At the Foot of the Stairs

Things have been very stressful and intense. I am deliberately not writing about it, because I need time and space from it. As I have said earlier about blogging: It happens in real time, so sometimes you have to take a breath and process and think and rest before you write about things. And sometimes you have to not write about them at all. But the movers are gone, Dereck is here in Utah, my brother is in Colorado, and Dereck and I are flying with my parents back to Missouri on Tuesday. This is a thing that is happening. We'll take our time, stay in a hotel that Tuesday night and pray the movers make it there before we do. Yesterday we bought their cemetery plots, and here are some pictures . Pretend they're worth thousands of words.

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don't get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able -- either physically or financially. Caregivers who are "burned out" may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Many caregivers also feel guilty if they spend time on themselves rather than on their ill or elderly loved ones. What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout? The symptoms of caregiver burnout are similar to the symptoms of stress and depression. They include: Withdrawal from friends, family, and other loved ones. Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed. Feeling blue, irritable, hopeless, and helpless. Changes in appetite, weight, or both. Changes in sleep patterns. Getting sick more often. Feelings of wanting to hurt yourself or the...