Is anyone having a good year?

I know I've been scarce around here lately, but I have a good reason. Around Thanksgiving, my middle boy picked up a cough, which stayed with him until two weeks before Christmas, when we both picked up the flu. At length, I got over the main symptoms of the flu - and a sinus infection - but I've been left with a low-grade fever and an elevated heart rate. Lots of tests and no definitive cause later and I am tired and frustrated.

I thought 2015 was going to be an improvement over last year. I've been reading everyone's posts - what in the hell happened? Did we get a lemon year?

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"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal

Here's hoping they help you get the heart rate under control!

It's been a bit of a rough year for me so far, but at least I'm not recovering from a surprise surgery the day after Christmas! (Thanks again, Santa!)

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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

Yeah, I can join in here, as in December my youngest son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which as you can appreciate has been a major upheaval to both of us. It's taken a massive effort to learn how to count carbs in his food, and calculate the right amounts of insulin he needs and when, several times every day.

He really doesn't like having his bloods tested and giving himself injections, to the point that he would rather skip meals if his BG is within normal range.

On top of that, the school have recommended that he should be assessed for an Autism spectrum disorder! Now we have to take that long and slow process.......

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Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. - HELEN KELLER

KT -- As someone who comes from a family where diabetes is the norm, I can appreciate the frustrations that you all are going through! I hope your son can soon come to understand that this new routine is better for him.

And, as far as the school pushing to have your son assessed for Autism, maybe you should talk to your son's doctor about this. Fluctuating sugar levels do tend to have a negative effect on a kid's behavior and mental capabilities. I suspect that the folks at school aren't taking this into consideration, especially since your son was so recently diagnosed. (And I've learned from my time raising my great-nephew that some educators are really into diagnosing students with the "trending conditions". With Christopher, it was ADHD, now it's Autism.)

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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

EW: I remember noticing as Christmas approached that you were still home and doing okay, but I was afraid to say anything and jinx you!

jublke: Maybe you have a lingering opportunistic infection? Like a sinus infection? I have heard from a lot of people all over the continent that the flu this year has been brutal. So extra glad that I got my flu shot and that I managed not to get stick (I know that not every area properly guessed which flu strain would be worst this year.) I so don't need that on top of everything else. While I was down in FL last time visiting my folks, there were 2 people I wanted to see where we had to cancel, they were sick and I couldn't bring illness into my parents' house with both of them having cancer issues. I confess that I also just didn't want to get sick, myself!

DT: *hugs* It's not a competition and there is no shortage of sympathy to go around! I got to do a gastroscopy along with my colonoscopy when they were looking for bleeds. Be gentle with yourself (that goes for everyone).

KT: Yeah you've been having a h#ll of a time, haven't you? :/ I'm glad to hear that all the necessary professionals will be there for the meeting. That will give you a broader perspective and will involve hopefully a lot of smart questions. Diabetes runs in my family too, though it's type 2. And we run more toward ADD and ADHD than autism. I can certainly verify that when my dad's blood sugar is ridiculously high it's like he has dementia.

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Eagle Whisperer

Still dealing with the same issues & still frustrated.

How's everyone else doing? Is it too early to start hoping for a better 2016?

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"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal

Well, after lots of stress and phone calls and everything else I finally have a temporary, emergency US passport that's good for 3 months from the US consulate in Vancouver. They were afraid to try to get my main passport expedited because of all of the snowstorms out east, it's been slowing everything down and might have resulted in me missing my flight. Since my father is still dying that would be bad.

Now that that big stress is dealt with I'm dealing with the rest of my to do list. Have gotten new jeans that have actual pockets (I've been wearing my backup jeans that have the fake pockets but I'm not using those for travel, what a pain that would be), I picked up a present for someone, got a new travel backpack since the one I was using is just way too bulky (it's Rob's and definitely sized for a man, not a 5'2" woman, and seems to assume you're carrying everything you own) ...

I have a dr's appointment to get my prescriptions topped up so I can bring 3 months' worth down (I have no idea how long I'll be in FL, ugh), and so I can ask what he suggests I do about getting my 2nd depo provera shot, which I'll need in about 2 months. (The point of the depo provera is to see if my hemoglobin numbers go up since they're so chronically low.) Talk about inconvenient timing.

Unfortunately as I remove the pre-trip issues that frees me up to think more about what's coming. My dad has been sick for a long, long time but somehow knowing the end is coming still feels startling.

There's been some personal upheaval too. I've had to cut off a friendship because the guy is involved with some noxious people in a way that I won't tolerate (it involves gamergate).

I feel like I'm forgetting some things. The passport drama is over at least, as far as removing any worries that I won't be able to get into the US. I just have some non-simple decisions to make now about when and where to get the emergency one exchanged for the real one. I'm trying not to focus on being agitated about not knowing when I'm coming back or wondering how my mother is going to handle my father's death, etc. What happens there will happen

I'm sorry you're still dealing with the stuff you're dealing with. Hopefully someone is doing better!

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Eagle Whisperer

Wanna give us an update on you, jublke?

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Eagle Whisperer