A Journey Back to Health - Part 1: My health depleting

I wrote this back in 2017 but never posted it. It just didn't feel like the right timing and the doctor I went to never did end up helping me. This is just a reminder of how long this journey has been and where it all started...

"If you have known me for any length of time then you would also know me as a very active, energetic and physically strong person. I enjoy eating healthy but I also like my sweets too.

As a child, I would run circles around other kids because of all the energy I had. You would find me spending most of my days swimming in a lake, wake boarding, riding bikes and keeping up with the boys in all their outdoor adventures.

As a young adult, most of my energy was geared towards doing mission work, travelling back and forth to Africa, and living overseas.

Once married, most of my energy was geared towards working hard and renovating our home.

Once I became a mom, I started to slow down. Not because I wanted to but because I had to. 

It didn't really hit me hard until after my second child was born and I found myself so exhausted at the end of the day that I literally felt like I could pass out on the couch. I started to feel weak, not just because I worked hard that day, but because I honestly just didn't have the physical strength to go throughout my day. I had trouble with by blood pressure during my pregnancy with Micah - an issue I have never dealt with before. After he was born I struggled with constipation, weakness, and feeling light-headed frequently.  

With almost a year after Micah's birth, I felt like my body never really recovered. 

Maybe it was because I had Jael to take of as well?

Maybe it is because I am almost 30 years old? 

Maybe it is because child bearing really is that hard on your body?

Or Maybe something deeper was going on?

Not only was I dealing with exhaustion but I also had many areas of stress in my life: relationships, being a new mom of 2 young kids, work, and all the stresses that just naturally come in life. There were times that I had to call Curtis home from work because I didn't think I could physically take care of the kids. Or I skipped church because I lacked the strength to pack up the kids in the car and drive 15 minutes down the road (Curtis is a pastor so I he has to be there early)

My health got so bad that there were a few nights Curtis literally had to help me get to bed. As I closed my eyes to sleep I literally had the thought... "I hope I wake up in the morning"

And then one day it dawned on me... In the past 2.5 years I have had 2 early miscarriages, birthed 2 babies and nursed for a combined total of 2 years. What if my body is just depleted of vital nutrients?

I went to see my Family Doctor for a general physical exam where he found me to be generally healthy and we devised a plan on how to move forward in investigating the root problem.

He ordered some blood tests, told me to exercise daily and eat healthy!"