Candy, take the first step and write her telling her how incredibly exhausting your adventure was and thanking her for her long time friendship. Then say something about wow was I a grump, I was so overwhelmed, I could'a won a new car right then and I still would have been entirely overwhelmed and grumpy doing this major life change and being so ill on top of it. I hope this helps. By the way, moms are way sensitive about their kids, if my very good friends say something it's okay but when the further out ones comment I get a little hot under the collar. And as I recently learned, it's one thing to tell a friend about her kids until your kids start doing the same darned things. Take care.