Slowing down

Gillian, Isabelle and Drew cruising on the quad

My New Year's resolution is to slow down.  Very atypical of all past resolutions and goals.  I am usually pushing my body too far too often and now I'm paying for it.  I am no longer 20 years old and my body is trying to tell me that, even though I try to tell myself that I can and should do everything that I want to do.  For some reason I have had major joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains and even swelling in my legs and ankles. Through it all I was going to CrossFit, mucking stalls, and staying up until all hours of the night (morning) just to get stuff done.  I realize that this cannot go on right now so I've decided that January is my slow down month.  If I'm tired I rest.  If I hurt, I rest.  If I'm stressed, I rest.  So far it's been difficult.  I'm not used to sitting down or taking naps.  I'm usually in a perpetual state of work and hurry.  I will be seeing a Naturopathic doctor soon to see if she can help me with my all over pain and stiffness.  AND.... the hardest thing ever is that I'm taking a month off CrossFit.  I hope that I am better soon and can return but I am in no shape for it (or much else) right now.  I'm trying to stay positive and not dwell on things like "rheumatoid arthritis" or "lupus".... just a couple of things my western doc seems to think could be wrong.  

I do wish that I had slowed down before I plowed into the back of a car on the freeway last Friday afternoon.  I was going for a lane change and by the time I looked back from looking over my shoulder, traffic was at a stop.  I slammed on my brakes and tried to bail into the carpool lane but  ended up careening into the back of a Jeep Cherokee.  The airbag punched me in the face and sent out an acrid smell that stayed with me for hours.  My arms tingled with the burn of the airbag.  It was surreal.  I really hope they can fix my car.  Now, if I can just get back to slowing down.

Stinky airbag is my friend

Hiding

We've had three nights in a row of guests over.  I'm exhausted.  Which doesn't explain why I'm not asleep right now at 2:10am but that's another story....

Gillian has been playing hide or seek for 3 days now.  She always gets them with going behind the armoir that is on a diagonal in the dining room so that she can go behind and climb up the back and sit on top.  For some reason the other kids don't look up there and behind the fake trees.  The good news, no guests tomorrow night.

Earlier in the day Gavin took out his new rifle.  I was in the shower.  Whenever Holly sees Gavin with his gun she immediately runs and hides or finds me and cowers under me or as close as possible to me. This was a first.  She really doesn't like showers but I guess her fear of guns made her overcome her  dislike of water.  I should have taken the opportunity to shampoo her but she was scared and overwhelmed and I didn't want to make it worse.  Drew thought that it was so funny that she took a picture.  No, I really don't get much private time!