The Midlife Reframe

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  • Manitoba Harvest Hemp Heart Review AND Giveaway!!!!

    Hemp Heart Awesomeness and GIVEAWAY!

    Here we go my fit friends.

    I am a lover of food, those of you who follow me know that (well, food and coffee!!).

    I was asked to do a hemp heart review with Manitoba Harvest 🙂

    What ARE hemp hearts??

    Well, hemp is a species of Cannabis sativa. Hemp is NOT the same as marijuana. Hemp hearts are the raw shelled hemp seed.

    From their website:

    • Great tasting – Hemp Hearts have a slightly nutty taste, similar to a sunflower seed or pine nut.
    • Easy to use – Simply sprinkle Hemp Hearts on salad, cereal & yogurt, add to smoothies and recipes, or eat them straight from the package!
    • Nutritious – per 30 gram serving, Hemp Hearts contain 10 grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of Omegas.
    • Hemp Hearts have more protein and omegas and less carbs than the same serving of chia or flax.
    Getting down to business!

    I am a lover of greek yogurt.  So much so that regular yogurt holds no place in my heart…lol.  So, hemp hearts in hand, and after my trip to Costco for my fruits and veggies, I began.

    Yes, there is yogurt here 🙂

    I am telling you, these little babies really added a little something more to my greek yogurt and berries!  The nutty taste is NOT overwhelming at all.  It rounded out the taste and was DELICIOUS!

    I also put them in my smoothies – just a tablespoon was good for me. 

    These hemp hearts are SO versatile.  I used them on my salads, and really really loved them with pineapple.  I do enjoy them more than flax seed as I find they don’t get stuck in my back teeth 😉  They would be great for those folks who may not be a fan of chia.  I love chia seeds, but they have a certain texture that some people are not a fan of.

     

    On Pineapple – OMG!

    I loved these so much I went a purchase a larger bag from Costco.  I will be putting these in some No Bake Energy Bites in place of the chia seeds.

    So….who wants to try these?  Manitoba Harvest is kind enough to let me give away a package to one of my lucky readers!!!

    To win some of these little yummy guys – enter below!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
    Good Luck!

    #crazymamaruns

     

  • Knee Surgery, Back Spasms and Post Surgery Fun!

    There will be some knee photos…you’ve been warned….

    On Wednesday, I had my knee surgery.

    I got up as usual, and my first thought was “Okay, I’ll go down and feed the cats, then…..”

    That pause.  That was when I realized I wasn’t able to eat OR drink anything.

    *Le Sigh*

    I sat with V while she got ready to head off to school.  I watched some TV and fell asleep.  This was a good thing.  It took my mind off of no food/no drink, lol.

    11:30 – the Calvary arrived to take me to the hospital.  This included my buddy Squishington (my 3 year old niece). 

    We arrived at the Dartmouth General Hospital shortly after noon.  Was I nervous?  HELL YES!! 

    This is a “non-winter” pic, lol.


    The weather here has been horrendous, which means the parking lot was a skating rink.  My sister-in-law advised that if I was going to fall, that was the time, because we already at a hospital, faster service.  LOL

    Squishington made friends in the waiting room while I got registered.  She delivered newspapers to everyone in sitting. 

    We were then shuffled down to the day surgery unit.

    I was sent “around the corner” where I sat with other day surgery peeps.  Some of the folks were there for gall bladder removal.  They were the ones in the cool purple johnny shirts and funky purple socks.

    Meanwhile I was taken to put on the regulatory blue johnny shirt with green housecoat (sex-ay) and fabbie blue slip ons for my feet (no socks allowed)

    And there we sat, a hungry and thirsty group of people, cursing everyone who came and filled their water bottle in front of us.

    And then, I heard my name 🙂

    I was taken to the pre-surgery area where the lovely RN took my all my vitals and info.  She talked about what would be going on before I was wheeled away.

    Then, she left me 😦   So I laid down and chilled.

    Little did I know, on the other side of the curtain was recovery for…..Colonoscopy.  Yep.  Fart-o-rama.

    Now, these poor people are really not THAT aware that they are letting ‘er rip as much as they are.  And because I am a kid at heart, it was so hard not to laugh.

