A Tired Boy With Double Cowlicks

I LOVE THIS VIDEO CLIP!!  It completely captured Tired Benny, Reserved Benny, Excited Benny and Mischievous  - all in 3.5 minutes.

Following his Failed Attempt to take him on a bike ride to avoid bedtime, we watched this clip together.   He immediately burst out

"Mama, I LOOK LIKE SUUCH A GIIIRL!!!!"

And then he asked if he could grow his hair out like mine. 

I quickly explained that little boys and little girls that choose to have long hair are also choosing to comb or brush AND wash their hair.  Tomorrow's destination: Our Neighborhood Great Clips.

Buzzzzzzzzzz

It was a tough day around here ladies and gents.  I contemplated whether to go with a funny or deep post tonight, and decided to just let Benny offer the entertainment...the world just isn't ready for my depth after a day like today.  Yes, Desty's okay as I type this...the more we get to know her seizure syndrome, however, the more I must adjust to being okay with the Unknown...for those of you that know me well, you know that I naturally fight against the Unknown.

Just Keepin' It Real, Dawwwg! A Rebirth With A New Birth

SURPRISE! The Boulder MomOnWheelZ is back, and ready to ROCK THIS BLOG! Warning: It may be a bit of a rocky start, as I live not the same life that I did 2/3/4 years ago when this was a

site...I may lose some loyal readers of the past, with my Proud To Be A Single Mom Mantra, but as Austin Powers would say, "Hey Baby!" and Randy Jackson "Just Keeping It Real (Dawg)"! I had to include the "Dawg" at the end there because well...I just love it! ;-)


Speaking of babies, last night I became an Auntie (by Spirit, much stronger than Blood, in my book of Tammy Holies), and my kids have a younger cousin! (Oh my Gosh, after the newness wears off, I'm gonna have two jealous kids on my hands!)


Sophia Elif Yenginer, 8.2 lbs and 22 inches, a true beauty! I'm so happy for Chantee and all the fam, and I sooooo wish I could be there for her, like she was for me all ?? 2 times (wow! It seems like I delivered Benny three times - it took so long!)


How many of you are my Facebook Friends(aka my FF's)? - raise your hand. I have magical powers and I see you through your screen. I'm watchin' you! LOL as I type this, I wonder if old age (33, but feel in my 70's more frequently nowadays), divorce, single-parenting, work, unemployment, and very recently receiving full initiation into the Parents of Kiddos with Special Needs Club, has somehow jaded me? Hmmmm, yes, definitely.


I Came Out on Facebook about being "un-married" on Sunday, December 6th, 2010, six months after the split, 2.5 months after the big D. Every couple months, I'm reminded that not all of my FF's read my Proclamation to the World.


So, here's the Real Deal: This blog ain't gonna be about that. That is history that does not deserve reliving, and the why's really do not matter. I flunked almost every history class I ever took, so if you want history, don't look here. And, as most of my friend's know, drama does nada for me.


I, Tammy Ann, have ALOT to say about the Present!


From this post forth, this is MY blog about being the best MomOnWheelZ I can be, my thoughts, feelings, a place for me to brag, vent, and bring my friends (and future friends) along with Benny, Destiny, Tank, Buck and I on this incredible adventure most call "life".


What is a Buck, you ask? Bait to keep you coming back for more!


Some of it will be a nice, blissful go-to-bed-feeling-happy and refreshed read - you know, the type that gives you sudden brief giggles for the next hour or so. Some posts will leave you bleeding along with us, especially as we get to know Dravet, and make room for the Wicked Monster in our little family. And some posts will make your shrink a very rich person.


Are you excited? Hang On Tight - This is a Scrambler with no emergency Shut-Off Switch!


This is my family.

This is my family all naturallll.

Hold your questions please!

Dear Wheelchair Maker

I recently finished the most comprehensive wheelchair evaluation imaginable through Assistive Technology Partners in Denver. After four two-hour visits (it usually takes one or two visits, but what can I say? I'm complicated!) my H3 is finally being ordered. Yaaaaay! The pessimist about these things that I am, I think it'll be the most costly birthday (end of March) present I've ever received! - Or want to receive, for that matter!

A friend of mine posted this video on Facebook today, and I do believe, I done missed my mark with my eval! ;-)

Rehab-ing!

Yes, I am alive and doing very well, if I do say so myself! This may come as a shock to those of you not on Facebook. I believe my last mass e-mail was written from ICU after I tore my MCL and stopped breathing, etc. LOL, life is great, ain’t it? – You never know what loop-dee-doo is going to sneak up on you.

When I think about my 2009, I visualize my favorite Six Flags Magic Mountain ride of all time:

VIPER!

