Today I proved to myself that I can take care of my son and do everything required in our daily life on my own. This is an amazing thing. And we’re just getting started. My husband is now in St. Paul, Minn. with the volleyball team for the NCAA DII Regional tournament. GO BLUES! This is … Continue reading
At therapy today I did a lot more standing on one leg. These balance exercises are good for me. In the midst of them I feel myself getting stronger. But they are my biggest challenge. When I am throwing a ball at a trampoline and catching it again I have to fight to keep my … Continue reading
The Little Guy had a fitful night. He went to sleep great at 8:30 p.m., just like any other night. But just before 1 a.m. he was up and practically inconsolable. I am not exaggerating when I say this has happened maybe three times since he was a four-month-old. This morning, my husband had to … Continue reading
I met MS, the author of this blog, when I was 20 years old. We were both sitting in a room clutching newspaper clips, waiting to be interviewed by the managing editors of The Des Moines Register. We both wanted the same journalism internship. What struck me most about MS was how genuinely NICE she … Continue reading
I have been imagining more and more lately what it will be like to be in a wheelchair for 12 weeks. Will I be able to do things for myself? Will I feel safe alone? Will I still find ways to be the kind of wife and mother I want to be? Will it be … Continue reading
When I was in college I could get from one end of campus to the other in much less than the 15 allotted minutes between classes. I’ve always been someone who walks with purpose. Even early in my eighth month of pregnancy I walked faster than my husband. This week we’ve both been hobbling along. … Continue reading
When people ask me if the effects of my diastasis symphysis pubis hurt more than labor the answer is obvious. YES. To me, labor didn’t hurt until I felt that awful tearing burning sensation that was my pelvis separating. Up to that point labor didn’t hurt even the way breaking my nose hurt. It was … Continue reading
Wear a brace and wait. Until last month, that was my entire treatment plan. The brace should push everything back together, I was told, and as my hormones (Relaxin) returned to normal the pain should cease. In most cases this is true. I’m not most people. (And neither are the approximately 100 women around the … Continue reading
Even when I got up to walk for the first time I wasn’t thinking something awful had happened. I knew it hurt a lot to walk, that it was basically impossible to walk with a normal stance or stride. Continue reading
About two hours before I saw my son’s face for the first time, my pelvis separated. That was 198 days ago, Jan. 22, 2012. Luckily for me, the initial tearing, stinging, burning and throbbing that came with this rare injury soon was overpowered by the most overwhelming rush of love and incredible joy that I … Continue reading
Separated at Birth 