All I can say is that this has been a long and cold and snowy winter. It snowed today. And yesterday. I don't know about other people around here, but I am so DONE with that stuff.
My head hurts and it just feels like I need to spill. So much, every day, and how I accomplish things is really a mystery to me. I just go into some magic portal and transform myself into a mystic being I guess.
From homeowners insurance to medical bills. From medical bills to mortgage modification applications, from applications to tax returns, from tax returns to FAFSA forms. And then, hi ho, hi ho its off to the doctor we go, to see Daniel's spine and what has now been determined to be a large cyst on his tail bone area. Doctors, dentists, eye care, home repairs, house work, WORK oh yes, I have work too. When I can get there. When I can't go to work I feel guilty because I know it is an imposition of great magnitude to the place that I work. Get the picture? Anxiety now. Not sleeping. Trying to do mindfulness and prayer. And a friend sent me a nice suggestion of making vlogs about things I am grateful for, I like that.
But honestly, to be me, is the equivalent of being many different people all working on multitudes of levels all of the time. It's more than a Mom juggle when you have a child who is completely dependent upon you for basically, his complete survival.
I'm eating too many cookies and my hair looks like crap. I can't stay on a diet for the life of me, and I am supposed to because my sugar is too high. I want to scream and run around the house like a crazy loon, but I'm too tired.
Just when I finally establish that it is OK for me to go try to sleep.... the dog has to go out. So instead of into bed, I go outside into the cold.
And that is how the cookie crumbles. Crap. Now I want cookies. It's just hard folks. Very very hard and I am pulled and yanked in a million very necessary directions. I'm only human. I break down. I get depressed. I pull up my boot straps and keep on keeping on.
If it would just STOP SNOWING. I can't even think about Easter, nor do I feel like doing anything holiday related. Why am I holiday phobic now? I think because its just one more gosh darn CHORE to add to my already overflowing bucket of overflowing.
Rest and relax would be nice. I just don't want any more anxiety dumped on my head. Opened up the mail to some major medical bills for all of my blood work, and almost did the crazy run. But there was just no time for that, no time for showering either. I had to hurry to bring the baritone sax to the middcle school, drive to Norwalk to see Daniel's doctor, and race back like a crazy nut in a big big van to get to Thomas IN TIME after his lesson.
And for a half an hour Daniel screamed in the van. I stopped and ate McDonalds. and then I hated myself for it. But I was starving and stressed. This is why I am fat. I am sick, exhausted, stressed, lonely, frazzled, addicted to food, and unable to delve into anything that is self help related because it is just too much for me to swallow.
F you snow.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
A small shift in perspective
I am definitely not any kind of a complete expert in anything. I get "spazzy" and have to calm myself down. Things upset me, and sometimes I cry randomly. I know I annoy people, because I annoy myself. But, I really care about people, and I'm limited in how to manifest that into "real" sometimes. I am busy. Very busy with the chores and duties and things required for caring for my wonderful family. But when life grabs me in a bad way, and I get all negative, and feel like relationships are failing me and I'm a lost cause, I always seem to remind myself of a couple of things. Number one, if you stop being positive there is absolutley no way you can have positive results, so, self talk "stop it Julie, don't focus on his/her/its negative issues but shift your perspective. Like, my husband takes incredible care of himself to keep his cholesterol down, he wants to be phyiscally healthy. I think his athleticism is really pretty remarkable because I've never been athletic. or, He gets these amazing reviews every year, and raises happen, even when not everyone is getting them, he has a good job and works very hard at what he does. (Quality Engineer for Breast Imagining equipment company) and what he does at work, helps to save lives. Thats pretty cool.
When something is really biting at you, shift your perspective, let it go. How hard is that, to let it go? It's not really hard when you just shift your perspective just a little bit.
