I've been real sick with pain and the accompanying body backlash from the severe pain levels. Taking my pain meds responsibly, trying to stretch them out as much as possible, but it's really just living in hell. I'm bed bound, essentially, but I have a couple of hours in the afternoon that I'm functional-ish. I managed to work both days this week, though it was hell after I got home.

I've discovered that otc pain meds just don't work for me. Either they don't affect the pain and dull my hearing or they actually increase my pain levels. It's weird. Either way, I'm done with them.

C has a two-day weekend this week, so I'm enjoying his company as much as I can. He's going to take me to the Date Festival later today, which I'm excited about. It's some local thing that's basically a street fair. I LOVE stuff like that.

I made a new, gorgeous friend. We met online, but our interests are so similar that I can't believe our paths never crossed before now. I haven't met her in person yet as she's currently living out of town, but she'll be moving here soon. I intend to take her to the antique car show in spring as well as the two Renaissance festivals because she's a Rennie too!!

Yeah. There she is. Gorgeous, right? Maybe she'll teach me some makeup tricks ;)

I woke up at an odd hour again today because of pain, and when I did I saw that Snake was awake as well and all stretched out in mid-air, like a cobra being charmed. It was funny! The cats, of course, were intrigued.

So that's my life right now. Just trying to make it through the days and taking happiness where I can find it. I sincerely hope we can figure this junk out soon. I don't know how long I can maintain without going all suicidal just from a desperation for relief of some kind.

I've been turning this around and around in my head and heart for the past few days, and I need to just get it out on "paper" so I can think through it... or at least feel it less... or maybe feel it fully. I dunno.

Saturday night, my youngest (bio) sister J called me in tears. She said that she was breaking down and that she couldn't stop crying and she didn't know who to call 'cause Mom wasn't answering her phone so she called me. I was honored, but concerned. As it turns out, she was having a PTSD flashback attack, being assaulted by memories that she had previously been repressing, and she didn't know how to deal with it or how to stop the memories. I talked with her through it and managed to get her calmed down, and we talked for about 2 hours. She didn't want to talk specifics at all, which I totally understand, but she said that she had memories of bad things happening to her. I guess that I just couldn't absorb what she was telling me, so I assumed she was talking about physical abuse and went with that for the rest of the conversation.

R called me in a panic an hour or two later (well, as panicked as he gets, anyway) saying that J had texted him in the course of a text convo they were having that the same thing that happened to me had happened to her. After our conversation and my piecing together the big picture from context clues in our conversation, I fb messaged her and asked outright, "Those memories that are troubling you... are they sexual in nature?" She responded that they were.

Dear god.

Here's the kicker... we share the same molester.

He's her father. Her biological father. I mean, how sick is that?! One thing that I've clung to all these years is that, "Well, at least he was only my step dad." 

She's been disclosing to family members and calling people involved the past few days... trying to make sense of the whole thing, I think, and also to validate her memories. She doesn't trust herself fully, so she needs someone to confirm that she was, in fact, abused and that she's not making it up. We've been in close contact since that night, whether it be through phone call, text, or Facebook chat. I am so glad that I followed the impulse I had recently to reach out to her and establish a deeper bond and to make myself available to her via regular phone calls. When she needed a support and someone to turn to, she had someone who was there for her.

Although I hate the situation with a passion, it did help to boost my professional confidence that I handled her crisis so well. I had no idea that I knew so much! I'm pretty much terrified of dealing with my girls when they're in crisis mode, and I have avoided giving out my phone number for that very reason. Besides my own trepidation, fear of somehow bungling it and damaging them further, and feelings of inadequacy, I know that it takes a lot of energy to deal with someone in an emotional crisis and I don't always have anything to give. I am selfish, I'll admit it. When I'm home, I don't want to be bothered with someone else's problems most of the time. Now, though... my perspective has changed. I realize how much I know, that I can help someone through a crisis... and I feel like my heart has been opened towards my girls a little more now. I have more love for them. It's hard to explain. But I'll be handing out my card with my phone number on it tonight to all of the girls, and I started a Facebook group last week just for them. I'm glad that I am involved in the teen/tween group again. It's not like it was last time when I was drowning, untrained and casting about on my own while battling my own demons without any weapons. I'm in a much stronger place emotionally, the turmoil of my romantic life has died down, and I've gotten some good counseling and experience under my belt. I've also gone through the program myself for a while, and that was worth more than anything in terms of training and learning.

