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
Happiness Is...
2009-06-07 17:46:00 I recently came across a photo Hubby took of a correspondence of sorts between he and Sweetie. For a time, Hubby was writing crazy surveys or sentences on our chalkboard for Sweetie to complete. One such "finish the sentence" that he presented to her on the board was: "Happiness is a warm _______."And what did Sweetie answer? No, she didn't go the Beatles route and fill it in with the easy to spell "gun" (ya know, since I'm pretty sure she's never even heard of that song and all). No, she took an even simpler route by keeping the blank there, as is, and just adding an "et" at the end of it."Happiness is a warm ______et" (get it? you must! "Happiness is a warm blanket." Ha!)She's so funny.You know what happiness is to me? Go on - guess! That's right.... Sweetie. Sweetie makes me incredibly happy.I love listening to her babble and sing as she plays in the unconventional ways that she does. She has a tea set, but does she play tea party? No. She turns the cups upside down on their...
Sweetie Saturday - Growing Up Too Fast Edition
2009-05-30 14:52:00 This week for Show and Tell, Sweetie decided to take her "telephone" she made out of 2 plastic cups and a long string. (Kids are to bring something they made, something that was made for them, something from nature, or something that helps describe them for Show and Tell. I'm pretty sure Sweetie is the only kid who usually does this.) To demonstrate her toy, she picked S____ to listen at the other end of the phone. S____ is a cute boy who told Sweetie towards the beginning of the school year (as well as another girl in the class) that he wants to marry her. Obviously, Sweetie likes him back. What did you say into the phone to him?Hi S______. I love you.(I'm told that everyone then laughed - including S_____ and the teachers.)------------------------------- ----There's another boy in Sweetie's class who's been picking on her a bit. He's one of the few kids she's labeled as a "bad boy." She often plays "Super (Sweetie)" at recess "with" these boys - as in, she's the super hero ... More About: Saturday , Fast , Growing , Edition , Growing Up
12 Years
2009-05-25 21:29:00 You don't know that I collect giraffes.You don't know that I made the decision to start collecting giraffes on a whim 11 years ago while in France when I saw a beautiful poster of a giraffe metamorphosing into the Eiffel Tower. You don't know that our camera was broken the entire time we were in France so that none of the 300 or so pictures we took during our visit developed. Nor do you know that we ended up making a gorgeous scrapbook out of the pictures Scott had from his previous time in France and from pictures generously lent to us by a friend from when she was in Paris. You don't know that Scott proposed to me at the Memorial Arch in Tilton, NH because it reminded us of the Arc de Triomphe.You don't know how much I not only wanted you at our wedding but also wished that our relationship was the same and that you could have stood up as my witness.You don't know that one of my brother's and his wife have 3 child together, giving me a total of 7 nieces and nephews on my si... More About: Years
Life Is Good
2009-05-10 22:46:00 Money may be as tight as ever, so much so that we really shouldn't be spending a dime on anything other than bills and absolute necessities...My body may seem like it's slowing down, aching up, and just not fit to be moving around as much as it was once able to....I may feel like I've been to the doctor, or dentist, more in the last year than I have in the last 5 years! Yay - so many visits with the crappiest insurance ever...I am still be out of a job, much like so many people these days. And so I let myself occasionally feel that much worse for myself - and about myself - because I was laid off just over a year ago now, before the big economic crisis truly hit (but well into the hurt that the newspapers and still are feeling so badly). Surely I should have been able to find a job by now!... Ah, yes, but if I had - who knows! Perhaps I'd already be laid off from THAT job (last one in, first one out, you know). Of course, maybe not. We can't know. But I am thankful for having a... More About: Life , Good
Stopping By A Blog On a Sunny Afternoon
