Michelle, you've landed in a perfect storm of stuff and crud, but it will pass. Don't worry about the housework, other than the essentials, clean clothes, food, keeping everyone safe.

Is there anyone you can hire to come in for a few hours to help you get to a baseline level of order? Whether they work independently or alongside you, it makes a huge difference to have someone come in just to help with those chores. I had someone come in for 4 hours every two weeks and it was a lifesaver when I was working and in school and had the kids.

I've had a few ear infections over the years that involved drops or antibiotics, and one time I had that was when I was a naturalist leading cave tours in Kentucky. Though we don't call it radar, we do use our ears for proximity to walls and such, and I bumped my head a few times at places where the wall bulged and I had my back to it. Nothing that left a lump, but I just didn't have as good a sense of where I was in relation to the cave's irregular architecture.

I have to take time and start picking up paper, folding laundry, just in general clearing out stuff that hasn't been completed for the last couple of weeks. I did empty the dishwasher this morning.

SRS