[doydie]

I have just really been tired lately. I have gotten a little hint about how it will be like when my husband retires in 4 years. We don't argue as long as he is at work and I am home, but he is on vacation this week. So it has been a little stormy around here.

His Mom has been sick and I think I love her more than he does. But what with all the doctor visits, then xrays and then last night taking her to the hospital, I am just exhausted. Physically and emotionally. Today we had the upper GI scoped and tomorrow it will be the lower. So that means more mental stress. She lives in a nursing home way on the other side of town so it has taken a tole on us.

My feet are just killing me. I really think that might be part of my fatigue. On top of all that, my youngest has bought a starter home and we have been helping her move in, her lease on their apartment runs out end of month. Her husband comes home from Iraq in about 10 days. Then my other daughter is toward the very end of her high risk pregnancy. My Mom has had a lot of dizzy spells and problems with B/P since her pacemaker put in a month ago. Then my sister is being tested for Inflammatory breast cancer. So my plate is full and overflowing.

So tomorrow I am taking the day off. I have had this day tip planned with my little group we call 'the old nurses group'. We are going to travel the back roads of southern Indiana. It will take us from Evansville over to Louisville over some very interesting and colorful territory. And we will laugh all the way. We might even have to stop and browse through some old antique stores along the way. I hope when I come home tomorrow evening I will love my husband a little more than I do today! Sorry for the long whine.

[SallyC]

Sheesh, Doydie, you have lots to whine about. ..And if not here, where? Sounds like your whole Family has a whine coming.

The day trip sounds wonderful. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. Tell us all about it, when you get back. Don't wear yourself out with too much shopping.

[doydie]

Had a wonderful drive all around rural southern indiana and whenever we saw an interesting antique store, we stopped. My husband was in a better mood when i got home, so the day was well spent!

[MUPPY]

Hi Doydie,

We are going thru the same situation here.

My Mother in - law went into the nursing home after release from the hospital with a intestinal blockage 6 months ago. She has dementia pretty bad now.
she's 87

My Mom had surgery 2 months ago for a blockage to her leg in the groin.
She lives with us. She's 73

I don't drive anymore, Hubby works and has to drive us 25 miles each way to visit his Mom, drive me to my appts., drive my Mom to her appts.

He is mentally and physically exhausted, gets irritated easily, sometimes acts like he doesn't care, but he has a full plate.

I forget that sometimes, and I get angry at him....when the reality is
we are both exhausted...stressed...never seem to have a moment to relax or even breathe!!! AND............ WE GET ON EACH OTHERS NERVES!!

It is hard when our parents get elderly, not just emotionally.
It seems everyone I know is going thru this type of parent situation now.

Now, getting away with the girls will do you good!!!

By the time you read this you should be back from your outing, I'm sure you
had a ball!!!!! You " DO " need to get away, even just for a cup of coffee with a friend does wonders.

Remember, even God rested on the seventh day...LOL

Hope your feeling better,
Muppy ( Cheryl )

[SallyC]

That's great Doydie. A nice fun trip and a nicer Hubby when you returned. What more could you ask for.

Hugs,

[bafriend]

How I can relate to being so tired!!!!! I've been over doing it too. I always seem to be visiting or helping one of our adult children or 10 grandchildren.

Well mother in law 85 fell and broke her hip last week. Many trips to the hospital which was about an hour from our house. Now she's in rehab. Made it through the surgery but there are many medical complications and we're watching her slowly go down hill.

I was so exhausted from going, going, going that I took a nasty fall this week. I finally took to my lounge chair and couch for a couple days of rest.

I could really use a few days of just fun with some friends or family. Better yet I wish someone would call and offer to take me out for a treat or do something nice for me. I can barely walk, yet I seem to be the one holding everyone else up. Thank God my mind works most of the time.

Whine, whine, whine. Got to finish making some chicken soup and get ready to go visit grandma.

My advise to myself and others is: We must all remember to take better care of ourselves. If we don't do it someone else probably will or it really didn't need to be done. There is always tomorrow, I tell myself, if only I listened, I wouldn't be so tired. Betty

[Cherie]

all I can say is you sound like me. I could have written almost everything you did. And I'm crashing. In pain, fatigued, taking on very little non-essential stuff. I feel for you.

[spoons]

Not to be negative here, but..............enjoy your grandparents and parents while you have them. Once they are gone, it's worse! I think it is "women's -nature" to nurture. Just me thinking outloud..................

spoons

[doydie]

My mother is law is a little worse today. Her belly is just huge and of course pressing up around already bad lungs and heart. Her family doc came in today and wrote 'feeling good'. The GI doc didn't write anything except for a cardiologist to see because of high heart rate. I am so ashamed of the medical profession that I was so proud to be a part of for 30 years. It took the cardiologist to see that this poor woman had a bowel obstruction and start her on conservative measures to alleviate. He will order a surgeon to see if that doesn't help. I was glad that the heart doctor had some 'heart'.

This woman is a mentally ill woman that you can't hardly understand due to chronic bronchitis affecting her voice She is very plain, can't get across what she means or wants. But she is a very dear, loving woman. These doctors were just throwing her away. When I was in critical care, this cardiologist was one of my favorite due to his quiet calming bedside manner. Now I know why.

I am so torn about leaving to go to my daughters tomorrow. I was supposed to go and get my granddaughter and keep her for the week while she is out on fall break. This shortened trip was a compromise. We are going tomorrow then come back Tuesday, but without her. It hurt me enough to have to make that compromise. But I just can't do it and still try to be the Grandma I want to be in 6 weeks when the baby is due. I want to be able to take care of the older girl at her house so I can have some baby time also.

My daughter has an ultrasound Tuesday AM that I was really looking forward to seeing. But because of MIL so sick we might not even be able to go tomorrow. We will go to the hospital and check on her and if I feel she is to unstable we will have to stay. I am so torn. Nobody said life was easy.

[SallyC]

You guys are making me tired, with all your activities and must dos...sheesh, take a break will ya?

I hope all your parents, children et al get better soon, so that you can rest up for the next event.

Healing Hugs for All,