What a darling! Nothing more beautiful than the heart of a child shining through eyes like hers.

looks like you have a pretty daughter yourself!!!

My oldest granddaughter a few years ago. She is bigger now, though just as sassy!

Girrrrrrl, pleeeze. there is definitely nothing wrong with you. a person would have to be heartless to not get a case of the blues in your situation.

So! Your first order of business is to stop kicking yourself for being normal. feeling guilty and "wrong" about feeling bad is only going to make you feel worse. it's a vicious circle.

i get serious bouts of depression at least a few times a year. i take my daily dose of what a friend of mine calls "pretty pills", but it isn't always enough. i've developed a system that i'll admit is pretty wierd but it works for me most of the time.

i assess the situation. if i have a logical reason for being depressed, i give it a little thought then "allow" myself a specific amount of time to wallow, whine, moan, and lay around all i want. this almost always includes making mental or actual lists of all the things i think i should be doing or really should be doing. when i've "spent my allowance" i force myself to pick something from the list and just do it. doesn't matter if i do it quickly, if i do it well, or if i enjoy doing it. i just drag myself kicking and screaming into the task. (and the work i get paid to do doesn't count. it has to be something in my personal life.) for me, being able to accomplish even one little thing again is like breaking out of prison and sets me free to get back to the rest of it.

(if i don't have a logical reason i'm allowed no more than 1.5 more days.)

you have ongoing things to cope with. i'd say ... hmmm ... allow yourself another specific number of days to not do nuthin' if'n ya don't wants to. then pick something. like the apron. or a little blankie for your granddaughter's hospital stay. when you've done the first little something, and if you still need it, give yourself a certain number of minutes each day to just sit still and be blah. set the timer. but each day, you require yourself to work on something from your list for at least a little while. you may start feeling productive again, which will make you feel a little better, which will inspire you to do more. a much better circle to be running in.

i can't promise it'll work. just something to consider and maybe try.

and - of course - stick with us. like everybody else has said, we're here for you. we understand. and we loves ya whether you're as busy as a bee or have taken root to the couch.

;-)

You sound stressed but it will pass..... take a week or so off from your sewing and do other things.... I know the feeling..... my 14 year old granddaughter in australia has been told she has multiple sclerosis... that was about 6/7 months ago... she has had 2 relapses recently... has been put on steroids and if that doesn't work she is to have a plasma exchange.... I could cry but that won't help her.... sent her a nice get well card.. about all I can do as I don't fly.... so I am feeling like you at the moment, so decided to get on to the computer.... it is my company, husband is out fishing.... he does that often.... his way of relaxing I suppose.... I am going out to a stitch and chat afternoon so that will help. Take care of your self..... your granddaughter will be OK.... and you must be OK too for when she comes home.... I love the idea of dancing around the room to music, with a broom.... have done that years ago when I couldn't get out of the house and it works !!! What fun, believe it or not. I just love music so that helped. Didn't mean to "write a book". Love to hear how you are getting on and I am sure others will want to hear too.

well, FVG... I use to play video games..if I had a xbox I probably wouldn't be biting my nails..maybe I'll just stand under the shower and let out a war cry...I'll warn those at home first, ..don't want to be in the local paper the next day!!!

I'm in Ky....my grandaughter in KS......I won't be able to get out to see her until the end of June....maybe...but I need to stop feeling sorry about myself, your grandaughter, Joy is so much further away..I will pray for her and your family. It is difficult, isn't it....crying doesn't help anyone but yourself...and I'm going to have a good one...in the shower...cause sometimes you just gotta take care of yourself...ask Sandra, she'll agree!!!

Daughter and two grand daughters are in Perth.... I didn't want them to go and she has since had a marriage breakup... the other grand daughter has a growth problem... I won't go into that.... that is life I suppose... nice to get a reply.... thank you for that.