redemption

I realize it’s been a while since I last posted.  I’ve been trying to get everything crossed off my list before baby arrives, and then graduation came this past weekend, along with a great visit from family.  So, here’s the update in pictures and words……

Jared graduated Friday night, and this picture was taken with his sister, Robin and family, and my Mom, after church on Sunday.  I made  him put his cap and gown on so we could have a picture with everyone.

Making pizza with cousins, Michael and Tara.

After church on Sunday, we all went to Grant’s Farm.

It was fitting to go to Grant’s Farm on Jared’s graduation weekend, considering his favorite thing to do is relax at the courtyard sipping free beer.  Grant’s Farm has been a favorite of his since we moved here, so we had to get one last visit in.

And, this leads to Gage.  Why does he look so miserable?  Well, after a week of him just not being himself, we finally found out today that he has pneumonia.  The kid has persevered through a crazily busy weekend, trying so hard to be well, when he really wasn’t at all.  We’re so glad to finally know what is wrong with him, and he should be fine in a few days, thanks to antibiotics and rest.

And, on the baby front? We’re waiting.  I’m pleasantly surprised that we made it through finals and graduation.  I didn’t expect us to make it through our visit with Jared’s sister, and am a little disappointed they weren’t here for the big event.  I’ll be 39 weeks on Friday…………….

My Mom has been here since Wednesday, and I’m so amazed at how nice it is to have an extra set of hands around here.  I’m noticing all of the little things like emptied wastebaskets and fresh towels hanging in the bathroom.  Ahhhh…..there’s nothing like a Mama.  Jared’s sister being here was wonderful, too, because they took the kids and had a blast with them.  I’ve barely had to take care of my kids for the past few days!  It’s been so nice having family here.

And, last but not least…………..we know what we’re doing when we leave here now.  Believe it or not, we are moving to Wilmington, NC! We’ve signed a lease on a house and we’re excited about what the future holds for us.  We’ll give a more specific update later….

That’s all for now!  I know it was a long update, but it may be the last one until after baby arrives.  As you think of us, please pray for a quick and safe delivery.  Thanks!

I’ve been to the Botanical Gardens, here in St. Louis two Wednesdays in a row.  This spring weather feels so good to me and seeing all of the flowers in bloom is so good for my soul.  My feet are complaining a little these days (tomorrow I’ll be 35 weeks along!), but I’m so glad to be able to walk without my back hurting, that I’m willing to endure the feet aching.  By the way, there is a reason my back is so much better these days.  I found a great massage therapist, and I’m wishing I had found her so much sooner.  If you need one, let me know, and I’ll pass her name on to you!  Now, on to the pictures…………

Watching the Gardener

I woke up this morning and realized that I had completely forgotten to make resurrection cookies with the boys last night.  We won’t be able to do it tonight, either, because we will be hanging out at a friend’s house.  That’s okay, though.  We’ll just make them 2 days late.  It doesn’t change the fact that our Redeemer is alive and we have much to celebrate.

The kids and I have really enjoyed making these for the past 2 years and I thought I’d share the idea with all of you.  It’s so great for kids who are tactile learners because they are able to taste salt, which represents the tears of Jesus, smell or (if they’re brave enough) taste vinegar, which reminds us of the vinegar they gave Jesus as He hung on the cross, and taste the sugar, which represents the sweetness of Jesus’ love for us.  I seriously think I enjoy this activity just as much as the kids do.  Follow this link, and try it with your family.  Who cares if it’s a couple of days late!

I’ve decided this will be the wrap-up post for my series on postpartum psychosis.  If you’re just joining in, please read parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.   The following are “red flags” I sent up the couple of weeks preceding my hospitalization.

1.  Sleeplessness.  I’m not talking about being woken up by the baby throughout the night.  I’m talking about consciously choosing to NOT sleep and choosing to do something else, rather than sleep.  I would feed my baby in the middle of the night, and instead of going to sleep like most moms would do, I chose to spend the next 2 hours journaling or praying.  I had no desire to sleep whatsoever.

2.  Out of character behavior.  I smoked a cigarette and then went inside to brag about it to my family.  Very strange, considering I had never been a smoker, and absolutely did not like cigarettes.

3.  An elevated sex drive.  Any woman who pursues sex within the first 2 weeks of delivering a baby, is more than likely having issues.  This is just not normal.

4.  Super-spiritual.  Most moms are doing good if they are able to feed their baby, sleep, and take a shower.  I was praying non-stop, singing praise songs, and journaling about my spiritual journey.

5.  Excessive talking.  I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.  My mind was racing 100 miles per hour and I talked at about the same rate.

