I am finally back again!
And this time I have plucked up the courage and written a post about what has been happening in my life for some time now - on the health front.
This post was not written to complain but to explain. An opportunity to get it all out of my head and record it.
Much of my life at the moment is a journey towards reaching good health and this space is a place where I share my life so here goes...
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Over the last 9 odd years I have had a slow decline in
health. I have experienced many different symptoms over this time at varying
degrees.
Lately, I seem to be un-well day in, day out which has
taken its toll and the sole reason I haven’t been blogging. I haven’t been
doing many things I would like to get done actually. But I soldier on – as any
mother of 2 young children would I guess. The children don’t stop needing me so
I must push on. This is hard and kind of an extra stress on my mind because I
just want to be able to give my kids all they need without any struggle. But I
do – struggle that is.
Let me give you a quick run-down. From the beginning.
Back in April of 2004, I had a pretty darn
serious car accident.
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BUT obviously I
survived. And not only that, but I came out of it with only a tiny superficial
cut on my scalp from a piece of lightly embedded glass and 3 small lacerations
on my hands – total of 4 stitches needed. I was a Uni student at the time studying
nursing (I was travelling back up to Uni this particular morning). I
experienced some Post Traumatic Stress as a result of this.
Over the next few years, I experienced intestinal
disturbances and some occasions of feeling ‘down’. I guess there were some
occasions in my life at the time that brought on a little added stress such as:
Planning and organising my wedding, doing a full time correspondence course
with some practical application, casual shift work, adjusting to married life, the
death of my Nan, and things like that.
Come along another couple of years, my Pop died and five
days after that, my husband and I had our first baby. Eighteen months later, we
moved interstate - Tasmania to Western
Australia, 3000 odd kilometres from my family...my support system...and
everything familiar. A little over a year later, we had our second daughter.
Now, apart from losing loved ones, these events are good
ones. Getting married and having babies were each one of the happiest days of
my life. I wouldn’t change a thing. And moving back to my hubby’s home state
was exciting – an adventure. One that I thought I managed and coped with rather
well. My body had different ideas.
Over the last 3 odd years I have experienced frequent
nausea, intestinal disturbances, extreme bouts of tiredness, weakness and
lethargy, muscle aches and pains, headaches, and pretty much feel like I have
the flu 24/7. I have had blood tests upon blood tests – all pretty much clear
with only slight abnormalities that weren’t particularly related to my
symptoms. I adopted a gluten free diet with a small improvement and then I
decreased my lactose intake which I think has also made a small difference. Recently I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy
which turned out ALL CLEAR. Great outcome, yes, but no solid explanation to
what the heck is wrong with me.
At my doctor’s appointment, he concluded that with all tests
coming up clear, he felt it safe to say he feels it is the likes of
Fibromyalgia. I have been on some medication which we increased to see if that
helps any further and it does actually help I think. I haven’t really had a solid
good day of health since my scopes though with a nasty cough and blocked up
sinuses. So it’s hard to exercise more
and my sleep patterns are still a tad all over the shop! I am not experiencing
as much nausea – just on occasion – but the hardest bit is the chronic fatigue.
It is debilitating. Sometimes I can hardly walk let alone try and function
normally.
I just want to be healthy. A vibrant, energetic
Mum capable of keeping up with my kids. I push myself and do what I need to do
to get by...feed my family, entertain my kids, get the important housework
done. The last one suffers a little bit from time to time but it eventually
gets done. I am not one that can just STOP. I like to keep rolling. If I complete
what needs to be done quickly – I can then do something more fun, like craft or
do some different activities with the kids. With my condition, it does become
rather hard to fulfil those everyday, ordinary goals I have. But I am learning
to take it slower, and STOP if need be, rest and let my body re-cooperate!
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This all may seem a little dreary and depressing but it’s
not all bad. I like to stay positive. I take photos of my everyday which
reminds me that my life has good things in it even if my body feels bad. In my
head and heart, I am ready to just go, go, go but my body just sometimes does
not want to oblige. It’s frustrating but I know some others out there are going
through things far more difficult than me so I don’t like to get too whiny and
complain. I am still alive – I can be ultra thankful for that. And I do believe
that things can get better. It will just take time. And I need to learn to be
kind to myself and place some importance on me every once in a while. Not to be
selfish, just necessary.
