Into Each Life A Little Rain Must Fall

Worrying about electrical outages is actually a regular pastime of mine, so when I heard about the theme of Mabel's Labels Blogher'10 contest I figured what the heck do I have to lose?

After all I'm a pro at worrying about an emergency outages. As a matter of fact, I am preparing for one as we speak. True Story. Our power company has informed me of a planned power outage this Thursday for about 9 hours. So far the preparation has been a bit of a nightmare, in and of itself.

But I digress, where was I?

Oh yes, Mabel's Labels wants to know how I would handle to following situation:

Mayday! Mayday! Electrical storms are coming TONIGHT to wipe out the Internet (perhaps forever). You don't have much time left to write about your passions: what do you want to say to the blogosphere in 300 words or less?

First I must warn you, I'm a wordy gal, but I am going to give it a shot. Below is my entry.

*****

Dear Online Friends,

I’m going to miss you more than you can imagine. I hope I don’t offend my family or real life friends by admitting this, but if this storm is the end of the blogosphere I have to be honest, right? So mostly I’m going to miss the Mothers I have met and connected with through Special Needs parenting forums.

These are the women who "get me". These are the women I have formed a lasting bond with, women whose own children, like my son, rely on power and medical technology to live. I, in turn, rely on them.

These friendships have been delicately woven over years; through countless surgeries, hospital stays and shared tears for many Angels that have gone before us. I'm not sure I’ve ever told you ladies this, but I need you. You may come here for information and enjoy reading about Austin, but the truth is I bring you here to sustain Me.

I need your positive energy, guidance and inspiration. I'm going to miss every one of you. I'm going to miss the information we share and our collaboration. I'm going to miss the support, but you will always have my undying admiration.





More than a little rain has fallen into each of our lives, this storm is nothing compared to what we each endure and worry about daily. Know this, I will not allow this storm keep us apart for long.

I will find a way to be reunited with the funniest, most caring, generous group of women I have ever known. So while the Internet may be gone after tonight, I will not. You will not be lost or forgotten. Know that I'm here thinking of you, praying for you and working on a solution. That's what friends do.


*****

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Mom Interested In Cloning Experiment

Today is a going to be a busy day. The AM Nurse just called out. Time to get crazy since I had serious plans for this morning, isn't that always the case?

In any case, I have a very fitting post about the chaotic schedule of a Special Needs Mom up over on Tammy & Parker's blog.

This morning I have a LIVE radio show at 1PM EST/10AM PST for a new program I am participating in. I have been chosen to a be a Wii Mommies Citizen Journalist. Luckily they are okay with kids in the background so Austin will fit right in. My Wii Fit Plus arrived this week and it is kicking my butt. {In a good way.}

My friend Kadi, over at Girly Gazette was looking for a recipe with Spinach that her 7 kids would eat. I sent her over a yummy recipe for Prejesnas. The kids approved, so my Aunt Rebecca's recipe is posted this week. If you have some time to make a great Vegetarian dish, check it out.

This weekend my friend Libby is visiting form Puerto Rico and I am looking forward to a night off tomorrow. Yay, for babysitters and Nurses that show up. {Of course now this plan may be in jeopardy if she calls out tomorrow too!}

Oh, I am interesting in cloning if anyone has any ideas on that.

Time to get busy.


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Morgan's Wonderland, My New Happy Place

So I am sure you all remember when I ranted and raved about the unhappy person at Disneyland recently. It was me!

It's time to turn the tables. Allow me to RAVE about a new theme park designed specifically for Special Needs families. How awesome is that? It "almost" makes me wish I still lived in Texas just so we could visit.


Morgan's Wonderland is destined to be my new happy place.

It opens next month and get this, ALL visitors must register to go. That means no long stressful lines, but a park that is expecting YOU!

Mission Statement: To provide a park that will nurture the minds and bodies of individuals with special needs and their families.

Vision Statement: To create and maintain a park that defines the possibilities of an accessible, fun, and unique recreational experience.


Can I get an AMEN?

But wait there's more...


As well as being entry and exit controlled, the park also "features RFID locator wristbands and touch screen display monitors so parents and caregivers can keep track of family and friends."


Did your heart just leap for joy?


At the risk of sounding like an infomercial I could go on and on, but you can read all about the fancy features of this 25 acre park here, and trust me it gets better!!

One additional feature that I wanted to point out that I think is just AWESOME is something that will help kids like Austin who have heat intolerance.

"Almost every activity within the park is shaded. There are also be several shaded rest stops, picnic areas and well located water fountains and restrooms. In addition, many of the facilities and pavilions have water misters for added comfort." Alleluia!





Make your next family vacation destination Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas and enjoy it for yourself. This is more than just one family's dream come true, it is a miracle realized for all families with Special Needs.

Grand Opening is just 30 days away, April 10, 2010. For more information or to make a reservation please visit:

Website
Facebook
Twitter


Disclosure: I was not paid or compensated in any way for this post. I am just a mom who is over the top excited about a place where all kids can be treated equal. Take that Disney!


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Chubba Bubba - Wordless Wednesday Flashback

Every once in a while I like to take a peek back into my photos and share. This is one year ago today, look at the chub!





Be sure to check back next Wednesday for another flashback photo op. Oh so funny!!!


