Unfortunately, all the stuff that needs to be done right now, needs to be done by me. I'd delegate if I could. Jeri's working full time, O/T & Saturdays (as Tom would be if he hadn't landed in the hospital for the valve job, new battery & starter, and a bit of a tune-up) so even if she could do any of it, she's not available. Actually, Tom CAN help with the phone calling, etc. but mostly I'm the one filling out forms, tracking down more documentation for photocopying, more sources for assistance, etcet etcet. It's tedious, but it's got to be done and, again, not really something I can delegate.

Tom's not at the stage yet where he can go up and down the stairs more than a couple times a day, so that takes some planning. He can't drive for 4-6 weeks after the surgery and he'll have a lot of follow-up doctor appointments. (But, hey, I made one for myself today to get something taken care of that I've put off for too long. One more thing checked off the list.)

I was just really tired this morning, but had too many things to do to be able to just go back to bed. (Not that I can easily do that under the best of circumstances.) To be truly honest, I feel on the verge of feeling over-extended, rather than actually feeling over-extended. I get short with the cats but try not to get short with Tom when I'm interrupted in the middle of something. I don't want him to be afraid to ask me to do something that is too much for him. I organized his meds and now he deals with that, as well as taking his blood pressure and resting heart rate and doing his breathing exercises. I don't even have to think about it.

A lot of the stress is the fact that I can't just take a day yet to under-react, although that day is in the foreseeable future -- this weekend, to be exact. A couple days of not really having to do anything except sing, listen to music, and be with friends -- and being driven there and back by another friend. (And Mortimer will be boarded at the vet.)

A couple friends had brought food over the past couple weeks and the day Tom came home, so that was relief from some meal prep. He needs a higher protein diet than "normal" for the recovery period, so I'm indulging myself too in making eggs florentine for breakfast -- actually MY favorite comfort food. Tom made the curry last night, but let me serve it up and clean up because he realized he'd overdone a slight bit. Don't want that to happen.

Oh, and I am still have some job hunting and some tasks still need to be fitted in and done. The world doesn't stop.

A little earlier I was fantasizing about disembodied hands massaging my feet and calves. But to deal with a real person would be more than I'd want to cope with.

I'm fitting a bit of lawn and garden work in during spare moments while doing something else, too. That's R&R -- especially if the sun's out. (Well, it was almost out this morning and it didn't start raining until we had to go places.)

Still making lists, organizing our time, looking forward to this weekend (and a stop to say "hello" to Professor Child on the way there) -- trying to fit in some just plain nice things for both Tom and me. (Including friends stopping in for a few minutes and us dropping in on others for a few minutes of conversation -- and Tom's first Guinness since he landed in the hospital.)

It WILL all get done, I'll stay healthy and Tom will be in better shape than he's been in years.

I love you all -- thanks for your concern.

Linn