Spina Bifida Moms My experiences as a disabled mom with spina bifida raising my healthy and active daughter Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 49 4472

Articles from Spina Bifida Moms

Sweetie Saturday #71 - Lunch With Friends Edition 2007-08-24 20:47:00 Hey! You'll never guess, but Sweetie and I had lunch with friends this past Monday.Specifically, we met Sweetie's first-ever daycare provider and her 7- year old daughter at Burger King. This wonderful woman (the daughter of someone I used to work with) provided daily care to our Sweetie for the first year of her life, Tuesday through Friday. Her daughter at the time was 3.5 / 4-years old.Even though Sweetie hasn't regularly been cared for at their house since she was a small baby, she still talks about these friends all the time. In fact, she considers this little girl to be her best friend. Amazing! And wonderful. :)Since this little friend of Sweetie's is now 7- years old, I was afraid that she'd be so over Sweetie and hardly give my precocious 4-year old the time of day. Turns out - I had nothing to worry about at all.She and Sweetie greeted each other very enthusiastically. In fact, later that afternoon at home, Sweetie recounted for me,Hey, Mama! (My friend) gave me a hug-an ...

The Sisterhood of the Unraveling Pants* 2007-08-22 20:40:00 * Warning: Pure fluff ahead. I don't know about you, but after the day I've had, I could use a bit of fluff.I own eight pairs of pants. Additionally, I have several pairs of jeans, shorts and capris. But for the purposes of this post, we'll only focus on the eight pairs of business-casual pants that I have to chose from for my daily work wear.1) My light tan pants: The ones I wore today. They fit me well and are in good repair. They're fine.2) My black pants: I love the way these look on me. They're great! But - they're maternity pants. Yes, that's right. Maternity pants. Here's me - skinny-as-anything me - sportin' around town in my fancy pants maternity wear. And of course, since they are maternity, they have a weird thing going on at the waistband. Functional and practical during pregnancy. Not so much useful or attractive when not pregnant. So much so that I can't possible even consider wearing tucked in shirts with these pants. Instead I have to wear loose fitting tops t ...

Mama Monday #71 2007-08-20 06:36:00 Theme: QuestWhat is a dream? A magical thing.A rainbow of hope in your heart.Your own secret corner where no one can go,Where the path to fulfillment can start.A dream lures you on, always one step ahead,Until you have caught it. And then...There's always another to capture your soul,And lead your heart onward again.AnonymousMay your dreams forever lead you on your heart and soul's greatest quests.-------------------------------------------------------This poem was written on the cover of one of my high school diaries. I loved it so much that I then used it as my senior quote in my graduation year book. And now I'm teaching it to Sweetie, who requests to hear it several times a day. Right now I think she's taking the poem very literally, associating it with the dreams she has at night sometimes. But as she grows I'll be excited to see her revisit the words and message again and again to see how beautiful and inspirational they are, leading her on her own quest for happiness, peace ...

Sniff, Swirl & Sip Sunday #4 2007-08-19 12:45:00 Hey, everyone! Guess what? The same winery that makes this amazing dessert wine, has just come out with this awesome dessert wine! I haven't tried it yet, but knowing how good the Moscato is, there's no doubt in my mind that this sweet red variety must be absolutely fabulous. Meda Margherita wines prove to be superb, light endings to tasty, filling meals. And so it is with today's post - a simple, light beginning and end.Enjoy! ... Amp

Sweetie Saturday #70 2007-08-18 07:52:00 I know it's still the summer, but something possessed me the other day to ask Sweetie to start thinking about Christmas. What's she going to tell Santa she wants for Christmas this year?Not 3 minutes later, she had her paper and crayons out, asking me how to spell the words for her letter to Santa.Here it is:And (for all of you who don't read pre-schooler) here's what it says:78 Toy Switches and LightsAccording to Sweetie, this is a toy that looks like the number 78 and it has a switch on it that you can turn to make it louder or softer and turn the lights it has on and off.Okkaaaaayyyyy.Well, Sweetie... I'm pretty doubtful that Santa can find something exactly like that for you, but he could probably swing something like this if you're interested.Yeah. I know. Not quite the same thing, is it? Sorry about that.----------------------------------------------------Sweetie's latest creative pursuit has been to learn how to use her safety zizzors better.She's been practicing a lot!T ...

