What Katy Writes

Hearing: The playlist iTunes picks for me every week - "My Chill Mix" - at the minute, the song "Sweethearts" by Foy Vance is playing.  I'm liking it. Drinking: I have been indulging in the occasional wine over the last month or so.  I haven't really drunk a lot of alcohol since Isaac was born (or while I was pregnant, obviously); but I have been starting to enjoy a glass here and there.  I am also drinking lots of coffee as always, and water with lemon. Green tea with lemon slices has also been making a regular appearance. Eating & Cooking: I have been making quite a few curries of late. Korma is my favourite at the minute.  I haven't been as good with meal-prepping for my lunches, but have found these "wellness bowls" at the supermarket that I bought quite a few of when they were on special and they have been a healthy, easy alternative. It's become a bit of a tradition to make banana pikelets every weekend (just mashed ba...

It has been a really big couple of weeks.  I have been back at work for two months already; I have exceeded my expectations with it so much which makes me incredibly happy and proud, but I feel like I have sort of been in a "honeymoon period" with it and I have been running on mostly adrenaline (and coffee... always coffee), but this last week I have found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed and run-down... I honestly don't really know where to start.  This last week in particular has felt both challenging and rewarding for one big reason - I was officially discharged as a patient from my psychiatrist last Thursday.  I first saw him when I was admitted to the Mother Baby Unit, sitting on a couch, sobbing my heart out, holding tiny Isaac in my arms before practically begging my sister to take him from me.  From that minute, we have worked together to get me to where I am today.  A grateful Mum, a working Mum, an anxious Mum ~ but a (mostly)...

 Isaac is nearly 18 months old.  I can't believe that it was only 18 months ago that I gave birth to our baby who is growing into such a cheeky, adventurous, hilarious little boy.  I have been doing much better with life and motherhood in general over the last few months, particularly since going back to work as you might have read in a previous post.  Compared with those first few months, things have changed so much, and for that I am so glad - but over the last couple of weeks I've come to realise that there are still a few things I haven't really dealt with or come to terms with when it comes to my journey with postnatal depression.  On a side note, someone said to me that by blogging, sharing and talking about this journey, I am never giving myself the chance to "move on" (yes, I was really infuriated, but have to accept that sharing things in a public forum is going to spark conversation with people I know); but I wholeheartedly disagree.  Th...

Doing: Typing this blog post while drinking my second coffee for the day and smiling at how cute Isaac looks when he is asleep (we have a video monitor). Hearing: "Cannonball" by The Sweeplings.  I have just discovered their music and it is really beautiful.  I go through big music phases - at the minute I'm loving gentle, acoustic songs with lovely lyrics.  This band ticks all the boxes. Drinking: Coffee.  Always coffee.  And lots of lemon water. Eating & Cooking:  I made a particularly good batch of Bolognese this week if I do say so myself which lasted a few meals.  Another dish we have been loving is beef Pad See Ew - a really lovely stir fry that once again can stretch over a couple of nights.  I've been keeping up my meal prep for lunches through the week - always roasting big batches of sweet potato and broccoli, this week I added zucchini, leek and cauliflower which was a lovely combo with my tinned fish.  I have ...

  A few things have been making me really angry and upset lately.  As usual, to do with such a large percentage of people's opinions on mental health and the stigma that is STILL attached to it.  I know things are much more readily talked about and acknowledged these days; we aren't just thrown into asylums or hidden away because of "nervous breakdowns", but far out, there is still so much education that needs to happen and even the smallest amount of empathy from some people would be nice. A number of people have said to me that "mental health issues seem to be a fad - everyone has something wrong with them just to fit in".  Needless to say, that comment did not go down well with me.  "People are just looking for attention" - once again, this makes me incredibly angry, and even if this WAS the case with some people, that's still a cry for help.  People need to be taken seriously.  People need to feel supported and loved, not judged....

Well, my first week back at work is over and I can't believe how much I enjoyed it.  When I was pregnant, I was so sure that I would never want to go back to work again, I was certain that being a full-time stay-at-home Mum was my calling... maybe not! (Definitely not...) Everything seems so much clearer.  We can save money again. We can buy things we want, not just need, again. We can start paying extra off the mortgage.  I can breathe.  I can feel productive and appreciated and socially capable with my anxiety kept at bay.  My agoraphobia seems to be entirely related to going anywhere public with Isaac.  Walking into work on Monday morning honestly felt like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders.  My wonderful colleagues both in my office and across Australia (my team is spread all over the country, I am the only one in Tassie but get to work with some amazing people in person who work in different departments), have made me fee...

It's no secret that I have a lot of feelings and I share them openly.  I know that's not everyone's cup of tea and I respect that.  All that mushy stuff I say and feel and discuss makes some people uncomfortable, makes them roll their eyes and hopefully hit the "unfollow" button from any of my social media accounts - and that's totally OK.  But I am not going to stop sharing.  I have received so many messages, emails and texts from people I know, and also people from all over the world who have read a blog post or seen something that resonated with them on my Instagram or Facebook page - and while I by no means have a significant "following", I will continue to share as I see fit.  Because it is my blog/Facebook/Instagram after all.  I absolutely understand and agree that everyone has a right to their opinion, but for any negativity that might crop up there is a lot more positivity in response to what I write and share, and that is what I care a...