Last week wasn’t exactly like I’d envisioned.
It was a quiet week and there were a lot fewer responsibilities than I usually have, but Kaitlynn was so sick for most of the week that I spent a lot of time in the cabin with her or at the doctor’s with her. And then I got sick with the stomach flu on Friday evening and it’s taken me until today to start really feeling back to more of my normal self again.
But it was good to get away — despite the sickness. I had a lot of time to think, process, and view my life and priorities from a more objective standpoint. And I came home feeling renewed and refreshed, albeit it nauseated! 🙂
At any rate, I basically set most of my six goals for last week on the back burner. Caring for my sick daughter and then trying to get well myself were my top priorities.
{By the way, I’m SO thankful that Kaitlynn is finally almost 100% back to normal again! She was such a trooper through the IV, bloodwork, and throwing up more times than I can count. She’s a brave girl and I’m so thankful and relieved that it appears she just had a really bad case of the stomach flu plus a UTI.
I usually am not a worrier and don’t get easily stressed, but I was so concerned about her last week that I think I spent all week living on pins and needles. It made me appreciate anew those of you who deal with special needs children and/or children who have longterm illnesses. You are amazing and I have no idea how you do it — but I will be praying for you with a much greater fervency now that I’ve experienced a tiny little drop of what you must experience on a daily basis.}
Now that we’re finally almost all well (and hoping that no one else comes down with it!), I’m ready to jump back into life and plugging away at my goals again.
Here are my 10 goals for this week:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Finish reading Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Runner aloud to the children.
2. Continue with swimming lessons for all three children.
Personal Goals
3. Finish reading Beyond Bath Time plus one other book.
4. Sleep for at least 7.5 to 8 hours every night.
5. Continue on with the Choosing Gratitude 30-Day Devotional.
6. Exercise at least five times.
7. Finish listening to Stop Acting Rich.
Homemaking Goals
8. Organize my top dresser drawer.
9. Try at least two new recipes.
Business Goals
10. Edit and submit an article for publication on RooMag.com.
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!
You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Shirley@motivatedmommyoftwo says
Hello Crystal, I do the 10 weekly goals on my blog and I wanted to know if this is something that I can co-host with you. I have a couple of my readers asking if this is a link up that I do or if I host a link party. Let me know if this is something that you might be interested in. I know that my 10 weekly goals get a lot of feedback when I do them.
Thanks looking forward to hearing from you
Crystal says
Feel free to email so we can chat! Thanks so much!
Stacy @ A Delightful Home says
So sorry you and your daughter were sick on your trip! That sounds miserable. Glad everyone is feeling better.
I wanted to ask where you keep your weekly goals so you don’t forget them. On your phone, computer, binder, the wall? (Sorry if you’ve answered this already!)
Michelle says
We are so blessed that our two special needs babes (our 6 year old DD with Down syndrome and our 3 year old DD with cerebral palsy) are generally healthy that I feel we should say extra prayers of thanks for that alone!
It is sometimes hard to set goals amongs the therapies, doctors visits and whatnot. We are also challenged to live an “ordinary” life for our two older children (DD 10 and DS 9) so that their lives are not overwhelmed by the needs of their sisters.
My goals for today are to list 5 things I’m thankful for today … and to spend at least 10-15 minutes of quality, one-on-one time with each of my children … and my dearest husband!
Shelly@Frugal Family Home says
I did not get any goals posted this week. We had quite the week last week. My son ended up in the hospital for a week. It was quite a week and I know all too well the pins and needles feeling you describe. It is hard when the doctors are doing all they can but things are getting worse instead of better. Finally a different medication slowed down his seizures. Even though this experience was so hard and scary we may be one step closer to a diagnosis of what genetic disease my kids have. It would be wonderful to know what we are fighting and have a better idea of how to help the kids.
So this week will be the basics and holding my son. Trying to get him back to walking and sitting on his own. I am hopeful he will be adjusted to the medication later this week and be back to more of his normal self.
I am glad your daughter is doing better and I hope you are fully recovered soon.
Michele says
My thoughts are with you. I hope you find out some answers soon – that must be quite frustrating. Glad you found something that helped him after what must have been a very trying week. ((hugs))
Shelly says
Thanks Michele. We have been waiting for answers almost 15 years( when my daughter first became sick) but with each crisis we get one step closer to figuring it out. We are hopeful for an answer but so thankful our son is doing better.
Linda says
So glad your family is feeling better and so sorry to hear it happened on your much deserved vacation. I too was moved by your thoughts and prayers for those of us who have to deal with special needs family and chronic health issues. It is very stressful on not only the parents but on the siblings of the family as well. I would like to encourage your very thoughtful readers to challenge themselves to continually take their thoughts and much needed prayers one step further. Can you offer to pick something up at the store or drop off fresh fruit to a family who can’t easily get out. Can you offer to watch their child for an hour so the family can attend a church service together? Can you encourage your children to play with or near a SN child ( to draw in the child into the play, ie. let the ball roll near the child to see if he will join the play)? Being INCLUDED is so important not only for the child but even more important for the parents and siblings to feel ACCEPTED. Although the family may turn down your gesture, I can assure you first hand that the gesture will touch their heart. I will be so bold to encourage your readers to add “reaching out” to their personal/family goal list.
Crystal says
I love this! Thanks so much for sharing — such great advice and encouragement! One of daughters’ friends is special needs and we’ve had such fun spending time with her, encouraging our daughters to reach out to her, cheering on her milestones and progress, etc. Our whole family just loves this little girl to pieces!
