About Me

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I am a below knee amputee. More importantly, I am also Mommy to two boys, a very active 10 year old (Robby) and an mischievous toddler (Timmy). I have learned that being a parent with a disability can create some unusual and sometimes humorous situations. This blogger is available for hire! Let's talk and learn how a blog can expand your business.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Sick Day

My exuberance with my ear feeling better was short lived.  Robby was coughing throughout the night and Timmy woke with a slight fever.  I keep trying to remind myself that the flu hits quickly and hard. If Robby or Timmy were infected they would have higher fevers and more severe symptoms. I'm sure that we are dealing with colds, but with all of the news reports heralding a flu epidemic I am in outright panic mode.  

Today Timmy is supposed to have his Young Zookeepers class, but I have decided to keep him home. As a family rule we don't send sick kids to school, and this includes toddler classes. I'm disappointed for him because I know how much he loves the class and the interaction. Thankfully he is young enough to not fully comprehend the calendar so he isn't expecting to attend today.

Mornings like today make me appreciate how fortunate I am to be able to work from home. I am able to accommodate my schedule to keep them home and their germs quarantined from the world. I can take care of the kiddos without the stress of trying to find coverage at work or the worry of losing my position.  It is always stressful when the kids are sick, but at least I don't have to worry about my professional reputation when I care for them.  


Thursday, January 18, 2018

Bickering Snow Day

Yesterday was wicked cold with a dusting of snow. The roads were bad in the morning so schools went from being delayed to completely closed. The boys (including Timmy) were delighted with the bonus vacation day. Unfortunately the jubilation was short lived. By mid afternoon everybody was bickering and I found myself looking at the clock with longing, eager for my ear appointment so I could escape the chaos at home. I love my family, but I think everybody is at a point where they need some space.

Despite the bickering (and downright fighting), yesterday was not a complete disaster. After weeks of pain, countless pills and bottles of drops, my ear is finally on the road to recovery. The doctor was able to complete the procedure yesterday (with minimal discomfort) and I felt instant relief as I sat up from the table. It feels odd to be without the pressure and and pain that have been omnipresent for so long. The house sounds eerily silent with the ringing in my ears silenced.  It probably sounds strange, but I feel ten pounds lighter now that I have been liberated from my ear issues.

Today we are looking at warmer temperatures, dry air and bright skies. Thank goodness everybody will be going back to school. I love my boys, but I can't handle the squabbling anymore. Robby is only 11 but boasts the snark of a seasoned teenager. It is amazing how Scott and I have managed to live so long without him commenting on everything we do wrong! The only benefit of my ear issues has been the temporary reduction in my hearing which has helped me to tune out the snarky commentary.

Robby is a typical pre-teen, but my little Hamlet still adores me and thinks I'm perfect. He can't wait to snuggle up with me to watch cartoons, is quick to give me kisses and is always happy to dance in the kitchen. I know that this stage is fleeting, and soon he will see me through the same prepubescent lenses as his brother. But right now I'm trying to soak up as much motherly adoration as possible because I have a feeling I'll be tapping into those reserves in the coming years.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Frustrating Ankle

Everybody is still asleep and resting happily in the knowledge that their schools are delayed two hours. I love when the powers that be make the coveted call before everybody goes to sleep. The joy on Scott and Robby's faces when I inform them that school has been delayed or cancelled is priceless. Timmy, of course, ignored the sleep-in because school is delayed directive and was up before the sun.

Today I return to the ear doctor for round two of my ear treatment. Last week was not successful and the procedure ended up being painful. The doctor opted to stop because of my wincing and yelping. My ear canal was injected with ointment to soften the adhesions. This afternoon we will attempt the debridement again.

After the discomfort from our last attempt, I am already queasy as I anticipate what I may experience. I keep trying to remind myself that the gel has worked its magic and that the debridement will not be painful this time. I'm trying to put on my game face, but my nerves are definitely getting the best of me.

To make matters worse my phantom ankle is hurting today, increasing both my irritability and frustration. I hate when I am awoken with a cramp in a ankle that is no longer attached to my body. It is definitely not a good way to start the morning! 

I'm trying to regroup before the day gets started. My phantom ankle started to calm when I slipped on my prosthesis. Now instead of cramping I am feeling a dull ache, which is annoying but tolerable. Actually, it is tolerable and annoying and frustrating. 

I'm certainly not starting this day off on the right foot (pun intended).

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Laid Back

Another long weekend is in the books. We didn't do anything grandiose yesterday for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It was too cold to play outside, so we opted for a quiet day at home. I think we are still decompressing and recovering from a hectic holiday season. The thought of going somewhere just felt overwhelming. I think our family is entering full blown hibernation mode. 

The boys were all happy with our stay-at-home holiday. Scott and Robby played video games for much of the afternoon while Timmy and I baked cookies for the local fire department. I absolutely adore having another little baker in the house!  Hamlet now loves helping me in the kitchen and comes running whenever I mention "the c word" (which has come to mean cookies.)

Today Scott and Robby will return to school and Timmy and I will work towards resuming our routine. With snow in the forecast for tonight I'm not overly optimistic that I will settle back into a stable calendar anytime soon. Robby and Scott are already hoping and dreaming of another snow day. Robby received a new sled for Christmas and I know that he is chomping at the bit to take it for a spin. 

A large snowfall is always fun, but I'm not ready for one this week. Tomorrow I return to the ear doctor, so at this point I'm just hoping for the roads to be clear enough for me to get to the appointment. I really want this gel removed from my ear. It isn't painful anymore, but it is certainly annoying. Hopefully the snow will stay away until my ear issues resolve. As soon as I"m better, let it snow let it snow let it snow.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Young ZooKeeper School

Friday was a big day in our house. I took Timmy to the Animal Park to check out a new preschool program they were launching. What started out of curiosity ended up being Timmy's first official day of preschool.  Well, technically it is the Young Zookeepers School, which is perfect for us right now.  

Once a week Timmy will attend the Young Zookeepers program where he will play with other kids, listen to a story, work on arts and crafts and learn about animals. Timmy absolutely loved the program, and I had no qualms about signing him up. I love seeing him play with other kids and engage on a more academic level. Because of his autoimmune issues, we can't enroll him in a standard preschool at this time. This class feels like it was created specifically for our needs!

The weekly class is three hours long and, although parents are invited to participate, it is encouraged that we stay in the lobby to allow the kids a chance to socialize and learn to depend upon themselves and their teachers. (The lobby has free coffee and WiFi, so I'm set while he's at school.) Timmy had no problem separating from me during the class and was grinning from ear-to-ear throughout the morning. I am happy to stay close by and out of the way while he works towards his Young ZooKeeper credentials.

Over the weekend Scott and I took Timmy to the store to purchase his school supplies. I'm not sure if Timmy made the connections about why we were shopping, but we are trying to highlight the concept that he is attending his own school.  Even if he didn't understand, he seemed to relish the attention and spending time in Target. It turns out that many of the items on his supply list are out of stock because they are seasonal, so I'll have to buy them online before Friday. He did pick out a shiny red Paw Patrol water bottle and somehow managed to convince his Daddy to buy a new train for his collection.  

I'm already looking forward to Friday!