Am I lucky or what?????

This post isn't supposed to be a pity party for me...read to the bottom, and you will see why I am so lucky.

I have been having problems with my heart for almost 2 years now. It has gotten better since I had Clay, but it hasn't gone away. This past summer I started having problems with my joints. When I wake up in the morning, I can barely use my hands because they are so swollen and hurt so bad. My mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I assumed that I must have it too. I went to my regular doctor and she sent me to a rheumatologist. The RA Dr. has tested me for every possibility she can think of. The cardiologist tested me for a zillion things too. Every test ordered by every Dr. has come back negative. Great news! Frustrating news too! I feel like junk and hurt all of the time, so what is wrong?

I went to a couple of Dr. appts 2 weeks ago and guess what they told me? There is nothing medically wrong with me! Their diagnosis? Extreme Fatigue. Both of them told me that my body has been under a huge amount of physical and emotional stress over the last several years, and it can no longer handle it. My body is telling me that it needs a break NOW or it is just going to shut down. They also told me that it took several years to get this way, so it won't get better quickly. I asked for more clarification and the Dr. said that if I make my health my number one priority, it could still take a couple of years before I am back to 100%. A couple of YEARS! And if I don't? Then I continue to have health problems and it becomes chronic.

So, Ben and I had a very long talk about what to do going forward. My idea was to become Swiss Family Robinson...sort of... I suggested we sell the house, Ben quit his job, and we move to a very inexpensive place. Ben could get a job working 40 hours and paying just enough to pay the bills. Then he would have time to be home more and we could just focus on our family and getting me better. Ben's idea, which I have to say was much more realistic, was for him to tell his boss that I was having some medical problems and that he needed to leave at 5 every day so he could come home and take over for me.

On Monday he told his boss what the plan was, his boss agreed, and Ben left at 5. He has been home by 5:30 every night. While I get dinner on the table, he does a blitz of the downstairs and within 15 minutes, the slew of kid stuff that is spread all over the place is magically whisked away. We have been able to eat dinner as a family every night and I LOVE it. Then I go to bed...before my kids! Ben gets the kids ready for bed, reads story, scriptures, etc with them and puts them to bed. Then he cleans up the kitchen, and if he has any energy left after that, he tackles some other part of the house that needs attention. I hate to admit it, but every part of the house needs attention since I haven't had the energy to do it. He rearranged the furniture in the family room and re-did the book shelf earlier this week. It looks amazing. Last night, he scrubbed the kitchen to a spotless sheen. I have no idea how late he was up, but my kitchen was sparkling when I came down this morning. It didn't even look this good when we moved in. I was so astonished that I had to take pictures.Now do you see why I am so lucky?! Not many husbands would take on what he has agreed to take on in addition to working full-time. Today, my husband is my hero...