One More Month

Okay, y’all. I’m back. I didn’t quite mean to be gone that long, but I just needed to check out for a while.

Are any of you feeling like 2020 has been using us as punching bag? That’s kind of how I feel. And then when our precious Peeve (our 17-year-old calico) died, that was the final gut punch to finish me off. Matt didn’t handle it so well, either. And when he has some sort of emotional trauma, it affects him a thousand times more than it does us relatively healthy, able-bodied people. M.S. is a strange thing like that. So when that happens to him, he requires much more of my time and attention.

And to cap off this epically strange and horrible year, I learned that I have to have oral surgery to have a dental implant. A tooth with a decades-old root canal and filling gave way and cracked completely in two, so now I have to have it removed and replaced. What a perfect way to cap off this year, huh?

But I’ve decided that as much as I’d love to completely check out and drown myself in sleep, food, and Hallmark movies for the entire month of December, and then wake up to a bright, shiny, new 2021, I won’t do that. I have things I actually want to get done over these next 31 days so that my 2021 can start off on the right foot.

First of all, if I can be really honest and transparent with you, my house is a complete wreck. It looks a little like a tornado went through, and it needs to be cleaned from top to bottom. I went from being so excited about cleaning, organizing, and purging, at the beginning of this year, to totally neglecting everything during these last two months. So that is going to be a top priority for me this month, because if I wake up on January 1, 2021, with the weight of a messy house on my shoulders, that will be a terrible start to a new year.

I also desperately need to finish up the guest bedroom. No, it’s still not finished.

finished bedding - 2

And to be honest with you, the only time I’ve gone in that room over the last month is to get things out of the closet. It’s true. When I say I checked out, I mean I REALLY checked out. 😀

So all of that to say that I’m making an effort to get back into the swing of things starting today. I have no idea what this month will look like, because…well…we’re still in 2020, and I’m sure the universe still has some curve balls to throw at us before it’s all over. An entire month is still plenty of time for a zombie apocalypse or a sharknado, so we’ll see.

Plus, I have no idea what to expect with the oral surgery. I have my consultation today, so it’s very likely that the actual procedure won’t happen until January anyway. But in the unlikely even that it happens this month, I don’t know what to expect. The only surgery I’ve ever had in my life was in high school when I had my wisdom teeth out. I imagine this will be similar, but I can’t remember what that was like.

Anyway, we’ve got 31 more days before we can put 2020 behind us. We can do this, right? 🙂

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63 Comments

  1. Hi! Glad that you are back! I have truly missed you.
    We all have to give ourselves tons of grace right now! As my husband says to me..”Do the best that you can, and then tomorrow’s a new day”❤

    1. I am counting the days for this year to end and I know we will be okay! God has got this and your house STILL looks better than mine ever will. Two teen boys and a preteen girl at home virtual learning has put a major stop to any of my plans this year. I’ll just be happy if I finish tearing down and hauling off our old deck and cleaning a room or TEN! Here’s looking forward to a new year. I don’t think I have EVER been this ready for time to rush by. Merry Christmas!

      1. Hang in there and I think alot of people feel similarly about “checking out” of different parts of their own lives. Hearing about it from you somehow validates it! Thanks for sharing! Onward has become my new expression!

    2. I have had the dental implant surgery, getting your wisdom teeth pulled is way more painful.
      They screw a titanium rod into your jaw, when that heals they attach the tooth, then fill in the top of the crown so it looks like a tooth. I was ready to go back to work after two days of rest.

      1. I didn’t even have that much grief with my implant. It was surprisingly painless for me. I expect the location on your jaw has something to do with it.

        I was astonished. For me it was less aggravation than a root canal – less even than a regular filling.

  2. I’m so sorry about Peeve. Hoping we all finish the year on a strong note. It’s refreshing to know others are stumbling around a bit more than they anticipated. Good luck with your consultation.

  3. I pray this procedure will be quick and easy to recover from. Praying for you and Matt as you work through all 2020 keeps handing you. You are always the encourager for all of us. Be encouraged. Each day is a new day. I will be praying for you as you get your house under control because I know that really weighs on me when I’ve let mine get out of control. May this day be a new beginning for you.

