5 fave blogs and why

Picking and choosing is always difficult for me. I’d love to just give you links to each and every person I follow, because I stalk follow them for good reason. However, Jenni asked that I share FIVE with you, so I will stick to 5. She’s the boss. ;-)

I’m going to try and make this somewhat fair and not pick my local blog friends. I have more than 5, so I would never be able to narrow it down and we’d be back at square one.

I will share with you 5 people that I adore and would love to meet someday (or would have loved), but we live in different states and you know how that goes.

 

 

Sam is a homeschooling Mommy to 6. I “met” her close to 3 years ago. I honestly can’t even remember when or how. She’s been a huge mentor as I’ve entered the realm of homeschooling and she’s made our transition much easier. I think following her and other veteran moms, I was able to go into our first year more relaxed and trusted that everything would be okay. The day would be better if we just let everything fall into place on it’s own instead of forcing it.

 

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I totally feel like a crazy stalker to include Bridget, BUT I’ve been wrapped up in her blog from the day I found it. I guess “found” is a little bit of a stretch. Jenni shared her as a blogger she adores last week. I can clearly see why. She’s beautiful and has an amazing story that you will just find your self lost in. You MUST read how she met her husband (he was her college professor once upon a time, shhhhhhh) and the why and how she took on the role of Mommy to four kids much earlier than she probably ever planned for. She’s definitely one of my favorites and I just barely “met” her.

 

 

I think I met Jessica at the beginning of my twitter life, or maybe we met through SITS or Scary Mommy. We rarely remember how other bloggers came into our lives we just know that certain ones are there to stay, no matter what. I don’t want to give too much away about her story. You will just have to read for  yourself, but she’s a very strong woman with a heart of gold. We need more Jessica’s in the world.

 

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I doubt I need to bother with including Tanis, because everyone knows who she is, but I consider her a total blog star, so I’m including her anyways. I was totally giddy when she actually COMMENTED on my blog the other day and later told me she reads my blog ALL. THE. TIME. Color me silly but she’s always been one of my favorites, so that just totally rocked my bloggy world. We would totally be best friends if she weren’t all the way in the frigid North, eh! Pssst, don’t tell her I said that.

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My last choice isn’t updated much anymore. Avery died, but her parents are still fighting for and working as hard as they can to get the word out about SMA. Prior to seeing a link to her blog last year, I’d never heard of it. It’s a horrible genetic disease and just writing about it now makes me want to go in and wake my babies up and kiss them a hundred times and just rejoice that I’m so beyond grateful that my 3 kids are healthy and we will never have to know the heartache Avery’s parents do. That’s exactly why I have to share it with you. So many parents can’t say they have what I do. Some only wish they had dirty footprints all over the place and jelly smears on their windows. After learning about SMA from Avery’s blog, I learned that a man I knew when I was a teen lost a little boy with the same disease. I followed their story on facebook. That time it was more personal. If nothing else, learn what SMA is and spread that word. That’s all Avery’s parents are asking. On a night you need a good cry take a look through the blog. It will make you giggle a little, too. They created a bucket list of things Avery wanted to do before she died. It’s very sweet.





A story from my childhood

This one is tough to write.

I was 5.

We all remember little snippets from we were that age.

I assume that most of them are happy and fun.

Most of mine are, except the one that isn’t.

The one I’ve chosen to share.

My sister Lisa died in 1986, shortly after she got married.

She was 18.

Mom, 2 of my other sisters and 5 year old me with Lisa just a month before she died. I *think* this was the last time I saw her alive.

Mom, 2 of my other sisters and 5 year old me with Lisa just a month before she died. I *think* this was the last time I saw her alive.

It was just a few months before I turned 6.

I clearly remember walking into the funeral home.

We went through a door to the left side of the back wall.

It led us down a hallway.

There was a door to the left.

We went in.

Her casket was on the left back wall.

She was wearing purple.

It was her favorite dress.

I still love to wear purple. It makes me feel happy.

I remember screaming in prayer many nights for God to bring her back and take me or bring her back and I’d never disobey.

Anything.

Just bring her back.



fav photo of me

I was having dinner the other night and I told my husband that Friday’s post needed to be a favorite picture of me.

It was totally a statement and not even remotely a question but it really was.

I had NO CLUE what I was going to use.

He looked at me and grinned and asked if I was going to use one of my FREE FALL pictures.

How did **I** not think of that!?

I’m writing this a bit early because when I’d normally be prepping this post to you I will be OUT – with a new friend.

