Blessings and Challenges

Chaotic week -

Son had strep, missed going down to mission trip on Sunday, so went to doctor monday and got abx,
Sunday son had a mood episode that was pretty bad, got in touch with the docs and he started on Zyprexa monday morning, which really, really helped.

my dad took him down to NC (7 hour round trip drive) on Tuesday,

Tuesday I stayed home to help Mom with the kids she was watching cause she needed help and dad was taking my son down to the mission trip,

Wednesday had a full day cause I moved Tuesday clients into Wednesday,
After internship had online supervision, so the day went from 7 AM to 8:30 PM

Thursday had an easy day cause 4 clients out of 6 cancelled,
but Thursday afternoon when coming home early from internship, got message from son saying he needed to come home - was having mood and asthma problems,
So, I went down to NC with dad (he drove) - 7 hour round trip. By hour 2 had an allergy reaction migraine to the car exhaust fumes. By end of trip had severe migraine and was having breathing trouble. Came to the realization I am capped at 2 hour trips if the interstate is involved. Allergies to car exhaust fumes (prob the corn allergies) create serious problems.
Got home at 11:00. In bed by 12:30.
Homework which was due on Thursday obviously did not get done.

Friday had a long day. saw 8 clients cause one cancelled (squeezed the Tuesday people into Friday also).
Came home at 5:00. air conditioner out. So, fans and open windows (triggering a bit more asthma)
Laid down at 8:00 and was asleep.
11:00 Son comes wakes me up, once more in severe depression.
We talk about it, he takes his Zyprexa (which I REALLY think needs to be adjusted up). Finally he falls asleep. I was watching Mimic.

Dog cannot decide who to sleep beside, so he lays over my son and then starts licking me.
I am pretty sure he was eating something dead yesterday cause he REALLY needs his teeth brushed.

Still horribly hot. So I get up at 2:00 AM and turn on the ceiling fan in the hall. Air out the rooms a bit. Do a nebulizer treatment.

Doze until 11:00 AM. Hands are swollen and numb/pins & needles from not having my full bed to arrange my body while sleeping. Other joints showing signs of swelling and have pain. From allergen exposure (car trip), my skin is feels like sun-burnt and is itchy all over.

Son's throat is worse and he had to do a nebulizer treatment during the night. Will have to take him to the doctor on Monday.

Asked dad to loan me the money today to get another AC. Will have funds to pay for it in about 10 days - but cannot breathe very well in the hot room. He is going out to get an AC for me and to put it in - should be good in a couple hours.

So - chaotic week. I am sore physically, tired physically, emotionally coming to the end of my rope, and have a migraine now that is mid-level (and going to last another 24-48 hours)...

BUT - BLESSINGS:
My son is on medication that is helping (the first one in over a decade!!)
My son was willing to let me help him through his depressive episodes..
My family was able to help with all the chaos this week and everyone got or is getting what they had to have.
I have family who can help me afford what I have to have... and is willing to do so and to let me pay them back when I can.
And - my dog is going to get a bath and teeth brushed today if I do NOTHING else!

Struggles:
I am really struggling with knowing that I am limited in how far I can travel. I have LOVED taking road trips. But, it is becoming very obvious that I can only go so far before I develop an allergy migraine (and pushing that goes to one that is blinding) and have asthmatic reactions to all the fumes. This is really bothering me and is a struggle for me to accept.


Further Thoughts:
But, you know things really do work out. Those clients who cancelled on Thursday - let me go after my son at 3:30 PM instead of having to leave after 6:00.

The client who cancelled on Friday let me take care of another client who was in crisis.

The family member who works in mental health knew about Zyprexa, which may be my son's "wonder drug".

The AC did not die (it has been on its last legs for this whole summer so far) until right before I had the funds to replace it, so I felt comfortable asking for the loan from my dad to replace it.

All told, it could have been much worse, and it was not even all bad.  There are blessings even in the midst of trial and challenge.

My hope is that I have the courage to look for the blessings no matter how intense the challenges.