Guys, check out this scoliosis blog! 13 year old "Dancer Girl" has a really great story and fun posts!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Check-Up!
Hello hello!
I'm just checking in since I haven't posted in a while.
I went to my doctor yesterday for the first time since January - it was pretty scary because we were waiting to see if my spine curvature had stabilized. It was at 31 degrees in January and when I went yesterday...it was still 31! Which was good news, considering I could have been told I needed surgery if it was worse.
I'm not happy with a 31 degree curve, but that's what I've been given. My doctor said that while it's not bad enough to need surgery, it's bad enough to have a lot of backache, well...for the rest of my life.
That's not easy to hear. Honesty, it would have been easier to hear that I need surgery, so that I could feel scared and victimized and cry. But that's not the strong solution, is it? This just means that I need to step up my work to strengthen my spine...because this is the one I've been given, and the only one I'll ever get.
I have a set of stretches I do that are good for my back (and approved by my doctor), so I'll share them here.
1) Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Hold your leg just under your knee and pull your leg up to your chest, with it still bent. Count to 10, then switch to the other leg.
2) Go back to the bent knees, feet flat on the floor position. Stretch one leg straight up and point your toe, holding the back of your thigh with your hands. Do NOT over strain your leg - if you can't go very high, don't worry about it. Count to 10 and then switch to the other leg.
3) Go back to the starting position. Place your arms straight by your side, palms on the ground. Then clench your abs so that your lower back naturally presses evenly against the ground. Hold for 10.
4) Do crunches - however many you can without hurting yourself. Start small and work up.
What NOT to do:
Don't do anything that arches your back a lot, like the cobra position.
Another tip is for sleeping - I always struggle with pain when I try to fall asleep. Sleep on your side and put a small pillow in between your knees. This levels out your pelvis and makes your back straighter. It also provides a lot of relief!
I hope this helps! (Check with your doctor about what's right for your back.)
As always, feel free to comment below or email me at mcbxq43@aol.com!
I'm just checking in since I haven't posted in a while.
I went to my doctor yesterday for the first time since January - it was pretty scary because we were waiting to see if my spine curvature had stabilized. It was at 31 degrees in January and when I went yesterday...it was still 31! Which was good news, considering I could have been told I needed surgery if it was worse.
I'm not happy with a 31 degree curve, but that's what I've been given. My doctor said that while it's not bad enough to need surgery, it's bad enough to have a lot of backache, well...for the rest of my life.
That's not easy to hear. Honesty, it would have been easier to hear that I need surgery, so that I could feel scared and victimized and cry. But that's not the strong solution, is it? This just means that I need to step up my work to strengthen my spine...because this is the one I've been given, and the only one I'll ever get.
I have a set of stretches I do that are good for my back (and approved by my doctor), so I'll share them here.
1) Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Hold your leg just under your knee and pull your leg up to your chest, with it still bent. Count to 10, then switch to the other leg.
2) Go back to the bent knees, feet flat on the floor position. Stretch one leg straight up and point your toe, holding the back of your thigh with your hands. Do NOT over strain your leg - if you can't go very high, don't worry about it. Count to 10 and then switch to the other leg.
3) Go back to the starting position. Place your arms straight by your side, palms on the ground. Then clench your abs so that your lower back naturally presses evenly against the ground. Hold for 10.
4) Do crunches - however many you can without hurting yourself. Start small and work up.
What NOT to do:
Don't do anything that arches your back a lot, like the cobra position.
Another tip is for sleeping - I always struggle with pain when I try to fall asleep. Sleep on your side and put a small pillow in between your knees. This levels out your pelvis and makes your back straighter. It also provides a lot of relief!
I hope this helps! (Check with your doctor about what's right for your back.)
As always, feel free to comment below or email me at mcbxq43@aol.com!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Winter Weather
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And luckily, wearing oversize sweaters with leggings and boots is in! Big sweaters easily hide all the problem areas, and leggings are stretchy and comfy. Add some cool combat or riding boots, a statement necklace and bag, and no one will ever guess you're anything but fabulous.
I love that last J Crew-ish look with a button down shirt underneath and jeans.
Hope this gives you some inspiration for winter looks! As always, I LOVE hearing from you, so email me anytime! Also, if you'd like to send me a picture of your outfits, I'd love to see what you come up with!
I love that last J Crew-ish look with a button down shirt underneath and jeans.
Hope this gives you some inspiration for winter looks! As always, I LOVE hearing from you, so email me anytime! Also, if you'd like to send me a picture of your outfits, I'd love to see what you come up with!
Email change!
Hi guys, I'd like to apologize if you have emailed me since my last post and I haven't responded- I got locked out of my email, and when I just now got back in, it had wiped all my mail. That really upset me because I lost all the wonderful stories you guys had sent me, and that meant so much to me. So I am SO sorry if I didn't respond to you, it's because it got deleted!