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Do Unto Others

I’m not good at asking for help. There, I said it. I have always had an independent streak and until now, it has served me well. The problems come when…well, when a problem comes. I usually chose to handle things on my own in a low key fashion. Despite the fact that I now blog Austin’s life for the world to see, I am actually a very private person. It’s true.

Simply put being the single mom of a medically complex child is stressful, no two ways about it. Major medical decisions are mine and mine alone. Medical debt is mine and mine alone. Raising this child to be a loving, well adjusted member of society – that's all my doing. Not that the responsibility is all mine, but the day-to-day reality is.

I have to admit that quite often I am overwhelmed. {Not an easy thing for this gal.} I know I am not alone, I know there are other single moms or families struggling to raise a family on a shoestring budget or with overwhelming medical expenses.

Over the past two years, on more than one occasion, support has come from an unlikely source. Total strangers.

Completely by surprise I have been approached by people who have heard of my situation and wanted to offer their assistance. Call it divine intervention, call it lucky, I call it blessed.





Help arrived in the form of a gift card for groceries, clothing, and even manual labor to repair a tornado wind blown fence. In each case the support was a welcome blessing to this “I-am-Super-Mom-hear-me-roar” kind of gal. The best part aside from the actual offer(s), is knowing that the motive is nothing more than to help relieve me of some financial or emotional stress.


Do you have a utility bill that needs to be paid?

Do you have an unexpected and expensive car repair?

Do you have a medical bill hanging over your head?


While I was fortunate enough to have people seek me out and offer me a helping hand; there is no shame in seeking out help for yourself or your family. Organizations looking to help Special Needs families are out there, you just have to look for them.

I have found a handful of resources that you might be interested in checking out for yourself or someone you know that may be in need.


Aubrey Rose Foundation: Grants available to assists with medical bills not covered by Insurance

Snappin' Ministries: Special Needs Parent Support Network, offers financial, spiritual and social resources.

First Hand Foundation: Offers assistance with treatment or equipment needs, based on funding criteria.

Jessica's Hope Chest: A foundation for critically ill children offering financial assistance and counseling.

Modest Needs: A grant based program for families or individuals in financial need.

Most of these programs are privately funded programs and may be income based or have "medical-only" criteria, these are NOT wish granting programs. Also, keep in mind that most of these organizations are available for financial support, as well as emotional support.

Do you have a story to share?


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Celebrating Women

Today is International Women's Day March 8th "is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future."

The UN theme this year is: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all

All over the world today women will be celebrated for their achievements and somewhere tonight a little girl is daring to dream of bigger and better things.

Last night a woman did something that has finally been recognized, and it only took 82 years! Katherine Bigelow won an Academy Award for Best Director and, to top it off Best Picture of the Year for her work on 'The Hurt Locker'.

I'd say that's a step in the right direction for Hollywood.

Earlier in the evening, Sandra Bullock thanked "the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from. Those moms and parents never get thanked," in her Best Actress acceptance speech. It was another great moment for women, in particular for mothers, to be recognized.





Not all of us are World leaders, Hollywood movers & shakers or even remotely famous, {except to the little people who look up to us} but we do make a difference.

Please take some time out of your day to think of and thank a woman who has inspired and helped make you who you are today. I am guessing they may not get thanked enough as well.


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I Didn't Make The Cut

Feeling that my writing mojo needed a day off I have decided to delight you with pictures.


It was a beautiful day so we went outside to play Golf.





As it stands, Charlie Woods has nothing to fear.





It appears Austin prefers Football or Swords to Golf.





Why do I hear a collective sigh of relief?





We stepped in doggy poo. {Sorry, no pictures available}





We pretended it was a sand trap.





I have learned my lesson, tomorrow I will stay inside and write.





I hope the Nurse brings herself an extra pair of shoes.


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Where's Mr.Goodwrench When You Need Him?

My car died on me yesterday while we were on route to the hospital. Don't worry it was a weekly routine appointment, not an actual emergency. Well, except for the car...that was an EMERGENCY situation.

As we exited the freeway the nurse noticed that she could see smoke from the engine. Niice! So as I glance at my dashboard sure enough "H", we are overheating. Had this been a medical emergency I would have been on my game. Tracheostomy pops out, I'm your gal. Smokey car, huh?

And of course I don't have AAA anymore, it's one of the "extra" things I had to cut from my single mom budget over a year ago. A year with no car emergencies is pretty darn good. Right?

So we're overheating and I have the nurse call my brother for some pointers. We are only a few miles from the hospital and our appointment. Just how much of an emergency is this? Apparently it's a pull over immediately situation, now I know. {I am sure there is a mobile phone app for this situation, but in the meantime my brother instructed me to stop, drop & roll.}

We waited in a gas station area for him to come and assess the situation. He determined I had lost coolant and asked me for a funnel. Yeah, the one thing I don't carry with me. So I gave him the only implement that I had...





Now aren't you jealous you don't carry medical supplies with you too?

Long story short, the radiator was shot so the car was eventually towed home. Today a mobile auto repair dude came and replaced both the radiator and the thermostat.

The moral of the story: If your goes kerplunkity-plunk in a less than desirable area of Downtown LA, make sure it is on you brother's day off, your mom is home to use her AAA for towing, you carry an extra 60cc syringe, and pull over next to a library with metal bars on the windows so the kidlet can run around inside. It keeps him away from the homeless guy and the panhandlers.


Thanks for peeking,