    On the other side of me – man who kept saying “OMG I am so hungry”.  Uh duh.  We all are you doofus.

    At long last…

    The anaesthesiologist came and explained what she was going to do to put me to sleep.  About the tube that would be going down my throat once I was asleep to assist with my breathing.

    The RN came, went over all my details again, and off we walked to the Operating Room!

    It was a cornucopia of women.  I think Dr. Legay was the only man in the operating room 😉  Poor guy, lol.

    And then, I woke up!

    It was like magic!

    And boy did I ever want a cheeseburger.  Not the woman beside me though…eeeep.

    Clothes on, Ginger Ale consumed, let’s blow this popsicle stand!  MILKSHAKE!

    Once all of my vitals were good, I was taken to step down where I had some ginger ale (holy moly it tasted delicious) and my vitals were taken again.  The nurse came and gave me my directions and follow up information.

    Drink of the Gods…Chocolate Milkshake 🙂

    My clothes were returned to me and I was able to get dressed so I could be wheeled out to the waiting car 🙂

    On the way home, my post surgery milkshake was obtained and it was like heaven in my mouth.  For real.

    I was plumped on the couch on arrival all snuggled up and had a small turkey wrap to go with my Heaven Drink.

    But really, dry crackers would have tasted decadent at this point!

     

    SO, what are the details?

    Post Op Diagnosis: Loose Body – Osteochondritis Dessicans
                              Early Arthritis medial compartment only

    Procedure: Excision Loose Body (2cm )
                    Debridement

    This is a much better outcome that what was anticipated.  There was the possibility of pins, which would have had a much longer recovery outlook.  But since the whole chunk came out, no pins.

    All cleaned up!

    “You will be a candidate for high tibial osteotomy….”

    Gulp.

    What was that?

    More knee surgery in the future.  This should delay knee replacement in my “later years”

    To top it all off, I’ve had very very painful lower back spasms since Saturday.  Today is the first day I have been able to get to and from the washroom on my own (well, with a walker).  Now I can feel my knee pain, lol.

    So I am getting ready to set up physio appointments and looking forward to a slow return to running 🙂

    Now that I can move around, I will be able to do my review on Manitoba Hemp Hearts!  This will also be giveaway time!

    Stay tuned 🙂 

    #crazymamaruns


     

     

  • The Home Stretch for #ProjectAmy

    Wow….the time has flown by!!

    I can’t believe I am 10 sleeps away from my knee surgery.

    10.

    Nervous?  HELL YES!  Even with all the activity of the past little while, it seeps into my brain late at night.

    Nervous Girl by themedusa on DeviantArt

    How has #ProjectAmy been doing?

    Well, I must say, it has kept me moving.  Being a 9-5er has it’s moments, but I have been able to get physical activity into each day.  Well, except yesterday…I took that as a rest day.

    Today my activity will happen later this evening.  I kind of slept in this morning and chaos ruled my morning.  My gym bag is sitting in my bedroom at home.  But no worries, I’ll be on it like white on rice!

     

    All my Tweeples and friends have been keeping me on point, which I am very thankful for!

    After my surgery, #ProjectAmy will be taking on a whole different path as I will be focusing on recovery….and not losing my marbles (this is where #FightForHappy will be in FULL EFFECT).  



     

     

     This also means I won’t have to eat cat fur for while doing my pushups.

    I’ll miss the pushups, not the cat fur!

    Cat fur will probably be more prominent as they will hover over me the first little while, lol.

     

     

     

    Are you ready for surgery CrazyMama?

    Well, I rearranged my bedroom on the weekend.  Sleeping was weird.  I was deeper in my bedroom than I am now.  And being closer to the door is just a little freaky.

    I started other cleaning/purging projects on the weekend as well.  Then got completely overwhelmed and had to stop.  So this week will be about tackling one thing at a time.  I also took the day off before surgery next week (and Monday is Heritage Day here in Nova Scotia), so Friday is my last full day of work.

    There will be lots of cooking going on this weekend and meal prep for sure.  Clothing prep and post-op station will also be done this weekend.

    Okay…enough before I get overwhelmed again, lol.

    So, yes, for the most part I think I am.  Just need to keep myself on the steady until the 18th.

    Next post will be bringing ya’ll up to speed on the final week on this installment of #ProjectAmy, and sharing my extreme nervous energy days before surgery.  