So back to J. R called me while I was traveling the other day, and we urgently hammered out some of the details for me to fly back and be there with the folks for a few weeks next month. Mom will be having a hysterectomy and will be physically out of commission for a while and J needs a good support system more than ever right now. (She was hospitalized for suicidal ideations again last week.) She and I have really, really clicked and connected, and being a survivor of the same kind of abuse from the same abuser puts me in a unique position to minister to her. She sees that my life is good, that I have not only survived but thrived (HJ mission statement plug, lol), and I think that will give her hope. The beginning is hard, but the healing is even harder, and she's got a lot to work through. K was very abusive to her while they were growing up and it has affected her in dramatic ways. I'm trying to convince her to move here to Y with me for a year or two at the least after she graduates high school this year. I think that going through the HJ program with girls her age that are also wonderful, strong, empathetic survivors would hep her avoid a lot of heartache, pain, and dysfunction in the future.

Those are the facts. But the feelings? I guess I'm just numb still. I'm shocked, disgusted, sorrowful... but it's all kind of muted, far-off, tamped down. It'll probably be really intense while I'm there with her. I had restless sleep last night and woke up feeling all gross inside and I know it's because of this. I guess I've just written G off to such a degree that I can't feel anything about him right now, not yet. But I guess the biggest thing I feel is relief. I am relieved that I can do what I've been doing my whole life and rush in to take care of my family and help make things better, make them run smoother. I don't feel so helpless because I was there for J in her hour of need, I had the experience and training necessary to help her through the critical juncture, and I'll be there physically to be a support for her. I'll be there physically to help take care of my family's physical needs while Mom is out of commission (and even while she's not-- I've had reports that she's overwhelmed right now and not doing so well). I can do something, I already have, and that relief trumps everything else. I can't fix it; I know that. But I can help set the bone and make sure the fracture heals clean while the healing takes place.

I guess that I just never thought he would hurt his own kids, you know? Me, obviously. K, maybe. But his kids? They were obviously his favorites. I can't believe that even after all he did to me I still accorded him some measure of decency. Guess I was wrong. I would do a lot of things to make sure he never sees the light of day again... not for me, but for my baby girl, my sweet little sister. God. I can't even assimilate this. How could he? I don't have english words strong enough for my sense of outrage and repulsion. He is her father. I just... I just... I don't know. My heart is broken and inflamed all at once. My baby... he hurt my baby.

When it was just about me, it was excusable. (I know, I know, logic says it's not, but this is what the inner voices say, ok? I'm working on it. Give me a break.) I took the hit so the other kids would be safe. I took care of them, you know? But then when we were all taken away, when they were out of my care, he hurt her. He did bad things to her. There's nothing I could have done to stop it; I know that. But I spent all of these years believing that I had somehow saved the rest of them... that I had done my job as Second Mommy and taken care of my family to the best of my ability. But now I realize that I never could. I was just a kid, and he was a sick adult bent on draining the life and livelihood of those around him for his own selfish purposes. He never cared about us. It was always about him, only about him. This is proof.

There is no "I should have been there", because there is no way I could have been. The situation was out of my hands. I was too busy trying to take care of K and myself, and then Mom when we got back to her. The kids were with their Gramma and Grampa, so of course they were safe! They were taken care of. I didn't have to worry. Because, I mean, of course he singled me out... I was the oldest. The blonde one. The one that looked different. They were his. He doted on them. He'd take care of them, even if he despised K and I.

I was wrong.

