Can't you cut back your schedule until you're better?

Believe it or not, this is cut back. I don't have work this week. The kids are off for winter break.

Sorry to over-Mom here, but seriously. You don't just have a cold, dearest bug. You have a big ol' whammy of illness.

I know. I'm just not really sure what else to do. I was supposed to meet with these profs and visit Eng 101/102 classes the week before last. The profs have been semi-understanding, but they only will be for so long.

And my classes start at 8:30. It's just the way it is. It's a sucky schedule, but it was the only option I had this semester. And I can't miss any more classes. I'm already over the maximum absences in both classes, and I'm hoping and praying that they'll work with me because I have doctors notes. I wouldn't be so worried if these were profs I know, but I don't know them...and they don't know me or my work yet. I can only push things so far.

I'm also pushing it on being able to graduate next spring. I cannot withdraw from any classes and still graduate next Spring. And I was trying really hard to not withdraw for other reasons, as well. I'm trying to keep my grad-school options open...and part of that plan was to have no withdraws the last two years, so I could show that I had been ill and got better and could handle grad school.

Which, I probably can't, and it's probably not the route I'm going anyways, but I'd like to have my options open, you know? Though, right now, graduating on time is more the issue.

Yeah, mono is like a six week excursion into the land of sick and lying on your back.

Yeah, mono is like a six week excursion into the land of sick and lying on your back.

This I know. Really. I do. But, it's been over three weeks (almost four, I think), so I was hoping I could start easing back in.

Unfortunately, the easing is not quite working out as planned.

Unfortunately, the easing is not quite working out as planned.

Mono isn't over until it's over.

Here's your job right now: take care of yourself, rest, reprioritize. You are seriously sick.

That's unfortunate and frustrating but that's the situation.

graduating on time is more the issue.

Sweet Bug, I say this with all good intentions: Graduating is so not the issue right now. Taking care of yourself and getting well is.

I understand how frustrating this must be for you to hear, because your mind and your body are not in agreement, and your mind is so ready to get your schoolwork done.

And re-reading that post, it sounds really black and white thinking. I am trying very hard to not be that way. I just really don't know what my other options are at this point.

And, well, being sick, I can't quite think completely clearly on everything. Which, I know, more reason and evidence to keep the schedule down. I just honestly don't know what to tell people anymore. I always have something, you know? For some reason, I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that this is "more valid" or whatever.

I opted to stay home today. Too much snow. Plus, a Firefly marathon is on Scifi so I'm watching Out of Gas while the kids color on the floor.

I'm also getting a lot of pressure from my parents on this one.

(a) That's a beautiful dress

(b) Mono is why my mom graduated a semester later than she had planned. It's not an unusual effect, unfortunately.

(c) I have the Cowboy Junkies "Anniversary Song" as my ringtone for my DH, everyone else is just ring, no tone.

I always have something, you know? For some reason, I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that this is "more valid" or whatever.

If you end up hospitalized, will that emphasize the validity?

Again, I'm SO not trying to be harsh here, but even if you just had only *one* of the mono/pneumonia/RSV trifecta, that qualifies as Really Fucking Sick. Any one of those 3, on its own, is enough to put someone in the hospital. And pneumonia and RSV will fuck with the lungs of a non-asthmatic; someone *with* asthma is even more susceptible to lung issues.

You don't have a cold, sweetie. And I know it feels like you *always* have something, but that's actually not true. Prior to getting sick, you've had a LONG stretch of *not* being sick, being healthy and very active and zipping around and even jet-setting (ha!) down to the islands for vacation.

I know it seems to you like you're always sick, but that's not true any more. It might have been, once, but you need to re-work your self-definition. Yes, you're sick right now. And yes, you certainly won the sick whammy lottery this time. But being sick now doesn't mean you're *always* sick.

You've made huge strides in just the time I've known you, vw. HUGE. The thing to remember here is that everyone gets sick. And you're part of everyone. Being sick like this just means you're one of the Normal Folk, not a perpetually sick sickie.

Accept it. You're a normal, functional, healthy person who happened to get really damn sick. This is when you get to pimp for sympathy, chocolate, and DVDs!