How’s your week going? Better than mine, I hope!
Only 43 more hours, until my husband is home again… Not that I’m counting or anything! 😉
I had such great plans for this week, to celebrate the feast of St. Agnes, have a Tea for Our Lady of Altagracia, finally move on to D week, catch up the laundry, organize the school room and do a little planning for the second half of our school year which begins next week, and finish up some blog post drafts, but that was not to be…
It has been a rough week around here!
Monday I had an appointment with the allergist to try and figure out what it was that made my throat swell right before Christmas (I’ve had other facial swelling before, but never my throat) and then again shortly after. I opened the paperwork just before leaving and realized that the appointment could last from 1-3 hours depending on the testing and results. They weren’t kidding and I was very thankful I took Twinkle Toes along to help with Bud.
I had suspected an allergy to our outdoor cat, who loves to sneak in the house to scare me warm up, so I was tested for that along with a whole panel of other things and everything came back negative. So I no longer have a good excuse to get rid of the cat we get to keep the cat! (Twinkle Toes was thrilled! And, I admit, was somewhat relieved too, just because our kiddos love Ferdinand so much…) The diagnosis ended up being the same one I was given years ago: idiopathic neurotic angioedema. The two most common triggers of this happen to be stress and infection. I had a sinus infection at the time my throat swelled, though I didn’t know it at the time, so it all makes a little more sense now. It was just very scary! The good news is that angioedema is very controllable with Zyrtec and I just need to recommit to carrying it with me all the time. (I’ve gotten bad about that over the years.) This type of condition rarely requires the need of an EpiPen, though I do have a prescription for something a little stronger, should I ever have a more serious episode. Thankfully the sinus infection is gone, and as for the stress, I don’t have much of that in my life, right? lol
After the doctors appointment we went to get something to eat and to run a few errands. I somehow managed to bend a prong on my wedding ring so I dropped that off at the jewelers to be repaired, spent my Gymbucks at Gymboree, and picked up some groceries at Trader Joes. We then headed to Costco to stock up on more groceries since it had been weeks since a trip to town. What a job, but the kids were thrilled to finally have some more food in the house.
I was hoping that Tuesday would be a calm day, but no such luck. We woke up to trash all over the yard (thank you raccoons) and no water (thank you freezing cold weather). Of course the first priority was to make some coffee so I headed out to the well house to see if I could thaw the pipes with my hair dryer. Hours later I gave up and melted some ice from the freezer. Anything for a cup of coffee!
In the meantime, as we continued to try and troubleshoot the lack of water, despite it warming up outside, my Dad (an electrician) walked me through taking apart the control box so I could text him a picture.
He wasn’t happy with the results – I guess those copper heads shouldn’t have been touching and something had tripped the breaker – so he headed up and brought along some water with him! Yay!
After reseting the breaker and testing the electrical wires the pumps still wouldn’t run and we also found out the holding tank was empty – which means the pump was most likely not working for quite some time, especially considering I hadn’t been using much water on Sunday or Monday. It was then time to call the pump guys!
Around 3:30 they arrived, along with my sister to take the girls to their Irish Dance Class, since I needed to stay home. They finally discovered that the pipes coming up from the deep well were the ones that had frozen, and once they got the ice thawed and opened up the restrictor we finally had water running back into the holding tank. It also ended up being a very good thing that the breaker had tripped, preventing the deep well pump from burning out. That would have ended up being much more expensive… Anyways, by 5:30 we finally had running water in the house! Hooray!!
Today wasn’t as challenging and I finally have had some time to start cleaning house from the past couple days, get ready for the tutor tomorrow, and clean out the detached garage in the rain. Yep… the garage was definitely not on the list for today!
Of course, after weeks of cold but dry weather, it finally started to rain this afternoon right when I had the glass company scheduled to replace the cracked windshield on Sean’s car. Thankfully, with the boys help, we made enough room to fit most of the car inside and the windshield is fixed!
Sigh... I think I need a nap. And a Zyrtec! 😉
Oh my goodness! What a challenging week! I hope you are able to get a good break when your hubby gets home! God bless!
Marianne
Oh hugs{{}} and sooo much harder to deal with everything when your husband is out of town. Thank goodness you have your folks nearby!
Jessica, thank you…no really, its not like I rejoice in your trials this week but I need to see other moms pulling through what looks like my day at times. Its so real, every picture…haha…I mean…really icecubes in a pot and your cart of groceries because your kids needed food…lol..so sweet! Jessica, I hereby proclaim that…after a joyful reunion with your husband has settled in…you deserve to watch some kind of Jane Austen/Elizabeth Gaskell movie…like a light hearted Emma or Wives & Daughters…with some icecream and slippers :)Go for it! God Bless You!
oh goodness! I knew when you hadn't posted that things must be hectic. We have an acerage and whenever something happens so that we don't have water I always have a panic attack about how much its going to cost!! Once a spider died in the electric box so we didn't have water for a day and a half….I imagined all sorts of scenarios…cracked pump…dry well..etc…we lucked out and only had to pay $80 for the well guy to pick off the dead spider that was blocking the connections! Ha!
So glad tomorrow is Thursday and your husband will be home soon. Jobs with travel are so hard! Will say some prayers for you so that the next few days are smoother going for you!
ditto to what Stephanie said :o) And I LOVE that you took pictures of it all!! :o) Becky (PDX Oregon)
Yikes, i agree, night off for you. Seriously cracking up at the ice cubes, because that would have been my priority too!
