Spina Bifida MomsSpina Bifida MomsMy journey into motherhood as well as my daily experiences as a disabled mom raising a healthy and active daughter. Articles
Mama Monday #15.1
2008-03-17 13:47:00 Theme: Impress(ion)Last week, upon picking Sweetie up from pre-school, I noticed (for the second or third time) a handsome young man - maybe in his mid-to-late 20's - sitting at one of the play tables, interacting with the kids.Before, I had assumed he was a father to one of the kids, simply allowing his little one to enjoy a bit more playtime before going home. He seemed a friendly, young-dad-ish-looking man who would allow his child this generous extra time, after all.But before, I saw him in the 3 year old room. Now, here he was in the 4-5 year old play area. And when I picked up Sweetie that day - she was playing by herself in the Home Living Area not far from where this man sat with other kids - I saw him glance over at me as I caught Sweetie's attention. He smiled to himself as she and I greeted each other.Of course, I had to interrogate Sweetie on our drive home about who this person was.Who was that man sitting next to H______?I don't know.Is he one of the kids' Daddy?No... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #100
2008-03-15 12:57:00 Lately we've been inflicted with a terrible disease - Toilet Paper Negligence. That is, one person will use up the last of the roll and not replace it, leaving the next person in need to yell for assistance from the bathroom.A few times last week, Sweetie was the person in need.At one point we heard her yelling from the bathroom yet again - again about the toilet paper. As I'm often a lazy person, I just yelled back to her. In that manner, we had the following exchange:What is it, Sweetie?! Do you need more toilet paper?!No!...Uh....Mama! There's flowers and butterflies on the toilet paper! I mean IN the toilet paper! Oh, yeah! I know!Yeah! You can see the flowers and butterflies next time you go potty!Okay! -----------------------------------While driving to Sweetie's pre-school the other morning, a pebble flew up and loudly hit the windshield, making me startle.What was that, Mama?Something hit the windshield. It was loud, huh?Yeah. It almost made my ears cry.-----------------... More About: Saturday
Acting Up
2008-03-13 02:55:00 So when I signed Sweetie up for these acting lessons - a class entitled Kinderdrama, appropriate for 5 and 6 year olds - I didn't know exactly how much valuable information she'd glean from the "lessons". I mean, come on - 5 and 6 year olds? It's probably going to be a lot of "Let's pretend to be bumblebees!" and "Now tell me a funny story!" and generally a lot of chaos with just the tiniest bit of actual acting going on at all. Just a little basic something to get their toes wet.Then I walk into the waiting room, 10 minutes before the end of the first class, and my mom hands me the class syllabus for the 6-week course. A syllabus that includes phrases like "character development", "improvisation", "vocal warm-up" and "creative drama" to name just a few. A syllabus that shows the last class is the students' Recital Day. Next week students will do a read-through of the play they'll perform at said recital, and roles will be assigned.What I'm sayin'? This is no "Let's pretend... More About: Acting
Mama Monday #14.1
2008-03-10 13:29:00 Theme: SenseFor today's Mama Monday theme. I was going to link to a specific post over here. But when I went to find it, the post was gone. I suppose the author felt the subject matter was too sensitive to keep up. And honestly - I can't blame her.You see, Kathleen is a blogger for our large local newspaper. This deleted post talked about her excitedly calling her dad to tell him about side-by-side advertisements in the print edition of the paper - one directing readers to Kathleen's blog, the other advertising a new CD her father just put out (sorry - I believe the last half of that statement is true, but since the post is gone, I can't confirm the info on her dad's alleged CD). How cool that father's and daughter's accomplishments were mentioned right next to each other!However, Kathleen's enthusiasm was abruptly smashed to bits when her father basically interrupted her announcement, declaring that he doesn't read blogs and he never will, as they're written by "unimporta...
