Lately, I’ve been thinking something is wrong with me. I’m tired. Not tired, like “Oh, I have to go to bed earlier,” tired. I’m unspeakably, can’t keep my eyes open, slipping under water type of tired, every day by about 11 a.m. I’ve seriously been getting ready to call my doctor and get some blood work or a methamphetamine shot, or whatever it is they do to people who can’t maintain consciousness.
Because I have serious fucking food issues and no longer eat — how do I not weigh 20 lbs. by now? — I started thinking it might be that I’m lacking something nutritionally. I also get worn out when I’m stressed, so I’ve also considered that maybe it was something situational.
Today I made a list of everything that happens in a day to see if I could determine where the issue might stem from. If you see anything that jumps out at you as a possible cause for my interminable exhaustion, please email me or leave it in the comments. I’m stumped.
Okay, here’s a partial of the list:
Devil Dog woke up screaming, because he peed straight through his pjs.
I changed him, he kicked me.
I threw a bowl of Cheerios at him.
I started my first piece of the day for Evil Beet.
I ignored DD screeching at me because I had Veruca’s blanket wrapped around me. “It’s not yours! It’s not yours!”
Veruca awoke and regaled me with detailed descriptions of all her dreams. All fifteen, princess-laden dreams.
She screeched at me because I had her blanket wrapped around me. “It’s mine! It’s mine!”
I threw Cheerios at her.
I dealt with a coder that is doing some work for me for Mommytopia.
I continued writing for EB.
I peed.
I did a few things on Well Honestly Now.
Aspie woke up. Thankfully he feeds himself.
He got dressed and spent five minutes discussing his ensemble with me. Did it look okay? Does he look older and taller? He felt he did.
I did some work on Surviving Celiac.
I made two pb&j sandwiches (I make one for V and DD at the same time I make Aspie’s).
I emptied the dishwasher. I restacked the dishwasher.
I answered endless questions posed by Veruca: What would happen if she was thrown in lava? Would she be able to get out of lava? Why did Aspie tell her that if she was thrown in lava, “that would be the end of me?”
I finished writing my first piece of the day for Evil Beet.
I drank half a protein shake.
I set up dolls and Legos for Veruca and Devil Dog to play with.
I disarmed DD as he was using barbies to beat V about the head.
I contemplated whether a handful of stale Fritos made a suitable breakfast. I determined that they did.
I pulled Devil Dog off of Veruca as he was standing on top of her, while she was pinned to the floor, face down.
I put DD in a time out.
I told Veruca to watch a movie.
I released DD from time out.
I broke up a fist fight between DD and Veruca as they tried to decide to what movie to watch.
I yelled at Veruca for going through my nightstand table contents.
I yelled at Devil Dog for smearing Desitin on my sheets.
I returned about twenty e-mails from people who read this and were quite upset with me, thinking that I quit my job.
I started my second piece for Evil Beet.
I nodded while Aspie complained about the cold weather, while he concluded that God must be on vacation since he was neglecting his earth-warming duties.
I took a phone call.
I continued to work on my second piece for Evil Beet
I listened as Aspie spent ten minutes explaining something Star Wars related, to me. I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t really know what he was talking about, because I don’t really listen to my kids that much.
I looked at the clock.
It was 8:29 a.m.
Thoughts?
oh my goodness, wendie…you deserve a trophy or a vacation or a full-time nanny or a full-time masseuse. or all four.
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admin Reply:
June 11th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I. Agree.
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I’m EXHAUSTED from this… and it is still 8:29 am?? LOLOLOLOL I threw Apple Jacks at kids today.. we have something in common…
Love the LAVA issues!
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Oh my god. Its like 3am here and that alone makes me want to sleep. And get my tubes tied. and his. Just to make extra sure. Jesus woman. Eat more than fritos because even something healthy like eggs and toast, will keep you awake. And drink coffee. Lordy, I don’t know how you do it.
One word, maybe two depending… DAYCARE.
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I agree, you need someone to help you with the kiddos occasionally. Otherwise you will start neglecting your children AND your job. At least that’s what happened to me when I was trying to do school without a babysitter. I remember the moment when I finally admitted to myself that I could. not. do. it. all. And I wasn’t even having the scary medical issues that you are! I feel for ya girl. It sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate! Take care of yourself because your family (and fans) need you!
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Oh my goodness, I got tired from reading this! You seriously need some help.
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Amateur.
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LOL Thats is so my day as well.. without the writing! As for the feeling tired I would get your iron levels checked out or maybe a vitamin b deficiency. As a Mum you need to take care of yourself because no one else will
Its a pity I live in Australia because I think our kids would get on so great!
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No matter what generation, lava always has been and always will be an important and scary issue for kids.
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Moxygirl Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
LOL!
