An Update (Still Struggling A Bit)

Hope all my American friends had a Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday. We had a nice Thanksgiving - my parents and sister and family came over per our tradition. I always love hosting my family at Thanksgiving.

We took the above picture on Thanksgiving Day. I am smiling in this picture, but I am going to be honest - I'm struggling underneath that smile. I had to take a few deep breaths on Thanksgiving Day. Thus the reason I have been on a blog hiatus again. I just can't seem to get my mind and heart into it. Into much of anything lately.

My sinus infection is gone, but I am still having some issues with my taste and smell. I prayed that when my infection dissipated, I would just go back to normal. I haven't unfortunately. Physically or mentally. I think some the nerve endings in my nose got compromised and so sometimes I still experience moments of diminished taste and smell (like my nose gets stunned). It's scary. I am praying that with time, I will go back to normal. Of course, that is where my anxiety starts rearing its ugly head.

Will I be normal again? Is this my new normal? Could I somehow possibly get worse or go backward (which is what scares me the most)? All those "what ifs" run through my head. And then I find myself feeling frozen. Like I can't focus on anything. There isn't a crystal ball that can tell me what my future holds. I do plan to see another ENT for a second opinion, but even when I do, I don't think he can really tell me if I will completely heal. Nerves are a funny thing. Only time will tell.

I am taking things one day at a time. Anxiety is something that isn't rational - so you cannot rationalize it. I am understanding that now and trying to give myself a break. I think the holidays coming up and all that comes along with it is making my anxiety even higher. I put a lot of expectations on myself anyway (in a normal state of mind) - throw in stress and anxiety - that is a perfect storm brewing.

So I will blog again when I can. I love my blog too much to leave it for good.

I have a lot on my plate for the month of December. So please say a prayer for me that I can get through it all. Pray that my olfactory nerve endings heal completely and my anxiety eventually dissipates. I am very blessed to have friends and family that have been checking in with me to see how I am doing. And I am blessed that they are patient with me (especially my husband) and don't judge me about what I am going through.

I know there is a light at the end of this tunnel. There has to be. I need to "just keep swimming."

School Update

Look at my sweet girl. Doesn't she look grown up and beautiful? This is her school picture. My 5th grader. Her last year in elementary school - sniff. I'm not happy with her hair sticking out, but the picture was too pretty otherwise to redo. So, her hair will be a bit out of place in the yearbook. Oh well.

When I got sick, I was actually grateful that Bri was in school. If I had gotten sick in the summer, it would have been really hard for me to do things with her and she would have been sitting home a lot. At least this way, she got out of the house and her life felt more normal. 

Even sick, we made certain outfits happen.

She had a silly sock and hat day...

She had another hat day too...

She dressed up for Halloween...

 She also dressed for spirit day...

I managed to attend her school conference during one of hardest weeks of my sickness. Bri is doing awesome both academically and socially. Her reading is above grade level - which is so awesome. This from a girl who cried during 1st grade because she hated chapter books and only liked books with pictures. She has come a long way...

She works hard at homework. Not sure how this position is comfortable though...

Her teacher will send pics every so often of fun things the kids get to do during their day...

Bri went on a 5th grade field trip to a civil war/train museum a few weeks back...

My parents went to a "grandparent lunch" at school and then headed to the book fair to buy some books for Briana...

In Venture, the kids have been learning about the medieval time period. Bri made this hat in class (pictures compliments of my mom)...

 And there was red ribbon week at school. Sick or not, my girl had to participate. I don't know if they do red ribbon weeks in middle school (probably not), so this will be her last one.

Monday was camo day...

Tuesday was team day...

Wednesday was Disney day...

Thursday was tie dye day...

Friday was red, white and blue day...

One thing that has made me a bit sad is that there will be no Boosterthon this year. I always got a kick out of Bri participating, but I guess other parents didn't like having to ask for Boosterthon money. This year, the PTA just asked for straight donations (pledge drive) from parents and that was it. No frills. No stress. No hubbub. Just cash. In a way it was nice, but I did miss watching my girl run those laps.

Speaking of running, Briana had a 5K on Oct 19 for her running club...

More on the race in my next post!

Soccer - Fall Season 2016

I can't believe this is the last weekend of regular play for team Golden Eagles. Next week is the tournament. We lost three of our girls from last season and gained 5 new girls this fall season. The new girls were a little green when they started the season, but they are really doing well and have grown so much.

Yesterday, the girls played their 7th game of the U10 rec fall 2016 season and they won. Today, they play one more team and really hope to win. If the girls win today, they will be undefeated for the season (again).  

The first game was awesome for Bri ~ she made the first two goals of the fall season and she was so excited...

It was such a great game, Miss B got a slice of peanut butter pie as a dessert treat...

Since that first game, the girls have been practicing like crazy...

There have been some very early morning games...

One game, our coach couldn't make it (due to work). So, our assistant coach took over that game and Doug assisted...

Bri doesn't score every game, so when she does score, she gets very excited. During one game, she made a hard kick about a third of the field away from the goal. It was high, went over the goalie's head and hit the back of the net. It was beautiful.

And yesterday, she made another beautiful goal. She was so happy...

The girls have played well this season and show incredible teamwork...

Bri's corner kicks and throw ins are looking amazing...

Our team consists of an amazing group of girls...

Go Team Golden Eagles!

Healthy Girl

During my sickness, Briana had her yearly (age 10) checkup. She is a healthy, happy girl. Right on target - weight and height are perfect. We saw Bri's new doctor and she is fantastic. I'm not a fan of change, but in this case, it has really worked out. I miss Bri's old doctor, but I am very happy with the new doctor.

And look at this awesome pink polka dot gown. I've never had a gown this awesome. My gowns are always paper and barely cover the important stuff. Snort. I might not dread doctor's appointments so much if I got to look pretty. ;) 

Bri did get a flu shot this visit, but if I am not mistaken, the 11 year old checkup requires some other shots too because she will be starting middle school. Not looking forward to that. Ugh.

 

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival 2016

 This year, it didn't rain and there were no clouds! You might remember last year ~ it was a special lunar eclipse year and we had to look at it on the computer because of rain. It would have been much cooler to see in person! But we made it work.

The day before Autumn Moon Festival, we made our annual moon cookies...

I sort of tasted them. Bri and Doug said they were very yummy...

The next day Bri had school and running club. We did manage to go outside right before Bri went to bed and looked at the beautifully bright moon that night...

And Bri did manage to talk me into eating a cookie before bed...

It's a holiday, right!????