The girls had their first piano lesson on Monday. It went well and I also think it is good to have them sharing the lesson time. Amy gets anxious about doing things right the first time (I have no idea where she gets that) and Sarah doesn’t seem to mind at all if she doesn’t get something right away. Amy was in tears early because she couldn’t copy a clapping pattern. So Sarah took a turn while Amy snuggled with me. Then they took short turns with everything after that. Such a lesson format isn’t usual but I think it may be the perfect way for my girls to start. I am also glad that Carl is excited to help them with their practicing once we get to that point. My piano anxiety from years past was instantly back in action just about helping the girls practice so if I can get a pass I will take it!
Halloween was cold but the girls still managed several houses for trick or treating. They both decided to call it a night at the same time. Well, actually, Sarah wanted to be done immediately, but we encouraged her to do more so she wouldn’t want to go out a second time after everything was over. How can people be so small and so grown up at the same time?! Sarah was as flexible as usual about my swapping her collection for things she can actually eat. This year I even had small store-bought chocolate bars that she could have. Enjoy Life makes the chocolate chips we use and this year they made Halloween chocolate bars.
Jack-o-lanters happened the Thursday after Thanksgiving and it was definitely easier with Grandpa’s help. Amy carved a cat face and Sarah made circular eyes and a mouth.
Bunk beds! Grandma and Grandpa brought bunk beds and the girls are super excited. The miracle of all miracles was that when asked which bed they wanted each girl said a different answer so there was no fighting. Amy wanted the top and Sarah wanted the bottom. We also now have a second dresser. How did we live so long without two dressers?! No wonder the drawers of the previously shared dresser used to be so ridiculously packed.
Swimming didn’t happen Friday because that was the day all of us went to the doctor. I had been starting to think I should get us all checked for our coughs that wouldn’t go away even though we were otherwise fine or just a bit run down. Since Sarah didn’t have school it seemed like a good thing to do with our time. It turns out that she had walking pneumonia. We got her meds and headed home. Fortunately, Grandpa was visiting and didn’t have plans. I left Sarah with him and called Amy’s school to say I would be there in five minutes to get her. She was in tears because she hadn’t expected an early dismissal. I was pretty sure her diagnosis would match Sarah’s and I wanted to get her on the mend just as fast. We saw the same doctor, received the same diagnosis, got meds, and then I left her with Grandpa while I went to work. After work I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis and given antibiotics. Carl went to the doctor after work and was also given antibiotics, presumably for walking pneumonia. Sigh. Here is the lesson: If you have a persistent cough but are otherwise ok, it might be walking pneumonia! I am reminding myself that this just means we all had something now. It doesn’t mean we are doomed for the season. The fact that we all were functioning so well is perhaps a testament to strong immune systems.
Frustratingly, my cluster headaches have started again. Mildly but unmistakably. What I don’t know is if my two months with no headaches and no meds was just a fluke of luck or if it was due to my trigger point work. I did stop working on myself so regularly when I wasn’t getting any whispers. I have started working again in earnest (which means maybe 2 minutes of work several times a day) but I’m still waking with headaches. Doing trigger point work in the midst of a headache isn’t the best because everything is so sensitized. I just have to calm my whole system and do gentle massage on my head and neck and tell my feet and legs to relax. When I don’t actively have a headache or only have a whisper is when I can do the trigger point work. I haven’t started meds again yet. Weeks ago I had a real headache and thought I was starting a cluster but then I didn’t. I am hopeful that somehow I can get this cluster to calm down and go away. It is hard not to panic a bit, especially at 3am, but I am also stubborn in my hope of curing myself and not needing meds all the time.
I hope you are all well and have all the dresser space that you need.
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