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OMG hun…you need to have a break and some ‘you’ time. I know how tired little ones can make you…and I am sure the eating thing isnt helping. hang in there….try to get someone to watch the kids for a few hours and go and do something for you! You deserve it.
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Yeah I’m thinking a 1/2 a protein shake and a handful of fritos isn’t probably enough nutrition or vitamins to get you through until 9:29 am let alone lunch time.
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Isn’t parenting fun?
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I agree on the nutritionally defunct 1/2 protein shake and fritos AND that you need to get some time away from the kiddos! My daughter and I would not be alive today if I had to spend the entire day with her when she was younger! Are there older kids in the neighborhood that are out for the summer? Maybe you could have one come over for a few hours a day and occupy the kids while you get some time to decompress.
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Alice Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
That’s a good idea. I’ve been doing that with the new neighbors this summer and it’s awesome. I even send all the kids to her house some days and that’s even better! But that’s all dependent on having cool neighbors with good kids, otherwise it could be a nightmare.
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admin Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
My neighbors suck. But I am going away this weekend and I’m not bringing a computer or my kids.
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GOD BLESS YOU!! No offense but I sighed in relief thanking my lucky stars I don’t have kids. I don’t think I could ever develop the patience to deal with them. I pray for every parent outh there. This makes me want to kiss my mom, LOL. Any hoo, I have had this problem myself lately being extermly tired. I’m not a doctor, but just reading your morning I would say you are mentally and physically exhausted. You need lots of rest, I would also stay away from the frito/protien breakfast. Try eating meal bars around or meal replacement shakes. These offer everything your body needs if their is no time in the morning. If it is possible try going to bed earlier. I would try that for a week or two and see if there is a difference, if not then start considering the doctors. It could be believe it or not mono. If you also take birth control certain pills can make you feel very, very run down. Like I said I’m not a doctor but these are a few of things that I considered when I was feeling like this. I hope it helped a little bit.
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admin Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Yeah…a protein shake seems like it might be somethinbg I need to commit to.
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Is fruit safe for you to eat? It’s a natural sugar. Maybe you could bend time and space so that you actually have time to make yourself some gf oatmeal and fruit cookies to eat for breakfast. Without the kids seeing, of course. Can you get gf oatmeal at stores where you are?
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admin Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
The fruit is okay. Natural sugar makes me crazy, but since I’m already kind of there… xo
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As I am thankfully (no offense), not a mother a three, I cannot truly understand the exhaustion that comes from it.
However, seeing as how reading that made me feel drained, I’m gonna go with Kids for $300. I’m also with everyone that thinks you might want to just eat breakfast. LOL.
A quick thing you can do for yourself, is when you get a couple moments of peace, get lotsa fruit/natural energy powders/extra vitamins (perhaps the iron everyone’s suggesting?) and then separate them into ziploc baggies, throw those in the freezer and then every morning, rip a bag out, put that shit in the blender with some yogurt and at least you got some natural goodness going your way. The beautiful thing about smoothies is that they’re portable and fast! And you can prepare the baggies ahead of time and freeze em for weeks and weeks. You can mix it up and throw in one of those chocolate breakfast powder things too.
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admin Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
That’s actually a pretty frigging brilliant idea.
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I can’t imagine how shitty it must be to be so restricted by your body’s food intolerances.
You mentioned that you haven’t been eating at all…have you lost a lot of weight? Are you getting enough iron?
I’ve struggled with anemia over the years and that is always how I felt…exhausted beyond description. I remember being so tired I would fall asleep at traffic lights. It was all I could do to just get home and drag my sorry carcass up to bed.
You also just had mouth surgery, correct? Between not eating, the kids, and recovering from surgery your poor little body is probably certifiably spent. Do nothing but treat yourself this weekend. Eat what you can. Sleep a lot and then go get some blood work done when you get back–just to make sure your not deficient in anything other then rest. And sanity.
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Wendie Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I wish I was losing. My metabolism is at a complete standstill.
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Moxygirl Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Have they checked your thyroid?
PS–forget those losers, you are a GREAT mom, Wendie.
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Make sure you’re getting your vitamins! Years of Celiac will cause you to not absorb them as well. B12, D3, etc. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
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get your thyroid tested! thyroid thyroid thyroid!
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Karin Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 7:54 am
I totally agree with this, Wendie…It could explain a lot.
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Wendie~
You are a great mom, your life sounds just as mine used to be when my kids were that small. They will go to kindergaren soon and then you will get a break. Have you had your iron checked? Not the prick your finger kind but the draw blood kind. Ask next dr visist. Muah.
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So I know this is an old post, but people w/ digestive diseases often have vitamin deficiences (esp. B-12) b/c they aren’t absorbed properly and/or they’re just not getting enough. It’s worth asking about, I guess! Good luck
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