Perspective

Preparation is important to me.

This was my 7th child and postpartum experience so I knew EXACTLY what to prepare for before.

I had the right supplies. Knew what timetable to expect my body to find it's energy and feel "normal" again. I knew at 2 weeks the baby would get thrush like my previous 6 (which I avoided this time thanks to a miracle cream I had called in before.........see? Preparation.) I knew that when Brooks was home the first week it would CRUCIAL that I rest up mucho so I would feel normal by the time he went back to work the next week. I kept telling myself DO NOT overdo it, or I would be in trouble (like I was after I had Bronson trying to do too much then laid out for longer) because Brooks told me he was starting a "doozy" of a rotation so I needed my A-game on. My body healed nicely. I felt my energy back. Kellyn was only waking up once at night So we were on track to normal w/ all the things I was used to........except............

I had these horrible headaches.

I had NEVER EVER had headaches before in my life. Not really even one. I now feel REALLY sorry for those who get them. They just kept coming on. Even when my body felt fine and normal my head/neck area was going crazy. I realized instead of an A-game coming on, I was more closer to a F-game. 

They wore and wore on me, until finally I called my doctor's office to be seen. (which the LAST time I went in the doctor's voluntarily for anything other then a check-up it was 11 years ago when I was balding.....yea, I know, serious huh.) The nurse kind of treated it lightly so I scheduled an appt and hung up feeling rather discouraged. Yes, headaches aren't a big deal, I realize, but I KNEW my body and I KNEW what was normal in postpartum for ME and frankly my expectations weren't being met.

So you can understand why I broke down in tears that very day when I opened up the mailbox and found the most THOUGHTFUL gift from my sis, Nikki.

The necklace had all of my kids' names on it. I'm actually tearing up now as I type this thinking on how much that meant to me at the time. I realized I would go through ANY kink in my plans/preparations for these 7 sweet names. I would do it again even, just to have my sweet Kellyn join our family.

If I had to deal w/ headaches for the rest of my life, it would be a sacrifice worth making for my favorite people here on my necklace. 

Thankfully, I won't have to though. After seeing the doctor I was sent over to the hospital for high blood pressure issues (which I've NEVER EVER had) and thankfully sent home later that day. Brooks took my bp all week and realized it wasn't getting better, nor my headaches. I saw the doctor again and I'm on some bp lowering medicine + diuretic (who seriously GAINS weight after coming home from having a baby?!?!?) and my headaches have disappeared and blood pressure down to 115.  I feel back to normal and I'm loving it, I really have taken my good health for granted. I'm so grateful. I'm also hopeful that in a few weeks we can start lowering the dosage so I can wean myself off the meds. Fingers crossed. But either way, there is medicine that can help me and I'm grateful. I'm also grateful because I know postpartums that are 10 gazillion times worse for other people, yes, I realize that. It was just frustrating to go through something 6 times and have a curve ball thrown at me out of the blue. Seriously, things could've been worse, I know...but to be honest, it was perfect timing as well. Looking back I see Heavenly Father's hand in everything and helping me in such an obvious way.

It was a good reminder though that there ARE sacrifices that are worth making.

and I have seven little names on a necklace to prove it!

‎"Five good children (in my case, 7) are an immense luxury, and to deny one's self other luxuries in order to raise them is not self-denial at all, but merely an intelligent choice of investment."

--Edward Sandford Martin, The Luxury of Children (1904)