catching up in so many ways
Hello friends! It's been a minute, right?
The Mr. and I have been talking about how it was wild enough that we got a puppy last fall when we already felt like we were running on fumes between Lil Momma's extracurricular schedule, working on my aunt's estate, work being oof, injuries... only for me to throw this MLIS class into the mix.
It's taken literally almost the entire first quarter of the year for me to feel like I have a modicum of control over my tasks and house and life, but I'm back with a catch up and hopefully back here and in your comment sections on a regular basis, too.
For now, some catching up on what I've been catching up on:
School
I think I had left off saying I felt so much better once I dropped that second class that I was supposed to start mid-March. I also feel so much better because I have a better perspective on what I am trying to get out of this experience. I think I was putting in inordinate amount of pressure on myself to make every discussion post, paper, and slide deck perfect (so grateful to Anne for talking me off some citation-related ledges!), even knowing I haven't been in school in DECADES and IT IS OK IF I DON'T GET 100% ON EVERYTHING. Maybe it's a holdover from the pressure I feel in my corporate job amid all these layoffs and pivots, maybe I have some work to do on how I treat myself (maybe a bit of both), but I am working on enjoying this more and not going into functional freeze for hours whenever I have to submit something. I register for summer and fall classes next week! I'll share what's next i I get into what I'm hoping to!
Lil Momma
7th grade is so hard, sigh. LM being bored out of her mind academically and dealing with some friend group challenges and incredibly cruel comments has taken a huge emotional toll on all of us. Her dance and theatre classes are our saving grace and we're excited for her to do her competition solo in May which includes a costume change, 5 props, and a moment where she throws a cane in the air and catches it which is either going to be amazing (if she catches it) or hilarious (if she drops it and goes with plan b). Seriously, though, parenting can rip your heart out sometimes and we're doing our best to keep her chin up and her head and heart in the right direction.
Foot and Ankle (and Back) (and Hip) (and Quad) recovery
After quitting PT in February, I feel a bit frozen in how to do next steps. Almost one year since my surgery, I am so deeply frustrated that I am not walking longer distances or in a solid strength routine, even with knowing it is the slipped discs causing all this nerve related drama down my right side. Remembering that forward is a pace, I am taking some baby steps to hopefully build some momentum: I am doing core and glute exercises 4x a week to work on weaknesses that are probably making these issues drag on. Also, LM and I joined a gym and I am using the elliptical and recumbent bike to build back some cardio endurance while the treadmill and stationary bike are out of reach. Baby steps, but better to be doing something that frozen.
Maysie
Maysie is 10 months old and almost 60#. It's wild! She is such a mischievous joy, but also quite strong and stubborn: picture me trying to get her to come back up the deck stairs at 10pm and her just sitting back and dragging me back into the yard. We are working with a trainer who is helping significantly (even if Maysie is so annoyed that we're making her learn things that she started eating our moulding) and she's started having puppy play dates in the back yard (PURE JOY) and going to a doggy daycare a couple of times a week which is feeding her social, active, and sassy heart. We love her so much. (Well, Bella our Morkie is still not a fan...)
Everything else (work, estate, being a human in an increasingly messy world) will wait until next week. Better timing, anyway, as I get moved to a different team at work on Monday and hope to keep on keeping on with my to-dos! Off to read "Information as Thing" by Michael K. Buckland and have an opinion on it!
I hope your spring has been kicking off with bulbs and mild rain showers and fun vs. the wildly fluctuating temperatures and mud we have here, haha!
Oh wow, I cannot relate AT ALL to starting school again and then being frustratingly preoccupied with still being a school perfectionist, hahahahahahaha (yes I can). I kept repeating to myself that adage about what do you call the person who graduates at the bottom of their med school class ("Doctor"), and we're just trying to get people connected with books, Linds, not do brain surgery. Doing it on top of corporate work, wow, mad props (that expression is wildly outdated, isn't it? Sorry). I think what you're doing to get stronger and keep moving sounds great.
ReplyDeleteGrade 7 is so, so, so awful - particularly for girls. I remember it as being an absolutely wretched time. Grades 7 and 5 were the absolute worst for me, so I totally understand.
ReplyDeleteMaysie! I also totally understand, Rex is 102 pounds of pure joy.
Steps forward are steps forward! They might be small steps but still, forward momentum.
Middle school was the HARDEST time for me. I hated it. At the end of 8th grade, all the girls were crying and hugging and I was just SO EXCITED about being done, ha. I feel for LM and I’m glad she has great support systems to get her through this time. <3
ReplyDeleteWhy does middle school suck so much? LM's experience mirrors mine in so many ways (SO many ways) and my heart just goes out to her. <3
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think you need to share pics of Maysie at doggie day care, and/or on a play date, and/or being stubborn and recalcitrant late at night. Or, you know, all 3. :)
Poor LM. Seventh grade was my absolute worst year of school. Eighth grade was much better, so there's hope. But it's impossible to shake off cruel comments at this age. I'm very glad she has dance and theater to boost her confidence.
ReplyDeleteNice job getting back to the gym. It must be incredibly frustrating, but yes- forward is a pace!
Sorry for the incredibly late comment...