Feeling better today. I worked out Wednesday night and was very sore yesterday. I went to the doctor and double checked on the chest pain. Things are fine so it is muscle pain -- not a shock, pretty typical for me (I'm a chronic pain person, shh! Don't tell!). I had thought it was not a big deal, but if the pain is shooting I am supposed to check.

This morning was huge for accomplishments.
1. I embarrassed my son at school.
2. I met with a grief counselor.
3. I dropped off thank you notes / gifts at the nursing home my Mom died at.

The details:
1. I dropped off the kids at school today (hubby usually does). I asked my daughter for a kiss goodbye and she reluctantly gave me one. I asked my son and he responded "I'll give you one on mother's day." I told him if he didn't kiss my cheek I'd lay on the floor and cry. Silly boy -- he didn't believe me. Even after I laid on the floor and fake sobbed he didn't crack, so I got up and showered his cheeks with kisses before telling him to have a wonderful day. The kids at the before school program got a huge kick out of it. Maybe my son will realize someday that with me there are no idle threats.

2. I went and saw the grief counselor at the Hospice. It has been 6 weeks tomorrow since she died (cancer). It felt really good to talk to the social worker. She gave me some great perspective and advice on some things that are nagging at me. I go back in two weeks. I feel so much better -- it was great to unload on someone who didn't know my Mom. It was good to tell stories, vent, and cry.

3. I went to the nursing home to drop off thank you notes and these really cool statues. They are Willow Tree angels -- very pretty. They are carved from wood I think -- no faces, just expressive through body positioning. I can't do them justice, google them. They are not tacky or creepy. So anyway, I bought angels for each of the nurses that were there when my Mom died. I wrote them each a longish thank you note being specific about what they did that was a comfort. I needed them to know how important they are. The nurses were amazing in providing comfort and care. They were good to me as well as my Mom. I also included a page with a photo of my Mom and a couple paragraphs about her so that they would know what she was like before she was ill. All of this was hard to do, but needed to be done. I thought dropping them off would be difficult since I have not been back there since that night. It was fine. Wish I had not worried so much.

So, without going into any more detail it was a very productive morning! I am relieved and exhausted. Mother's Day will be hard, but I feel a lot better going into the weekend having accomplished the above.

Wishing you blessings if you choose to read this -- I'm writing for me but would love comments too :)