Number two, Be present in this moment. Stop. Breathe. Breathe again, slower. Do a mindfulness exercise and get your brain to slow down, and JUST BE. Just breathe. Find some inner peace and block out the noise in your brain. Physically, your stress diminishes, your mood improves, and you can accomplish so much more, or nothing at all. But be present in the moment. and Let it go.
and Number three, forgive. Forgive yourself for being critical of others and yourself, and others for hurting you, forgive and it flows right into the "be present" thing. The only way to inner peace is to be able to forgive and move forward. Holding grudges, and resentment only hurts the person who is holding. We hurt ourselves by doing this. Forgive, and find more reasons to love.It certainly is not easy, to do these things in this terrible messed up world we live in, but its totally possible to be happy and to choose to be happy.
Even more IMPORTANT is the ability to develop the COPING skills that you need to engage in when you do get stressed out, angry, freaked out, hurt, resentful, and so on. Finding a way to redirect your mind and your soul, back to a place where you can choose happiness.
Sometimes I read what I write, and listen to what I say, and I really don't like myself. It is because I have this knack of just letting it all come out when it happens. Like a big whining and complaining baby on a rant at life. But in doing that, I discover who I am, and who I want to be, and don't want to be. I am perfectly happy with the fact that I am NOT perfect and have alot of my own personality flaws. I very proud of myself for seeking help professionally when I feel I am incapable of choosing happiness.
Take the worst thing about yourself, and replace it in your brain with the best thing about yourself. Do that with your husband, kids, dog, whatever. A small shift in perspective can change your world.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
It's complicated.
Things are complicated.
Isn't that a funny statement, really. I mean, of course things are complicated. Most things in adult life are. But some things inherently by definition are supposed to be smoother and kinder. When a man and woman love each other, and they have a family, and many many years together, it should be a time where talking about almost anything is simple, easy, comforting, like putting on your favorite slippers on a cold morning.
When she has to worry about making him angry, and she has to be careful and meticulously pick and choose what she says and does just to please him. But sometimes something triggers the illusion to go through another part of the funhouse of mirrors and smoke. Underneath the feet are the shards of broken sea shells, egg shells, and all shells. Because if you crack them you make noise and you seem to make a lot of noise. Noise is bad. Noise is very very bad. Quiet is peace. It is also fear. Listening, as if you were in a dark forest with no light alone and vulnerable. Waiting. Heart pounding. Vigilant. Then the sun comes up, and you find yourself in a meadow. And you are laughing together, and hugging. Your mind lets you feel warm, and wanted. Things are clearer, and focused. Going places, doing things, loving, laughing being human. Until. You become so complacent, and you push too far, and the frustration comes back. The distance returns. And just about every 2 to 3 weeks a huge angry explosion over something you don't quite understand. Who screams at their wife and their kids. Who breaks things? Fear. The moment the anger re enters, she feels a large lump go down her throat and it becomes hard to breathe. All previous warmth escapes as if a window was opened on a freezing cold day. And he's mad, disgusted, annoyed, or some other form of reaction to something you did, or the kids did. Then he goes to his quiet place. Hours sometimes days. Goes to work. Goes to the gym. Comes home. Does some laundry. Watches wheel of fortune, the news, and goes to bed. Repeat cycle. And she doesn't know what to do. He shuts her out. There is no talking about things. She tells her therapist, but without avail. Because the cycle has been turning for far longer than she can even remember. Takes care of the kids. The dog. And waits until he changes again and returns telling her she "over reacts", that he was "just kidding" and says "gimme a hug". She is spinning like a little girl. Like the time she was spinning in the Atlanta Airport just spinning, and she was lost. Maybe he is right. Maybe it is all in her head. She over exaggerates. She should be able to take the anger and absorb it, without letting it hurt. She pretends this to be true. And he is nice to her, flirty, but still distant. After 10 years of therapy, and countless books, articles, and videos everything tells her it is not in her head. That husbands don't scream at wives like that, sarcasm and threats, even things like "I'm gonna take Thomas to the diner for Breakfast, lunch and dinner" because she didnt go grocery shopping. Said in anger.
