A Humble Thanksgiving

This is the first Thanksgiving in a long time that I haven't felt stressed and anxious. It was oh so wonderful! Yes, we were sick. That part wasn't fun. We started getting sick last week as a family and it ran through all of us, starting with Esther last Monday, then Reuben, then Becky. I was like good, we will get the illness over this week and have a smooth vacation next week. By the weekend I thought it might be over but, lo and behold, I started to fall ill Wednesday morning (the 26th) cumulating with Husband today, Thanksgiving. Poor husband! It is a sore-throat sinus-fever thing, about 2-3 days duration. For me the first day was the worst. 

Yesterday I rested and threw everything I could at it. Lots of homeopathy, fire cider, garlic and tea.

Today I felt well enough to cook but not well enough for guests. Especially with Brian on day 1, and basically in bed. 

But we made it through and now everyone has had the cold and turkey was also enjoyed.

Early in the week Brian and I went Christmas shopping. We got almost all the gifts and I am so excited. The kids are going to be thrilled. I'm very excited about Christmas. 

Tomorrow I have no plans. I really don't leave my home on Black Friday. I mean, I did once or twice and was underwhelmed. I don't like crowds, I don't like stress and I don't like fake discounts. Really, I checked amazon with some things I had saved and the prices went UP when they announced the sale over there. I think it's a scam. Maybe some things lower in price but everyone is trying to get as much money as possible while making you think you are getting a deal. 

Esther had the best time after Thanksgiving lunch by letting me crochet for an hour while I watched her cute nap on the couch. Doesn't she look so much like Becky here? 

Everyone is still recovering. Becky is the only completely well one. Esther has a cough, Daddy is in the throes of it, I have low energy and a little stuffy nose and I had a cough this morning, I wonder if it will come back tonight. Reuben also has some bronchial stuff going on. Hopefully we can nip this in the bud over the weekend because we have some packed weeks ahead until Christmas! 

God is so good. I felt so much peace and love this Thanksgiving. 

Because we were sick, none of our relatives could visit. My mom and my step dad actually dropped off the food they planned to leave for us on the porch so we got to enjoy their chocolate cake, handmade rolls and cranberry they prepared. It was so good!  I missed them though. They hope to come over this weekend  if they don't catch the sickness from us (we saw them earlier this week before we were sick). 

What a crazy daisy wonderful Thanksgiving. 

I ordered the Barton Reading Program. It was expensive but I think it is what I will try next to address the learning issues we are seeing in our homeschool. I hope it works. I"m excited to try it. I hope it will help Reuben learn spelling and Becky learn to read and spell, and me...me too. I am also dyslexic. Maybe I too can learn how to spell things correctly and read better. I mean, I can read, but sounding out unfamiliar words I do guess, which is a dyslexic trait.

We also decided to do cognitive brain development and are on the waiting list with a local tutor, with a potential start date of May. So much going on! So many good things. 

Seasonal Changes

Well, the United States Government is open again, after the longest shutdown ever...but the bill that was passed only funds through January so we will see what happens next...this is going to be interesting. 

Does anyone else think Trump is acting really really weird? First he didn't release the Epstein files after that was one of the things he promised transparency on...second, he straight up dissed Americans saying we need H1B visas because we just don't have talent here...uhhhh what? I quite agreed with Brett Cooper's podcast thoughts about this. 

Is Trump being blackmailed? Because he sure is acting weird. And NO we do NOT NEED 50 year mortgages. Thats another terrible idea, Trump. Please put Dave Ramsey in charge of the budget. Seriously. 

I will be honest, as a fully homeschooling, cooking from scratch mama of three with a full time job, I mean, chronic illness (hah) I rarely have time to pay attention to politics with the two brain cells I have left at an end of the long day, but sometimes things seep through. I wish I had more time because as I age I find I care and also my BS meter waaayy shorter. I went from "pulling a republican lever" in my 20s to begrudgingly voting republican while internally angry about how corrupt democrats and republicans are. Where are all the good men? Oh, they are working hard for their families, aren't they, not manipulating budgets and dabbling in power plays. I know there are some good guys out there in politics but it seems like for every two there are thirty dirty players. 

Who has time for politics when I can watch my baby sleep? Cuteness over stress, definitely recommend. 

I was not impacted from the shutdown. 

My sister lost her food stamps for two weeks.

My mom brought her food.

Anyway, we did school today and made it a lite day because it's Friday and mama is tired. Reuben starts 5th grade next week! How crazy. He's growing up so fast. Becky is on Year 2, Term 2 starting next week and Esther is alternating between crying and playing with play dough and getting into All The Things while I read. 