But I can take care of her now. I can help. I can't change what happened, but I can change what happens from here on out... and I'm going to take care of my baby.

Hell hath no fury like that of a woman whose loved ones have been hurt.

Well, today we're off to see the wizard... if the wizard were a neurologist in a specialty clinic at a hospital several hours away. We (another couple plus C and I) will be driving up tonight and spending the night with a friend of mine from childhood so we can make our appointments with ease. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, since it's been at least 10 years, plus it will be nice to not have to leave my city of origin at 3 am to make my appointment on time.

I'll be packing light, but even when I take very few personal belongings I end up with a whole pile of baggage simply due to the illness accessories I must cart around with me, particularly food. Where other people can plan to simply grab food on the way, I have to plan for every. single. meal. and bring all of the necessary boxes, bags, tupperware containers, and extra ingredients. Not to mention that I also have to lug along a cooler for whatever needs to be kept refrigerated. It's kind of annoying, because I always feel like "that girl" who brings a full 3 piece set of luggage for an overnight trip, but it is what it is. It's not like I can just choose not to bring the stuff. Did I mention that I have problems with being self-conscious about silly stuff?

I'm looking forward to the trip, if only because I like to travel and take road trips, but I really am looking forward to seeing this neurologist. I hope that (s)he can provide me with some clues at least, if not full-blown answers.

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start
They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
Didn't know I was lost

So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
Didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans
Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is a prize

So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
Didn't know I was lost

So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
I didn't know I was lost

I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know

I had quite the social, busy weekend (comparatively). C's rigorous run of scheduled overtime is over for now, so he's back to having two whole days off in a row, which means I get double the amount of time with him that I've had of late. It felt so luxurious! Anyway, I already wrote about our fabulous Normal Day on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday were good days, too.

Saturday we didn't do much of anything except grocery shop and then hang out around the house doing our own various things. C played Guild Wars 2, I read book 2 of the Demon Cycle series again, and then our friends came over for the Pathfinder session M is running. C is still pleased that I finally joined him in playing DnD (I know, I know, Pathfinder isn't technically DnD, but whatever, ok purists?), so even during the times when I am tired and don't really feel like playing I do anyway, if just to make him happy. I usually find that I end up enjoying myself after all, so it's a pretty win-win situation.

This weekend, though, our friends brought a new girl with them, A. She and non-DM M and I had a hard time shutting up and actually playing, much to the annoyance of the guys. Ah well. They can suck it. Now they know how it feels when they are gabbering incessantly about DnD stuff when we just want to have normal conversations. We played for a few hours, then I ran off to get ready for my "date" with a girlfriend of mine. There was an after-Halloween costume party at a couple of bars in Old Town, so we suited up and headed out. I'd never been to a bar with a friend before, and guess what? It's totally boring. Neither of us drink, and I don't dance, so we just kind of explored the building, watched other people dance and drink for a few minutes, then decided to go somewhere and have tea. We ended up at this cool little 50's style diner that's been around forever, yet I've never been inside until that night. She had tea, but I fell hard for their vanilla cola, which is basically regular Coke with a few squirts of their vanilla syrup thrown in. It was much sweeter than store bought Vanilla Coke, and I loved it. We sat and talked for probably about 3 hours, discussing our lives, telling funny stories, learning about one another and how we both intimidated each other at first (sound familiar, J?) and didn't think that the other wanted to be our friend (again, sound familiar?)... we also told stories on the two guys, C and D, 'cause she and D have been friends since pre-school and even dated at one point. Needless to say, she knows him well and hilariously. He and C are pretty similar, so I'm almost surprised that they get along as well as they do. Familiarity breeds contempt and all that. It was a good, fun time, and I feel that we made a big step forward in our friendship.