Watch this video and hold on to your cookies!

From the website:

“Starting with the world's tallest vertical loop at 14 stories, and two other loops at 9 stories and 6 stories. Add to that a 4-story corkscrew and a double-barrel boomerang turn.”

The highest point is 19 stories, and Viper is 3,830 feet long and speeds up to 70 mph. Imagine creeping through these amazing flips, turns and drops at a mere .25 mph and there you have my life this year! Every time I get head-up, there seems to be a surprise corkscrew around the corner.

I have to say that the MCL corkscrew was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time. Now, wait, before you start thinking I’ve lost my mind, you must know that we have been seeking competent physical therapy for me since Benny was born. We have tried more than half a dozen PT’s, some of which admitted they were clueless; others were clueless but chose to waste our time and money. Before my ligament snapped, my quad was so contracted that both hip flexor and hamstring/knee were stuck at 90 degrees - the pain constant. I spent six days in the hospital, and another seven days at an acute rehab hospital. Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital is changing my life in ways I never thought possible. All I can say is WOW! We never would have discovered them if not for my recent injury. I go three days a week for 2 hours, and my progress is stunnning!

Funny…I’m doing so much better after this last loop-dee-doo! Nearly pain-free, and regaining voluntary movement/mobility. I'm standing with Lefty down, kneeling, beginning to crawl, etc.

This post is intended to catch my non-Facebooking friends up with my ever-extended recovery. I have more news, and of course, kid updates coming to you real soon!

Cute and Sporty Kiddos

Benny was born a Kicker. Those of you that were close to me durinng my pregnancy with him may recall him practicing Goalie Kicks on my right ribcage for months. It's true, it was insane and painful, but it became a beloved pain of security - On the rare days he needed to rest, you could find me at the birthing center, hooked up to the monitor, listening to his heartbeat, watching his heart and movements on the strips the machine spit out. As I think about it, Benny and Desty's temperments were evident from the get-go. Desty enjoyed tender moments, teasing me with spurts of soft baby movements. I swear she was in there rolling, floating to the sounds of bubblies and her garbles, intentionally tickling me with her long toes! At first, I was quite disconforted by her reserved approach of contacting me. In the beginning, in fact, I feared something was wrong with Desty. After some reassurance though, I enjoyed our tender moments together, and I came to really appreciate the lack of abuse she expelled in me. Part of it might be that I was so tired and distracted from keeping up with "the time bomb" (as his daddy lovingly called infant/tot Benny), Desty knew that the best tactic was Hard To Get!

Mommy-Tangent! Oh well, that's what this blog is all about, right?! :-)

Benny's been wanting to play soccer for a long time. I was determined to get him into some kind of soccer program this summer. Unfortunately, I fell short after attempting to fill out a YMCA Soccer Camp application. It required the same verifications as does our Section 8 (housing subsidy) recert. Lacking the time and energy to go through all that, and still pay too much for four mornings of a 45-minute 'Soccer Camp', I threw in the towel.

It was my Assistant's idea and resources that got me back in the ring, but more importantly, Benny into cleats. She comes with a posse of athletes, and one of her friends' agreed to give Benny some soccer lessons. This clip is from Benny's 2nd lesson...check out his perfected Goalie Kick!

Here is a little Benny Soccer album, dedicated to his Mee-Maw, and her soccer-clan, and also to the Cutler's who recently took us to a competitive game ;-)

Now the great soccer news! Desperate to get Benny in a program in the fall, I decided to take a stab at Boulder's NOVA, a soccer club that I've heard has great Junior program. The financial application was one page - no $ info, just questions like, "why do you want your child to play soccer?", and "which of these programs are you on?..."! I hand-delivered it on Friday, and within minutes, rolled away with a full scholarship for Benny - probably for as long as he shall live! Soccer Mom SCORE!!! Honestly, in a time when everything seems like a battle - it lifts my spirits when something is so easy.

Thank you NOVA SOCER CLUB! Benny will be placed on a kindergarten team in two weeks, then play on his own school field in the fall.

And finally, on Wednesday, Benny was allowed to participate in Slide-Time with Desty's swimming class. Watch Big Brother in Action!

Funny, he's so protective of his kid-sister at activities like this, but at home, she needs protection from him!

Our Little Swimmers!

The one constant activity in our lives is Infant Aquatics Survival Swimming Classes. Benny began swimming in June 2007 at nearly age 3; Desty began swimming in September of the same year, and she was a very teeny near 2-year-old.

