Dear readers,
I'm kindof in a funk, in a I'm-disorganized-and-don't-know-how-to-fix-it / I'm-not-sure-how-to-establish-a-routine kind of funk. My last year and a half has consisted mostly of dealing with crisis mode. My days have consisted of doctors appointments, surgeon appointments, therapists, tests, surgeries, hospital stays, playing nurse, and an endless number of specialized feedings. (In the early days of my crisis mode I spent approximately 9 hours per day in feedings; fortunately, that number has gradually decreased to approximately 4-5 hours a day - - not including food prep time -- heaven forbid I should actually make dinner!) Can I add in the hours I spent making payment arrangements with dozens of health-care professionals and figuring out insurance? More recently, things have been less dramatic but still time consuming. Five days of therapy per week plus lots and lots of feedings. Training Crew how to use his mouth. Coming up with incentives to motivate Mia to walk on "flat feet" as opposed to her tip toes so we can discontinue her therapy. For the last year and a half, my house has suffered. I won't tell you how infrequently I mop and vacuum my floors, let alone scrub my shower. I don't regularly make meals. I feel like I'm in a mostly constant state of disorganization. In my defense, I will say that not once have I forgotten or missed a doctor, therapist or other type of appointment. Not once have I let the bank account go into overdraft. Not too many times have I handled Crew's health care incorrectly. But crisis mode has been my state of mind.
Blessedly, we are leaving crisis mode behind. Crew has been discharged from all but one of his therapies. Mia is about to be discharged from her physical therapy. There are no surgeries on the horizon. Crew has learned to eat in six weeks time and we haven't done a g-button feeding in nearly 2 weeks. The medical bills have been paid. Doctor visits have become routine. And I am lost.
I don't know how normal mothers schedule their time. I'm so unused to having any extra time that I don't know how much to devote to Mia begging me to "play games" ALL DAY LONG. I don't know how much time to give to cleaning my house or making dinner or scrapbooking family memories or practicing the piano or reading a book or anything else for that matter. All I know is crisis mode.
SO.....I'm thinking a schedule is the solution? I'm looking for any and all readers out there to post their suggestions. How do you schedule your time? How do you schedule your kids' time? When do you do your cleaning/cooking? How much time do you give to your kids? Is your schedule set or flexible?
Looking forward to normalcy,
Nat