  4. Try not to worry about the surgery too much. It should be WAY easier than wisdom teeth removal. And if you have an oral surgeon with a good chairside manner, it shouldn’t be very bad at all.

  5. Kristi – your implant is NOTHING like having wisdom teeth out. It also is not one procedure. They will finish removing the tooth that cracked and determine if you need bone filler. Then that has to heal. Then you go back to have the implant done. Then that has to heal, then you go back to regular to get the “new tooth” installed. Not the most pleasant dental procedure. But I’ve had worse.

    1. Carla is right. It’s a multi-step procedure, none of them as bad as having wisdom teeth pulled.

      Welcome back, Kristi. Hope this month goes better for you.

    2. Exactly. I had an implant a few years ago. It was nothing to worry about. Just like getting a root canal or filling/possibly even better. I had to have a bone graft, then a couple months later I got the post installed and then another month or so later got the actual implant. No pain, cause everything is gone when they remove the rest of the tooth. YOU GOT THIS!

    3. Just be glad you only need one. I am at the tail end of the lower jaw being completed. January was pull 4 teeth in front with bone grafts installed. May was pull the rest of bottom teeth and have implants(5) installed. Nov 4 was open the gums and have abutments placed on implants. Yesterday was impressions done and 12/11 will be placing the lower denture. One tooth will be a piece of cake for you! History: bottom teeth were crumbling despite many years of good dental care. Was told it had to do with chronic medication usage for GERD. Had upper jaw done in 2016.

  6. Glad you are back. I have had a ton of dental work. The sooner you ice it, the less pain you will have. Period. Never used pain pills, just ibuprofen.
    My implant took a year, because my dentist was extra cautious, you want each stage fully healed before the next step. But so worth it. It’s just like a real tooth!!!

  7. So glad you are back! What you are planning sounds so very reasonable– taking time off, then dusting off and starting back by pacing yourself with some realistic steps. Love what Carol Jean says above – “do the best you can and tomorrow is a new day.” Congratulate yourself for every positive step each day. I am working on that myself and it is helpful to look at what I have done, however big or small, rather than what I have not done or what needs to be done. The dental implant will likely be done in a series of steps and each step is doable. You two can take this on! So glad you have each other!

  8. Don’t be afraid of the surgery. I have gone through it – even had to have bone growing stuff packed into the hole before the implant could be put in. You will be out of it the day of, then it will be sore for a bit and then it just heals. Putting the crown on the implant is a non-event. You got this, Girl – promise.

  9. Dental surgery is never easy; I’ve had several. It takes the mouth a long time to heal and since it has so many nerves it tends to be very sensitive to pain as well. Give yourself lots of time to heal, let people bring you meals and help out however possible, and “let it go”, whatever it is. You have worked so incredibly hard on so many projects this year that letting this room go a bit longer is no big deal. I am trying to think of 2020 the way I did many days with small children; it will be a success if everybody is still alive at the end of the day/year.

  10. I’ve missed you so much that just yesterday I searched through your web page for any old episodes I might have missed! So glad you are ok–you really ARE ok! Listen I’ve had FOUR dental transplants and although they aren’t exactly a piece of cake, they really aren’t all bad. The sedation is kind of fun actually–you take a nap, but you can be waked up if needed, but then you can go right back to sleep. And you will be so happy with the results! The new tooth feels just like the old one, except better! Keep us informed with what you and Matt are doing. I’ll bet that like most of your readers I feel you are kind of part of my family! Love and prayers for you guys.

