We had a heat wave.  The heat doesn’t do well by me.  It makes my POTS symptoms far worse.  The evenings are somewhat better once it cools off and the sun goes down.  For some one who’s prone to insomnia anyway, getting a bit of energy for the first time at the very end of the day doesn’t really help.  Also there is a mental/emotional component of wanting to have accomplished something, in a household where, let’s face it, there are always things in need of doing.  The heat broke and I slowly started feeling better.  Before I had managed to correct my skewed sleeping habits my body cried fowl and settled me down with a bout of mastitis.  Twice actually. Evidently for best results my body feels I ought not to use it at all day or night.  The second time was a real doozy.  At one point I was hallucinating about masonry architectural details, mostly marble columns and limestone fireplace surrounds.  If I remember correctly (and I may very well not!), I very much wanted to curl up in the fire place surround.  I somehow thought the cool sturdiness of the stone would feel quite good at my back.  The next morning I decided that I’d probably been watching far too much Restoration Home.

Let’s see what else….

Trying to prepare for a big party we are hosting at the end of the month and failing miserably (see above).  There are reports due to the school district for three of the children.  A broken phone.  Issues with our insurance.  Someone stole our entire heating budget- long story- police reports have been filed.  Something broke in Steve’s truck.  I don’t remember what.  I know nothing about cars.  All I know is what the mechanic told us afterwards…that as it broke it severed the break lines.  And I pretty much didn’t hear anything after that.  Well, until the bit about the bill roused me from my shocked and horrified stupor like a refreshing slap to the face.  By the way, supper-dupper fun ride into work for Steve that morning.

Oh, right, and there were the circumstances leading up to this…

Look closely and make sure you get an accurate head count there.  If I’m going to be up in the middle of the night, I suppose I better have company right?  Especially the kind I have to chase around the house before finally trapping between the screen and sliding door of the porch.  I can’t make this stuff up people.  The mouse was actually just a fluke, with the bat being the main target.  I think bats are fascinating, just preferably not in my kitchen please.  All the PETA folks out there will be glad to know that I managed to shimmy the screen door open a bit, without smushing anyone or releasing them back into the house.  So all of the wildlife was able to free itself on it’s own terms, while I went round muttering about moving to the city and taking our chances with the rats.

All of which is to say that I’ve been a wee bit preoccupied….

There have been good things too.  Ordinary, everyday pleasure type of things; baby smiles, sibling laughter, rainy day games, fruits and vegetables ripening, flowers blooming, postcards from my sister in London.  Yesterday I woke up to the sounds of Steve and Màiri Rose working alone together in the garden and chatting away.  So sweet.  Another snippet of conversation from recent days that made me smile…one day when I was ill, Iain very kindly took Seraphina to change her and save me the trip up and down the stairs.  “I am sorry little one, but I am inexperienced with weird baby clothes.”  He then went on and on to Elijah about the mind boggling concept of a dress attached to a onesie.  It made me laugh.  All of the males in my house are completely bewildered by girl clothing.

Some other things I’ve been really thankful for lately….The fresh, crisp breeze that comes in at the windows towards the end of the day.  I love that about the mountains.  It’s just delicious.  And our bedroom!  It’s nearly done and so lovely to be in.  I should take some pictures.