the results are... (with addition)

As many of you know, I've been conducting an independent study on the effects of stress upon single, thirty-something women. To that end, I needed to induce a high-stress situation. I've chosen to delve into the world of Russian adoption. While I was told it would be "hard", I, like most pap's did not really believe it or fathom the how's and why's. I'm organized. I follow directions well. I a believer who knows that God's timing and plans for my life is better than, and often different from, the plans I make on my own. I didn't really think it would be THAT stressful. I thought I'd fill out my paperwork and then wait. Silly, Kate.

So, it seemed prudent, if my study was to succeed and yeild valid high-stress results, to up the stress level. I decided to live in Russia. Living outside your culture is stressful. Living in Russia provides it's own unique frustrations.

I increased the stress level further at work. My class this year included a child who is high-functioning autistic, another with undiagnosed but severe ADHD, three with learning disabilities, my esl contingent and a child with spina bifida who had a very difficult learning assistant. Really, she crossed the line from unpleasant and verged on crazy. I taught for a first-year principal whom I don't really...click with. She just let me know today that my classroom for next year will be subdivided (I knew that and was a bit sad, but understanding) AND that I would not get to choose my new room. (The other teacher is new and won't arrive until August. All the staff thought I'd get right of refusal since I'm actually here.) WRONG. That wouldn't be nearly stressful enough. So, now I'll be in the other, less desirable, darker, smaller classroom with fewer computers and more students. AND, I'll have an assistant next year whom I've only seen at the Christmas party. (She's been on maternity leave for the last two years. Russian leave beats US family leave, hands down.) I hope she was drunk then because otherwise we're in danger of exceeding the safety limits set at the beginning of the experiment.

And lastly, my sw (who is surely in on the experiment) hasn't answered e-mails or phone calls for the last two weeks about renewing/reprinting my homestudy.

So--the results?

This year I've gained weight despite a very healthy diet, giving up Coke, walking a minimum of two miles a day at least four times a week and teaching dance classes. It's really not fair. I'm at an all-time high weight-wise. Yeah. That makes me really want to take all those first-meeting photos. (See, it's a GOOD thing there will be a delay before I meet d2b. I've got time to fast.) Being this weight is stressful.

I'm losing hair. Really. Pregnant moms get thick, georgous hair. Adoptive moms lose theirs. No one tells you this, but it's true. Ask Lauren. I'm not balding, by any means, but there's a lot of hair in my brush.

Insomnia. (Sing along--Who needs sleep? Well, you're never gonna get it...) I often have bouts of insomnia, but this year has been really bad. My Russian teacher told me I must get rid of some of my stress. I told her school was almost over. ;>

How could I forget to mention the state of my neck and shoulders? You're right--they're just huge knots. I had a massage here once and was in so much pain that I haven't repeated the experience. I'm surviving on Flex-All. I'm investigating a day spa in Helsinki. How crazy is it to go to another country just to get a massage?

That's the case here. I'm wondering what stress-effects the rest of you are experiencing. I'll write us up and submit it to the AMA. Okay, I won't really. I'm totally making that up. But, don't let that stop you from sharing!

[p.s. No worries on my account. This summer I'm adding extra Ballet Boot Camp workouts, staying off Coke, conditioning my hair well and sleeping whenever I please. I'm also increasing my Russian lessons and planning some weekends away in an attempt to busy my mind.)