She knows there are many journals filled with feelings. Feeling of love. Feelings of pain. Feelings of happy times. then back to the low low desperation kind of pain when she just wants to wrap herself around the kids and fly away like a giant bird. Feelings of, "marriage is hard, right, but you have to stick it out. get through the tough stuff" Feelings of wondering if men all act this way, getting ANGRY, and then going for a week or two being quiet and withdrawn, a spell of intense happiness, and then some small thing lights the fuse. Repeat cycle.
Oh for sure, there is a cycle. She has been watching and documenting it for years. And in a very strange way she knows he will never work with her. He will never admit that the anger is wrong, or that anything he does is wrong. He actually hollered at her in front of his parents, and she was the ONLY one who stood up against it, they all just look away. And he yells at her again as she tries to leave the room, tells her she is TOO SENSITIVE and OVER REACTING. AGAIN.
And she works really hard to get Daniel a scholarship at the Y. He gets to swim again. They bring him in. It is the very first time, in many many months possibly that he has lifted and held his son. Swimming is great for Daniel. It is a bonding time between parents and son.
Things are complicted. Yes. Yes they are. Its called welcome to the life you think you dreamed of always having only to be given a life that wasn't on the order form you fill out when you placed that ring on your finger. But things change an evolve. The kids get older.
Not knowing what to say. Not being able to just completely be yourself. Feeling like a failure because of things like "dinner being after 7pm" or "not finishing the laundry she started".
One minute, loved, the next minute left. They go to sleep, in separate rooms. He says her snoring is unacceptable, she needs to listen for Daniel in the night. He wakes up and goes to work, without ever a hug or kiss goodbye, she rarely even sees him in the morning. He just goes. In the early days, they would never leave eachother without a hug and kiss. It was important. They would sleep together, and kiss goodnight. Now he watches TV and she sits on her laptop. He doesn't care that she isn't there in the bed, doesnt seek her out, unless he is in the mood for "what husbands and wives do", but after that is done. The distances comes back. Its so frustrating for her.
Wanting to be held. Talked to. Respected, Loved. Valued. Laughed with. Snuggled with. It has been a decade since someone held her while she slept. She misses that terribly. He tells her to get off. Move away.
It's complicated. Old love and memories still floating around inside, but the pain and fear of the anger coming back, because it always comes back, are haunting demons. Tip toe through the egg shells. Find the warm meadow, sometimes, he's there and loves her. She has this child who needs her. So much has been sacrificed. So much of who she really is inside herself. He doesn't care or see it. She prays, and prays. Starts reading psalms, and books again. Starts vlogging and writing again. Because she fears that one day something really bad will happen.
How does she tell this man, who she is married to, that his anger, sarcasm, short tempered ness, and criticism are wearing away at her soul. He just says she over exaggerates. Over analyzes. and after the pain wears off, she starts to believe him. The worst things can be said, with never an apology. So she turns to God, and facebook, for some kind of confirmation that she is actually a good person. She knows she is a good mother. But maybe she is a bad wife.
Its complicated. And the cycle repeats. tWriting this entry, she is in the little bed in the extra room, while he watches TV. He will fall asleep. She will too. And the lonliness will stir up some dreams. Still dying to be held, touched, hugged, and loved she grabs a pillow, and the dog curls up on her feet. Human closeness is so important. She is thinking too much. Tears are starting. She wishes he would love her as if he cherishes her. She prays that he would start listening, and communicating as a friend and partner again. But he rarely listens, and when he asks a question 9 times out of 10 he actually walks away before people answer. The kids try to be good kids. But. It's complicated.
It's all complicated. She knows another therapy session is coming. So at least there will be a place to let out all of the feelings that she has.
And she realizes that today she missed her son's pulmonary appointment in Hartford, and that's not good. She went to work instead. Feeling quite numb. And quite sad. And quite depressed.
Perhaps tomorrow will be a fresh start!!!! Perhaps things will burst into life and he will get help for the anger, and work on the marriage and plan the rest of their life growing old together. Perhaps. But, its complicated.
