Rain Rain Go Away

Yes it's Spring time in Central Illinois. This means rain, and typically lots of it. I'm so over this dreary & cold stretch we have had this week. Seriously, is the sun shining anywhere?

Today, we don't stand a chance. It has been thundering off & on since about 8:30 last night. It has been raining since I woke up at 7:00 this morning. And it doesn't look like it is going to stop anytime too soon.



I just really really want to see some sunshine. I want to be able to have the Easter egg hunt outside. I want to not be so miserable feeling. At least if the sun was shining, it would give me a reason to get outside & breathe in the fresh Spring air. I can't rightly do that when it is pouring down rain.

Not to mention how miserable Jarrett is. He is getting quite testy about this recent stretch of weather. Who can blame him? His business, hauling grain & farming, is very much at the mercy of the weather. The more it rains now, the later the crops go in the ground, and the later harvest is. It's quite a chain of events. Right now we need it to dry out. We don't need ponds in all the fields. We need some sunshine.


But we are in Central Illinois..............maybe it will be nice in June?

I'm Baaaack...I'm Baaaaack in the Saddle Again

A full 5 weeks after being discharged from the hospital & I am officially back at work. It feels good to say this, so I have been saying it quite a bit. I feel pretty good. Still not 100%, I think that will come in due time.

Over the 5 weeks & 4 days since this journey started, I feel like I have come full circle. I'm more relaxed. I'm growing more comfortable in my new normal.

I have learned that this recovery isn't only physical, it's mental as well. It's ok for me to admit that I was scared, & that I am still a little scared at times.

But today, I feel pretty good. I spent a good portion of my day Friday reading everything I could read on the interwebs about pulmonary embolism recovery. I kept telling myself, this has got to be in your head. You should be feeling better by now. I am happy to report that, I am not crazy. This isn't all in my head. I was worried that I was going to start alienating the people who really love me & care about me with my constant reports of "I don't feel good today." But thankfully, that has yet to happen.

The information I found gave ranges from a couple of weeks to a full year before people felt they were truly back to 100%. Oddly enough, this put my mind at ease. It's like a lightbulf finally came on - eventually I will get better. I don't need to wallow in my self-pity.

For a while, I had the mindset that if I acted like I felt better then I would feel better. You know, mind over matter. But that didn't really work for me. I have come to terms with my current state physically, which has helped me mentally. It's ok that I don't feel great yet. It's going to take time.

I feel better though, that is what is important. And I like to think that I look a little better too. What do you think?

Rachel's Hair

Miss Rachel sure has plenty to smile about... After all, what girl doesn't just love a trip to the beauty shop.

The before - ratty toddler mullet.

The after - a sassy little bob. Remember the funkiness that was once Rachel's wild & crazy hair? Well, it certainly has settled down. It lays very nicely these days. She is my super cute little spit-fire. My baby sure is growing up fast. Too fast.