In 2010...

...I will continue to work on the things I'm always working on: Patience, patience, patience. Less time on the computer. More time in the gym. Cleaner house. Blah Blah Blah.

Top Two Goals:

I want to accomplish getting a handle on our food budget (Despite popular belief, I don't buy all organic. Organic food is not what's killing the budget. Nor is cereal, juice, granola bars, fruit snacks, candy bars, chips, crackers, cookies, ice cream, soda, bottled water, bread, etc). We spend too much money on food and I know that some of it is because I don't meal plan well. I decide the day of or two days before and end up spending more due to the lack of planning ahead. Meal plan. Meal Plan.

Secondly, I have to find a way to get the anxiety I have about my Meniere's Disease under control. Nearly every second of every waking hour, it's on my mind. I worry about when my next attack or flare up could be. Or, if I'm flared up, how long it's going to last. I wonder how much hearing I'll eventually lose. I wonder if I'll eventually struggle with daily vertigo and, possibly, lose my drivers license. I wonder how this could eventually effect my kids (I don't want to be the "sick" mom). I wonder if I'll ever get one ear ringing-free day. Just one damn day-is that too much to ask? The answer rings in my head all the time: NO!!! I don't have a silent world. Ever. I'm really angry about that. The problem with Meniere's is that stress elevates symptoms, spurs attacks and progression of the disease. When I was diagnosed, I was told this, "You can't have any stress in your life. Ever. It will progress the disease."

Husband in the military, deploying for a year (or more) at a time, moving every three years. Two kids. Yup. No stress here.

So, aside from exercise (read: stress reliever), I have to find another way to get it off my mind. It's a hard thing to do because I always have symptoms. I never have a symptom-free day. So, I'm constantly reminded. Since I don't look sick, I think it's hard for people get it. And, if you can't see it, you kinda just want the person with the problem to shut up already. I know there are several things I can do. I may turn to a therapist who deals, very specifically, with chronically ill patients. I know that I'm not alone in this. A lot of patients get regular acupuncture and weekly massage therapy. That's not going to fit into our current budget. But, I have to do something because it's affecting my quality of life. I should be enjoying all the good days I do have instead of worrying about what could happen...

Other than that, I'm hoping we have a healthy year (Meniere's-managment aside) and have a smooth move to wherever the Army sends us this summer!