Got the housework done just in time to take the kids to the vet.

Got the housework done just in time to take the kids to the vet.  I'm about to take a shower, have some cereal, then jump into my homework until my brain shuts down.  😳

Nappy and Booka will be fine.  It wasn't major stuff that I took them for - just quality of life stuff.  It was time for Nappy to start her Kinetic injections for arthritis so she's all set for the next 3 weeks.  They really helped a lot before her hip surgery so I'm hoping they work again just as well.

Booka has never had great skin, but in the last week or so it just went all out horrible.  He'd gotten to where he would rub and scratch on everything until he would bleed.  Medicated shampoos and OTC meds were not helping at all.  So he got a skin scraping to rule out mites (he had none) and he also got a painful steroid injection.  He cried.  🙁  We'll just do the daily pills next time, but hopefully the shot will give him fast relief.  His feelings were really hurt about that, btw.  He wouldn't even ride shotgun on the way home.  Poor little dude.  🙁

I've been sitting here on the Internet hoping to really, finally wake up for the day, but...

I've been sitting here on the Internet hoping to really, finally wake up for the day, but no luck with that.  I haven't had coffee in days because I'm trying to be super good, but today might require a small cup to get me going.

I did not have a restful weekend in the slightest.  Saturday I spent all day in Heflin at the festival.  I did make a little bit of money so I guess it was worth it, but dang.  It lasted 7 hours and that's not counting the setting up, breaking down, and traveling over there.  That is also not taking into consideration that I was in the heat and sun, and the sun makes me super sick.  I was wearing 100 SPF sunblock and still managed to get a slight burn.  Still feeling a little off from that, but not terribly.

Yesterday I was running around doing errands and things like that.  I didn't really have time to do homework or housework.  I ended up staying up later than I needed to so I had to drag myself to class this morning.  I met my Algebra teacher today and I like her - so that's great.  But now I have homework.

Thankfully I'm off work today, but the house is a wreck so I can't think.  Gotta get that handled right now.  Nappy and Booka have a vet appointment later this afternoon.  I'm worried about Nappy's arthritis and Booka's breaking out in something that is making him scratch up bloody spots.  🙁  He's never had great skin, but this is much worse than I've ever seen it.

On the bright side I've been drinking an ass-ton of liquid and I'm barely really flu-achy now.  I'm still having joint pain and my skin is still terrible, but I'll be ok.  I am supposed to double up on my methotrexate so I will probably take that dose late this evening and try to sleep off the tiredness before class tomorrow.  I also have an appointment with Dr. Crawford (a rheumatologist!) next Monday at 1:00.  Dr. Edmond actually had an appointment set up for me this week, but I would have missed a whole 2-hour class if I did that so I rescheduled.

Anyway.  I haven't had much time for Internetting until today and I'm only here now because I'm procrastinating.  I am officially getting up from the computer and walking away.  If you see me liking and commenting on things shoo me away from the computer, please.  😛

If understanding what your pet is saying...

If understanding what your pet is saying does not come naturally to you then you should study the way they communicate.  It is irresponsible to be willfully ignorant of how a creature in your care feels.  And unfortunately, when accidents happen it is the pet who usually pays with its life.  It's not a small deal.  It's a big one.

This is a brilliantly done video.

Saw Dr. Edmond.

Saw Dr. Edmond. I feel better. Not physically (yet), but in my brain, at least.

Dr. Edmond is referring me to Dr. Crawford, a rheumatologist. I didn't even have to ask him. For now since it might take a while to get in we are doubling my dose of methotrexate. Today is my regular dose, and I need to take another dose this week. I think it's going to suck having to take that in the middle of the week because it makes me tired still, but thankfully, it doesn't put me out for as long as it used to.

He said he was going to call Dr. Crawford himself to see if she could see me sooner so that was super nice. He also wanted to give me steroids to get my joint pain and skin under control, but I didn't do that. As long as I have a plan I feel ok. I really hated the rebound after the first steroids I took, too, so I'm happy to avoid that.

On the general body ache he thinks it's lactic acid building up. I am supposed to drink a lot more water to help with that. I don't even think I can hold as much water as he recommended, but I will try.