    So if you thought THIS post was scattered, lol.

    #crazymamaruns

     

  • Being a Mom with Mental Illness – The Short Story

    I know I’ve written about my mental llness before….

    But I haven’t really written how it’s changed me as a Mom.

    That’s important, because I am raising a teenage human.

    Here we are – you can barely see us, lol

    Since it is just V and I, she is on the front lines with me.  She endures my good days and my bad.  She is there when I break down and can’t stop crying.

    I hate that she has to see me that way.

    I hate that she feels that she has to take care of me when I do melt down.

    I hate that she sometimes doesn’t know what to do.

    Mini Background Moment:

    When I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression, I was put off of work.  I told V at the time that Mommy was very very tired and that her doctor told her she needed lots of rest (which was partially true, depression sucks everything out of you).

    Once the summer was over and I was able to function on a daily basis, I told her about my mental illness while at my parents for supper.

    She had a lot of questions.  But I must have done something right in the years before, because she took it like a champ.  She still comes to me with questions, and we talk about things openly.

    How does this work now???

    Well, I think that having Clinical Depression and anxiety has made me more aware.

    I look after myself a little better than I did before (besides my klutzy accidents!).

    But on the same hand, there are times I feel like I have a parenting defect.  

    One of the symptoms of depression is being tired.  Not just regular tired, but tired to the point of even moving is a herculean task.

    There are nights that I shut down, when I should be talking with her, being more engaged, but I just can’t.  And I feel awful for it.

    There are also feeling of extreme irritation.  Angry outbursts.  I’m like a landmine some days.

    With surgery looming before me, my depression and anxiety seem to be ramping up.

    I catch myself getting snappy.  Being short.  Going back on some of my decisions.  Just not wanting to move (hence #ProjectAmy and #FightForHappy – blog update on Sunday!)

    It’s a daily struggle lately.

    My to do list most days will look like this:

    Even though I look like this:

    Because depression doesn’t look sad.

    We hide it very well.

    But I do my best.  

    Because as a parent, that’s all we can do.  

    I use my support system when I can.

    And some days, V is my support system.

    We are a team.

    The more team members you have, the better your days get.

    So go…..gather up your team.

    You’re worth it.

    #crazymamaruns

     

     

     

  • #ProjectAmy/#FightForHappy Update and Plans for the Upcoming Week!

    #ProjectAmy Got Off To a Great Start!

    I logged 17kms walking – woop!  This included taking the stairs as often as I could when I was at work.  I also got outside as much as humanly possible.  The Vitamin D was good for me!

    I was also able to get in some yoga at home and at a class 🙂  I was able to get some Yin Yoga in at home as well.  I really am seeing the benefit of a regular practice!

    Started my upper body training…which is being kicked into high gear!  

    WHY?

    In 17 days I am going to need that upper body strength to haul myself from my “pod of no weight on the leg” to the bathroom and kitchen area (or just move my coffee makers to the living room, and yes, I said makerS).  I know I won’t see MEGA changes, but I need that strength, for now and later!
    I may need this Tshirt for my recovery…lol

    February…

    I started off my February with a meditation this morning.  It is also the beginning of the Meditation Challenge with DoYouYoga.com!  I will be saving that one for later this evening.
    Meditation = Happy 🙂

    What’s on for this week?

    Well, more walking for sure.  
    Packing my bag tonight for yoga class tomorrow at the gym (going to try and make the three classes this week – two being my goal).
    Working on the upper body and core.
    As before, keep on me people!  If you don’t see a #ProjectAmy on Twitter (@crazymamaruns) or my Facebook Page (Crazy Mama Runs)….send me a “Hey, did you get out to walk, to the gym, or meditate today?” message.  I need it!  
    (Props to Peady for sending me one of these this week!!  And to my Greg for making sure I stick to my guns!)