  11. So glad you’re back! I’ve really missed your posts. Hope you manage to get what you want done by the end of the year.
    I lost one of my wee dogs earlier in the year, she was a rehome dog, I had kept in touch with her previous owners( they gave her up due to work commitments) and when she died they sent me a lovely message to say how they were glad that she went to such a loving home. It really helped. Even now just thinking about the love and affection I got from her, forever in our hearts.
    Big hugs

  12. All the best. Think we all need to simply bind up, lift each other in kindness, press on through the remainder of this gruelish year.
    Some times it’s just more than our souls can manage to be brave and tenacious all the time. And Lordy 2020 stacked the deck in a really perverse way. No doubt we’ve all had some blessings in this BS, remind ourselves of them regularly, yet it gets fatiguing to constantly do so when yet another poo storm hits. Sloppy, private time is restorative and gives clarity when life seems like a dusty web of booby traps.
    So with grace for you and everyone just sticking with it, BRAVO. You dusted off, are gathering your gusto, will charge in to December. Wishing you and everyone a wonderful conclusion to 2020.

  13. So glad you’re back. I’ve missed your posts. But I’m sorry that life has been hitting you and Matt so hard this year.

  14. I kept looking for a new post, then remembered how painful the heartbreak over little Peeve was. I worried. This year really has been horrendous, and sometimes things just get to be too much and you just find yourself shutting down. So glad you’re back and looking forward again. Welcome back, I missed you.

  15. Next time you need to check out (and we all do) – just give us a heads up so we won’t worry about you. All kinds of things went through my mind each day as I checked your blog. Hugs to you and Matt. It’s another day and we will make it!! (P.S. – I have had lots of oral surgery to correct problems my parents couldn’t afford to fix when I was young. It’s not fun, but NOT bad.)

    1. Yes me too with the imaginjng all sorts each day! A couple words so we can breathe easier would be certainly a help or even an image you can pop up when you need to, we will all understand 🙂 Stay safe and all the best M&K

  16. Don’t worry too much about the oral surgery….I’ve got 6 implanted teeth and the result is worth the bit of pain for a couple days. Do. What your surgeon tells you, keep the area clean, and get excited to have this behind you. You’ve got this! Looking forward to 2021!

  17. I have missed you and wondered what was going on. People that do not have animals they love like family probably don’t understand the pain you and Matt are going through but it’s worse than a gut punch. I’ve lost 3 dogs in the last 3 years and it still feels like a gut punch. One was 17 year old Chiweenie. He was in awesome shape other than he had lost his eyesight. He would run in the yard. He would play with one of the younger dogs. He turned 17 in September 2018. I had told him so many times that he would live to be 20 that I had myself convinced he would. In October 2018 he developed a tumor behind his eye. We did all we could do but when we woke one morning and he was bleeding from his eye and mouth we knew we had to let him go. We took him to get an ice cream and I held him as he took his last breath. My heart aches just telling this. Let yourself grieve but don’t shut down your life. I don’t know what you believe but I believe I will see every one of my fur babies again. Take care.

  18. I am so sorry about Peeve…..absolutely best pet name ever🥰 My dental implant was no big deal at all. Just numbed up good, right in the office and never put to sleep. As others have said it is multiple steps to heal in between but mine was no more that numbing and just feeling some pressure when working on it but no big deal. Praying you have the same experience🤞🏻🙏🏼

  19. Welcome back. Prayers for Matt. Sorry about Peeve. Don’t worry about your implant, my son is a dentist and unfortunately had to have two implants. Said they weren’t bad, just get off the pain meds asap. They are what make you feel bad. Tylenol or Advil. Best wishes for all of your plans.

    1. I’ve missed you! You are a good wife; great job focusing on the hubby instead of finishing a building project.

  20. Kristy I’ve had 5 implants and they really aren’t bad at all. It takes longer for the post to fuse in the bone (not that it hurts) so you have to wait for the crown but they are awesome when they are complete. I strongly suggest a waterpik in addition to flossing to keep that area clean.

  21. Kristi, I had the dental procedure you spoke of. The tooth extraction is not bad–they had me take valium ahead of time. I opted for a bridge instead of an implant because the tooth was an upper and near the sinus–didn’t want to risk additional problems. That was 20 years ago–the bridge has worked great. The procedure itself was way less painful than a root canal. And I am a huge wus. Whenever you get down, look at that beautiful guest room. That my be my favorite redo so far.

