Re: Jennie G...please read.

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but then

my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast, make

our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone. I

hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to pack

and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This was

my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex and I

separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over a

months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much for me

even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't you.

It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any one

little thing could have done it.

Jennie

--- In , " Jan =^..^= " <azmomacat2@y...>

wrote:

> Dear Jennie G....

> I am responsible for your feelings that were last posted and I do

apologize.

> This is a place that everyone comes to as a source of information,

checking on friends, support, and most importantly, for relief from

pain. I was in pain when I read your post and being in pain, it did

evoke a response that was not normal for me. For my unthought out

response, I am sorry.

> I can empathize with you on several counts. I was a single mother

who raised two daughters (one who had seizure disorder and learning

disabilities) mostly by myself. I felt alone most of the time even

though I did have some emotional support from my friends. I had a

good job (with telephone company) but even so there were many times

when the finances were tough. There were times I cried myself to

sleep (if I was able to sleep because of the pain)as I just did not

think I could make it anymore but I always got up in the

morning, " put on a happy face " , and went out to face the world as

a " normal " person. You see, in those days, the pain was all in my

head and I had no one to even talk to about it. A " happy face " had

to be maintained in order to get through the day and be there for my

girls. On moving....I could tell you a tale there and a current

one. I just completed a move from San Diego to the Phoenix area and

was physically unable to do most of the packing and moving by

> myself. I had to hire a friend's teenage daughter to help me to

pack....wish I had her now to help me unpack. My house was supposed

to have been ready in May...wasn't. My first load of things to come

over in May went into storage (still there as garage has not even

been poured yet). Brought the final things over on the 26th of June

and some of it is still in storage. Since then, I have had two major

bouts with infection throughout my body that had to be dealt with and

an ongoing Fibro flare. I sit in the middle of boxes and bins and do

a little each day....some more than others. I have many things to be

disposed of because of almost a lifetime of collecting " things " and

because of being ill for several months prior to the move was not

able to sort things out as I would have liked. I also have to put on

the " happy face " here because I am raising a grandson (who will be 10

next week) and have nearly all his life. I am his taxi driver also

as I keep him active with friends,

> church, and scouts. He is so understanding with me. This week,

in the unpacking, he found a massager I have that I use for my back

with a long handle. He came to me and asked if he could massage my

back and has been doing it now every evening. He is my in home

support system.

>

> This group, or family as I like to call everyone, has been more

help to me than they could possibly know. I appreciate them all and

their support for me. I know I can always draw on their strength. I

hope you will find this RA family the same for you.

>

> Again, please forgive me for my upsetting you.

>

> Jan in AZ =^..^=

>

>

>

> ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go,

we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me

smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

>

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but then

my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast, make

our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone. I

hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to pack

and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This was

my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex and I

separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over a

months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much for me

even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't you.

It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any one

little thing could have done it.

Jennie

> Dear Jennie G....

> I am responsible for your feelings that were last posted and I do

apologize.

> This is a place that everyone comes to as a source of information,

checking on friends, support, and most importantly, for relief from

pain. I was in pain when I read your post and being in pain, it did

evoke a response that was not normal for me. For my unthought out

response, I am sorry.

