Hello to all - wishing you a very Happy New Year.
2011 was a tough one for our family and we worked hard together and with the support of our extended family to keep afloat. We were and are very blessed with having parents and siblings who support us and love us and do everything they can for us. For that I thank you.
I thought I would recap some of the things (that I can remember) about the past year.
January 1st was rainy just as it is today. I remember going to Darlington Park for some family pictures. One of the best pictures ever taken of Craig was taken that day. We had high hopes for the coming year.
In February I started getting sick and by April I was on disability from work. At the time we had thought I had had a nervous breakdown and I spent many months working to get better.
In July Jessica and the girlies came and spent 10 days with us. It was magical and lovely and we had a great time.
In August mom and dad came for two weeks and stayed with us and I loved it. It was just what the doctor ordered. I needed some care from my mom and dad and they never, not even for a moment, let me down. I wasn't working and was able to spend a lot of time with them. Also in August, Stan and Shirley came and spent a week with us. It was such a treat to have them here. They took the pressure off of me and were a wonderful help.
In September Kaedo started grade 7 and Sterling started grade 8. I started a day treatment program for 6 weeks and while it was hard and a lot of tears were shed, it was good and I learned a lot about myself.
In October we got confirmation that mom and dad and Jessica and the girlies would be here to spend Christmas with us. I was so excited.
In November I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and while it was a shock, it brought all my struggles into focus. I felt I was able to put the pieces together. Things that had been going on for 25 years suddenly became clear.
In December mom and dad arrived early for our Christmas celebration and we were able to spend 10 days together. Closer to Christmas Jessica and the girlies arrived and we celebrated in grand style. They all left for the warmer climates on the 28th and now we are back to being four.
Yesterday the boys bought new cell phones with their Christmas money and have been playing away with them, texting their friends, downloading apps and having fun. Last night we ate treats and sat around and watched 'MacGyver' on DVD. Wonderful show from the 80s which the kids think is cheesy but Craig and I love. After that we cracked open 'Dance Party 3' for the xBox and had a lot of laughs trying to outdo each other with our stylin' moves. We rang in the new year 2 minutes late and by 12:30am we were in bed. It was a wonderful evening.
Today we were going to do some pictures but no one is interested in the pouring rain. Maybe tomorrow.
Many more things happened this year but these are the ones that stick in my head. I know the Internet is public and that anyone can access this blog just by googling it but I felt that for the new year I needed to put it out there. I needed people to know that yes, I have a mental illness BUT it DOES NOT have me. Am I different? Yes, a little. Am I still me? Yes, a lot. I have fought hard for 'piece of mind' and battled the stigma and loss of self-worth I have put upon myself for so many years. This is not a new battle. It is 25 years in the making. This year I hope to get much better, hope to get back to work, hope to live a full life, hope to educate others about mental illness.
So for those of you close to me who have held my hand while I've cried, shared in my happiness, knocked down those walls, I love you. I truly don't know what this past year would have been like without you.
2012 is a big year - I can feel it. I hope you can too.
2 comments:
Happy New Year!
2011 was a very tough year for you and we are so thrilled with the way you have fought against this illness overtaking you. You are sooooo strong although I know you don't feel that way most of the time. You would be a wonderful advocate for people with mental illness as you "present well". I know it's an expression that you sometimes feel puts you at a disadvantage, but really, it is the truth. That type of presentation can help others. Unfortunately, it doesn't always help you.
The beauty of 2011 is that we were able to spend two distinct times with you and we know that it was a plus. Add to the mix, Stan and Shirley plus Jessica and the girls, and we're sure you did feel surrounded by people that only care about your well being.
2012 will be the year of the plus, except for those bratty kids getting androids so now we can't BBM them now. Maybe that was the idea.
We look forward to seeing you in May and spending some time with you in August. It looks like we'll be driving to Vegas in June as the flights are really high. Two other families will drive also. The price of a ticket doesn't seem too high until you multiply it by four or five.
The RV park we are in here in Tampa is wonderful. Great pool, great people and a great ambiance. Don't want to fall in love with it too much as our plan is to leave at the end of the month. Lots of things to do here as a way of getting to know other people. Jessica and the girls went to the New Years Eve dance last night and danced up a storm for a whole half hour. We absolutely vegged today but will go sightseeing tomorrow. It is supposed to be a little cooler which will be great for sleeping. At 5.11 pm we are sitting out in shorts and short sleeves, the weather being perfect. This truly is a fabulous place. There is a resident alligator but we haven't seen him yet. We did find a snake skin that had been shed, eye holes and all, quite fascinating.
2012 will be a very positive year, we can feel it. Let's forget about 2011, the past is gone.
Love to all
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AS WELL!
2011 was a tough year for you and your family BUT you made it through it and we are always, always here for all of you anytime! We love you so much as well.
Your year went by with lots of things happening just about every month and when one does look back on the calendar, it's no wonder the year just flys by.
It was great wishing you and your family HAPPY NEW YEAR - thought for awhile that the boys must not have made it because we told them to call at 12:00 if they were still awake and it was 12:20 - loved seeing EVERYONE!! We had a fun time with Robert & Barb and Gord & Sandra and had lots of laughs bringing in the New Year. They left around 2:30 a.m.!! and we cleaned up "stuff" and hit the sack close to 3:00 a.m. We got up early (well 9:00 a.m.) to go to Gord & Sandra's church because Curtis was preaching there. There was a hockey game starting at 4:00 p.m. and then Betty Anne & Gerry had come down so they wanted to meet for supper after hockey game. We went to Houston's for supper around 7:00 p.m. and they couldn't make reservations so we didn't get sitting down till around 7:30 and were the last to leave there (doors closed at 8:00 p.m.) We went over to Leonard & Sheila's and visited till 11:15. I was the first to say - got to get home! We got a phone call at 8:30 a.m. from Uncle Ike - didn't answer and then the phone rang at 10:00 a.m. and we couldn't believe it was so late. Needless to say, we haven't got much done today and it seems like football is on all afternoon so I will probably curl up with my book.
BIG HUGS TO ALL!
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