Funny story about how we met: It’s December and Lucas is at rehearsal for a school play. It’s only going to be an hour, it’s not on an actual school day, parents are NOT allowed to watch, so I’m stuck waiting around the courtyard. I made Will bring his schoolbooks and we get to work, for a bit. Nathan is doing his thing and we don;t get much done and then I notice this other mom with a kid that looks about Nathan’s age. I go up and introduce myself and we chat. We find out our bigger boys are NOT in the same class but we want to exchange numbers anyways. I give her my card. She looks at it and then tells me she’s been reading my blog for a couple of years now and thought I looked familiar but she didn’t want to say anything, then she saw wheelchair mommy on the card!

ANYways … ready for my favorite picture of me?! My husband has this very same picture hanging in his office. No, it’s not weird that he has a picture of his wife with another man hanging on his wall.

 

Thank you Austin for being a FABULOUS photographer and Phil for being an AMAZING tandem master. This is my first tandem - October 20, 2012 (yes, I said first...I've been back for more!)

Thank you Austin for being a FABULOUS photographer and Phil for being an AMAZING tandem master. This is my first tandem – October 20, 2012 (yes, I said first…I’ve been back for more!)



Do you let hardships overcome you?!

“Write about something difficult about your “lot in life” and how your working to overcome it.”

 

hardships

Ironically, I’m not sure I have anything to complain about.

Yes, I’m paralyzed and it sucks sometimes, but there’s nothing to “overcome”.

It happened. There may be a cure someday. I may be able to walk again. I might not.

I have a wonderful marriage and 3 healthy kids.

I know people who are struggling or ending their marriages, so I can’t complain about the socks I find in the couch.

I have siblings that have far more heartache and pain, for me to whine about not having the use of my legs would just seems silly.

Surely, you remember me writing about Dylan?

My Mom and Dad raised their kids in poverty and I have things they only dreamed of having.

I have friends that would love nothing more than to have some of the things I take for granted.

I won’t say it’s easy and that I’m okay with my paralysis. I’m not. I accept it and I don’t let it rule me but I’ve overcome it. I don’t let it overcome me

 




a day in my life

A day in my life, huh? Well, NO TWO are ever alike. They all differ greatly but here goes.

First and foremost: coffee. Or else. Thank you DARLING for bringing it to me in bed most mornings. You are a keeper.

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After coffee, making the bed and getting dressed we dropped Lucas off at school, picked up the mail and came home. Will did his chores and we made it through our school day. It went relatively well. Nathan napped for most of it, which is a rarity. As you can see most of our school curriculum is on the ipad. Thank you technology.

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Fortunately most of it is in actual book format and we don’t USUALLY need the internet because this happened and it wasn’t until AFTER lunch that DH was able to help me trouble shoot it. IT’s like I’m missing a limb when the internet is out. I need an intervention.

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We even managed to eat lunch and relax before Nathan woke up. I read a magazine and fiddled online while Will played minecraft. I also managed to secure a playdate with my darling friends and fellow homeschool Mommy, Whitney. I have not seen her in AGES and I can’t wait to hug her and her sweet boys and catch up on all that we’ve missed.

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Nathan woke up just as we had to leave so I grabbed some cheese and a squishy food and we headed out to pick Lucas up from school. Will wanted to talk about what was going on in Minecraft so I let him sit up front. He’s 8 now and can legally sit without a booster. I know I shouldn’t really let him, but he LOVES it.

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We came home and everyone grabbed a snack, or 3? and watched a little TV while I put laundry away and got the chicken out of the freezer so it could defrost for dinner.

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I really wanted to check out our local farmer’s market so I hauled the kids back into the van and we enjoyed peeking at all the fresh produce. I didn’t really need anything right now but I can’t say no to bread and cheese so this loaf came home with us. The boys kind of enjoyed pineapple aqua fresca and Nathan got his first skinned knee. I think it was his first?!

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Oh. These 3 pictures of a red car? That’s on my dashboard and I’ve been too lazy to move it so I had Will document it so I could complain about it and admit that I had the energy to take pictures but not to actually move it.

We played outside for a bit and caught up with a neighbor friend we haven’t seen in a few months and then Daddy FINALLY came home.  20130514-202332.jpg

I made chicken tacos and Daddy made a mexican martini.

Do you know the secret to shredding your chicken in under a minute?!

Toss it in your mixer!! LOVE LOVE LOVE.

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The kids begged for dessert and we caved in and let them have a few vanilla wafers and Will had a piece of chocolate. They begged to go outside and play but after last nights adventure that kept them out until 9 am I said ABSOLUTELY not. Lucas was crying that he didn’t want a story but then again that he did so while Daddy ran around getting everyone water, I nursed Nathan and read a story to Lucas.  Our poor boy is having STILL having nosebleeds and always tired. He wakes up tired and always says he doesn’t want to go anywhere because he’ll be tired.

