Champions Every One

I yelled and cheered until I was hoarse, but he never heard me.

The crowd on the bleachers went crazy and stood up clapping, but he never heard them.

But I know he felt it all! After sinking a basket at the wheelchair basketball tournament this past Saturday, he would pump both arms in the air, and then immediately turn to find me in the crowd. He knows, really knows, how very, very proud I am of him - whether he hears me or not!

We drove to North Carolina, about 3 hours away, to participate in the tournament. There were lots of teams, and this was the first time Ronnie's team had ever played a real game. Until then, they had only played against each other. They learned a lot, and still had a great time.

They even played the world champion junior wheelchair basketball team. They lost but held that team from scoring until 9 minutes into the game. Their coach said that had never happened!

Way to go, Lazy Legs! You are all champions!

Wanting a Snow Cone, not a Snowy Day

I know it's only January, but I'm weary of Winter.

The grey skies, the dead lawns, the ice, the snow - they are all depressing me. I like winter, usually, but this year the longing for Spring has captured my thoughts earlier than usual.

I long for sun and warmth - daffodils and forsythia, not red berries and naked limbs. I want to smell citronella not fireplace smoke. I want to eat a burned hot dog from the grill not another hearty stew.

I want to shop for colors named melon, lime and raspberry - not greys and blacks and burgundy. I want the warmth on my skin to come from the sun not the radiator. I want to plan a vacation at the beach and not worry about shoveling snow from the driveway. I want sandals not boots with two pairs of socks.

I'm sure by August, I will be listing all the cold weather things I long for, but today Spring and Summer are my elusive dreams...

Lazy Legz

Ronnie is working very hard on his braces/crutch skills. He has realized that the more he practices, the faster he begins to master walking with the crutches. This past weekend when he was practicing, Chip and I told him that he not only needed to learn to walk but that he also needed to practice dancing. He wiggled his behind a bit and was all smiles!

Then I showed him the video below so that it can serve as even more inspiration for him! (Coincidentally, the name of Ronnie's wheelchair basketball team is Lazy Legs, and the name of the dancer in the video is also Lazy Legz!)

Special Exposure Wednesday

Sometimes swinging is worth muddy shoes!



Be sure to visit all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!

Baby Steps

I learned long ago not to spend New Year’s Eve making a lot of resolutions. Even given a boatload of good intention, I would usually not follow through on my resolutions, and would then feel bad. But this year, I am quietly and gently trying to make a few changes in my life.

I’m trying to slow down a bit. With five children and a full-time job, life can seem to careen about at breakneck speed. And still, I wouldn’t feel like I was getting enough done or doing a good enough job at some things. So I’m trying to cut myself a break.

I’m lingering over meals just a few minutes longer. I’m not rushing to get off the phone when a friend calls and needs to talk. I’m spending about 5 minutes longer massaging Ashley’s arms and hands with lotion after her bath. I’m having a cup of tea and spreading a blanket over my legs on cold winter nights. And I’m not panicking if I don’t get my kitchen floor scrubbed each and every weekend.

Another thing I am trying to do is to separate myself a bit from people who present a negative presence in my life. I tell my co-worker who always imagines the end-of-the-world as we know it is fast approaching that I am busy and need to get back to work. I’m reading fewer blogs if the blogger has a tendency to focus on the negative. I’m trying to spend less time around people who ‘drain’ my energy, people whose life is an ALL-CAPS life EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY.

I’m trying to smile more, rest more, enjoy the extra small things of life more.

So far, it’s working….

Don't Believe Them, Artie

I didn't start out as a Gleek, but I am now. I'm two seasons behind on the wildly popular show, Glee, but I am making my way throught Season 1 on Blueray right now. I am loving the show, and try to fit in a new episode whenever I can.

Today I watched two episodes. The first included a story about Rachel (the glee club's biggest star) getting very upset because she had tonsilitis. Even though her doctor recommended she have her tonsils removed, she just couldn't because she believed she would lose her singing voice. And in Rachel's mind, the only thing she has going for her is her voice. Without it, she feels she would be nothing.

But another glee club star, Finn, took Rachel to see a friend of his. Finn and his friend used to play football together. The friend, however, was injured and was paralyzed from the chest down. The friend convinced Rachel that she was more than just her voice, and that life, though different, wasn't so bad. Rachel bought it, and the episode ended happily ever after.

The next episode, however, seemed to send the exact opposite message. Artie, the glee club member in a wheelchair, succumbed to the flirting of one of the girls in the club, and decided he wanted to dance. Not just a different kind of dancing that involved his wheelchair, but real stand-on-your-feet dancing. The girl researched a lot of medical trials and convinced Artie that it would be possible for him to walk and eventually dance.

Then, unlike with the ex-football player from the previous episode, everyone, including teachers and guidance counselors, convinced Artie that he had to accept his limitations and stop dreaming of walking. The episode ended with Artie telling the girl that he wasn't going to walk, or dance, or even be able to sink a basketball. The girl danced with an able-bodied boy as Artie gazed sadly off to the side of the stage.

So why would the writers promote dreams and a no-limits lifestyle for one character, and then in the next episode have Artie accept that he was different and shouldn't dream? Maybe the answer will be revealed in later episodes, but for the first time, I really didn't like Glee.

Sweet 16

Ashley’s 16th birthday is fast approaching, and I would really like to be able to do something special to celebrate. But..

• She doesn’t like crowds


• Too much noise and too many lights can be overly stimulating for her


• She has a very short list of foods she will eat


• And she doesn’t have any real ‘friends’ because of the severity of her disability and the communication barriers presented by her deafblindness.

All those reasons are why we usually end up celebrating her birthday at home with just the family.

But I really want this birthday to be different – to be special – something she can remember always.

Any ideas????