  22. Glad you are back and trying to get re-focused. It has been a heck of a year. I too have had my share of slumps off and on, where I can hardly get out of a chair all day, no shower, staying in my jammies and eating junk food for meals. My house became a dust bowl, as all I managed to do was laundry, dishes, and minimal cleaning. Dusting wasn’t on the list. But I had invited the elder adults in the family for Thanksgiving, since they have all been isolating, and had to clean for that. It wore me out, since I’ve barely moved since spring, so I had another day of nothing the day after Thanksgiving. I’m back to trying to stay moving. My goal is to not watch so much news, because that takes me down. So glad you both are healthy and mending from your loss. It is NEVER easy to lose a long-loved pet, and this is an especially hard year for loss of all kinds. (((HUGS)))

  23. Dear Kristi, I’m so glad to hear from you – I looked at your page just last weekend to find out whether I missed notifications…. I’m sorry that you had to suffer through the loss of Peeves on top of everything else and can totally understand that it took you a while to come back here. I keep my fingers crossed that you are ok despite the dental procedure and that your loved ones are fine, too! I love reading about what you do, even the cleaning, when told by you, is fun and encouraging 🙂 Here’s to a manageable December and a fresh start afterwards!

  24. Welcome back! I think all of us are exhausted by 2020 – – talking about it, fearing what could happen, mourning what did happen, anticipating a better 2021 – – it’s just too much!! I vote for JOY and PEACE in 2021!

  25. Funny you decided to write today. Yesterday I went to your blog to see if you had posted and maybe I just missed it. I too saw the last post and understood its been a difficult time for you. I too have let my house go and have zero motivation right now and don’t know how to bring it back. Starting this month will be good if you can do it because honestly January isn’t going to be a miracle that comes and sweeps all of this away. I think we still have a ways to go in the new year before things normalize so I guess we all might as well get on with things huh? I hope Matt is feeling better and I’m glad you took the time with him that was needed. Looking forward to seeing your progress in the new year and love love how the guest bedroom came out. When I saw the pictures of the pillows on the bed I knew that you chose the pillow colors just right. They are a great composition of color in there.

  26. Hi, kristi.
    First of all you are just feeling what million are too, including me.
    We are all depressed.
    And we have plenty of reasons to feel this way.
    2020 is being a nightmare. I am very sorry for how your husband is going through, too.
    Needless to say being a cat lady and a animal lover how I understand the way the loss of your Peeve hit you both.
    But the sunshine is a month away waiting for us.
    Take your time to heel. Don’t force yourself to anything.
    PS. Don’t think about the implant as a surgery. It is not even close to one.
    After the procedure you are gonna feel unconfortable to eat for a day or too. That is it. XO ❤️🌺

  27. Friends,
    Please give Kristi and Matt only positive thoughts. They need that. She has just let us into a fragile part of her life. You got this Kristi. You are a stronge woman. I think you were smart to take a needed break. I have missed you also.

  28. So glad your back…. re: implants….I’ve had 4 done at the same time…. it is nowhere like wisdom teeth extraction…. the key is not to be in a hurry to complete the process….. it is critical and the key to success that you let your jaw bone completely and firmly grown around that implanted post. You won’t even know it’s there if it is like mine…. the bottom half of the post was buried way below the gum…. I let 18 months go by to make sure the bone and Post were completely fused as a solid unit. Then I let the oral surgeon complete the process. I’ve had it now for almost 10 years and I really forget it’s there… it’s now a “part” of me. Best of luck….. as ever, Pat

  29. You’ve got this! I’m three weeks post having a completely cracked old root canal/crown extracted…… exactly like yours. It was relatively painless, didn’t even need meds. They prepped for my implant with a bone graft and stitches. It’s my second implant and now from experience, it’s an easy procedure.
    My heart aches for your loss of Peeve. What a lucky cat to have you guys for 17yrs. 💕
    Be kind to yourself and enjoy the blessings of the season. Merry Christmas.

  30. WuFlu, put-down of beloved dog, favorite gathering place closed forever, this year has been awful.
    Implants are the BEST thing ever. Had 4 lower rear molars replaced a decade ago due to severely impacted wisdom teeth removal when young. Find surgeon who gives sodium pentothal infusion – you won’t feel a thing…honest.

