2 Year Anniversary

Two years ago today I became MIL-free.

While I always feared how my Hubbie would handle losing her (he was dedicated to mommy), he has done remarkably well. Only a couple times have I seen behaviors out of him that seemed related to that.

Our marriage is SO much better now. All of the MAJOR problems we have ever had were in-law related.

Now, I feel that instead of always "watching my back" I "look forward" to life. Before, if a holiday, vacation, etc was coming (even bad weather events), I had to have a Plan B for how to keep MIL from causing a problem. Now, I just look forward. Hubbie and I make our own plans and go forward with them. It's so nice.

Oh, and I got the freedom 25 years before I ever expected it. She has centenarians in her family tree. She was "only" 75 when she died. I expected at least 10-20 more years if not more of putting up with her. The last two years of my life have been so much better than the 22 years before that.

Hubbie is out of town tonight. I celebrated by watching The Wizard Of Oz on Video Tape (I'm going to make a DVD this weekend).

Had the Internet existed when I first got married, I believe that I would have had better tools to handle the situation rather than setting bad precedents of bending over backwards. The net is such a great resource of information and support groups. Instead, I muddled through on my own for the first ten years, thinking I was alone.

I don't mean to rub it in. I look forward to each and everyone of you sisters and brothers finding "in-law relief" in whatever way you are able to get it -- agreement with hubbie/wife, of a cutoff, MIL coming around (rare, but it has happened), or whatever else it takes for each of you to get peace.

Thanksgiving: Another Ahhhhhhhh Moment

Thanksgiving every year my side of the family has all come to my house and I cook. This is my sister, parents, and 3 nephews. Sometimes my BIL, too. He works at a hospital and can't have both Thanksgiving and Christmas off, so it makes sense for the whole family.

I just found out today that one of the nephews has H1N1. My husband has a chronic (autoimmune) lung condition called Sarcoidosis, so getting any kind of lung infection, including the flu is very dangerous for him. He hasn't been able to get his H1N1 shot yet. (He's in remission from his condition right now. When he's in remission, he gets stupid and won't do any of the things he's supposed to do, then gets sick again. MEN!!!)

My Parents and Sis's family live next door to each other and have no boundaries. It's like one big family with two buildings for their home, the way that they go back and forth. So with a total of seven of them, one with H1N1 and none have gotten shots either, I'm kind of figuring it could still be going around Thanksgiving. I'm banning them from the house if anybody is sick the Sunday before and anybody else hasn't yet been sick yet. I just can't risk DH getting it. From what I've read, it attacks the lungs pretty bad.

I already told hubbie that nephew has H1N1 and Thanksgiving plans could be changed on account of it.

The ahhhhhh moment? Last year, or before with JB living, I would have NEVER given him that much advance notice that a holiday might be up in the air, for him to get time to blab to her and suddenly be planning on spending it with her. I am so relieved to be free to live my life without looking over my shoulder all of the time.

How I Celebrated the Six Month Anniversary

When I got the call informing me that I was Free of JB, I was sitting in line at a blood drive at my church to donate blood.

Yesterday was the six month anniversary.

Today, the church had the second blood drive of the year. What better way to celebrate than donating again?