Loving life with Lymphedema

As many of you know my lymphedema leg is Bertha and in the spirit of naming body parts I thought I would do the same with the newest member of my body, my port Matilda. My veins have not been holding up too well with treatment so my doctors and I decided it was time to get a port put in.  My veins were no longer dependable, so in naming my port I was looking for a name that meant dependable (I know I spent far too many minutes on this, I have a little bit of time during my insomnia nights.)  Strong in battle is the meaning, perfect! I knew it would be a smooth procedure when the nurses complimented me on my eyebrows and they started playing Adel in the OR.  It's a weird sensation being awake while they implant something in your body.  But, I get to tell my kids I'm part robot now, which gives me major cool points. With vacation and holidays I haven't been able to get out there and search for pants and shoes.  But, I have some Christmas money to burn so...

I love the holidays.  With the holidays come the parties, so fun to have a reason to dress up in a cute cocktail dress . . . unless you spend most of your life trying to hide your lower half.  I have always dreaded this part of dressing up.  Sad to say in my younger years I even missed a special event, because of it.  All because I couldn't find a proper outfit that would shield the world from my large and in charge leg.  That was just it, Bertha was in charge and I didn't like it!! We host an annual Christmas party and two years ago I was done letting Bertha dictate my clothing choices, so I did the unthinkable (in my mind at least.)  I wore a short skirt!  It was not only short, but it was sequenced.  Why didn't I just get traffic control lights and wave people in to stare at my leg.  You know what happened . . nothing.  Nothing, but "I love your skirt!" and "you look great!" comments.  The next year I wore a LBD (little black ...

Swim suit shopping in the Northwest during winter, it should of been a Fear Factor event.  Specialty shops will give you sticker shock and trying on bathing suits with your white pasty skin will for sure give a scare.  So I was only left with one decision, go by reviews on Amazon.  Where do I even begin?  After getting sucked into Pintrest for a few hours  I finally found a few suit style I thought I could pull off.  I searched Amazon and found two I thought might work.  I purchased them in 2 sizes each, thank you Prime shipping!! We were having Thanksgiving round 2 out of 3 at our house and they arrived!!  Hours online and the results were sitting right there in boxes, but even though they are family it's probably rude to try on swimsuits before dinner.  All I could hear in my head as we sat down to eat was "Fashion Show, fashion show, fashion show at lunch!"  That was for you The Office fans.  After everyone left I had the brigh...

Vacation is coming up and thankfully one thing I don't have to look for are sandals.  At one point in our marriage, before I wore stretch pants almost every day, when I had time to do my hair and I didn't have my shirt used to wipe noses and hands.  My husband and I were DINKS (dual income no kids.) Our best friends lived in another city and some Fridays after work we would fly up to stay with them for the weekend, we bought top shelf and I thought couponing was a joke.  For sure another life!  We went on one last vacation before we decided to start trying for babies.  The resort we were going to had a dress code-NO FLIP FLOPS!? At this time flip flops were my summer shoe for Bertha.  I had very few regular shoes that still fit her and strappy sandals were out of the question.  I mean IF I could fit my chubby foot in one it looked like a honey baked ham!  And wearing shoes with out compression was out of the question anyways.  Until I found...

I'm not sure if you've heard of LuLaRoe ?  If you are a Mom that lives in the suburbs you probably own at least one LuLaRoe piece.  Some of my girlfriends started showing up with these fun leggings and flowy flattering shirts.  Leggings?  Tunic tops?  I must know where I can purchase these things! LuLaRoe, it's pretty easy to find a pop up shop on Facebook or you can check out their website to find a consultant near you.  I swear to you I don't sell it.  But, my favorite item they sell is . . . LuLaRoe Legging This is a new one I've added to my closet.  For $25 I felt like I couldn't lose.  I had heard amazing things about them and thought at least they could be my "home day" leggings.  I was wrong!  They are thinner than my Zellas, but a lot softer.  Since they are thinner they are easier to put on, on days when Bertha is angry and larger than life.  Again a wide waist band.  They only have 2 sizes too.  In...

