Pics from Memorial Day

Dreycin & Daddy pics.....my favorite is now on our page as our main pic!!!

Swim lessons pics

Looking very forward to this SAturday when I can take pics of Dreycin with his daddy at swim lessons!!!!!

PPD

So a friend of mine who blogs recently wrote a "vlog" about postpartum depression. So here's my take on it. I talk about it with patients every day, I educate those that are unaware of what it is and I talk about signs, symptoms and triggers that have a history of depression. For me after I had Dreycin, I knew I was at risk for postpartum depression because in 2002 I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, at that time I was given antidepressant & antianxiety medication to help me get back on my feet and counseling. Counseling has been on and off for me since then too, which I know if I can go and talk to a neutral, non biased person about what is going on in my life or what I am struggling with it can help me work past it. PTSD for me was a deep depression, where some days I cried all day in bed, feelings of hopelessness/guilt/not wanting to live, or went out and had a little TOO much fun with my friends On top of that clinical depression is diagnosed to 15-60% of people with chronic illnesses, that flare like lupus. My OB emphasized how important it would be for me to have support at home, taking care of myself after Dreycin was born. After my own experience, I really then understood how important it was for me to ask my patients if they had support at home. I also realized how hard it was to make time for myself. My OB suggested that 7 days a week, I take 1hr a day for me, no disruptions doing something I wanted to do....in addition to 5 days a week 40min of continuous exercise to keep my lupus under control and depression at bay. In the beginning I couldnt do it I was too sore and tired, I couldnt make myself not just want to sleep during my 1hr..... until my 3rd week of postpartum, i started working out. I cant say I havent had my down days, and especially during this time Derek has been gone, I have felt like a single mother. Im so tired, I dont feel like doing anything but I do, I come home to take care of my miracle baby. The baby we thought we would never have, still brings tears to my eyes to this day. I think about women who have had loss, who so deeply want to become a mother. That is the saddest part of my days at work, I definitely come home grateful for my beautiful perfect son AGAINST ALL ODDS. Ive been lucky enough that I have not suffered from postpartum depression, but its all about maintaining a healthy well being. Doing something that makes you happy, confident, balanced, and having those you love support you 200%. Getting out going to Gymboree classes has definitely been positive & helped too, enjoying myself with Dreycin and getting to socialize with mom's & people other than at work. Im hoping when Derek comes home(After 7wks...aghhh) I can focus a little more on ME, like becoming more fit, losing this jello around my midsection! So its going to have to be working out and I am barely doing something 2x a week, if that since Derek has been gone. And I feel better physically and emotionally after working out, my body doesnt ache and im energized! I love the way I feel after any type of workout. Tonight for prime example, I was so exhausted, I had to work this morning and yesterday all we did was run around go to this class, and the next one, some errands, and finally to a friends house for dinner....all that on my day off....and back to the story....tonight im so tired, Dreycin is fussy, there is nothing to eat unless I want to cook, my mom finally wakes up to help me with Dreycin so that I can cook some yummy chicken alfredo pasta, get my lunch ready, do a load of clothes, and load the dishwasher(no exercise)...now its 8:30pm and im exhausted so she has given Dreycin his bath and gotten him ready for bed. Makes me sad a little that I cant do it all, but its impossible yet there are some women out there who do this and I bow to them. I dont know what I would have done if Derek was on a deployment, or gone sooner/longer than he has already been!

Im about to post some pics of swim lessons this week! My mom was able to come so she got some cute pics!

not too much longer....

i havent written in a while, its been a crazy last 6wks being without my love, my right hand man. Dreycin and I have missed him terribly! It was so nice to have him home last weekend, even if it was only 2days. he's scheduled to come home next week :) After having gone through many stateside deployments, and an overseas deployment this by far has been the hardest. Only because we have a baby,who grows and changes everyday. Dreycin and I have stayed busy though, we have started swim lessons, shopped for summer clothes, and are still going to gymboree 2x a week! he has such a little personality. but last night he had a fever, and he was just a little bit crabby....today he woke up the same way. that makes me so sad, and worried. the other thing he has been doing is rubbing his right ear while breastfeeding which makes me wonder if he might have an ear infection....off to the doc we go tomorrow! the girls at work told me to try motrin over tylenol which i might do later tonight if he gets crabby again. As for me, well i'll say "its been nice while it lasted." The past month or so I have noticed that ive been taking more naps and still tired, like i cant get enough sleep, skin rash, inflammation in my back muscles, and relied a little more on my lupus meds. This reminds me of when i was first diagnosed in college, and i would come home from school and take a 4or 5hr nap and my roommate would be like why do you sleep so much....i had no idea until a few months later i was diagnosed with lupus. I had my labs drawn and my complement levels have dropped, which usually is common with a flare. this time it may be a tiny one, but today im going to a new doctor. He's an internal medicine doctor so I feel like he will be able to monitor me a little more closely than someone at a family practice. this came at the suggestion of our insurance. AFter meeting with him he is sending me straight to my rheumy. Go figure stress(derek being gone) = flares, oh well at least I have had my wonderful mom by my side!! So life goes on....but in the meantime im having a blast, with naps and all! I really cant wait until Derek comes home so i can start a workout routine again, and have ME time!!! We all know mommies need it!!!