    And I just want to say…

    Thank you.
    Thank you to my “Greg” for the #ProjectAmy inspiration and being my biggest source of encouragement.  I love ya!
    Thank you to my Ginger Friend for making sure I get out with the girls!
    Thank you to all my Twitter peeps who keep me looking forward, and reminding me of how much closer I am to lacing up my sneakers 🙂
    Thank you to all my FitBit peeps who keep me moving.  Even if I don’t reach my daily goal, you keep the challenges coming 😉
    And thank you to my family for being there, as always.
    #crazymamaruns
     

  • #ProjectAmy and #FightForHappy

    Sometimes I have great ideas…

    But I don’t follow through.  I’ve been caught up in so much lately that I’ve dropped the ball on myself.

    Part of the problem with depression/anxiety is you have so many great ideas, but when you go to carry them out, the “doubt voice” pops up.  It can be pretty darn convincing.

    “Why can’t you just DO IT?”

    If I could turn that voice off I would.  Unless you suffer from mental illness it is hard to explain to someone.  I WANT to do all my great ideas. Sometimes I can get started, but the inner doubt voice catches up to you.

    “It’s just an excuse…”

    No – it’s not.  It’s an illness.  Like every other illness you have good and bad times.  When I am overwhelmed, it gets worse.  It’s like sitting at the bottom of the well, knowing that you can get out because the rope and bucket is sitting right there.  You just can’t grab it. 

    “Just ask for help!”

    Well, I do. But sometimes I don’t know how to phrase it.  Or I am afraid that it will overwhelm me even more, so I don’t ask.  It’s a double-edged sword.

    What the heck is #ProjectAmy?

    Well, #ProjectAmy was started today, by my Greg, who was trying to help me earlier when I became extremely overwhelmed.  I cried all over the phone.  

    He is my rock, especially when I do break down.  He can turn it around for me and lead me in the right direction.  Baby steps he told me today.  Start with one thing.

    So tonight is food prep and tomorrow morning is gym bag packing.  I always forget to take care of myself, even when I am feeling good.  I worry about everything and everyone else.  

    That’s not a bad thing per se, but when I forget about me….well I’m no good to anyone if I am not at my best.

    #ProjectAmy is about renewal and recovery.  

    I have my Mantra: I Am Open.

    I need to keep on track until the knee scope. I need to move for me at least once a day.  I need some #Earthathon kms.

    So my friends.  I need your help.  

    I need you to make sure I am doing at least one thing for myself every day.  If you follow me on Twitter and do not see #ProjectAmy, kick me in the butt and give me a challenge (i.e. plank, situps, etc.).  

    Ask me if I have meditated, taken a few minutes to just sit and be aware.  

    Keep sending me FitBit challenges and annoy the crap out of me until February 18th! (Surgery Day!).

    After that, I will just need help with my sanity until I am cleared to weight bear, lol.

    #ProjectAmy and the continued #FightforHappy are on.

     

            

  • Knee Surgery BABY!!!!!

    Yes, I Have a Surgery Date!

    Relief is in sight!!  Happy Dance all around!

    When I arrived home last evening after getting the new hairs (check out my FaceBook Page for pics!) I checked my voicemail.

    *Insert Angelic Music Here*

    There was a message from the Surgeon’s Assistant telling me off I go for surgery on February 18th.

    Happy is just one word I can use.  Nervous and excited for sure!  All depending on what the CT Scan shows and what he sees when he gets in there – there MAY be a bone graft for my femur.  Crossing my fingers that this is not the case and he can just screw the hangy piece back in and work on the dead fractured area.

    What does this mean?

    Well, we are looking at a 6-8 week recovery where I can not have any weight on my leg AT ALL (unless I am doing well, and may be able to put weight on my toes after a few weeks).  Then physio and check ups.  Not sure of the full recovery time yet, but it would be wonderful to run in the late summer early fall.  Just recreational at first, but man, I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!

    So NOW

    I begin my crazy Virgo induced worrying and preparing for the worst, lol.  My V and I will get the apartment in order (two level two bedroom = stairs) so I will be able to survive the first little bit without moving too much.

    And then meal planning and prepping after that.  V will be able to help out big time since she’s 16, but to have simple, fast things to pull out and heat up would be great, and some slow cooker stuff frozen so she can dump it in before she heads to school.

    All that being said, I know I have some great resources at my hands – YOU!

    • What are some quick and easy freezer meals?
    • Any sites you would recommend for easy recipies?
    • Any injury experiences you would like to share?

    Feel free to comment below – I love getting feedback!

