Hives

Timmy's hives, although omnipresent, have not worsened over the past few days. A steady dose of Benadryl seems to be keeping the inflammation under control and his comfort manageable. I still have no idea what caused the flare and we will probably never really narrow down the cause. We are grateful that it is inching towards healing because he looked so miserable covered with hot red welts.

I'm impressed that Timmy has managed to stay on task with his school work in spite of the itchy bumps. He has complained, albeit justifiably, about difficulty focusing because of the itching. Frequent breaks to ointment his sores have helped to keep him comfortable throughout his school day. Or as comfortable as possible considering that he is covered with hives and has a cast on his arm.

Despite his issues, he seems to be doing well in school. His teacher emailed me a few days ago to compliment his work and work ethic since he broke his arm. I'm so proud that he hasn't used it as an excuse! Today we head back to the doctor for another round of images. I'm expecting that everything is healing properly and that he will be scheduled for another follow up in 2-4 weeks. Fingers crossed I'm right!

Hives

 My day was thrown into disarray when Timmy woke up and I discovered that he was covered with inflamed and angry hives. We can't pinpoint the cause but the result left little to the imagination. My little Hamlet was an itchy and miserable mess. Instead of easing back into the school week, I was pulling him out of class every hour so that I could ointment and monitor his hives. Considering that he was dosed with Benadryl, he did a great job staying away and paying attention throughout the school day.

Because we couldn't determine the cause of his reaction, Scott and I spent several hours deep cleaning Timmy's bedroom. We washed all of his sheets and blankets, thoroughly vacuumed the floor and wiped down his shelves. Hopefully our efforts eliminated whatever caused him to flare up. 

Between monitoring Timmy and chauffeuring Robby to and from his classes, I was busy throughout the day. I'm glad I was able to rest a little on Sunday because this week is going to be full-steam ahead through the weekend. Of course, everything depends on Timmy's health. 

Fingers crossed that he wakes up hive free!

Family Co-Op

We have been selling our FlexyFriends at weekend pop-ups with more frequency because we discovered that it is an amazing vehicle to help pay for Robby's college tuition. Although it is a lot of work, our little family business has become a true collective effort. Everybody, including Timmy, has assumed responsibility for keeping the printers going throughout the day so that we can maximize production. 

Scott, Robby and I are responsible for sales. (Timmy is not quite ready to work the table, but he is getting there.) Usually Scott and I try to split the weekends so that we each have a little break. Sometimes it works and somebody gets to rest. Sometimes we are both working. This past weekend, I was the beneficiary of a much needed break. I helped on Saturday but I enjoyed a Sunday at home with Timmy while Robby and Scott were at the mall. 

Timmy and I spent Sunday baking cookies, painting real flags for his imaginary game and taking Friend on long walks. He has become antsy since his arm has been in the cast for nearly a month. I know that he really wants to run and play. Although we keep trying to come up with engaging and exciting sedentary activities, nothing is fully satisfying my little explorer. 

Hopefully his arm heals quickly because summer boredom is going to be a real issue!

Toss The Trash

I am thoroughly enjoying having a dumpster below my deck. I've discovered something oddly cathartic about throwing trash and clutter into the dumpster from a high distance. Everything from physically throwing the items to hearing the clanking and breaking as it hits and settles into the dumpster is satisfying and motivating. With each toss I found myself searching for more items to throw away.

In the 24 hours since we received the dumpster we have probably filled it 25%. With both Scott and I psyched for cleaning and purging, it has become obvious that we are going to need at least one more dumpster. We have accumulated so much stuff!

With the exception of playing toss the trash, I stayed off my leg for the majority of the day. The sores have closed and are healing but I remain cautious. I continue to ice several times a day which provides both relief for the pain while bringing down the angry swelling that is flaring up. I am optimistic that I'll be comfortable by the weekend if I continue to allow myself the time and opportunity to heal. At this point, my staying off my leg isn't a luxury but is mandatory.

Dumpster

 Welcome to May!

Ready or not, my month of chaos and change has begun. I have no illusions about the weeks ahead. The days are going to be busy and emotional as we prepare for graduations, birthdays and retirements. As somebody who does not readily embrace change, the next weeks are going to beat me into submission. 

It feels appropriate that our dumpster was delivered yesterday. I was gobsmacked by the level of my own enthusiasm as I saw the beast being backed into our driveway. I legit giggled and squealed like a girl at a Backstreet Boys concert when I realized the amount of junk we were going to be able to purge from our home. After living here for nearly 2 decades we have accumulated an obscene amount of stuff. 

From baby toys to broken bed frames, every recess in our house has been utilized for storage. It will be really nice to get some breathing room back, even if it is in preparation for a move. I thought it might be difficult to get rid of the baby items but I'm ready. I realized that by the time I will need another pack and play I am sure the one I saved will be eroded. I'm also sure that the technology and safety features will be vastly different than my decades old version that was stowed in a dank garage. 

Scott, Robby and I immediately began to toss the junk into the dumpster. We have two weeks to purge 2 decades of crap. I think this is a challenge we are up to.

Maybe this is what 50 will be like- becoming overly enthusiastic about trash removal?

Pain

 I spent much of yesterday afternoon hobbling around my house while cursing my prosthesis. It hurts. I've lost so much weight that it no longer fits. My make-shift pads, which had been keeping comfortable and mobile, no longer seem to be working. I know that I need another socket, but the thought of adding appointments to my already overflowing schedule is overwhelming. 

Of course, not being able to walk is more inconvenient, so we will see. Ideally I would like to wait until school is over before starting the process but I am not sure I'm going to be able to wait. I've given myself a deadline of tonight to make a decision. If I can figure out another configuration of pads throughout the day, I'll be able to delay the process. But if the pain continues, I'm going to make the call. I hate the process, but I detest not being able to walk more.

The sudden heat yesterday did not help my socket issues. The temperatures spiked into the 90s which added sweat to the occasion. Between the sores, the pinching and the heat, I was miserable with every step. Hopefully today will be better.

P R O M

 This past weekend has been busy albeit quasi-productive. I needed an additional day (or two) if I were to accomplish everything that I had on my to-do list, but unfortunately the calendar does not follow my needs. I am becoming better at reducing my own expectations but I am still frustrated that I didn't get more done despite being constantly busy.

On Saturday I spent the afternoon selling FlexyFriends at a woefully under-attended event. The hours moved slow as I sat in a vending hall with fellow exhibitors patiently waiting for people who never showed up. Because the crowds never materialized, I didn't feel guilty packing up and heading home an hour early. Leaving early allowed me to help Robby get ready for prom, which was a far better use of my time than sitting around waiting for non-sales.

As Robby was dressing he remembered that we never picked up cuff links for his new shirt. Semi-panicked, he hopped onto the computer and 3d printed a pair of Batman cuff links for prom. They printed in 14 minutes and worked like a charm!  

Decked out in a new suit and cool new cuff links, Robby headed out for prom. He had a fabulous time! He danced and laughed throughout the night with his friends. I know that it was a night that he will always remember, and I'm glad that I was able to see him before he left. 

Yesterday I spent the day cleaning, working and organizing around the house. I probably would have accomplished more had my leg been cooperative, but three separate sores have conspired against my mobility. My limb is not happy right now despite being covered in blister Band-Aids.  I really don't have the time to handle limb issues.