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
Tagged with pain management …
Imagining the future
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
Walk the walk
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
Spent
Students returned to campus today. It’s very exciting day, full of energy and promise for the year and the future of the students who have come to spread their wings and become themselves. I was able to tell a bit of the story this morning. On our lunch break, my husband and I picked out … Continue reading
Bring the heat
The closer I get to surgery the harder it seems to be to push through the pain. I have no idea what the psychology is behind that. It feels opposite of running a race. When I hit the 10-mile mark of my half-marathon in May 2011 it was as though I’d been given some kind … Continue reading
Pain vs. adrenaline
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
I’m learning
I am learning that it is OK to ask for help. A lot of help and help for a lot of stuff. Today, one of my co-workers got my lunch out of the microwave. I was worried I may drop it en route to my desk because of the walker. She helped willingly and gave … Continue reading
New wheels?
We learned our lesson yesterday and when we got to the hospital today Jeremy got me a wheelchair. It was HUGE for me — like the one I used at the airport last week. I know the standard lend-a-chair needs to be one-size-fits-all, but it made it difficult for me to push the wheels. My … Continue reading
My biggest fear
Having to stay home from dinner last night was very hard on me. I felt like my biggest fear was coming true. (I woke up to pump breast milk and had to get this out.) My biggest fear of parenthood was planted in my brain almost 20 years ago: Not being able to be the … Continue reading
Is it a lie if
Is it a life if you say you are OK when someone who loves you asks and you know there is nothing they could do to make you better? I don’t think so. But I apologized to my father-in-law for telling the lie anyway. We spent the day at an Omaha hospital, visiting my husband’s … Continue reading
Separated at Birth 