I know what you mean about things being harder. That goes for everything. Miss Em just wears me out. I don't do anything except chase after her all day when she's here. I adore her, but there's no doubt it's more difficult than it would have been if I were even in my 50s or 60s. I guess a lot of it is mental. I have plenty of energy for my work, etc. but she makes me very tired. Still I wouldn't give up my time with her for anything.
You have my empathy. I don't know how you do what you do. Give that girl a big hug for me.
Like you, my time with Marissa is precious.
Her Mom is in a rehab center in Fresno. At this time, I worry about what will happen when she gets out. She says she will not just yank her kids out of their stable homes. I hope not because I'm not sure she will be a good mother for any extended period of time.
After my trips to DC in January and the trip there last year, I decided that something had to be done about the knee. I could not continue functioning that way. I'm not sure when I will have the left one taken care of. I want to wait as long as possible to make sure the right one is very stable.