The next day, I wasn't near as sick or drained as I thought that I would be after the activities of the previous two days which was excellent. A came over and brought both sets of Batman series movies, and we watched the only one I hadn't seen yet, The Dark Knight. C and I watched about half of The Dark Knight Rises when he got home, and a lot of stuff made so much more sense after seeing The Dark Knight! Anyway, while we were watching the movie A was struck with a craving for steak, so she zipped to the store and then cooked up some steak for the both of us, leaving a tidy little portion in the fridge for C who was pleasantly surprised when he came home from work. I ended up taking two couple-hour naps yesterday, but I was able to do some yoga, stretching, and brief (very) light exercises last night, even after socializing for several hours. I did feel it later, though, when I was unable to do as many of the dishes as I wanted because I was in too much pain to stand.

Today I cleaned the kitchen, though I'm definitely feeling the backlash from that and need to be careful not to overdo it. The nausea that I had been so overwhelmed with has eased up the past few days, and I'm so grateful for the good days that I had. I don't want to overcompensate and make myself sick, but neither do I want to fritter away the days that I can step up and maybe do a little more. I want to push myself, to refuse to give up, but yet to be wise and a good steward of my health. It's all a fine balancing act... and the rules seem to change day by day. Good thing I'm resilient and adaptable.

Today, I felt like a normal person.

Not that I didn't feel sick; that's just silly. But the activities of the day had me reminiscing of a time when I thought nothing of going out for an evening with C, whereas now it's become a special treat.

It started this morning/afternoon, when I opened the door to let Juneaux into the bedroom to wake up C, and he rolled over and gestured to me while mumbling, "Come here, woman." I lay down with him and cuddled up close, and we dozed comfortably for a time. Then the dozing turned to nuzzling and kissing, which of course led to other more "adult" activities. (I love being married with a house of our own. It's nice to just jump each other whenever we want.) C jumped on the computer to finish the daily missions for Guild Wars 2 and I ate lunch while reading through a favorite book. C was still working on his dailies when I was done eating, so I went down for a nap.

When he was done, he came and got me and I pulled my supplies together for our evening errands and planned fun. We went to see Ender's Game! We've both read the book and love sci-fi, so we've been eager to see the movie adaptation... as wary as I am of movie adaptations of books. I was pleasantly surprised, though. I think they did a good job. We both wished that they had more time, though, because it just felt very abbreviated in many places. It was good, but I don't think it does the book justice. Not like The Hunger Games did. Anyway, we watched the movie and then went for a walk around the mall afterward. The air was surprisingly warm, yet with a hint of coolness that reminded me that fall is upon us. We stopped in a game store and an electronics store to browse a bit, then swung by the pharmacy on the way home to pick up one of my scripts, fill up my water jugs, and grab some more lavender bath salts for me. There is a bookstore just down the row from my pharmacy, so C suggested we go in and look around, and I readily agreed. I popped into the coffee shop and got a caramel macchiato, and it turned out to be happy hour so I got another coffee drink for free! I picked out a cafe latte with a shot of hazelnut syrup, meaning to save it for tomorrow, but I ended up drinking them both while we browsed together.

I had been thinking lately about a particular person that I worked with at the beginning of my judicial process after disclosing my sexual abuse, Detective M. I thought I might see her at the Vigil, and I did see someone that looked similar to her, but she did not show. Imagine my surprise when I turned into an aisle of the bookstore and found her standing there! We had a nice little chat, and we met each other's husbands. She is really happy that I'm working with E and that the HJ is doing so well. She explained that she deals with enough of the darkness of abuse without dealing with the aftermath of the emotions, which is why she avoids the vigils and extracurricular stuff, which I totally understand. I was happy to have run into her. She's a very pleasant person, and I like her.

After leaving the bookstore, we stopped by the library on the way home so that I could return a few books and movies, then headed home. C was playing one of my favorite cd's on the radio and I was singing along. We held hands while he drove, as we are wont to do. I thanked him for the evening several times, because it was just so... normal. I felt like a "real" person again, out for a low-key evening of enjoyment with my husband. It was like the kind of dates that we used to go on, and it was even sort of spur of the moment, a rarity these days.