    #crazymamaruns

     

  • And I am CLOSER to my Surgery!

    I never thought this day would come!

    This April will have been one full year since my slip in the Dominican and this journey began!

    What started out as a possible meniscus tear was discovered to be an actual joint condition that I’ve had since I was a teenager!

    Osteochondritis Dissecans

    So, since the knee has been getting progressively worse over the past couple of weeks, I went back into the surgeon last Friday.
     
    He asked me some questions about my activity (“You’re doing no sports….RIGHT?”) and manipulated my knee.

    We discussed the options:  If the piece that was still in there hanging on was still, in fact, hanging on, there will be a screw put through that to save it and stimulate healing.  

    As for the piece(s) still floating around, they will be removed.  All depending on whether or not the CarGel is available, there will probably be some microfracturing as to regenerate the bone and cartilage.

    IF the piece hanging on for dear life is NOT able to be screwed in – the words “bone graft” were spoken.

    FUN TIMES!

    So I sit now and wait for the phone call to come this week telling me my actual surgery date.

    I am in good hands, but, I am nervous, excited and vomit-like all at the same time.

    And then I remember, in the not too distant future, I CAN RUN!

    Stay tuned for further updates in the Knee Chronicles!

    #crazymamaruns

  • I Mustache You A Question……

    So I was nominated by my Twitter runner bud Rod over at Runnersmythos to answer these 12 questions so that ya’ll can learn some more about little ole ME!

    Here we go, hang on for dear life!

    1. Four names that people call me, other than my real name:

    • Mom – well this one is obvious.  I have a beautiful 16 year old daughter 🙂
    • Auntie – another obvious one.  I have two awesome nieces!
    • Aim/Amz/Aimz – when you thought you couldn’t shorten Amy, you can 😉
    • Whiskers – this was a nickname given to me in junior high by my friend Ernie Wasson.  I had a large sweatshirt with a pink cat face on it.  He called me that for the remainder of my time back in Oromocto.

    2. Four jobs I have had:

    • Candy Concession Stand Chick – I worked at the Famous Players Theatre in Penhorn Mall during Grades 11 and 12.
    • Legal Secretary – I worked at one firm for 4.5 years before I got pregnant.
    • IT Helpdesk Support – I went back to school to obtain my Network Internet Support Specialist (Microsoft Stream) Diploma when my daughter was 3 and landed a job right out of school at a law firm in their IT Department.
    • Paralegal/Litigation Support – I left IT in that firm to become a Paralegal in their Litigation Department, it was there that I transitioned to a Litigation Application Specialist role.  (I left that firm after 6 years and went to the firm I currently work at where I am a Litigation Support Paralegal and part of a great team!)

     3. Four movies that I have watched more than once:

    • Star Wars Trilogy – I mean come on, you HAVE to watch these over and over!
    • Back to the Future Trilogy – These are just awesome, enough said.
    • Grease – My mom and dad had the album and I listened to it religiously.  When my mom took me to see the movie in the theatre, I sang EVERY SONG.  lol
    • The Exorcist – Because I love to scare the living crap out of myself and sleep with the bible under my pillow for a week after I watch it.

    4. Four Books I recommend:  I have so many more than 4, because I LOVE to read, but I pick these…

    • The Book Thief – Because it is narrated by Death.
    • Under The Dome – Stephen King.  Need I say more?  I love how he dives into human nature and the whole “what would people really be like in this situation?”.
    • Gone Girl – I could not put that book down.
    • The Game of Thrones Series – I started reading these when I was diagnosed with depression.  It really helped me escape and relax.

     5. Four places I have lived:  (My dad was a Military Policeman, so we moved around a bit)

    • Baldy Hughes, British Columbia – This was a Canadian Forces Station – a Radar Base.  In the middle of NOWHERE.  We lived in a barrack block that had been split into “apartments”. (This is now home to the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community)
    • Oromocto, New Brunswick – I was born here, and we were posted back to CFB Gagetown when I was a teen (where I completed Grades 8-10 before we were posted to Halifax).
    • Summerside, Prince Edward Island – I started school here (Kindergarden to Grade 3), we did not live on base, but in the actual City of Summerside in the PMQs. 
    • Cornwallis, Nova Scotia – Where we were posted after Summerside.  I completed Grades 4-7 here. I love the Annapolis Valley. (This is now home to Cornwallis Park – a business park).

