resolved, the fact that I just can not buy Mulcahy ( her dream horse that we were offered at a steal) for Miranda since I can only afford one horse, just kills me. I even toyed with the idea of starting a gofundme page for them. if that is not desperation, what is?)
But back to you; James sounds to be a great partner for Noah, and it seems they are ready to learn from each other. I totally understand your hesitation in over jumping Sug, and we both know that you are not going to, so that option is really not an option at all. I hate to say this but the choice is actually Sophies. (Sophie's Choice) She may ride James, and if she truly loves riding and wants to improve she will, or ride Sug every once in a while. There are girls that like horses, and then there are horsegirls! This will show which one she is quite clearly. And if she takes a break, and keeps doing her other sports that is fine. But I have to warn you. When Miranda stopped riding Pippi, we spent less time together and it was quite an adjustment. Now that she rides Mulcahy (until he gets sold) at another barn, I go with her when I can, but it has been hard on me. Probably not her so much, but certainly for me.
Aww, Emme, you made me cry! You have such a gift in cutting to the heart of the situation. I do love the time we spend together (even though I do like to bitch about it, too!) and will miss it if she stops riding. I worry that if i let her stop, she'll miss out on a valuable character building learning experience.
DeleteI think she will just be more of a part-timer for a while, and get all those character building learning experiences from her other sports. Plus, she is not going anywhere, so you will be able to knock the knowledge into her head one way or the other. It is hard though to have a hobby with one of two kids. I can say from experience that it causes some grumbling sometimes from the non-equestrian, but..... Sophie is a busy kid and she can come ride whenever she feels like it, and has the time. Of course the first show that she does not ride in but Noah does, whew, that will be an epic show down. Just sayin'...... teenaged girls - heaven help you!
DeleteLove you, Em! Again, your words ring with truth. Did I mention that I just bought a show coat for the little minx? I could choke. Oh well, consignment, I guess.
DeleteHave a cookie, pass it on. It's that time of the year.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'll do that, Bandit! In fact, i've already done it. Damn A&P was having a two-fer on Chips Ahoy on Wednesday. I'm down to the last row of cookies. Pull up a chair and I'll share!
DeleteOh, yuckyuckyuck. I hope all this gets sorted out, and that Sug's ulcer heals and James feels better and YOU feel better soon, too!
ReplyDeleteScheduling a business trip the week of Spring Break makes me feel a bit better about having absolutely *nothing* planned for my son's break. He's off all next week and I barely realized it was happening. Mother of the Year Award time! :-( (Can't afford to go anywhere, anyway)
As a very long-time Girl Scout mom, I can sympathize with both you and Amanda. Green-glad imps of Satan, indeed. :-)
A witty post, Amy. I also have been suffering from the Black Whatever. However, despite your illness, you have found a way to make me laugh. So, I will drop a couple more extra strength tylenols, blow my nose and get to work on my post.
ReplyDeleteThen again, maybe tomorrow.