> I can empathize with you on several counts. I was a single mother

who raised two daughters (one who had seizure disorder and learning

disabilities) mostly by myself. I felt alone most of the time even

though I did have some emotional support from my friends. I had a

good job (with telephone company) but even so there were many times

when the finances were tough. There were times I cried myself to

sleep (if I was able to sleep because of the pain)as I just did not

think I could make it anymore but I always got up in the

morning, " put on a happy face " , and went out to face the world as

a " normal " person. You see, in those days, the pain was all in my

head and I had no one to even talk to about it. A " happy face " had

to be maintained in order to get through the day and be there for my

girls. On moving....I could tell you a tale there and a current

one. I just completed a move from San Diego to the Phoenix area and

was physically unable to do most of the packing and moving by

> myself. I had to hire a friend's teenage daughter to help me to

pack....wish I had her now to help me unpack. My house was supposed

to have been ready in May...wasn't. My first load of things to come

over in May went into storage (still there as garage has not even

been poured yet). Brought the final things over on the 26th of June

and some of it is still in storage. Since then, I have had two major

bouts with infection throughout my body that had to be dealt with and

an ongoing Fibro flare. I sit in the middle of boxes and bins and do

a little each day....some more than others. I have many things to be

disposed of because of almost a lifetime of collecting " things " and

because of being ill for several months prior to the move was not

able to sort things out as I would have liked. I also have to put on

the " happy face " here because I am raising a grandson (who will be 10

next week) and have nearly all his life. I am his taxi driver also

as I keep him active with friends,

> church, and scouts. He is so understanding with me. This week,

in the unpacking, he found a massager I have that I use for my back

with a long handle. He came to me and asked if he could massage my

back and has been doing it now every evening. He is my in home

support system.

>

> This group, or family as I like to call everyone, has been more

help to me than they could possibly know. I appreciate them all and

their support for me. I know I can always draw on their strength. I

hope you will find this RA family the same for you.

>

> Again, please forgive me for my upsetting you.

>

> Jan in AZ =^..^=

>

>

>

> ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go,

we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me

smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

>

[Guest guest]

Jennie,

I know exactly how you feel. That's what I meant when I said I

would work a little each day on the bins and boxes....and that

somedays I do a little more. The truth is that some days the

fatigue and pain wins and all I can muster up is the strength to

look at them.

In a sense, this is like a second move this year for me. My

grandson and I lived out of boxes and suitcases while he finished

school and we were waiting on the house over here. A very good

friend and her husband let us have one of their bedrooms for over 2

1/2 months. We did not take meals with them, however, from time to

time, I did fix a meal for us all.

It is hard enough to raise a child in this world let alone add in

the factors of being alone and in pain.

I do quite a bit of running in the car to get things done...the car

being the second most comfortable place for me but I do pay for it

at the end of the day.

On getting things done....first of all, you are a woman and I think

it has been ingrained in us we are the ones who make it

happen...don't get the credit...but we are the ones who keep going

and going. Also, I have mentioned this before, the ones in my

opinion that have been struck (notice I didn't use the words " not

down " ) with auto-immune diseases....have always been " A " type

personalities for the want of a better description. To me, we are

typically people who have worked and worked hard and try to do

everything and are just crushed emotionally when we can't perform

even the smallest things in life that to someone else would be

minute. It is hard to let go of that nature where things " have to

be done " at a certain time.....period. A famous quote is " it won't

be important in a hundred years " certainly applies with the things

that need to be done. Choose wisely from your bank of strengths and

do only what you can do without harming yourself and you will always

have a reserve to fall back on when the extra effort is needed. It

took me a long time to realize all the many things that overwhelm me

happen to " normal " folk besides.....though my things seem to come in

bunches and could make them harder to deal with because of my

illnesses.

Anything I can do to help you get through the mazes of everyday life

for a single parent mom who just happens to have an auto-immune

disease...please let me know. I will help in anyway I can.

Jan in AZ =^..^=

> Jan,

>

> Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

> lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but

then

> my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast,

make

> our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone. I

> hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

>

> I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

> unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to pack

> and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This

was

> my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex

and I

> separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over a

> months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

> week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

> preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much for

me

> even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

>

> I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't

you.

> It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any one

> little thing could have done it.

>

> Jennie

>

> >

> > ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we

go,

> we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> > ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made

me

> smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

> >

[Guest guest]

Jennie,

I know exactly how you feel. That's what I meant when I said I

would work a little each day on the bins and boxes....and that

somedays I do a little more. The truth is that some days the

fatigue and pain wins and all I can muster up is the strength to

look at them.

In a sense, this is like a second move this year for me. My

grandson and I lived out of boxes and suitcases while he finished

school and we were waiting on the house over here. A very good

friend and her husband let us have one of their bedrooms for over 2

1/2 months. We did not take meals with them, however, from time to

time, I did fix a meal for us all.

