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.

Friday, August 04, 2017

Conference

I was honest about my hesitation to come to conference, but as predicted I am glad to be here.  Seeing my friends, and making new ones, has been wonderful. The trip has had some hiccups, but I refuse to let the negativity impact my experience.  

Today will be busy because I am slated to be in the exhibit hall all day.  If you are at conference, swing by the LIM Innovations booth to say hi.  

Thursday, August 03, 2017

Hello from KY

Greetings from KY!

As predicted, walking away from my kids and into the airport was difficult. I could see the tears in Robby's eyes (and the fear in Scott's) as I said goodbye.  Timmy seemed fine with my leaving because he was excited to see the airplanes flying.  

Although leaving was hard, I felt energized and excited as soon as I walked into the hotel. I was immediately reunited with friends, and began to relax and feel the sense of normalcy that only comes from being in a group of other prosthetic users. For a few days each year, I am in the majority and those with all their limbs are oddities. 

The conference sessions and lectures are okay, but the topics only mildly change  and the information becomes tired after so many years. In my opinion, the best part of conference is being among my peers and networking with old and new friends. If you see me in the lobby, come over and say hello!

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Heading out

Today I'm packing up and heading to the conference in Kentucky. I'm putting aside my "I want to stay home and hibernate" mentality and embracing the opportunity to have fun with my amputee friends. I know that once I am there and start hugging everybody, I will feel energized and excited. My post-vacation fatigue will dissipate and I'll find myself feeling empowered and stronger by being in their company. 

Assuming Scott remembers to take him and isn't smoothed-talked out of having him attend, Robby has another few days of summer camp this week. Scott will have to take him in the morning and pick him up each evening, leaving the bulk of the day free to hang out with Hamlet. Other than having to pack his lunch and feeding him dinner, taking care of Robby is no longer a source of anxiety. He is pretty self-sustaining these days.

I know that Scott is concerned about how to fill the hours with Timmy, but I have no doubt that he will find interesting and fun activities to share. Our little mess maker is at a fun age, soaking in new experiences and information like a little sponge. He is easily excited and enthusiastic about even the most mundane errands. (I really like this age!) Although Scott is worried and anxious about holding down the fort, I know that everybody will be fine in my absence. 

Leaving is never easy for me, but I am getting better about loosening the reigns. I have learned that my rules travel with me, and that the family functions differently when I'm away.  The boys will probably eat fast food for most meals, and the swimming pool might count as Timmy's bath. Robby will end up staying up well past his bedtime watching a movie with his Dad, and they will eat junk food before bed. Paper plates will take the place of our dishes, and the toilet seat will never be put down. But the boys will be safe and happy, and that is all that matters.

Tuesday, August 01, 2017

Summer Camp Blues

In February I was approached by some instructors at Robby's Tae Kwon Do who wanted to know our summer plans. At the time I had no idea what adventures might transpire, so I aptly responded "not much." Within minutes I was signing him up for a week of summer camp at the dojo. I managed to suppress the strong recommendation that I enroll him for the entire summer to take advantage of the "super early bird" pricing with the rationale that I could add more weeks if he loved the experience.

It turns out that our summer has been considerably busier than I anticipated when I was approached in February. We have been busy traveling, going on adventures and having fun. I have had to reschedule our summer camp week several times, but yesterday Robby ran out of pardons. We woke him up early, packed a big lunch and drove him to his first day of summer camp.

The drive was filled with moans and complaints. He was vocal about his displeasure with going to summer camp, but since I had already paid, we decided that he was going. To be honest, he made the drive so miserable I was looking forward to signing him in and driving away. I was tired of listening to his complaints, and I knew that his sour mood would dissolve as soon as he became busy with the activities. 

When the time came to pick him up all of the morning frustrations were ancient history. I was looking forward to seeing my little camping Koopa and eager to hear about his adventures. I was hoping that he had a fantastic day and would laud me with praise for signing him up for the experience.

I wasn't met with the over-the-top reception I had envisioned, but Robby admitted that "it didn't totally suck." In reality, that is probably the best assessment given the circumstances. Hopefully today will be better and that his hiccups were due to being in a new situation because I paid for the whole week.

Monday, July 31, 2017

A Few Days Home

After a fantastic vacation, we are finally home and life is slowly returning to normal. I am working my way through the piles of laundry and clutter that accumulated before, during and after the trip. I have come to accept that two days are required to catch up for every one day away.  After the busy summer we have had, I may be caught up on everything sometime in October.

Much of the housework will have to wait because I'm getting ready to go on another trip this week. I'm excited to see my amputee friends at the national conference, but the prospect of more travel has me feeling frazzled and overwhelmed. I know that I will be happy when I arrive, but right now I would be just as content to stay home and mull around the house for the week. I am definitely a homebody!

Even though I am dreading traveling again, especially so quickly after returning from vacation, I know that I will feel energized and empowered when I'm around my amputee friends. Although it is one that few willingly join, the limb loss community is like no other. I am always in awe of the compassion, genuine empathy and understanding that is freely offered within our little clique. Being around my friends always leaves me feeling strengthened simply because I am reminded that I am not alone.