Thankful Thursday: April 30

I Am Thankful For:

Oatmeal with blackberries
The air after a rain shower
Coloring
Morning clouds
Feeling some allergy relief
Online business webinars
Wild strawberries
Crocheting outside
"Second breakfast"
Streaming TV services
NFL draft night
Bananas
Zoom class time
"I love you" texts
Puppy paws
A new bed for the puppy
Playing a card game with my guys
Rainy nights
Waking up to a sunny morning
The Man of the House making dinner
Indigo buntings at the bird feeder

When This Is Over

I find myself saying the phrase "When this is over and we can...".  A lot.  Almost every day.  I suppose that's a good sign.  It means I haven't given up.  That I believe that there will be an end to this virus at some point and thing well return to normal.  Maybe not normal as in exactly as it was before.  But closer to that than to this current reality.

I like to think about the things I want to do when that day comes.  Some are just the little day to day things I have missed.  Things I wanted to do before this started which have  been put on hold.  And things I have dreamed up while in quarantine.   Maybe it's because staying in the house almost every day gives one plently of time to daydream.

Some of the things I plan to do when this is over are:

• Get a coffee and take a looong walk around Hobby Lobby
• Go to Target (not just the drive-up pick up service)
• Date night with the Man of the House for a drink and listening to live music
• Go out for sushi (I have a mental block that discourages me from ordering take out sushi)
• Take the grand kid to the zoo to see the penguins and giraffes
• A weekend away with the Man of the House
• Take the Male Offspring to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
• Get a haircut
• Have lunch with my Dad
• Have lunch with my Mom
• Have lunch with the Man of the House
• Go to the library

Are there things you are looking forward to doing once we don't have to stay so far apart from others?

Sunday Inspiration: It's Your Reaction

Thankful Thursday: April 23

I Am Thankful For:

A surprise gift
Leftovers for dinner
Online vet chat
The morning sky
Long walks around the yard
Watch clouds roll in
Making the Man of the House laugh
Pancakes and bacon
Sunshine
Dogwood blooms
Making an obstacle course with the grand kid
First hummingbird of the season
Birds singing in the rain
Clean laundry
Going back to sleep
Ibuprofen and decongestants
Disney grilled cheese

Sunday Inspiration: What You Can Control

Thankful Thursday: April 16

I Am Thankful For:

Baking cupcakes with the grand kid
Fresh washed puppy
The night sky
Full moon
The puppy's one white hair
Making Easter cards with the grand kid
Going for a walk
One pan dinners
Lazy mornings
The feel of grass between my toes
Vanilla ice cream
Windy mornings
Getting out of the house for a bit
Tiny little puppy teeth
Silent Saturday
Worn out puppy
Easter baskets
He is risen!
Sins forgiven

What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's Unpredictable

This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeing help because of something you read on this website. 

When we go on vacation, I like to research where we are going and learn as much as I can about it.  I like to find some interesting sights to visit, restaurants to try, etc.  I'm the same way when I want to learn about a new hobby or experience.  I want to know what I'm getting myself into.  I'm not a planner, exactly - but I like to have some idea of what to expect. 

That's probably why, for me, the most frustrating part of this whole perimenopause experience is that's it's very unpredictable! 

As I said in "What No One Told Me About Menopause: It Can Last a Long Time" - the process is different for every woman, depending on factors such as genetics, general health, diet and lifestyle.  In other words, the most predictable thing about menopause it that it's unpredictable.

Your cycles may get longer, or they may get shorter.  Your periods may become lighter.  Or heavier.  Or it may be lighter than usual one month and with heavy bleeding the next.  You may have hot flashes and insomnia, or you may have mood swings and vaginal dryness.  You may have all of it.  Or none of it.  

For me, it has been all OVER the place.  In the past year my cycles have become extremely erratic, ranging anywhere from 15 days to 65 days.  I've had cycles when I experienced a period that was much lighter than what I am used to.  I've had ones that were almost horrifyingly heavy.  As I write this,  I'm on day 63, but I'm not sure if I should count the very light spotting one day last week as a menstruation or not.  (That all might be TMI... sorry)   

I've experienced days when I've had 3 or 4 hot flashes.  And days without any.  Nights when I can't sleep, nights when I sleep like a log and a few rare nights when I woke up drenched in sweat.  

I'm trying to take things in stride.  Whatever is gonna happen each month is what's gonna happen. I suggested to the Man of the House that we start making bets on how long each cycle will last to make it more interesting.  (He wasn't into that idea.)  

To get back to my main point - menopause is unpredictable.  Whatever you are experiencing is probably "normal" for you.  However, if you are concerned about any of your symptoms or if they are interferring with your quality of life - you should always discuss them with your doctor.  

Do you have questions about menopause?  Let me know in the comments and I'll try to answer them throughout the series.  

Happy Easter!

Thankful Thursday: April 9

I Am Thankful For:

Pictures for my Etsy shop
Pulled pork sandwiches
Turning off the news
Escaping into a book
Blossoms in the pear tree
Fresh air
Cool breezes
A husband that wants me to talk about my feelings
Controlling what I can
A long game of fetch
Enjoying the quiet
Stars
Chick-fil-a pickup
Grand kid hugs
Allergy medicine
Lilacs in bloom
The weekend
Getting dressed in something besides sweats
Talking to neighbors
Oreos

Allergies? Or Coronavirus??