This post has probably come out of left field as I like this
place, my blogging place, to be positive and uplifting. Sometimes, we only see
the highlight reel, but today you are getting abit of the ‘in between’
moments. Sometimes life chucks us in the
deep end and we’ve just got to wade through it the best we can.
And that’s what I’m doing. And I thought I would share this
part of my current reality with you.
I hope my health allows me to come over to this little space
a little more often from now on but I am not going to promise anything. I will
just do what I can do, when I can do it. I have heaps of ideas and things to
share but whether they get on here or not is another question at the moment.
Until next time, I hope your world is filled
with happiness. I do believe that even on a tough day our lives can still get
spritzed with a little bit of sunshine somewhere. And we can be thankful for
something every day, big or small. I hold onto those things. I hope you can
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And so for all those out there who silently suffer with an illness or condition that is hard for others to see - I hear you. I feel your pain. I understand.
Look up and keep reaching xx
With Sprinkles of Sunshine...
Anna
Hi there All!
Yes, it seems I have been on abit of a blogging break.
There is a reason for it but I'm not going to go into all that today.
Not sure I am ready to yet anyway as I am still kind of going the through 'the phase' and not really sure how to put it into words just yet.
Anyway, it's been hard to find time or the energy to sit down at my computer and put together a blog post. Too much brainpower required for me at this point in time. But I'm getting there.
I was browsing through my photos and came across some piccies of something that hubby - err, I mean, Mr Awesome! - built over Easter and I wanted to share with you.
Since bringing all the 'stuff' from our container back over to here from Tassie, Mr Awesome has had his tools PLUS acquiring some of his Pop's tools - so he was able to start putting some of his ideas into action. Happy place right there!!
He had been wanting to make a seat for our porch.
So with some Jarrah timber posts and an old pallet...he created this --
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It still needs a sand and an oil. We had hubby's parents here over Easter so we were keen to use it for eating outside - in style! ;-)
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Megsy likes it.
And no bench is complete without a bit of crochet goodness!
A job well done I say Mr Awesome!
With Sprinkles of Sunshine...
Anna
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"Oh No! Big Sis, I think we have run over Mummy!"
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"Uhh...I think you're right Little Sis..."
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"Quick! We need to call the Amb-lence!"
;-)
With Sprinkles of Sunshine...
Anna
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I love doing it.
Photographing memorable moments.
Writing down things I would like to remember down the track.
I am always 'snapping' away with my camera or jotting down a little quote or activity from throughout the day. For memory's sake.
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Ever since January last year, I have joined in with a photo-a-day challenge created by Chantelle of Fat Mum Slim.
It has been so much fun and I am still carrying on with it to this day. Here is next month's daily photo prompt list for April.
I really enjoy the idea of taking a photo every day related to the prompt. It gets your mind ticking over and I feel that my imagination has expanded more in coming up with different ideas for photos and such. Good for documenting the 'everyday' too!
In mentioning about documenting the everyday, this year I committed myself to Project Life and creating a weekly double page layout showcasing our family's adventures for 2013!
In doing this, I thought that for April - in addition to the Fat Mum Slim photo challenge - I would create my own list of prompts to help me along in documenting more things about myself and things around me. And to just take more 'life snaps' that are great for Project Life and creating an album full of moments and meaningful tidbits.
Part of my aim for this year was to 'go deeper'. Don't just document the normal, on-the-surface stuff but really write down feelings, include some of the not-so-good moments as well as the really awesome times, and to just be REAL! That way, I can look back and see the true journey through life with all its twists and turns. And see how far I, and we, have come! Not to focus on the drab and mundane but just to include it. In some way, shape or form. Life isn't perfect. But sometimes our imperfections can help in making us better and create beauty in us.
Embrace every aspect of life.
That's what I wanna do.
So...
This is the list I have created for myself in my 'list' book!
I thought I would share it, and explain what it was all about, so people who follow me on Instagram or read here (cos I might feature a day or two on this little bloggy of mine) - know what the heck I'm on about.
And...
Just in case you felt like you might wanna do it too.