It is hard enough to raise a child in this world let alone add in

the factors of being alone and in pain.

I do quite a bit of running in the car to get things done...the car

being the second most comfortable place for me but I do pay for it

at the end of the day.

On getting things done....first of all, you are a woman and I think

it has been ingrained in us we are the ones who make it

happen...don't get the credit...but we are the ones who keep going

and going. Also, I have mentioned this before, the ones in my

opinion that have been struck (notice I didn't use the words " not

down " ) with auto-immune diseases....have always been " A " type

personalities for the want of a better description. To me, we are

typically people who have worked and worked hard and try to do

everything and are just crushed emotionally when we can't perform

even the smallest things in life that to someone else would be

minute. It is hard to let go of that nature where things " have to

be done " at a certain time.....period. A famous quote is " it won't

be important in a hundred years " certainly applies with the things

that need to be done. Choose wisely from your bank of strengths and

do only what you can do without harming yourself and you will always

have a reserve to fall back on when the extra effort is needed. It

took me a long time to realize all the many things that overwhelm me

happen to " normal " folk besides.....though my things seem to come in

bunches and could make them harder to deal with because of my

illnesses.

Anything I can do to help you get through the mazes of everyday life

for a single parent mom who just happens to have an auto-immune

disease...please let me know. I will help in anyway I can.

Jan in AZ =^..^=

> Jan,

>

> Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

> lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but

then

> my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast,

make

> our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone. I

> hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

>

> I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

> unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to pack

> and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This

was

> my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex

and I

> separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over a

> months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

> week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

> preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much for

me

> even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

>

> I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't

you.

> It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any one

> little thing could have done it.

>

> Jennie

>

> >

> > ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we

go,

> we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> > ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made

me

> smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

> >

[Guest guest]

> > Dear Jennie G....

> > I am responsible for your feelings that were last posted and I

do

> apologize.

> > This is a place that everyone comes to as a source of

information,

> checking on friends, support, and most importantly, for relief

from

> pain. I was in pain when I read your post and being in pain, it

did

> evoke a response that was not normal for me. For my unthought out

> response, I am sorry.

> > I can empathize with you on several counts. I was a single

mother

> who raised two daughters (one who had seizure disorder and

learning

> disabilities) mostly by myself. I felt alone most of the time

even

> though I did have some emotional support from my friends. I had a

> good job (with telephone company) but even so there were many

times

> when the finances were tough. There were times I cried myself to

> sleep (if I was able to sleep because of the pain)as I just did

not

> think I could make it anymore but I always got up in the

> morning, " put on a happy face " , and went out to face the world as

> a " normal " person. You see, in those days, the pain was all in my

> head and I had no one to even talk to about it. A " happy face "

had

> to be maintained in order to get through the day and be there for

my

> girls. On moving....I could tell you a tale there and a current

> one. I just completed a move from San Diego to the Phoenix area

and

> was physically unable to do most of the packing and moving by

> > myself. I had to hire a friend's teenage daughter to help me

to

> pack....wish I had her now to help me unpack. My house was

supposed

> to have been ready in May...wasn't. My first load of things to

come

> over in May went into storage (still there as garage has not even

> been poured yet). Brought the final things over on the 26th of

June

> and some of it is still in storage. Since then, I have had two

major

> bouts with infection throughout my body that had to be dealt with

and

> an ongoing Fibro flare. I sit in the middle of boxes and bins and

do

> a little each day....some more than others. I have many things to

be

> disposed of because of almost a lifetime of collecting " things "

and

> because of being ill for several months prior to the move was not

> able to sort things out as I would have liked. I also have to put

on

> the " happy face " here because I am raising a grandson (who will be

10

> next week) and have nearly all his life. I am his taxi driver

also

> as I keep him active with friends,

> > church, and scouts. He is so understanding with me. This

week,

> in the unpacking, he found a massager I have that I use for my

back

> with a long handle. He came to me and asked if he could massage

my

> back and has been doing it now every evening. He is my in home

> support system.

