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| me attempting to take a self portrait with the ipad. |
i've missed you guys :) it's felt like ages since i've been online and on the mommyhood. the last 10 days have not been easy. there's been lots of tears, pain & frustration but there has also been laughs & some good memories. in case you missed
jane's guest post for me last week i've been having some issues again with my stupid ol'35 year old back :P remember last fall when i couldn't sew for months and was on bed rest for a bit with that stupid back belt that was like spanx gone bad? yeah...i'd like to erase those memories too...lol.
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| kidlets passed out on the floor after a loooong week. |
well for no reason at all the other weekend my back just went again. not fun for this momma. pain got so bad i ended up in ER over the long weekend here in canada so i could make it until i saw my doctor when offices were open. since then there's been a confusing amount of advice about what they "think" may be going on accompanied by a lot of pain meds - yuck! only problem was that i needed the pain meds to obviously not be in pain but they made it so i couldn't take care of my kiddos. so in the end i've been toughing it out and going ibuprofren since the worst has passed. to top it off the hubby had to study and write one of his last big exams during this hell week! i mean seriously....what else could go wrong right? (oh
maggie...why can't i live closer to you?...lol..i need a good chiropractor)
thanks to my sister, my parents & some loving friends whose phone calls, visits to help me contain my kids, and basically them just listening to me rant and cry - our little family survived the last 2 weeks. it was not easy. boy oh boy. i'm pretty frustrated about the whole situation and wish i could fill you guys in on some more but i really don't know anything. i'm going to see a specialist today and am also waiting on a long list to get a CAT scan to check out the muscles/joints in my lower back so hopefully between now and the next few months this problem will slowly start to be fixed cause man has it been hard to be couped up inside when we finally just had a weekend of gorgeous sunshine & hot weather here! i soaked up what i could from the deck, a car ride for a much needed cup of starbucks (i went a week without any!!!) and a wee walk near the ocean. i basked in the fun stories the kiddos came home with about their outings to the waterpark, beach and more with daddy. hopefully i'll be able to join them soon.
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| bear nighties...yep...that's how we roll peeps! |
but in the meantime i splurged and bought myself and the hubs an anniversary/belated bday pressie (for me - thx mom/dad & nana/papa). yeppers...i got myself an Ipad!!!! woot woot! love it! and the best part of the Ipad -
instagram!!! yesssssss! i'm finally on
instagram! i was seriously getting emails and messages daily asking if i was on instagram yet. it was killing me to miss out on all the fun and boy is it fun. i'm hooked and i just started. it's a good time over there...lol. you can find me under "luvinthemommyhood". and now thanks to my awesome new tablet i can still chat with y'all and keep a bit more up to date online even though i'm all gibbled...lol. i've been busy loading apps and exploring the world of tablets and also knitting my brains out on my
summer sweater kal project.
i'm hoping posts will get a bit more back to normal this week but bear with me if here and there i'm a no show. i'm still no where near better and have 2 kids to watch full time so i'm not sure how my schedule is going to go. but what i can tell you is there's a great giveaway this week as well as another fabulous guest poster so stay tuned!!! i promise to do my best to keep things rolling around here :)
so question to you guys - how are you all? what have you been whipping up these days? any fave Ipad apps you can't live without? what crafty apps do you rely on & love? so far i've been pretty happy with JKnitHDLite, Gaugefy Free, and Tally Lite for my knitting but i'd love to hear any of your suggestions! hope you've all been well m'dears xoxoxox
Hey Shannon :) I don't know exactly what you're experiencing with your back, but I was wondering if heat or ice help? Is it muscular? If it is, you should look into getting a Thermophore. I have back issues myself, am also a Mommy,and am a massage therapist. I use my Thermophore almost daily and it helps me sooooo much. It's basically a giant heating pad that pulls moisture out of the air and puts it into the muscles in your back. (Moist heat being the fastest way to relax muscles.) However, if it's a swelling issue, then ice is your best way to go... just thought I'd share in hopes that it would help. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've been on my mind! So sorry that you've been in so much pain. It's really hard when you not only feel awful, but can't take care of your fam on top of it.
ReplyDeleteSweetness on the iPad though! So fun! I'm looking forward to a smartphone someday so I can have fun with mobile pictures.
I'm glad to hear you're feeling better! I'ma grad student who must mark up everything she reads, so I haven't taken the plunge to get and iPad yet, though I've thought about it. I'd probably spend too much time playing Angry Birds and too little time reading. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've been in my prayers Shannon, here's hoping that the specialist will have some better answers. Totally wish I lived closer, I'd come and make you delicious gluten free goodies sure to brighten anyone's day :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have a tablet so no tips there. What I've been working on though...aprons! Oh my goodness I have aprons coming out of my ears! Well maybe not that bad, but I did make 3 for a friend for her bridal shower, making 2 for my friend for her b-day and even a teeny tiny one to go on the soap too :)
I also am in the mood to make a summer dress but haven't figured out the style/pattern I want to make.
oh honey - I am so very sorry to hear this!!! I hope you feel better real soon, and pray for the doctors to have wisdom to know what is going on. When your back goes out it is just horrible, and whats worse - is it feels like there is absolutely nothing you can do about it! Keep your head up, I am here if you need anything! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI cringed when I read this post for I know how painful and debilitating back pain can be! I have bulged discs and when my back went out, again, this last January, it was the absolute worst ever! Couldn't move without being in pain, my hubs (who was so wonderful through it all) had to help me do just about everything until I could get some pain meds strong enough to make it subside. I couldn't walk without holding onto him. It was terrible and I understand how frustrating and horrible it is, especially when there are kidlets to take care of!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're feeling better now! I hope you get the CAT scan and some answers along with it.
