And the crud has not yet left

So, when you have Mito and your immune system does not adequately protect you, you tend to get everything and anything people have going around. And let me tell you, there's a LOT going around. I don't feel any better after a course of antibiotics. I ended up going to see the physician's assistant who said that this is likely entirely viral and will have to "run its course." Which, to a point, I understand. But, it's still very difficult for me to manage such low energy levels. Let me explain to you why.

First of all, because of Mitochondrial disease, I do not produce energy like I need to, and my body doesn't use energy properly either. So I have low energy levels to start with. Any sort of illness also means that my Mitochondria are tired and producing energy in the form of ATP at an even slower and more messed up rate than usual. And that would be enough in and of itself.

But there's this other thing. It's called life. For one thing, I'm a nurse. I will be the first to stay that nursing is one of the most meaningful and amazing things I've done with my life. But it's also stressful, heartbreaking, and high-stress. Stress further depletes energy levels. Not only that, but sometimes because I work in a nursing home, I have to put in a shift that is more than 8 hours. With the weather changing and all that is going around, my little family of residents have become ill and I have had to send a few to the hospital and get many on antibiotics and monitor them very closely. That makes for lots of paperwork and lots of running around. Thankfully, I'm good at multitasking and prioritizing as well as advocating for my residents. We're staying the course and I'm doing my very best to become the best nurse and caregiver I can be. My residents mean the world to me.

Also, I bought my first house. This is probably one of the most exciting things about my life right now. It is beyond wonderful to finally have a place I can call "home." The apartment I last lived in very lovingly referred to as "the Shack," was upstairs and tiny and had very little potential. This house is a cute house, bigger than what I thought it was, and it has potential to be a wonderful home. I am starting to get things settled in and unpacked. It's going to be difficult to try and figure out how I'm going to get all of my bills paid and everything taken care of, but it's so worth it because I finally have a place of my own.

I have been at my current job for over a year now. During that year, I learned more than I could ever have imagined. I experienced more than I could have imagined. I found the doctor who cares enough to listen to me and advocate for me. I have found a wonderful family (those I work with). We take care of each other and support each other with everything that goes on in our lives. They have supported me so much in the past year and I don't know what I would have done without them. I have learned when to call the doctor in an emergency, what kinds of things people need when they are ill and what may be best for them. I have figured out most of the doctors I work with and we have come to enough of an understanding and mutual respect for each other that we work together to make sure the residents get the best possible care they can get. And also, I've learned what it takes to care for people who are dying. I've learned. And I am still learning, every day.

Perhaps the most exciting thing is Justin. I am so incredibly in love with this man. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. The support, love, and joy he gives me every day is a wonderful blessing. I didn't anticipate this for my life, but I am so very grateful that God brought this wonderful man into my life.

Meanwhile, I'm managing all of this. How, I don't know. I am having a very difficult time with all of this, but I am managing in the best way humanly possible.