Isn't that a funny statement, really. I mean, of course things are complicated. Most things in adult life are. But some things inherently by definition are supposed to be smoother and kinder. When a man and woman love each other, and they have a family, and many many years together, it should be a time where talking about almost anything is simple, easy, comforting, like putting on your favorite slippers on a cold morning.
When she has to worry about making him angry, and she has to be careful and meticulously pick and choose what she says and does just to please him. But sometimes something triggers the illusion to go through another part of the funhouse of mirrors and smoke. Underneath the feet are the shards of broken sea shells, egg shells, and all shells. Because if you crack them you make noise and you seem to make a lot of noise. Noise is bad. Noise is very very bad. Quiet is peace. It is also fear. Listening, as if you were in a dark forest with no light alone and vulnerable. Waiting. Heart pounding. Vigilant. Then the sun comes up, and you find yourself in a meadow. And you are laughing together, and hugging. Your mind lets you feel warm, and wanted. Things are clearer, and focused. Going places, doing things, loving, laughing being human. Until. You become so complacent, and you push too far, and the frustration comes back. The distance returns. And just about every 2 to 3 weeks a huge angry explosion over something you don't quite understand. Who screams at their wife and their kids. Who breaks things? Fear. The moment the anger re enters, she feels a large lump go down her throat and it becomes hard to breathe. All previous warmth escapes as if a window was opened on a freezing cold day. And he's mad, disgusted, annoyed, or some other form of reaction to something you did, or the kids did. Then he goes to his quiet place. Hours sometimes days. Goes to work. Goes to the gym. Comes home. Does some laundry. Watches wheel of fortune, the news, and goes to bed. Repeat cycle. And she doesn't know what to do. He shuts her out. There is no talking about things. She tells her therapist, but without avail. Because the cycle has been turning for far longer than she can even remember. Takes care of the kids. The dog. And waits until he changes again and returns telling her she "over reacts", that he was "just kidding" and says "gimme a hug". She is spinning like a little girl. Like the time she was spinning in the Atlanta Airport just spinning, and she was lost. Maybe he is right. Maybe it is all in her head. She over exaggerates. She should be able to take the anger and absorb it, without letting it hurt. She pretends this to be true. And he is nice to her, flirty, but still distant. After 10 years of therapy, and countless books, articles, and videos everything tells her it is not in her head. That husbands don't scream at wives like that, sarcasm and threats, even things like "I'm gonna take Thomas to the diner for Breakfast, lunch and dinner" because she didnt go grocery shopping. Said in anger.
She knows there are many journals filled with feelings. Feeling of love. Feelings of pain. Feelings of happy times. then back to the low low desperation kind of pain when she just wants to wrap herself around the kids and fly away like a giant bird. Feelings of, "marriage is hard, right, but you have to stick it out. get through the tough stuff" Feelings of wondering if men all act this way, getting ANGRY, and then going for a week or two being quiet and withdrawn, a spell of intense happiness, and then some small thing lights the fuse. Repeat cycle.
Oh for sure, there is a cycle. She has been watching and documenting it for years. And in a very strange way she knows he will never work with her. He will never admit that the anger is wrong, or that anything he does is wrong. He actually hollered at her in front of his parents, and she was the ONLY one who stood up against it, they all just look away. And he yells at her again as she tries to leave the room, tells her she is TOO SENSITIVE and OVER REACTING. AGAIN.
And she works really hard to get Daniel a scholarship at the Y. He gets to swim again. They bring him in. It is the very first time, in many many months possibly that he has lifted and held his son. Swimming is great for Daniel. It is a bonding time between parents and son.
Things are complicted. Yes. Yes they are. Its called welcome to the life you think you dreamed of always having only to be given a life that wasn't on the order form you fill out when you placed that ring on your finger. But things change an evolve. The kids get older.
Not knowing what to say. Not being able to just completely be yourself. Feeling like a failure because of things like "dinner being after 7pm" or "not finishing the laundry she started".