  31. Sometimes we just need to check out a little bit for our mental health which is every bit as important as our physical health. Just know we are here for you in whatever capacity you need us. As a side note – I bought the Critter sprayer after seeing your success and holy smokes it is a game changer! I’m also cutting trim, stripping wood and laying flooring because you made me believe in myself. I’ll be eternally grateful for that!

  32. I’ve had an implant (same situation as you) and a tooth pulled and the implant was much easier. Ask your dentist (if you have insurance) if you can spread the treatment out over the 2020-2021 year to take full advantage of your insurance (deductible, maximum and all that).

    1. Oh, also, buy some k2 (not k1, k2). I get mine from mercola. It helps the body lay down bone where it needs to be and removes it where it’s not supposed to be (like bone spurs). When I had my implant they wanted me to wait 6 months before finishing to allow the post to be fully seated in the bone. I took k2 and it was ready to go in 4 months.

  33. I appreciate your sharing how hard things have been, especially during your loss.. You and Matt obviously loved Peeve very much. It’s okay to take a break and I am glad you gave yourself permission to do so. Your loyal followers will always be happy when you return, and we know that the struggle is real. It sounds like you are pushing yourself to clean up the whole house, finish the guest bedroom, and possibly begin the process of a tooth implant in one month! That’s A LOT. Yes, you can do this!!! You’ve shown time and again how powerful you can be. But please give yourself room to breathe, too, dear lady. Keep us posted!

  34. I’m ready get there with you. I’ve checked out in a major way. It’s been a very tough year. I had a similar situation with a tooth in 2019. The oral surgery was very scary to face. I had them knock me out because the idea of hearing them extract the tooth was too much for me. It wasn’t bad at all. A few days of soft foods and I was just fine. Hang in there, it will be better than you expect. Sending you love and light!

  35. I totally understand and truly empathize with you! I really feel like I’m living in Clown World with all that’s going on. So take care of you yourself and your family first. We love you and support you and will be with you every step of the way in spirit as well as the internet! Hugs and love to y’all!

  36. If you have dental insurance, be sure to figure out if it is better financially to get it done in December (of this year) or January (of next year.) That’s also a tax consideration (2020 or 2021.), since they are expensive. I opted fo a bridge too. I am so glad I did. I wanted to get it over with . My husband’s implant was a year long process. The extraction may be like wisdom tooth removal, but the multi step process to get the implant is not simple.. good luck!

    1. PS, A WATERPIK FUSION would be a great investment. It’s much better than a regular waterpik. With this model, first you press the top button to brush tour teeth. Then, you press the top and bottom button and it rinses your teeth. Finally, you turn off the top button and use the bottom button to floss your teeth with water. I am amazed at how much food comes out with the flosser function, after I think my teeth must be clean! Right now, we re not getting our teeth cleaned s often with COVID, but I comfortable knowing I use this every day!

  37. So glad you are back but very sorry to hear about your fur baby. I thought of you recently when I was watching Schitts Creek on netflix. If you watch it did you see the hardwood floor on Rose Apothecary store? When I saw it my jaw dropped and then I thought about you and your home gym floor. If you haven’t seen it check it out. Its sure to get your creative ideas flowing.

  38. You can’t imagine how excited I was to see a post from you pop up in my reader! There’s something about your voice, not to mention your projects, that really speaks to me. I’m sorry that this year has hit you so hard. And I think that your plans to get things into good shape for the new year are a great way to go. It may help clear some of the mental and emotional cobwebs, as well. I’m pretty sure your followers will be happy to watch you do anything. Good luck!

  39. Hi Kristi…I guess we ALL welcome you back. You are missed but the time away was exactly what you needed. Your story is so much like mine. Friday I go to find out about the implants that are probably in my future as well. And, we lost our 15 year old Bichon suddenly last week. Yes, this has been a year of it. But, we all go through things every year, but the virus has made this one particularly painful, and isolating. Grateful that a vaccine will be available soon. Meanwhile, look forward to the future, and know that we are all wishing the BEST for you and Matt for the new year. Looking forward to your posts always, Joan

  40. Kristy, Sorry again about Peeve, seems like nothing helps but time.
    Glad to see you posting again. Hope your dental procedure goes well and hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Your posts really do encourage me, may GOD bless you for that!

