The end of postpartum depression

It is officially “the end of postpartum depression,” in this house in any case. This week my child turned one. Should my family find need to send me to the looney bin today, I would not be diagnosed with “postpartum depression” since that technically happens in the first year after birth.

I chronicled my story and tools on this blog. At six months postpartum I wrote a long recap of my top strategies which included a range of lifestyle choices, not simply the food and depression focus of this blog. Another key post is one I wrote when I had a rough spot in April surrounding Alastair’s surgery. I made a plan to stay healthy, worked the plan, and stayed out of the pit. For surviving this pregnancy so well and for slogging through the last one, I added Katherine Stone’s “postpartum survivor bling” to this post. She’s the author of “Postpartum Progress,” an activist blog on policy with a lot of tips and tools for surviving.

The differences between this pregnancy and the last are dramatic. We compare the two children and the challenges surrounding them — Frederick and the many years of mental depression and now Alastair and an economy far worse than we could have imagined. Economic misery is far easier to deal with, in my opinion, at least if you have a level head.

Beyond postpartum depression

It is a great thing to look beyond postpartum depression and enter that much easier “maintenance” mode. The only way to win the long game is to realize that you can relapse at any time, so I am aware in my work and in my relationships that I need to structure them to stay healthy. Lately, that has meant more fun and exercise for me.

In the weeks that I have neglected this blog, I have been spending such more time with Frederick, who seems to be finally rebelling against being one of two children instead of being the only child. In my time with Frederick, we are having a great time together putting some of his homeschool projects on his own little blog. You must listen to “A story for my brother,” a story he tells Alastair when Alastair is crying about his casts or braces. Alastair was born with bilateral club foot which is corrected with castings and braces. You might also listen to Frederick’s chicken stories, “How to chase chickens” and “The chickens that got eaten.” You will find most certain unhealthy food ideas on Frederick’s blog as well.

I continue to take a camera just about everywhere to “appreciate” my surroundings, a key strategy I employed back when preparing for Alastair’s surgery. All of the lifestyle pictures we were shamelessly posting right here are now on their own little blog as well, all photos centered around our property and our outings in the Sequoia National Forest (also a Frederick-centered project). One of my favorite pictures is one of the cross section of a tree trunk that shows how the limbs fit into the tree. I am totally fascinated by it. When this blog is horribly neglected, you can always check there to make sure we’re still alive.

Our biggest project surrounds the “lost road,” a road I discovered on our property in September. These five acres have been in the family since 1982. One would think there were no roads left to find. The discovery came just in the nick of time and has provided hours of entertainment and exercise. You must read more about the lost road too, right after you listen to Frederick’s story. If you’re in the area, you must visit the mysterious road. It see much time in the future on this “lost road” getting exercise with Frederick. It’s a great thing.

Birthday ringtones

In the run-up to the big one year mark, Frederick and I are working on two different Alastair ringtones that I have no doubt will be downloaded at least a million times, or minimally by the one grandparent who can figure out how to download the file and install it on a cell phone.

Frederick’s favorite is “Alastair frustrated.” It actually should make a pretty funny ringtone. Download the frustrated baby ringtone here.

As the mother, I have to say that I prefer the “Alastair happy” version. You can even hear a few hiccups. Download the happy baby ringtone here.

You can listen to the audio files and install them on your phone if you can figure out how. We are still in the “figuring out” stage.

Technorati Tags: appreciating, depression, postpartum depression, pregnancy, Rebuild from Depression