Sweetie Saturday #99
2008-03-08 13:53:00 Sweetie (as we already knew) is very tech saavy: Mama - I clicked on Safari, but it opened your blog. So I went to Firefox instead. --------------------------And now for the completely random Sweetie portion of this post: Upon putting Sweetie to bed, right before I left her room -Tell Dad we need to go to Sleep-E-ZZZZ to get me a headrest (head board).Then, last thing yelled to me before I close her door for the night -If we had a rocket, we could visit space! Tell dad! More About: Saturday
Getting Our Act Together
2008-03-06 01:42:00 Sorry - I don't have time for much of a post tonight. After Sweetie goes to bed, Hubby and I have to get stuff prepped for our tax appointment this weekend. We're almost all set - shouldn't take us that long as this point. But still - my guess is that I'll be in no frame of mind to write afterwards.But don't you fret! Next Tuesday Sweetie starts her six-week-long acting class. So by next Wednesday night, I'm sure to have plenty of good material to write on regarding Sweetie's new thespian experience.
Mama Monday #13.1
2008-03-03 14:41:00 Theme: SpiritAh! This theme is great! I know just the little girl I'm going to tell you about.Actually, I already wrote about her and her dad over here, so please click that link and check it out.Schuyler is the absolute epitome of spirit and spunk. She's breaking through boundaries and astonishing her family, friends, teachers and doctors all the time.To read more about Schuyler, please visit Rob's blog - he usually posts multiple times a week. And, by all means, do get yourself a copy of his new book, Schuyler's Monster. You will love it.------------------NOTE: I've decided to add a category for Mama Monday on my sidebar here, listing a link to each participants post for each theme. I know I have at least a couple bloggers already with me on this weekly adventure. Anyone else interested in playing along? If so, please let me know if you post on a particular theme, and I'll add you to the list of participants for that week. Thanks! And have fun!
Sweetie Saturday #98
2008-03-01 14:48:00 Mama ? it smells like what you?re eating.Yep - usually, that's what happens.--------------------------------- --------Mama ? who made my bones?Daddy and I did.(Whip of the head, her eyes wide?)You did?!Yeah. We made all of you.(Daddy stepping in). Yeah. You?re half of mommy and half of me. And I?m half of Grampy and half of Grammy. And mommy?s.... (on and on, through her uncles and aunts)....No further comments from Sweetie. Think she was too shocked.--------------------------------- ---------------We've been on vacation this past week, one day of which we'd scheduled a playdate with Sweetie's great friend J____. Sweetie was so completely excited to see her friend that, the afternoon before the playdate, Sweetie was drawing pictures for her, making cards for her, and generally hopping around with enthusiasm, singing, I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm so excited to see J_____!Then - disaster. Not two minutes after Sweetie went through another round of her excited song, I saw ... More About: Saturday
Molasses
2008-02-28 03:50:00 Our internet connection has been soooooo sllooooowwwww today and yesterday. It took me 20 minutes to do some online banking this morning when it should have taken me 30 seconds. I'm a patient person, but - geesh! - this has been ridiculous! ---------------Last week was almost entirely snow-free. This week? Lots of snow. Yesterday it snowed, it's snowing now, and I do believe we'll get more before the week is through. I try not to pay much attention to the weather forecast - it's so depressing. And this week I'm on vacation, so there's not too much leaving-the-house I have to do anyway. But still - I'm so done with winter. It's been a long, bad one and its departure is taking its not-so-sweet, slow time.---------------Hubby was gone for most of last week, leaving his car behind. His car that gets much better mileage than mine. So I drove his car everyday. Now I'm on vacation and I still haven't had need to drive my car anywhere. But Hubby's home this week too and hoped to ...