Dr. Jekyll and Mommy Hyde 2007-08-15 21:03:00 Wanna know a secret? I was a tough babysitter.Honestly - I could be pretty evil. Telling the little rugrats to sit down! and eat! and listen to me! and go to bed!I'm betting that if you're reading this and if you know me in real life, you're probably in a bit of a shock right now.What?! Amy?! Mean?! No way!Way!Just ask Hubby. I don't even think he realized how strict I could be until just a few years back when he and I went to visit my elderly grandparents at their home. We visited during lunch time, and I was very concerned to make sure they were eating enough. I also took note of all the signs the day nurse had put up around their house, reminding them to take their pills and such. So of course I was then all Strict Nurse Lady telling them to take their pills! do their exercises! and eat enough food!Hubby knew right then that, when we had kids, I was definitely going to be the lead disciplinarian.And then... dah, dah, DAH.....Enter Mommyhood.Mama's in the Hood, 'Yo.I am the fir ...

Mama Monday #70 2007-08-12 20:15:00 Theme: ListenYesterday I posted an entry here in the hopes to get a little discussion going. And by the comments listed so far, we're off to a great debate!I'm excited to get this issue out there, get it talked about some more. Because it's important to not only listen to what others have to say - to viewpoints that may differ from our own. But it's also extremely important to stop, think, and listen to ourselves.Listen close and you'll discover the amazing journey on which your mind, heart and instincts are leading you and those you love.Please take a moment to read this post and then throw in your own two cents. I'm so interested to continue this discussion and hear what you all have to say. ...

Wherein That Which Must Not Be Discussed Must Be Discussed 2007-08-12 09:46:00 Somehow.Uhhhhh. See. I have this here question for everyone. Actually, it's a debate/discussion I want to kick off. But at the same time, I actually don't want to talk about it very much at all.Because talking about it may result in less security than not talking about it would.Confused yet? I know I am.Soooo.... in a nutshell... here it goes:I'd love to know your take on privacy issues and security regarding parent-written blogs in particular.Do you blog about your kids?Do you use their real name(s)? Why or why not?Do you post pictures of them? Why or why not?Are you and/or your family concerned about the amount of your child(ren)'s information available on your site?Or are you/they more concerned about what goes on in your child(ren)'s day-to-day real life safety levels than about what could theoretically come from blogging about them?How do you feel about bloggers who have different views on blogging security than your own?These are the things I want to know.I know, and read, l ...

Sweetie Saturday #69 - Wise Beyond Her Years Edition 2007-08-11 06:00:00 This past Wednesday was my mom's birthday. Sweetie asked her,So, how old are you, Nana?Oh, I'm really old. I'm 64.No, Nana. Old isn't "old". Old is just a number - like I'm 4-years old.Right you are, Sweetie. Old IS just a number. And do you know how old your great-grandmother is? She's 94!That IS old!------------------------------------------------------I don't know if you know this, but Sweetie is so freakin' smart. Most notably is how easily she can get around on the computer. She knows the icon to click to get onto the internet. She knows where her name is in our menu bar (and thus where to click to get to NickJr.com). And she knows where the Google Search field is and how to spell basic words to get her where she wants. For example (and, yes, I did check this out beforehand to see what websites turned up with this word...), she knows to spell "peep" in the search field, which leads her to the top choice in the results of peepandthebigwideword.com.Last weekend Sweetie was w ...

Plugging Away - Linky-Love Style 2007-08-08 20:29:00 Hi, All! Just stopping in for a quick minute to let you know about the article in The Boston Herald about New England Mamas. Find the article here. It's a pretty cool interview. Mrs. Chicky is one cool chick! I'm proud to be a contributing Mama.Okay, that's enough of that. Must get back to Harry. Good night! ...