One minute, loved, the next minute left. They go to sleep, in separate rooms. He says her snoring is unacceptable, she needs to listen for Daniel in the night. He wakes up and goes to work, without ever a hug or kiss goodbye, she rarely even sees him in the morning. He just goes. In the early days, they would never leave eachother without a hug and kiss. It was important. They would sleep together, and kiss goodnight. Now he watches TV and she sits on her laptop. He doesn't care that she isn't there in the bed, doesnt seek her out, unless he is in the mood for "what husbands and wives do", but after that is done. The distances comes back. Its so frustrating for her.
Wanting to be held. Talked to. Respected, Loved. Valued. Laughed with. Snuggled with. It has been a decade since someone held her while she slept. She misses that terribly. He tells her to get off. Move away.
It's complicated. Old love and memories still floating around inside, but the pain and fear of the anger coming back, because it always comes back, are haunting demons. Tip toe through the egg shells. Find the warm meadow, sometimes, he's there and loves her. She has this child who needs her. So much has been sacrificed. So much of who she really is inside herself. He doesn't care or see it. She prays, and prays. Starts reading psalms, and books again. Starts vlogging and writing again. Because she fears that one day something really bad will happen.
How does she tell this man, who she is married to, that his anger, sarcasm, short tempered ness, and criticism are wearing away at her soul. He just says she over exaggerates. Over analyzes. and after the pain wears off, she starts to believe him. The worst things can be said, with never an apology. So she turns to God, and facebook, for some kind of confirmation that she is actually a good person. She knows she is a good mother. But maybe she is a bad wife.
Its complicated. And the cycle repeats. tWriting this entry, she is in the little bed in the extra room, while he watches TV. He will fall asleep. She will too. And the lonliness will stir up some dreams. Still dying to be held, touched, hugged, and loved she grabs a pillow, and the dog curls up on her feet. Human closeness is so important. She is thinking too much. Tears are starting. She wishes he would love her as if he cherishes her. She prays that he would start listening, and communicating as a friend and partner again. But he rarely listens, and when he asks a question 9 times out of 10 he actually walks away before people answer. The kids try to be good kids. But. It's complicated.
It's all complicated. She knows another therapy session is coming. So at least there will be a place to let out all of the feelings that she has.
And she realizes that today she missed her son's pulmonary appointment in Hartford, and that's not good. She went to work instead. Feeling quite numb. And quite sad. And quite depressed.
Perhaps tomorrow will be a fresh start!!!! Perhaps things will burst into life and he will get help for the anger, and work on the marriage and plan the rest of their life growing old together. Perhaps. But, its complicated.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
2015 Goals for my new year
- Go back to church. We have fallen away from regular church attendance and I miss it.
- My health. I am seeing a naturopath and pursuing healthier living habits. Pain relief strategies such as acupuncture and massage. Nutrition and wellness that is focused on my needs and my goal.
- Henry, It is my goal to have Henry trained as a therapy dog before the end of 2015.
- Work. I would like to be able to pursue my nursing degree, or at least start looking into a job in the health care industry. Dreams can be achieved.
- Friendships. Try to get myself out of the house more often (than never). and reconnect with the human race
- Pray more. Join a bible study.
- Exercise regularly (like I used to, but stopped)
- Be more assertive with getting things that Daniel needs, researching help and grants, etc.
- Focus on gratitude.
- Set goals, visualize them, and move towards real dreams!!!!
- Make the hard decisions that need to be made without being afraid.
I used to be a leadership development trainer, helping people with strategy and goal setting. What happened to that corporate positive lady???
A special needs mother, who has been caring for this wonderful child, tends to realize that over the years you lose yourself. Sometimes I even feel like I have become invisible to others. I have lost my identity and need to find and keep those parts of me that have slipped away. I have been shut down by a life of depression and negativity coming at me all the time. It's time for me to take back the joy that is rightfully mine.
Thank you for all of your prayers and caring hearts. So many people reached out to be friends, and helped in 2014. I want to feel happy and vibrant again. That is my 2015 goal.
Thank you for all of your prayers and caring hearts. So many people reached out to be friends, and helped in 2014. I want to feel happy and vibrant again. That is my 2015 goal.
