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.
About Me
- Peggy
- 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.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Thursday, January 09, 2020
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 08, 2020
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 07, 2020
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!
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!
Monday, January 06, 2020
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.
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.
Friday, January 03, 2020
Advanced!
They did it!
Yesterday afternoon I received the message that the Cousin Crew is advancing to the finals in the scavenger hunt. We don't know yet where we will go, but I know that the location is secondary. The kids will have a blast simply competing. Talk about a great way to kick off the new year!
Other than the exciting news about advancing to the finals, the day was fairly low key. Scott returned to work and Robby puttered around with some school work. It is hard to get back into the swing of our schedule after a long holiday, and the adjustment is even more difficult because it is the end of a week. I'm thinking about throwing in the towel until Monday, when we will hit the ground running.
Yesterday afternoon I received the message that the Cousin Crew is advancing to the finals in the scavenger hunt. We don't know yet where we will go, but I know that the location is secondary. The kids will have a blast simply competing. Talk about a great way to kick off the new year!
Other than the exciting news about advancing to the finals, the day was fairly low key. Scott returned to work and Robby puttered around with some school work. It is hard to get back into the swing of our schedule after a long holiday, and the adjustment is even more difficult because it is the end of a week. I'm thinking about throwing in the towel until Monday, when we will hit the ground running.
Thursday, January 02, 2020
New Year Fun!
2019 was a difficult year. From being laid off to Timmy's wacky immune system, the year was wrought with anxiety, worries and heartbreak. Excited to turn the calendar and embrace new opportunities, we were happy to put the year in the past. The year was difficult, but we certainly ended it on a happy and jubilant note.
On Tuesday the Cousin Crew donned their 1920's themed outfits and tackled the second phase of our scavenger hunt. We didn't know the details until we arrived at the designated starting location, but it turns out that this hunt was both timed and considerably more difficult than the first round. Four hours was allotted but we learned that the average completion time was around 2 1/2 hours.
The kids worked together beautifully, deciphering the clues and scurrying through the city. We ended up finishing all of our tasks in 1 1/2 hours, with 100% of the questions answered correctly. I was so incredibly proud of them!
The questions and time were factored for 40% of the final score. The remaining 60% is in the hands of the judges, who will view and rate our photos. We were told to be energetic, silly and to demonstrate having fun. I have no idea what our competition did, but I do know that the Cousin Crew had an absolute blast tackling every photo challenge. Right now, we just sit and wait to learn if the kids will progress to the next round. I'll keep you posted.
After the Scavenger Hunt the kids rested before we headed out to the Rock n' Bowl New Year's Eve Party. We had a great time bowling into 2020. I love seeing them all so happy and laughing so authentically. Ringing in the New Year with the Cousin Crew was the perfect way to end the year!
On Tuesday the Cousin Crew donned their 1920's themed outfits and tackled the second phase of our scavenger hunt. We didn't know the details until we arrived at the designated starting location, but it turns out that this hunt was both timed and considerably more difficult than the first round. Four hours was allotted but we learned that the average completion time was around 2 1/2 hours.
The kids worked together beautifully, deciphering the clues and scurrying through the city. We ended up finishing all of our tasks in 1 1/2 hours, with 100% of the questions answered correctly. I was so incredibly proud of them!
The questions and time were factored for 40% of the final score. The remaining 60% is in the hands of the judges, who will view and rate our photos. We were told to be energetic, silly and to demonstrate having fun. I have no idea what our competition did, but I do know that the Cousin Crew had an absolute blast tackling every photo challenge. Right now, we just sit and wait to learn if the kids will progress to the next round. I'll keep you posted.
After the Scavenger Hunt the kids rested before we headed out to the Rock n' Bowl New Year's Eve Party. We had a great time bowling into 2020. I love seeing them all so happy and laughing so authentically. Ringing in the New Year with the Cousin Crew was the perfect way to end the year!
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