6.  An inflated sense of self.  An over abundance of confidence.  I felt like a diva mom and even referred to myself in that way.  I had just delivered a baby and was wearing clothes that were way too revealing for my post-delivery body.  I thought I looked great, and had never looked better.

Here are some resources for those of you looking for more information:

UNC-Chapel Hill is doing an amazing job at researching and helping women suffering from postpartum mood disorders.  I would advise any woman experiencing major symptoms to seek out help from these doctors.

Postpartum Support International: Search for support in your area via this website.

Thank you, all, for sticking with me through this journey.  I have received great encouragement from many of you and am so thankful I’ve had the opportunity to share my story.  I hope that my story will be a source of hope for those of you who can’t see the light right now.  It is there, and you will move past this darkness.

Once again, if any of you have questions, I would be more than happy to answer them to the best of my ability.  You can either leave me a comment, or reach me via email at lyrahlee (at) yahoo (dot) com.

I cannot even tell you guys how much I have anticipated and yearned for spring this year. I pretty much missed the beautiful fall weather around here due to first trimester pregnancy stuff, and then the cold, dreary winter set in. I feel like I’ve been cooped up way too long, and so I’ve really been savoring the new blooms this year. I actually feel well enough to get outside and enjoy it right now, and I have a new camera to keep me busy! This is what I’ve been waiting for………………

Couldn’t resist posting a pic of this guy we saw at the zoo!

Check out that slobber.  And, those whiskers.

I love, love, love Forest Park.

I know I keep saying this with every post, but if you’re just joining in on this “series” on postpartum psychosis, go back and read parts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

As I mentioned in the last post, I met with my psychiatrist in Chapel Hill a few months before my second child was born, and we came up with a prevention plan that turned out to be successful.  The plan was really pretty simple.

1.  I started taking Clonazepam at night before bed while I was still in the hospital.  Clonazepam is an anti-anxiety medication and he suggested I take it at night so that the drug would peak in my system during sleep, rather than during the day when I would be breastfeeding.  This medication aided me in being able to sleep through the night and helped reduce my anxiety about getting sleep.  I was advised to take it for 3 weeks, and then discontinue use.

2.  SLEEP, SLEEP,  SLEEP.  This was the most important thing in preventing a recurrence.  My husband, Jared, committed to getting up with the baby at night for the first 3 weeks (and more, if needed).  Jared and baby slept in a separate part of the house so that I wouldn’t be disturbed.  The baby was fed formula for his nighttime feedings and I went to bed around 11.  I slept through the night and fed the baby his first morning feeding (around 6 or 7).

3.  Rest and take it slow.  I didn’t let myself stress over house stuff. And, if I had tried, my husband would have stopped me!   My responsibility was to take care of my baby, and that was it.  Of course, there were times I really felt up to doing some things around the house, and so I did.  But, I didn’t push myself.  I slowed down and only did the things that I felt I had the energy to do.

I am so incredibly thankful that I was able to have a normal postpartum experience after the birth of our second child.  I wanted so badly to be able to nurse and it worked out.  I realized just how much I had missed the first time, as I enjoyed every second with my baby.  Of course, along with the joy I felt in having a normal experience, I also dealt with grief over all I missed with my first child.  I am still saddened by that loss, but am so thankful that I’ve had a second chance to experience the beauty of motherhood as it should be. I’m thrilled that I will have this opportunity once again with baby #3!

Next post:  Warning signs of postpartum psychosis.  I’ll be back!

Oh, and by the way……………

If any of you want to ask questions in the comments below, I would love to try and answer them!

I realize that I am really dragging out the telling of my story, and I do apologize.  I’ve found that it takes lots of emotional energy to find words that best describe my experience, so I have had to space out my posts.  If you’re just joining in, read Part 1, 2 and 3 first.  I’m going to try my best to finish this saga soon so that I have the energy to write about new topics.  Hang with me if you can!

I’m pretty sure the date is not correct on this photo.  I think this was taken soon after my first hospitalization (early November).

As I said in Part 3, the two week hospitalization for ECT’s was a blur in many ways due to the nature of the procedure.  However, I have never been able to forget the anxiety I felt when my husband came into the room as I lay in the bed to tell me that he had just gone and smoked crack, once again.  Yes, this had happened while I wasn’t hospitalized, but this time, the anxiety was more than I could handle.  He told me that I couldn’t tell anyone, because our child could end up being taken from us by the state since I was hospitalized and he was considered to be the sole caretaker.  I felt like my world was completely out of control and as soon as he left, I called my Mom, who was working at the hospital.  I informed her of what was going on, and she was able to calm me and convince the nurses to give me something to ease my nerves.