Tomorrow I have plans as well. We're going to be continuing our Pathfinder campaign, of course, but then another of my friends and I are going to dress up in costume and visit a local bar that's having a post-Halloween fling. Neither of us drink, really, but we're looking forward to dressing up and going out. (Actually, I can't drink, 'cause of the meds.) We won't be out long, I'm sure, but it'll be a fun experience. I've never gone out to a bar with friends before, so this'll be a new experience. I plan to go as a beauty pageant queen, especially because the dress I have for that requires no bra! That's a major win in my book.

I've had some disappointments lately in trying to make new friends, and I've been quite lonely. I don't want to hang out with everyone that I know, as some people are just not good company or they're energy drainers or I just don't want to be around them for a length of time for one reason or another. My efforts to make new friends, though, have been falling flat on their faces. I was flat out called offensive and told goodbye by a girl that I was trying to set up a first meeting with. Another girl and I connected really well and talked practically nonstop via email and text for a week before meeting up for dinner, which went well, I thought. After that, though, she just stopped responding to my texts and emails, and I don't know what the heck happened. Another girl that I was supposed to meet up with stopped returning my emails, as well as one who was just looking for an email buddy. All this within a few weeks, and to be honest... it was hurtful and bewildering. I felt so rejected and unlikeable... so I said as much on facebook. I got an overwhelming show of confidence from friends near and far, and some of my friends/acquaintances here in Y are trying to help alleviate my loneliness. Hence the bar tomorrow night. Unfortunately, some of those people that are taking it upon themselves to alleviate my loneliness are people that I don't actually want to hang out with for the reasons stated above... but I really see no way out of it, since I stated my loneliness quite clearly and publicly. I can't just turn around and say, "Yeah, well, I don't really want to hang out with you!", can I? It feels extremely rude to turn them down. So... yeah. Got myself into a little of a pickle there.

Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed today's activities, and I'm savoring the fact that I actually have plans with a friend tomorrow! It just feels so... normal. So blessedly, blissfully normal.

Yeah, I know I'm going to pay for this weekend in no small way (I'm already really feeling it from our outing this evening), but in my mind it's totally worth it. Totally. I wish I didn't have to pay a price to engage in the semblance of a social life, but it is what it is. I'll embrace the joy and survive the fallout, as always.

Today is definitely a rest day. I've been napping up a storm the past week or so, especially since I had that really rough day without the meds. I've spent the last few days trying to recover from that, but I pushed it too hard and went down yesterday. The awards ceremony really took it out of me, and yesterday when I met up with E for a lunch meeting followed by work, I almost passed out in the restaurant. I was soooo sick.. apparently I went whiter than a sheet, and I barely made it out the front doors to the car. I had to leave my car there while she drove me home, and needless to say we didn't get to work that day. (No paycheck this week. Bummer.) She called me today, worried like crazy, but I assured her that I am alright. Apparently she had a panic attack on the way home, she was so worried, and she was talking about it with her husband (who adores me like I'm one of his own, and I totally love him too). Poor E. I did just what she said and rested as soon as I got home, though. I spent the rest of the day in bed feeling pretty lame after sleeping a few hours, and I've done the same today. Just woke up from another 4 or 5 hour nap. Sleep is nice. It keeps me from hurting while I'm doing it lol. Also, I haven't been sleeping well due to nightmares and increased pain at night, so I often wake up after a few hours, stay up with C until he goes to sleep, then crash out again with him. It's nice to be able to spend so much time with him, though!

I sincerely hope that this passing out thing is just a fluke, a product of overextending myself and using up all of my resources, rather than a new symptom come to torment me. I've been struggling with lightheadedness and fatigue for some time now, but this is new... and really, really unpleasant. Truth be told, it's terrifying. I'm scared to leave my house now. What if it happens while I'm driving? While I'm out and about on my own? Bad enough that I never know when a twitching fit is going to strike, but now this? I'm scared that it's a sign that my body has taken another step on the road to breaking down. Maybe I'm a hypochondriac, but dysautonomia was the first thing that came to mind. Of course. lol. But then, how can you not be a hypochondriac of sorts when you don't know exactly what's wrong with you and you've got a whole buffet of symptoms at your disposal that could point to a bagillion things? Yep. You just roll with it and keep your fears to yourself... and then spill them onto your blog. Heh.

