Cold Limb

Perhaps it is a good thing that the snow has almost melted away.  A few days of running around in the cold has caused my limb to ache. Last night sleeping was difficult with my ouchy and angry leg. 

Despite the use of hand warmers in my socket to safeguard against the cold, my leg became icy during my time outside. The metal pylon that connects the foot to my socket is the perfect conduit holding and transferring chilly temperatures. Because my limb is seated on top of the pylon, it becomes cold since it is essentially on top of a giant ice pack.

It takes a long time to warm up my limb after it becomes cold, and the process is often anything than comfortable. A warm bath is often received with intense stinging as the nerve endings open up with the blood flow. When a bath doesn't work, which was the case last night, I wrap my leg with warm socks and snuggle under a heated blanket. 

The chill was finally removed in the early hours of the morning, allowing me to fall asleep for a few hours before Hamlet woke me up.  I am going to have to start wrapping the pylon before I play in the snow to try to insulate the metal. Hopefully I come up with a workable solution so that I can avoid the painful wrath of a cold limb in the future. 

Sometimes, always having to find a solution and a workaround, is frustrating.

Melting

Scott had off yesterday, allowing us a relaxed day with no where to go and little to do. I took full advantage of his being home by working as much as possible. It is so much easier for me to concentrate when he is home to entertain and wrangle the kids. 

When I wasn't working I was playing with Timmy in what little snow hadn't yet melted away in our yard. He delights in throwing snowballs and rolling snow people. I really hope that we have a major winter storm so that he can experience the childhood thrill of a massive snowfall.  Until then, we will make the most of these minor snow events. 

This morning the roads are clear, which means that life will return to normal. After the fun of a quick winter storm, normalcy feels boring. I know that I'm not the only one who is sad to see the snow melting away. Little Timmy broke down crying because the flakes were fading.

Snow Day

Over the weekend we were playing in the yard wearing light jackets. Yesterday school closed early because of heavy snow. Welcome to winter in Virginia!

Timmy was ecstatic with the under anticipated snowfall. As soon as he saw the flakes begin to fall he was begging to go outside. After several hours of pleading and a few inches of accumulation, I acquiesced and we began to bundle up to go outside to play. After donning numerous layers, thanks to his cold urticaria, he finally waddled out to play in the snowy wonderland.  

We ran, tried to sled and threw hundreds of snowballs. He giggled, made snow angels and tried to catch the flakes on his tone. We had a fantastic afternoon!  

School was called off for today last night, allowing Scott to turn off his alarm before going to bed. I'm sure that the snow will melt quickly, but hopefully we will be able to play this morning. With the wonky weather lately, I don't know when we will have the chance to roll snowballs again.

Quarantined

My little Hamlet has gone from roller skating to a sick bed. Yesterday he woke up warm and complained about a headache. As the day progressed both his lethargy and fever increased. Welcome to the wacky world of a kiddo with an autoimmune disorder.

I'm hoping that his most recent episode is only a blip and that he will be feeling better soon. I hate seeing him sick! I think I was lulled into a false sense of "normalcy" because he has been so healthy over the past few weeks. In a way our family was spoiled by his good health. I'm so glad that he was well over the holidays, although it breaks my heart that he is feeling icky now. 

Flu season is upon us and is already filling up our hospitals and clinics, which means that we are resuming our modified quarantine. Timmy will not be attending any playgroups or crowded areas until the threat of flu subsides. Robby and Scott will continue to work and attend extracurricular functions, but I will stay home with Timmy. Until further notice, I will resume my role as primary playmate and teacher, trying to keep him both busy and happy at home. I know that he will miss playing with buddies and I hope that the threat blows over quickly. 

Wish me luck as I try to keep him healthy and happy while maintaining my own sanity!

Skating

Without a doubt, Timmy's favorite Christmas gift turned out to be a pair of roller skates. The skates were bought on a whim, after his fascination with Goofy roller skating during a scene of Twice Upon  A Christmas. I thought he would have fun and use them, but I never imagined that the skates would become a favorite possession.

This weekend was all about roller skating. We cleared the living room and hallways, set out cones and let him loose with skates. I worked a stop watch for hours as he happily skated through the house, trying to beat his time. He took quick respites only to eat and drink only to return to the thumping skating motions as soon as he was finished.  

Watching Timmy trod around on his skates brought childhood memories flooding back to me. I used to love to roller skate, probably as much as Timmy does now. I vividly remember going to the skating rink for matinee skates on Sunday, twirling around the rink listening to Funky Town and other disco era classics. I miss those days!

I would love to take Timmy to a roller rink, to rekindle my childhood experiences with my son. While I'm sure I could figure out a way to roller skate, the prospect of putting wheels on the bottom of a prosthesis terrifies me. I worry about balance, and the fear of falling is enough to keep me on the sidelines with this particular activity. 

As much as it saddens me, my skating days are behind me. I try to show the boys that I am not limited by my amputation, but I don't think that proving a point is worth broken bones. For now, I'll leave the skating to Timmy.