2009-05-04 19:55:00 Dum de dum la la la la... Oh! Whoa! Who goes there?!Oh! Hi! How the heck are ya? I hardly recognized you - you look so different! It sure has been awhile, hasn't it? How are things? How's the family? You're looking just great!How am I? I'm good, good. I've finished up tutoring my NCLB kids a couple weeks ago. One kid I'll miss - he was great! But the other was a real terror. I'm sorry to say I'm not too sad that my time with him is up. But, in both kids' cases, I was thrilled to see how well they did on their final assessment tests! Of course my "challenging" kid needed some major coaxing to even agree to complete just some of the test, but what he did, he did well on. And so did my 3rd grade guy. I've got to say that I'm proud of them both and proud of myself for helping them make the improvement.Now I'm back to studying for my teaching certification and applying to jobs as they come along. I went to a school job fair a couple months back where I learned about a very in... More About: Blog , Afternoon , Sunny
Sweetie & Me Update
2009-04-13 20:05:00 Wow! Over a month since I last wrote! I gotta say, I'm quite enjoying not having the pressure of writing multiple blog posts each week. But at the same time, my not writing has reacquainted myself with the clarity that writing brings to my life. There have been a few times over the weeks where I know sitting down and writing out what's happening in my life could have really helped me sort out what it all means and what I need to do. But I didn't do it. But I probably should have. Writing is my way of keeping life laid out before me and on track.Here's a brief, bulleted update of life in the Sweetie & Me household* My tutoring schedule is winding down - next Tuesday is my last day with these kids. I've gotta say that I'm very happy to be done. A combination of an unwilling to cooperate kid + a tutoring company director who lacks in the communications skills department = an unpleasant tutoring experience all around. Mind you, this hasn't turned me off to tutoring or workin... More About: Update
Back With A Meme!
2009-03-03 15:28:00 Well, hello there!See, I told you I'd be back if ever I had something to share I thought you'd be interested in or that was applicable to the original point of this blog.And so, with that, I'm here to post Sweetie's answers to the Out Of The Mouths of Babes meme found at Facebook. Many of the answers, I thought, were very telling. Take it for what it's worth....---------------Cut and paste these questions and ask your kids their answers....it is a RIOT! (Oh my gosh this was painful. My kid almost broke down crying because she was afraid she was giving the wrong answer. We had to come back to questions and it took forever!)Answers by Sweetie, age 61. What is something mom always says to you? How are you?2. What makes mom happy? Her daughter3. What makes mom sad? When I leave4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tell jokes5. What was your mom like as a child? Being Nana's daughter6. How old is your mom? I wish I had an age calendar so I could know how.7. How tall is your mom? Up ... More About: Meme , Back
Blog, Interrupted
2009-02-18 22:40:00 I started this blog almost 4 years ago, when Sweetie - and I - and she and I together! - were very much still a work in progress. Behavior issues, separation issues, preferred-parent issues, potty training, food fights, nap time/sleeping-through-the-night troubles - you name it! A growing toddler + first time parent - a parent who has a physical disability! = lots of great (???) blog fodder/lots of great learning opportunities.But now - and actually for a long time now - things have really settled out. Sweetie is no longer a baby. Knock on wood, she's really come into her own personality and can get through the day, more or less, with few big dramas or traumas. And my having a physical disability really has absolutely no impact on our day to day interactions together. That's been the status quo for at least a couple years, actually. Everything is, and has been, very regular. Un-newsworthy. Un-blogworthy.All this to say - I'm putting this blog on indefinite hold. My reasons for s... More About: Blog
"I Want" Wednesday
2009-02-11 23:13:00 There's a meme out there called "I Want" Wednesday . I'm not going to link to it because I don't think/I don't know yet if participating in it will be a regular "thing" for me. But today - during a week where I'm just not in the mind set to come up with my own original thoughts - I decided I'd give it a try.So, here goes....I want to finish the scarf I promised Hubby I'd make him at Christmas time. With no extra money to spend on Valentine's Day, I figure the least I could do is finish this dang scarf for him!I want my house to stop smelling like smoke. Every time I've built a fire in our wood stove over the last couple weeks, smoke pours into our living room instead of up the chimney. I've tried everything. I'm building fires the same exact way I always have - a way that has never before produced such a smoke problem. The only thing I can figure is that we need our chimney cleaned. My dad knows how to do that. He's coming over in a couple days.I want clearer communicatio...