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10 things that make me really happy

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  • My kids. They are my world. They drive me nuts and make me happier than anything else in this universe, all at the same time.
  • My husband. He is the most amazing man a woman could possibly ask for. He does everything he can to please me and rarely demands what he wants. He spoils me.
  • My extended family. They mean so much to me and I only wish we lived closer. Two hours is far enough that you can’t just hop in the car and GO and come back easily.
  • Skydiving. It really is the most fun you will EVER have with your clothes on. You should try it. Phil won’t disappoint.
  • Writing.  I may not be the best at it and I may not always hold your attention but it’s about me and my life anyways and I love it.
  • Coffee in the morning. Wine (or tequila) in the evening. Need I say more!?
  • Good Food. I love to try new recipes and cook, when the littles man lets me. When he doesn’t? Take me out somewhere FABULOUS!
  • Sleeping in! My amazing husband let’s me do it as often as he is able and I can’t begin to repay him or thank him enough.
  • My friends. I adore my old friends, even the ones I haven’t seen in years and I cherish the new friends. Every single person has helped make me who I am today.
  • Reading. I can’t get enough. I love books. I love blogs. YOUR blogs. It’s a fantastic escape and I could never give it up.




a public apology

Jenni’s challenge for the day is to issue a public apology. Serious. Funny. Sarcastic. Whatever.

 

I’m going to go with funny. Just so we are clear. I rarely write “humor” so here goes. :-)

 





So… 1 wheelchair, 1 stroller and 3 boys are all crammed in a bathroom stall. A mom with one pristine little girl come into the bathroom and she really needs the potty but I’m using it and have been for the last 10 minutes or so. This is my public apology if you were ever that mom waiting with your princess (or prince) to use the big stall.
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When I go in, I NEED all that room. My chair takes up SO much space and the stroller?! Don’t even get me started on moving around in there with a stroller.

I wish 10 minutes meant we were wrapping up our adventure, but noooo. My middle son just barely finished pooping and I still had to wipe his butt, after I finished wrangling the baby and wiping his.

My oldest son is the one you see dancing around. He really has to go too, but somehow, magically, kindly let his little brother go first.

Once he finishes up, I pass the baby to him and he complains because his hands are dirty. He did just pee, but he ONLY peed and after 3 kids you consider pee to be sanitary.

I get in position and wiggle and squirm until I’m finally able to get on the potty, while telling my middle son NOT to touch the baby. He, after all, did just poop and we all know where 4 year old fingers like to go.

Of course that was how things played out about a year ago. Now the baby is almost 2 and instead of his brother holding him, he’s flushing the potty repeatedly while everyone goes. If you were a looker, you are out of luck, Nathan squats down and looks for you and then it’s gone before you can turn and take a peek.

So, again, I apologize profusely if you are the person that was stuck waiting while 2 little boys peed and or pooped, 1 mom peed and a one baby’s diaper was changed.

what do you miss

I miss my childhood.

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I still remember when I started kindergarten and the many days spent outside making mud pies.

I miss my sister Lisa. She died when I was 5. It was 3 months before I turned 6. I’ll talk more about her in a memory post coming up this month. She’s the one in blue. She was 18.

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I miss my Daddy.

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I miss SO many loved ones and friends who have died. Grandma. CJ. (both pictured in the first picture when I was a baby) Dylan. Phyllis. The list goes on…

 

 

I miss standing. I’m in the silver. Ignore the funky angle. picture of a picture at an odd angle to avoid glare.

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I miss my friends.

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I miss my babies being little babies.
I can see why my mom had 9!! She kept missing that itty bitty stage! I’m probably scaring my poor husband!!
No, I do not want another baby….



Selling myself in TEN words or less.

wifewheelchairusingmom



questions from readers

I promised I’d share questions from readers with you every other Thursday.

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This week I’m sharing more of a request than a question.

Someone named Nicole emailed me and told me about a little boy named Zack.

Zack is 10 years old. He is not in a wheelchair and no one in his family is in a wheelchair, yet he has formed this amazing organization that helps people that need a wheelchair but can’t afford one, get one. When he was 6, he opened up a lemonade stand that is now known as Zack’s Shack.

How awesome is that!?

The first thing I did was watch his video and it was awesome. This little boy is going to do amazing things – correction, he already has. He’s going to continue to do amazing things.

Nicole told me that Zack teamed up with a group called LDS Charities Wheelchairs and together, they won a HUGE grant of $25,000 from an insurance company. They were 1 of 40 that won grants.

I decided to google and share a few links with you instead of sharing all about the insurance company, after all, I’m not advertising for them, I’m telling you about Zack!  Here is Zack’s website and a couple of newspapers articles I found by doing a quick search.

Article One

Article two