Penny Slots

 Yesterday Scott and I did something completely out of our norm- we went to the casino! In our 26 years together (22 married), we have never been to a casino just to have fun and play the slots. When he suggested the activity, inspired by game play with Timmy at Dave and Buster's arcade, I was delighted because it was outside of our norm. 

Because we don't frequent casinos, we were definitely out of our element. After walking around for about 30 minutes, we finally broke down and solicited help from the casino cashier. She filled us in on how the machines worked, and pointed us in the direction of the penny slots. 

We budgeted $100 for the evening because we wanted to make sure that we didn't go overboard. We ended up coming back home four hours later with $39.79.  $60 for four hours of fun and free sodas was definitely a fun anniversary gift to ourselves. 

 

Anniversary

 Happy Anniversary Scott!

22 years ago.  I think this is where I am supposed to write that it feels like yesterday. In reality, when I look at our photos it feels like I barely recognize that energetic and optimistic young lady wearing the wedding dress. So much has changed in our lives. We have both changed so much and, while I don't really recognize that version of myself anymore, I'm so glad that she made that decision 22 year ago. Happy Anniversary Scott!

Yesterday was long as it was spent in new employee orientation. I came home feeling overwhelmed with the various information I need to secure from the recesses of my life. When I confirmed with the organizer that I would need to track down an employer from 1997, the young whippersnapper next to me felt compel to add the fun fact that he had not yet been born 'way back before the internet'. 

I sent a mental 'bite me' his way while smiling my sweet old lady grin.  

Spa Day

 The weather over the past few days has been gorgeous. With a break from the heat and the humidity, we've been able to ride bikes, fly drones and light up the fire pit almost nightly. While we have all enjoyed the outdoor activities, Timmy has truly hit his stride.

He is loving flying his drone. Although he received it over a year ago, I think it was forgotten when Scott had his heart attack. Somehow, mastering flight slipped to the back burner until I rediscovered his drone while cleaning.It did not take much encouragement for Timmy to start flying!

After a few YouTube videos, Timmy has been refining his skills. Unfortunately he did lose control on Saturday evening. While trying to land on my hand, the drone ended up tangled in my hair. Timmy was trying to control it with the remote, but the device was either not responding or I was the victim of a panicked pilot. 

Despite everyone's best efforts, a drone cannot simply be detangled from one's hair. The hair was chopped as it was consumed by the drone. Thankfully only one quadrant made contact with my hair and I 'only' lost about a 1 inch section down to the scalp.  It was definitely not the spa day I was dreaming of!

 

 

 

Fire Pit Party!

 I am delighted that my Mom's injection was successful and provided nearly instant relief. While she is not pain free (and is quick to point out that fact), the debilitating layer has been numbed. While I wish that there was a pill, injection or procedure to remove all of her pain, I am grateful for this degree of reduction. Last night she was already planning what she was going to do in her yard while the shot was active.  (The injection will last approximately 3 months, so these procedures are going to become part of her lifestyle.)

After taking her for her injection I returned home in time for a family bike ride through the neighborhood. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity. We continued the fun into the night with a huge firepit. 

In full disclosure, I meant to construct a small fire that would burn in about an hour. I drastically underestimated the density of the 'apparently not small' log I built the fire around. That sucker burned until nearly midnight! Thankfully it was a beautiful evening and I was happy to sit and relax while the fire dwindled down.  

 

Driving

 This morning I'm heading to PA to take my Mom to a doctor's appointment. My day won't be terribly exciting, but hopefully it will be beneficial for my Mom. She is receiving an injection in her back to help with pain- which is becoming debilitating for her. The last time she received an injection her pain lessened considerably, allowing her to move with more ease. I was delighted when she called and asked me to take her because I remember how profound the improvement was after the previous injection. I would do anything to get my Mom her shot today- including spending the day driving.

Honestly, at this point in my life driving anywhere by myself feels like a vacation getaway. I plan on immersing myself in an audiobook during the drive. It will be wonderful to be able to listen to the book without interruption!

Have a wonderful day! 

Growing Pains

 It has been wonderful having Robby home.  Well, wonderful for Scott and me. Timmy is on the fence about his brother returning home and ruining his summer vibe. Robby, however, takes just about every opportunity to remind us that he would rather be in France than to be at home with his parents.

Guess what?  Me too! But we are stuck in WV, so let's not be so snarky.  (That last part is not said aloud, but its inclusion is understood.) I love him, but my goodness it is deflating to constantly hear how he doesn't want to be home. Of course, I'm trying to remember that he experienced a life-changing adventure. I am sure it is hard to return back to a normal routine after experiencing so many amazing things, experiences and foods.  

