Hey friends,
I hope that you’re doing well. I looked up a few weeks ago and realized I hadn’t blogged all summer. Oops! There are a number of reasons for this. The first being the fact that the last few months were SO incredibly eventful. From the very end of spring ’til now, I’ve been on a rollercoaster. I’ve been pushed, pulled and forced to transition in ways that I didn’t see coming. But the beauty in this is that I’ve continued to grow. I’ve not been stagnant or stuck. And for that, I’m grateful.
The second is that I struggled to find the ability to focus on writing. I’ve had quite a few medication changes that impacted how I function, and I’m just now getting back to me (or really, finding the new one). So this post is both a thank you for sticking around and life update all rolled into one. Here goes!
June
No More Locs
At the end of May, I said goodbye to the locs that I wore for nine years. A year of medications and having to forgo hair appts when I wasn’t well created the perfect opportunity for breakage, particularly for locs in the front of my scalp. After having my stylist combine some pieces and still not loving how it looked, I realized that my hair just wasn’t cooperating the way it used to. It took several bottles of conditioner and many hands helping over several weeks, but I started the month of June with loose natural hair.
To make the transition easier, I opted to wear crocheted styles throughout the summer and even had my hair braided a few weeks ago. Although I loved my locs, I recognize that sometimes our health makes decisions for us. So I’ve decided to love in flow instead of fighting to hold onto the old thing. I’m having a lot of fun learning about different ways to style my hair. And I look forward to trying out all the styles I haven’t tried over the last decade.
surviving a stroke
On Friday, June 11th, I was applying moisturizer in my bathroom when I started to feel heavy. Although I’d never experienced anything like that before, I could tell I would fall on the floor if I didn’t sit down immediately. I laid on my bed, called my family in the room and lost the ability to move my right side for several minutes.
My husband called my specialist, who immediately got back to us right as I was regaining the ability to move. After a brief conversation, she instructed me to go to the ER if it happened again. Shortly after that phone call, I lost the function of my right side again and we called 911. Unfortunately, we didn’t get them on the phone so my family began packing both me and our toddler up to get me to the emergency room. An MRI eventually showed that I had experienced a TIA or mini-stroke.
Over 4 days, doctors tried determine if my strokes were related to my diagnosis of Hypereosinophilic Syndrome, or if something else could have triggered it. I didn’t have any known risk factors, until they discovered that I have a PFO that allowed the clot to travel up to my brain. It was a very scary time, but I found myself grateful that I regained all function and suffered no known lasting effects. Strokes can be deadly and I know that I am fortunate to be here. I shared the full story as well as basic information that everyone should know about strokes in an Instagram live. This unfortunate circumstance definitely changed the trajectory of my summer and life, but I am choosing to take things one day at a time and focus on the good. I am doing okay now and working with a team of doctors to ensure that my health continues to improve.
juneteenth
This year, we took the opportunity to commemorate Juneteenth by teaching Lenny what the day is all about. We read books, completed crafts, enjoyed delicious soul food, and stopped by the homes of friends and family friends to wish them a happy Juneteenth. I hope to find in a new way to celebrate every year from here on out, but I really enjoyed what we did this time around. I think Lenny did, too.
July
our 4th anniversary
This July, my husband and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. It feels like just yesterday that we tied the knot and vowed to continually love and support one another. Over the past year, we have really been shown what our marriage is made of. Everyday is not perfect, but it is a safe, exciting place that feels right. More than just loving each other, we continually benefit from having a solid friendship at the core of our marriage.
So to celebrate four incredible years, we enjoyed a staycation in Atlanta complete with a couple nights in a tiny home. We enjoyed a romantic dinner at our wedding reception venue and time to reconnect and reminisce sans Lenny. I am grateful that I was healthy enough to enjoy this much needed time away with the man I love.
lenny’s birthday party
At the end of July, our precious baby boy Lennox turned two years old. Last year, we were only able to celebrate his birthday via Zoom. This year, we decided to throw a safari-themed party for this milestone.
I will admit that I was a nervous wreck regarding COVID-19, and almost cancelled the party many times. But thankfully, most of our friends and family chose to be vaccinated, had no problem wearing masks and distancing. We were also fortunate that the Delta variant hadn’t really begun spreading through our area at that time.
Although party planning is not my thing, I am grateful that I made the sacrifice to give Lenny a celebration. With the way my health is set up, I don’t want to put anything off anymore. Tomorrow simply isn’t promised. Also, I’m grateful for our friends and family. They came through happy to set up, break down and ensure the littles had a great time. Our son has a beautiful village of people who love him, and for me, this was an opportunity to celebrate that, too.
Despite the fact that Lenny has an affinity for jumping off objects, tasting everything and running at full speed, hubby and I have managed to keep him in one piece for TWO whole years. Cheers to us because that’s an accomplishment! 🥂 If you’re here for the party pictures, there are a couple posts here and here on my Instagram.
we moved
At the end of June, I learned that our rent in our apartment was going to increase. Although we could afford it, the thought of Lenny and his things being in my bedroom for another year did not sit well with me. But if you’ve at all been paying attention to the housing market for buyers and renters, you know that this is not an ideal time to move. However, I believe that if something is in the cards for you, God will see that you get it. I started praying and my mom found a listing for a 3-bedroom house not far from where we lived that had just hit the market for rent.
When I viewed the house on the listing, I immediately felt like it was perfect for us. I spent several hours checking out the neighborhood, what Tony’s commute would be, stores in the area, the property management company, etc, and set up a visit. We saw the home and I was sold. At the end of July, we moved in and have been making ourselves at home ever since. One thing I’ve really enjoyed is having space to have friends and family come (safely) visit. Things worked out incredibly well for our family regarding this move and I am beyond grateful.
So that is part one of my summer in review post. I hope this update helps you feel more connected to me and shows that I plan to be more present in this space.
Did you have anything exciting take place in June or July? I’d love to hear about it if so. Please leave a comment and fill me in!
Thanks for reading,
Brittany
