Stressed but blessed . . .

February 8, 2022

Good news, Robert is coming home Friday (2/11/2022)! Plus, Ethan finally got approved for his infusion and received it on the 5th. I hate to even think that things might be getting better—it seems like jinxing, but I don’t really believe in that. Our lives have been simultaneously stressful and blessed. I’ve talked about the stressful parts, but when I think of all our blessings, things don’t seem as bad. Cathleen has a job that she’s good at and enjoys (most of the time). Ethan is really enjoying being a DM for three groups of Dungeons and Dragons. He also plays one game on Saturdays, but I think his real joy is in leading those Tues/Thurs/Sun games. Interesting how much that skill is similar to teaching. Another blessing—Robert still has most of the use of his right arm, and his left arm will heal eventually. The worker’s comp insurance has been most generous in taking care of him—there’s no way we could have afforded the rehab hospital on our own. If he’d come home after the first surgery (1/20) we surely wouldn’t have known about the infection or the dislocation that caused the second surgery (1/29). I’m so grateful he had plenty of time to heal. 

My work has been very gracious about all the time off I’ve had to use to take care of family matters. Plus the insurance is very good. Robert’s work has been wonderful about not pressuring him to work while he’s healing, so that’s been good for him too. We both still have our parents to go to for help and advice, and they are near enough to see once in a while. Many good things. 

One of those good things is a healthy living program sponsored by my work. It seems to be very much like Noom, which worked great for me. This one is at no cost to me and I can use completion of the program for money off my health insurance premiums next year. It’s nice to know that they care about us being healthy—less expensive for them in the long run, I guess. My eating has been really out of control and I’ve not been exercising very much. Dog walks (thank God for Kyla!) are about the extent of it. Now that this program has started, and since I don’t have to leave for work at 7am, I’m trying to make a habit of getting up and exercising every morning. Then at least I’ll have accomplished something positive each day.