You are most welcome to join along!
There is a daily prompt. But, I am not going to pressure myself if I miss one or more.
The overall theme for the month is to 'finish the sentence with a photo' (whoops! just realised a mistake in the prompt list - it's supposed to read 'a photo' not 'the photo' but anyway. See? Not perfect. But that's okay!)
I aim to include these photos as part of my weekly Project Life too.
I think it'll be fun.
Might even do it as a monthly, or even second-monthly, thing.
If you would like to join in - that would be totally OK with me. You can do it via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or even use it as a daily blog post prompt. Let me know if you're jumping on board - would love to follow your journey too. I might even be able to do a link-up post for people joining in. We'll see how we go. I will be posting my daily photos on Instagram (annamayde) mainly BUT, as mentioned before, I may choose to pick out a day or two that are meaningful to me and go bloggy with it, if I want to expand and share further :-)
Hashtag is #OBSSlifesnaps ('OBSS' being me and my little blog here, and 'life snaps' basically cos that's what I'm doing...snapping little snippets of life :-)
Bring on April eh!?!
Take care. Seeya around.
With Sprinkles of Sunshine...
Anna
Well, as I mentioned last week, the progress with my blanket has halted due to waiting for new wool.
It was mail day today but there was ZILCH in my mailbox when I went and checked. So that was abit deflating.
BUT...
I have been plodding away at the little 'fill-in' project that I started showing you in the last post.
A granny cushion to match.
Here is the progress...
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There is 4 rounds of the colour sequence in this cushion and I went around again in the white as I thought it would meld in better with the back square as that will be all white. Not sure yet how I will sew it all together to finish. Maybe just attach along 3 sides, leave the 4th open for the cushion insert and attach buttons for closing.
We'll see when I get there.
So hopefully Friday mail day will bring my wool along so I can resume rippling. Actually, come to think of it - it will be Good Friday, public holiday. Looks like I won't get a thing until Wednesday next week [sigh]. The downfalls of living in the country I guess. But on the other hand - Easter weekend will be great. Expecting the in-laws to visit for a few days so that will be good :-)
Be sure to check out Mel's Week 4 blog post HERE.
And you can also check out all the lovely blankets via Instagram using the hashtag #ripplealong
Seeya next week!
With Sprinkles of Sunshine...
Anna
Firstly, I would just like to say a big Thank You to all who have visited my blog and made beautiful comments on my ripple blanket progress so far. I really enjoy hearing what you think and also visiting all the blogs linked up on Mel's blog who are taking part in this enjoyable activity!
Above, you can see a picture of my little crochet spot on the couch yesterday. I was a little behind in getting my 10 rows but finished them off and photographed my blanket progress for this post today.
I now have 34 rows of colour done.
Sprout knows this blanket is for her and she always asks me when she sees me get it out "Is it ready yet, Mummy?"
Not quite yet darling ;-)
But it's getting closer!
Unfortunately, I have come to a hault in the progress of my blanket because...
I have run out of the colour wool.
My mother managed to purchase some more balls of wool from Spotlight last week and they are on the way in the post!
However, I don't expect them to turn up here until next week. Slow post. So I'm pretty certain there won't be a progress post next week for me.
BUT...
I will post about a little related project I am doing to match my blanket.
I decided to get together the remaining bundles of wool left over from the blanket and start creating a cushion to match it!
When going to start the cushion, I realised I had completely forgotten how to begin crocheting a granny square!
So back to YouTube I went. And in the first minute of the tutorial I had it back on track again. Phew!
So during My Kitchen Rules last night, I did the first round of the cushion.
I will continue on in this pattern probably another 2-3 times I think. Well until the desired size.
And then I will do a crochet back in white.
Kinda just winging it really.
I will come back next week with my progress on this.
Until then, don't forget to check out the Week 3 progress post on Mel's blog HERE.
She has some linkies of some of her faves this week which are really good so check them out. And you can also browse through the links of all the ripple-alongers as well :-)
Also, if you are on Instagram you can check out the hashtag #ripplealong and see all the goodness there as well.
Happy Rippling xx
With Sprinkles of Sunshine...
Anna
Hi! I'm Anna...
