Family Resemblance

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I found these photos:







Think we're related?

(I'm the girl, as in, the first picture)

If anyone had been in doubt about whether Justin was adopted, now you know that I was adopted, too. Apparently we had the same birth parents. Who look remarkably like my "real" parents...

Postpartum anxiety

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Hi, My name is Carrie, and I have experienced postpartum anxiety. It took me 4 months to figure out what was really going on. I thought it was asthma. I thought it was allergies. But I kept pursuing it, and finally found out that my panic attacks were just that. Panic attacks.

The reason I feel lead to write about this is that from what I've read, this is something that is under-reported, and often lumped in with postpartum depression. I know when someone mentioned that maybe I was experiencing some ppd, I thought 'but I'm not depressed... I feel fine. Except for the shortness of breath, the nausea and vomiting, the tight-chest, the tingling hands and feet, the cold face.' Let's not forget the nearly constant concern over what would happen if I was alone when I had an attack, or how I would take care of the baby, or would I have to go to the hospital, or what if I was driving, or in public, or in a strange place...

What I've come to find is that post-partum anxiety fits into the continuum of post-partum disorders. People talk about the sadness and the "blues" but this just doesn't get covered. I haven't done thorough research, but I know what I've experienced. Did it ruin my life? no. Did I need to be medicated for it? no. But I did need to know was what was going on, and what I could do about it. Honestly, it was as simple (for me) as talking about it to people I trusted and who were supportive, resting more, making sure to take my vitamins and to eat well, and to start getting some exercise. I haven't had an attack since early June, and but I still occasionally struggle with nagging worries about if/when there will be another attack.

While it is completely normal to experience some kind of postpartum reaction, sometimes it's nice to know what really is going on.

What is frustrating, though, is that as common as this is, it's not something anyone really talked to me about before hand. It was only after I started asking my friends and family that people spoke up and said, yeah, that happened to me, too.

To all the moms out there who have anxiety, God Bless you.

Environmental Grumpiness

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I make an effort to be environmentally conscious. I recycle. I cloth diaper (bumGenius are awesome!)I have reusable grocery and produce bags. some might call me crunchy.

At my local Hy-Vee however, my efforts seem in vain. On a recent trip to the store, I had my trusty paid-for-themselves-already bags. I made my purchases. The bagger put some items haphazardly into my bags, and proceeded to use 10 more plastic bags! Merely 2-4 items per bag! Granted, I purchased somewhat more than typical, but I can usually fit a whole trip's worth of items in my 4 bags. Growl. Those baggers need to learn the art of bagging. The looks of confusion I get when I wander in with my bags... at least I get $.05 discount every time I use my own bag!