Missing this...

It's so sweet to receive emails from my blog followers when I've neglected them for so long now!  I've gotten a couple recently and they have meant so much to me!  I really, truly miss blogging, but I had to let something go.  Unfortunately, this release ended up being it.  Blogging is a stress release for me, but I needed to find time somewhere in my life and I couldn't justify the time writing this blog took.

The funny thing is, I've sat down to write a post here and there and have never completed them.  I think I'm going to post them anyway, after this post, even though they're quite outdated.  One talks about my summer, and one was from the end of last winter!  It's seriously amazing how much can happen in life in the course of half a year.  That's another reason why this blog was so good.  I can look back and remember the things I'd forgotten.

Right now, I'm sitting at Son #1's orchestra rehearsal.  This is his 4th year and I'm so glad he's stuck with it!  He started out as an overwhelmed little kid and now he's one of the older, more seasoned musicians.  In fact, he actually complains that the music is too easy for him!  This is kind of the only "bond" we have between us.  He DRIVES me here (yes, he has his temps already!) and we chat on the way.  I thoroughly enjoy both the rehearsals and the concerts.  This will likely be his last season because he starts taking college classes next year at high school.  If you don't know about that program, it's the greatest thing in the world!  He can take college courses FOR FREE, books, parking, and all!  With our financial situation and abundance of children, we are so excited to take advantage of this opportunity!  He's allowed to take 15 credit hours a semester, but I think that would be excessive.  I'm debating between 9 and 12, but I want to talk to his counselor about it first.  He won't have to take any more high school classes....these count as double credit!  Isn't that awesome!  I wish I'd had that opportunity back in my day!

Oh yes, and he's shaving now too.  Wowzers...he was JUST a baby!

I had a rough end to last year and a rough start to this one.  December was way too stressful for me.  I had a large quantity of family portraits to shoot (even though I tried to get everyone to get them done in November), I had multiple photo booth jobs, a funeral for a very close friend, a Christmas program at church, pictures with Santa (that I had to edit and distribute in less than a week), problems with the tenants at our apartments, and of course the regular hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping, decorating, etc.  Then on top of that, Hubby had to go to another state for work.  They were so behind that they requested that the "superstar" come help out.  It was for 5 days and they were going to "make it worth his while."  Well, 5 days turned into 10. They paid for his hotel and food, but let me say that it was NOT worth his while.  He brought home a couple extra hundred dollars.  Meanwhile, I was trying to be mom and dad to 4 kids and do all the driving, fixing things, and chores that he helps out with.  I crashed.  I somehow got a pinched nerve in my neck which sent me into migraine headaches.  I ended up in bed and couldn't handle any light or sound.  I couldn't eat because it actually hurt and I threw up.  I couldn't open my eyes and used talk to text if I needed help.  By this time, Hubby was home and I couldn't even allow him to sleep in our bed.  It was horrible.  I went to ER twice, once for a CAT Scan and once for an X-Ray.  Thank God we recently got good insurance because the bills were $5,000!  I started on heavy doses of pain meds, which totally knocked me out.  The only relief I got was when I was sleeping.  I started PT several times a week and that actually helped a lot.

I totally missed Christmas.  I didn't bake anything.  And y'all know how much I love to bake!  I only wrapped about 1/3 of my presents and had to enlist Mama and Son #2 to finish for me.  Fortunately, I bought the last gift right before I went down.  I walked over to my mom's for the first time on Christmas Day (they live right next door) for a few minutes.  I was able to half-heartedly participate in New Year's Day.  I felt like crap most of the time, but I was there.

THEN- it came time for my scheduled hysterectomy!  I couldn't cancel because I had been waiting on the surgery date for 2 months!  I had to get off all meds a week prior to my surgery, which really scared me.  Somehow, God brought me through and I was able to handle it.  The recovery was rough the first couple of days but then I crossed a major hurdle!  In fact, I would say the hysterectomy was a cake walk compared to the headaches!  I had my 6-week post-op visit today and I'm healing so well. I feel about 90%.  I haven't had a return of the headaches...only a stiff, tight neck.  I can live like that.

So, I ended up with a relaxing break for a couple of months, which I ended up really needing.  Now, unfortunately, I'm back to my normal routine and starting to get a little stressed again.  I'm not going to take on any more though.  My New Year's Resolution was to move my family up higher on the list and let other things go.  I'm pretty much adhering to it.

I had my first photo booth since the chaos and it went really well.  I made some great contacts there and am hoping for follow up jobs.  Hubby's apartments are crazy right now, but that's a post for another day (hoping there is another day).  I actually could make time every Tuesday to blog...even though the orchestra season ends in late March.  I'll try.  I really do like it.  As long as I don't have to hunt for photos to cheer up my lengthy stories, I might post more often.  I really hate putting out a post with no photos.  But that's why I usually write them and never post them.  I guess I might start breaking all the rules!  :)

Well, it's been nice catching up!  Rehearsal is over soon and the time seemed to fly for me.  Thanks to anyone who is still out there.  I appreciate every comment, every email, and every one of you. I hope you all have a great, happy day and that those in my neck of the woods don't get snowed in!  (It was -22 here with the wind chill on Sunday.)  With love~

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