(no subject)
This morning has been a perfect example of my favorite time of the week. I love waking up at leisure, rather than to an alarm clock, and then sit curled up on the couch next to Dave, cuppa joe in my hand, and Max & Eco cuddled up next to us. Dave & I never turn on the TV or the radio. We sit and talk and laugh for a couple of hours like this, until we begin to feel much too lazy and guilty and obligated to do something productive with our day. I treasure these types of mornings soooooo much, because I know they are short-lived. Once I start school again in January I won't be able to ease into my days so luxuriously for several months, and once we have kids, probably never again. So I revel in them now.
My back has been hurting again, consistently, which is a scary sign. Sitting at work, or at the movies last night, or even lying down in bed, it's tough to get comfortable. I squirm around constantly, trying to find a position that doesn't hurt, and my squirming probably drives Dave a little nuts, although he's sweet not to complain. I haven't had to have an epidural since shortly before our wedding, and I'm worried that it's heading in that direction again. Kickboxing is really rough on my back, although I try to protect it as much as possible, and think it does do it some good, too, by working the muscles there better than any other exercise I've ever done. So I booked a therapeutic massage today, which has always been a gazillion times more effective than any physical therapy, but makes me feel a wee bit guilty due to the cost. I sure wish insurance would cover massages here like it does in Europe. Well, in Germany at least. Simon would always go get massages free of charge whenever his back hurt. If I hadn't received a profit sharing check yesterday, I wouldn't feel as if I could afford this.
I got to talk with Jill for over an hour the other night, it's been a long while since we really got to catch up. She and Al are still loving having the kids. She says she feels as if she was born to do this and although it's been tough at times, they've never given it a second thought. They are still being totally let down by the state agency. Their agent/social worker person has continued to lie to them, misleading them through every step. The agent's entire goal is to just get the kids adopted, even if that means pushing Jill & Al into it unethically, from Jill's point of view. While they were once told the entire adoption process would take about 6 months, they are now being told it will be well over a year. The agent dropped off the adoption petition contracts, one for each kid, which were these standard-looking template forms, except that after printing them out, it appeared that she had inserted them into an old-fashioned typewriter and added text to them, all statements to the detriment of Jill & Al, mainly about reducing the state's provision for health care for the kids. Jill knows they need to hire an attorney and plans to do so before proceeding with the adoption petition, but of course money is an issue. Al's company is not doing well now and so it's now closed one day each week, and 20% of his salary has been cut as a result. And instead of giving all the employees their usual week between Christmas & New Year's off as paid holiday, the company is closing for 2 weeks, everyone unpaid. So, stress, stress, stress. But she seems to be taking it in stride. Mom & Dad are loving having their new grandkids, and Jill's been sort of in awe of Mom, watching and learning from her with the kids, with a renewed appreciation as a fellow mother, rather than from the point of view as the child. The last few times I've spoken with Mom & Dad, they have sounded happier than they have in years. They both are at their best with kids to focus on, and unfortunately, not when they are just focusing on each other.
Yech. There are several errands I should be running today, but none are critcal and this weather, and the subsequent sinus headache that I've had all week because of it, is not helping with my motivation.
My back has been hurting again, consistently, which is a scary sign. Sitting at work, or at the movies last night, or even lying down in bed, it's tough to get comfortable. I squirm around constantly, trying to find a position that doesn't hurt, and my squirming probably drives Dave a little nuts, although he's sweet not to complain. I haven't had to have an epidural since shortly before our wedding, and I'm worried that it's heading in that direction again. Kickboxing is really rough on my back, although I try to protect it as much as possible, and think it does do it some good, too, by working the muscles there better than any other exercise I've ever done. So I booked a therapeutic massage today, which has always been a gazillion times more effective than any physical therapy, but makes me feel a wee bit guilty due to the cost. I sure wish insurance would cover massages here like it does in Europe. Well, in Germany at least. Simon would always go get massages free of charge whenever his back hurt. If I hadn't received a profit sharing check yesterday, I wouldn't feel as if I could afford this.
I got to talk with Jill for over an hour the other night, it's been a long while since we really got to catch up. She and Al are still loving having the kids. She says she feels as if she was born to do this and although it's been tough at times, they've never given it a second thought. They are still being totally let down by the state agency. Their agent/social worker person has continued to lie to them, misleading them through every step. The agent's entire goal is to just get the kids adopted, even if that means pushing Jill & Al into it unethically, from Jill's point of view. While they were once told the entire adoption process would take about 6 months, they are now being told it will be well over a year. The agent dropped off the adoption petition contracts, one for each kid, which were these standard-looking template forms, except that after printing them out, it appeared that she had inserted them into an old-fashioned typewriter and added text to them, all statements to the detriment of Jill & Al, mainly about reducing the state's provision for health care for the kids. Jill knows they need to hire an attorney and plans to do so before proceeding with the adoption petition, but of course money is an issue. Al's company is not doing well now and so it's now closed one day each week, and 20% of his salary has been cut as a result. And instead of giving all the employees their usual week between Christmas & New Year's off as paid holiday, the company is closing for 2 weeks, everyone unpaid. So, stress, stress, stress. But she seems to be taking it in stride. Mom & Dad are loving having their new grandkids, and Jill's been sort of in awe of Mom, watching and learning from her with the kids, with a renewed appreciation as a fellow mother, rather than from the point of view as the child. The last few times I've spoken with Mom & Dad, they have sounded happier than they have in years. They both are at their best with kids to focus on, and unfortunately, not when they are just focusing on each other.
Yech. There are several errands I should be running today, but none are critcal and this weather, and the subsequent sinus headache that I've had all week because of it, is not helping with my motivation.