puthecrippledkidupfront

For many years the Peace Corps ran television ads. At the end of these ads a deep, male voice would intone the slogan, “The toughest job you’ll ever love.” I believe the same could be said about parenting. Perhaps, even more so for foster parents. A phone call can change you life in a matter of moments. For instance, Amanda and I got a call this past Friday from DCFS. We were informed that a…

When my father was in the navy, he would often correspond with my grandfather through letters. Fortunately, my grandfather saved these letters and I have been able to read many of them. They provide insights into my father’s life aboard ship. Likewise, they are snapshots of events that were taking place around the world at the time. For instance, in one letter, the death of a local man is…

Earlier this week I ran across a news article on Facebook about a man in North Carolina who has Down syndrome. According to the article, this individual was fired from his job at Wendy’s after 20 years. The reason given is that he did not have the ability to perform the duties of his position. So, why was he employed for 20 years? Reading some of the comments on Facebook of this particular news…

When I was in college I took a music appreciation class. I’ve always loved music. This class gave me an opportunity to explore various genres of music. For instance, we listened to quite a lot of classical music. Through this experience I gained an appreciation for the classical composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. One piece in particular of his that I enjoy is “Air on the G String.” I heard this…

If you are a child of the 1980’s, as I am, you probably spent at least one day home sick from school. These days for me were often spent laying on the living room couch watching game shows on television. A particular favorite was The Price is Right. I’d get my sleeve of saltines, bowl of applesauce, and glass of 7UP and tune in to watch Bob Barker dole out all kinds of “fabulous prizes” to…

There are times when words or phrases I hear will get stuck in my mind. For instance, the other day I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts and the host used the phrase “willful incontinence.” The twelve-year-old boy that is still inside of me got a good laugh from that. My mind instantly began to wonder how I could work that into a blog post. My mission has been accomplished! But…

I think there must be a special place where things go when we lose them. For instance, I have socks that are missing a mate. However, the real mystery around our house is where has our silverware gone? When Amanda and I were married we received silverware as a gift. This set included twelve knives, twelve forks, and twelve spoons. I believe we still have all of the knives and forks. Spoons, on…

I have become an IV drug user. It was just a matter of time before it happened. Fortunately, I am not hooked on heroin or cocaine. My drug of choice is meropenem. This a powerful antibiotic that will be treating the osteomyelitis in my left foot. I will be giving myself infusions through a port in my chest for the next five weeks. I also came home from the hospital with a wound vac on my foot.…

I am a fan of the Canadian rock band, Rush. One of the last albums they made before disbanding was an album called “Vapor Trails.” Perhaps, my favorite song from this album is “One Little Victory.” The material on this album deals largely with the healing process their drummer went through after some very dramatic losses in his personal life. For examole, the song “One Little Victory” addresses…

The other day someone told me that they thought I looked like Superman. I must be honest, I did feel flattered. Superman has always been my favorite superhero. I’d love to be “faster than a speeding bullet,” and “more powerful than a locomotive. Likewise, I’d love be able “to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” However, the best part about being Superman is that I would be…

This week has been particularly challenging. Monday was fine. However, on Tuesday things got turned upside down a bit. Our Little Fighter went to the pediatrician to get some routine immunizations. When I came home from work on Tuesday, he was pretty lethargic and was quite warm. After feeding him a bottle around 5:30, he turned an ashen gray and started having trouble breathing. Amanda rushed…

Baby Boy has been learning a lot of new skills lately. As his father, I too am learning a few new tricks of the trade. If you’ve ever been to a concert, you certainly have seen a “roadie” at work. They are the individuals who haul pieces of musical equipment to various venues, set it up, and make sure it is ready to go for the night’s performance. I too am a “roadie,” except I work a little…

I am scared. Life is full of ups and downs. One moment things seem to be fine. Then the next everything changes. In these moments writing has always been very therapeutic for me. Therefore, I am going to let my fingers do the talking today. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Amanda and I have taken in a new foster child. This baby was born with the mosaic form of trisomy 18, which means some of…

It has been an eventful week, but we have returned home after a restful vacation in New Jersey. After nearly 2,000 miles and countless hours in the car, we are back where we belong. It always feels great to be home after time away, even after an enjoyable journey. I made a few observations along the way that I would like to share. First, having been born and raised in Illinois, I am always…

As I write this I am laying in bed in a hotel room in Florham Park, New Jersey. The TV is on and I am unwinding after a long day of travel. On Tuesday we will head south with my brother and his family to spend a few days along the Jersey Shore. Travelling is something that we love to do, as it is a great way to make memories. Yesterday, we left home, picked up my mother, who lives just a few…

Amanda and I will have been married ten years in August. I feel blessed to call her my wife for so many reasons. She is such a caring person who has taught me a lot about life. Perhaps, the most important thing I have learned is to love those who are broken. I was born with spina bifida, which has left my body broken. Despite this Amanda loves me unconditionally. Through this I have learned to…

When I was a young boy I’d get up early on Saturday mornings, grab a pillow and a blanket. Then I would make my way to the living room to turn on the TV. I loved Saturday morning cartoons. Some of my favorites included Scooby Doo, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Richie Rich. This was escapism at its best. Nothing to do and nowhere to go except to help Scooby, Shaggy,…