> >

> > This group, or family as I like to call everyone, has been more

> help to me than they could possibly know. I appreciate them all

and

> their support for me. I know I can always draw on their

strength. I

> hope you will find this RA family the same for you.

> >

> > Again, please forgive me for my upsetting you.

> >

> > Jan in AZ =^..^=

> >

> >

> >

> > ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we

go,

> we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> > ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made

me

> smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

> >

[Guest guest]

> > Dear Jennie G....

> > I am responsible for your feelings that were last posted and I

do

> apologize.

> > This is a place that everyone comes to as a source of

information,

> checking on friends, support, and most importantly, for relief

from

> pain. I was in pain when I read your post and being in pain, it

did

> evoke a response that was not normal for me. For my unthought out

> response, I am sorry.

> > I can empathize with you on several counts. I was a single

mother

> who raised two daughters (one who had seizure disorder and

learning

> disabilities) mostly by myself. I felt alone most of the time

even

> though I did have some emotional support from my friends. I had a

> good job (with telephone company) but even so there were many

times

> when the finances were tough. There were times I cried myself to

> sleep (if I was able to sleep because of the pain)as I just did

not

> think I could make it anymore but I always got up in the

> morning, " put on a happy face " , and went out to face the world as

> a " normal " person. You see, in those days, the pain was all in my

> head and I had no one to even talk to about it. A " happy face "

had

> to be maintained in order to get through the day and be there for

my

> girls. On moving....I could tell you a tale there and a current

> one. I just completed a move from San Diego to the Phoenix area

and

> was physically unable to do most of the packing and moving by

> > myself. I had to hire a friend's teenage daughter to help me

to

> pack....wish I had her now to help me unpack. My house was

supposed

> to have been ready in May...wasn't. My first load of things to

come

> over in May went into storage (still there as garage has not even

> been poured yet). Brought the final things over on the 26th of

June

> and some of it is still in storage. Since then, I have had two

major

> bouts with infection throughout my body that had to be dealt with

and

> an ongoing Fibro flare. I sit in the middle of boxes and bins and

do

> a little each day....some more than others. I have many things to

be

> disposed of because of almost a lifetime of collecting " things "

and

> because of being ill for several months prior to the move was not

> able to sort things out as I would have liked. I also have to put

on

> the " happy face " here because I am raising a grandson (who will be

10

> next week) and have nearly all his life. I am his taxi driver

also

> as I keep him active with friends,

> > church, and scouts. He is so understanding with me. This

week,

> in the unpacking, he found a massager I have that I use for my

back

> with a long handle. He came to me and asked if he could massage

my

> back and has been doing it now every evening. He is my in home

> support system.

> >

> > This group, or family as I like to call everyone, has been more

> help to me than they could possibly know. I appreciate them all

and

> their support for me. I know I can always draw on their

strength. I

> hope you will find this RA family the same for you.

> >

> > Again, please forgive me for my upsetting you.

> >

> > Jan in AZ =^..^=

> >

> >

> >

> > ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we

go,

> we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> > ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made

me

> smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

> >

[Guest guest]

Jan,

In many ways I feel so lucky and I hate to complain. I've been on a

roller coaster since last year when I was diagnosed and told my ex I

wanted a divorce in the same week. I keep thinking the roller

coaster is about to come to a stop and then there is always one more

thing just around the corner that I wasn't prepared for. I'm

starting to think this roller coaster I am in is called Life. Even

though things are harder now with RA and all the other things going

on, I feel that before this all happened to me I wasn't living my

life. I was just letting it pass me by.

My daughter is with her dad 1/2 the time, something that I both hate

and that I know is good. It gives me a break because I can do

laundry and grocery shopping and clean and run errands when she is

with him - and rest. But I hate feeling like a part time mom. I

know that being with both her parents is what is best for her, which

is why I agreed to 50/50 custody. But it's hard not to feel like my

limitations have something to do with it, because I would have a

harder time if I had her all the time. I know there are mothers out

there that have it much much harder than I have it. And I am so

lucky to have her in my life, she really is an amazing little girl.