I broached the topic of guilt with E while we were driving home yesterday. She put me in my place for even daring to compare her sickness and mine, vehemently stating that she deals with a different illness with different symptoms and she has to take care of herself in different ways. She said there was nothing to apologize for when I told her that I was sorry I couldn't work and that I was sick, and she told me not to ever apologize for that again. I love that woman. I explained to her my guilt about her working so much and being so sick, yet I can't/don't/won't. She just shook her head and said that she has to see the HJ grow. I brought up my theory about that being what she has to do to survive, but it's not me.. and she kinda agreed. Like, the HJ is her baby. In the big picture, she has to see it grow and flourish. It is necessary to her personal well being, even if that means putting up with sickness in the meantime. I want to see it grow and flourish, too, but it's just not the same. And so she has to hid her sickness in a way that I don't have to, because she's being watched by certain people and agencies in the community and they will strike at any perceived weakness. One thing I do know, though, is that she would be far sicker without me. I help her a ton, and we help support one another. We hold each other up. So my guilt is alleviated. We both survive on our own terms, and mine isn't wrong... just different.

On a happier note, J officially booked the ticket that will take me to her family's home so we can spend Christmas together! Bwaaaaaaah! I'm so excited. We haven't seen each other since... since... like, spring of 2012. It's been a year and a half, abouts. Far too long. But distance cannot separate the hearts of true roommates! Haha. Anyway, her parents are being super generous and buying me a ticket to fly out there, then she and her mom and I will drive back to Y and drop me off before they continue north to see J's uncle and J flies back home. I still am having a hard time absorbing the reality of this. I mean... that is so incredibly generous and kind of Uncle S and Auntie C. I just... wow. Wow. Like, what did I do to deserve this? Makin' their daughter happy, probably. lol.

Coraline has become quite brave and comes into C's man cave with no trepidation, rubbing up against C's computer chair and accepting petting from him. This, from the cat that fled to the other end of the house at eye contact with him just a week and a half ago. It's because she and I bonded well, she trusts me, and so when I "lured" her into C's room while he was in there she trusted that it was ok. After the initial exploration of trepidation, she's a bold little bugger. Her favorite new toys are a pink eraser and a white board eraser. She plays with those things with such ferocity and focus... it's adorable! I am keeping both kitties inside today, though, especially Coraline the black. People do sick things to cats on Halloween, especially black cats. I'm sad to say that this is the case, but you just work with the reality you've got.

I made a tentative friend through an online forum, and C and I are going to meet her for the first time tomorrow. I've been looking for female friends in my community, since most of the friends I have are guys, and all of my good girlfriends are eons away. I'm lonely for ladies. However, it's not like I can "get out" and make friends, so I am cautiously trying the internet. Taking C with me is a good precaution, I feel. I have a good sense for creepers and so does C, so if anything's off the odds are that we'll notice. Plus we're meeting in a public place, so that's much safer. I hope it pans out! As much as I'm an introvert, I do miss having friends over just to chill now and then. I kinda wish I was well enough to do something for Halloween. I miss dressing up, mostly because it's fun and I love the theatric, but also because of the social aspect. If I were feeling ok, I might even try a bar this year, just to see what all the fuss is about. Not like I can drink anyway. But eh... I'm going to keep the porch light off, ignore the knocks. We didn't buy any candy, and I do not have the energy to get up and down answering the door every few minutes. I wish that I had The Nightmare Before Christmas to watch, though. I love that movie... C hates it. He and his brother are both super freaked out by claymation. Funny fear, right? Anyway, today's the perfect day to watch, especially with C at work. It's a family favorite. I have so very many pleasant memories associated with that movie... very nostalgic. I like nostalgia.