About Me

My photo
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, July 05, 2019

Boring 4th

Our 4th of July was both relaxed and completely uneventful. Between Timmy recovering from his fever and the swampy and hot weather, nobody felt like venturing outside of the house to celebrate. Instead, we opted to spend the day watching movies and eating our hotdogs inside.  

We didn't set out to celebrate the holiday as hermits. We woke up early and headed to the blueberry farm, hoping to beat both the heat and the crowds. We were wrong on both calculations. Even though it was only 10 AM, the heat index was in the mid 90's. The picking was sparse and the competition with the other blueberry seekers turned what should have been fun into a frustrating hunt for berries. 

The boys quickly became grumpy. Robby abandoned the quest early, opting to seek shade under a tree near the picnic area. Timmy ended up completely melting down in the field because our buckets were fuller than his. His outburst ended up in his being carried out of the field, screaming and wiggling for freedom. It was not a fun adventure for anybody, Scott and me included.

After the blueberry fiasco, my holiday spirit was squashed. I declared our family NSFP (not safe for public) and, because of Timmy's behavior, our evening fireworks were canceled. He spent the rest of the day playing quietly with his trains while I finally finished unpacking from our trip.

Thursday, July 04, 2019

Sick Day

My Ampuversary was spent nursing my sick Timmy back to health and strength. When his fever began to rise on Tuesday night I suspected that he was night fighting a virus. I have come to learn how his body reacts to being stressed, and between the heat in Ohio and the early morning travel, my little guy was pushed beyond his limits. 

Typical of an autoimmune response, his body overreacted. Timmy developed a high fever and then he began to vomit. After emptying the contents of his stomach and cooling off thanks to ice packs and Tylenol, he slept for nearly 14 hours. He still didn't feel fantastic yesterday so I kept him quiet on the couch, spending the afternoon watching Polar Express and Grinch and playing Angry Birds on the iPad.  

Today Timmy has completely recovered and has returned to his normal and energetic self. If the weather holds and his fever stays at bay, I think we'll even be able to go see some fireworks tonight!  Happy Fourth of July!

Wednesday, July 03, 2019

Happy 16th Ampuversary

Today is my Ampuversary. 

It was 16 years ago this morning that Scott and I made that difficult drive to the hospital for my amputation. When I think about it, I can close my eyes and I can easily recall the emotions I felt leading up to the surgery. Of course, those emotions are uncomfortable to experience so I prefer avoidance and distraction whenever possible.

I am having a rough time wrapping my head around the reality that I've been an amputee for 16 years. My life is so incredibly different than it was in 2003. Today, perhaps more than any other day, I am acutely aware that my life would not be what it is today if I hadn't made that difficult choice to amputate.

If I had not had my amputation, I know that I would not have been able to be a Mom. I would not be working with the limb loss community and I would not have had the wonderful experiences and memories with new friends. The pain was simply too great to enjoy my life.

In the years leading up to my amputation, I was living in debilitating pain. Relying upon a crutch and pain medication to get through the day, I wasn't able to really live my best life. Amputating my broken limb has allowed me to live life without pain. Although I still feel discomfort and a different set of frustrations, the impact is minimal compared to my pre-amputation life. 

I don't know what my life would have been had I not had my foot crushed, but I do know that I love my life today. My life plan never included living without a limb, but I also never imagined that I would have had the experiences, friends, and opportunities that I have had since becoming an amputee.

The lens with which I see my world is different because of my amputation, but different does not insinuate that the view is negative. I am more secure and confident because I survived and adapted to what felt overwhelming and impossible 16 years ago.  Happy Ampuversary to me!

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Finally Home

After 8.5 hours of traveling, we are finally home from Ohio. We left the hotel for the airport this morning at 4:30 and we just pulled into our driveway. The cats are being doted upon by both boys and everything seems to be intact, so I guess our new housesitter was reliable.  

In an attempt to tire Timmy out in advance of our long travel day, yesterday we went to a little amusement park near Cincinnati.  Scott, Robby, and Timmy had a blast riding the rides while Grandma and I dutifully followed the thrill seekers toting bottles of water and sunscreen. I'm glad that we decided to go because I think that Scott's mom had as much fun, if not more, by just watching the boys interacting and playing together.

After a week away and an extremely long day of travel, we are finally home. I know that all of the boys (Scott included) enjoyed their time visiting in Ohio, but it is always nice to return home.













Monday, July 01, 2019

Packing Up

Yesterday Mother Nature provided us with a beautiful day to enjoy the annual picnic for Scott's family. It was warm but the constant breeze kept both the oppressive temperatures and the bugs at bay, allowing us all to enjoy being outside all afternoon. While Scott visited with his relatives, I spent my time trying to occupy Timmy (and to keep him out of creating too much mischief on the farm.)

Today is our last full day in Ohio. Scott has a few tasks to finish up for his mom before we conclude our visit. I'm glad that he has been able to knock so much off of her to-do list during our visit. I know that he feels good being able to help her.  

This afternoon we will be packing up and heading to a hotel near the airport in preparation for our early morning departure. Timmy is looking forward to spending the night in a hotel, and I know that Robby is feeling homesick. It has been a nice visit, but it will also be wonderful to be at home.