Hopefully my European Traveler gets his attitude in check and we can enjoy the rest of our summer. 

Arrival!

 After an amazing two weeks away, Robby's adventure of a lifetime has come to a close. True to form, it ended in a dramatic fashion with flight delays, cancellations and last minute airport changes. To his credit, and despite having been awake for more than 30 hours consecutively, he handled all of the flight changes like a seasoned pro. 

Scott and I spent Friday afternoon watching both the FlightTracker app and the clock, eagerly waiting for the time to pick him up. What was supposed to happen at 4 PM closely got kicked back. Finally, at 10:30 he had boarded the plane and we headed to the airport to pick him up. About 20 minutes into the drive I checked the app and realized that he was still sitting on the runway in Atlanta. 

After a discussion, we decided to head back home and wait for his plane to actually take off. It turns out that we made a prudent decision, because almost as soon as we walked back into the house we received a call from Robby, explaining that his plane now had mechanical issues and that he had to be rebooked.

Robby was eventually booked onto a late night flight into Reagan Airport, which has to be our most despised to travel to and from because we aren't terribly comfortable with the route. When we finally left to pick up our little traveler, it was 1 AM and raining. Talk about a miserable drive!

Thankfully we retrieved him (without his luggage, but it was delivered the next day) and tucked him into his bed around 4:30 AM. He was utterly exhausted- as were Scott and I. It's been a really long time since Scott and I pulled an all-nighter. It's a little harder after 50!

 

Refrigerator

 Robby is continuing to live his best life in France. I know that he will be sad when the trip comes to a close, but I will be happy to give him a hug. I cannot wait to hear about everything, but in the meantime I'm glad that he is continuing to have fun and learn with his new friends. Today they leave Bayeux and head to Paris for a few days. Oh what an experience!

In the meantime, we have been trudging through stateside. When we returned from Hershey Park on Sunday evening we discovered that our refrigerator/freezer had completely died. Everything was rotten and wet. 

We headed out on Monday after I was finished with work and secured an open box appliance at Best Buy. Thankfully they were able to install it yesterday. This morning, we have a brand new (functional) refrigerator. 

While we did not plan on buying a new appliance, I am very grateful to have it. It is probably the nicest refrigerator we have ever owned, and it is both quiet and cold. (Upon reflection, our old appliance was loud and provided unreliable cooling and freezing.) 

Today will be hot (again.)  Stay cool! 

Hershey Park

 With Robby living his dream in Normandy, Scott and I decided to take advantage of the alone time with Timmy. We turned our weekend into a mini getaway vacation and went to Hershey PA for the weekend. Thank you to my Mom for agreeing, as we predicted, to dog sit for us so that we could sneak out to a hotel for the night. I know that Friend has a great time with his puppy cousins, so it was a vacation for him too!

Saturday morning we drove to PA, dropped Friend off at my Mom's and headed to check into our hotel. After checking in we immediately went to the arcade where Timmy played until he won enough tickets for the prized helicopter. Then we went to Red Robin (his favorite) for dinner before returning to lounge and play in the hotel pool until bedtime.

On Sunday morning we had breakfast and then I dropped the pair off at the amusement park. While they were busy riding and whipping around the park, I was able to just hang out with my Mom for the afternoon. Around dinnertime I received the call to come pick them up. 

They were pink, tired and very happy when they crawled into the car for the ride back home. Timmy loves Hershey Park and thoroughly enjoyed his 'bro day'. 

Hershey isn't as grand as Normandy, but I think Timmy had a blast on his centric weekend.

 

Useful

 I received a call earlier this week inviting me to work during summer school. Although I was initially hesitant to give up some of my vacation time, I quickly agreed because the sessions are only in the morning and would be done before most are even awake in my house.  Yesterday was my first day at summer school and it exceeded my expectations. 

It was fantastic being back with my students. I cannot believe how much I missed seeing them and being part of their lives.  While I'm not delighted with the heat, I'm glad that I agreed to work. It will make the next few weeks move quicker and allow me to feel more useful. 

While I have been prepping for summer school, my Koopa is living his best life in Normandy. I haven't spoken with him much, but he has been good about providing a regular stream of photos and selfies. I can tell from his smile that he is where he wants to be, and I couldn't be happier for him.

 

Happiness

 While I was sad to say goodbye to Robby, seeing the smile on his photos from New Orleans is all the confirmation I need to know that he is where he needs to be. He spent yesterday making new friends and exploring the museum. Today he flies to Paris to begin his big Normandy adventure. I think I'm probably as excited as him!

