High Maintenace Babe!

Being disabled can be rather expensive, and yes I know I’m preaching to the choir! Sometimes it sucks to spend your money on sensible items such as walkers, canes, mobility scooters, and many other disabled supplies, and this doesn’t even include modifying your residence for safety and convenience. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for the ability to supply all my disabled needs; however it would be fun to spend our hard earned money in other ways. To be able to throw caution to the wind and not have to think about what is best, that would be heaven.

Instead of getting Laryngeal Botox shots that give me the ability to speak, it sure would be a lot more fun to get Botox injections for all these wrinkles in my face. My face may look like a Shar-Pei , but my voice sounds like Celine Dion. So if I have to make a choice between talking to those I love or looking younger, well talking wins out.

Fun and frivolous or sensible and mature….it seems sensible always wins. While that’s what disabled life looks like for me, I’m okay with it. While it’s not the way I would have drawn it up, it’s my way of making lemonade out of lemons.

What would you like to spend your money on?

Fall is here!

Wow!  It's hard to believe that summer is gone and fall is upon us. Without a doubt it's my favorite time of year. The sights, sounds, and smells of the fall season makes me giddy with each pumpkin spice latte I drink, college football game I watch, and county fair I see.  I do not and will not let being disabled inhibit my fun, but I do have to plan and sometimes be a little creative with logistics. My favorite fall activity without a doubt is college football, Texas Christian University (TCU) to be exact. From tailgating hours before the game, to the game itself, my family and I experience it all.

Going to the games is not always easy, as I live 125 miles from the school,but it is so worth it! Why would it be worth all the struggles to go to a football game? Because I’m participating in life…………. mine and my loved one’s lives. It may not be the way I want it to be, but sometimes we don’t get to choose the paths our lives take. We just do the best we can each and everyday, and that is what I call a rousing victory.

What exciting ways do you participate in life?

Relationships: Do they change after diagnosis?

Hello everyone!  It has been quite some time since I posted a blog.  Well, I was recuperating from knee replacement surgery.  I am definitely on the mend and ready to take on 2017 with great excitement.  My time of rest and recuperation gave me many hours to think about future blog posts and one theme came to my mind again and again: Do relationships change after we become ill? 

Do you remember the day your world changed? The day life shattering words were spoken to a brain that didn't want too comprehend.  Words like: disability, adaptive devices,  prognosis, therapy, medicine, falls, and oh so many other words.   The last thing you expected is someone's feelings for you to change. 

Change is a very scary thing!  The people who care about us also get caught up in our physical nightmare. They have to watch us go through every step of our disease , and that can be daunting to say the least. Their lives can change not only emotionally, but many times physically.  (ex: shopping, cleaning, Dr. visits, and a thousand other chores)

But here's the good part, yes, some of my relationships changed, but the majority have been enriched and have become even better.   Maybe the change in my relationships is really more about me..........I have changed!  My diagnosis profoundly changed my life.  I realize what's the most important thing in life and that's being with those you love and those who truly love you.

Did your relationships with family and friends change?

Do Overs!

If you had the chance what would you change about your day?  What would you"do over"?

Many people keep a journal of the things they are thankful for in their lives.  But I'm going to journal in a different way.  I'm writing a, "Do Over Journal !"

Each night before bed I'm going to think about my day and journal what I would do over if I could. Maybe I would show more patience to the grocery clerk, pray more, or even give more hugs and kisses to the ones I love.  Since my disability is a huge part of my life, some of my do overs would be specific to that.  (Ex: I shouldn't have written a nasty note to the monster truck owner parked in a handicapped parking spot.)

My,"Do Over Journal," hopefully will serve a purpose.  By re-examining my daily behavior, I will make lasting change.  Well, I can always hope!

What would you do over?