When we visited Florida for Spring Break Chevy was kind enough to loan us a brand new Traverse for the week as part of a campaign with She Buys Cars so that we could experience how it would work for our family and, specifically, Carter. You may remember that I was *this close* to buying the Traverse a few years ago but Carter just did not have the strength at that time to make the transfer with the seat height difference from his wheelchair to the car seat. I was nervous about that going into this test drive and worked on simulating it in physical therapy for a few weeks prior to the trip. I need not have worried. His gigantic arms are more than strong enough now. Look in the video at how long his arms have gotten--74 inches at last measure! He certainly isn't a little kid anymore and his arms are longer than Connor's now.So, now that we know Carter could make the transfer with someone else loading his chair into the car...what else? 6 Things I Loved About the Chevy TraverseIt’s Got Style. I love the body of this car. It looks less like a minivan and more like sports coupe. The crystal red color of the one I test drove was fun and I loved the way it made ...
No Mas Silence!
It's funny. I just wrote the title of this post while sitting in the living room with the family and I had to get up and leave to retreat to the silence of my room, as I write about No Mas Silence.I need the quiet retreat because I need to really think about how I want to frame my words explaining why I am getting louder.To put it simply, I have finally found my voice.After years (14 now to be exact) of trying to find my voice online and letting plenty of other people do it for me, I finally said No Mas late last year.No Mas to caring if I lose campaigns because companies don't like my language, or my politics, or heaven forbid, ME. No mas to caring if people unfriend me on facebook because I support the 2nd Amendment. No mas to caring how many online friends or followers or likers I have.Maybe 40 finally caught up with me. Or maybe my beliefs became more important than my "popularity". Or maybe I just realized that after 14 years at this, my internet life really is a "jobby" (a hobby meets job). And a jobby is not worth the loss of my true voice.Whatever it was that pushed me over the edge, I am grateful. In the last few months you may have noticed I ...
Is a Disney Cruise Right for Your Special Needs Family?
Before I left for the media preview Fantasy Cruise last month, I did some price comparison. While my husband, oldest and I have all cruised multiple times, I have yet to take our youngest. And I feel really badly about that. But to be honest with both the wheelchair and autism hurdles to overcome with him, I just have never been quite sure how he would do. Since he is such a Disney fan I always thought that his first cruise would probably work best on a Disney ship. Every time I went to book one though two things stopped me: the price and the fact that they always seemed sold out of the itineraries we wanted.Disney cruises aren't cheap. Comparing the cost between two fictitious similar itineraries to Mexico, Princess Cruises were close to $3000 less than the Disney counterpart & 3 days longer. ;Which is the point where I would take my hand off the 'book' button and walk away, dazed and confused to exactly why I thought that sailing on a Disney ship was going to be so much better.I'll be honest. I posed this question to several friends that had cruised Disney before. They all assured me that once I was on board I would see why they are almost always booked and ...
Simple Ways to Be of Service
Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.I try to live a service oriented life and in the past I have done that by being on the Boards of several charities, starting my own charity, and playing President of the PTA. But as the kids, AND I, got older and Carter, AND I, have had more and more health issues, I find that I don't have the time or energy to do such big projects.But being of service is important to me still and I have had to find a way to be happy with doing smaller things with smaller impacts. And you know what I have found? Those simple small acts can be just as rewarding. If you are looking for ways to give back maybe some of these small things I have done can help you get started.Special Needs Parents:Tell your specialists nurse that it is OK to pass your number onto new parents every now and then. Jumping on the phone with a new mom of a special needs kids is one of the most valuable things you will do. Round up all those extra medical supplies you have and find a place to donate ...
Who Inspires You?
When my friends over at TravelingMom.com asked me to participate in a campaign sponsored by Sony about being Fearless and Inspiring I was in. This weeks theme was inspired by the show, the big C. Which truly is absolutely one of my favorites. If you haven't watched it on Showtime yet, you NEED to catch up on the first season. And when you get to the very end and her son finds the garage.....call me, and we shall cry together over a bottle of wine. It's that good. Promise!As with all campaigns, Traveling Mom provided me with some ideas for this post. One of those ideas was writing about a woman who inspires me. But when I came down to really ponder that question, I couldn't pick just one. I choose to surround myself with so many inspirational women that it is mind boggling. So, here are a few in no particular order. And I apologize in advance if I leave someone awesome off my 'list'. I hate 'lists' cause I always forget someone. But, like I said, I have too many people that inspire me to focus on just one.Above all, Mother Earth. I know, corny, but at this beautiful time of year how can one not be amazed and inspired by all this beauty? Katie Quinn-my great grandmother. ...