We're leaving CA tomorrow for Houston and home. I'm sad to leave my inlaws this time around, mainly because Tessa is so attached to her Tee Tee (grandma). But it will be good to get home too and I hope the airport isn't too horrible with extra security. Since 9/11, flying is so stressful to me with all the extra security restrictions and checks. I just can't wait to be done with the traveling. It's no fun to fly with a toddler either. Flying out here with Tessa was harder than I'd thought it would be. Thank goodness I was still breastfeeding, because finally, I nursed her on the plane and she fell asleep nursing, and both DH and I got a break.
Anyway, I hope 2010 is a much better year than 2009 for us. Last year was rough. I was diagnosed with vitamin B-6 toxicity in June (caused by my multi-vitamin, who the heck knew there could be a problem having TOO much B6 in your system). I have been dealing with those symptoms (tingling in extremities, numbness, fluid retention off & on since 2005. It's good to have a diagnosis, but the only treatment is to cease taking B6 and hope eventually the symptoms lessen and go away. There is some controversy whether the nerves ever fully recover from the damage though unquestionably, I definitely am less fatigued since stopping my multi-vitamin. Around Halloween, my husband was laid off, and he hasn't had anything but rejections since then and not one interested interview. Hopefully, it's just the holiidays and things pick up after Christmas.
As far as New Year's Resolutions, I hope to get more into weight lifting again at the gym (I was doing well with it until DH lost his job). Without the weight lifting, I eat less and keep lose a little weight. I still do have to admit I'm not 100% recovered from exercisee compulsion, though it IS much better. I do still have to exercise 5-6 days a week and have a hard time when I skip the gym for whatever reason. Even while visiting the inlaws, I have a temporary pass to the local YMCA so I can work out. At least I do less intense exercise now, but it is still hard on me to skip it completely.
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
An intro
My name is Cheryl Bradley. I'm 32 years old and live in Texas. I have a beautiful 2 year old daughter, Tessa, and have been married for 5 years to my husband. Since she was born in Dec. 2007, I have been breastfeeding Tessa, and she is still nursing today at 2. While extended breastfeeding is not common in the U.S., the WHO actually recommends that moms breastfeed for a minimum of 2 years. My plan now is to let Tessa self-wean when she is ready. I had no major issues with breastfeeding my daughter such as problems with sore nipples or latch issues, but even so, in the beginning, I thought there was no way I'd make it 2 months, much less 2 years. I am SO proud of us for making it to our 2 year breastfeeding anniversary. But I do hate that the majority of the people in the U.S. seem to view extended breastfeeding as "weird".
If you know me from other sites, you'd know I also have dealt with postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety & panic disorder and years ago now, an eating disorder (anorexia and compulsive exercise) while I was in college. At my worst, I did weigh around 80 lb. I am 5'4" tall so that was very underweight. The ED is more or less under control now and my weight has been stable for years, ranging from around 105-115 lb. (when I wasn't pregnant). I don't know that I'll ever be 100% free of the ED thoughts, but I do much better with them, and behavior-wise, I'd consider myself recovered from the ED for around 8 years now. The anxiety and panic issue as well as the PPD is another matter, though. Currently, I take Cymbalta and Xanax as needed for panic attacks & the depression and Trazodone for sleep.
Shortly before Halloween, my husband was laid off from his job (financial problems at his company). He is a Ph.D. physical chemist, and despite the fact that he earned his Ph.D. at Rice University in Houston under a Nobel Prize winning professor (Dr. Rick Smalley, now deceased), he has a hard time finding work. He contracted for Johnson Space Center (JSC) for awhile, but cutbacks at NASA forced a lay off there as well. I don't know what we're going to do this time, with a toddler. We may have to move in with my inlaws in Southern California if he doesn't find a job soon. I have a master's degree in microbiology from the University of Houston but have been out of the work force some years and am currently a SAHM, so the only income we have right now is his unemployment and money we can beg off his folks. I really hate this limbo state of affairs, and it's not doing my anxiety disorder any good, that's for sure!
I'm not sure exactly what this blog is going to be like--a little about parenting, about breastfeeding, mental health issues, current happenings in my life, whatever strikes my fancy.
If you know me from other sites, you'd know I also have dealt with postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety & panic disorder and years ago now, an eating disorder (anorexia and compulsive exercise) while I was in college. At my worst, I did weigh around 80 lb. I am 5'4" tall so that was very underweight. The ED is more or less under control now and my weight has been stable for years, ranging from around 105-115 lb. (when I wasn't pregnant). I don't know that I'll ever be 100% free of the ED thoughts, but I do much better with them, and behavior-wise, I'd consider myself recovered from the ED for around 8 years now. The anxiety and panic issue as well as the PPD is another matter, though. Currently, I take Cymbalta and Xanax as needed for panic attacks & the depression and Trazodone for sleep.
Shortly before Halloween, my husband was laid off from his job (financial problems at his company). He is a Ph.D. physical chemist, and despite the fact that he earned his Ph.D. at Rice University in Houston under a Nobel Prize winning professor (Dr. Rick Smalley, now deceased), he has a hard time finding work. He contracted for Johnson Space Center (JSC) for awhile, but cutbacks at NASA forced a lay off there as well. I don't know what we're going to do this time, with a toddler. We may have to move in with my inlaws in Southern California if he doesn't find a job soon. I have a master's degree in microbiology from the University of Houston but have been out of the work force some years and am currently a SAHM, so the only income we have right now is his unemployment and money we can beg off his folks. I really hate this limbo state of affairs, and it's not doing my anxiety disorder any good, that's for sure!
I'm not sure exactly what this blog is going to be like--a little about parenting, about breastfeeding, mental health issues, current happenings in my life, whatever strikes my fancy.
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