breathing...the right way...

inhale*2*3*4, hold*2*3*4, exhale*2*3*4, hold*2*3*4 and repeat (over and over and over again)
Never would have dreamed that I did not breath "properly". Doc said that eventually I will get to inhale*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9*10, exhale*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9*10. It is hard enough to do the four count, but I am conscious of it and that really helps!
Enjoying the sunshine. Praising God that Stellan and his mom are headed home!

Learning to breath.

I have always been an athlete with a nice body and awesome endurance. That is until I had my children. An unspecified amount of weight was added to my frame and the endurance turned into fatigue most of the time. Not that I did not want my body back, I just lacked the motivation to get it done. I had not been to the gym in who knows how long... and of course in the winter I did not do much moving at all. So, this spring, I gave up soda because I wanted to get in better shape. To start riding my bike, to get my weight lifting in, to get my running in. With ultimate goals in mind I did not need the sugar (in soda, and many other sweets too) to make my workouts null and void. Then, one week later, I could hardly move, I was vomiting and had what looked like two grapes under my skin on my lower back. Diagnosed with two bulging disks, I started at the chiropractor three times a day, down to two and now at once a day. In laying on that table I found relief from my symptoms and have learned so much about my body and myself. Hampering in my healing is a (now)tiny little scar on my "L3" back. The first day I went to the chiro, he asked if I had fallen. I had a scar about the size of a dime on my "L3" that was so white is seemed to glow. Nope, it turned out that that was my epidural scars. You see, what they don't tell you when you have that lovely epidural is that it may come back to haunt you. (more on that after I do some more research). He was not saying that the site is what caused my issues but it surely was not helping. All the scar tissue from four epidurals was not going to aid in healing. This past year, I have learned a ton about my health and my life but I think the biggest thing I have learned in the past month is how to breath. Sounds totally dumb doesn't it. But that is the case. Apparently I was "never taught to breath correctly". So, that is what I have been working on. Sitting on a funky balancing pillow (to build my core strength), sleeping with a pillow between my knees, doing my chores with both hands not just my right, and BREATHING correctly. Who would have thought.
I am still soda free, it has been a month now! I have lost nine pounds just from dropping all that sugar. (I can't wait to see what happens when I add some cardio to that!). I feel so great, BUT am still on a weight restriction. I can not pick my daughter up and am still supposed to "take it easy".
I plan to get this blog back up and running. I have a review I am working on getting published and so much more. I have learned so much that I can't wait to share. I know it will help all of you too... can you say sea salt? how about hormones?
Bet ya can't wait!!! Well, you are going to have to.
Happy day.

Boston Bound

Baby Stellan and his Mama are bound for Boston. Please pray for:

*safe flight, transition

*doctor's wisdom

*Stellan to do well when they start weaning him

*strength, patience, rest, clarity for MckMama and her family...this is obviously an extremely trying time, and without the Lord, they might even be tempted despair...they will not.

Wordles Wednesday

Happy Easter!

I know that my Redeemer lives!

He lives, to bless me with His love;

He lives, and grants me daily breath;

He lives! All glory to His name!

What joy this blest assurance gives!

He lives to plead for me above;

He lives, and I shall conquer death,

He lives! My Sav ior, still the same;

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my hungry soul to feed;

He lives, my future to prepare

What joy this blest assurance gives:

He lives, my everlasting Head.

He lives, to help in time of need.

He lives, to bring me safely there.

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

weight restriction~shmate restriction

(in my mind) yeah, but I can just move this little 15 lb baby to her seat... she shouldn't be too heavy...
(my body SCREAMING) YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT!!! (Jeremy re enforcing) "YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT, I will move her, just say so."
So that is what I did all day today. Lay on the couch, sit up on a chair, ice my back, hold sweet extra, care for her on my lap, when I needed her moved I just asked. What an awesome man. I will not lift anything more than a katsup bottle until I am told I can again. I would not like to get yelled at again.
As I sit on the edge of a hard chair (chiro order) the pain in my hip and back are awful so I thought I would listen to the music on my blog and write a quick note.
I used to worry that Jeremy would not be able to handle our household if anything ever happened to me. Well, he has proven me wrong. He is amazing. My house is immaculate. The children's rooms, clean. The laundry, done AND put away. The kitchen, everything done. The kids to their school and activities, ON TIME. The children that stay at home and our sweet extra, taken care of. Me, taken care of. It makes me feel so great knowing that he loves me so much. As my sister told me last night, "Anna you are a lucky woman to have such and amazing husband". I don't believe in luck, but it sounds really great doesn't it. I never thought that being laid off would be thought of as a good thing. But, God knows what needs to happen. I am the reason that he is laid off right now... honestly I can not run the house in the state that I am in. I am no longer vomiting or shaking but I am still extremely sore (even my clothes hurt to touch my back). Enough about me, I will make it!
If you have not checked on Stellan, there are some new posts. He still really needs our prayers.
I just want to add that although I have this awful "injury" I will be okay through some proper care (nope, no pain meds :( just lots of water) and being careful to get better. I will be okay. I have a family and enough friends that I will be non the worse for ware. I appreciate your prayers. I am truly blessed beyond measure.