So a couple of nights ago, Joshua and I went out to eat with my family. After dinner, everyone came back to our place to help us eat all the brownies and cookies we’ve collected during our travels (P.S. - please, no one bring us any more coffee. We love all of you, but really, take a break with the coffee. I think we have seven pounds worth).
Just before everyone left, I felt a tightening in my back and started having trouble stretching my muscles enough to take deep breaths. Joshua thinks between the stress were under (we’re moving in FIVE days!!!) and the fact that I spent the day leaning in and out of bins and sorting clothes and toys and things, that I put too much stress on it.
We got in bed and he gave me a massage. I had a hard time going to sleep and was up til almost 2:30. I didn’t sleep well and when I woke up in the morning to go to the bathroom, I could hardly stand up. Rolling over in bed was excruciating. I managed to get to the bathroom and do my thing, but it took forever to reach back for the TP. I couldn’t turn my head or anything. I couldn’t move. I got back in bed and told Joshua how stiff I was. He made breakfast and brought it to me in bed. I couldn’t look down at my plate - I had to hold it up to eye level. It took everything just to bring the fork to my mouth.
I have never had anything like this happen before. I couldn’t get out of bed til almost 11. I began trying to stretch my neck and back. Slowly, it began to get better. I feel like if I try to describe how much pain I was in, people will think I’m exaggerating, but Joshua had to help me sit up - I couldn’t do it myself - and even then it hurt like hell.
He ran me a really hot tub and helped me into it. I took two Advil and laid in the tub for a while and things loosened up much more to give me some mobility.
(Aside - it’s 12:30 in the morning, and a few minutes ago we heard the pop pop pop of gunfire, about five or six shots (and people worry about us living is SF!). now we hear sirens wailing. joshua says he hears gunfire a lot after I go to sleep. and to think we live on Swiss Avenue)
I made it up to the birth center to have lunch with everyone after tour and was waiting in the front office with Jenny and the new girl, Dara (hope that’s how you spell her name!), telling them how crazy my morning was and how unbelievable my back was. Then Dara says, “You know, I used to be a massage therapist. Do you want me to work on your back?” How do you say no to that? She worked on my back for 10, maybe 15 minutes. I felt so much better after that.
I woke up this morning, to a bit more stiffness. Big props go to Bethany, who brought me coffee, and packed all our books and our dishes, and to Angela, who packed Judah’s toys, helped us sort lots of things, and offered some good advice.
(more sirens)
I’m feeling much better. About my back and the state of our packing.