A 2014 year in review from my perspective
Looking back on 2014. I'm sure there are things that will pop into my head later and need to be added. Definitely big big highs and big big lows. This past year has left me thinking that I dont want such a blah kind of 2015. Changes are already in progress... for the better. For me this time.
January 2014. I recall that on New Year's Eve we simply ate some snacks and went to bed, pretty much the same as this year. Sarah was home most of January, just like this year, but I think she was really bored and having a rough time of it with John. She really worked on her You Tube Channel alot. It was very cold.We took Daniel to see Frozen on New Years Day. I talk about wanting to see a new doctor for my pain, and I found one at Yale. It didn't really work out though, because it was far, and hard for me to get to those appointments. I was suffering from sinus infections, the same as now. On January 30 I posted on facebook that I was sick with 101 fever. My old Dell computer died. I know I was incredibly depressed because I continued to journal about it. We saw Saving Mr. Banks, and I sobbed like a baby in the theater with Sarah. January 2014 was not an extraordinary month by any means. Just cold. Filled with the same old stuff, Daniel's medical care. Paperwork up the Kazoo. Relationship problems and anger/depression affecting us. Didn't spend any time with friends or have any dates, or honestly, I can't say there was anything all that interesting. Working when I could for AllState but wishing so badly that I could go to nursing school. The highs and lows, and alot of trips to CVS.
February 2014. February. Thomas turned 13 on February 25, 2014. Daniel started seeing Adam Granger, at Summit Neurological Rehabilitation in Brookfield. He had his first assisted walking experience in years. This therapy was amazing for him, but not covered by his insurance. I had a grant from The Umbrella Club, and had sessions with Adam until the grant ran out. Henry continued to attend Dog Training classes and had his first grooming experience. There was snow. There was cold.
March 2014. Our old 1999 Ford Winstar died. We replaced it with a 2011 Honda CRV that was in excellent condition and had only 7000 miles on it. First new car in over 10 years. John drives it. On March 19, 2014 Sarah went to get her hair cut and got front bangs!! I dealt with a broken XBox alot, there was cold. Snow. Depression. Alot of doctors appointments and clinics.
April 2014 I think the highlight for April was meeting the Hendricks family when they visited from Ireland! Daniel, his nurse, and I met up with them at the Bronx zoo. Wendy and I have been friends on line through the Polymicrogyria support group since Daniel was 4 and Daire was born. For over 12 years. It was amazing having the chance to spend the day with her and her family at the zoo. Thomas continued to excel at playing the Baritone Sax and Trombone. Sarah was at college and pledged into her sorority. John continued to have periodic intense periods of anger which are really rough on me. Daniel had a period of illness that I thought was stomach related and we ended up at Yale with Pneumonia for a few days.
May 2014. Thomas, Jazz band competitions. He had so much fun in his first year in Jazz band at the middle school. Many doctors appointments. My neighbors across the street got a new dog, a labradoodle. Sarah finished up college for the year and came home.
June 2014 Thomas finished up school for the year and we went to Naples Florida for 10 days. That was the highlight of my year I think. The moment I touched the warm sand and saw palm trees. We had continued relationship ups and downs and our family was not exactly normally functioning.
July 2014. Thomas attended Danbury Music Center. I turned 48 years old. Started therapy in Newtown at Newtown Youth and family services. Struggling with sinus issues again, back and forth to the ear nose and throat about 6 times. Sarah made me a wall hanging that said do more of what makes you happy. It is one of my favorite things ever, because its true. I was really starting to shift away from the way the anger makes me feel, to trying to find myself again. I love summer. Daniel was invited to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the new playground in Newtown. Our friend Marc Pintel was the main donor to the new playground, so we got to spend a little time together and meet his son Spencer. The playground is beautiful.
August 2014 Thomas started Marching Band Camp. Daniel finished up summer school. Sarah went back to college to begin her sophomore year after working for a few weeks here at Target. Money is tight, and when our washing machine broke, my good friend Peter Brady of the hand dandy Handyman Ministry helped us out. We received a new washing machine from Lew White Appliances, and some additional financial assistance.