I think she could tell I was upset this morning because she didn't

complain about getting up, getting dressed, eating breakfast or

brushing her teeth - and she kept sharing her granola bar with me.

She said " mommy, I've broken my granola bar into pieces and we can

both have some. " Then, because she shared it she wanted a second

one, and she broke that one up and shared it too.

Ok, so I'm feel less sorry for myself now. Maybe I'll unpack a box

tonight.

Jennie

--- In , " azmomacat2 " <azmomacat2@y...>

wrote:

> Jennie,

>

> I know exactly how you feel. That's what I meant when I said I

> would work a little each day on the bins and boxes....and that

> somedays I do a little more. The truth is that some days the

> fatigue and pain wins and all I can muster up is the strength to

> look at them.

> In a sense, this is like a second move this year for me. My

> grandson and I lived out of boxes and suitcases while he finished

> school and we were waiting on the house over here. A very good

> friend and her husband let us have one of their bedrooms for over 2

> 1/2 months. We did not take meals with them, however, from time to

> time, I did fix a meal for us all.

> It is hard enough to raise a child in this world let alone add in

> the factors of being alone and in pain.

> I do quite a bit of running in the car to get things done...the car

> being the second most comfortable place for me but I do pay for it

> at the end of the day.

> On getting things done....first of all, you are a woman and I think

> it has been ingrained in us we are the ones who make it

> happen...don't get the credit...but we are the ones who keep going

> and going. Also, I have mentioned this before, the ones in my

> opinion that have been struck (notice I didn't use the words " not

> down " ) with auto-immune diseases....have always been " A " type

> personalities for the want of a better description. To me, we are

> typically people who have worked and worked hard and try to do

> everything and are just crushed emotionally when we can't perform

> even the smallest things in life that to someone else would be

> minute. It is hard to let go of that nature where things " have to

> be done " at a certain time.....period. A famous quote is " it won't

> be important in a hundred years " certainly applies with the things

> that need to be done. Choose wisely from your bank of strengths

and

> do only what you can do without harming yourself and you will

always

> have a reserve to fall back on when the extra effort is needed. It

> took me a long time to realize all the many things that overwhelm

me

> happen to " normal " folk besides.....though my things seem to come

in

> bunches and could make them harder to deal with because of my

> illnesses.

>

> Anything I can do to help you get through the mazes of everyday

life

> for a single parent mom who just happens to have an auto-immune

> disease...please let me know. I will help in anyway I can.

>

> Jan in AZ =^..^=

>

> --- In , " Jennie G " <xponder70@y...>

wrote:

> > Jan,

> >

> > Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

> > lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but

> then

> > my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast,

> make

> > our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone.

I

> > hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

> >

> > I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

> > unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to

pack

> > and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This

> was

> > my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex

> and I

> > separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over

a

> > months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

> > week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

> > preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much

for

> me

> > even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

> >

> > I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't

> you.

> > It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any

one

> > little thing could have done it.

> >

> > Jennie

> >

>

> > >

> > > ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we

> go,

> > we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> > > ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've

made

> me

> > smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

> > >

[Guest guest]

Jan,

In many ways I feel so lucky and I hate to complain. I've been on a

roller coaster since last year when I was diagnosed and told my ex I

wanted a divorce in the same week. I keep thinking the roller

coaster is about to come to a stop and then there is always one more

thing just around the corner that I wasn't prepared for. I'm

starting to think this roller coaster I am in is called Life. Even

though things are harder now with RA and all the other things going

on, I feel that before this all happened to me I wasn't living my

life. I was just letting it pass me by.

