Things happen.
Things happen when you are ready for them, but most of the time things happen unexpectedly - when you are not prepared.
It is impossible to be prepared for everything, unless you live defensively and constantly hold onto a list of every possible variation in your mind and prepare for the weirdest happenings alllll the tiiiiime.
For the rest of us though, we just need to roll with the punches.
Lately I have been really run down. Moreso than in years. My body is ready for a major crash and I can't really stop it. My best defense in these situations is to focus on resting. Focusing on lying down, sleeping, resting, and either reading or watching movies.
But life doesn't always let me rest as much as I should.
This week was already busy: appointments, a fundraiser, and extra busy work days for the hubby. But every possible other moment was supposed to be spent relaxing as much as humanly possible.
Then life happened.
Our new little pupper is sick.
Not dangerously (thank goodness), but sick with something contagious. Not necessarily contagious only to dogs either.
So, medication for both of our dogs, and then sanitizing and deep-cleaning every single thing the pups have had contact with since we picked up our little one.
Everything.
That includes furniture, carpet, toys, THE YARD, and all of our clothing.
We are happy it is more of a nuisance than a danger. We are thrilled about that.
Unfortunately, spending the week resting is now out of the question.
With loads of laundry now in the double digits, steam cleaning all carpeted surfaces, sanitizing anything we can't steam clean, and giving every single one of their toys a lysol bath, it has been a busy couple of days.
We are very lucky the yard is filled with snow so the contagion cannot seep into the grass. We are carrying a bleach/water spray bottle and picking up every bathroom break. And changing our clothing in between possible contaminated areas and cleaned areas.
And the poor dogs have to stay separated for the most part, and need to be kept to specific areas of the house (no carpet).
I am a zombie.
I was already a zombie.
Now it is so much worse.
BUT...
But...
We also know when we are in way over our heads. My parents happened to be in town taking care of our nephew, and we asked if Mom could be spared to come help us with all of the deep cleaning. (She is currently deep cleaning my van). Just having an extra set of hands helping with laundry or vacuuming or keeping things separated is all we needed to get a handle on this mini-emergency.
We do not like asking for help.
I hate asking for help. Not because I don't think I need it. I actually need quite a bit of help - especially from my husband. I don't like asking for help because, even though I need some help now, I will likely need a lot MORE help later. I do not want to overuse the generosity of my friends and family.
This time, though, I am pretty sure that both RJ and I may have lost our heads trying to clean this all just the two of us.
Life happens.
Roll with it.
Ask for help if you really need it.
Prioritize and make a plan so that it seems a little less daunting.