Sweetie Saturday #144
2009-02-07 14:53:00 So I told you how Sweetie has taken to employing "grown up speak" or using big words in her everyday conversations, right? Like I'll do something for her or tell her something nice that she wasn't expecting and she'll say "Awww... that's so sweet." Or she'll talk about how some things are "obviously" the way they are. Well here's another instance from this past week with Sweetie declaring things in an adult manner:Sweetie asked me the other day if I remembered the day a long time ago when a couple of our friends came over and we went searching for hidden hearts.Uhhhh..... no.Yes you do! Remember?! We went outside near Valentine's Day looking for hidden hearts, then we went back home and waited for M_____ and C______ to come over?Oh! Yeah. I remember.Now that's a day I'll never forget!Well, you kind of did forget a little, because it was just before Christmas and we were outside, down in our town, looking for hidden snowflakes.(Sadness and a bit of being upset at herself for... More About: Saturday
Same Ol' Situation
2009-02-05 14:43:00 I apologize. I didn't realize I hadn't posted yesterday until about 11 p.m. last night. And by that time there was no way I was going to stop everything and write a lengthy post. Because that's what it was going to be. 'Cuz I had a fabulous post topic to unravel. But I didn't. Because I forgot to write. Now here I am, Thursday morning, trying to get that same post done.Man. Why is it feeling so difficult to write on Thursday mornings instead of Wednesday afternoons or evenings? This is all wrong. It doesn't feel right at all. I am too used to routine.Which - hey! - that just happens to be the point of what I wanted to write about yesterday! Wow! What incredible luck my forgetfulness has handed me!So, uh... yeah. I am a creature of habit. I like routine. I'm sure I've mentioned this before. I'm sure I've noted how I always used to like Fridays best at work because I always knew exactly what I needed to do to get things done. My whole day was filled with a specific process t... More About: Situation
Mama Monday #40.1
2009-02-02 14:50:00 Theme: SinAKA: Sinfully Smart SweetieSo Sweetie stayed over at Nana and Papa's this weekend.Sweetie has a slight cold.Shortly before her bedtime, Sweetie asked Nana for a piece of paper, saying she had to draw a picture.Soon after getting the paper, Sweetie asked my mom:What's a sin?A what?A sin.Like S-I-N? Sin?Yeah.It's when you do something really bad. Like lie or steal. That's a sin.Oh. Okay.Then Sweetie quietly went back to her drawing.Soon, she was done. Handing my mom the paper, Sweetie explained that this was a riddle that Nana needed to figure out.This is the picture.MED + Pinocchio after he told a lie = Sweetie was reminding Nana to give her some cold MEDI-SIN/medicine before bed.Brilliant!Today, Sweetie realized how she could have made the message more clear. She could have made a complete sentence by adding a picture of an eye and then a person kneading some bread dough before the rest of her drawing.I need medicine.Yup. That would have been good too. Smarty. More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #143
2009-01-31 15:33:00 I've noticed a remarkable change in Sweetie this week. Not that it's not been demonstrating itself in little ways leading up to this point. It's just that some major - and not so major - events of this week show that Sweetie - gasp! - is beginning to take things in stride.I know, I know. My very particular, very stubborn, very "this is the way things must be forever and always so help me God" flipped out girl is actually chilling out a bit.Exhibit A - Our decision to move.Granted, this whole scenario - and Sweetie's easy taking to it - may largely be due to the fact that Sweetie doesn't quite understand what it means to move (as far as I can gather, that is). Still, when we let Sweetie in on our decision, she was all, like, "Okay." That was it. - "And we may not be able to take the kitties with us when we go." - "Okay."Hmmmm... Okay.Then, earlier this week, Hubby and I started an initial round of cleaning up, purging out, and packing up various items we knew we wouldn't have m... More About: Saturday
Proud Amy Keep On Burnin'
2009-01-28 20:26:00 For all the times I'm feeling less than confident or relaxed about something, I thought I'd post some items I'm particularly proud of:The cork board I conceived, designed and made (save the wooden frame, which Hubby made) for my mom this Christmas:The AeroGrow I bought for Hubby last Christmas. I love gifting people with things they've never even heard of, but which are absolutely perfect for them. We're never without fresh, organic herbs, lettuce - whatever we choose to grow!My Sweetie - my beautiful little girl. More About: Proud
Mama Monday #49.1
