Hello Lady D --

I am so sorry that you are feeling blue. It sounds like you have plenty of feelings -- just not ones that you enjoy having. You have so many stressful things converging on you at once -- the end of the semester (stressful for teachers as well as students); the holidays; upcoming surgery.

Give yourself a pat on the back for putting your daughter first. Taking time to play with her and enjoy her childhood with her -- this is so loving and caring and wonderful -- I hope that it nurtures the "inner child" in you as well.

Yup, spending the holidays recuperating is a bummer. I hope you will be able to have plenty of hot toddies or hot chocolate and cookies and warm fuzzy movies on TV. It would be great if you get to see your daughter during this challenging time. Will you have anyone to look in on you? Or to stay with while you recuperate? Perhaps you will feel more like writing poetry during those long, slow days while your body mends.

Plz keep us posted.