The Cost of Enjoying Life

There are times, despite the pain, that I really look forward to just enjoying a normal life with my family. Due to my uncertain bathroom habits, my pain, my nausea, and my feelings of fatigue and syncope, I just don't leave the house often. I say "no" to a lot of invites, because people just may not understand.

On Mother's Day my husband wanted to take me to our traditional Mother's Day Brunch. I don't get to have my step-son with me on Mother's Day, as I must share him with his own mother, so Joe started the tradition of taking me out to a really nice buffet brunch, which isn't something that the boy would find to be that much fun, but our 3 girls LOVE to get dressed up for. The chandeliers, china, stemware, and flowers makes them feel like princesses. I was really looking forward to a nice morning out.

I enjoyed myself. I couldn't eat everything I wanted, but made sure I had a nibble of all of my favorites. There was prime rib, salmon, quiche, salads, omelettes, and so much more! There is always a very expansive dessert table. I had a few bites of apple pie and a chocolate covered strawberry. The girls love the cannolis, red velvet cake, chocolate cake, cream puffs, and the list continues...

I was only out of the house for 2 hours. I was making memories with my daughters and my husband. Every second of being with them was joyous.

The result: I was bed ridden for the rest of the day, and all day Monday, but it was worth it. I was tired, nauseated, vomiting, and in so much pain. By Monday morning I was so fatigued that I could not stay awake and I was falling over on the couch like someone completely drunk. I could not function. After my husband, Joe, got the kids off to school, and himself off to work (he had a difficult time leaving, but the phone was close at hand) I passed out asleep on the couch, curled up in pain. I woke for the first time around 2pm to vomit and go back to sleep. I could not eat a single thing. My husband took care of dinner and the kids after school and work. I was unable to function at all that Monday. I eventually crawled in to bed. Tuesday morning I was still in a lot of discomfort, but I was not fatigued as much. I was able to walk, and sit, and drink fluids. By the afternoon I was able to function a bit more, though I still had no energy to write, read, or do many physical activities, such as climb up and down the stairs. 

​A few hours of fun may result in days of recovery. I have to weigh my desire to leave the house versus the aftermath. I have to look at my calendar and the activities of the entire week, and not just that one day, because choosing to leave the house on a Sunday could leave me completely disabled for days after. 

Mother's Day with my beautiful daughters was completely worth the days that followed. 

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