2009-01-26 21:24:00 Theme: Choice- Hubby and I talked to a realtor. To sell our house is an option, but not one with huge (or possible any) profit. But we have to make a choice. Staying or going both have their pluses and minuses. But as far as we can tell, selling seems to have less minuses. So we've made our choice. We're selling. Putting it on the market in a month or so. It's the choice that makes the most sense to us.- I am registered to study for and eventually take my abcte exam in Secondary English in order to gain my teaching certificate. I have some preliminary items to study even now. I have had a few chances to sit at the computer, more or less uninterrupted, to read over the material. Yet I don't yet feel like I'm getting too "into" it. It's still not real to me. And now, with this decision to move made, I feel quite overladen with all things packing/cleaning/readying - a huge undertaking, if you ask me - and not so much in the mindset to study or attempt to even go for certification... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #142 - So Not About Sweetie, Abbreviated, Edition
2009-01-24 14:33:00 Hi all. I'm in the middle of my 24 (or 48, depending on episodic happenings) hour ambulatory EEG test. I'm not happy. My head is wrapped in gauze like I'm a brain injury patient, I'm wearing a knit hat over the top which both helps and so doesn't in the appearance department, and my forehead hurts where some of the electrode wires/whatever these are are taped to my skin. I'm hooked up to a box in a fanny pack around my waist - with a button on top that I'm to push when/if I ever have an episode. I have a computer/video camera thing I'm to be hooked to as often as possible when I know I'll be sitting on the couch or whatever for a long time - that's to watch me, I suppose, in case I have a seizure-like episode when I may or may not (I know I wouldn't) do anything unordinary. And I'm supposed to keep an hour by hour diary of what I'm doing activity wise.Oh - and I have a strange bump/inflamed part of my lower left leg. So I'm keeping my left brace off and elevating the l... More About: Saturday , Edition
Fact vs. Truth
2009-01-21 21:00:00 Wow. You guys made it so easy for me. One entrant, one winner. Congratulations, Lara! Thanks for your story. I hope you enjoy this book. I'll be in touch with you to arrange a time I can get the book to you.------------------------------------- The fact is - there are a few life-altering portions of my and Hubby's life that we can owe directly to Sweetie's existence. Okay, okay - I do realize that's true for any parents. Of course.But I imagine (or at least I'd like to believe) that the majority of parents out there would admit that their lives - and I'm talking solely tangible/lifestyle aspects of their lives - have substantially improved since the creation of a larger family.But I'm here to admit for myself (NOTE: only for myself) that some very major things that are/were not so great at all can be attributed directly back to Sweetie's existence.The fact is: I would not have the chronic back pain I have - and have had for 6 years now - had I not carried Sweetie for 9 months... More About: Truth , Fact
Mama Monday #48.1
2009-01-19 16:27:00 Theme: ContestHey! Did you know that the word "contest" is part of a pair of homographs? There's "contest" - (n.) an event you compete in, or "contest" - (v.) to dispute or oppose. (There are other definitions of the word as well, but these two definitions seem to be the most popularly known.)I just learned about homographs as part of my studying for my teaching certificate. More specifically, I learned the differences between homophones, homonyms and homographs. But I don't need to go into all that right here.Anyway, today I'm using "contest" in its noun form. As in, I'm hosting a contest here for some lucky reader to win Joy Bauer's new book Joy's LIFE Diet: Four Steps to Thin FOREVER.Joy launched the Joy Fit Club segments on the Today Show last year. She's helped people world wide lose at least 100 pounds each, and she's inspired thousands more to ask how she can help them lose weight and stay healthy for life.In this book, Joy talks about what life means to her - Look In... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #141 - Funny "Haha" or Funny "Instresting"? Edition
2009-01-17 14:33:00 Ya know what? Sweetie isn't really so much funny - in the original sense of why I started Sweetie Saturday s - anymore.Don't get me wrong. She's still incredibly funny. She makes us laugh several times a day and could brighten the day of the most sullen of grumpsters with her endless supply of non sequiturs and general, all over silliness. It's just - she's now funny in a smart way. A too-big-for-her-britches way. She no longer misuses words in a funny way. Now she uses really big - appropriate - words in her everyday speak. And, given her age, that's really funny.She notes how she'd like certain things to happen immediately.She mentions how certain things distract her.She told me the other day that she was sweltering in our car. (It was absolutely freezing outside, so I had the heat up high).She loves her new globe because, at night, it turns into a map of the constellations.Sweetie is funny in a "dance like nobody's watching" kind of way.Take the first part of my last post,... More About: Funny , Haha , Edition
Reality Bites...