Mama Monday #12.1
2008-02-25 14:03:00 Theme: ViewI know I've written here before about my being a very middle-of-the-road type person. That is, I've never been one to choose sides in an argument. I honestly understand each person's viewpoint.My dad is like this too. At least that's been my primary impression of him until recently.But, you know what? Dad's actually a pretty opinionated man. And, more and more, I'm finding that I'm rather opinionated as well.In my case, I attribute my more solid views of the world to parenthood.Being a parent thrusts a person, willingly or not, into a world of decision making. The kind of decision making of the utmost importance: making choices and forming opinions of people, products and ideas that may very well ultimately affect the well being and developmental milestones of a child - your own child.You get a little more comfortable making decisions and forming opinions to mold your child, and you, in turn, get a little more comfortable making decisions and establishing firm view... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #97 - Short & Sweet Edition
2008-02-23 14:31:00 Upon pulling up and parking our car at Pizza Hut (an establishment I think Sweet ie's been to maybe twice in her life - and never to this particular location).Sweetie: Why are we stopping at Pizza Hut?Me: Because we're going to have dinner here.Sweetie: We are?! Wow! It's like a dream come true!(Hubby was out of the car during all this, walking around to Sweetie's side to help her out. So when he asked me why I was laughing so much, before I could answer, Sweetie said: Because I said something funny. Yeah - Mama always laughs when I say funny things). More About: Saturday , Short , Edition
Sustain Hope
2008-02-20 21:33:00 Yesterday I sent the following email to several close friends and family members of mine. And now I'd like to share it (in part) with you:Hi All -I just discovered a new website that I'm so excited about! I wanted to share it all with you ASAP. It's called Hope Revolution and you can find it here.The premise of this site it to get people to spread hope in their communities. The current "challenge" - to be completed by April 1st - is to anonymously distribute "hope notes" throughout your communities. You can read more about the details here:Hope Revolution was started by Krystyn, one of the founding Mamas of the site Mama Says Om. MSO, unfortunately, is now defunct, yet it still inspires me every week to write a Mama Monday theme post right here.Like I said, I'm so excited by this new site and already have a very long list of "hope notes" text for me to create. I'd absolutely LOVE it if you'd all consider joining me in this inspirational excercise.The notes can be as simple (st...
Mama Monday #11.1
2008-02-18 19:45:00 Theme: Sign(A.K.A: The Lamest Blog Post In History)Ahem....Ya know? It's a pretty bad sign when you can't figure out what to write about a theme word you came up with on your own.Oh well - I hope others are inspired to take it and run. Have fun! And please link back if you do write a "Sign" post. More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #96
2008-02-16 14:18:00 Hubby and I were playing WordSearch last weekend. Sweetie was happy enough to play with our discarded letters, not paying us much attention at all or even asking how to play the game in the first place (you place the letter tiles randomly, then move available letters from all over the board to form words).I was having a particularly difficult time coming up with a word at one point. After a long time, and completely out of the blue, Sweetie said,Mama, why don?t you just do ?king? in that line?And you know what? She was right! Yay, Sweetie! Thanks so much for your help!------------------------------------ ---------------Sweetie: The only hot drink is coffee.Me: What about tea?Sweetie: The only hot drinks are coffee and tea.Me: And hot chocolate?Sweetie: The only hot drinks are coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Aaannnddd!? Sweet Juice!... (a warm mixture of water and brown sugar - something we give Sweetie when she's sick in the belly. Works along the same lines of having flat soda when ... More About: Saturday
A Strange Challenge
2008-02-14 03:27:00 My cousin challenged me to post 5 strange things about myself. Hmmmm... okay. Let's go.Here's what I came up with:1) Whenever something uncomfortable or embarrassing enters my mind or invades my memory, I block it out by saying the word "potato". Sometimes I even catch myself saying it aloud. I also fiddle with my hair - especially, I've noticed, when worrying about money.2) Of all the places in the world to visit, I would most love to travel to both Austria and The Isle of Wight. I know practically nothing about either of these places and I have no personal connection to either (that I'm aware of, anyway). But for some reason, they both intrigue me, both for different reasons. Austria seems like a truly beautiful, historically rich destination. And The Isle of Wight seems perfectly relaxing and serene - the perfect quiet weekend away location.3) I am probably the biggest movie baby you will ever find. That is, I refuse to watch any movie with even the most mild scenes of injury... More About: Strange , Challenge
