Sunday, August 18, 2013

Precious Keepsake

When my sisters and I met with the funeral director, who handled Mom's services, we were shown a brochure for a keepsake collection called Thumbies.     From a company called Meadow Hill Company.
As soon as he handed it to us, the question wasn't "Did we want one?" -  it was "Which one did we want?"   We knew there was no debate; we had to have one.    And what a precious piece of Mom to behold.
We each ordered a charm that is imprinted with Mom's full thumbprint.   I couldn't wait to see these in person and when they finally came in yesterday, I was so eager to pick them up!  
I'm so happy with it.    I truly feel like I have a part of Mom with me and what really moves me is that my 7 year old niece, Mom's granddaugther, has this precious memory, as well.   It means so much to her, knowing that it's a part of "Grandmom".    As you can imagine, it's been very hard on her to accept that Mom is gone.   She was so close to her, having lived with her and spent all of her 7 years of life, thus far, with Mom, so often.
I think it may help all of us with our continued coping.   Things still feel so fresh and the loss is still so painful, but each day is a little easier and this has really touched us so much.    Everyone I have shown, whether in person, or via Facebook, is enamored with it and wants to know where they can get one.    Most of them have long ago, lost someone they loved, and  wished they'd had the opportunity for such a nice keepsake - but they can, from what I understand!   I read on the brochure, that the company can actually obtain past prints from various sources as well!   So, there is still hope, folks!  

You really must check out the company and see for yourself....  Click on Thumbies!  
I posted the picture I used on Facebook too.
You probably cant see it that well but it's stunning in person.   I think I may even order something else in the
near future!    

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

How 'bout that piriformis muscle

Have you even heard of this thing?     I know I haven't.   At least, not until a week ago.

I'd been walking around with what started out to be mimicking sciatica.    It happens from time to time, so I shrugged it off and went on with life.      Then it started to get a little more uncomfortable & to the point where I couldn't sleep at night or even sit down for more than a few minutes at a time.   I couldn't press my foot to the gas pedal in the car.

The pain was awful and it radiated from my right butt cheek to the bottom of my foot.

Finally, I called my primary doctor and raced into the office the minute they said they'd see me right away...    He said it was a case of sciatica and gave me some anti-inflammatory meds, an oral steroid and some pain killers.   I was so hopeful as I skipped into the pharmacy, sure I'd feel normal in a day or two....     Seriously, nothing helped!

So I went a week and called back to say that nothing gave me any relief and he promptly ordered an x-ray which revealed no telling signs of an injury, slipped disk, etc.

By the end of that same week, I'd done a lot of research on the internet and finally decided to go to a chiropractor, whom I was sure could help me.    Well, it's still a work in progress - (with physical therapy every other day) ... but he finally told me what it was.
The piriformis muscle.    I was having such irritation and discomfort because it runs along the sciatic nerve and it is inflamed which is causing the friction.    I kid you not, this is pure hell.. what I'm going through.    There is nothing you can really do to relieve the pain - My chiropractor does the stretches and uses different deep tissue techniques as well as the deep tissue massage.   In fact, he looked at my x-rays and noted that I was badly misaligned.  Which explains why my right side is higher than my left right now.  My hips are badly off balance.   When I walk, you can see it really well.    Sometimes it's worse than others.
 I know everyone says that chiropractors don't hurt, and I believe that they don't, but unfortunately, in my case, because it is a muscle and a nerve, it actually does hurt quite a bit.  It's very tender & very sensitive to the touch.   I try to tough it out because I want the therapy to be effective - I feel some days it is and some days, not so much.   I wish  I could get a really good night's sleep.   : (    It really has been about 2 weeks now, that I haven't been able to sleep good at all.   Many nights, I have to get up and walk the house because the pressure of laying down hurts so bad... as does sitting down.   What a scenario eh?   
It sucks..  Plain and simple.    I want to be back to my regular, active self.   Bending down, picking up laundry, cleaning, driving with no pain.    Wahhhh!   

Monday, August 05, 2013

Visiting

I've heard that, when someone dies, they'll "return" to visit in the form of something.  Whether it's a bird, or an animal of another kind, a butterfly..?    
In my case, I think it's a dragonfly.

I don't see many dragonflies around our house - EVER.    Plenty of bees and wasps, but don't recall a dragonfly.
The past few weekends, when the weather has permitted, my husband and I have had a fire out back and enjoyed the quiet.   Each time, 3 to be exact, there has been a dragonfly circling the fire.   The first time it happened, my husband remarked "That's your mother - she always loved sitting by the fire".   Yep, she sure did.    I kind of laughed it off but secretly was wondering if it could have really been Mom.    So, naturally, the 2nd and 3rd time it came around, on different days, I was almost convinced.

This past weekend I was standing in my driveway and something winged brushed past me; my initial reaction was to jump because I was sure it was a bee or worse.    Turns out, it was a dragonfly...  And probably the same one that I found perched upon my antenna when I was getting ready to drive to the grocery store.

It's  been on my mind & I just had to know the significance because I was sure there had to be one.
Today I remembered to see what I could find on the correlation between the deceased and dragonflies:


Dragonflies have traditionally been one of a select few creatures that have been known to carry a deceased person’s energy (soul) to their loved ones. Contact from one of these simple, yet splendid creatures brings peace to a grieving soul. A light touch reminds us that our loved ones are never that far away, even after death. They also teach us about the brevity of life, as most butterflies live a few hours to a few days. The same is true of the Dragonfly which lives up to a few short months. They also remind us of the beauty within that brevity. For beyond what we cannot see
lies beauty as well.

Holy "hair standing up on my arms"!
I think that is beautiful and a little comforting too!   But,  more than that, I hope it's true.
I talked to a co-worker about this today & was so relieved that she didn't look at me like I was losing my mind.   She, too, believes that our loved ones can send messages or visit in another form sometimes.






Saturday, August 03, 2013

Laughter

If laughter really is the best medicine, then I overdosed on it this past weekend.    I haven't laughed that hard or that much, in a while.   I really needed it.

We (Jeff and I) spent most of Saturday at Dad's house with my step-mom (bonus mom), my sister and my niece, stuffing ourselves full of great seafood!    Crab legs, steamed mussels and clams, shrimp scampi.    What a feast my Dad prepared for all of us.    When we all get together, there is never a dull moment, never a moment of silence or the chance of running out of things to talk about.   I laughed so much, it hurt.
 We took lots of pictures, and winded down with home made Mojitos (made fresh with the mint from Dad's garden).   

I love times like that -  I love making new memories with my family.   I love my family.. period.
We're all a little crazy but that just adds to our charm!  : 0 )