Arthritis Mom

It's taken me several days to settle in but I think I have managed it. Sometimes realizing what you need to do is a lot easier than actually doing it. After a couple days of getting everything unpacked, groceries bought, all the baby supplies set up and trying my best to keep our routine in place I realized I was still not relaxed and I was starting to make the vacation less fun for everyone else. Having a routine makes life with twins more manageable but now I have developed a resistance to change, which is funny because my mom is always surprised at how easily I adopt change in my life.

I think the only major change that has really given me difficulty was developing rheumatoid arthritis. Other changes like having children, buying and selling my home, divorce, dating as a single parent, remarriage, becoming a stepmom, having preemie twins.... are all things I took in stride without much resistance. Now I am struggling with minor changes to my daily routine! I have to take a page out of the book on accepting that I had RA and use some of the lessons I learned then.

So yesterday I woke up and decided I had to improve my attitude. I made a good effort and it was a much better day. We took the babies swimming in the lake with the other kids and they had a great time. I managed to get connected to the internet - woohoo! The rest of my day included the usual diapers, bottles, naptime and playtime while my husband took the older kids fishing and tubing on the boat. Overall it was a great day because I was relaxed and not letting myself feel stressed over every little thing.

My arthritis was doing great too until today. I was feeling extra tired around lunchtime today and noticed my feet were hurting. When that happens I start to think what changed? Did I do too much yesterday? Is the weather changing? Did I not get enough sleep last night? OH! I know! I didn't take my medication this morning. That will certainly do it.

I feel so dumb when I forget my medication. It causes unnecessary pain and seems so, unnecessary. I managed to relax but I don't get to take a vacation from the rheumatoid arthritis and I most certainly can't take a medication vacation! Although a medication vacation sounds nice, that would be like having no vacation at all. So now I am on track, I think. I am settled in. I am relaxed. I am medicated. Time to go see what's next. I'm sure it's not anything on my computer.