A Lost Autumn...

So fall 2023 will go down in history as definitely NOT MY FAVORITE. My sciatic pain returned after our trip to NYC and I kept waiting for it to abate, but instead it just got worse and worse and worse. Doctors were unhelpful, I wasn't even able to see a specialist for six or so weeks, and there was no medication that alleviated the pain. I spent about eight weeks unable to sit or stand for more than a minute or two at a time. Life went on, and things happened but for the most part, we were in survival mode, with Bob having to do literally everything for all of us while I watched lots of TV, read and played Tetris on my phone. It was definitely one of the most difficult times we've experienced. But there were some highlights.

Maddy's drama class wrote a script for kid's play and then performed it at the elementary school.

This year's high school musical production was Freaky Friday and this year Maddy was Prop Master. She even put me to work making frogs out of clay (because I could do that laying flat), which was awesome as I was feeling pretty useless! And luckily there was a video of the production, so I could watch it eventually. So proud of all Maddy's hard work on the play!

For "Dynamic Duo" day at the Middle School so Audrey and her friend (in a stroke of genius in my opinion!) went as Jack and Rose from Titanic.

A low point in all of this drama was Thanksgiving when I spent the day on my own, cutting up Hermione's anxiety medication in halves because the pet store sent the wrong dose THREE TIMES. (Oh yeah, in the middle of all my medical drama, Hermione started losing her hair, because when it rains it pours!) I was grateful that  Bob got me Thai food to have while they were gone, and they did text me entertaining photos of their day. 

Later on Thanksgiving weekend Audrey participated in the Town Tree Lighting ceremony with her hip hop class. Bob and Maddy were at liberty to goof off!

Of all the tasks that Bob took over from me, I think he enjoyed doing the bulk of the Christmas shopping the most. He took the kids out multiple times, trying to instill in them his love of the mall.

After a few years of real trees we made the decision to pull out our old fake tree this year for simplicity's sake.

I supervised from my home on the ottoman. 

WSPA is putting on their Christmas show this year, and the local nursing home got a sneak peak.

(My view for much of my down time, laying on the ottoman.)

Even as miserable as I was, I still had a lot to be grateful for. Bob and the girls took really good care of me, and my mom-network in town helped SO much as well, giving the kids rides to places and taking photos and videos of events I was missing. As bad as it was, it could have been so much worse!