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 0 4969

Articles from Spina Bifida Moms

Sniff, Swirl & Sip Sunday #3 2007-07-22 12:48:00 Welcome back! Come on in, sit right down, and enjoy some of today's offerings.White: 2005 Steeple Street, ChardonnayThis is a California wine with a California feel. Cool and mellow, dude. That's what's it's all about. I tasted this for the first time a couple weeks ago, right after having tasted a Reisling. Where the Reisling was a bold taste experience, the Chardonnay was refreshing and easy. Described as having a creamy oakiness and full of citrus aromas and flavors, The Steeple Street Chardonnay would pair nicely with fish, poultry and pastas.Red: 2005 Landmark, Grand Detour Pinot NoirHubby and I first tasted this wine at a Pinot Party we had back in May. Each of our guests were to bring along a Pinot to share - Gris, Grigio, Blanc or Noir. One couple brought this Landmark. And not just because it was what they were easily able to find at the nearest convenience store. No - they specifically sought this wine out and were eager for us all to imbibe. Shortly after the Landmark wa ... Amp

Sweetie Saturday #67 - The Life & Times of This Here Sweetie Edition 2007-07-21 06:46:00 Every so often I ask Sweetie a philosophical question. Just to see what's going on in that cute little head of hers, you know? For instance, I once asked her,Where were you before you were born?I don't know, but that's a very good question!More recently - and knowing she now knows she was in Mommy's tummy before she was born - I asked her how exactly she got there.Well, I was a teeny tiny baby and I crawled up your shirt and you opened your mouth REALLY big - like this - and I crawled in your mouth. And you swallowed me into your tummy!And then, of course, on another occasion I had to ask her if she knew what it means to die.It means you turn into a statue forever and ever! (commense with the stiff exaggerated "O" shaped mouth, wide eyes, and rigid arms straight against her sides)Oh, Sweetie. If only the answers were that simple. For now, though, you've got some really great ideas about this big thing called life. ... Amp

So This One Time?... At Fairy Dance Camp?... 2007-07-18 22:15:00 ... When Sweetie looked so dang cute? And I was so prepared? Cuz, you know, I packed the camera and everything? I even brought a book for me to read? And we were ready to go in plenty of time?And then? I saw it was raining out? So I had us get our rain jackets? And I bagged up all the stuff we needed? And I ushered Sweetie out to the car? With her bag full of stuff on my shoulder? And I closed the kitchen door behind me? And after Sweetie was in the car? I went for my purse?And it wasn't there? Cuz it was locked in the house? With my car keys? And cell phone?And my heart started pounding?And I almost started crying?And it was raining?So we went to the neighbor's house?And I knocked and yelled like a mad woman? I'm your neighbor!? I'm your neighbor!? And they (unbelievably) let us in?And I called Papa Dave to come get us? And take us to Fairy Dance Camp? Really fast?!Then I called Fairy Dance Camp? And they offered that Sweetie come a different time? And I was all, Oh no! She'd be ...

Mama Monday #67 2007-07-16 10:29:00 Theme: ResponsibilityMy life, like for most people - moms especially - is filled with many responsibilitiesHere are some of the responsibilities I'm staring down right now:I have a responsibility to answer some interview questions for an upcoming Parenting NH article.I have a responsibility to write and submit a book review to 1 or 2 publications for a great book I recently read, written by a friend.I have a responsibility to review some kids' products here on my blog (We got 'em. Sweetie's not terribly interested in them. Hubby and I aren't completely overwhelmed with their awesomeness or anything, although I'm sure the right products for the interested child would go over well. There - is that enough of a review for you?)I have some shoes I ordered that I have a responsibility to pack up and ship back - probably at my own expense.I have a responsiblity to keep my wine customers happy. Thus far this has meant having to call Customer Service quite often in the last week or so - s ...

Sweetie Saturday #66 - Fun With Daddy Edition 2007-07-14 07:10:00 Wouldn't you know it... just as soon as I posted last week's Sweetie Saturday, she started in with more great Sweetie-isms. I think the first one she said was directed to our cat, Spoon!.You're so delicate, Spoon!.And just a little while later, she followed this up with her proclamation that,My feet are allergic to smoothies.------------------------------------------------Speaking of smoothies, here's a good story...Last weekend I bought Sweetie a pink ballet skirted unitard for her upcoming Fairy Dance Camp. On Sunday morning I had her try it on. She loved it! She kept it on for quite awhile.When Daddy woke up he decided he'd make himself a chocolate smoothie. Sweetie asked if she could have some too.Sure, but not while you're wearing your new dance dress.Well... I don't want a smoothie, then.Okay.But then, in the next 5 seconds when Daddy turned around to talk to Sweetie again, there she stood - naked as a jaybird, assuring Daddy that,Well, I do want a smoothie. I only like th ...

