June 29, 2005

Fibromyalgia and Travel need special care

Wow, first off I have to admit to doing something that I never have before and was almost too ashamed to do..... at the airports from curbside check-in to the plane & out to baggage pickup, I requested a wheelchair for me as well as for my Frank. I decided that looks from strangers didn't mean as much to me as me avoiding SEVERE PAIN from walking through the terminal to the gates. (Frank had a stroke and has left side weakness and we usually use a cane; this year he got a wheelchair too because walking kicks in his digestive track which is medicated to make it work and lets just say he needed and made it to fewer bathrooms urgently this way.) And then Frank's son Garrett, 19, just had to keep up with the wheelchair attendants and they really move! It made all the difference, I could handle the flight and the 3 hour drive then without being in the SEVERE PAIN walking that far would cause for me now. And I have to admit, that now that I'm home, I'm reminded that for every day you go out of town and 'overdo' even when you try not to, Fibromyalgia hits hard with fatigue and pain back home. It's been 10 days since we went to Maine and I'm still paying! But it was worth it!!!

We stayed with my stepdaughter in her trailer as planned for 2 nights/3days, then I checked us into the cute motel we usually stay in. The master bedroom was to be our sanctuary and have its own bathroom because of Frank's digestive 'urgencies'; the door to the bathroom didn't even open, the plumbing wasn't hooked up. Strike 1. The one other bathroom in the hall for 5 adults, and 2 potty training kids DID NOT FLUSH AT ALL! The first day an excuse was made and it was cleared a time or two. After that we were told we just needed more time for the tank to fill...nope, no flushing. Then they realized that when they recently moved the trailer to this spot 'stuff' got in the 'lines' and was blocking/backing up the toilet. Everyone had to go on everyone else's discharge===gross. Strike 2. And we were staying with the stepdaughter (raised from 1 and treated as his own), and the biological daughter who was graduating whom we wanted to be sure and get the most visiting in we could, didn't like that we were staying with her sister and the two of them got into a pissing contest/catfight and poor Frank was in the middle, because we were not staying in neutral ground. Strike 3.

So on the 3rd day, I took the rental (free upgrade to Ford Explorer, all they had, yippee!) and was going into town to use a bathroom, and the motel didn't have a 'No Vacancy' sign up. So I pulled in, put down my emergency $ from my mom who is the best mom in the world, got the key went to my room and used the bathroom that worked. I went back and told Frank what I'd done and we knew it would hurt Evie but with his bathroom issues and my increasing disgust/agitation about the bathroom, and the problems he was really feeling being in the middle of the girls' fights, we agreed it was best to go to the motel, which I dubbed Switzerland, a neutral place as home base. Evie cried & cried. We tried to comfort her and stayed til past the kids' bedtime. Then we left and it actually all did work out better with us in the motel.

Being in 'Switzerland' made all the difference in the world! We spent loads of time with Evelyn doing what she wanted..1)take the kids to the 'beach' with us and 2)get a family picture done at Walmart (which was on my list too). We did the beach at 78 degrees and the next day it was 50 degrees!!! Good timing for us! And everyone cooperated and got to the family picture time and we had an early fathers' day celebration that night.

Frank also took a whole day with just Chrystal as Garrett and I went on an excursion and I saw my first lighthouse (we were in Maine), and we each discussed with the kids their request that Garrett stay the summer in Maine, work to pay for his adjusted airfare home, and have the opportunity for the brother and sister to get to know each other; and we went to dinner with just Garrett & Chrystal that night and gave our blessing to his staying. Also Frank spent extra time with Chrystal out with her friends and after her graduation celebrating. I was too beat to go to the reception after the graduation :(. But I was ready for whatever came the next day.

I took about 100 digital photos and have 79 great ones! My passion is photography of family & special events. Once I rested for a couple of days back home, I started editing and printing out the pics and was in 'Hog Heaven' (as we say in Arkansas)!

It was soooo wonderful to be with the girls, Evie's husband, & Chrystal!!!! And soooo hard to leave, and to leave Garrett there. We miss them fiercely right now. It's a tightness in your chest that just aches that we are now a continent away again. :(

Hugs and Blessings, Judy (ps. peek at the pics below)

Chrystal with Daddy, Frank, pregraduation with corsage from Daddy:
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The BEST MEDICINE: Baby love
Me holding adorable Talia, 7 mos. When I close my eyes I can still feel this moment!
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Posted by on June 29, 2005 6:59 AM

Posted by: Twilight princess trailer at May 8, 2008 2:50 PM

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