Update January 4, 2025

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Saturday

Saturday I woke up feeling dizzy and nauseated. I’m not sure if I had a stomach bug or was stressed about some unknown factor. Norovirus is going around the area, but if that’s what I had, it was a very mild case.

I had promised my dad I’d take him to Barnes and Noble to buy a calendar, so we all piled into the car because I thought it would be a nice way to get IL6 out of the house. But he threw a temper tantrum in the store because we didn’t buy him a toy. Then we stopped by Best Buy to pick up a new laptop that my mother-in-law bought as a Christmas present since mine finally bit the dust. I had thought getting up and moving around would shake the sick feeling (it would have if it were stress), but I felt downright miserable on the car ride home.

At home, I slept about 3 hours, and ended up feeling groggy, but not miserable. I listened to an audiobook while cross-stitching, and then read. IL6 snuck his way into staying up late by starting to play with his LEGOs right at bedtime, making me feel bad to stop him. Sneaky sneak.

Sunday

Sunday I woke up at 5am (after falling asleep at midnight) to discover that my dad hadn’t come home. He had gone out with my sister the day before, and not come back. I texted him, as he often texts at 5am. No answer. I checked that his pill box was still on his dresser (as an indication of him planning to stay at my sister’s). It was there. He needs to take his meds on time or his stent will clot, potentially leading to sudden death. I knew he wasn’t in a nearby hospital, because I’d be getting updates from them on my phone. My mind was going over all the reasons for these events, and I couldn’t fall back to sleep. Then I got hold of him at 9. He had stayed at my sister’s house. He’d taken just 24 hours’ worth of meds with him. And he forgot to tell me.

About this time, IL6 got up and immediately started playing with his LEGOs. That took a few hours of Aaron putting a set together and then me playing with his little LEGO guys and bosses he’d built. Then IL6 played with the Switch for a few hours. (That also takes a lot of parental attention.)

I tried to bully through what felt like a cold and fatigue. But really my only accomplishment (with Aaron), was to get the basement shifted around for the inspection of the new electrical panel. Other than that, I read and cross-stitched.

Monday

Monday morning I had a video appointment with IL6’s doctor. I’d made it over a month ago to discuss testing IL6 for auditory processing disorder. We agreed eventually that we would get him tested both for auditory processing disorder and autism, as both of those could lead to difficulties speaking.

Later in the morning, I took dad to his last cardiac rehab appointment before “graduation.” We’re both excited to be done. We had another appointment in the same (rather far away) area, so we went to Perkins for lunch, then to the audiologist for a hearing aid adjustment. She turned them up 5 decibels and now he cringes when IL6 talks.

I sat with IL6 in his room until dinner, during which I continued setting up my new computer. Then shrimp for dinner, crafting with IL6, and more sitting in his room (this time reading).

Tuesday

Tuesday I went to the gym with dad – he signed me up for 12 weeks of personal training, which will start next week. I guess it’s probably a good idea to learn how to lose weight.

Later in the day, I checked things off my to-do list, as well as going out to lunch with Aaron, dad, and IL6. I got the basement tidied for the work this week, and got some work done in the livingroom. IL6 and I made a toilet monster out of pipe cleaners and duct tape. In the evening I read. At 10, IL6 and I started a readathon for 2 hours. We finished 2 books.

Wednesday

Wednesday I slept until 2 because I had forgotten to take my evening med the night before and went into withdrawal. Soon, the kids got home from their mom’s, and we all opened Christmas presents. Then they played the Switch, and Dad, Aaron, D15, and I went to Red Lobster. In the evening, I read.

Thursday

Thursday started out with a call from the asbestos removal company – they were supposed to come on Friday to remove our tiles, but had to move it out to the following Thursday because they didn’t plan well. Which is infuriating because we had it scheduled out months ago. And because we’ve already taken out our plumbing, so that means we’ll have 6 people and one bathroom for AT LEAST a week longer IF the people who are drilling can reschedule easily. And because D15 can’t sleep in her room till it’s done. And because the other people were supposed to come and drill on Monday, and now we have to move them. And those people never called me back about rescheduling, so I have to call them again. These asbestos people will not be getting further business from us.

Then, I went by the school to pick up IL6’s jacket and hat, only they didn’t have it. You see, on the last day before winter break, I brought IL6 back to school after an appointment, but the classroom was at lunch, so the administrative assistant said IL6 should stay in the office till the class was done with lunch. So IL6 took off his jacket and hat and sat at the table with the duplos. Then they didn’t bring his jacket and hat back to the classroom with him. So I stopped by to check the lost and found, but it wasn’t there. IL6 was really sad to lose that hat.

IL6 was sent home from school early with an elevated temperature, headache, sore throat, and cough. When I got home at maybe 11, he had a fever of 103.something. So I gave him a Tylenol. At about 4, I checked his temperature again, and it was 103.9. After some hemming and hawing, Aaron and I took him to urgent care. Three hours later, we had a tentative diagnosis of “flu-like virus.” He was tested for strep (negative), flu, and COVID.

In the afternoon, so after IL6’s first temperature and before his second, I took dad to his “graduation” from cardiac rehab. So, yay! That’s 3 fewer appointments a week I have to go to.

Friday

I took a break on Friday. I wrote a letter and took a nap.

I went to the gym and had my first meeting with my personal trainer. We discussed that I didn’t need to lose weight as long as I lost fat, but I would assume I could be in good physical condition without being almost bariatric, as I have been a good weight in the past.

I also read the instruction manual of my new instant pot that Aaron got me for Christmas. I used it to cook our salmon in 42 fewer minutes than it usually takes me. That was fun. Saturday, I will try out meatloaf.

M12 tried out his new drone that he got from Aaron for Christmas. He really enjoyed it. D15 went to her mom’s house for the weekend. IL5 learned to play Mario Kart.

In the evening, I read and cross-stitched.

Week’s Photos

Reading to myself

Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchett
Mr Ballen Podcast
Wrath of the Dragon King, by Brandon Mull
The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher, by E M Anderson
Mahabharata
The Week
The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth by Thomas Morris

Reading to IL5

To Bee, or Not to Bee, by Nick Eliopulos
I’m Your Biggest Phantom, by Andres Miedoso
The Witch Get Witcher, by Andres Miedoso
Diary of a Roblox Pro: Monster Escape, by Avi Avatar

D14 reading

Counting by 7’s, by Holly Goldberg

Media Completed

This is another installment of the Desmond Cole series which IL6 loves. Excellent, as usual.

And another installment of the Desmond Cole series. IL6 loved this one as well.

The fourth book of the Stonesword Chronicles is about our group of Minecrafters trying to find yet another piece of their friend. Cute book in cute series. IL6 is enjoying it.