A Little Taste of Heaven

I sat on the edge of my bed sobbing down the phone to my mum. "I've only slept an hour in total over the last 2 nights and that was sitting in a chair because every time I try to lie down flat I throw up". Getting out of bed and sitting upright was the only relief I could get (and the only chance hubby had of getting some sleep without me trashing through the bed like a harpooned whale.
Mum told me about a friend of hers who had recently set up a business, Tully Holistics, doing alternative therapies, one of which is Bio Energy healing. She suggested I give her a call to find out more about it. I'm open minded when it comes to alternative therapies like acupuncture or reflexology but I couldn't possibly fathom how they could help lift me from HG hell. That said, if she'd told me to stand on my head, dangle my feet out the window and sing the wheels on the bus, I'd have given it a shot. That's painted a crazy mental image, right?

Anyway, I called Kathy and explained my tale of woe. I didn't have to go into too much detail as she assured me that she had been through exactly the same with her first pregnancy and that the sickness only lifted when she gave birth. She had the same experience second time round but this time she had bio energy healing early on. She explained that during a session she felt the sickness lift in the way that only delivering her baby had done previously.
I almost cried there and then on the phone. Not just because it was so nice to speak to someone who I knew really understood but also because I dared to hope that the end could be in sight. I made an appointment for a session later that evening and sat with my head in a bucket (literally) counting doing the time.
It's hard to describe bio energy healing. Put simply it taps into the body’s' energy system and ability to heal itself. I had a momentary panic attack on the journey to my session thinking "oh no! What if I have to strip off?" But here's the clever part, Kathy barely even touched me during the entire session! For most of it I had my eyes closed so I can't tell you a lot about how it works, but what I can tell you is, IT WORKS!  Bio energy healing works for all kinds of illnesses or ailments, whether you believe in it or are, like I was sceptical. Other Tully Holistics success storing include successful treatment of fertility problems, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, asthma and depression.
That night, when I got home I was sick once more (which I was told could happen as the sickness and toxins left my body) shortly after this I felt a strange but somewhat familiar feeling and I realised I'd not experienced it for weeks if not months.... it was hunger, I was starving.
Moments later I sat devouring the most delicious meal I'd ever tasted, mash and beans and here's the best part... it stayed down!
After one session my sickness disappeared. The second one gave me the best night sleep I'd had since becoming pregnant and by the third one I felt fantastic and went on to my thoroughly enjoy the last trimester of my pregnancy, despite the swollen feet and crazy heartburn that saw me guzzling 2 large bottles of gaviscon each week.

For more information on bio energy healing or the other fantastic therapies available at the amazing Tully Holistics visit http://tullyholistics.com/ or Facebook https://m.facebook.com/tullyholistics/?locale2=en_GB

As I said, even if you don't believe it will work for you, or as a last resort, give it a try. I promise, you'll be amazed!

Love
Wheelie Momma

In Sickness and in Health

Almost immediately the sickness set in. I don't mean the mild nausea or throwing up in the morning before breakfast that some people report. I mean full on, Exorcist style spewing, in the morning, afternoon, evening and especially at night. (So much for 'morning sickness eh?) I was nearly hospitalised on 2 occasions because I was dehydrated but having recently spent way too much time in hospital I just couldn't face going back there. I made all kinds of deals with my doctor that I'd stop being sick and drink an ocean if I could go back home. Then she said the fateful words "drink anything, even if it's a fizzy drink...." and so began my brief love affair with coke and 7up as these were literally the only things that would stay down (even water didn't work and believe me I tried).
 

One afternoon in work I panicked that something was wrong. I'd been feeling lots of movement from Baby in the days before (probably high from all the coke) but I hadn't felt anything since the previous night. I got straight on the phone to my midwife who assured me everything was probably fine but suggested that I go in for a check up to put my mind at ease. Off we went and I climbed onto the examination couch; shaking, dry mouth and battling a wave of fear induced nausea. My midwife felt my tummy and took out the doppler.. then we heard it, the sweetest sound I've ever heard in my life.. my baby's heartbeat!! "There you go, see? Your baby couldn't be healthier. That's a brilliant, strong heartbeat!" the midwife beamed as I lay there a mess, with tears of relief and sheer elation streaming down my face. This was real, I had a little, live person growing inside me! I knew we were in no way out of the woods yet but we had the best possible start.

At first I was relieved to feel sick because at least I knew I was pregnant and everyone assured me that the more sick I was, the healthier baby was. Also if 'hyperemesis gravidarum' (extreme pregnancy sickness) is good enough for Kate Middleton then it's good enough for me! But after months of it I'd really had enough, especially as I was working full time throughout. Some days I felt so weak and miserable I just lay in bed. I'd cry and tell my husband I couldn't take another day of it then immediately be overcome with guilt and apologise to Baby promising that I didn't mean it and that I was more than happy to deal with the sickness if they kept their end of the deal and kept living and growing. (Baby and I made this pact very early on and so far it seemed to be working well.)

The delight we felt at hearing the heartbeat was nothing compared to the day of the 20 week scan. We'd had the 12 week one where Baby was flipping around like an olympic gymnast and in the words of the stenographer "one of the most active babies she'd ever seen" but 20 weeks is the biggie. So much so that they post you a leaflet in advance so you can worry about all the illnesses and disabilities they will be checking for. The night before I lay awake trying to mentally steel myself for bad news. Things had been going too well so far, the wheels were bound to fall off at some point.

After what seemed like an eternity but was probably only 5 minutes, the stenographer spins round the screen to reveal our beautiful, amazing, very much alive, little baby. She showed us all the little bits and bobs, the heart, lungs, kidneys, all present and correct, 2 arms, 2 hands (clenched as fists oh oh, we have a feisty one here) 2 legs and seriously 2 of the most beautiful little feet I've ever seen! Everything was perfect, our baby was completely healthy! All the sickness really had been worth it.