{And by the way, Reaching Out is a category on our goal list — and something I set goals for every week, just one of the goal areas I’ve chosen not to share on my public goal list right now for a variety of reasons. The main reason is because many of the Reaching Out things I do happen to be for people who read my blog and it just felt weird for them to know they were on my goal list… like I’m doing this or that for them so I can check it off my list, you know what I mean?}
Erin @ My Mommy World says
I’m so glad to hear that you are both feeling better! Stomach flu is the worst 🙁
Ashley says
“Beyond Bath Time” looks great! It’s now been added to my to read list! Thanks!!!
jody says
To chime in with the others…as a mom to a child with special needs…thank you for the acknowledgement and even more the prayers. That was really nice to hop on tonight and read that! ( I always read your blog at night as I hold up my sleeping gtube fed son upright till his food is done and we can safely lay down to sleep with no throwups : ) I really appreciate the way you encourage people to take stock of their situation and to take baby steps. Although my goals are very different due to most of my time spent at therapies and Dr appts and caring for my son ive been able to implement routines and set some acheivable goals as a result of learning through your blog that have helped me a lot in this journey. Thank you once again : )
Crystal says
{Hugs} to you, Jody! I’m so blessed and touched by your cheerful attitude in the midst of what must be such a difficult burden to bear. I prayed for you specifically this morning.
Chelsea says
I remember going through a period with my daughter when at 6-9 months of age, she became violently ill when she ate anything with rice. I remember we talked about it a little when we met for coffee, but I’ll never forget those scary nights of consistent vomiting and the feeling of helplessness I had for her.
I’m so glad you’re both feeling better!
Julie says
As a mom to a SN 3 yr old, thank you!! We are undiagnosed currently, & I spend many sleepless nights on pins & needles-so thanks for the prayers! Truthfully, i often feel jealous of your goals, when it seems between therapy & dr appts, i can’t get anything accomplished! I’m learning to not compare :). Glad you are all feeling better! Good health is definitely priceless, & not something I’ll ever take for granted again.
Crystal says
{Hugs!} I am so sorry you’re struggling through such a hard time right now with your 3-year-old. I can only imagine how heart-wrenching that must be. Taking care of your child is so much more important than any other goals you could accomplish. It sounds like you are an amazing mother.
I prayed specifically for strength, peace, and encouragement for you this morning.
Kerry K says
Love reading your blog, it’s very encouraging to my unmotivated self! 😉 But, I just wanted to comment on how great that book is! (Beyond Bath Time) I wish all moms (and women in general) could read it! If you’re reading this as a reader to this blog… find the book, read it, it will defintely give you more meaning as a mom!! 🙂
Rebecca Dula says
So sorry about your stomach flu. Glad you are on the mend. As a mom of a special needs 6 year old, I appreciate the acknowledgment. How is family handling the extreme heat? I feel like we are trapped in our house. UGH. Help.
Crystal says
It actually feels so much cooler here than last year since it hasn’t been over 110 many days (last year we had triple digits for something like six weeks straight!). We’re not going outside all that much, but going to swimming lessons each morning has been great for staying cool and getting exercise.
Find Time For Fun says
Glad everyone is back to feeling normal. It’s hard when kids are sick.
Are you planning to finish up the 4 weeks of Frugal Family Fun? I was really enjoying the series.
Crystal says
It’s actually finished — those 4 weeks went by quickly, didn’t they?! I had planned to do a wrap-up post, but I never got that done… such is life sometimes!
At any rate, I am hoping to maybe do some other frugal family fun posts over the next 5 weeks — just not a part of any official series.
Rebecca says
I’m sorry to hear you and your daughter weren’t feeling well, but it’s good that you’re both getting back to normal. Thanks so much for this link up, it’s really an awesome way to encourage each other to make goals and achieve them.
Honey says
Mine is to get the garage in order (which I almost finished today), finish some art projects, get consignments ready, take things to donate, sell some items, return library books. That should keep me busy!
Maria says
Glad you are on the mend, Crystal. Please be aware that the “stomach flu” in adults in often really food poisoning.
Crystal says
Because mine was also accompanied by a fever, muscle aches, headaches, etc. and Kaitlynn had also had it, we’re pretty sure it was the flu. But who knows?! I’m just grateful that I finally got my appetite back again today!
Gail says
Crystal – Just an FYI. Salmonella food Poisoning symptoms can, and does , include muscle aches and fever. There is currently a ground beef recall (again) due to Salmonella, and I’d hate to think someone did not receive appropriate medical care, or reporting of the illness because of thinking they may have had stomach flu. Sadly, by the time these recalls are announced, the meat usually has had a sell by date that is a month or more past, and if you freeze meat, it’s hard to know unless you freeze your meat with the sell by date packaging sticker. We must be diligent in protecting ourselves and family against food borne illness. It’s more common that people think.
I feel so sorry for you and Kaitlin. It’s so hard to deal with these “bugs” Hugs to you both.
Crystal says
Isn’t it crazy how similar the stomach flu & food poisoning symptoms can be?! And you’re absolutely right, I think food poisoning is a lot more common than most people realize!
Melissia @ Bravely Frugal says
So happy to hear you are both better – we know all too well what the stomach flu is like:) Have a great week!
Victoria@Snailpacetransformations says
I am so glad that your household seems to be on the mend. Stomach flu has got to be my least favorite illness.
Liz @ Wonder Woman I'm Not says
I’m so glad she’s feeling better but sorry to hear you were sick as well. So many of us take our children’s health for granted, it takes something like this to make us appreciate their normal good health.
Thanks for the link-up