Hey Michelle,

Are you using any assistive devices to help you move her around? Like when you have to get her into a standing position from sitting, are you using something like a lifting belt? If not, PM me, and I can give you directions on how to make one out of household items and directions on how to use it properly, so that you minimize the load on your back.

Make sure that your showing her how to log roll to get in and out of the bed, rather than you just sliding her over. There are lots of ways to modify her movements and your own to minimize the weight bearing for both of you. Its just a matter of knowing which movements to make for each situation. Yes, its easier for you to just pick her up, but in the end, you don't want to get yourself hurt...then both of you will be laid up, and your hubs and son will be the only one's able to help.

Make sure you're letting her do everything by herself that she's capable of. Its easy to fall into doing everything yourself, but she still has to "help" as much as she can. Everyone likes to be taken care of when they don't feel well, but she does need to realize that you can't do everything for her.

Please feel free to PM me anytime. I check the boards frequently, so I'll get back to you asap. I worked as a nurse's aide while I was going to school for nursing, so I learned all of the different way of moving people out of necessity, since most of my patients outweighed me by at least 50 lbs, if not more (the patient that busted my back up was a little over 400lbs).

Don't forget to take care of yourself, ok? Make sure you've got some time at the end of each day to soak your aching bones, hopefully without interruption. There never is much of "me time" when you're a mom, is there?

Theresa