Wednesday

[lunabee34]

1. I have been remiss in posting about our adventures in homeschooling.

Wednesday 4-15: Howliday Inn chapter 9: Draw a picture of Howard and Heather in the rain. What has been your favorite part of the book so far?

Thursday: Howliday Inn chapter 10: Draw Harrison being attacked by the animals. What was wrong with Heather?

Spoiler alert: she is pregnant, and not in fact a werewolf

Friday: Fiona had a fragile day today; she was really weepy all day and missing school, so we just read the end of Howliday Inn and didn't do any activities. She enjoyed the ending so well that she went back to read the Epilogue on her own and went around quoting it.

Monday: The Celery Stalks at Midnight 1/2 chapter 1: Draw a picture of the three animals on the porch. What do you think will happen in this book?

Tuesday: finish CSaM chapter 1: Draw a picture of Chester hopping like a rabbit and attacking the TV. What mystery happens in this chapter?

Wednesday: CSaM chatper 2: Draw a picture of the Monroe's garden. What does Chester think Bunnicula is doing?

2. I went to the doctor on Monday. I got myself all keyed up into a fever pitch of anxiety beforehand, but it was fine. I liked the doctor; she did a thorough intake and examination. Her physical exam seemed geared toward fibromyalgia and joint problems; I'm not sore at any of the touch points, and I already tested negative for RA, so I don't think either of those things are going to be issue. She also said she doesn't think I have lupus which is good. She took about 8 vials of blood; then she had me go out to the parking lot and run around for ten minutes and took two more to test something about my muscles. The lab results are going to take longer because one of the tests goes to a CA lab, but still, I should have the results before my originally scheduled appt. Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone. I feel hopeful.

3. Another excellent read from executrix!

Louisa May Alcott by Susan Cheever

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoyed this. I think the art of biography is very interesting, and I think you need to read multiple biographies to get a clear picture of a person. Each biography foregrounds different aspects of the subject, and each might interpret the same events differently.

The other biographical material I've read on Alcott really delves into her relationship with her sisters and tries to determine to what degree the March sisters are representations of Alcott's real life sisters. This biography does almost none of that, probably because so many of the others do so much of it. As a result, her relationship with her sisters seems too absent from this bio.

The treatment of Alcott's dad and her family's enmeshment in Transcendentalist communities is thorough and interesting.



View all my reviews

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Great news about your appointment!

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

[princessofgeeks]

So glad you had a good session with the new doctor.

Poor Fiona! I feel for her.

[lunabee34]

Me too! I am in a state of optimism.

The good thing about Fi is that she bounces back so quickly. She was in fine form today. :)

[umadoshi]

I feel hopeful.

So good to hear! *hugs*

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Thank you!

[tabaqui]

Always nice to get a *good* doctor, and one that actually listens. Good luck!
I was wondering, too, about the exercise; i wondered if it had anything to do with lactic acid.

I found this, which might give you some ideas, since you've obviously a better handle on what's going on with you than i would.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/397795-can-working-out-before-a-blood-test-affect-the-results/

[lunabee34]

Ooh,that's really interesting. Thank you for linking. I wonder if she's looking at the inflammatory markers since that's what drives all the autoimmune stuff. Hopefully they'll explain when the results arrive.

[tabaqui]

I hope they explain, too!
Good luck this can tell you something definitive.

[lunabee34]

*crosses fingers*

[oracne]

Yay to probably not lupus!

[lunabee34]

OMG, yes! That was my biggest fear, so hopefully the blood work will bear that out.

[wendelah1]

I hope they figure out why you're sick, and can treat it. This must be so frustrating.

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much.

It really is. This has been a two year journey now, and it's so stressful and annoying.

Although I am really optimistic right now,if the doc comes back and says IDK we can't do anything, I won't exactly be surprised.

[timespirt]

"HUGS" Hope you get good results hon.

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

[author_by_night]

I must have missed a post! *Hugs* Glad that you're closer to getting answers and left more reassured.

Poor Fiona. :( These are weird times for the kiddos, too.

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. *hugs back*

I am just grateful that Fi is little enough that she really doesn't get what is going on. We do not watch news in front of her or a get a paper she could read and we don't talk about it in front of her, so her emotions are solely about not seeing friends and going to school and don't contain any fear for herself or others. Emma, it's hard to say. She seems fine, and when we check in she says she's not worrying or anxious, but she's 17 and watching and reading whatever she wants, and I'd be surprised if this wasn't messing her up some.

[spikedluv]

Poor Fiona! It must really suck for kids who just don't really understand why their lives have been turned upside down.

I'm glad you had a good appointment! I hope the doc finds something in all the tests. (I was thinking about you this morning, wondering if I should bug you about the appointment, and when I got online here you are! *hugs*)

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

Like I said upthread, I am just grateful that Fi is little enough that she really doesn't get what is going on. We do not watch news in front of her or a get a paper she could read and we don't talk about it in front of her, so her emotions are solely about not seeing friends and going to school and don't contain any fear for herself or others. Emma, it's hard to say. She seems fine, and when we check in she says she's not worrying or anxious, but she's 17 and watching and reading whatever she wants, and I'd be surprised if this wasn't messing her up some.

[spikedluv]

That is a blessing.

Things might hit Emma (all of us) after it's over, when we can let down our guard. I bet the therapists (and chocolate stores, let's be honest *g*) are going to be doing a booming business. I've noticed a couple times when I didn't think I was nervous about something going in, that I was like WHEW! when it was over and I thought, hmm, maybe I was a bit concerned after all. *g*

[lunabee34]

I think you are very right. I think there will be a lot of long lasting trauma for a lot of people.

:(

[archersangel]

long ago i read a biography on alcott, it was pretty interesting. i don't think it went in on how much the march girls where her and her sisters though.

[lunabee34]

Apparently, Alcott uses a lot of biographical details in constructing the March family, particularly her older sister's Anna's marriage to John Pratt, her sister Lizzie's death, and her sister May's art career.

[archersangel]

i noticed the similarities too. the "write what you know" advice really showed in that book.

[china_shop]

I'm so glad the examination with the doctor went well! *fingers crossed*

*hugs*

[lunabee34]

Thank you, my friend!