Heading to work now. I'll be back on here later. ❤

I'm sad and complain-y. I'm sorry.

I'm sad and complain-y.  I'm sorry.

I didn't get as much sleep as I needed last night.  I think I was feeling a bit nervous about starting class today.  New teacher, new campus, new class.  It was good, though.  My teacher is totally weird - which I like.  My class is small so that's neat.  I was super worried the class was going to be canceled due to low enrollment, but the teacher thinks it will not be.  So I think my major concern at the moment is the course material.

My teacher mentioned that some of the stories we will read (I'm taking English 102) are brutal.  I am not sure that will be great for my emotional well-being... I think most of you are aware that I avoid scary and sad media as much as possible because I am easily disturbed and distraught.  But I have to take the class regardless - whether it's with him or another teacher.  I've already rented my book and the Pell Grant has already paid for the class so I'm going to try very hard to just get through it.  Please sincerely wish me luck.

Other than that I am not really doing so great.  My upped dosage of methotrexate doesn't seem to be helping at all.  My skin is itchy and red and inflamed, and my joints are about as bad as they were in the winter.  I tried standing some at the last Farmer's Market and found that my knees can't take that for very long.  ON TOP OF ALL THAT I ache as though I have the flu.  I have been for several weeks, but it's getting worse by the day.

I came home after class instead of going straight to work because my power was out when I got up so I didn't feed everyone and all that.  It was back on after class, thank goodness.  I called Shaun - who thankfully hadn't gone to work yet - so I asked to ride with him.  I went ahead and got everyone fed and settled in, then off I went.  I can't even say how thankful I was to not have to drive today.  With my general body aches and my knees and hips and back hurting, driving doesn't feel very nice.  🙁

I swear I don't know what is happening to me, but whatever it is it's draining my life force.  There is not a single point during my school / work day where I am not hurting.  No chair or position is comfortable.  I'm happiest in my couch recliner at home... that takes the pressure off of my knees, but I still have the flu-like ache.  I have new nail pics to post, some cute tort photos, stuff to say about my new IUD, etc, but I just can't even find the motivation to do more than I have to lately.  It's really amazing that I even bothered to take a few minutes and write this down.

I have an appointment with Dr. Edmond tomorrow morning.  I will ask him again about seeing a specialist.  If he wants to up my dosage of methotrexate again I guess I'd let him because I'm not at a high dose.  I will probably also ask him about taking x-rays because no one has done that to me yet.  I also need to know what is causing my body ache because as far as I know arthritis doesn't do that.  I am kind of starting to worry that something else is wrong with me.  🙁

As of now I have a lot of questions and no answers, and I feel like I'm losing my ability to be a functional person.  It's really bumming me out and I hate it.  If I haven't been talking to you all - that's why.  I am putting all of my focus into taking care of things here.  I have very little extra life force left for Facebook these days.  I am sorry for my neglect and I love you.

Yesterday I did pretty much nothing all day and it was amazing.

Yesterday I did pretty much nothing all day and it was amazing.  Shadow is with a friend so I hung out with Shaun and had a very nice time.  Food, Netflix, naps... I just needed that so much.

Since I napped off and on I wasn't really tired until like, ridiculously late this morning.  😂  I eventually did some cleaning before I went to bed - which ending up happening at 5 a.m.  Dad woke me up at 8.  He fixed my car so now I have working brakes again.  YAY for that!

Now everyone is fed, the house looks ok, and I even washed Booka.  I am super drowsy from only sleeping a whopping 3 hours so maybe I will nap some more.  I had planned to photograph some jewelry, but I don't feel like it.  My nails need doing again, but I don't feel like it.  I have some projects around the house that could use my attention, but I don't feel like dealing with that, either.  😂

I think I'm gonna rest up and then see if I have more motivation.  After months of going hard with school and work this whole "relaxation" thing feels foreign, but necessary.  I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts!  Back to work tomorrow and my next classes start Thursday.  English 102 and Math 100!  Making some progress!  😃

Happy Tears! It's Piggy! Look how big she is! ❤❤❤

Happy Tears!  It's Piggy!  Look how big she is!  ❤❤❤