Mama Monday #10.1
2008-02-11 14:00:00 Theme: CuriosityOf all the personality traits that make up Sweetie, I think perhaps my favorite is her curiosity.Funny, too, because she's never been the type of toddler/kid to pester us with the nonstop "why's", "how's" and "what's" that most kids typically ask.Instead, Sweetie is quietly, determinedly curious. She has her questions, yes. But she's a smarty. She figures things out for herself. She comes up with her own reasonings - right or wrong as they may be.I'm astounded by how many times she's right. Profoundly, philosophically right.Sure, her curiosity may come back to bite me in the butt in a few years. But right now it is at its greatest, purest form. And it's wonderful.Right here, right now, I'm loving her ability to turn the whole world upside down. More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #95
2008-02-09 14:23:00 This past Monday I told Sweetie we should go to her room and change her magnetic calendar for the month of February.She was very happy to do so, challenging me on our way upstairs:Race ya like a bowling alley!(???? I have no idea.)----------------------------A couple nights ago, we three had a simple dinner - pasta with butter and cheese. Actually, it was organic alphabet pasta. We'd never had this particular kind before. But Sweetie sure loved it!This is the best dinner I've ever had!We don't always have a dessert after dinner, but on that night I happened to remember some special ice cream treats we had in the freezer (meant for a party Hubby and I were going to have, but it fizzled out).Sweetie loved that too.This is the best dessert I've ever had!As you can imagine, for the rest of that evening, similar proclamations were often heard.You're the best Mama I've ever had!You're the best Daddy I've ever had!Etc.(BTW - I guess Sweetie really did love those noodles, as they q... More About: Saturday
Books, Books, Books!
2008-02-07 03:24:00 For book club this month we're reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I only have the very last chapter left to read, which I'll do before bed tonight. I've LOVED this book and have been fascinated with all its twists and turns. Yet my mom and aunt, who've both just read it, say that, even with only one chapter left, I've still got a lot to discover. Wow! One of the next books I'm going to suggest we read in book club is The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross. I started this novel several months ago, but I'm such a slow reader that I couldn't commit to reading two books at once (one as my own selection, the other for book club). Anyway, I really am intrigued by this one. It's the story of two neighbors - one a stay at home mom, and one who works out of the home. Their stories are told alternately in the first person, and the reader gets a very interesting look into how each mom views both her own family choices and those of her neighbor. I'm sure it will be a perfe... More About: Books
Mama Monday #9.1
2008-02-04 15:33:00 Theme: Focus Hey! The lovely ladies formerly of Mama Says Om (along with some new friends) have recently start a photo blog called Shutter Sisters. If your focus is photography, if you've taken it up as a new hobby, or if you simply love to look at lovely pictures - please do check it out!---------------------------Yesterday Sweetie and I joined some other family members to go see the Hannah Montana 3-D Concert Movie. Sweetie didn't seem to be too keen on the whole 3-D-ness at first, as the featured 3-D previews were rather scary for her 5-year old imagination. In fact, it took a bit of convincing to get her to wear the glasses for the actual movie.But - she did. And she loved it. And she even noted that, when she took off the glasses, the movie was really funny looking, but with them on, things were much clearer and more exciting.--------------------------And now - instead of going on and on about losing focus and staying in the moment and behavior, frustrations and the focus th... More About: Monday
Sweetie Saturday #94
2008-02-02 15:18:00 Sweetie's still sick (ish). She's still got an occasional cough (it's been 2 weeks, people!). She's still occasionally blowing her nose. She's still on meds for her ear infection (although the pain of that was pretty much gone early this past week).She's generally back to her old self, spirit-wise. MOST of the time she's, if not happy, then quietly busying herself with activity books or imaginary play. However, there have been several instances which have made me think a good anger management workshop or two would be a beneficial addition to Sweetie's schedule.Whenever she's hurt, upset, angry - whatever - Sweetie has always been much more of a pouter, pointer and grunter than an explainer. This seems to have gotten much worse, though, in recent weeks.What's more, she's become a stomper. A HUGE stomper. Like - a 600 lb., 7 feet tall outraged giant, stomper. It's a wonder she hasn't broken her legs from the sheer impact.As you can imagine - none of this behavior is accep... More About: Saturday
A Penny For Your Thoughts...
