I had a doctors appointment yesterday that I want to tell you about. I haven’t talked a whole lot about my pain recently, partly because I wanted to see what would happen with some new decisions we’ve made. Also, I haven’t talked about it as much because there has been improvement! And my pain isn’t at the top of my list of concerns currently 🙂 I’m still actively working on it, taking my pain meds on a fairly strict schedule, and still not pushing myself in ways I shouldn’t. I’ll catch you up.

About a month ago, I saw my doctor for my pain. At that point, I was on full doses of Naproxen, every day, plus something to help me sleep, as that is my primary healing time. I had weened off of Tylenol at that point, and was feeling comfortable in my day-to-day on the medications I was taking, assuming I took them on time. That being said, my nighttime medication is not to be used long term at all. I was feeling eager to get off of it, so one evening, I decided to half my pill and see what happened. I’m on SUCH a low dose, as it was. Of course, I split the pill poorly and succeeded more so in clipping maybe a third of it off. I took the bigger piece and went to bed. 

And I hurt for FOUR DAYS after that! I was pretty discouraged. I had HARDLY changed anything, and had SUCH a crappy setback. This happened pretty close to that doctors appointment I had a month ago, and I lamented to Dr. Guselle how frustrated I was. 

If you remember the last time I posted about an appointment, I said how she had spoken to me about going on an antidepressant, and how I was nervous of that route. NOT because I think antidepressants are bad or wrong or anything of the sort. I just personally do not suffer from depression, and didn’t understand how that was supposed to help me besides maybe taking some of the worry out of my situation. However, Dr. Guselle explained to me further at that last appointment that the pain centres in my brain are now hyper sensitive, and they’re overreacting. That made a LOT of sense. My brain panicked when I took even a teeny bit of my pill out, and I paid dearly for that. So, that being said, I agreed to start an antidepressant in hopes that it will eventually cover for all of my Naproxen, Tylenol, sleeping pill, and my need for a stomach protector, by relaxing the parts of my brain that are overreacting.

I’m not going to go into full big details on what or how much on the internet, but I’m HAPPY to talk to anyone about it who is interested 🙂 Message me, if you wish! I’m not embarrassed!

I began the medication the day of that appointment, about a month ago. For the next week and a half, I was nauseous, very groggy, and hot flashy. It subsided right as I was supposed to go up in my dose, but thankfully, the symptoms didn’t flare up again. All that remains is a relaxedness that is somewhat restful, but makes me feel the tiniest big lethargic sometimes. I can easily blow past it if I have things to do, or some kind of stimulation. I still have drive and motivation. But if I have nothing pressing to do, I can just sit. Like, longer than I used to. Just sit. Its different, but its not bad. I can tell the medication is starting to do its thing. 

I’ve been on my antidepressant for a month now. Its apparently not expected to be working at capacity for six to eight weeks, so I suppose we’ll still see whats to come. What I can tell you is that my pain is so much less. I don’t know if I can credit the meds or healing or both, but I’m moving forward! Last Saturday was the first day in MONTHS I had NO PAIN!!! NONE! It went on like that for FOUR DAYS!!! At that point, I felt confident enough to start bringing some medications down, and while I can notice a difference in my hands on the days following the days I lower doses, I recover, and my body seems to give in and say “Ok, those meds should cover it actually, never mind, you’re good with this,” and the pain pulls back. 

Since starting my antidepressant, I am down to only two Naproxen from the six I had been taking. I plan to be done with Naproxen very soon. Still taking the protector, as long as I’m on Naproxen. I’m still taking Tylenol, and likely will be for a while. My sleeping pill is the next to go, and I’m admittedly nervous about how my body and brain will react. The sooner I’m off that one, the better, and going off of it before my antidepressant is caught up is a bit risky. But I want to be done. And if my body can forgive me when I go down in other medications, then hopefully it can forgive this one, too. I’ll just go slow. 

All of this being said, it’s VERY vulnerable to talk about medication on the internet, so please be gentle. Nothing works for everyone, and whats right for someone else isn’t right for everyone. And thats ok! Its so personal to everyone individually. 