    I made some awesome friends through my travels.  But now I have this weird desire to move every 3-4 years.  It kind of stays with you.
     
     6. Four Places I have been:

    • St. John’s, Newfoundland – A business trip, but I saw it!
    • Orlando, Florida – Took my daughter to Disney in 2010 🙂  She was an awesome travel buddy, and we totally want to go back!
    • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – My Greg and I went.  LOVE. Stayed at the Grand Bahia Principe.
    • Calgary, Alberta – I was there when I was really young, we went to the Zoo and the Tower.  That’s all I remember, lol.

      7. Four places I would rather be right now:

    • The Bahamas – Because it’s cold here now.
    • Hawaii – Because it’s cold here now.
    • Spain – Because SPAIN.
    • Scotland – Because my parents both have Scots in their backgrounds.

     8. Four things I don’t eat:

    • Brussel Sprouts – GAG
    • Liver – GAG
    • Caviar – GAG
    • Snails – GAG

     9. Four of my favourite foods:

    • Pizza – YUM.
    • Chocolate – I would swim in it if I could.
    • Coffee – Don’t mess with my caffeine intake…I will hurt you.
    • Peanut Butter – MMMMMMmmmmmmm 🙂

     10. Four TV Shows I watch(ed):

    • The X Files – Mulder and Scull were my peeps.
    • NCIS (the original) – I just love Gibbs, and Abby.
    • SOA – Hello, need I say more?
    • Salem – This is pretty cool so far.  Just watched Season One.

    11. Four things I am looking forward to in 2015:

    • MY SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Running again.
    • Growing my yoga practice.
    • SUMMER!

     12. Four things I am always saying:

    • WHATEVER – Sometimes there is a name attached to it, depending on the situation.
    • Really? – Because I am a mom.
    • F Off – I have a potty mouth, sorry!  I do know when NOT to be a potty mouth, for real.
    • Because – usually attached to “I told you so”, “I said so”, and “I am the parent”.

    So, there you have it.  A little bit more about me.

    Thanks Rod for tagging me, this was really fun!

    #crazymamaruns 

  • This Year I Give Myself Permission….

    To Write About It All….

    The good stuff, the frustrating stuff, the goofy stuff, you get it 😉

    Everything.

    It’s a big part of why I started this blog after all.

    Pic from http://www.snoopy.com

    And So….

    It may seem trivial….but I am back to chewing the skin off around my fingernails.

    Gross right?

    Damn straight it is.  But this is how my nervous energy manifests.  My frustration, anxiety, stress, etc., boils up and I can’t help it.  My fingers look disgusting right now.  So I have to stop it.  More meditation?  Maybe acupuncture?

    All I know is.  I have to stop it!  GAH!

    And Then…

    One of the ways I cope with my depression/anxiety is through humour.  I call myself crazy, make jokes with family and friends.

    Some folks may be offended by that.  And if I have offended anyone, I am truly sorry.  But it’s my coping mechanism and I find it helps.  Because sometimes underneath that laughter, I am breaking apart inside.  Laughing helps me.

    It helps me help others.  Let’s them see that they too can function, even on the bad days.  And then I remind myself that those that love you, they just want to help you, to love you, to hold your hand and tell you it will be okay.  So they will laugh with you, cry with you and hang out in your nest when you don’t want to leave.

    So, I’ll keep talking about it, keep calling myself crazy and keep laughing.

    I am also

    Keeping myself open.  It’s my Mantra for 2015.  I AM OPEN.

    I am going to slow down a bit more (not like slothy slow down) and notice more.  We rush rush rush.  Wear ourselves down.  Forget to stop and SEE things.  We scan and move on.

    And so I hope

    That you will continue to come along on my journey this year.  It’s going to be an interesting one for sure!

    Interesting:  I joined Earthathon!  #teamhumanrace  (this is a virtual relay race around the globe and results are tweeted daily)

    I can’t run, but I can walk.  So it motivates me, along with my FitBit, to keep mobile.

    What do you give yourself permission for this year?

    What is YOUR disgusting habit/coping skill?  We all have one!

    What is something that motivates you?

    #crazymamaruns