End of the week...

This Adrenal Fatigue nonsense isn't funny.  It affects everything.  Was doing fine until our across-the-street neighbor had a bit of drama on Wednesday afternoon played out in their yard and in the street.  I won't go into detail but to say it was troubling enough that my already weak system sort of collapsed.  And if your body can't respond to stress with adrenaline, then other things act sorta wacky.  Again, I won't go into detail.  Let's just say that when your adrenaline is low, then your body craves salt, and when your body throws off salt, then---well, you know.

I've been diggin' me some Fritos lately.

So.  I'm having to go to extra efforts to chill out.  No fussing, no overdoing it, no physically hard tasks, just self-care.  And do you know how hard that is?  Get ready to jump and do something, and very quickly realize you just can't.  Learn how to breathe again because you've gotten into the habit of breathing in a shallow manner.  Avoid negativity, because the funny thing is---adrenal fatigue isn't created by the physical, but the mental.  Constant pressures in your head result in your body crashing.

If you read about it, you find that one of the cures is pleasure.  Joy.  Having fun.  Meditating.  Taking walks.  Enjoying you life.  Who knew?  Your adrenal glands jump in gladness when you smile.  When you smile!  I'm not kidding.

What could be easier?  Or harder if, like me, you're so used to doing for others.  Try to put yourself at the top of the food chain for a change, and see how difficult that is.  Way difficult.

As a result, I sit outside at night and pray.  Leave lots of white space.  Not being spiritual here, but needy.  Wanting a blessing, but simply experiencing the everyday.  I was laying all of this out before the Lord last night, and had requests for each of my immediate family.  Then I came to and asked what the Lord would ask of me.  I can be so self-centered.  Silence.  Maybe He's only asking me to show up.  And for me, the busy one, even sitting still for that is a sometimes challenge.

A chilly, rainy Thursday

Must've thrown off a fever this morning.  Just running a tad slow.  Have spent the day in my jammies, and convinced Gary to stay home as well. Just so deeply tired, all of us, and it's been a refreshment to be idle. Lesley at Wisteria & Sunshine recommended 'Jane Austen Regrets' as a movie to watch, and it's free on YouTube, so am to the fifth installment, and am purposefully holding the remaining 3 parts until this evening, as a treat.

Love having things to look forward to.  More than the actual thing.  Have always been that way.

Anyway, fourth son wants, maybe more than any of us (if it's possible) to have a very special dinner tomorrow night for third son before he leaves for his training. He goes to some sort of weekend indoctrination at the base here Saturday and Sunday, but we think he'll be sleeping at home. Tomorrow night is the last chance to do up something special for him. Sweet that the kids are so enthusiastic.

So, after dinner, fourth son and I will go buy dinner fixings.  Going slowly.

Thinking the next few days need to be slow anyhow.

Take care.

Food for thought

As I was saying good night to the kids last night, fourth son called me back into the boys' room and asked if I'd heard about the salmon*ella outbreak.  I had.  He asked again what my symptoms had been the last week.  I told him.  He commented that they were the same as the folks who've complained of having the sickness reported by the media.  Then he asked what I'd eaten before I got so sick.  Chicken.

Well, I don't know if I've had food poisoning, but it is different from anything I've ever experienced.  I don't recommend it.  But odd if it's related to something we've eaten, because only Gary and I got sick, though this son says he felt mildly sick to his stomach last week.  I do know Gary and I sat down together and had chicken salad (homemade) the first of last week.  Everyone ate it.  Can't think of anything he and I did apart from the kids.

Not going to solve this one, and since I'm very careful about handling food in the kitchen, it might remain a mystery.

Think I'll wipe down the entire kitchen with bleach today.  Might set my mind at ease a bit.

Sunday afternoon

Having the urge to simplify a bit (note blog is a little less noisy-looking).  With still feeling under-the-weather with this stomach thing, I've had plenty of time to just think on stuff.  Watch the dust form on the furniture. See the ever-growing trail of glitter run from the girls' rooms to the rest of the house.  Stand amazed at the pile of unfolded laundry.  Roll my eyes at the collection of books I own that just grows as fast as the clutter builds.

What I really need is one good energetic day when I feel up to doing a mass clean-out.

Not happening any time soon, I don't think.

But an odd thing.  I talked to our second son late this afternoon.  He and oldest daughter have been out-of-town, with him being at a mission's conference and her enjoying a nearby mall and plenty of quiet time. Good for both of them.  Well anyway, after he and I finished our conversation, I hung up and cried.  Not sure what that was all about, but maybe partly relief that their trip is drawing to a close and they'll be coming home tomorrow.  Or maybe I'm just weary of being sick.

For whatever reason, for me at least, being ill tends to give me a different viewpoint on life.  A lighter touch, maybe.  Perhaps an ability to not (at least this week) look at my worries so directly in the face.

It'll be a slow week, but I trust one that is a refreshment for me as well.