2009-01-15 04:19:00 ... except for this first tidbit...We just got back from the school Holiday Concert at Sweetie's school. So, so cute! The curtain opened up and Sweetie was dead center in the middle of all her classmates, 1 or 2 risers up. She was very obviously searching all over for us, which made her usually exuberant personality quite a bit toned down and even worried. You could especially tell during the first part of their first song that she was far too concerned about where her parents and grandparents were in the audience than about actually singing the song.And then... she found us. About 2/3 of the way back on the left hand side.In the middle of the song:Hi Mom! Hi Dad!Accompanied by excited waving.Ah! Now the party could begin!On with the excited Sweetie. On with the silly dramatics. On with the show!Very, very cute. :)--------------------------------So anyway, yeah - reality bites.Okay, perhaps "bites" isn't the right word. Let's just say that the reality of certain things is becomin... More About: Reality , Reality Bites
Mama Monday #47.1
2009-01-12 20:52:00 Theme: OrderI've aware - as I'm sure you are - that my regularly scheduled posts seem to be coming later and later into each given day. Seems like life is taking over and this blog is being pushed down the list of Things To Do.With this new year, I'm desperately trying to maintain some semblance of order. That, or create order where once some was lacking (or was completely nonexistent.) What with my registering for the abcte study course and exams (I did it! I registered and am on my way to teacher certification!) and the several hours of reading and studying I'll need to do each week for the next several months in order to pass said exams, not to mention my regular tutoring schedule (which seems to be filling up nicely) and just plain being a mom and wife (a mom and wife who tries to at least keep the dishes clean, the laundry done and the floors vacuumed, in addition to doing her part to maintain a generally happy family) - well... my (full time) unemployed self sure has a lot... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #140 - Sweetie Takes Over Edition
2009-01-10 01:00:00 Everybody will have a great day!Everybody will say hooray!Super (Sweetie) will save the day!(I don't know what else to say.) Love, Sweetie More About: Saturday , Edition
Learning As I Go
2009-01-08 03:44:00 Chalk it up to one more instance of talking first, learning later.I've found out some more details about my plans to go back to school and, ultimately, become a Reading Specialist.The "courses" at abcte.org are not courses. The ultimate goal, going that route for teacher certification (which is a valid alternative route in this state - as told to me directly from my state's Dept. of Education), is to pass two exams. At abcte.org, a mentor teacher helps you come up with a study plan, based on your personal goals, schedule and needs. You then engage yourself in several months worth of intensive studying - with study guides, practice tests, and various other helps available to you on their site for getting you closer to your goal. When ready (usually after 6 - 12 months of studying), you take the test and, if you pass, you are then able to teach in a classroom under a Beginning Teacher Certification. After 3 years of classroom teaching, you may then apply for permanent Teacher Certif... More About: Learning
Mama Monday #46.1
2009-01-05 19:47:00 Theme: WindI'm going back to school. Going for my teaching certification in Reading. My aim is to, one day, be a Reading Specialist in a local school.Didn't see that coming, did you? Hmmmm... well I'm not entirely sure that I did either. Although, in hind sight, I suppose I really should have.I've been tutoring reading (and writing, comprehension and study skills/test prep) for 15 years now (off and on). I've been tutoring Reading on-line for a couple months now at Brainfuse.com. And now, under the No Child Left Behind act, I'll be tutoring Reading for area elementary school students. It's work I'm familiar with and work that I really love. I enjoy it so much, in fact, that I hardly even consider it work. It's simply something I'm capable of doing, that I love doing, and something that gives me a real sense of accomplishment and pride when a student I'm working with turns a corner, sees a lesson(s) in a new light, and can confidently go on with their studies, working off ... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #139 - Little Miss Bossy Edition