  41. Blessings and God’s Peace be with you dear lady. 2020. The year from hell…. although I have to admit I do see things much more clearly these days…. so I guess that’s a silver lining. Adding you and your dear hubs to my (rather long) prayer list.

  42. Such a tough deal losing precious Peeve. Hugs to you both. I lost my 14 1/2 yr old cat in Jan., so yes a hard year. Hope the rest of this year is more managable for you both. I know about being uninspired to do anything constructive. I’m looking at a painting that needs to be done by Christmas, and I’m really more motivated to do mundane house work, than finish it. So not me! Love your posts Bless you both this holiday season.

  43. Happy to hear from you. Take whatever time you need; just let the “crew” here know and we’ll be waiting to hear from you whenever you have the time. Give Matt a hug; losing our fur babies is so tough.

  44. Hi Kristi, It’s great to hear from you again. I love being able to focus on what you are up to and not just what is going around here. Tonight I saw your new page and it was right after I learned that I needed an implant too. Thank for sharing. It makes it easier when this life of ours is shared. The implant is scarier than it is painful. And expensive, but isn’t it wonderful that they have this relatively new technology? Treat yourself to something for being so brave. By the way, my house is a mess too, and I can’t say I don’t have the time! I have to do my porch (which is how I found your site) and so I started with the back yard shed : ) The porch looks awful, but what a grand shed makeover!
    When my dog died I didn’t know there were so many tears in the universe. I promised her when she was sick I would be there every step of the way and would not let her suffer. It was the hardest thing to do. “Magically” her breeder had an “extra” puppy for me pretty soon – too soon? She was so completely different and wonderful that it, and we are fine. I wish you the best too. There is a kitten out there that needs you perhaps….

  45. Take all the time you need – we all get it. 2020 has rocked so many of us to our core. Thank you for inspiring us to keep learning and growing. We/I have loved to follow all your projects and goals. ❤️

  46. Wouldn’t it be great if you got your guest room completed this month? It certaily doesn’t look like there’s much left to do as it’s already so pretty it makes me want to come and stay for a while! LOL Also, I hear you with the home clean up. My house needs a good scrubbing before I put up our Christmas decorations so that will be my weekend project. (I’m not putting up many decorations but the cleaning still needs to be done.) Take care and remember there are 31 days in December. : )

  47. So happy that you are back! I hoped that you were taking a much deserved break and would be back when you were good and ready. Being a newbie to your blog I have slowly been working my way through. Yesterday I read your post from April 2015 about the kindness of strangers – when your father-in-law met people at church who came and helped you with dry walling. It reminded me too of your neighbors who took out the cast iron bath tub, and your other family members who have happily pitched in when help was wanted/needed. These are the moments that make up for all the hard and painful stuff. And of course our memories of our loving pets can comfort us when they are gone. I also want to say that a happy fulfilling marriage is priceless. Life is a roller coaster – but you have what you need to climb the hill once again. Thank you for sharing your life and your gifts.

  48. I have had several implants and they wildly trump a bridge, for me anyway. I’ve had bridges where I can’t feel (and therefore, taste food) the hard palette of my mouth. This last implant I had only took 3-4 months total, whereas my first set (and it was a set and maybe that’s why it took so long) took nearly a year. Still, I find them infinitely preferable, despite the high cost. I also use CareCredit for all my dental/medical expenses when they’re really high, so check and see if your dentist takes that.

  49. Thanks for being so open about the factors affecting you and Matt. I doubt any of your loyal followers begrudge you taking some time to process all that 2020 represents, including Peeve’s sad death and your upcoming dental work. All the best to you and your family, including the furry members. Take care.

  50. Hey Kirsty – I sure get the checking out. I do online puzzles just about every night just to be able to complete something! If you want another zone out hobby Jidigi.com puzzles (free) is the ticket. I have a load of pretty scenes on ANNMARIEGOLF you can do.