I feel like there is SO MUCH GOING ON, even though a lot of it is over:
1. Elizabeth’s tonsillectomy (over) and the resulting difficulty she’s having with articulation (not over)
2. Paul’s trip to DC, and the change in plans that had to be made because of Hurricane Irene (over)
3. Buying school supplies, and school starting (about three-quarters over)
4. Nephew being born (over as of this past Tuesday, yet ongoing because of wanting to visit and bake stuff and find a good present)
My sister-in-law’s sister took this great picture5. A visit from my aunt, and my uncle’s death after a very long and painful illness
6. Edward’s anemia, which I assume is mild or else they would have made a bigger deal of it, but I think of it at every meal
7. Our life insurance premium due the day after I write my annual check in memory of the boy who took me on my first date, who died when we were 30
8. My high school boyfriend has left his wife and two children and “wants to talk” (fat.chance.)
[snip]
10. I have a massive, advanced ear infection that I didn’t even know I had. I saw the doctor this morning because my teeth were hurting and my ears were itching, and she says there is to be no Messing Around: if after 24 hours on the antibiotic I feel any worse, I have to go to Urgent Care and not wait for Tuesday to make an appointment
11. My youngest baby starting preschool next week
12. A friend’s marriage is teetery
I’ve kind of jumbled those all up, the serious and the less-serious. They’re all jumbled up in my mind, too: I feel like I have so much to do and think about and remember! I don’t feel STRESSED, really—but I do feel WIRED. I’ve had to cut wayyyyy down on coffee, because I feel like my baseline is at the 2-cup point right now, before I’ve had a single sip.
Those all seem to fall into the at-least-kind-of-serious category, with several in the “Oh my goodness, if I knew you in real life I’d rush right over with dinner for everyone” category. I hope you are OK!
That really IS a great picture, of both you and the fresh-baked baby!
I think I would be a mess too!! That is quite a list and I think you have every right to feel a little stressed out right now!
That picture makes me smile! Yay for wee babies!
And that is a lot of stuff going on. I feel the same way right now, it seems this is a time of flux for so many of us. I can barely feel whatever I feel about each big thing because before I know it there’s ANOTHER big thing that needs my attention/emotion/worry.
That’s a wonderful picture! I love your hair.
Wow. That is a lot going on. And so many things that would have my brain constantly mulling them over.
I love that picture. I see the happiness all over your face!
Excellent picture! Congratulations on the new shiny nephew!
I’m sorry about your uncle.
#8 is…weird, and #9 distressing.
Also, my ears itch & teeth hurt periodically. Do *I* have an advanced ear infection? I always assumed it was allergies. Yikes.
Keep rolling with the punches, Swistle!
8 – o.m.g.
10 – YIKES.
Love the picture though!! Congrats on the new baby in the family!
lots to think about, but I just wanted to pop in and say that you are just lovely! That is a fabulous picture of you. The Swistle-blue shirt is a very flattering color!
This may be a strange thing to hear from an internet stranger. But, really, you have a wonderful smile!
Missing?
Yay for nephews. Great photo and sheesh, so sorry about all the other stuff. It’s overwhelming just to read about.
Well, that’s a lot on your plate. My gosh. You’ll be in my prayers. ‘Sorry so much is hitting you at once.
And that photo of you and your nephew is gorgeous. What great smiles you both have! :)
Wow, that is a lot on your plate right now!
Sending positive vibes and best wishes (and yay! for the new nephew; and double yay! for the cute picture of you both!).
Wow, that is a lot to be thinking and worrying about. Hoping for best case scenarios!
That is a LOT going on. I am sorry for all the serious stuff – the deaths and memories of deaths and health worries and the missing friend and the marriage troubles. That’s a huge amount to deal with.
I wish ineffectual internet stranger hugs were not quite so ineffectual or quite so from-a-strangery. Because I am sending them your way.
Two other things:
1. This is meant to be comforting: I had some mild anemia in high school and it passed without incident. (I suppose it CAN be serious, but it isn’t NECESSARILY serious.)
