Spring Break

Happy Spring Break! 

Needless to say, the boys in my house are excited beyond words.  Scott is looking forward to lounging around the house for the week.  I'm going to try my best to encourage him to work through our to do list, but I'm not overly optimistic that much will be accomplished. He tends to take his school vacations seriously.

Robby is eager to spend the week bouncing and playing with his friends. Between the zipline, the tree house, the swing set and the trampoline, our yard has become the place to meet up and play.  I absolutely love hearing the squeals of giggling and laughter echoing outside as the kids explore and play.  Stocked up on cookies and cupcake ingredients, I don't expect them to wander far.

Timmy, I'm sure, will do his very best to keep up with his big "brober." I'm sure that he will spend a fair amount of time hopping and desperately trying to run after the big kids. Thankfully the neighborhood friends are really good with Timmy and often take breaks to include my little guy.

With my report being submitted at noon today (fingers crossed), I will be able to relax (at least a little) next week. I'll still be working, but I won't be operating under any time sensitive deadlines. I'm sure it is going to take me a few days to unwind from the report, but I'll do my best!

Avalanche of Frustration

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Hopefully some of the Irish luck will rub off on me. While Robby and Timmy have been having the time of their lives jumping on our new trampoline, I have definitely had better days. I can't point to any one thing as the culprit, rather a slew of small inconveniences causing an avalanche of aggravation.

Thinking about them in isolation and none seem frustrating. In fact, I would feel petty letting the singular events impact my mood. Little things add up, and soon I began to feel overwhelmed by the cumulative effect of frustrations throughout the day. I know that everybody has "one of those days," and yesterday was mine.
 
I'm trying to remain optimistic that things will turn. Today is a new day and I'm going to (try to) leave the aggravations of yesterday in the past. The weather is supposed to be beautiful, which inevitably translates to hours of playing outside with the boys. With a looming report almost wrapped up (which, in all honesty has been the source of much of my anxiety and frustration), many of my professional obligations have been met. I'm looking forward to just relaxing and playing with the boys.

Have a great day!

Gift from Nana

Growing up I always wanted a trampoline.  I, along with my siblings, pleaded our case on several occasions. Each time we were met with the same verdict, being summarily denied. My mom simply responded by saying no and adding that they were unsafe. She vowed to never purchase a trampoline, and instructed us all to put our desires somewhere else.

Fast forward 35 years. Monday two large boxes arrived in our driveway, a gift to Robby and Timmy from my mom. And what did their Nana send them? You guessed it: a 15 foot trampoline. (I've learned that hypocrisy is a moot point when grandparents are involved. What wasn't appropriate for me is always the perfect gift for the grandbabies.)

Robby was over the moon with his gift, and immediately began to plan assembly. He watched YouTube videos on trampoline assembly and was delighted that it only took 18 minutes. Of course he failed to realize, or chose to ignore, that the video was stopped on several occasions so that each step could be completed. He began to nag his Dad about putting up the trampoline as soon as he opened the front door. 

Monday Robby graciously offered his Daddy a pass on assembly due to the heavy rain. Yesterday Scott was not nearly as lucky. Robby and his friend Jack met Scott as he drove home from work, chomping at the bit to get to work. After all, they insisted that they were only 18 minutes away from jumping!

Well, Robby's 18 minute promise stretched into three hours. But by the time the sun was setting, Robby was living one of my childhood dreams. He was jumping on his very own trampoline. All of his neighborhood friends converged in our back yard and bounced well into the night. The trampoline is a hit, and I have no doubt that it will be well used and loved.  Well played Nana, well played!

Misadventures in Babysitting

Early last week, after going through due diligence, I made a call which made me nervous but which I knew was necessary. I reached out and scheduled a babysitter for Timmy. I have never felt comfortable leaving my kids with anybody but family and a tight circle of friends, but sometimes situations arise where it becomes necessary to hire a professional. Scott and I both felt comfortable with our selection and took solace in the recommendations from friends.

I was scheduled to speak at an event yesterday morning and having Hamlet tag along would not have been appropriate. As it turns out, my engagement was rescheduled and I was planning to use the sitter so that I could get some much needed "Peggy time."  I felt guilty cancelling the sitter at the last minute and wanted to keep my promise of employment. It turns out that this decision was ironic at its core.

 

The sitter was scheduled to arrive at my house at 8:30 to allow time for both her and Timmy to become acquainted before I needed to scoot. As the minutes ticked away on the clock, my anxiety began to rise. At first I was nervous about leaving Timmy and saying goodbye. Then the source of my anxiety shifted as I realized that it was past 8:30 and that she had not yet arrived.

My calls were not answered, and by 9:00 I was left with no choice but to pack up Timmy and head out. I was furious that the babysitter, whom we had hired and vetted, had seemingly dismissed her commitment. Although I never wish an accident or illness on anybody, part of me was hopeful that something organic had interfered with her honoring her obligations.

After making my morning rounds, I returned home and found the note that I left on my door undisturbed letting me know that she had never made it to our house. I began to worry that perhaps something bad had happened to her. At 11:00 my doorbell rang, and I was relieved to see her standing on the other side.