I made homemade donuts and have been cleaning and organizing all morning. I am decluttering because Christmas. Actually, when am I not decluttering? I really need to get rid of way more stuff.

Life is good. If only I wasn't chronically ill. 

Life can be good with a chronic illness, God is good...I know, but this is hard. I have had times where my chronic illness was in remission for a little bit, even long stretches and it's so much nicer. Maybe one day I will get there again.

Anyway, two weeks ago when I was getting colonics, I found out one of the names for whatever it is I deal with. I already know I struggle with type two diabetes, but now I know I have IBS-C. Apparently something called a low fodmap diet helps. I don't know if I can do another diet. We will see. I also have dyslexia and that isn't a chronic illness, it does make daily life interesting sometimes! 

I'm a walking conundrum. My other issues are I get heart palpitations and I have blood clots sometimes. I also feel tired all the time but that can be from the IBS-C I have read. 

There is no cure for IBS. It's a good thing I was made by a God is works miracles. 

How are you all? 

What's Next?

The USA government still doesn't have a federal budget. People have stopped rolling their eyes and frankly...we are embarrassed. Congress is supposed to pass the budget and they can't. Well, they have tried. They can't agree. I think, obviously, that they need remedial counseling. Like marriage counseling. Trump and Congress can attend and they should be made to keep attending until they reach an agreement, 

Sssheeesssh.

October wore me out. I have been having severe chronic issues and I finally reached out to my naturopath and she recommended a colonic. Which I vehemently denied. No thanks, not me. I don't need it.

I had my first one last week, and two others in the next coming days are scheduled and... it is not fun. I am not thrilled. 

I hope it works. I pray it works. I don't know if there are any other options after this. 

Maybe I should try a bone broth cleanse for a week? Will that help reset my colon and get everything working properly? Should I try a low fodmap diet? The Gaps diet (again? I did it once a few years ago...) I really don't know where to go from here. I would appreciate prayers as I figure it all out.

On top of my annoying health issues I have been dealing with a host of educational difficulties. It has come to my attention that both my (oldest) kids have varying levels of dyslexia and I Need Help navigating this and figuring out how to best teach them to read. Reuben is 10 and reading on a third grade reading level. He does not like reading and gets tired quickly and...just like me, when he sees an unfamiliar word, he guesses. Becky is learning how to read and struggling so much. I am trying to find help. I tried to meet with two local barton reading specialists and they both canceled on me and have not texted me back. I think they have too many clients already! And kind hearts that want to help people but poor boundaries. Our piano teacher told us about this cognitive brain development thing that we decided not to do because it's just too expensive and too much work (an hour a day) I don't think I can do that with the health issues I am going through right now. 

My kids are great and so intelligent and seeing them struggling is hard! I just don't know what next step to take. Barton? Another program? Nothing? Wait? Ugh. I feel like I'm in limbo. We did buy Becky these dyslexia workbooks that just arrived yesterday and she started on them today. I hope she likes them! They help dyslexia through art, which Becky loves art. Maybe that will be all she needs.

Esther is also in the throes of the terrible twos. I love my little baby girl so much. She's also so smart! And wonderful! This is just a stage, but right now on top of everything else, it's been a bit much. Teaching a currious two year old the slow processes of emotional regulation is not for the faint of heart. God is teaching me so much as I parent her. Because, adults throw tantrums too. Just ask my Heavenly Father. He knows! 

Our van is fixed! Brian installed a new-to-us door from the local pick and save and I'm back driving it. Which is great because the van has heat (but no air con) and the other car we have has air con (but no heat) so now we have something for each kind of weather. Hah.

Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner. How have we arrived here so quickly? God has been so good to our family and I am so grateful to all this year and brought us. It didn't bring me the much desired baby, but thats okay. God knows what I need, and my family is beautiful, even without babies and healing.

It didn't bring us a new house, because they are all expensive. We have not been able to work on any of the renovations I want to do to our current house, because we have all been doing the best we can just to get through our day.

But, this year did bring me...more time with my mom. I'm so glad she's retired now and she usually visits once a week. It's been life changing to have her here and the kids have absolutely grown to adore her. 

I've done yoga at least twice a week this year, when I haven't been sick. I've homeschooled my two beautiful school-aged kids. I've adored my cute, bumbling crazy toddler. I've done the dishes twice a day. I've done 600 loads of laundry. That's how it feels, anyway. 

I've watched Totoro at least 18 times. And it's still my favorite movie. 

It has been a good year, and I look forward to the next one.

Brian already told me our medical insurance will go up significantly...so it should be an interesting year. I feel that price increases are coming across the board. Hopefully I will feel well enough to garden this spring!