To wrap up, if you’re the praying type, please pray for success going off of this nighttime medication, and eventually all of them. I’m SO thankful for my options and that we’ve found a way for me to do my life without pain, and I’ll also be SO thankful to be rid of them!!

Today’s post is short and sweet, but I have to have these two little details on record 🙂 

Firstly, does anyone else’s kid do this?? 

Lol! I think its SO cute, and she’s been doing it a while already! I think its quirky. Just like her. 

And with that being said, here are a few pictures of Wavy from the last couple of days making funny faces and being silly and grumpy and generally goofy. She does grumpy brows on command now 😠 Its SO funny! I’m a big fan of her! 

So is Rowan. And really everyone else. 

Thats all for today 🙂 A picture holds a thousand words anyway, right? 

So. We’re there. 

I know I’ve been having some pretty ridiculous issues with my hands in the recent months. While my pain is currently managed, and I can do most things without pain, it appears they’re weaker than they were. Hopefully some strength comes back soon. 

That all being said, maybe we’d be here even if I was at full strength, and pain-free. 

This morning, I couldn’t open the new carton of almond milk. Sometimes I find the seals on the 4L milk jugs really hard to break, but the almond milk spout has never been an issue. This morning, however, it was just seemingly pushing into the carton more than not, and I couldn’t get a good enough grip on it to open it. 

So Dekker did 😳 Like, immediately. Without problem. 

So. We’re there. My eight year old son is stronger than me. It probably helps that he has smaller hands than me, and can more easily grab the small twist-off cap. Maybe I’ll choose to believe thats why. Or that my hands aren’t up to snuff. 

Orrrrr he’s just stronger than me. 

Where has time gone??? 😩 

My last basement update included pictures of each useable space and how NICE its looking. I’m SO thrilled! It is a well used, well loved space. Quality of life has gone up significantly since finishing the basement for use! What. A. Relief.

However, there were three things on the last update that were not done. 

One was the drop ceiling. That thing is a ways off, because its not a priority. It’ll get done after the fence and yard. Its barely even really on the list. Its neglected.  

One was a little bar for a hand towel in the bathroom. Boom. Done. Very easy. 

One was shelves. Now, I was going to write this out and say it’s DONE done, but technically, we still need some storage shelves in our furnace room. One day. Thats not really a huge, huge deal. BUT!!! The shelves in the laundry area are done, and I’m SO thrilled!!! 

I’ve wanted a simple shelf above my laundry machines to stack all of my soaps and little products. Once upon a time, on TLC, I saw a family who had their dispensers on a shelf directly above their machines, and they could dispense soap directly into their machine’s little drawer. I wanted that. And now I have it!!

Now that our products and containers aren’t on a wobbly shelf beside the washer, I got the littles shelving unit I’ve wanted! It just looks and feels WAY cleaner now! 

One more thing down! I’m SO grateful for our basement!! 

The snow came DOWN last night! Wow! SO much snow!

Because of where our house is built, and how the weather almost always plays out, there grew a HUGE drift across the street. Now, by “across the street” I mean it crossed the street. Like, there was no “through.” It wasn’t about being unable to exit our driveway, but our inability to actually drive down our street. Laela bawled at the thought that we weren’t going to church after all. She LOVES church. 

I posted about it on Facebook, laughing/lamenting about our last minute change of plans, our priority going from church to snow removal. Within minutes, one of our neighbours commented than he’d be out shortly with his snowblower. I replied right away, trying to explain clearer that it’s was the street, not just the driveway, He didn’t respond, but he did show up on the street in full winter gear, pushing his snowblower. 

Everyone was enthralled. 

There was a TON of snow, but in a surprisingly short period of time, there was a nice big path cleared! Once we knew it was open, Brady loaded up the church-going kids into them van. I had to stay home with a couple who weren’t going to be able to go anyway, but because of the clear path, my mom could come spend the morning with us! It was a super nice morning after all! A HUGE thank you to Landry for clearing the road!!

Once everyone was home from church, my mom and I ducked into Saskatoon for a quick errand or two.

The sun is SO beautiful and we had SUCH a nice little outing. Today has been a really lovely way to wrap up the weekend ❤️ If winter could just not show up again, that would be excellent 👌 

Yesterday was pretty adorable 😍 

Waverly did a pretty excellent job of messing up her sleeper over supper, and it was decently crusted up in the evening. In an effort to not forget to change it, I stripped her down to her diaper.