I became furious when I opened the door and smelled the alcohol wreaking from her body and breath. She stumbled and slurred her words, laughing about it being a "rough night." She apologized for being late, explaining that she was hungover and had overslept. Had she been observant, I'm sure she would have seen the steam coming out of my ears.

Proud of the composure I mustered, I politely explained that I no longer needed a sitter. Before closing the door, she asked for my telephone number because she had lost it. I told her that I would call her, and proceeded to close the door.  (I didn't slam it, but I really wanted to!)

I feel as if we dodged a daycare bullet. I can't believe that I almost left Timmy with somebody so irresponsible. Now we are back to square one, but I'm fairly sure it is going to be a long time before Scott and I trust anybody else with our little guy.

 

 

 

On a side note, it has been brought to my attention that I failed to reveal the remainder of Scott's birthday surprises.  Here is a review:

1. Cleaning his mancave

 

2. Favorite cake

 

3. All-Inclusive tickets to the Caps v. Penguins game (including all-you-can eat and drink buffet before and during the game).  I also brought Robby and Timmy to his school to deliver cupcakes for his students to celebrate his birthday.

4. Favorite lunch secured and delivered from his preferred bar b q restaurant

 

5. Donuts for him and his students.

 

6. Photo of me and the boys (professionally taken and framed)

7. Favorite bean dip and a 12 pack of Corona

Holed Up

With a huge project looming, I was left with little choice but to hole up over the weekend to work. Unfortunately, my boys (Scott, Robby and Timmy) have discovered all of my hiding places and frequently try to flush me out with requests for food, assistance, a playmate or an audience. I knew that I wouldn't be able to finish my report if I were to stay home, so I packed up Timmy and headed to visit my Mom, who graciously agreed to wrangle and entertain Hamlet so that I could work uninterrupted.

My Mom is simply amazing, offering to help without hesitation when she sensed I was becoming overwhelmed. I know that Timmy thoroughly enjoyed being the sole recipient of his Nana's doting and attention. He basked in entertaining her with his silly antics. I heard squeals of giggles as the two played and invented new games. 

With Robby and Scott two states away and Timmy entertaining his Nana, I was able to accomplish an astounding amount of work. It is amazing how much I can do when I'm not pulled in four different directions! While the report isn't yet finished, I now feel that it is manageable and I am no longer up all night fretting about it.

18 years

Life certainly has a way of changing plans. I woke up this morning to the sounds of Timmy giggling and playing. Operating on autopilot, I put on my leg to join him. Seeing his smiling face and bright blue eyes I realized that I am completely fulfilled with my life.

Eighteen years ago I never would have imagined I would be living in Virginia, married with two kids and one leg. Fresh out of college, I was working my dream job in Baltimore. I was working with recently blinded adults and full loving the independence that both a first job and a first real apartment provided. I loved my job and basked in the youthful arrogance of knowing that I had already found my calling.

In a split second, everything changed. I wish I had a sexier journey to amputation, but mine began 18 year ago today with a computer monitor at a conference. A seemingly benign event, something that should have been a minor blip in my life, ended up throwing me onto an entirely different course.

Going to the doc-in-a-box on the Ocean City boardwalk, I never could have envisioned that the injury would lead me to becoming an amputee. I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life. I also couldn't imagine that a life could be as fulling professionally and personally as mine is today.

I can't say that I am glad that I had my accident, but I can say that I consider myself fortunate. I found a new passion in helping a community of which I am a proud member. I have an amazing family and support system. I am truly blessed.

Happy Injury-Versary to me!

Plan C

In my quest for another birthday week surprise, yesterday I picked up Robby from school and we headed to a local photo studio. I had a vision of presenting Scott with the perfect photo of the boys for his desk. With boy boys smiling broadly and striking  a lovingly adorable pose, the photo in my mind was something to behold. 

Driving to the mall, I stressed the importance of behaving and listening to the photographer.  Robby immediately chimed in that he was going to be the perfect muse. Timmy was quiet, but the cheerful smile on his face led me to hope that he was going to be the charming and obedient.  It never hurts to hope, right?

Timmy loves getting his photo taken, so I naively assumed that his desire to play to the camera would transfer.. I could not have been more wrong. He began to scream as soon as we entered the doors. Even Robby's attempt at soothing were in vain. My adorably coiffed cherub was a sweaty, disheveled, red-faced mess by the time the backdrop was arranged. 

In a brief moment of calm the photographer scrambled to try to capture my perfect moment. Unfortunately Timmy would not cooperate. I quickly saw my wonderful photo slipping away and began to scramble for plan B.  When plan B (Robby holding Timmy) failed with Timmy pulling Robby's hair and screaming in his face, we moved onto plan C.

I didn't come prepared for plan C, but desperate for a photo gift and frustrated that my plans were not coming to fruition, I obliged and stepped in front of the camera. I really wanted the photo to be of the boys, but instead Scott ended up with one of all three of us.