My daughter is with her dad 1/2 the time, something that I both hate

and that I know is good. It gives me a break because I can do

laundry and grocery shopping and clean and run errands when she is

with him - and rest. But I hate feeling like a part time mom. I

know that being with both her parents is what is best for her, which

is why I agreed to 50/50 custody. But it's hard not to feel like my

limitations have something to do with it, because I would have a

harder time if I had her all the time. I know there are mothers out

there that have it much much harder than I have it. And I am so

lucky to have her in my life, she really is an amazing little girl.

I think she could tell I was upset this morning because she didn't

complain about getting up, getting dressed, eating breakfast or

brushing her teeth - and she kept sharing her granola bar with me.

She said " mommy, I've broken my granola bar into pieces and we can

both have some. " Then, because she shared it she wanted a second

one, and she broke that one up and shared it too.

Ok, so I'm feel less sorry for myself now. Maybe I'll unpack a box

tonight.

Jennie

> > Jan,

> >

> > Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

> > lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but

> then

> > my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast,

> make

> > our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone.

I

> > hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

> >

> > I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

> > unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to

pack

> > and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This

> was

> > my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex

> and I

> > separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over

a

> > months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

> > week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

> > preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much

for

> me

> > even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

> >

> > I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't

> you.

> > It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any

one

> > little thing could have done it.

> >

> > Jennie

> >

>

> > >

> > > ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we

> go,

> > we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> > > ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've

made

> me

> > smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

> > >

[Guest guest]

Is there a local church that might have volunteers or maybe the United Way or

something? Don't be afraid to ask, you might be surprised at how much help

might be available. You would help people if you could. Also, call a local

church youth group or Catholic or Lutheran school. In our area the kids always

have service projects they have to do. I'm sure they would be happy to assist

you. It's worth the call.

Becky

[ ] Re: Jennie G...please read.

Jan,

Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but then

my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast, make

our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone. I

hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to pack

and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This was

my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex and I

separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over a

months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much for me

even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't you.

It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any one

little thing could have done it.

Jennie

> Dear Jennie G....

> I am responsible for your feelings that were last posted and I do

apologize.

> This is a place that everyone comes to as a source of information,

checking on friends, support, and most importantly, for relief from

pain. I was in pain when I read your post and being in pain, it did

evoke a response that was not normal for me. For my unthought out

response, I am sorry.

> I can empathize with you on several counts. I was a single mother

who raised two daughters (one who had seizure disorder and learning

disabilities) mostly by myself. I felt alone most of the time even

though I did have some emotional support from my friends. I had a

good job (with telephone company) but even so there were many times

when the finances were tough. There were times I cried myself to

sleep (if I was able to sleep because of the pain)as I just did not

think I could make it anymore but I always got up in the

morning, " put on a happy face " , and went out to face the world as

a " normal " person. You see, in those days, the pain was all in my

head and I had no one to even talk to about it. A " happy face " had

to be maintained in order to get through the day and be there for my

girls. On moving....I could tell you a tale there and a current

one. I just completed a move from San Diego to the Phoenix area and

was physically unable to do most of the packing and moving by

> myself. I had to hire a friend's teenage daughter to help me to

pack....wish I had her now to help me unpack. My house was supposed

to have been ready in May...wasn't. My first load of things to come

over in May went into storage (still there as garage has not even

been poured yet). Brought the final things over on the 26th of June

and some of it is still in storage. Since then, I have had two major

bouts with infection throughout my body that had to be dealt with and

an ongoing Fibro flare. I sit in the middle of boxes and bins and do

a little each day....some more than others. I have many things to be

disposed of because of almost a lifetime of collecting " things " and

because of being ill for several months prior to the move was not

able to sort things out as I would have liked. I also have to put on

the " happy face " here because I am raising a grandson (who will be 10

next week) and have nearly all his life. I am his taxi driver also

as I keep him active with friends,

> church, and scouts. He is so understanding with me. This week,

in the unpacking, he found a massager I have that I use for my back

with a long handle. He came to me and asked if he could massage my

back and has been doing it now every evening. He is my in home

support system.

