The writing had been on the wall for a while that I would need a new van sooner rather than later. The trusty Toyota Sienna that I inherited from my dad when he passed away six years ago had a multitude developing minor issues. The sun roof leaked, so when it rained, water collected in the ceiling of the car and rained down onto the passengers every time we turned left for days to come. The heater only worked on the passenger side. The tire gauge hadn't worked in years (Dad killed that one). The radio only picked up a handfu[...]
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Katherine’s Day to Day Life
As most of you know, I spend a lot of my time lying down. It’s easier for me to function in that position because my back and neck get tired quickly in my chair, and when I’m lying on my side I feel like I’m not having to fight gravity as much. It can be hard for me to lift my arms to do things sitting up, but lying on my side I can use my body to support them while I eat, paint, and type. (And no, I don’t choke while eating on my side. Read more about that here.) You would think that having brittle bones would ma[...]
With as many people out there looking for a job as there are, you would think that finding an aide for me would be an easy task. Let me be the first to tell you, it's not. The ads we place when searching for a new aide for me usually go something like this: "In search of a woman between the ages of 23 and 45 to be an aide/personal assistant to a young lady with Brittle Bone Disease. Your responsibilities would be, but are not limited to, assistance with transfers from wheelchair to toilet and lying down position, help[...]
Let's just get it out there: dieting sucks. Right ladies? I mean, what is better than a hot donut first thing in the morning, a big, juicy hamburger with a buttery bun and a soda for lunch, or fresh pecan pie with ice cream after dinner (maybe with a glass of port or sherry)? I'm drooling just thinking about it! Why is it that all the good foods make us gain weight?! Because I rely on everyone else to move me around, it's important that I watch my weight (as annoying as it is) for the sake of their backs and knees. Also,[...]
For those of you following along, you already know that music is a HUGE part of my life, and that I live for my next concert. For those of you just joining us…You will soon know. I promise. There are a few bands my friend and I follow closely, and today I’m going to tell you about one of my all-time favorites – Little Big Town. Christy and I have been following LBT since before they had more than one song on the radio. Little Big Town consists of four members, Karen Fairchild, Jimmy Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman[...]
Alright ladies, time for some real talk. Guys, we are about to delve into the twisty but necessary world of undergarments, so you may just want to stop reading now. You've been warned. As you may suspect, finding clothes that are age-appropriate can be quite a challenge for me. I prefer not to wear shirts with peace signs or jeans with ponies. I try to stay away from neon. Being 2'7", it's hard enough getting people to realize I'm twenty-nine, and I don't need some big bedazzled butterfly shirt to make it more difficult.[...]
If you've spent any time with me, you know that there are some basic activities I do very differently then most people. One of those is riding in the car. I lay on the floor (on a cushy mat) behind the driver's seat any time I am in my van with my wheelchair loaded in the back. Laying down not only allows my back to rest, but it also lets me easily move and change positions at will if we are on long road trips. When I tell people this, the typical response I get is "But you're not buckled in! If you are in an accident, yo[...]
I never understood this, but one of the most common fears people who aren't familiar with the way I function have about me is that I will choke because I usually eat lying down on my side. I've been doing this for nearly 29 years at this point, and so far so good. I'd say that's a pretty good track record. I can think of one time where I legitimately choked on a carrot, but that was because my cousin was goofing off and making me laugh hysterically at the dinner table, and I inhaled as I was chewing. Apparently I turned a li[...]
One of my biggest pet peeves is people who are physically and mentally able that choose not to take the initiative and do something with their lives. Even though I have this "disability" that makes me physically unable to do a lot of normal activities, my parents raised me with the idea that I would DO something with my life one day. I wouldn't be feeling sorry for myself at home on a bunch of painkillers watching TV all day. Pity parties were never an option. Granted, when I broke bones I was allowed to take a few days off,[...]
For any of you that know me, you know that my dogs are three of the most important people in my life. I can't remember ever not having at least one dog, and since my parents were/are veterinarians, I grew up with four-footed siblings instead of tw-footed ones. This week, I thought I’d formally introduce you and give you some background on each of my furbabies. Lexie: Sheltie/Border Collie Mix | 8 Years Old | 34 Pounds First and foremost, meet Lexie. Lexie is probably the dog that I’m most proud of, the one that[...]