Much to my mother's delight, her electric was restored earlier than anticipated. My sister called her around lunchtime to convey the good news. I thought that my mom might want to hang around for another day or so to allow the swamp air to clear out of her home, but she was up and packing almost as soon as I hung up the phone. I know that she enjoyed the visit, but ultimately her desire to reunite with her dog and her cat made the decision to return home easy.

I know my mom was happy to return to her own bed and her animals, but I did enjoy having her visit. She doesn't like to travel and stay away from her own bed, so overnight visits are extremely rare. I hope that she will come more often because we all enjoyed her visiting. Alas, I fear her puppy will always win that battle. :)

 

 

He's Off!

 As soon as he landed in New Orleans Robby's excitement surpassed his anxiety. He checked in with the program organizers before heading to his favorite pizza place near the museum. In the evening he was already hanging out with his roommate and a few new friends, exploring Bourbon Street and having an amazing time. 

I don't think I need to worry about Robby feeling lonely on this trip. Although not naturally an extrovert, when he makes a decision to be sociable he is charming and gravitating. He sent me a text before his plane took-off, vowing to be 'sociable Robert' and he is living up to his promise.

While Robby was en route to Louisiana, Scott and I were heading to PA to pick up my Mom. She lost power on July 4th. Although she was a trooper in the dark, humid heat, having her wait for an anticipated repair date of July 8 at 11 PM felt nonsensical. We have air conditioning, lots of room and a kiddo delighted with a Nana sleepover. It took more coaxing than I care to admit to convince her to come down, but I'm delighted that she is here.

 

Departing!

 It is a momentous day in our home. This morning Robby is embarking on his incredible adventure with Normandy Academy through the National WWII Museum. Attending Normandy Academy became a goal when he learned about the program four years ago. Since that time he has applied annually for the opportunity. After a lot of hard work, this is his year and today he heads to New Orleans.

The past weekend was spent helping Robby get packed and organized for his adventure. (This is his first time traveling internationally without a parent and he is a tad nervous.) Finally, after multiple trips to the store for 'final' items, the suitcase was zipped up yesterday afternoon around 4.  I hugged Scott and Robby goodbye and the pair headed to DC for the night in anticipation of an early morning departure.

I was more excited than sad when I was hugging Robby goodbye. I am so incredibly excited for the experiences that he is going to have that my missing him is completely inconsequential. I cannot wait for him to come home and relay everything he did, but I am looking forward to text messages and photos throughout the trip. 

While Robby is away, I'm going to be able to focus exclusively on Timmy. After hugging Robby and his Dad goodbye, he and I headed to Red Robin for a fun dinner. When we returned home he rode his bike in the rain and through mud puddles, delighting that his 'dirt time' is finally living up to its name. 

 

 

Hot Hot Hot- But I'm not Weak

 Per tradition, it seems that our annual pilgrimage to Ohio always occurs during an intense heatwave. This year was no exception. With temperatures in the triple digits, we were all melting. It was a delightful visit, but I certainly wish we would visit when it was cooler. 

As an amputee, the heat is difficult for me to tolerate. Contrary to popular opinion, this is not because I am of a weaker disposition or because I am prone to complaining more. When a limb is amputated, the ability for the body to regulate temperature is disrupted. My body does not cool as efficiently.

Research has proven that below-knee amputees expend an average of 20% more effort to simply walk than our biped peers. So yes, my body is actually working harder to move around the house even if I make it look easy. In these temperatures, every movement is impactful.

My leg is swaddled in silicone and confined inside a black, carbon fiber socket. Airflow is nonexistent. If I were to lay out with my prosthesis on, my leg would experience burns without seeing the light of day. 

Heatwaves are miserable, but they are worse when you have a disability. If you are struggling, be kind to yourself and rest. Intolerance to this heat is not a sign of weakness, but is rather a result of battles forged. We are stronger than people realize, even if we do melt in the heat.

 Don't forget to drink water! 

Hot

 Greetings from a sweltering Ohio. 

It's hot.  I'm surviving.  We will be home in a few hours. 

Harry

 We had an exciting morning in our household yesterday. Scott was outside and spotted 'Harry,' the 5 foot blacksnake that lives under my concrete porch, slithering outside his hole. We have been desperately trying to catch and relocate Harry since we discovered him earlier this Spring. I didn't want to kill or harm him, but we have been trying to serve his eviction notice for weeks.

For the past few weeks, Harry retreated back into his hole whenever we noticed each other. Yesterday he was basking in the sun and we were finally able to catch him off guard. Despite the snake's size, Scott and Robby wrangled him into a bag without incident. They popped him into a pillow case and took off to relocate Harry to his new mountainous home, about 5 miles away from here.