2009-01-03 15:12:00 Yes. Sweetie can be very bossy. Shocker, huh? Yeah. She doesn't hesitate to tell others what to do. Ugh.So... Hubby and I try to be vigilant about catching Sweetie in the act and asking her to rephrase what she's saying in a more polite manner.But one instance of Sweetie's telling me what to do, earlier this week, had me laughing at her seriousness about the matter and her just plain cuteness.It was dinner time and Sweetie already had her plate and drink in front of her at the table. Then I sat down with my food as Hubby finished up plating his own in the adjacent kitchen. I took a small sip of my drink.Mama! Sweetie whispered out of the side of her mouth. Do your manners! Eyes of serious insistence widening as she first looked to my drink, then to me: Don't drink yet. Do your manners, Mama!She's right. I supposed I shouldn't have eaten or drank before all of us were seated with our food, ready to eat together. ------------------------------- ----------------------Sweetie got a... More About: Saturday , Miss , Edition , Bossy
The One Where I Actually Talk About Something Related To My Disability
2008-12-31 04:27:00 So we three went shopping this weekend and pulled in to park in one of the handicapped spots in the store parking lot. Sweetie seemed to proudly declare, as Hubby turned off the engine, "The handicap spot!"."That's right." I said. "We always get to park in the handicap spot." Then I went on, asking her:"Do you know which one of us has the handicap?"To which Sweetie - probably too quickly - answered:"Daddy?""No. Not Daddy."Sweetie took another few seconds before cocking her head, shrugging up her face, and asking:"You?""Yep. That's right."Then Hubby asked her if she even knew what handicapped meant. No, she said. She did not.By then we were getting out of the car and Sweetie walked to the front of the car, pointing to the sign, telling us - "This is the handicap sign. That's what handicap means."Ah... no. No it doesn't.I really wanted to pursue this line of questioning, this informative discussion. But at that point we were hustling into the store, trying to hurriedly dodge cars ... More About: Talk , Disability , Related
Mama Monday #45.1
2008-12-29 21:06:00 Theme: LastPhew! I made it! Sorry this is "late". I'm working feverishly around my house, trying to get many random things all wrapped up and completed. I tell ya - it not only is the last few days of 2008, it also feels like it's the last few days of life as I've come to know (and love) it.Due to a huge ice storm that our state endured mid month, and now the regular "holiday break" Sweetie's enjoying from school, Sweetie has not had school since Wednesday, Dec. 10th. The 10! It's like summer vacation but with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. I'm glad Sweetie is only in Kindergarten and doesn't realize how these many days off - and still more snow days yet to come this season, I'm sure - will negatively impact the start date of her summer vacation. Similarly, I'm glad Sweetie likes school so much and will be nothing but thrilled to return next September after a (presumably) very short vacation. But I do feel badly for all those Juniors and Seniors who totally got the s... More About: Mama , Monday
Sweetie Saturday #138 - Instant Change-o-rama Sweetie Edition
2008-12-28 01:37:00 Wow! I'm so very impressed. Ever since Sweetie turned 6, she's so very eager and able to do some great new things.For instance - brush her own teeth.Night before her 6th birthday:Me & Hubby: Sweetie. Go brush your teeth.Sweetie: But I caaaaannnn'ttt! I don't know hoooooowww to brush my teeeeethhh!Next morning:Me: Time to brush your teeth, Sweetie. Let's go.Sweetie: Oh! I'm 6 years old now! I can brush my own teeth!Me: Hey! That's right! You can! Let's go and you can try.Sweetie: No! I don't have to try. I can really do it, because I'm 6!And now? She's been happily doing the job all on her own ever since.She's also been eating extremely well - and that' been going on consistently for at least a few weeks now.She does not need to be told over and over to eat her food - she just does it. She also eats a good amount of food, often finishing off her whole plate. She's completing her meals at a much faster pace. And perhaps best of all, she will now eat foods that she's... More About: Change , Saturday , Edition
T'was the Day Before Christmas...
More articles from this author:2008-12-24 16:03:00 ... and wherever you lookie,Sweetie was stirring the dough for the cookies.Mama at the vacuum, and Daddy at the oven.Soon there'll be guests for kissin' and huggin.Last minute items yet to get done.With a wish and a prayer, before the next sun.And you'll hear me proclaim, as I thought that you might,Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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