A Little Help From Our Friends

As a lot of you know, my family has been going through a difficult time lately. John has this crazy pain in his abdomen that brings him to his knees many times a day, and leaves a lingering pain 24/7. He finds it hard to do almost anything, though he tries and tries and it leaves him in even more pain. His doctor finally put him on disability on Thursday for at least 4 weeks. Luckily, we both work at an amazing agency that just so happens to work with people with disabilities, so, there's a lot of sympathy and good benefits. He will continue to receive full pay while on disability, as he did the last 3 times he has been on disability in the last 18 months (3 hospitalizations).

I have been trying to keep up on my own, but, man, it's hard. I had an insane month at work due to changing jobs. I haven't seen much of my daughter because of working so much. I have been so exhausted that I have just basically let all housework go. Now, I grant you, for me, that still means my house is pretty clean. I am fastidious, I admit it. "Hi, my name is Kami, and I'm obsessively organized." I manage to keep all of G's toy picked up most of the time, or at least picked up enough so they don't take over the house. I literally can't sit down until any and all "piles" of stuff have been put away. I HATE! piles. They do not exist in my house. And I straighten furniture, knick knacks, etc in my sleep. I can't help it. But...there is a fine layer of dust, cat hair and dog hair on top of EVERYTHING in my house. I have 3 baskets of laundry in the basement that haven't been sorted, folded or put away in 2 weeks. I have a big pile of sheets, towels also in the basement waiting to be washed, and 2 overflowing hampers upstairs. I haven't truly cleaned my bathroom in weeks (ewwww). I haven't vacuumed possibly since Christmas, I can't remember. I haven't even swept my hardwood floors in a few weeks. I did finally break down yesterday and wipe up all the sticky spots on my kitchen floor, but it hasn't seen a mop in quite a while. And my little backyard? Where the dog is let out? Let's just call that a disgusting, vile, biohazard and not talk about it anymore. Now that I have you thoroughly grossed out, let's move on.

I put out a call, both on my blog and in person, last week to any and all friends and family who might be able to help us out a little bit. And I just want to say a HUMONGOUS THANK YOU! to all the people who have responded with their help, their time, their love and support. Dan and Colleen came over the other night and brought a big, yummy lasagna that we have been enjoying ever since (read: I don't have to cook). Rose and Jason came over last week and took our dog for a very much needed walk (read: less jumping on G). Kate and Nick came over today and played with G (read: I took a nap!). And then there are all the people at work who have offered me a shoulder to (literally) cry on, advice, and help actually getting sh*t done, too. And my parents who have been there whenever we needed any extra help with G. And all my bloggy friends who have been there with loving words and thoughts. Thank you, thank you.

I don't know where the next few weeks will lead us. We have a lot of important doctors' appointments coming up. I sincerly hope that we will find some answers. Hey, a diagnosis would be nice. It is so much easier to go down this road with all of you behind my back, propping my exhausted self up.