Diastasis Recti

For those of you who've just had a baby recently, whether a month ago or two years ago, I would encourage you to check out these websites and learn if you have a Diastasis Recti.

http://womenshealth.suite101.com/article.cfm/separation_of_abdominal_muscles

http://www.fitpregnancy.co.za/content.php?sec=getfit&year=2006&month=12&doc=Belly_there.html

http://baby.families.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-mummy-tummy-or-diastasis-recti

I was still feeling like I had some mama chub on my front belly after almost 1 year from my 2nd baby's birth, even though I am back to my old size and I fit into my old clothes. So I started doing some research online for some exercise about the best way to burn tummy fat when I came across a forum of these moms talking about their bellies and "diastasis recti." What is that I wondered. So I did some research and discovered it means separated abs which occur with pregnancy. Most of the time they come back together on their own, but for a handful of women they don't. (and I'm one of them) I read about how to check to see if my abs are still separated, and they are, so I'm very glad to have found this out, which explains why my tummy is the way it is. So you have to do special exercises to work the transverse muscle to bring them back together. I just want to share what I found just because I knew nothing about it and maybe it would be helpful info to others. It's really important to strengthen these muscles for future pregnancies. Now I just need to actually do the exercises consistently. Lord willing it will be another couple of years before we have another baby, but I really want to get my body in better shape by doing these exercises and running again.

How I Am Today

Usually I'm pretty positive, at least I try to be and see the bright side of things. But it's really been hard for me to do that lately. I think that is why I have not written in so long. I feel like I don't have anything positive or encouraging to say ...oh great, I just totally sounded like K-Love! For those of you who know that station know what I mean, anyways...so yeah, I usually want to be uplifting overall, but I've been so self-focused lately and so down (just in the past couple of months) that I haven't had much to give or to pour out into any body's life (online or in person for that matter). But I really want to keep writing...though I don't know how often my page even gets looked at, but whatever, it's a good outlet for me. So, I've come to the place where I realize that I just need to be real about who I am and write about what is going on in life. Being real is definitely something I am not that good at. I really want to be better at it, and I don't want to be fake and pretend that life is great...so I am going to try.

We just moved to Hawaii 3 months ago, and much to my surprise it's been really hard, a lot harder than I thought it would be. Yes, there have been lots of good things and many blessings but it's been hard for me nonetheless. I've just gone through the stuff of being homesick and feeling down and depressed at times. ( I am encouraged though because I have heard that this is normal for females with such a major move and life change). And I have not gone so far down in the dumps that I've given up and succumb to staying in bed all day, there have just been days of feeling really low and crying, but I'm not always sure why. I still want to be present and a good mommy to my boys and a good wife to my husband. But it's been a struggle because I've been so down. It's just hard feeling so many hard things, like constantly pouring out to my family all day, and not feeling well emotionally or spiritually. But God is working in my heart and answering my prayers, so I'm definitely in a better place than I was a month ago. (rabbit trail: My grandma died at the end of May and I was able to fly out to California for 4 days with Elijah. To be with my entire family!(I had not seen my younger brother in 2 years, and my older sister in 9 months). It was amazing seeing God's timing of it all and working out all the details. So that sure helped with homesickness for family and the mainland, and it made coming back to the island much easier.) So where I'm at now is I am seeing more of my desperate need for God's strength and filling me every day. Realizing how much more I need to pray and look to him for all things. Really seeing my weakness and how much I need him to work in my heart.
God is good. Good in that he lets us go through hard things but he is there to see us through and to bring hope and comfort. ( I can't help it, I have to end on a positive note:)

Grassroots Church

My husband is preaching today at church for the first time. Our church plant is small in numbers, but it is still a great responsibility to preach, so if any body reads this today please pray for him as he delivers the Word. It will be about 1:30pm west coast time as we're out in Hawaii. Thank you!