I worked with a nurse that had angioedema. She would also break ot in hives with it. Anytime she was stressed at all, or sometimes for noapparent reason at all, these hives would come creeping up her neck!
When it rains, it pours right? I feel your pain – it seems like whenever my husband is hunting, that's when we have some household maintenance catastrophe. Thank the Lord for your dad!
I am glad that it all worked out. I will be praying that the next 43 hours is uneventful!
~Angela
WOW! I'm glad you found out the reason for your allergic reaction. We'll pray for a nice break when hubby gets home =)
Oh my goodness! I was wondering if all was well, when I noticed you hadn't posted for awhile :/ Praying for you & for a peaceful (stress-free!) next 43 hours!!
And to think of handling it all *without coffee* on top of everything else!!!
I know it can be frustrating (to me at least!) when we don't make progress in our school-lessons as planned (beyond survival-school!) or in things at home in general, because of other issues that come up. We are actually still in week C of Alphabet Path, too (we started last fall, like you) ~ I'm hoping to move on next week too!
Sending prayers your way ~ hope you are able to rest & enjoy your day today!!!
Poor Jessica!!! It's all so much worse than you even have explained because Sean is not there!! I'm glad it all worked out (eventually)
We get groceries at Sam's club every 2 weeks (need to today actually) and I have finally given up trying to fit it all into one car so my kids don't have to push a cart….(one memory I hated as a kid–pushing the extra cart!) so, I have to have a cart pusher with me, and actually my 6 year old, LOVES doing it! She's so good when she gets to help!! She listens good and is so excited about helping! Anyway…just saw your cart and thought of that!
Hoping your day today is a good one (and uneventful)!
Oh, Jessica, what a week!
Try to find some down time. you may not have accoplished your original plans, but you have tackled a lot, so cut yourself a break. Take care of yourself and I am glad Sean will be home soon!
I will keep you in my prayers.
Stress much???
Oh my. Reminds me of the first day babysitting the twins (giving me 5 kids under age 3) and our water heater exploded and flooded the garage…and Andrew was in Chicago on business!!
I called my dad too!!
Isn't it funny how these things seem to happen when our husbands are out of town? Mine is on a four month field assignment but gets to come home next weekend for a weekend. Since he's been gone the dryer went out and the van died (fortunately, it just needed a battery charge). This is one year I'm actually praying it doesn't snow much, since we have a longish driveway and no snowblower and I don't treasure the idea of spending the day shoveling snow!
Next week will be better–all the bad stuff was taken care of this week!
Awe, prayers for peace. I'm sorry that you've had a bad couple of days. Just think of how much happier you will be to be reunited with your hubby!
I was glad to see that I am not the only hardcore coffee addict homeschooling mother out there! LOL! The melting of the ice cubes totally cracked me up because I could see myself doing it.
Why is everything harder when hubby is away?! I'm happy you have your parents close by! You've almost made it! God bless!
Wow – you do need a nap, for sure. We lost heat last weekend but thankfully got it back before our single digit temps started here in Connecticut.
I have a theory that whenever my husband travels one of two things is bound to happen. We will all get sick or the car will break down. I'm glad I'm not alone. 🙂
I relate to those days where you look around and wonder where it is coming from next… and you have to laugh because it is so wild. I hope you get a little rest!
My week has been wild as well. You can read about it on my latest blog but we have had more bad news about my husband's health and things are not looking good. I always get a life though from reading your blog, Jess.
Not much longer now until your hubby is home! Praying your have a relaxing and blessed weekend!
I hope you are feeling well now, Jessica.
"Water, 3 litres/quarts per person per day, at least 3 days' supply" is #1 on the Emergency Survival Items list for householders, well-publicised here in NZ.
Important substance! 🙂
Valerie.
Thank you all! I've so enjoyed having your support and encouragement these past few weeks. You all are the best!
We are getting ready to head to the airport now (!!!!!!) and then we are going to take the kids ice skating this afternoon. It's going to be such a fun day!
Jessica – I used to break out in hives, and an allergist determined it was stress. I was so frustrated by that diagnosis, I needed something concrete, that was too vague and exactly what I could do to remove stress was beyond me. I know you are praying about it, but in my prayers (during that time) I was sort of chasing my tail, justifying 'why' I had to do this, this, and this and simply could not see any way to de-stress my life + I was happy. I felt the hives betrayed that happiness. It took a while, but I finally realized God was calling me to 'see' some things differently. In time the hives went away and quit their assault on me (at night, when I was relaxing, BAM full on hives that itched like the Dickens is what would happen. I'm praying for you and even though I don't have any valuable advice to deal with the reaction you are having, I wanted to at least share that another mother who goes weeks at a time parenting while her husband is away went through this too. I'm praying for you!
So sorry you had such a tough week! Praying for you and all that you are pondering and your intentions. I do know that He brings good out if all struggles and I know you will find it and be at peace.
Michele
(@ Decreasetoincrease)
I meant to comment on this post when I read it but I was on my phone which wasn't working well…..anyways, just wanted you to know I have been praying for you! You are such an encouragement to me as a mom, thank you for taking the time to share all that you do with us. I feel your frustration at such days and I hope our prayers lifted you up a bit this week!!!