This year is my 10 year wedding anniversary with, as you know him "my ever so loving and practical husband."  We wanted to go somewhere warm, so he booked it and now I am left realizing I need to be seen in bathing suits, shorts and dresses.  Figuring out what I will be wearing is my equivalent to running a marathon.  I should lose at least 5 pounds in my clothing search, right?!  But then I realize the ice cream I will be inhaling after a bum day of shopping may cancel it out. Shop 1: We had a random day date and I found myself at the doorstep of one of my favorite brands Free People.  I perused the front of the store eyeing items, placing them against my body like I was seriously thinking about purchasing it.  Who was I kidding it was all for show, as I meandered to the back of the store I had to act almost surprised.  "Oh!  A sale section, isn't this quaint."  Yeah right that is the only reason I even dared going into this store, they a...

I love this skinny jean, mostly because I feel like the brand represents me: 'Wit and Wisdom.'  Also, I know they will always have the  basic jean  and  black jean .  This past summer they came out with a boyfriend jean with trendy holes and they actually fit!  Sure, Bertha ripped the holes a bit bigger, but it was so awesome to wear a jean that was trendy.  This is where I do a hair flip, sip my Starbucks and take a selfie.  But, seriously I've come to terms that most trendy styles don't fit. So, when one does I get pretty excited! Wit & Wisdom jeans have a ton of stretch and they seem to come up a little higher on the waist (which I prefer.) No one wants to see my underwear or mom tummy.  These jeans fit pretty true to size.  I wash most all of my clothing items cold and hang dry them so they don't shrink and keep their luster, these jeans included!  I have also seen them at Nordstrom Rack as well.  The greatest reason to...

My my my machete! Ok sorry, I had My Sharona in my head, basically I live life like I'm in a musical most days.  Here's hoping my kids turn out semi normal.  But I should sing a love song about my shoe horn or as I lovingly call it my machete.  It has gotten me through some tough times and gotten my foot into some tough shoes.  This past week was a rough one, my closet had become a jungle and I was almost about to use my shoe horn to navigate through it all, when my ever so loving and practical husband decided it was time to say goodbye to items we have held onto and will never wear.  Sadly it's for the opposite reasons.  See my husband has lost 50 pounds in the past couple of years, every old clothing item he tried on he was swimming in.  While I am extremely proud of him (serious hard work of P90X, no sugar & no grains, running etc) I am slightly jealous.  Yes!  I found out you can be jealous of a member of the opposite sex, including...

No I don't live in Australia, yes I wear them not just when I am at the mountains, no I am not a 13 year old girl.  Uggs, we all have a love hate relationship.  Yes they can be Uggly (Dad joke) but dang they are comfortable!  And my boot of choice in the winter, they pair nicely with a jean or stretch pant.  My favorite and only style I can fit is the 'Mini Bailey Button II:   https://shopstyle.it/l/XE8S . Please apologize to your significant others if you go out and purchase these amazing boots, because I feel like they will be the star in your fall/winter line up.  They are a pretty penny, but I have had my current pair for several years.  Long live Uggs! I am looking for some rain boots currently.  What have you found that works?  I weather proofed my Uggs and am using them for my everything boots, would love a pair of rain boots since I live in the good ole rainy NW.  XOXO-Allie

I have a confession, I steal from the guy who put a ring on it.  I steal my husband's socks.  I'm not quite sure why I haven't purchased my own or why he hasn't purchased some for me.  The problem is I only wear one.  Putting a sock over an already cover foot by my compression stocking seems silly and believe me I don't need the extra bulk on Bertha!  So when laundry days comes we have a pile of single socks, which also results in hubby never having socks.  Why is it so easy to buy an overpriced latte, but when it comes to a pair of socks I have sticker shock?!  It's probably why I am still wearing my nursing bras.  I should include my youngest is now 4 years old and has not needed my "girls" for years.  I even have a Victoria Secret gift card burning a hole in my wallet.  I don't think my joke with my husband of "having easy access" is working anymore.  Ok back to socks, there is no real moral to this story, besides I really need a...

Yesterday I got my scan results and had my infusion.  My husband was able to take me, sad, but true it's almost like a mini date.  We have amazing friends who watch our kids, we grab a coffee before, get to sit and talk the whole time.  Ha ha, maybe not the date of my dreams, but with our busy life I'll take it! I always want to be comfortable on days like these, so I am outfitted with my Zella stretch pants (see previous post) a cozy top and my Nike Frees. My Nike Free Flyknit shoes are the lightest, most comfortable shoes that have had a really good run (pun intended.) My go to pair, they fit and form to my feet and even keep Bertha's swelling down since I tie the shoelaces like a corset.  Check them out, you will not regret it. My scan results were good.  I have had two tumors that are inoperable, one being in my lymphedema leg.  I have been on an immunotherapy since May.  My scan showed no new tumor growths and the two tumors I've had also...