Both kiddos LOVE swimming, the confidence and freedom that comes with knowing how to be safe while having a blast in the water! Mom and Dad love the comfort of knowing we have done everything we can to make them comfortable, safe and confident in water. The bottom line is that Benny and Desty have a much better chance of surviving the typical water accident than if they were dependent on floaties, an adult or the like. If these kids fell in, they'd automatically roll over, and look for an edge. No swim suit necessary - they've floated in their snow coats and boots!

No, I'm not overly confident - adult supervision is ALWAYS a must, but in an accident, time is the worst enemy. Give kids as many tools as possible to prevent a slip into a pool, a pond, whatever, from turning into an terrible accident. No guarantee...but a sure better chance. Isn't it like teaching a teen to drive safely, or preparing a pre-teen/teen about the pressuures/dangers of sex? Only, the joy and dangers of water come long before driving and hormones! ;)

Now watch our fishies go!



Of course Benny can doggy-paddle and he just moved into Stroke class, but they can both Swim, Float, Swim, which is key to survival. Here in these clips, the kids are focused on swimming, but they can relax and float for a loooooooong time.

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Dustin and I began writing down and collecting Benny and Desty quotes several months ago. Dustin has posted them on Facebook, but I want to post 'em here too, for everyone's ennjoyment. This is just a short sample from our collection.

HAPPY 4th to you!!

Benny said "Mommy I think I know how your hip got hurt. When you drink Dr.Pepper, it goes down your throat - all the way down - and stays in your hips and that's how your hip got hurt."

"Cheesecake! Cheesecake makes my tummy laugh!" - Destiny

Destiny: Talking tummies are Tummy Dums
Benny: You said a bad word - Tummy DUM!

"Some tummies talk and some don't. I call talking tummies 'Tummy Dums' and I have a Tummy Dum. Part of the name is a half bad word - Tummy DUM" - Destiny

Benny: "Hey, Mom, you know what? WE DRINK MILK FROM COW PEEEEEEEE!"

Destiny: My Leg Hurts
Mommy: Like Mommy?
Destiny: Uh huh
Mommy: Did you have a surgery?
Destiny: Not yet.

Benny: "Hey, Mom, you know what? WE DRINK MILK FROM COW PEEEEEEEE!"

On St. Patricks Day
Benny: Pick out Green!
Destiny: No - Because Mommy Loves Me the way I am (she wanted to wear pink)

Benny: I don't want chicken strips.
Daddy: But these are chicken fingers.
Benny: Chicken Fingers! (runs to kitchen table to eat)

Daddy to Benny: It's not a roll - it's Garlic Bread
Destiny Interjects: There's a spider named Garlic Bread (Charlotte's Web)

"Mom, I want to be a baby again in your tummy and when I come out - I want a Pink Luvy!" - Destiny (Benny gave her a yellow luvy doll at the hospital when she was born)

Mommy: Destiny, do you have a brain?
Destiny: Yes, it's right here. (points to leg)
Mommy: Mine's in my head.
Destiny: Ha! Mine's inside my cheek!

"Daddy, this elephant needs to go potty" - Destiny

"I'm a people-changing dog. Did you know that? In just a minute, I'm gonna turn back into a bad dog." - Benny

"Mom! The dog's gonna scratch your hip!" - Destiny when Benny was playing like a dog

"I Love you Higher than Pluto. Higher!"
- Benny, who was studying space and planets at Sunflower Preschool

"I found this in your room - so it's mine!" - Destiny

"Chomp starts with Chomper." - Destiny
(Chomper is a young T-Rex on The Land Before Time cartoon series)

"I wish you had a Better Brain, Mom! You just Forget. Forget. Forget. Forget." - Benny

Mommy: I love you Darling!
Destiny: I'm not a Doggie, Silly!
Mommy: I love you Darling!
Destiny: I'm not a Dolly, I'm Desty, the Daughter!

Benny: Do you remember when we went to the Cemetary?
Daddy: Arlington Cemetary?
Benny: Yeah. When can we go back and see the Dead People?

Daddy: Be Careful not to step on Mom!
Destiny: I didn't - I stepped on Myself!

Each day, Destiny likes to tell us about the dreams she had the previous night, here is one instance:
"The Soldiers attacked my leg and that's how my leg got hurt Like Mom."
"I was in my Dream, and you weren't - you stayed Home."

"I'm never going to school again, Until I Die!" - Benny

"Huh?" - Destiny

"What?" - Destiny

"Get That Cat Out!" - Destiny, so angry she shakes

"There was a Poopy in the Potty and I tried to Pee it Down." - Benny

Daddy: How did your room get this messy Destiny?
Destiny: A Monster did it!

Daddy: You need to keep that icepack on there for a while so the bump & swelling will stay down.
Destiny: I want it to stay up!