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, November 01, 2019

Halloween Do-Over

Yesterday my Mom's hometown broke with tradition and rescheduled Trick-or-Treat. Usually demonstrating a stern-faced, tough it out kiddo attitude, the decision to delay the event due to weather was a welcome surprise. I was not terribly keen on the idea of trolling the neighborhoods in torrential rains.

With Trick-or-Treat delayed and my adventure plans derailed, yesterday was a dreary Halloween for the boys. Robby played on his computer and spent time on some classwork, but by midafternoon he was bored and eagerly waiting for his cousins to come home from school.  Because of homework and assorted frustrations, we opted to just forgo any Halloween adventures and to concentrate our efforts on Trick-or-Treating tonight. 

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!  

Unfortunately, Mother Nature is not going to cooperate. Trick-or-Treating in the rain is not ideal, but I doubt that the raindrops will be enough to keep the Cousin Crew from their mission. Tonight is free candy night, and nothing will get in their way.

Timmy is ecstatic to go out with the "big kids." Last night we visited a local Trunk-or-Treat event, allowing the kids to soak up some holiday spirit while nabbing a few snacks. Timmy was able to refine his Trick-or-Treat etiquette, so I know he is ready for the big night!



Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Falling

So much for our meticulously created plans for getting my Mom to Texas. My brother, who was scheduled for release tomorrow, threw a monkey wrench into our plans by getting released yesterday. Although he was delighted to be out 48 hours ahead of schedule, we were left scrambling.  

In the rush to get to my Mom's house, and in an attempt to avoid the "pumpkin parade" that Timmy crafted on our front walkway, I hurried towards the car with our first round of luggage. I ended up stepping into one of the holes in our front yard and immediately began to teeter. It felt like it was transpiring in slow motion, but in reality, I'm sure it was a few fluid seconds before I fell over. 

My ankle is sore and my stump really hurts, but I'm able to hobble around. I'm hoping that I can walk through the discomfort today. I despise falling! My Mom is en route to Texas, and I am going to be wrangling five kiddos for the next few days. Thankfully they are all old enough to pitch in and help if need be.

Little reminds me of my vulnerability more than losing control during a fall!

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Escape

In a not so veiled attempt to escape my growing anxiety about my brother being released this week, yesterday afternoon I packed up the boys and headed to play at the pumpkin farm. I was relieved to unplug from all electronics and my worries for a few hours. Playing with the kids in the warm sunshine was exactly what I needed to recenter for the days ahead.  After all, escape is what I do best!

The weather was absolutely beautiful for my impromptu autumnal adventure. Both boys had a great time playing together. Seeing Robby and Timmy jumping, running and giggling in unison made my heart swell with pride and love.  

After a guitar lesson and a quick Halloween party this afternoon, we will be heading up to Pennsylvania. My mom leaves tomorrow morning and I need to make sure I have all of the instructions. I'm not worried about taking care of the kids, but I have to admit to being nervous about caring for her elderly dog. 

Molly, her beloved Golden Retriever, is on the equivalent of canine hospice. I can't fathom having to be the one to make the final care decision, nor am I particularly fond of the idea of finding her deceased in a corner or under a tree. My ultimate goal is to keep her alive until my Mom returns from Texas.








Monday, October 28, 2019

Tests Ahead

The weekend of rest and extra sleep was exactly what I needed to beat the pesky cold. Robby and Timmy are both feeling better, so our family is again on the road towards health. I'm so glad that Scott remained healthy through the mini plague. Having him to pick up the slack definitely helped me relax and focus on getting better.

This is going to be an extraordinarily busy week. Halloween is on Thursday, so my kids the excitement is reaching a fevered pitch. In addition to the holiday festivities, my brother, who has been serving time through a court-mandated program, is being released on Thursday. He has been receiving treatment for the past several months, time which I believe saved his life.

While I am celebrating his sobriety, I remain cautiously optimistic about the coming weeks. I know that the true test lies ahead of him, and I can do little but hope and pray that he remains clean and sober. I have spent many sleepless nights fretting and worrying about his situation and the struggles ahead.

I'm feeling a lot of fears about him being released, but I am trying to do everything I can to support both him and my Mom. This week I am taking the boys to Pennsylvania so that I can care for my niece, nephews, and my mom's pets while she travels to Texas to care for my brother. I am feeling grateful to have the flexibility in my schedule to pack up and leave when needed. Sometimes cyberschool has huge benefits, and this is one of them.

Robby and Timmy are both excited to be reunited with their cousins, and I know that the Cousin Crew will have a fantastic time trick-or-treating. Who knows, maybe I can squeeze an autumnal Aunt Peggy's Adventure into the schedule.