Hi. It’s me again. You may or may not have noticed that I haven’t been posting a whole lot this month. It would seem that I’m feeling rather burnt out.
It’s been a rough stretch, for a variety of reasons. I’ve been feeling frustrated at my slow progress with my research. I’ve been trying to catch up with things that I’d let slide in November while pushing to get my work done. I’ve been feeling pretty run down, and caught a new cold complete with annoying cough. There has been not quite enough sleep, and quite a lot of worrying.
For those of you who haven’t been following my sister’s updates about my nephew, the last few weeks were pretty harrowing. Diego did end up needing surgery for the bowel obstruction, which was his fourth major abdominal surgery this year. Even scarier, he ended up in the PICU a couple of days after surgery due to a major infection. I’m happy to say that he responded well to the antibiotics, and things have turned around. They are even expecting to go home very soon, which is a huge relief.
It’s been very hard for me not to be out there with my family (hard, of course, being a relative term, seeing as I get to sleep in the comfort of my bed for a start, and am not going through all of the daily trials that my nephew, my sister, my mother and my brother-in-law have been going through). I have really wanted to drop everything and fly out there, but that hasn’t been feasible. John’s work schedule has been intense, and he’s had important meetings he couldn’t reschedule and that conflict with picking up the kids from daycare and preschool. We don’t have friends or family around who can step in to help out while I’m away. And I can’t bring the kids out with me to California and still be able to really help out. (Plus the idea of travelling by myself with both small kiddos is frightening.)
Anyhow, I feel like I’m starting to come out of my funk again. My cold is clearing up. I’m working out a plan to visit my family soon. I have a few days coming up which aren’t heavily scheduled, during which I hope to make progress on a number of things (including things related to some holiday that’s coming up soon).
I will hopefully be feeling feel less stuck, and might even get my bulb replaced.
collecting tokens 
thinking of you and yours, sweet girl. Here’s to seeing more of your light, soon
Hopefully things will improve soon and you will get to see your family. Best wishes.
Hi Alejna —
To be honest, hadn’t noticed so much that you hadn’t been posting a lot compared to noticing that you haven’t been commenting on other blogs (or at least mine) lately. In any case, hope you’ll feel better soon — and definitely Diego as well!
((hugs))
Hi Alejna. I’m sorry to hear about your nephew’s additional complications, but glad that it looks like he’s turning the corner. That’s a lot of stuff to worry about on top of your research and being sick, to boot! I hope you get a chance to breathe and take care of yourself a little bit, too, in the coming weeks.
great picture.
hope your nephew is done with scary surgeries forever, and can get on with the fun of being a little boy!
I really hope Diego continues to improve–he and his family have been through so much.
And good luck getting out of your funk! The light is returning soon, at least according to the calendar…
Thinking of you… xoxox
Hope you are feeling better… and that your trip to visit your family comes together soon. Until then, one of the wonders of our modern technology is that we can inexpensively keep in touch with each other at a distance, so try to do it. It’s so important.
That photo is perfection. I feel just like that.
I’m sorry it has been rough lately. I hope things will be merry and bright soon and you can enjoy the holidays.
I’m glad Diego is recovering well, especially after that last setback. I hope he just keeps getting better and better from this point on.
Good luck, thinking of you. One day at a time…..
I hope the recovery continues! Don’t feel guilty about not blogging — it’s not like we’re paying.
*snibble*
I hope you’ll be up and running at natural speed soon, and may the new year bring you much success in the research department, as well as health to your family! BTW, the photo is awesome – perfect pictorial metaphor.