Free To Eat Stew And Peas 2007-07-11 22:09:00 ...Well, vegetarian or fish stew, anyway. Cuz we don't eat red meat, you see. Whatever. That's besides the point.Remember I said I was working on a new idea of how to get my dear little picky Sweetie to eat more? And how I didn't want to write about it yet cuz I didn't want to jinx anything?Well, it's only been a week now, but things are looking good in this department. So let me tell you what I've done.... and what got me here in the first place.See, the bane of my parenting existence has always been getting Sweetie to eat. To eat at dinner time, mostly. Breakfasts are no problem - she gets a breakfast bar or requests waffles, oatmeal, or the like. And lunches are generally fine - a PB&J sandwich or mac & cheese will work well for her.But OMG! Dinner! The fighting! The whining! The bribery! Please just make it stop!Much more often than not Hubby and I have to cajole and bribe and fight with Sweetie for a good long while - maybe 20-30 minutes - before she'll grumpily eat the ...

Mama Monday #66 2007-07-09 08:39:00 Theme: HonestyI'm currently reading the novel Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. I read it before, about 8-10 years ago. And picking it up this time around confirms to me just how much I love this book. I'd definitely say it's in my top 10 (maybe top 5) best books ever list of favorites.This story involves a series of mysterious philosophy lessons delivered to a teenaged girl named Sophie. As Sophie gets her lessons in philosophy, so does the reader. Thus, I'm getting very familiar with the teachings of many of history's great thinkers.For example, I just read Sophie's lesson about Socrates. I've already studied Socrates in HS and college, but reading the information again in the context of this novel makes it all the more thought provoking, intriguing and exciting.One of the theories Sophie's philosophy teacher explains to her through Socrates practices is the following: Wisest is she who knows she does not know. That is to say, Socrates knew he did not know everything. He ac ...

Sniff, Swirl & Sip Sunday #1 2007-07-08 13:37:00 Have you noticed that for the last several Sundays (at least!), I've kind of slacked off in the meaningful essay-style posts? Yeah, well... I say, when you've got a good thing going, carry on!But yet, I don't want to be completely meaningless. What can I give y'all that is both easy enough for me, yet interesting/helpful enough for you?Aha! When in doubt, bring out the wine!Welcome to my very first Sniff, Swirl & Sip Sunday post! Each Sunday (for the rest of the summer, at least) I'll provide you with some specifics on a great red and white wine. Maybe I'll even throw in a blush from time to time. It will be fun. I'll even give you the links to where you can learn more about the discussed wines and/or anything else sold at my Traveling Vineyard site.And away we go!Red: 2002 Paradis, Cask Reserve 21 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is THE wine that turned me into a red wine lover. From Monterey County, CA, it's a truly delicious cab sauv rich with aromas of berries and chocolate. I coul ... Amp

Sweetie Saturday #65 - The Lame Edition 2007-07-07 06:17:00 Uhhhh..... Again with the uhhhh.... Is Sweetie getting too old for this? Maybe. But I sure hope not.Let's see, I already told you here about the pretty poop pile. And here about the drawers droppage. So there's that.I have a new trick up my sleeve about getting my picky eater to actually eat a thing or two. But it's still in its testing phase, so I'm not ready to jinx anything yet by writing about it. Soon enough I'm sure it will be a post on its own, though.Also, Sweetie's more and more interested in reading. But I kinda have a whole separate post in my head dedicated to that as well.Soooo......Oh! I know!About a month or more ago Sweetie made a book at school, called My Animal Book. It's simply some Sweetie-colored and cut out pictures of 3 animals - a monkey, a lion, and a kangaroo - and corresponding cut out pre-typed poems. All glued on construction paper and put together like a book. It's pretty cute.Anyway, this has been the bedtime book of choice for awhile now. But we ...

If It's Not One Thing, It's Another.... 2007-07-04 22:11:00 Have I ever mentioned here how much I hate loud, sudden noises? How I'm literally scared of thunder and lightening? I even kinda/sorta/maybe think I heard somewhere that it could be related to spina bifida. Anyone else out there with SB who feels the same about noises as I do? Just wondering.Anyway. You can imagine just how much I just LOVE Independence Day. Yeah - not so much.Still, today I decided that I would try to suck it up and allow Hubby, Sweetie and I to go watch a fireworks display tonight. Every year I do feel badly that I'm keeping them from doing something that I know they'd enjoy. The only condition - we had to be situated far enough from the actual display that the noise was at least somewhat softened.But - oh, too bad! - it's raining out. Fireworks displays have been postponed or outright cancelled. Sure, we've heard a few randon booms now and then, but they seem pretty far off in the distance and, therefore, pretty manageable for me. Oh well. I just hope we're no ...

