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.

Tuesday, July 08, 2025

Timmy's Great Adventure

 I know I promised to write today about my cousin Bobby. Although as I sat down to write this morning I find my eyes flooded with tears. Alas. I think I need to wait to share until my heart is a little less tender.  Instead, today I will share how Timmy spent his 4th of July. While ours was deliberately non-eventful, Timmy managed to cram in enough adventures for all of us.

On Wednesday, when I was feeling ill from the throws of Covid, grief, fear, exhaustion and anxiety, I broke down crying to my Mom. Timmy was bored and there wasn't anything I could do. Everybody else was having wonderful holiday adventures and we were stuck inside because I was too sick to do anything fun with him. I felt overwhelmed and I felt like I was failing as a Mom.

About an hour after venting I received a call. My Mom and my sister got together and came up with a plan. My Mom, who had arranged to go to a hotel on the 4th in anticipation of the Memorial Service, cancelled her room and started to set up "Camp Nana."  My sister drove down after work and picked up Timmy for his grand adventure.  I went back to bed, feeling grateful that I have such a wonderful family but still guilty about needing help.

I woke up on the 4th to a video from my Mom. Sheri and Timmy stopped for fireworks on the way home. At the end of her small street she let him hold long sparklers out of the top of the jeep while screaming "Happy Fourth of July." He was delighted, and I knew all was well. 

Early on the 4th my sister and Timmy woke up to a hearty breakfast before hiking the Appalachian Trail. Timmy adores hiking with Sheri and takes the opportunity to talk nonstop. Exhausted but proud, he was delighted to reach their summit for the day.  In the afternoon they went to a food truck rally because hiking the Appalachian Trail works up quite an appetite. They spent the evening at a neighborhood party, playing in the pool and eating a lot of popcicles.

As if the day were not fun enough, at night my nephew arrived (along with his friend) with a truckload of fireworks. Jared had originally planned to shoot off the fireworks at a later time but adjusted his plans because of Timmy. I really appreciate him doing that, and Timmy had a blast.

I may not have provided Timmy with a good holiday, but my family certainly did!

 

Monday, July 07, 2025

Covid for me

 Sigh.

Thank you for sticking with me.  Despite my best intentions, life continues to throw roadblocks into my plan of daily blogging.  Last Wednesday morning I woke up early- extremely ill.  I will spare you the details.  I have not been that ill in years.

Unable to get out of bed without intense vertigo and vomiting, I was miserable. Watching TV made me queasy. Reading and writing was not even on my radar. Thankfully, like Scott's experience with Covid, it was relatively short lived.  After two days of misery, I was out of bed. Fatigued and sore, but functional.

Thursday I remembered my Ampuversary, but I was too sick to care. The math confused me as I attempted to calculate my post-amputation year so I quickly gave up. I'll celebrate next year. 

I spent the 4th of July sleeping and resting. We did not celebrate the holiday this year. Honestly, there just doesn't feel like a lot to celebrate in our country right now. I don't think we deserved a parade and fireworks this year after passing such a detrimental bill targeted towards the disability community.  My heart breaks for the devastation that I fear is ahead.

On Saturday I was well enough to attend my cousin's memorial. I think I will pause this blog here.  He deserves his own post tomorrow.