September 2014. Daniel and Thomas went back to school.
We watched alot of marching band competitions.
October 2014 We had our 22 wedding anniversary. Had a quick dinner at a place in town called "The Newtown Kitchen and foundry". or something like that. My sweet friend of 22 years, my cat, Tinker, passed away at the age of 22. Lots of doctors appointments. Still feeling very depressed but wanting to see a new doctor for medicine management. We also had a wonderful time at a New York Jets Game, thanks to our friend Marc Pintel who bought us the tickets. It was so much fun for the family!! and for Marc, who made a sweatshirt and sweatpants honoring Daniel. We loved Met life stadium.
November 2014 Sarah turned 19. Daniel turned 17. John turned 48. We had Thanksgiving here at our house and it was very nice. I started playing my flute again for the first time in over 30 years! I am so proud of myself. Purchased an old open hole flute on Ebay too! Thomas's gift for music, and Sarah's too, has finally inspired me to step back into it. I think all of the therapy is finally starting to pay off. Even though the anger eruptions continue, I can't do anything about him. But I certainly don't have to spend my life feeling sad, and guilty for not meeting his expectations of me.
December 2014. In the beginning of the month Daniel had a serious bought of diarreah and it turned out to be C Diff. He was very dehydrated, and we were in patient at Yale for several days. I was just very relieved when he was better and well enough to go home. I did all of the Christmas shopping also drove to Staten Island to get Sarah. In a storm! That was not fun. Relationships continued to be tense and difficult in the house, and John hates Christmas so I did all of the shopping and prep work. I tried having as much fun with the kids as I could. The end of the year came fast.
I am sure there had to have been some profound moments through the year 2014. But sadly the dominance of "walking on eggshells" maintains its control on my life. But I have to be strong and care for the children, and this year has to be all about me getting stronger and healthier. I am tired of feeling depressed, and suppressed. I miss friends, laughing, having time to just be myself.
So that's kind of life in a nutshell. Me and my little dog, Henry. Me and Thomas talking music and driving all over Newtown. Me and Daniel bonding, and having our special times. Doctors, medicines, appointments, supplies, endless paperwork, and sleepless nights. Me and Sarah. My special special beautiful daughter, who keeps me up to speed, inspires me to make You Tube videos, amazes me with her intelligence, and is there for me always. I love my children in a million different ways. They are the highlight of my 2014 because they love me, just the way I am.
January 2014. I recall that on New Year's Eve we simply ate some snacks and went to bed, pretty much the same as this year. Sarah was home most of January, just like this year, but I think she was really bored and having a rough time of it with John. She really worked on her You Tube Channel alot. It was very cold.We took Daniel to see Frozen on New Years Day. I talk about wanting to see a new doctor for my pain, and I found one at Yale. It didn't really work out though, because it was far, and hard for me to get to those appointments. I was suffering from sinus infections, the same as now. On January 30 I posted on facebook that I was sick with 101 fever. My old Dell computer died. I know I was incredibly depressed because I continued to journal about it. We saw Saving Mr. Banks, and I sobbed like a baby in the theater with Sarah. January 2014 was not an extraordinary month by any means. Just cold. Filled with the same old stuff, Daniel's medical care. Paperwork up the Kazoo. Relationship problems and anger/depression affecting us. Didn't spend any time with friends or have any dates, or honestly, I can't say there was anything all that interesting. Working when I could for AllState but wishing so badly that I could go to nursing school. The highs and lows, and alot of trips to CVS.
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| The Lindsay Foundation in Texas sent Daniel a new Convaid Stroller! |
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| Sarah started her sophomore year living on the sorority floor. |
February 2014. February. Thomas turned 13 on February 25, 2014. Daniel started seeing Adam Granger, at Summit Neurological Rehabilitation in Brookfield. He had his first assisted walking experience in years. This therapy was amazing for him, but not covered by his insurance. I had a grant from The Umbrella Club, and had sessions with Adam until the grant ran out. Henry continued to attend Dog Training classes and had his first grooming experience. There was snow. There was cold.