Mama Monday #65 2007-07-02 09:03:00 Theme: FreedomYesterday we spent the day at my Aunt and Uncle's lakeside camp. It was a beautiful, fun and relaxing day.At one point Sweetie went off in the canoe with my aunt, my cousin and her little girl. When they came back, Sweetie was soaked.The group had stopped to wade in the water during their adventure. But Sweetie - fully clothed Sweetie - decided to take it a bit further than that.So upon their return my cousin helped Sweetie change and lent her a nice, warm hoodie to wear while her stuff dried in the sun.I thought I heard a mention about Sweetie's undies being one of the clothing items on the drying line. But when I asked her, she (I swear) told me she was wearing her underwear.Later, though, someone brought up the case of the drying clothes again, saying that Sweetie's shirt and undies were almost ready for her to have back.Confused, I asked Sweetie again,You're not wearing underwear? No.But I thought you said you had them on?No, I don't. See....And, thusly, she proc ...

Please Excuse Amy.... 2007-07-01 20:26:00 ...for missing today's regularly scheduled post. I was on my way......to my Aunt and Uncle's lakeside camp for the day.We all had a great time! Especially Sweetie, who right away wanted to do what Mommy got to do - ride in the canoe!She loved it! But it wore Daddy out.Sweetie, though, still had tons of energy to play with her little 1st cousin once removed.While I sat myself down and enjoyed the pretty view for most of the day.Until, that is, I had to visit the potty (or, as Sweetie referred to it, the pretty poop pile).Actually, for an outhouse, it really was a fun sort of place, complete with tons of interesting reading material.Pretty soon it was time for folks to head back out onto the waterAnd time for Sweetie and friends to head out on their second canoe trip of the dayAfter which she had to be stripped of much of her soaking wet clothing (you see, they stopped at a sandy part of the shore to - ahem - wade in the water) and put on this borrowed hoodieBut did I care? No! Cuz I w ...

Sweetie Saturday #64 2007-06-30 08:31:00 Ummmm.... I got nothin' this week...Other than the fact that, right this minute, Sweetie is stomping around our house wearing her Daddy's sandles and her American Idol sunglasses, pretending she's a dinosaur. She's roaring and saying that she's mad because she's hungry and wants pineapple but she only smells cornflakes. Yeah. Other than that, I got nothin'. Sorry. ...

Don't Mess With It, Texas 2007-06-27 20:27:00 Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, bro.I heard about your little episode. The blood pressure dropping, the fainting, the blood, the scariness! The whole shebang. I hope you're feeling better now. And taking care of yourself.I know you've been on meds for this for a while. Hope you're keeping up with that. Reminds me of myself.I've been off my seizure meds for about 2 years now and, until recently, have been doing great. But within the last few months I've started to experience my own little episodes. Brief moments in time, while reading, that just make me stop in my tracks because I can't for the life of me figure out what A-N-D spells. Oh, they only last about 10 seconds or so, then I can go on my merry little way, happily reading my engrossing novel or interesting magazine article. But still, I've known that something wasn't right.So I told my new neurologist about it and got an EEG done. Turns out there's a slight change in my brain from my last EEG that shows a slight propensity ... Texas

Mama Monday #64 2007-06-25 18:34:00 Theme: Odyssey I know the definition of odyssey is a long and adventurous journey. And parenthood certainly is that. But, funny thing, the first thing I thought when I saw that the theme this week was odyssey - I thought of the word like this: odd-i-cy. Isn't that odd?Living with Sweetie, our lives are definitely filled with oddicy. Onc minute we're annoyed with her, yelling at her to listen to us and do what we say. She often is working our last nerve.Then, two minutes later, she's giving us a funnily serious look, or telling us a not-so-funny funny joke, or relaying in her loooooonnnnnnggggg-winded way about a seemingly simple, everyday occurance. And it makes us laugh. And we can't believe just how amazing our little gift of a girl is. How smart and funny and clever and wise and endearing she is. How adorable she is. And how incredibly odd.The other day she was looking at the product label of one of the foods on our counter. It happened to have her name in it, and she picked tha ...