It's been a while now since I have written any advice for special needs moms. A lot of that is because my boys are both more than old enough to read and process the things I write and I am sensitive to how they perceive things. But the one thing I know for sure (in the words of Oprah) is that a special needs mom (or ANY parent) HAS to follow their gut. Its the one thing that you were given that is more valuable than any doctor has or any medical book could ever teach.I learned when my youngest (born with spina bifida) was just 4 months old that doctors didn't know everything about him that I did. He needed a shunt (a device that drains extra fluid off the brain) surgery and they kept saying no. They were experimenting, seeing how far they could push the limits. I knew what he needed in my gut and one day that I will never forget I packed him up and demanded they admit him for the surgery. Everyone thought I was nuts. Turns out my little guy who could never open his hands came out of surgery with them open. Right there I got my power and knew if I did nothing else in all of this mess I knew I had to follow my gut.In his almost 17 years there have been thousands of times when ...
SPML-Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening | Our Spina Bifida Experience
In October of last year Carter underwent a fairly new and controversial procedure in the spina bifida world, Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening (SPML). Much research is being done with this procedure as it relates to people with CP. But Carter has spina bifida. Could this procedure produce the amazing results the CP community is seeing? Although much was unknown, we (and our insurance) were willing to give this a try to help correct a knee contracture that was a direct result of his year of bed rest, wound flap surgery and failed tendon release.SPML is done to release the tightening or spasticity of a muscle. The best way I can describe it is to liken it to a meat tenderizer. Small incisions are made so the doctor can access the myofascial (the place where the muscle and tendon overlap). Once inside, hundreds of micro incisions are made in the myofascial, much the way you would tenderize a tough steak. In addition, Carter would have an alcohol nerve block done to help reduce the amount of constant knee pain he felt.As I said earlier, there is much success with this procedure in the CP community but very few people with spina bifida have tried it. After a lot of ...
Just Follow Your Heart
This seems to be a tough time for many in my life...17 and 18 year old's making what they feel is the most important decision in their lives- college, moms struggling to find their new place in the world, lots of people switching jobs and starting new adventures.Today I challenge you all that are in so much flux....just sit and be. Take yourself out for coffee and listen to what your heart has to say. You know what is right for you. All you have to do is follow your heart.That doesn't mean that your heart is always happy. That heaviness in it is a clue that you are not on the right path. Listen to the good as well as the bad. One thing is sure, you do have the answers in your heart. And while they may not be the answers your head wants to hear, if you don't honor your heart, you can never be happy!Happy Valentines Day Friends. Love yourselves the way I love you and all will be good. ...
Ain’t Nothing Funny About Losing Your Nuts-Except This Squirrel Joke
Sometimes you just have that one friend who finds a squirrel joke funny. I oddly have many. To them I give my 1 am ambien induced art creation. You know who you are.If you have no idea who this is for or why a squirrel joke may be funny, it's OK. Go ahead and pin and tweet it anyway using those buttons on the side. Your friends will thank you for it.Oh, and then follow me on Pinterest. If you are the type of person who pins pictures of a blind squirrel searching for his nuts, I totally want to be your friend. ...
The Real Moms of Pinterest Revolution #RMOP
Oh Pinterest. I love you so. The beautiful photos you post inspire me to bake beautiful cakes, dehydrate orchards of apples, redesign my home every season, and dress my children in perfect matching clothes at all times.NOT.What you really make me do is feel like a massive failure. And a little snarky. WHO has time for this stuff? Really? I am a working, homeschooling, traveling mom that has no time to color spaghetti (which actually doesn't work unless you use professional dye that they never tell you about).So when I saw this photo from SnarkECards on Facebook this morning I wanted to jump up and down on my couch shouting YES! THAT! And apparently I am not the only one. Holy FB reactions Batman. Apparently a lot of moms feel this way. So I started my own pinterest board...The Real Moms of Pinterest . Right now it just has one lonely pin. But couldn't this be awesome? Real pics of real lunches. Like the carton of ice cream you gave them, not the themed bento box. What your kitchen really looks like, not the Martha Stewart version. Who's with me? Anyone brave enough to post what the Real Moms of Pinterest actually live like? I will. Here ...