With Harry evicted, we set about sealing up the holes. I'm a tad concerned that there may be more than one snake under the patio, but my concerns about sealing them into the house was quickly dismissed. Hopefully they are right! 

Schoolroom!

 Timmy's school room has undergone a three-day transformation. During the process I lugged out a total of three contractor sized bags of trash and debris. More importantly and just as surprising, I uncovered household items I have long attributed to being gone. Apparently, Timmy's classroom had become the abyss housing all of our lost items. 

I'm frustrated with him, with Scott and with myself for allowing his room to go into such a state of disrepair. I recognize all of the factors that led to the situation, but in the end they are all excuses. Timmy should have been more responsible with his space, and Scott and I should not have trusted him when he came down with a half a bag of trash and a few dishes before pronouncing it clean. 

This kid has no idea the levels of micromanaging that are in store for him next year!

Once I put my ire to the side, I set to work cleaning and organizing the classroom. The trash was easy to remove because I adopted a modified shovel technique. The task took longer because Robby and I became distracted setting up the display desk to hold his prized artifacts. Somehow, the classroom is now doubling as a museum, but both boys feel that is appropriate so I am going to go with it. During our little side quest, we managed to empty another 7 boxes that were stowed under his bed and in the garage. (It is nice to be almost completely unpacked.) 

I am too ashamed to share the before photo, but I am happy to unveil the newly modified Museum Schoolroom (with the curtains still to be changed).

 

Chickens

 I had planned to spend yesterday cleaning Timmy's school room, but when I discovered a deal on whole chickens at a store near my Mom, we made the decision to pivot. Unfortunately, Scott and I were not the only one lured by the prospect of cheap chicken because they store announced that they were sold out 5 minutes before we arrived. We drove two hours only to miss out by 5 minutes. Talk about frustrating!

We missed out on poultry, but we were able to stop by and have a quick lunch with my Mom so the day was not a complete wash. I wish we would have been able to stay to visit longer but the threat of storms was looming and we wanted to race them home. We pulled into our driveway as the first few raindrops began to fall so our timing was impeccable.

Alas, today it is raining again and there are no chicken sales to distract me from my task at hand. Ready or not, Timmy's school room will be transformed by the end of the day.  Wish me luck! 

Father's Day Wrap-Up

 What a gorgeous Father's Day weekend! While we did not do anything grand to celebrate, we spent oodles of hours outside riding bikes and working (playing) in our little garden. While we avoided presents and activities around other people, both of which were requested by Scott, I did make one of his favorite dinners and baked a Swiss Roll cake for dessert. All in, Scott thoroughly enjoyed his special weekend and everybody is happy.

I'm grateful that we spent so much time outside over the weekend, because storms are rolling through our area this afternoon which will force us inside for several days. I'm going to use the time to finish cleaning Timmy's school room, which looks a tornado landing zone. Once his room is clean, our summertime reset will be complete and the house would have been completely deep cleaned for the season. (Because the room is in the corner, I opted to just close the door until the weather cooperated again.)

I am repulsed by the condition of his school room, and I feel ashamed that Scott and I let it get this bad. I should have been checking in on the room condition on a regular basis. Only after I saw the room did I realize how much I actively avoided the stairs at home after working all day. After walking 15,000+ steps every day at work, I often came home with barely enough energy to make dinner. I certainly didn't have the motivation to climb yet another flight of stairs to survey condition. Obviously we should have been monitoring more closely and will come up with a better plan for next year.  

In the meantime, I'm off to clean! 

Have a great day! 

Never Ossur, Never ForMotion

 I feel like I made a lot of progress towards unwinding and dissolving the end of the school year anxieties that have been impeding my ability to completely relax. Yesterday, because of the rain and cooler temperatures, we stayed home and watched movies most of the afternoon. I know that I have made strides because I didn't even feel guilty for being unproductive! 

Next week I need to start the process to secure a new prosthesis, but that is a hill I can begin to climb in a few days. While I know that it won't be physically painful, I am already frustrated with the process because I don't have a starting point. For the first time since I became an amputee, I don't have a prosthetist. 

I hate the fact that I cannot return to my former prosthetic facility but I refuse to financially support ForMotion, owned by Ossur. After years of dedicated service, the company leadership did not do right by me and the transgressions were unforgivable. My eyes were opened to the corporate greed and the total lack of concerns for the true betterment of patients. I'm hoping to find a facility that it is not overtly profits over patients.

Do you have any leads for a good facility?  Hit me up!