Ten years meme

Ten years ago I was planning a wedding and very slowly gaining weight and becoming less ill, after dropping to 7st and taking up recreational blackouts. My arms were not great but I could do most things I needed to most of the time. I was 24 and a half. We lived in this house and had done for over a year - maybe almost two years? I'd had to quit my job due to stress and illness.

Five years ago I had two small children and was constantly busy and exhausted. I was getting over post-natal depression and PTSD and Rob was depressed. Every fortnight for time off and a break I went to the True Food market to buy a fortnight's groceries all by myself. We were part of a local home ed group which met up regularly. Linnea looked JUST like Astrid!

One year ago we were reeling from Astrid's breathing trouble and so on.

Yesterday we tidied the house, had the French teacher over, did some art with Lucy, went to swimming lessons, posted a parcel, had pocketmoney shopping, did a little gardening, I went to the doctor and got a referral for blood tests to check for autoimmune things like rheumatism and celiac disease, we did some laundry, and I got very very sad about my useless body which hates me.

Today I was exhausted all day and Rob came home from work early. Tomorrow should be better because I'm not overdoing it today.

In one year we might have a slightly bigger house, because we're hoping to convert the attic. I might also have a better plan for selling my art; the last year was a washout because of constantly being on alert for calling an ambulance if Astrid stopped breathing. Not restful.

In five years Linnea will be 14 and Emer will be 10 and Astrid will be almost 8. It's almost impossible to imagine. Whatever I'm doing will depend enormously on what they need. I hope we'll still be in the same house, I hope we'll have managed to install solar panels and proper greywater use, I hope we're healthy and happy. But I can't tell what we'll be doing with our lives. Far too many variables.

Breathing Is Good For You

Astrid's operation was a roaring success, and she's much weller.

She's happier and less whiny. She's fatter. She's much much less clumsy. She doesn't bump into things or fall over half as much. She's heavier. She's asking for food and eating it and asking for more. She's sleeping for a couple of hours at a time.

Along with this, the older children have recovered from their anxiety, more or less. Rob and I are still tired. But it will be fine.