Yep I've been 'absent'. I haven't posted in a long time. Eeek!
*embarrassed-but-not-without-sarcasm-face*
But I haven't fallen off the wagon. No way. In fact I've been busy making changes.
Two months ago I went for a 7km walk. It was the first time I'd done something like that for over two years! I'd been preaching this whole 'take things easy', 'start slow and steady' etc, but I just wanted to see where I was at.
Big mistake. For four days afterwards I was still in pain from a) the effects of my half-size too small shoes & b) the effects of OOS/inury to my hip flexor. The latter was so bad that when I got to the bottom of my hill I was texting and calling hubby to come and get me. Unfortunately he was asleep with LP. So I literally dragged myself up the hill, wishing I'd worn a sports bra instead of one designed for comfort and breastfeeding. And wishing I'd taken my own advice to take it easy.
Other little niggles have been plaguing my body. SPD still hasn't gone away completely (clunk goes the pelvic bone). Breastfeeding is a challenge to my aching neck. Dehydration ("just how much water are you drinking breastfeeding mummy?" asked my doc...), dizzy spells and creaky knees ... etc.
The straw that broke the camels back was LP's paua syndrome. She is the paua. And I am her rock. And she has stopped sleeping through the night ('yay, more awake time with my baby at night' said no mum ever!).
I realised that there's more to life than grinning and bearing it. I needed to offload something so that I could actually enjoy these precious times with my family and look after myself as well.
So ... I (with careful contemplation including prayer and discussion with the husband) decided to give up the Health Champion role for the marae. It was a huge and difficult decision because I actually loved it and I'm good at it. Planning events, promotion, relationship building, organisation, etc ... but more importantly, helping our whanau live healthier lives. It's been a real privilege to do this mahi - but for every thing there is a season. And this is my season to raise the littlies into bigglies. And to look after myself because you can't look after anyone else if you aren't 'right' yourself.
So yep, it may take me several days to compose a blog post due to the several interuptions from my kids. And yep, I may just be walking all the way through the 'run' on the Iron Maori due to my wrecked knees. But I'm okay with that because the main thing is I'm happy and I'm living in the moment with my family and soaking up every ounce of growth, strain, love, pain and joy. Because in the end, that's what is most important in life.
*big-happy-smiley-face*
