Didn't I say back pain? Yes, but my foot (in the form of plantar fascitis) still hasn't healed since Isaac's birth. As a former doctor of mine once said: "Boy! You really know how to get on top of things fast." So, I made the call and showed up for a foot assessment two weeks ago. The chiropractor quickly determined that my back, namely my poor unstable pelvis, needed to be treated before the foot could even be approached. (An unapproachable foot, who knew?)
The reason I went with this chiropractor rather than our local one is that the Pembroke doctor has a reputation for 'fixing' things and he has Low Intensity Laser Therapy. I'm not explaining it, you can look it up if you want. So, I arrived for my assessment and ended up with an appointment card that has more ink on it than time slots. Ouch. I just finished my first week of driving to Pembroke three times/week; I have to do this for the next 2-3 weeks until the laser sessions are done. This means that three times a week Dave rushes home from school, I pack Sarah and an obliging sibling in the van, leave some sort of workable supper and drive the hour to Pembroke where I sit for 21 minutes while Sarah gurgles on the examination table and Jacob discusses the merits of laser therapies with the tech. I then drive the hour back trying not to think about supper and telling Hannah to keep all snacks well away from me. Inevitably, I take a wrong turn leaving Pembroke as my spatial sense is dismal in the daytime and abysmal at night. The twins laugh and say, "I'm getting scared," as signs for Petawawa not Barry's Bay begin to appear. The road also gets darker and darker and Sarah screams louder and louder expressing her mother's feelings exactly. In fact, my spatial sense is so bad that I repeatedly turn the wrong way out of the exam room at the chiropractor's and end up in hallways marked private. I need Jacob just to get out of the chiropractic building.
So, a whole lot of gas (and insurance remitting later) my back is already feeling better. This is in part due to the sacro-iliac belt with which I have been fitted. You can look that one up, too. The belt does its job; unfortunately part of its job is to push all of the previously hidden hip fat up, up, up and over the top of the belt into a region that just doesn't wear it that well. My wardrobe needs to be readjusted; either that or I should stop eating.
There you go: I am biting the bullet and getting myself all fixed up. Thankfully, the weather has been more than cooperative: where is the snow, exactly? and the temps have been sitting at around 15 degrees. I have played the alphabet and number game with the twins on the drive so many times that the three of us know exactly where three q's and two z's can be found. Sarah has been remarkably obliging about the entire venture and only cries for the first 45 minutes of the trip back. Unlike her mother, she has a keen sense of geography and always ceases her pleading once we hit Round Lake.
And there you have the story of our recent daily life in a slightly larger than normal nutshell.
On a slightly less mundane note: I am trying to remember that Advent is approaching, not just Christmas. Where are those candles? Do we have candles? Joseph's fifth birthday is next Wednesday and I am soon to turn 35. Wasn't I just 17?
Hannah took first prize in the Legion's Remembrance Day poster contest and Jacob took third in the poetry division. (Does it mean anything that one of the judges happens to live in close proximity to our house and regularly offers me drives when I'm out exercising?) Their wins mean that we get to attend "a wee party" (those are the exact words from the official letter) precisely 10 minutes after I arrive home from laser therapy. The timing of the event, quickly attended by my motherly whining (How am I going to manage this with a nursing baby?), were quickly quelled when I read the quote at the bottom of the Legion's letterhead:
They served til death. Why not we?
Touche.
10 comments:
Love the directional issues :) one sister in our convent does not have any sense of direction and simply turns right when she doesn't know what to do... we nearly landed in the Northwest Arm one day!!! so you are not alone in that issue... Happy Advent!!!!
Oh my friend, my heart goes out to you! I had to see my chiropractor 3 times a week for 2 or 3 months when I was pregnant with Isaiah, traveling the 45 minutes from Halifax and back each time, on top of usual doctor's appointments and doula appointments. I don't think I did anything else for a whole trimester. It was SO exhausting.
I will pray for you to enter into Advent, if you pray for me. I am looking forward to it because it will be a bit of a kick in the pants to grow up, spiritually. Like Lent. Only shorter and with more cookies. I'll take it!
Wow, that sounds exhausting - but I'm so glad to hear it's working! I've heard about those belts before and always with glowing reports. I suspect I may need some sort of maternity support belt this time around - only 7.5 weeks, and already having serious pains in my lower abdomen when I cough, sneeze, or (occasionally) throw up. I'm sort of looking forward to those giant-paneled maternity pants just for a little support (and smoothing of lumps...).
Sr. Teresa, I love the thought of a sister who only turns right - this just seems like the moral choice when it comes to directions;)
Jac, I encourage you to get a belly support for the preg. I wish that I had as it would have prevented so many of the problems that I am having now. The serola belt is highly recommended for preg - go for it!
Jenna, I'm glad to hear that someone else has had to visit the chiro at such frequency. I will remember you this Advent. I am really enjoying Patrick's blog, by the way.
Wow! Bless you, Elena, for all the sacrifices you've made and are making for your family. Even though it's a trial, I'm glad you're taking some time to care for yourself and pray you continue to heal quickly.
And Jaclyn! Congratulations!
Your back may be 35 but your mind and humour is 17. Well, maybe a bit older ... like 24. Perfect age.
Hope that things feel better soon. Please don't forget that you have relatives close by (yes, I am volunteering my mom) who can pitch in! She is in the slow session for book selling.
Love that Jacob. Also I am impressed that you have dinner ready before you leave. I usually just throw Nathan to the wolves. (Of course, he is a way better cook than I.)
Also, on a pedantic note, those are parentheses you are using, not brackets. [Square] brackets are used to explain things or to alter part of a word; parentheses (such as you are using) are for adding explanatory or extra information. Sorry, couldn't resist.
And I always wondered what those square brackets were for ... well who would have guessed I'd find out in a blog comment!
Elena, we will be praying for you for a quick recovery and smooth trips back and forth...I too am impressed that you get dinner ready first. With this pregnancy Andrew & Eoin have basically been entirely abandoned to their down devices. From the smells in the house, they seem to be living on sausage and fruit.
I hope the laser and chiro are successful for you. I struggled with back and pelvis/leg pain for several years before starting chiro when it got out of control. After Eoin was born I ended up doing about 3 months straight of 2-3 times a week and chiro once a week. That left me in great shape and I hope it will be great for you too :)
My goodness you hide your pain well. I had no idea....and I'm usually sitting right behind you at mass...watching you intently. (haha) I do hope that this chiro helps (along with the belt). Jason and I did some laser therapy a while back and found it helped tremendously. Good luck...especially with all htat driving. (whew!)
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