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, January 03, 2020

Advanced!

They did it!  

Yesterday afternoon I received the message that the Cousin Crew is advancing to the finals in the scavenger hunt.  We don't know yet where we will go, but I know that the location is secondary. The kids will have a blast simply competing. Talk about a great way to kick off the new year!

Other than the exciting news about advancing to the finals, the day was fairly low key. Scott returned to work and Robby puttered around with some school work. It is hard to get back into the swing of our schedule after a long holiday, and the adjustment is even more difficult because it is the end of a week. I'm thinking about throwing in the towel until Monday, when we will hit the ground running.  

Thursday, January 02, 2020

New Year Fun!

2019 was a difficult year. From being laid off to Timmy's wacky immune system, the year was wrought with anxiety, worries and heartbreak. Excited to turn the calendar and embrace new opportunities, we were happy to put the year in the past. The year was difficult, but we certainly ended it on a happy and jubilant note.

On Tuesday the Cousin Crew donned their 1920's themed outfits and tackled the second phase of our scavenger hunt. We didn't know the details until we arrived at the designated starting location, but it turns out that this hunt was both timed and considerably more difficult than the first round. Four hours was allotted but we learned that the average completion time was around 2 1/2 hours.

The kids worked together beautifully, deciphering the clues and scurrying through the city. We ended up finishing all of our tasks in 1 1/2 hours, with 100% of the questions answered correctly. I was so incredibly proud of them!

The questions and time were factored for 40% of the final score. The remaining 60% is in the hands of the judges, who will view and rate our photos. We were told to be energetic, silly and to demonstrate having fun. I have no idea what our competition did, but I do know that the Cousin Crew had an absolute blast tackling every photo challenge. Right now, we just sit and wait to learn if the kids will progress to the next round.  I'll keep you posted.

After the Scavenger Hunt the kids rested before we headed out to the Rock n' Bowl New Year's Eve Party. We had a great time bowling into 2020. I love seeing them all so happy and laughing so authentically. Ringing in the New Year with the Cousin Crew was the perfect way to end the year!





















Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Hunt Day!

Last night's bout with phantom pain was most unfortunately timed. Of course, there is never a good time to feel agony in my missing limb, but the experience last night was especially taxing. Today I am going to be on my feet all day, running through the city with my Cousin Crew on their scavenger hunt quest. I have to be mobile, and I have to be quick. If I am less than optimal, I will slow their efforts.

Lying in bed last night, watching my limb cramp, contort and then experience the all-to-familiar stinging, I was miserable. Per usual, I have no idea what invited this unwelcome visitor. I helped clean around the house, but I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. Best explanation I could accept was that it sucks and it happens.

I'm trying to drink more coffee to fuel me from my sleepless night. Today will be busy, and I'm hoping for adrenaline and caffeine to carry me to the finish line. The Cousin Crew is ready to tackle the challenge- wish us luck!

Monday, December 30, 2019

Working around the House

Hello from my Mom's house in Pennsylvania. 

After a few quiet days at home, decompressing and relaxing after the excitement of Christmas, we packed up and drove to Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon. Robby wanted to spend a few days with his cousins before school resumed, and I promised to help her with some post-holiday projects. Today will be spent working around her house, but tomorrow is all about the Cousin Crew.

In the early summer I took the kids on a scavenger hunt through Harrisburg. I thought that they would have fun, but I never imagined that they would win. I grossly underestimated their competitive spirit! With 30 seconds to spare, we sent our final photo and the Cousin Crew took control of the leader board. The scavenger hunt quickly became the highlight of the summer.

Because they located every item and submitted their photos will silly gusty (another scoring aspect), they advanced to the National Semi-Finals. Tomorrow we are taking to the streets again for the second phase of the competition. Their competitive juices are already flowing, and the Crew is vowing to again control the leader board. 

I don't know if they will win, but I can guarantee that they will do their best and have a blast in the process. In the end, that is all that really matters!