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Well, It Sounded Like a Good Idea
Hi. I’m back. So if you’ve been following my journey through Postpartum Depression, either through my random texts or emails to you or through occasional Twitter posts, you know that it’s an ongoing process. I don’t know when PPD is technically over and the woman is just left dealing with crazy. However, over the past month I felt I’d arrived and last week decided to go off medication. I was already on a fairly low dose, so I figured tapering down to zero would be no problem. I. Flipped. A Lid. Who knows why. Maybe I needed to slow down the process or maybe the cold meds and a house…
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Postpartum Depression Check-in
In a mere six months I’ve gone from being a self-proclaimed hermit to having a burgeoning social life, thanks to treatment for postpartum depression and this new community group through my church. In some ways, I’m not sure I recognize myself, except during the moments after an intense gathering (like last night’s Super Bowl party) where I wonder if it just might come crashing down around me. Everything seems to be escalating right now – Wookie’s mobility, Scooby’s energy level, business during the week, my girl time, and even physical activity. Even sleep, though it is still come and go, seems to be easier to come by. Where I am…
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We Have a Truce
This is the other female in our house. Isn’t she pretty? She is the sweetest and most gentle cat I have ever met. After she suffered the wrath of my pregnancy and postpartum disgust (yes I found another PPD, and no I did not abuse her), we have now made amends and are on friendly terms again, the truce being that in return for quality lap time, she pukes in her bowl to make disposal easier on me, otherwise she cleans up the mess herself.
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Under the Waterfall – Postpartum Drowning
Husum Falls, Joe is front left, I am middle left. This is our raft, and I am fully submerged at this point. In the summer of 2006, Joe and I took a rafting trip down the White Salmon River in Washington. Two-thirds of the way down the river, we took a dive off a 14 ft waterfall, Husum Falls, a class 4+ rapid. The raft stood on edge and was close to flipping just before I rolled over the side into the 38 deg F water. I was trapped at the bottom of the falls several moments before I pulled my legs into my chest and balled up with my…
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Motherhood: The Measuring Stick – Part 2
Yesterday after reading my post, my sweet and thoughtful friend Eileen questioned me on my use of Jesus as a measuring stick – her concern being not only I was setting impossible standards but was attempting to attain the same position as God, something that got the Archangel Lucifer booted from Heaven. I don’t believe that godliness (a term often used in Christian circles) means deeming oneself to be like God or on the same level as God. I believe it has more to do with taking on the attributes of God as we spend more time in His presence and are changed by Him – for His glory, not…
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Motherhood: The Measuring Stick – Part 1
By nature, I am a student. I love the entire process – the initial curiosity, the exploration, finding answers, applying the answers, and the evaluation. When I finished my PhD back in 2007, I found myself at a loss. I switched to the role of teacher and suddenly the only measurement of my work was if I was kept employed and student feedback. Typically the students that give you feedback are the disgruntled ones. As a mom I feel it’s my job to be a student of my children – to learn their personalities, find ways to effectively shepherd them. On the other end of that is looking for cues…