I have a PET scan today and you know what that calls for, stretch pants and a well deserved cookie afterwards.  Because, after fasting for 4 hours before the scan that is the only logical food, right?  Today I want to introduce my 6th favorite member of our family (our dog beat them of for 5th place.)  Stretch pants!  Who doesn't love them?  The problem is some are just too thin and should never see the light of day.  The other issue is even thought they are stretchy, sometimes they still can't fit over Bertha (see below post to find out who she is.)  So my all time favorite stretch pant is the Zella 'live in legging.' For $54 you can have the luxury of having a legging that not only fits well, but is thick enough.  And my favorite part they have a wide waistband to hide all of my wobbly bits.  They come in plus sizes too and are also reversible, so after my toddlers use them for a tissue or I inevitably spill my coffee, I just turn them in...

I guess it's time to introduce Bertha, my previous post might make a little more sense.  Some women name their boobs, I name my legs.  My skinny "normal" leg is Tiffany who I imagine would be a cheerleader and a runner.  And then there is my lymphedema leg Bertha, who bakes likes science.  Ok I know that is so stereotypical, but it's makes me laugh and makes other people feel awkward.  I mean they named a golf club "Big Bertha" so really I'm just following suit.  Bertha has been with me since 2007 and isn't going away anytime soon, so it was only proper she be named.  We have a love hate relationship, but in the end she is a big part of my life and according to my husband "his favorite leg in the world."  Yes you can "awwww" now.  And yes I hit the jackpot with him.  XOXO-Allie

Thank goodness skinny jeans are in style.  It sure beats the boot cut phase when one of my legs sported the traditional boot cut and Bertha . . she tried her best.  My calf is the most disproportionate part of my leg so finding pants and jeans that will fit past it usually ends in me sweating, occasional cursing and tears.  My new find is from GAP.  They are called 'HIGH STRETCH 1969 true skinny.'  They come in Short, Regular and Long lengths so you are sure to find your perfect fit.  GAP also has the 'STRETCH 1969 true skinny' which I also own and find to have enough stretch, even for Big Bertha.  I own 3 colors, they hold up really well.  I am moving a lot with my little ones and have been pleasantly surprised how the knees haven't worn like other jeans have.  And the inner thigh fabric has not worn through double win!!  I honestly feel like I'm wearing stretch pants, but look a little more put together.  I wash them in c...

I love to wear flats, but my issue is the ball my foot makes at the front of my foot.  All of the fluid from my toes and below push to form a massive fluid ball that no lymphatic massage can help.  So I have stayed away hoping for the day I could find a shoe that would cover enough of my foot with out needing to wear a loafer.  The other day I was searching Nordstrom Rack and found flats that came up high enough.  The Franco Sarto Simona Flat.  I tried it on and it was like leather butter to my feet.  I did go up a size, but since they are pointed toes it doesn't look like I'm wearing clown shoes.  Before lymphedema I was a 9 1/2, now I usually wear an 11, but with these I went up to a 12.  They are on Nordstrom Rack's website right now.  They have a leather pair in black and cognac and also a suede pair in mushroom and new bordo (which is a burnt orangy-red color.) You know what a lymphedema patient says, " if the shoe fits, buy it in eve...

I have wanted to start this blog for a while now.  So here it is, I am hoping to update it frequently.  I have been living in sport clothes for several years and want to venture out and wear normal clothes and shoes.  I will for sure share my sport clothes finds, it still is my primary clothing choice.  Usually fall is a girl's favorite season.  Sweaters, scarves, pumpkin spice everything and . . . boots.  Not a lymphie's best friend.  Summer was so easy, I have my Birkenstocks that I live in and flip flops.  Sure my foot looks like a blimp, but there is so much room to breath!!  Boots and shoes my arch nemesis aside from jeans which are close runner up.  Last year I found some awesome booties.  The Minnetonka Women's Chukka Wedge Boot.  I know I always get nervous when I hear "wedge," but it's not too tall and as long as I don't wear them everyday all day I'm good.  Of course I bought both colors.  I've been able to ...