In the leaflet I mentioned after all the health warnings and test details, was a big notice saying that it was hospital policy not to disclose the sex of the baby. However, me being me, high on the crest of the wave of joy that our baby was healthy, couldn't resist; "I know I'm not suppose to ask but, can you tell if it's a boy or a girl?" I asked meekly "I can indeed" laughed the stenographer, "Do you want to know?" I shot a questioning glance to hubby who nodded in agreement, we both wanted to know. She revealed that we were having a boy and I asked "Is that an educated guess or are you 100% sure?" She was 100% sure, we were having a baby boy... a son. I could not have been happier. I left the room floating, me, my husband and our little son.

Until next time

Love

Wheelie Momma x

Contact me at wheeliemomma@hotmail.com with any feedback, queries or suggestions on what you'd like to see in future posts

The Thin Blue Line

Even before the last slice of wedding cake had been eaten (which was delicious by the way) it started... THAT question.. "So when will we hear the patter of tiny feet?" We were both very keen to start a family, not least because we'd fallen head over heels for our beautiful niece in the previous 3 years and 2 more were en route! But, having spent all my adolescence being told how important it was NOT to get pregnant and how to protect myself from such trauma, I was suddenly faced with the stark realisation that I wasn't actually sure how to make it happen. No, I don't mean the mechanics of it all. I mean, how did I maximise my chances and do all I could to ensure a healthy and successful pregnancy. After months of "trying", tests and disappointment which turned the early months of our marriage into something more reminiscent of a science experiment, as well as countless hospital appointments, one when the doctor felt the need to check that I hadn't rocked up to the fertility clinic by mistake (being a wheelchair user and all) one morning with a heavy heart and a voice in my head saying "it'll be no different this time" I did the test. After waiting the obligatory 10 minutes and peeping with one eye... to my utter disbelief, there it was, the blue line, I was pregnant! Tears of joy and relief streamed down my face as I screamed for my other half to come quick and we both jumped around the bathroom (well, he jumped, mine was more of a limp hop!)

Sadly however all was not well and just 8 short weeks later, before we had a chance to contemplate parenthood, we had to say goodbye to our little angel who left us at 12 weeks. Our world collapsed around us. Having struggled to conceive and finally achieving our goal, we didn't for one second consider that this could happen. But while we weren't anticipating our loss, the grief or the all consuming love we felt for the little person we never even got to meet, we definitely weren't prepared for what happened next. Just a few weeks later I was feeling a bit off and discussed with hubby whether I should take a test. "Surely not" we both agreed, "there's no way it would happen again so soon." Nonetheless I decided I'd take the test "If only to get rid of it, it's been in the house for ages." Minutes later... there it was... the blue line... I was pregnant again.

I started to shake and cry as with a dry throat I called my hubby. Understandably his reaction was muted this time, even a little cold. I could tell he couldn't face the idea of heartbreak all over again for both us and our family. We agreed not to reveal the news to anyone this time and see how things panned out. We were terrified and cautious but inside I was secretly thrilled.. surely this had happened for a reason? And this baby had a little angel sibling watching over them. I had a feeling everything would be just fine...

Dedicated to our little angel

Love

Wheelie Momma

And so it begins....

Somewhere in the depths of my mind during a sleepy night feed, as the events of the recent weeks floated in and out of my conscious mind I thought, “I know, I’ll write a blog” Why? For a few reasons… hopefully our story is interesting. It might even inspire some of you to achieve new things, think differently or even share your own story. There’ll also be a few laughs along the way for you too.. because as we all know here in Ireland “for the craic” is a perfectly valid reason for doing things!

A bit more about me by way of introduction… I’m 34 and I have Cerebral Palsy. I always say if I was to have any disability I’d chose CP, simply because no 2 people who have it are affected in the same way; it really is the individual’s disability. Some people with CP can’t talk, some can’t walk, some can’t do either and lots, like me have varying levels of ability right across the scale.

I’m not sure if it’s my CP or the fact that I’m a Taurean but probably one of my biggest traits is the fact that I am stubborn and go after things I want with real vigour.  I once commented to a friend “Tell me I can’t do something and I’ll do it twice just to prove you wrong.” This started at a very young age, probably 2 or 3 when the doctors told my family I may never speak. They said the only chance I had was if my family cut out the baby talk and spoke to me in full proper words and sentences. The net result of this was when people asked me aged 2-3 what I liked to read I would answer “Cosmopolitan”. From then on until I left home for university, my family were left wishing I would shut my mouth and stop prattling on for just a few minutes.

Other things I’ve done that “defied the odds”.. I went to mainstream primary and grammar school, graduated from university, got a full time job, bought a house, travelled to Australia, I’ve done 2 skydives, passed my driving test and the biggies, I got married and am now a very proud momma to a beautiful baby boy!

I say the last 2 are the biggies because being a mum is the best thing I’ve ever done but also because these are the things that people seem to have the most trouble getting their head around. When we were wedding planning and we visited wedding fairs or shops I was asked more than once where the bride was when I showed up in my chair or on my sticks! You can therefore imagine the looks of complete incredulousness and bewilderment on people’s faces when I was out and about in my chair at 8 months pregnant! It really made me laugh, I could litterally hear the hamster wheel turning it their head thinking “Is she pregnant? No surely not, bless her, she’s just fat”

So by writing this I hope to open the minds of the doubters and encourage you all to achieve your own personal best, whatever that may be. I’ll share with you the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and my leap into the lifelong journey of love, laughter, worry, nappies and hormones that is motherhood.

Until next time…..

Love

Wheelie Momma

You can contact me on wheeliemomma@hotmail.com