Postpartum Depression

Tagging Jordan

My returned missionary and current missionary.

I experienced postpartum depression after Jordan was born. It lasted four months. I expect it will last the same amount of time this time around.

Homies

Homies in da hood.

Make new friends, but keep the old...

Pack Attack

Today we had a pack attack.

I was in charge of the checklist.

8-10 white shirts. Check.

Jordy said, "Man, I need a Koran."

I love that boy.

Shoesday

Memory Monday Part Three...

The big blue beast.

Me and my chair, cause that's how I roll. September 2007

July 14, 2007

Home at last! The flight was a bit of a nightmare. I kept fainting in the wheelchair at the airport and told Tom to tell them I was sleeping so they would let me on the plane.

My neighbor Shelly had found a wheelchair at the thrift store for $40. It is retro and functional and has made the rounds. When I was finished with it a High School girl used it for a leg injury. It is now being used by a woman expecting triplets who was put on bed rest.

We hired my friend Jennifer to be my care taker. She was more like my nanny, not my kid's nanny, mine. She did everything for me, laundry, chauffeur, cook and therapist. She kept me sane and laughing. She's the best! She even let me pretend that I was Victoria Beckham and she was my personal assistant. I was on drugs...major. Say that with an English accent.

I received physical therapy at home for the first few weeks. At first I wasn't sure if my physical therapist was G or E. He was european and I enjoyed his accent. Of course I learned all about his girlfriend and personal history...I'm good at that.

Going to the Center for Physical Therapy and exercise became my job. I spent two and a half hours there three times a week. I fondly refer to them as my physical terrorists. I advanced to aqua therapy. It felt so great to walk in the warm pool. I was non weight bearing for 10-12 weeks. I progressed to partial weight bearing of 10 pounds a week until I was full weight bearing. They actually have you stand with one leg on the scale so you can see what it feels like to add weight each week. Learning to walk was the hardest thing I've ever done. I was fascinated with babies, they make it look so easy. I was slowly regaining independence and couldn't wait to drive.

Big Day

Today is a BIG day at our house.

• Father's Day


• Jordan speaks in church
  
• Family brunch
  
• Jordan receives Patriarchal blessing


• Jordan set apart as missionary
  

Can you say spiritual marathon.

P.S. I Love You

Our annual trip to Palm Springs was our last hurrah before Jordan leaves.

Babe's, we love that restaurant. They have the best ribs.

Blooms in the hotel lobby.

Iron Man's calf. It's not fair that his legs are better than mine.

More babes.



This is what I got in Palm Springs...

Not this...

Sharing The Love

I would like to thank all my blogging peeps, my shoes for inspiring Shoesday... and thanks Tina for this blog award. This is particularly touching since I am the recipient of donor bone. Now I will share the love with Sis my BFF. Maree this girl is funny. Robin another mother of teens.
Alison mother of 5, new twin girls. Now share the love with some of your favorite blogs.

Shoesday + a tag

Annie tagged me for show and tell. Because there are shoes involved, I'll play.

1. Kitchen Sink.

Yes, that's my rusty pizza pan. I didn't even put the dishes away.

2.Refrigerator.

Pretty on the outside...

scary on the inside!

3. Toilet.

Don't laugh at the handicapped.

4. Laundry

Notice the almond washer purchased back in the day and the white dryer. They don't make that color anymore.

5. What the Kids are Doing

This one just got home from work.

and this one is having an after school snack.

6. Favorite Room

Dining room. I like the pillars, the ceiling color and the built-in cabinet. I also like that it now has a purpose besides being pretty. It is now the quilt room.

7. Closet

Umm, I have two...downstairs

and upstairs or "the archive"

8. Favorite Shoes

Current favorite shoes. Cute, comfy ballet flats that can be dressed up or down.

9. Self Portrait

My hair is tweaked and you can see my flappy tri-cep.

10. Dream Vacation

I'll go with Norway. Drammen to be exact. The homeland.

Now I tag Sis (who refused then changed her mind) Alisa
Lisset
Tina

Be real. No cheating or cleaning up girls!

Memory Monday Part Two...

My dressing kit

battle scar

I have 4 small scars where they jacked my bones apart so they could put me back together.

Sock on. Step 1

Sock on. Step 2

Sock off. Step 1
Sock off. Step 2

July 10-14 2007.

I was alone and sporting nothing but my brace and a hospital gown when my driver came to transport me to Avalon Valley Care Center. This dude, who looked like he just got out of rehab, picked me up in a van, which looked like it may have been stolen. I held my cell phone tightly in my hand. Even in my doped up condition, I knew I was in a vulnerable position. He told me that Avalon gives the red carpet treatment. I thought this was a metaphor, until he explained that there would actually be a red carpet rolled out for me on arrival. He thought it was a little odd when he brought a patient who was in a coma. Seriously?! Sure enough, I rode my wheelchair in on a red carpet and was relieved that the paparazzi hadn't made it there yet.

Luckily, the hair salon was open and they washed and dryed my hair for the first time in ten days. I was still resigned to sponge baths. My 86 year old room mate and I became fast friends. She even invited me to penny pitch one night. Penny pitch is a game you play while seated in your wheelchair and you toss coins into dishes labeled with different point values. She made $1.50 one night and bought herself a soda.

One of the first things I learned in occupational therapy was how to put my socks and support hose on. I felt like a toddler. I had been potty trained from bed pan to bedside commode to the dear john. But I would still have to learn to walk.

Physical therapy was on the daily agenda. One day while lifting weights, I watched a group of people batting a balloon around a circle and I was grateful. I built my upper body strenghth so I could graduate to a walker. Walker hopping became my new skill because I would be non-weight bearing for 10-12 weeks.

Sis was my personal shopper and provided me with my wardrobe of nightshirts and a house coat. She helped me figure out that I could wear boxers so I wouldn't have to fly home commando. Not to mention, all the visits and phone chats to keep me sane. My brother Eric brought snacks and Angie came and they let us break in to the salon so she could wash and style my hair. It's the little things that count.

I was looked after day and night by angel aids who helped transport me from bed to wheel chair.

After four days of rehab, I was finally going home.

Nineteen

J-joyful

O-outstanding

R-righteous

D-darling

A-awesome

N-never complains

Happy Birthday Jordan! One last year of teens.

Missionary Moment

Galatians 5:13...by love serve one another.

rest from your labors...

Proof that they are just big boys.