2008-01-31 03:44:00 Caption me, please.Thank you. More About: Thoughts , Penny
Mama Monday #8.1
2008-01-28 13:49:00 Theme: HomeSweetie, who was sleeping over at Grammy and Grampy's this past weekend, was delivered back to us at just before 4 a.m. Sunday morning. She had a wonderful evening with them, but she came down with an awful earache in the middle of the night and just wanted to be home. (We took her to the doctor yesterday and she's got 1 and 1/2 ear infections. Her first ear infection ever! So I suppose, in that, we are lucky).She asked to go to bed right away when home, but wanted to be read a story. She wanted Runaway Bunny - of that she was clear.If you're not familiar with it, it tells the story of a little boy bunny who tells his mom he's going to run away. But no matter where the bunny says he'll run or what he'll do to hide from his mom, the mother always counters with her ideas of how she'll chase after him. Ultimately, the bunny decides it's just best to stay home and be with his Mama .It's a sweet story and I thought - given Sweetie's health troubles and personal feelin... More About: Monday
Sweetie Saturday #93 - I Used Up All My Material Edition
2008-01-26 14:00:00 That's right. I don't have much to offer today for Sweetie Saturday because I already wrote here and here about a few different funny things Sweetie said and/or did this week. Feel free to click the links and check 'em out.In the mean time, Sweetie did come through with this deductive reasoning gem last night when I put her to bed.Back story: the last couple nights, Sweetie has come to our room in the 4-5am range, asking for help with her covers. Apparently, they were messed up and she needed some retucking.So last night I told her I wanted her to practice something. I told her that, if she woke up in the night and found her covers messed up, that I wanted her to practice fixing it herself instead of coming to us for help.I bet you can do it, Sweetie. Okay?Okay. It will be like I'm practicing for a show!Yes! That's called rehearsing.Rehearsing?Yes. It means the same thing as "practice". You rehearse - or practice - before you're going to put on a show.Oh. Yeah!.... Hey, Mama.W... More About: Material , Edition
The One Where It Seems I'm Bragging and/or Conceited, But I'm Not. Really.
2008-01-24 03:29:00 Sweetie's got a miserable cold. A nasty, nasty cough and a stuffy, stuffy nose. She's feelin' pretty yucky.Still, if you ask her how she is, she'll answer with a weak-but-still-hanging-in-there: Great.Since she doesn't have a fever and she's acting pretty normal, I sent her to school yesterday. On the car ride home from school, she was interested in telling me all about the "Beach Party" activities she and her classmates did that day - interspersed with some pretty serious hacking coughs.And then we all sat in chairs like we (cough, cough, wheeze) were in a bus (hack, hack) and we pretended to go to the bea..(cough, hack) each!She played quietly with her paper dolls at home last night, not even getting upset when she'd accidently rip one of the paper dresses or shirts:Oh, I ripped it. That's okay. I'll just put some tape on it and it will be all better.I gave her medicine and we sent her to bed at her regular time. She did have an awful lot of difficulty falling asleep. She... More About: Bragg
Mama Monday #7.1
2008-01-21 14:16:00 Theme: CultureA week ago yesterday, the house of Sweetie & Me (and Hubby) was absolutely drenched in culture.We three sat on our couch, snacking on crackers and brie, Hubby and I each with a glass of wine, Sweetie with some juice, as we watched an episode of From The Top.Classy, I tell ya. We were the very picture of a fine, upstanding, culturally astute family.And every Sunday - late afternoon - we will continue to engage is this highly sophisticated cultural experience.If only for a half hour or so. More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #92
2008-01-19 14:16:00 Earlier this week I found Sweetie stomping out of the bathroom, tears rolling down her face, loud cries coming from her pouting mouth. When I asked her what the problem was, she dramatically pointed to her hair.What?! Is it not curly enough? (Sweetie loves her curls!) It looks fine!But... it's not BEAUTIFUL! Waaaahhh!Oh, Goodness.-------------------------I had the pleasure of dining with a princess a couple nights ago:--------------------------I happened to remind Sweetie of the times, a couple years back, when she went to Toddlercize at her school. I told her about how, for some reason, she never liked it when the class played Wiggles songs, and how her teacher, Miss Kathleen, would always allow Sweetie to go hide in the bathroom whenever such songs played.Sweetie did not remember these instances at all, but she thought it was so funny! that she hid in the bathroom because of Wiggles songs!Hubby and I thought it was funny (peculiar) at the time, because Sweetie has always liked th... More About: Saturday
