This week started with a stomach bug at 4:30 a.m. Unfortunately, it continued unabated through most of the day, and when the afflicted’s name is Fulton, that equals a trip to the ER. We struggled with the decision as to which ER to take him to; it was rush hour, do we take him to…
It’s the time of year when bloggers start gathering all their affiliate links together for epic gift guide posts! You’re guaranteed ideas for parents, children, teens, grandparents and your hair dresser’s dog! You can support small, local, handmade businesses or your favorite international sweat shop! The options are endless!!!! I’d be a fool not to…
More than six years ago I started what I though would be a humor / homeschooling / Catholic parenting blog. I didn’t share many photos of myself or my kids in those early months, not wanting to let the obvious fact that two of my sons were physically disabled dominate content or conversation. Sure, we…
We’re home! This week’s Takes are coming to you from the comfort of my favorite couch. 1. Fulton had some lingering GI issues, but we were discharged on Monday, GI issues being something we’re used to dealing with at home anyway. The strong pain medicines came with us, but everyday Fulton has needed a little…
Thank you everyone for surrounding Fulton, and our family, in prayer this last week. If you haven’t been following along on social media (Pictures are all on IG.), let me bring you up to speed, and if you have, let me fill in the details for the last couple days. Saturday – I took Fulton…
We are less than FIVE DAYS from Fulton’s spinal fusion surgery at Shriner’s in Philly. How have I been passing the time…when I’m not imaging worst case scenarios???? 1. We moved Teddy’s bed out of the downstairs bedroom. The idea was to have Teddy sleep upstairs in Byron’s room. That worked for about three nights…
1. Since being sick earlier in the summer, I started watching ‘Parks and Recreation’. I have not followed a TV show since Tony and I rented seasons of the Sopranos from Blockbuster Video. It’s eating up too much of my time and I’ve made no progress in War and Peace. On the other hand, it’s…
It’s SMA awareness month! Time to spread some awareness. Some years I’m more motivated than others, and after several years of blogging about SMA and special needs parenting, I sometimes feel like I have nothing new to say. But, while driving in the car craving Sour Patch Kids, I tried to mentally think of any…
Yesterday Fulton turned 10. T! E! N! Or as he put it, “I’m all ten fingers now!” Every year in June, I can’t help but reflect on Fulton’s diagnosis and his first birthday (which fell a little over a week after we got the news). Addie was six when Fulton turned one. Having a ten-year…
Feels like it’s been awhile; how about some old school takes? 1. On Sunday, November 19th we celebrated my mom’s 65th birthday and her retirement from a company she’s worked at for 41 years. She’d planned a big party, with tons of food, and friends and family I hadn’t seen in years. Best comment was…
Last week as I sat in the hospital with Fulton during his four-hour observation window, I tried, between the nurse interruptions and (mis)alarming equipment, to hash out a Quick Takes post. By the time we left that night and got home I was too spent to reread and edit it into something coherent, thus the…
1. The big news in these parts is that the boys are finally getting Spinraza! via GIPHY The hospital scheduler was not prepared for my display of emotion. ***RING*** me: (sees CHOP on the caller ID, gets hopes so damn high) Hello?!?!? scheduler: Yes, can I speak to the parent or guardian of Fulton Mantoan?…
Next week is Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week. I do not normally write about NFP because I would prefer to keep that aspect of my marriage private, as would my husband. However, based on the emails I’ve been getting, I feel there is a need for an NFP post to be written for parents…