The reason I share these details here is to give you all an understanding of the factors surrounding my mental state.  I have always believed that  I may have never suffered from postpartum illness, had my circumstances been different.

Upon finishing Electroconvulsive Therapy, I was released from the hospital once again.  And, once again, my family was shocked at how confused and disoriented I was.  I couldn’t remember how to do simple things in the kitchen, like mixing up a batch of cookies.  My sister has video footage of me being instructed on how to mix up cookies, and I have still not watched it.  In many ways, I think I just don’t even want to remember how bad it all was.  Seeing it in action just seems too much for me.

After a few weeks of being home (late December to early January) my husband (okay, I’m going to stop referring to him as “my husband” b/c he isn’t anymore, and it just seems weird.  From now on, I will refer to him as  “D”) decided that it was time for us to move out of my parent’s home and so we began renting a place of our own.  During that time, I was able to function, but still very depressed.  It seemed that the ECT’s jolted me out of the vegetative depression, but I was still far from being myself.  My son (who was, by then, 4 months old) spent most of his time in a swing while I slept on the couch.  I never went anywhere or made any efforts to contact my friends.  I fed my baby and slept, for the most part.  My Mom checked on me regularly throughout the day because she was worried.  She, and the rest of my family knew that I was far from better.

One day, my Mom stopped by and told me that she had found a doctor in Chapel Hill who specialized in postpartum illnesses.  She had already scheduled an appointment for me to see him on March 6th.  At this point, we were still in the month of February, and things were not going very well with “D”.  He ended up checking into a drug rehab mid February, and Gage and I moved back in with my parents.

On March 6th, my Mom, Gage, and I took a trip up to Chapel Hill to see a man who will forever be my hero.  His name is Dr. Pedersen, and he spent about 30 minutes with me, and knew what changes needed to be made in my medications to bring me back to myself.  I began those changes according to his instructions immediately, and within a week, my entire family began to see changes in my behavior.  For months, I had been non-conversant.  I had made no effort to take part in conversations.  I began taking part in the conversations going on around me.  Everyone knew that things were changing.  After 2 weeks, I began feeling motivated to do things I had not done in months.  I went for walks and cleaned up the house.  I began taking pictures of my baby and enjoying every second I had with him.  It was as if I had awoken from a fog to find a precious baby ready for me to be his “mommy”.  When I visited “D”, he could see the changes, too.  We were all thrilled.  I felt human for the first time in 5 months and I began to feel confident things would be okay.

Fast forward 2 months…………………

By May, I was completely back to normal, and had begun working again as a waitress. “D” came home from rehab and we rented a nice apartment.  I remained on my medication and things went smoothly with my mental state, despite numerous ups and downs in D’s struggle with addiction.  My doctor advised me to remain on medication for a couple of years, and so I continued taking my meds and had regular appointments in Chapel Hill for him to continue monitoring me.

Life through a new lens.   July, 2000

Over the course of that next year, following my extraordinary recovery, I encountered numerous trials, including a divorce and custody procedures.  I ended up moving away from family to go back to college as a single mom and maintained straight A’s, all while trudging through a divorce and the eventual termination of my ex-husband’s parental rights.  Things were far from easy, but my mental state remained steady and consistent.

It didn’t take long for God to bring me an amazing man who soon became my husband (and Gage’s Daddy).  Three years after our marriage (and 6 years after Gage’s birth), we welcomed our second son into the world, and I encountered no postpartum issues.  We did, however take some precautions, at the advice of my brilliant Dr. in Chapel Hill.  I’ll share those precautions in the next post.  Stay tuned!

Sitting down and writing all of this out has been harder than I expected.  I really want to do it, though.  Especially after finding on my blog stats that numerous searches for “postpartum stories”, “postpartum psychosis”, etc. have landed people here.  If you are just joining me, you need to read part 1 and part 2 before proceeding any further.  I’m excited about continuing the story, because it is one that can give many of you out there much hope.  I promise, it ends very well.  But, to get you to the end, we’ll have to traverse some pretty rocky territory.

So, where did I leave you hanging?  If I recall correctly, I had awoken in a psych ward room after being forced to the floor and jabbed with a shot of something that knocked me out.

The next few days are a blur to me.  Here are the things that I can remember about my stay.  At some point that night, some of my personal belongings were brought to the hospital by either my husband or my Mom.  I remember being so glad to have a pair of socks because the room was freezing.  I was given a hospital gown to wear.  Lovely.  Because I was stopped from nursing my baby, a lactation consultant was brought in to familiarize me with a breast pump.  I was told to pump every 3 hours or so to keep my milk supply up.  The milk was instantly thrown away after each pumping session, though, because of the medications I was prescribed.  It was not easy for me to pour my breast milk down the drain, knowing that my baby was being cared for by someone else.