She loves hanging around in just her diaper anyway. But this particular time, she wanted to take it one step further, and just yanked and yanked on her diaper. She wanted it off SO BAD. And I figured, what the heck, why not?? Little naked babies running around the house are a right of passage in parenthood! So I let her, and she was pretty enthralled with her newfound freedom. 

It wasn’t long before she seemed to forget, and brought a book to me on the couch. 

“Book? Sit?” she asked. So I heaved her up and she sat next to me, rubbing her bum, while I read her a story 😂

Aaaaand it all ended abruptly when she peed on the couch, and by default, me. She was SO innocent about it, too 😆 Very “Who, me??” Luckily, her blanket was right with us, and I sat her on it quickly, to soak up the worst of it. Meanwhile, Brady and the kids scrambled for paper towel and Lysol wipes. It was over in moments. We all just laughed at her. I’m thankful for our leather couch and the ease at which it cleans! 

We diapered Wavy right after, as you can imagine, and decided to watch some music videos with the kids before bed to get their sillies out. Wavy couldn’t get enough…

Of her own bum, that is! We’re going to have to keep an eye on this one…

I keep wanting to make a post of all the things Waverly is saying these days. She has SO MUCH to say! Never before have I had a kid who is talking “enough” to satisfy the verbal standard set by public health at 18 months. In all fairness, she’s about 20 months now, but thats basically the same. And she says EVERYTHING. 

She calls everyone in her family by name.

She knows all of the greetings. Hi, hello, bye, ni-night, etc. 

She speaks lots of short sentences. 

She says please and thank you.

I’m running. I’m dancing. I want that. I don’t want that. More, please. Up, please. Help, please. All done. I wear that. 

When she farts, she announces “Poop.” That might be my favorite. 

Her vocabulary is too long to really list, but to name a few: Happy. Puppy. Dance. Cow. Boots. Milk. Car. Zoom. Go. Lunch. Diaper. Pony. Book. Bum. Phone. Ducky. Runnin’. Treat. See. Sit. Watch. Mine. Hat. The list goes on and on.

The best thing about Waverly’s language is that she is neck deep in the mimicking stage, so as long as she’s in a cooperative mood (which is basically always) she’ll repeat after us. She is SO on top of it. I’ve never worried for her language skills, because she’s always been solidly babbly and a good communicator. She understands WAY more than I’d expect of a child her age. 

But hearing real words come out of her mouth always thrills my heart ❤️ 

We’re channeling Spring and rocking some barbecued burgers today! 

BBQ season never actually ended for us, but today it just feels hopeful and yummy and appropriate. Brady is grilled in a tshirt, as you can see, which I don’t necessarily recommend but is his own personal choice 😆 

I’m not complaining. He can smell like BBQ all he wants. I’m a fan. 

The ONE thing that would make it better would be some potato salad from Costco, but my mom is here, so thats the next best thing 😆😘 She’s pretty delicious. 

I hope you’re all enjoying the warmer moments we’ve been given before the inevitable March and April blizzards show up! 

My surroundings this afternoon are goooood 🥰

Dekker is reading a library book, because he LOVES reading these days!

Laela and Brady are getting their snug on 😍

Cher is working on an assignment. 

The middle boys are colouring and hanging out together at the table. 

Wavy is dancing to our most recent coffeehouse playlist and unpacking the bookshelf. 

Poutine supper is on its way, and an evening of Parks and Rec for Brady, Cher and I is to follow. 

I want to be present, so excuse me while I join my family ❤️ Have a lovely evening, friends. 

Yesterday produced a lot of super cute photos, so that is going to be this post. I spent a couple of hours just sitting downstairs with the kids, taking pictures and playing. It doesn’t require a lot of words. Just a lot of super cute kids. Enjoy! 

I don’t always get pictures of the middle boys, so this was a bit of a treat for me 😁 I sure love my crew of littles. All of my littles, for that matter. The big littles, the middle littles, and the little littles. 👦🏼👧🏼🧒🏼🧒🏼👧🏼