House of Pain
2008-01-17 04:06:00 I've always contended that, since turning 30 some years ago, I can't quickly remember how old I am. I mean, if someone ever asks me, I really have to take a minute and do the math. Okay.... I was born in this year. And now it's this year. But it's not yet May, so.... I must be this old. Still, regardless of this lack of at-the-ready information, I'm reasonably confident that I'm not 90- years old.However, if I listened to my body, I'd say that's exactly how old I am.Meaning? I'm sore. All sore. All the time. Not good. Sad, really.I know my lower back has bothered me since Sweetie was an infant. But, honestly, I thought it only hurt when I first stood up after sitting for a long time. Or after standing for a long time. Or walking for a long time.But, no. I hurt. All over. And I suppose it's been for a long time now.See, those dang kids got me all thinkin' and stuff. Made me wonder what they'd ask and prepare answers ahead of time.Does spina bifida hurt? Oh, no! Just a li... More About: House , Pain
Mama Monday #6.1
2008-01-14 15:48:00 Theme: QuietAs you may already know if you've read these two posts of mine over at Disaboom, last Thursday I went to Sweetie's preschool to read a book to and answer questions from her classmates. The four year old class as well as the kindergarteners attended. It was a fun, humorous and interesting visit, but I won't repeat the details here. Please read my other posts for that.What I will mention here is this: for all the non-related statements, repeated questions, silly activity and seemingly unimpressed kids who made themselves known to me that day, there were several others who stayed quiet. Others who had questions - possibly legitimate questions - which I didn't have time to get to. Others who were intrigued, listening close, and truly curious about what I had to share.In fact, the very last question I addressed before my time with the kids was up was from a shy girl in the back row. I think she must have had her hand raised all along, since one of the teachers asked her w... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #91 - Back With A Vengeance Edition
2008-01-12 15:18:00 And,.... we're back!In preparation for this past Tuesday's First In The Nation Primary, Hubby and I wanted to watch last Saturday 's televised debated among both political parties. I explained to Sweetie ahead of time that we were going to watch this, and she probably wouldn't like it. But it's important for Daddy and I to watch - so just deal with it.Actually, she did pretty well. She sat on the couch with us and snuggled in, didn't talk too much, and let us mostly pay attention.However, she did become mysteriously very tired much earlier than she usually does and asked to go to bed early. Fine. Whatever.The next morning we all came downstairs and I turned on the news. At the time, they were doing a recap of the previous night's event. Sweetie took one look at the T.V., saw the same scene she'd seen the night before, and exasperatedly exclaimed -This show is still on?! I do not believe it!-------------------------------------- --I think Sweetie - and kids in general - knows a... More About: Back , Vengeance , Edition
I Do Apologize
More articles from this author:2008-01-10 03:48:00 Man! I am so sorry! I've denied y'all a Sweetie Saturday this past weekend. And now I'm here to tell you once again - sorry, I just don't have it in me to write tonight.I did have a blog post ready to write. A very good, most likely long-winded/insightful one at that. But I've been caught up in emailed discussions (basically IMing, without the actual technology) and haven't been able to get here to start writing.And now it's late. Too late for me to start in on a potentially long-winded/insightful post. But I do promise to keep it in mind for another day.I will tease you a bit though.... tomorrow I'm headed off to do something very exciting and possibly very interesting. After which I'll be posting about said experience tomorrow evening over here. So you may certainly want to stay tuned for that and check me out over there at that time.Until then...... Have a great day! More About: Apologize 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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