2. You look seriously great in that photo. Very pretty and happy and the baby is adorable. Congratulations on the new little nephew!
Congratulations on the nephew!! That is a very nice picture of you both =).
Good luck with all of the unpleasant things =(!
That is a *terrific* picture! I thought the same thing: great hair. Hope the bad things in your list pass without incident!
Whoa, lady, that’s a long list. Congratulations on the new nephew! Re: anemia, I’ve had it since I was little and I can tell you that while it is a bit of a pain (forget my pill and turn into an icicle! get really tired for no reason at all! etc), it is mostly just a non-issue. I hope everything goes alright with friends and family. You have a lot of friends inside the computer thinking of you!
That is one helluva lot of big-time stressy stuff going on. But I love the inclusion of that photo smack-dab in the middle of this post, such a ray of sunshine among all that difficulty.
The baby is absolutely adorable, and you look gorgeous yourself– what a great photo! :)
You are both COMPLETELY ADORABLE in that picture. OMG.
Most of that stuff: Oy.
BABY!!! New baby! Precious!
Holy crap that is a lot. Congratulations on your nephew, that really is a great picture. I’m sorry you are sick, I hope that anti biotic kicks right in. I just read that Vitamin C helps the body absorb more iron, so maybe that will help.
Wonderful picture! So sweet. Also, that is a lot going on, you’re not kidding! Eeep.
Geez, no kidding. Are you sure you don’t want to talk to the ex-boyfriend and maybe squeeze in an extra-marital affair too? :) Picture of me on my blog today, beside my skinny friend, in your honour. Wishes for serenity. Wait, that sounds more woo-woo than I am. Best luck on keeping your shit together – how’s that?
Wow! That is a lot. i hope your SIL’s L & D was is easier than her last. Hugs to you!
That is a lot of crazy things all mashed together!
Great picture of you with your adorable nephew. I can see he gets his good looks from Aunt Swistle!!
Holy geez, that’s a lot to deal with all at once. This too shall pass, right?
Love that pic of you with new nephew and your hair!!!
Cute pic!
Sorry to hear about your uncle.
I have a number 12 going on in my life right now and have never felt so helpless. So sad.
I know it’s already been said: but your smile in this photo is truly contagious. I’ve flipped back to your blog several times just to smile myself. I hope it can work it’s magic on more than just the internet world!
Two things, in no particular order because my life is all jumbled up right now too:
1.) that really is a GREAT photo. Welcome Nephewstle!
2.) I SO GET IT with the too much stuff going on all at once in several areas of life, and much of it on the heavy end of life’s stress scale! Coincidentally, I can especially relate to numbers 1 & 10 (overlapping, partly over but not really, urgent health craziness of my own), as well as 4 & 9. Some of it sounds eerily similar and others in a ‘hey! There’s someone else hanging out in this ball park too & she looks like a friend!’ sort of way. I’m sorry your list looks like this all at once. Even the good, positive, exciting things & the temporary, already improving things going on is A LOT. Stressful!
And as for all the rest, I know one thing for certain: it can’t last forever (it might feel like it though!). I find that it helps me feel less jumbled, buzzy from being wired from stress to remind myself that it *will* get better. No way it can all stay like thIs forever!
Amusingly, auto correct tried to turn my word verification to Seville. Hmm…that is sounding an awful lot like anywhere but here. Yes, please!
Oh! Did you get the email I sent you re: friends’ surprisingly new babies and names?
fairydogmother- Oh! No! Let me go see if the spam filter snagged it!
Thank you for the update! Sorry I felt so strongly that I harassed you on Twitter about it!
I want to hear more about this ex that wants to talk. That kind of stuff fascinates me!
Congrats on your nephew!
My oh MY there HAS been a lot going on.
I hope you feel better. I’m sorry about your uncle.
And congrats on Nephstle!!!
(Also: AGREE with Tess. SO CUTE.)
Your list is definitely a Too Much Stuff list. I hope things settle down soon. That is an absolutely fantastic photo of you.
Megan- I’m glad you DID: it seems to have broken the no-blogging dam!