I have, lately, whipped up some bib and burp cloth sets, started on a hot/cold therapy pack combo (large pack and eye mask) and I finished one of the Dresses for Africa I had vowed to make.
I wish I could offer some tips on good iPad apps, but I do know that I love my Invellop cover for my iPad. I have two little girls who love to find Mommy's iPad and try to play on it. So far it has helped protect it from their little 'oopps' drops. I do like that I can save my pdf patterns in the iBooks and have all my patterns in one place. Especially the Downtown Cowl of yours that I am working on now. I knit a sweater years ago and it was a hot mess so I am using this as a chance to work on my pattern, gauge, and blocking skills. I hope to join with the next KAL. I hope you are feeling better and if not, hopefully you get some knitting done while relaxing.
ReplyDeleteOh no, oh no! Yes, I remember that time and I am SO SORRY to hear it is back. Hoping those doctors get smart and figure this one out!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I want instagram! The wants began about 2 weeks ago...
I am a new follower of yours so I had no idea about your back issues... I am so sorry to hear! It must be so tough on you and your little ones, (and your hubby!). :( Hopefully it will all be resolved soon. I am happy you got your iPad and knitting to keep you busy in the meantime! Take care!
ReplyDeleteUgh! I've had a new bout with a really bad muscle pain, too - my right pectoral muscle got really screwed up from my job last winter. Its back, and it is so hard taking care of the little ones (toddlers), and just doing daily tasks. My hubs has been doing the dishes because I can't even do that! The meds they put me on last time made me a zombie, so this time I am just taking prescription strength ibuprofen. It sucks when mama is laid low!!! On the plus side (don't get jealous), my hubs is a massage therapist, so he's been working on me, but I need a chiropractor as well. Oy! Not fun!!
ReplyDeleteYou've got my prayers, Shannon.
I'm happy to hear you are now on Instagram!! I have searched for you in the past. I'll follow - I am lilarchergirl.
Take care, Erin
Oh no, Shannon! I am sorry this is happening AGAIN! Hoping you find answers and relief soon. Woo Hoo on the iPad. I do love mine (it is a close second to my macbook). I have good reader and love it for pdf viewing. I can mark up patterns as I knit. I also love dropbox for pattern storage between my laptop and mobile device. Hmm. I have lots of other apps for me and the kiddos, but no so many craft ones. Eager to see what other people recommend.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, you poor thing :S Sounds like you're having a helluva time of it there - so sorry to hear that.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're having fun with your ipad, though! I'm addicted to mine, and am rather distraught that it has to be returned to the mothership for repairs.
Hope they can get to the bottom of the pain soon!
So, so sorry about your back! : ( I went through back issues about a year ago and it was so debilitating. I'm not one to suggest things, but after months of PT, meds, dr visits, acupuncture totally fixed my back!! I'm a convert. : ) Congrats on the ipad - that's definitely a lift! Oh, and I would love it if you would share the app suggestions you get. Hang in there!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I think we need to get you an extended warranty and then put you in a bubble! Bless - it must be awful. I've just been plugging away on my tournament knitting. Currently I've got some hexagon boot slippers, two shawls (one knit, one crochet) and a Christmas tree skirt all working. I wrote out a schedule to keep them all progressing, I'm my own little crafting sweat shop at the moment... and just think, the Ravellenic Games start in just over 2 weeks - let's add to the madness, shall we?
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling right as rain soon!
Terrible news about your back, I hope you can get to the bottom of it and soon! I've had a bit of back pain in my life and it's amazing how it affects nearly every move you make. I've been doing Iyengar yoga for about 4 years and have had no issues since but started with accupuncture.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to get an iPad at some point though I'm lucky enough to have an iPhone. I haven't tried any of those apps, I'll have to check them out.
I'm hoping to go out and pick up some yarn today for the knit-along - it's Stampede week here in Calgary and Pudding Yarn is having a sale so I hope they have what I need as the knit-along is great incentive to knit in the summer. It would be my first sweater so we'll see...
Hope your back just keeps improving!
Ouch! Take care of yourself and I hope you get well soon. I threw my back out several weeks and ago and it was miserable. I could only shuffle about and I think I was literally eating Ibuprofen. As for what I'be been up to...lots of doll frock designing and thinking of creating a doll carrier ala ergo...oh, oh, oh and a doll inspired by Lady Lovelace. Look her up. :D She's considered the world's first computer programmer...long before computers had been invented. :D ~Robin
ReplyDeletethanks everyone! you guys are so sweet! luvs!!!!! made my day to hear from you all. thank you for all the emails and well wishes as well.
ReplyDeletexoxox
Aw, sorry to hear your back is acting up again Shannon! Here's hoping they find a solution for you super quick so you can get out and enjoy this beautiful summer weather!
ReplyDeleteWe were on the island this past weekend and I thought of you! We were celebrating our 10th anniversary and went out to the B&B where we were married in Sooke then hiked in East Sooke Park. It was a gorgeous day!
Hi, I don't usually comment here it couldn't help but make some suggestions. I don't know exactly where you live but there is a phenomenal PT and Dr up there. Western part of Canada A few hrs North of Seattle. The do manipulation and the doc does Prolotherapy. Unless you have acute disc herniations it would probably help you a ton. The PT s name is Erl Pettman. If you are in that area and want info let me know. I am a PT who has taken a lot of classes from this guy. And I have had Prolotherapy myself. It has worked miracles on my bad back. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteOh girl! I sooo wished I lived closer too! I feel so bad that your back is hurting you again :-( Hopefully it lets up soon so you can enjoy life again...
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note, hooray for the iPad! Now with Oliver here and the ever-constant nursing sessions (<3) I love my iPad even more!!!!
Sending big hugs your way!