>

> This group, or family as I like to call everyone, has been more

help to me than they could possibly know. I appreciate them all and

their support for me. I know I can always draw on their strength. I

hope you will find this RA family the same for you.

>

> Again, please forgive me for my upsetting you.

>

> Jan in AZ =^..^=

>

>

>

> ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go,

we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me

smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

>

[Guest guest]

Is there a local church that might have volunteers or maybe the United Way or

something? Don't be afraid to ask, you might be surprised at how much help

might be available. You would help people if you could. Also, call a local

church youth group or Catholic or Lutheran school. In our area the kids always

have service projects they have to do. I'm sure they would be happy to assist

you. It's worth the call.

Becky

[ ] Re: Jennie G...please read.

Jan,

Thank you for your post. I started this day with makeup on and I

lost 1/2 of it with my earlier post. I was going to reapply but then

my daugther woke up so I had to get her ready, make breakfast, make

our lunches, apply sunscreen, etc. Now the rest of it is gone. I

hate crying at work but I thank you very much for your kind words.

I sort of look at my boxes or think about them and contemplate

unpacking them. It took so much energy to motivate myself to pack

and move, I have little motivation left to get settled in. This was

my second move in less than a year. The first being when my ex and I

separated. That time I moved things to my apartment slowly over a

months time. This time I had to pack all by myself and move in a

week and on top of that I had to change my daughter to a new

preschool, new pediatrician, etc. It would have been too much for me

even without the RA. I still can't believe I got it done.

I surprised myself at how emotional I got earlier. It wasn't you.

It was all the other stress I have going on in my life and any one

little thing could have done it.

Jennie

> Dear Jennie G....

> I am responsible for your feelings that were last posted and I do

apologize.

> This is a place that everyone comes to as a source of information,

checking on friends, support, and most importantly, for relief from

pain. I was in pain when I read your post and being in pain, it did

evoke a response that was not normal for me. For my unthought out

response, I am sorry.

> I can empathize with you on several counts. I was a single mother

who raised two daughters (one who had seizure disorder and learning

disabilities) mostly by myself. I felt alone most of the time even

though I did have some emotional support from my friends. I had a

good job (with telephone company) but even so there were many times

when the finances were tough. There were times I cried myself to

sleep (if I was able to sleep because of the pain)as I just did not

think I could make it anymore but I always got up in the

morning, " put on a happy face " , and went out to face the world as

a " normal " person. You see, in those days, the pain was all in my

head and I had no one to even talk to about it. A " happy face " had

to be maintained in order to get through the day and be there for my

girls. On moving....I could tell you a tale there and a current

one. I just completed a move from San Diego to the Phoenix area and

was physically unable to do most of the packing and moving by

> myself. I had to hire a friend's teenage daughter to help me to

pack....wish I had her now to help me unpack. My house was supposed

to have been ready in May...wasn't. My first load of things to come

over in May went into storage (still there as garage has not even

been poured yet). Brought the final things over on the 26th of June

and some of it is still in storage. Since then, I have had two major

bouts with infection throughout my body that had to be dealt with and

an ongoing Fibro flare. I sit in the middle of boxes and bins and do

a little each day....some more than others. I have many things to be

disposed of because of almost a lifetime of collecting " things " and

because of being ill for several months prior to the move was not

able to sort things out as I would have liked. I also have to put on

the " happy face " here because I am raising a grandson (who will be 10

next week) and have nearly all his life. I am his taxi driver also

as I keep him active with friends,

> church, and scouts. He is so understanding with me. This week,

in the unpacking, he found a massager I have that I use for my back

with a long handle. He came to me and asked if he could massage my

back and has been doing it now every evening. He is my in home

support system.

>

> This group, or family as I like to call everyone, has been more

help to me than they could possibly know. I appreciate them all and

their support for me. I know I can always draw on their strength. I

hope you will find this RA family the same for you.

>

> Again, please forgive me for my upsetting you.

>

> Jan in AZ =^..^=

>

>

>

> ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go,

we take a little of each other everywhere. " ~

> ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me

smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

>