Mama Monday #69 2007-08-06 08:28:00 Theme: StickyWell hello there! I'm baaaaccckkk!My blogging vacation/Family Week was highly enjoyable. Not that I stayed completely away from the computer. I still checked email, read blogs, and surfed the 'net as usual. But not having the responsibility of blogging - that was awesome. I read, played, cleaned, and went to sleep earlier than usual. Yay!Sweetie had quite a week too.There was Fairy Dance Camp (Part Deux - Electric Boogaloo)Lemonade Stand DayExcavator Driving(Hold up! Don't get all excited, now. This is only an illusion. Let it be known - here and now - that at no time was Sweetie in actual control of any heavy machinery controls.... much).And last but not least, we treated Sweetie to her first time out on the links.She also said some pretty cute things this week. For instance, she's now clearly told us that,...I love sleep overs! And even I've never had a sleep over.Also, contrary to popular belief, she does in fact like silence in her life every once in awhile:Daddy, ...

Mama Sunday - Special Edition 2007-07-29 12:59:00 Theme: DecisionSorry, no wine post today. Try again next week, please.In fact, no posts at all for a week.That's right. I've made a decision. For the good of my family - I'm taking a blogging break.I'm really feeling that Sweetie sometimes starves for attention while Daddy is busy working on the house and I am trying to get blog posts written.The next thing I know, Sweetie wants her own computer time - which is fine, and I'll give it to her. But after awhile I'm anxious for her to get off, just so I can get back on.Today was a very tiring day.Sweetie is particularly whiny. She's bored - not that she's using that word, but I can definitely tell that she's itching for something to do. However, everything we suggest, or she herself decides she wants to do (with us or herself alone) has more times than not ended in whines and tears. And fights with Mommy and Daddy.I do feel bad. I understand she's frustrated and wanting us to interact with her. But today...Hubby and I are so tire ...

Sweetie Saturday #68 2007-07-28 06:42:00 Sweetie and I were getting ready to leave the house the other day. Remembering my most recent adventure, I was intent on making sure I had everything I needed before we left the house.I noted aloud:Okay, I have the house key. I have the Saturn key.Hey, Mom! We don't live on Saturn. We live on the Earth.-------------------------------------------------------------------If you have been reading me for awhile and/or you know a thing or two about spina bifida, you'll know that I have certain special equipment to help me take care of my personal care - namely, catheters and vinyl gloves.The gloves come in handy for lots of things, actually - from coloring my hair to dying easter eggs.So on our trip last weekend when I asked Sweetie to find a book she was looking for in the blue bag we'd packed, she instead found my little blue bathroom bag.Mom, I can't find the book. But I found the gloves for dying Easter eggs. I'll put them right here so they don't get smooshed.--------------------- ...

Worth The Price Of Admission 2007-07-25 20:47:00 You know that Summer Program at Sweetie's school that I grumbled about the other day? The one with no Water Days as well as poor excuses for in-house field trips? Well...Today was Wacky Wednesday at Sweetie's school. That meant inside-out shorts (that were a checkered pattern), a backwards shirt (that was striped), a silly top knot hairdo (that was actually very cute), and a long necklace that looked like a string of tiny Christmas lights.It also meant Build-A-Bear came to her school with all the bear-building accessories a little kid could ever desire. Sweetie proudly brought home her bow-utiful, big bear to introduce to her Teddy, Bunny and Curious George.That bear alone, I'm sure, was worth the extra money I paid for her to participate in this otherwise lackluster Summer Program.Better yet - it all made for one silly, cute, and happy Sweetie. ...

Mama Monday #68 2007-07-23 09:10:00 Theme: MagicalHubby, Sweetie and I just got back from an overnight trip with my side of the family. We went to Colchester, CT to see this. Not exactly our idea of a dream vacation, but it's what my dad wanted. He and mom (and occasionally one or more of my brothers) have gone to the last several annual events.But this year Dad wanted us all to go. And so we did. All 20 of us - 22 including my uncle and his girlfriend who came down for the day. Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Throw in the oldest niece's and nephew's significant others and you've got yourself one big family.So the show itself was more interesting than I thought it would be. About 200 acres of trucks, tractors, piles of dirt for the earth movers to move, vendors and food. It was a gorgeous day and, with a play area for the younger kids, we were able to entertain ourselves there for quite awhile.But for us the best part came later, when we all went out for a big family dinner, then back to the h ...