Jean in Newcastle Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Last Thursday was a long day of "kidnapping" MIL, and taking care of her while FIL supervised the movers. Friday was a 9 hour day of packing boxes and moving them an hour away to the the ILs new house. Saturday was another 9 hour day of the same. Sunday was an 11 hour day of church, church cleaning and moving the ILs. Monday was a 9 hour day of moving the ILs. Tuesday I collapsed in exhaustion. Wednesday I put in another 11 hour day. Thursday (today) I quit. The house is mostly done anyway. The remaining furniture is too big for me to move. There is still some little stuff but I just can't * do * it. I'm tired. I ache from head to toe. I need to do my own laundry. Today I have cleaned the kitchen and folded two loads of clean laundry. Then I crashed and had a couple of hours nap. I have tons more laundry to do. I also need to figure out what to do for dinner. Dd has a swim lesson right during my usual dinner prep time and I need to figure out how to get dinner on the table anyway. (ETA - with help from here, dinner has been figured out.) Meanwhile, the phone has been ringing off the hook in the last hour. SIL wants me to monitor MIL's diabetic care - from my home 1/2 hour away. FIL wants to know how the moving is coming - um, it isn't anymore for me. MIL wants to let me use the sewing machine that she accused me of trying to steal yesterday (long story). And she's confused and tells me that her glucometer "doesn't work". We're going to have to have another family talk once the move is totally done after this weekend. MIL's sugars have "stabilized" at around 300. It's the best we can do right now with her being non-compliant and without an increase in insulin. Dh is coordinating that. I want to brag a bit on my ds15. He has been doing a man's work this whole time. He must be getting killer muscles doing all this heavy lifting. And his attitude has been cheerful and helpful. I am really really proud of him. (His attitude has been much better than mine has been at times.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowing Brook Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Jean I hope you are able to get some good rest. Maybe a nice relaxing bath. I think it is wonderful the way you all have been taking care of your IL. :thumbup1: To your son Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Just reading that made me shudder! I'm sorry you're having to go through all this. Moving on good terms is hard, and well..in-laws and moving, diabetic just makes me cringe! You hang in there and give your son a huge :thumbup: ...for he rocks! Have a good dinner, bubble bath and treat yourself kindly! You certainly have earned a long break in my book! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Jean, whatever you do, start taking care of yourself -- don't get yourself so run down that you're sick for months, because it just isn't worth it! :grouphug: And a big hug to your ds for being such a helpful kid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Oh. My. Word. Boundaries, Jean. I know you have a serving heart, but please, don't take on what's unreasonable (ie supervising your MIL's health care from a distance). You know that *you* aren't in a position to be managing that, that of all the ppl involved, MIL's the least likely to be compliant w/you. And way to go ds!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Jean, whatever you do, start taking care of yourself -- don't get yourself so run down that you're sick for months, because it just isn't worth it! :grouphug: And a big hug to your ds for being such a helpful kid! :iagree: I missed the whole story, but definitely take care of yourself now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: to you, Jean. You're in such a tough spot. I'm so sorry. I'm glad your son has been so helpful! It's awesome seeing glimpses of the man he will be. :) A ray of sunshine in an otherwise stormy time for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Ack, Jean! Sounds like it's time for your hubby to step in and clarify who is responsible for what. I know he works long hours too but they are his parents. Can you hire some teens from the neighborhood or church to do the heavy lifting or what's left of it? You don't want to resent them for the next few weeks while you cannot move without pain! Why don't you the laundry lie and come over for some gelato and homemade chocolate sauce???? :laugh: Umm....the ole' Curcumin for inflammation - remember?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You have been strong, good job! I know it is difficult taking care of someone else especially when they don't necessarily *want* your help. Kudos to you and your ds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thanks everyone. I had a good day at home. I had some very good cathartic Zumba. Shaking your booty is so calming! :D Once the move is done, we can work together to provide better support for both ILs. FIL is going to have to step up to the plate a bit more to provide diabetic care for MIL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Ack, Jean! Sounds like it's time for your hubby to step in and clarify who is responsible for what. I know he works long hours too but they are his parents. Can you hire some teens from the neighborhood or church to do the heavy lifting or what's left of it? You don't want to resent them for the next few weeks while you cannot move without pain! Why don't you the laundry lie and come over for some gelato and homemade chocolate sauce???? :laugh: Umm....the ole' Curcumin for inflammation - remember?! The older cousins are coming down from Canada this weekend to do the last of the heavy lifting. And yes, I was starting to resent the whole thing. That's why I quit. I would love to have gelato and homemade chocolate sauce. But I had to do enough laundry so that I wouldn't be going around pantless! I'm taking curcumin. :001_smile: Dh took yesterday off and was working all 11 hours with me. And he's calling his parents twice a day now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You did good by your in-laws! And what a great son you have! But NOW it's time to think of you for a while, but I think that you know that already. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: to you, Jean and :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: for your son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang!Zoom! Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Jean I would be flipping. I know you know this, the woman is sick and can't do much for herself cognitively or physically. God bless you for all you are doing. Diabetes is a very hard road even with those that do try, I can't imagine the stress, take some serious case of yourself. Especially now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'm sure that many people have had those "buckle down and get it done" times in their life. This has just been one of those for me. The good thing is that the move is almost all done and is to the point where I can let others do the mop up. Dh has stepped up all he can but with him working two jobs, couldn't do as much as he would like. I honestly don't know why some of the others haven't done more but can't worry too much about that. I knew it would be bad but chose to volunteer to push myself and get things done because MILs health has made this more of an emergency than it would have been otherwise. To be completely honest, I don't always like MIL but it's been a good exercise in showing compassion to someone whether you like them or not. ;) Don't worry - I am not a martyr. I'm working on regrouping - not only with our home and the needs there - but also with my own health. I'm actually very surprised that I was able to push myself as hard as I did! But I don't like doing that for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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