Big Weekend

 This weekend has been circled in red on our calendar since it was hung up on New Years Day. Our printers have been running nearly nonstop in preparation for our busy Flexy weekend. Thanks to a full family effort, we are able to set up in two separate locations for the weekend.

On Saturday Scott and Robby are going to the Spring Fling Craft Fair in Leesburg. We attended the winter event and were warmly received. Despite bringing what we thought was ample stock, we ended up selling out before he end of the weekend. Unlike the December show, this event is only on Saturday but we are hopeful for a crowd.

While the boys are in Leesburg selling at the craft fair, my sister is joining me for the day at the MerMagicCon in Silver Spring Maryland. This event, which was featured on Netflix, is the largest mermaid convention in the world. We are thrilled to have been invited to participate and are grateful to my sister for lending a hand. 

My sister is going to help me sell at the Mermaid show on Saturday. On Sunday, Robby and Scott will join me at the show to finish out the event. We have no idea what to expect but we are really excited for the event. It looks like so much fun!

Wish us luck with our FlexyFriends sales! 

ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY

 Like most of everything else in the medical community, prosthetics and access to those devices are determined by the insurance industry. Specific to prosthetics, CMS sets the standard for coverage and availability. For an amputee, their assigned K-level will ultimately lead the determination for what technology a patient will receive. 

The K-Level is a functional level assigned to each amputee by their physician. Ironically, most doctors aren't familiar with K-levels and rely heavily upon the prosthetists' recommendation. The higher the k-level, the more active the patient. 

Currently, microprocessor knees are covered by insurance for individuals who are labeled k-3. K-3 are higher activity individuals- a simplified version is a mild weekend athlete. Someone who is busy throughout the day, walks on several surfaces without an issue and can traverse stairs and ramps. K-2 individuals have been limited to mechanical knees in lieu of the technology.

Numerous studies have proven that microprocessor knees, especially with their stumble recovery, are life changing for the k-2 population. The computer technology has shown vast improvement in both the mobility and the quality of life for above-knee amputees for more than a decade. Finally, CMS is considering changing the classification for microprocessor knees to allow access to the k-2 population.

A draft LCD has been proposed to allow access to microprocessor technology for this community. You can read the proposal here.  I hope you consider writing an email of support for this draft LCD. This technology is changing lives!  

Ungrateful Cat

 In the wee hours of Monday morning, while the world was still awake, our house was in chaos courtesy of our tripod cat. Kitty-Kitty, our three-legged cat whom I rescued from Louisiana after she was shot, decided to urinate all over Timmy's new futon mattress. It was thoroughly soaked, forcing us to move it out of his room so that he could sleep. 

I spent the afternoon cleaning the mattress. After washing, steaming and dousing it with enzyme cleaners, the odor has finally been removed. The large mattress is currently folded over our banister drying and waiting for the waterproof cover that is going to be delivered within the next few days. Throughout the entire ordeal I quietly cursed the cat. This cat, who was not easy or cheap to rescue, has vacillated between indifference and hatred. She does not make it easy to adore her.

Kitty-Kitty must have sensed that she went over the line by peeing all of the futon because this morning she attempted to redeem herself. Yet again we were woken in the wee hours of the morning with cat commotion. This time she was flinging a small mouse against my bedroom wall. Friend, eager to play, was cheerfully barking and trying to get a turn at the vermin.  

Thankfully Scott was home so removing the mouse was easy. (I stayed under the covers and hid my head while he scooped it into a bucket and took it outside.) Kitty-Kitty may hate us, but apparently she hates mice more.

Dance

 This was a big weekend for my not so little Koopa. On Saturday he dressed up and went to his winter dance. His school dances are hosted in the gymnasium and tend to be less formal than the public school affairs. Because of this, most of the kids tend to go in sport coats and jeans. Robby wore nice slacks, a button down shirt and a jacket. Although it wasn't perfectly fitted for him, he was excited about the dance and I thought he looked very handsome. 

I made a mistake by sharing the photo on Facebook. I knew that the jacket wasn't fitted properly but I assumed that my 'friends' would simply see what I saw- a happy young man looking forward to a dance. While most of my friends comments were positive, I did receive more than one private message that took me aback. 

"Such a handsome young man. He deserves a suit that fits. Do better next time Mom." 

"Disheveled is one thing. This kid is wearing the wrong size. Not good."

These emails are not helpful and are hurtful by design. Why one would feel compelled to write and send a message like that to a 'friend' is beyond me. Perhaps it is time we all remember what we learned as young children.  If you don't have anything kind to say, simply say nothing.

Robby had a great time at his dance. His suit jacket was taken off as soon as he arrived and took to the dance floor. He rocked out until they turned the music off at the end of the dance. When he came home he was on cloud 9 and was grinning from ear to ear. I don't care if his suit didn't fit perfectly, and neither did anybody else.