The first drug I was prescribed was Haldol (an anti-psychotic).  Haldol is known to cause muscle spasms in the neck and another drug called Cogentin is required to stop the muscle spasms.  In my whacked out state of mind, I believed that when I had the muscle spasms, the Holy Spirit was controlling my movements.  It turned out that I just needed more Cogentin. A good friend and I ( who was a part of my life during this nightmare) actually laugh about this now.

When I was first admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as bipolar, but once the doctor met with my family and discussed things further, he came to the conclusion that I was suffering from postpartum psychosis.  There had been absolutely no prior history of any mental condition in my past.  I had never even suffered from depression or anxiety, so all of this was a complete shock to everyone.

After being hospitalized for 2 weeks, I was released.  My family had no clue how hard things would end up being once I returned home.  I was in a complete fog because of the Haldol.  I was in no way able to care for our baby.  When released from the hospital, I was instructed to check in periodically with an outpatient facility, where a doctor would oversee my medication.  The first time I met with him, I begged him to decrease my Haldol dosage, because I was literally in a zombie-like state and wanted to be able to function.  He instantly cut my dosage in half, and we soon learned that outpatient care for mental illness through the system we were referred to was a joke.

I took a quick plunge into a severely depressed state once the drugs were altered.  I can best describe what I went through over the next couple of months as a vegetative depression.  I laid on the couch day after day while my baby was cared for by my family and neighbors.  It literally took all of the strength that I could muster to get in the shower and wash my hair.  My arms were so weak and it hurt to hold them over my head.

At some point during this time, my family found a different doctor in hopes that he would be able to help us.  Everyone was scared and desperate.  The baby developed colic and cried non-stop every afternoon, while I laid on the couch, doing absolutely nothing about any of it.  My Mom tried to make sure that I at least touched my baby, so she would bring him over to me and lay him on my chest or beside me on the couch.  I had absolutely no feeling.  I couldn’t cry or be angry.  I was just a shell and nothing was helping.

There were a lot of other dynamics at play in the situation, also.  I have written about this here, but my husband was struggling heavily with drug addiction, and during this time, when our life fell to pieces, he began crumbling, also.  I would wake up in the morning to realize he had been gone the entire night.  Later, he would come home and tell me that he had been out all night smoking crack.  I was so numb that I couldn’t even be angry or cry.  My parents asked him why, and his response was, “I don’t know.”

Sometime in mid-December (remember, Gage was born Sept. 29th, so this had been going on for almost 2 months), I came out of the room I was attempting to sleep in and started crying in absolute desperation to my Dad.  I couldn’t even sleep during this time because my mind raced constantly.  So, it’s not like I could sleep the time away.  It was torture, to say the least.  The doctor kept telling us to hold on a little longer. He kept saying that the new medication would start working soon.  That we just needed to give it more time.  After weeks, and weeks of hearing this, I felt that I could take it no longer.  We called the doctor and he recommended that they take me back to the psychiatric hospital as an in-patient to have Electoconvulsive Therapy (ECT’s).  We were desperate, and at that point, were willing to try anything.

I was quickly admitted into the hospital, and the therapy began right away.  They had to space the treatment out to every other day, so my stay ended up being 2 weeks, just as it was the first time.  The therapy caused me to be extremely disoriented and confused.  I slept a lot while I was there.  Much of the time during those 2 weeks is a blur, but there is one memory that I will never be able to forget.  However, I’ll have to share that, along with much more of this story, in a few days.  That’s all for now, folks…..

One of the things I enjoy most is uploading pictures off of my camera and finding the ones that just pop out at me.  I love the anticipation as they upload and then the feeling of satisfaction as I find one or two that capture something beautiful.

Today, I’ve spent most of my time in a chair due to a pinched sciatic nerve.  This seems to be an ongoing issue for me with baby #3, and I have to say it really is getting old quick.

But, I’m not going to think about that right now.  I’m going to enjoy sharing some of my favorite images with all of you.

I have found myself to be extremely irritable today, and I think I know why.  My 9 year old son has been stuck inside the house for 3 or 4 days straight now.  I’ve lost track at this point.  He’s facing the consequences of wasting LOTS and LOTS of time completing his school work, and he finally realized that he would prefer to get outside and actually have a life apart from us.  I love my kid, but space is desperately needed, especially when you have a kid as intense as our Gage.  In less than 30 minutes, my child will be outdoors, where he so desperately needs to be, and I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!