Beach Time and Other Happenings

I love, love, love walking on the beach.  I love the smell of the salt air. I love the brave birds/ducks that swim in the frigid water. Sunday my husband declared a day of rest and so we went to Jasper beach. It didn't matter that we had to wear our winter coats over our hooded sweatshirts.  We bought sandwiches and chips before we got there and sat and enjoyed our picnic lunch on the beach. We walked a bit and then walked back. We got to the car just as it started to rain. I was glad to have the opportunity to be near the ocean.

Monday I did inside work (made wheat bread and cookies)while my husband cut and split next years winter wood. He stacked it in the back of the garage. He only has a little bit more to cut up! I got a call from my friend who had bought my goats. The younger one had just delivered quads. I told her I'd be over but before I could leave, a huge gust of wind carried the For Sale sign away. I grabbed my coat and ran ti get it before it landed in the stream. When I came in I knew I was in trouble. The front part of my head hurt badly. I called to my husband and he came right in and helped me out. The pain had traveled from my head down my neck and into my shoulders and back. Biofreez, pain killer and flexeril did the trick. I didn't get to see the baby goats though.
Tuesday he went to orientation for his new/former job. He was a little apprehensive but managed it quite nicely. I got a second call from my friend so this time I went. She needed help getting the tiniest one to latch on.

I was able to make that happen and gave her a few tips on what she needed to do. As I drove home I thought about how much I missed my goat herd.

I welcomed my work weary husband home and we had a yummy spaghetti supper. Then off to bed early.
Today I either was talking on the phone or having company. I loved seeing all of my sister's pictures from her trip to the Outer Banks. I could tell she had a great time. I also am thrilled to see the purple finches have turn such a bright red. The means its mating season. Spring is here.

It Was Great While It Lasted

I had an almost two week run of less/no pain. I was just getting used to it when wham-o it hit again this afternoon. My right hand feels swollen and it hurts. My chest wall on both sides is giving me sharp pain. My right leg and both knees are acting up. My feet hurt and I am exhausted! Enough already. I thought you had moved on. I managed to get two loads of wash done and lunch on the table. I was so thankful for the freezer meals we put together so my lunch offering (chili)was all ready prepared. I slept some this afternoon but I've caved this evening and taken extra meds.
My husband enjoyed being outside most of the day. He got a lot of cleanup done and brought a lot of wood across to the side yard to be cut up and stacked. 
God is good. He has taken good care of us. We are excited about the next change.

Changes

Today my husband got a job. He starts on Tuesday. I know I will miss him. We are working on that. We have the house on the market and expect to sell it. When it sells he will retire!!!!! I am excited about the changes ahead.
It will mean changing doctors. I have high hopes of finding one who can understand and treat fibromyalgia. Right now what I am doing seems to be working.
This week has been a busy week that just flew by! I have never had time fly so fast. We have moved some furniture around and made the house look more open.  I love the new look.  

Sunshine!

Our realtor came today to take inside and outside pictures. It didn't look too good earlier this morning but by afternoon the sun came and it looked really bright. The other thing that happened was that the rains took away a lot of the snow in front of the house.  I know that there is a  person who will be the buyer for this property out there. It is time for patience and to keep on keeping on.
I am feeling tired every afternoon but I think it is because of my new med schedule.  I am running with it and taking the naps I feel coming on without complaint. If my body needs more rest that I think it deserves the med will help me overcome those thoughts!
Husband and I have been setting aside time to read, talk and pray each morning and that has helped tremendously. God's plans are bigger than ours and we seek to follow Him.
It has been good while he is between jobs to spend time together. When the house sells we would like to by a house outright and have him retire.  He has been a great help with the housekeeping tasks and hasn't complained at all.

Lots of Bare Ground

The huge piles of deep snow have all but disappeared this week. The warm weather is responsible for this. My husband is still mucking out the cellar, bucket by bucket.
I have been no help because although I have very minimal pain I am very tired. I have managed to get some wash done and some meals on the table but mostly I've been resting. The chest wall pain is the only thing that hangs on. I struggle with unstoppable coughing and very dry mouth.
I am trying to get out and clean up my flower garden but it is a slow process. I want it to look nice this year as it is the first thing you see driving by.
Husband's job search has been up and down. Two places want him but start times and actual "go to work time" have not been settled. So we hang in there, continuing to trust God for the outcome.

Work, Work, Work

I've had two days without pain! Yes! But I have also had two days of fatigue. Some of the meds I have added back have caused drowsiness. My husband has done nothing but work at cleaning out the yucky cellar. I did my part but now have stepped away to let him do what he needs to do. We did a big shopping on Sunday and I had several meals that needed to be put together and frozen...crock pot ready. I am excited about this because it should help when I am plum out of ideas and exhausted to boot. We got into it yesterday morning and I did a good part of it myself. Yes, we are still struggling with working together.  This morning went better because we talked about it and each did our part. Now we have a good potion of the cellar mucked out. And 12 crock pot meals in the freezer and two meals in the crock pot for our supper!
Today has been an awesome day with temps in the 60s...wow! The snow is quickly evaporating and browns and greens are appearing.
very little pain this afternoon, just exhaustion.

Back to the Drawing Board

My former doc had set me up with enough meds to take them PRN. I have been using a lot less than what the label said and frequently had my worse times at night time. Today when I set up the pill pack for the week I decided to up some of the meds to what the label said and try that for a week and see if the night time snafu would lessen.
I am a reluctant pill taker as you can see. However I need to manage this whole thing better. I have not be taking noon meds but started today. The first change was I took a nap and slept for 2 1/2 hours.  I expect that the tiredness side effect should let up over time. We'll see if there is any cumulative effect from the days meds into a better bedtime.

Spring is really coming.

The gold finch males have regain their spring yellow!

And the feral cat is showing himself again.