So, If you would like to email me, you can still use mcbxq43@aol.com now. Sorry!!
~*~Ava~*~
So, If you would like to email me, you can still use mcbxq43@aol.com now. Sorry!!
~*~Ava~*~
Monday, June 24, 2013
Tackling Trends: Cutouts
I got a new dress at Target the other day - this one to be exact:
Except I got it in blue. And I thought...this has a cutout in the back (in the shape of a heart if you can't tell...love it). And it suddenly hit me that the new trend of cutouts simply will not work with a back brace!
But fear not! I've found some pieces that do - like my Target dress for example! The cutout is high enough to hide most braces, and it has a tie waistband and a full skirt...perfect for disguising you-know-what. Get it here: http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-juniors-heart-cutout-fit-flare-dress-assorted-colors/-/A-14515499#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink
First up, I went to my favorite little store called Forever 21. I couldn't get the picture from the website, but here's the Cross Top on someone else! It comes in gray and white. So just wear a spaghetti strap tank top (in a contrasting color) under it, and you'll look effortlessly cool! I love this girl's styling, too. Although, for a brace-wearer, I would change the leather shorts to looser, frayed denim. Get the shirt here: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=top&ProductID=2074983797&VariantID=
Also F21. It has a peter pan collar. AND cute, wearable cutouts. Just...i want it. Get it here: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=DRESS&ProductID=2045413245&VariantID= (Also, the elastic waistband is perfect, too!)
So shoulder cutouts are in? Perfect. Use them to your advantage. No brace there! This sweater looks a bit thin, though, so a talk top underneath for extra layering might be a good idea. Get it here: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=sweater&ProductID=2035135413&VariantID=
That's all for right now (sorry, it's always a bit F21 heavy)...but I'm already thinking of other posts to do about trends!
As always, please feel free to comment or email me at mcbxq43@aol.com. I usually take a while to answer, but I honestly LOVE hearing from each and every one of you. Thank you all SO much for letting me know that you support and appreciate me and this blog. Your emails and comments honestly bring me to tears, and I'm so happy to be doing something...anything.
Keep your chins up and keep kickin'!
Love love love,
Ava
But fear not! I've found some pieces that do - like my Target dress for example! The cutout is high enough to hide most braces, and it has a tie waistband and a full skirt...perfect for disguising you-know-what. Get it here: http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-juniors-heart-cutout-fit-flare-dress-assorted-colors/-/A-14515499#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink
First up, I went to my favorite little store called Forever 21. I couldn't get the picture from the website, but here's the Cross Top on someone else! It comes in gray and white. So just wear a spaghetti strap tank top (in a contrasting color) under it, and you'll look effortlessly cool! I love this girl's styling, too. Although, for a brace-wearer, I would change the leather shorts to looser, frayed denim. Get the shirt here: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=top&ProductID=2074983797&VariantID=
Also F21. It has a peter pan collar. AND cute, wearable cutouts. Just...i want it. Get it here: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=DRESS&ProductID=2045413245&VariantID= (Also, the elastic waistband is perfect, too!)
So shoulder cutouts are in? Perfect. Use them to your advantage. No brace there! This sweater looks a bit thin, though, so a talk top underneath for extra layering might be a good idea. Get it here: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=sweater&ProductID=2035135413&VariantID=
Now I move on to Modcloth.com, where this little dress belongs! It has a cute, modern cutout, while still keeping a classic shape and feminine print. Get it here: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/slideshow-and-tell-dress
As always, please feel free to comment or email me at mcbxq43@aol.com. I usually take a while to answer, but I honestly LOVE hearing from each and every one of you. Thank you all SO much for letting me know that you support and appreciate me and this blog. Your emails and comments honestly bring me to tears, and I'm so happy to be doing something...anything.
Keep your chins up and keep kickin'!
Love love love,
Ava
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Scoliosis Talk
I've received a few emails from spinal companies that are interested in my blog, and showing their information. So I'd like to take a step back from fashion for a moment, and look at the medical side of scoliosis, which can be scary and confusing.
The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has sent me a link to their free, live chat with doctors about the options for treating scoliosis. I have not participated in one of these chats, but it seems like it would be a good, simple way to get information, along with other parents and families. Check it out!
The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has sent me a link to their free, live chat with doctors about the options for treating scoliosis. I have not participated in one of these chats, but it seems like it would be a good, simple way to get information, along with other parents and families. Check it out!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Hope's Closet
Here's a cool website for buying shirts to go under your brace! It's got personal stories, photos, and even a design contest!
I always love seeing girls make their own website or blog about scoliosis. It's the best way to help each other out :)
http://www.hopescloset.com/
I always love seeing girls make their own website or blog about scoliosis. It's the best way to help each other out :)
http://www.hopescloset.com/
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