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| Daniel began aggressive therapy to strengthen his body and legs, March 2014 |
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| John's new 2011 Honda CRV |
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| Sarah spending alot of time in NYC, seen here outside the Metropolitan museum of art |
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| Julie meets Wendy from Ireland for the first time!! April 2014 |
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| Easter Sunday at church, Mom and Daniel |
June 2014 Thomas finished up school for the year and we went to Naples Florida for 10 days. That was the highlight of my year I think. The moment I touched the warm sand and saw palm trees. We had continued relationship ups and downs and our family was not exactly normally functioning.
July 2014. Thomas attended Danbury Music Center. I turned 48 years old. Started therapy in Newtown at Newtown Youth and family services. Struggling with sinus issues again, back and forth to the ear nose and throat about 6 times. Sarah made me a wall hanging that said do more of what makes you happy. It is one of my favorite things ever, because its true. I was really starting to shift away from the way the anger makes me feel, to trying to find myself again. I love summer. Daniel was invited to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the new playground in Newtown. Our friend Marc Pintel was the main donor to the new playground, so we got to spend a little time together and meet his son Spencer. The playground is beautiful.
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| Handy Dandy Handy Man tshirt and hat |
August 2014 Thomas started Marching Band Camp. Daniel finished up summer school. Sarah went back to college to begin her sophomore year after working for a few weeks here at Target. Money is tight, and when our washing machine broke, my good friend Peter Brady of the hand dandy Handyman Ministry helped us out. We received a new washing machine from Lew White Appliances, and some additional financial assistance.
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| Thank you Lew White Appliances in Danbury! |
September 2014. Daniel and Thomas went back to school.
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| Thomas amazed everyone in his first year in the marching band |
October 2014 We had our 22 wedding anniversary. Had a quick dinner at a place in town called "The Newtown Kitchen and foundry". or something like that. My sweet friend of 22 years, my cat, Tinker, passed away at the age of 22. Lots of doctors appointments. Still feeling very depressed but wanting to see a new doctor for medicine management. We also had a wonderful time at a New York Jets Game, thanks to our friend Marc Pintel who bought us the tickets. It was so much fun for the family!! and for Marc, who made a sweatshirt and sweatpants honoring Daniel. We loved Met life stadium.
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| Tinker Passed away at 22 years old. Oct 2014 |
December 2014. In the beginning of the month Daniel had a serious bought of diarreah and it turned out to be C Diff. He was very dehydrated, and we were in patient at Yale for several days. I was just very relieved when he was better and well enough to go home. I did all of the Christmas shopping also drove to Staten Island to get Sarah. In a storm! That was not fun. Relationships continued to be tense and difficult in the house, and John hates Christmas so I did all of the shopping and prep work. I tried having as much fun with the kids as I could. The end of the year came fast.
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| Daniel won Ugliest Christmas Sweater at Best Buddies |
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| John took Daniel skating |
I am sure there had to have been some profound moments through the year 2014. But sadly the dominance of "walking on eggshells" maintains its control on my life. But I have to be strong and care for the children, and this year has to be all about me getting stronger and healthier. I am tired of feeling depressed, and suppressed. I miss friends, laughing, having time to just be myself.
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| December 14 2014 the kids and I met our beautiful great niece at her first birthday party!!! |
So that's kind of life in a nutshell. Me and my little dog, Henry. Me and Thomas talking music and driving all over Newtown. Me and Daniel bonding, and having our special times. Doctors, medicines, appointments, supplies, endless paperwork, and sleepless nights. Me and Sarah. My special special beautiful daughter, who keeps me up to speed, inspires me to make You Tube videos, amazes me with her intelligence, and is there for me always. I love my children in a million different ways. They are the highlight of my 2014 because they love me, just the way I am.
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| our 2014 Christmas tree |
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