This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeing help because of something you read on this website

Let me tell you about last weekend.  The skies were sunny.  The temperatures were summer-like. The Man of the House cut the grass for the first time this year.  The breezes were blowing.  The pollen was flying.  And me... I somehow managed to not take my allergy medication or use my daily asthma-control medicine on Friday night.  Which meant that I was sniffling, had a scratchy throat and was feeling a little tight chested

I'm not going to lie.  I. Was. Freaking. Out.  Even though every logical part of me knew it was allergies, that didn't stop the Coronavirus panicked portion of my brain from going on marathon trips to "what if" town.

No one wants to needlessly worry they may have Covid-19 if it's nothing more serious than spring allergies.  On the other hand, no one wants to brush off early symptoms of the virus as being "just allergies", potentially putting others at risk.

First of all, whether you think it's coronavirus, a cold, or allergies - you should already be following CDC guidelines to help reduce the spread of the illness - including social distancing, hand washing, and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces. Having said that...

How do we know whether our symptoms are allergies or Covid-19?

The biggest clue seems to be the presence of a fever (or lack thereof).  In most cases of the novel Coronavirus, there is a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more.  Seasonal allergies typically don't cause a fever.

I found the following chart very helpful in easing my concerns about what I was experiencing.

 For example, along with some mild asthma symptoms, I had sneezing, sinus congestion, but no fever.  Clearly allergies!

A little Zyrtec, regularly using my asthma medication, and a day of rain to wash away some of the pollen had me feeling good as new.

If you are a allergy sufferer, take your allergy meds.  Make sureyour asthma is well controlled.  If you have symptoms that may be related to Covid-19, or if you have any doubts, talk with your health care provider or local department of health.

Stay home.  Stay safe.  Better days are coming.

Finding the Focus

Emotionally, last week was kind of a tough one.  I was all over the place.  One day I felt as if I was living my best quarantine life - working on stuff for my Etsy shop, binging some Netflix and Hulu shows, reading, and taking as many precautions as possible to prevent any virus germies from entering the house.  Another day has me in tears because I just want to be able to pick out my own produce again.  When this is all over, I will never complain about grocery shopping again.  (ok... I probably will.  But not for a long, long while)

Warning:  Huge sidetrack...   I'm sorry, but I am getting a little tired of seeing posts implying (or out-right saying) that we shouldn't complain about the quarantine.  Do we know that things could be worse?  Yes, of course!  Could the conditions for the quarantine could be much less pleasant?  Yep!  Is the quarantine for our own good?  Sure!  But that doesn't mean that feelings of frustration, isolation,  and discouragement aren't real and valid.  Making people feel petty isn't helping anyone cope.  We don't need to be shamed for how we feel.  We need to be able to express those emotions, work through them and hopefully be able to move on with a little relief and a brighter perspective.

So, yes - somedays I am going to sit on my couch and watch Netflix and eat chocolate and feel sorry for myself .  Somedays I won't.   And that's the end of my  rant for the week.  I'll move on now.

Remember last week when I said that I hadn't set any goals for April.  I still haven't.  BUT - I decided in the middle of my funk this week, that maybe not having any goals for myself right now isn't the best idea.  Perhaps I need a few goals to give me something to make me feel a little bit as if I am in control.  Rather than just focusing on what I can't do, I can focus on the goals I have set for myself.

Sounds good.  Right?  So...

Goals for April 6 - 12, 2020"

• Clean out nightstand
•  Send out some cards and letters
• Order birthday present for sister
• Email wholesale customers 
• Write at least 2 posts for shop blog
• Photograph and list new items for Etsy shop
• Finish crochet blanket for the grand kid
• Write at least 2 future posts for this blog

Are you finding it helpful to set goals for yourself during these days of Stay Home orders?  Or are you enjoying the relaxed pace and just taking things as they come?

Sunday Inspiration: Palm Sunday

Thankful Thursday: April 2

I Am Thankful For:

Puppy kisses
Online lessons for the Grand Kid
Curbside pickup
Good books
Chatting by text
Disney+
Floppy puppy ears
Mornings
Sunshine on my face
Catching up on my favorite show
Warm days
Restaurant delivery service
Cherry blossom petals falling like snow
Fresh cut grass
Summer-like days
Good ideas
Sunday morning pancakes

Currently... April 2020

Oh.  My.  Goodness.

Was March one wild ride or WHAT?  And April is looking to be more of the same.

How's everyone coping?  Me?  Well, I swing wildly between feeling like I've got an handle on things and being on the edge of a nervous breakdown.  I think the self-quarantine is starting to get to me.  Yesterday, while walking the puppy around the yard - I realized I was singing "You're the One That I Want" from Grease.  Out loud and not in my quiet voice.  So...  there ya go.

Reading:  The Lying Game by Ruth Ware and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.  One of the saddest moments for me was when the local libraries closed because of coronavirus.  Thank goodness for the digital library.

Working On:  Lots of ready-made items for the Etsy shop

Loving:  Spending so much time with my grandson!  With school closed and his parents working in what are considered essential businesses, it's been me and him (him and me?  he and I?) together most days.  Working on his virtual learning assignments, watching nature documentaries on Disney+, walking the dog and reading.

Celebrating:  The obvious answer is Easter.  This month also brings my "baby" sister's birthday.

Wanting/Needing:  A vacation would be nice.  A few Etsy sales (my shop has taken a hard hit from all this Covid-19 business).  But mostly - an end to this pandemic!

Dreaming About:  A trip to Hobby Lobby, Target and Starbucks.  My dreams are pretty simple at this point in the game.

April Goals:  You know, I haven't even set any goals for the coming month.  I know I should. But everything is so up in the air and out of the norm right now that I'm just trying to take things as they come each day.

What are you up to for April?