WOW! We got a Tricycle on the way! HURRAY!
 

Remember how I was trying to get a trike for Jackie? Well I got one ordered from Walmart from the MyGym charity Challenged America! They approved our request for assistance! I am so excited we got one!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679542

HURRAY for Jackie! You should have seen him at the pool today, it was awesome he was swimming like a little fish and jumping off the diving board-the first time he panicked a bit but Jack there reminding him to swim in ten feet of water helped and he held his hand out to Jackie to encourage him to make the two foot swim over to the ladder. This other pool we went to still reaches capacity, but if we get there early enough it'll be fine. :D

Wow I feel so much better today then I did yesterday, amazing what scoring some help towards getting Jackie in better physical shape can do! :D Now to see if I won the Def Leppard contest! That comes Friday! :D

Dear Pam,
That is some serious good news!
I'm happy about the trike and the pool and about your contest.
Wow. I bet it was great watching Jack and Jackie at the pool together.

Mari

That's such good news about the bike Pam. :hug: Now we have to wait for the good news on the contest ;)

Thanks Mari! Thanks BJ! I am so excited! I just have a good feeling about the contest, we'll have to see how it goes. The trike is the best news I've gotten this year to be honest. ;) I can hardly wait to see him having fun on it, Jack will probably enjoy putting it together too. :D

They were a sight today swimming together. :D We'll be going back and probably buying a pass too. :D

That's great news, Pamster! Nice looking bike. So happy for you! :hug:

BTW, your lil turtle sure has grown!

oh pammie!!!!
that is the best news today!!!!!:yahoo:
I am so happy for you and a pool pass sounds worth it, sounds like a lot of fun for your whole family!
I am happy for you.
beth

OMG Twinkletoes, you're not kidding! I will have to get my butt in gear and shoot some pics of him now. He's HUGE! We got a bigger tank too because he was just too big for the ten gallon one anymore. I showed Jackie the bike and he went "Race? Motorcycle?" And I said, "No, bicycle, but it will be your bicycle Jackie." And he was excited at that. :D

I couldn't agree more Beth, it is the best news I've had in a long time, the lady called and left a message while we were at the pool, she wanted to give me the good news in person, AND get this, they will be sending a formal congratulations letter with a release for us to sign if we don't mind Jackie's story being used for fundraising purposes, I say GO FOR IT! I will even get some pics of him on it and send them off to her once Jack has it all assembled. Luckily he is handy with stuff like that so it's not going to be a big deal. :D

I am so happy today! :D

Pam

I'm so happy for Jackie. ANd I'm so glad you never give up.

Donna

Yup! If you give up you never get your dreams reached. I might not be writing anymore but I haven't given up on that dream either. :D Thanks so much everyone for your support! :D

Pam

In some ways this dream is much more rewarding to achieve. Its giving your son something he really wants and can use now. Your doing something
for him. And its something he can keep for life.

I think that when you start writing again. You should consider doing short stories or something for special needs.

Tell them what its like being the mom, and having to find things for him.
And especially with you having your own disabilities.

It would be a inspiration positively.

Donna

Good idea, Donna!
M.

I have a few pieces already, short pieces under 2K words about being a mom to a special needs kiddo, but haven't tried to sell them seriously other then to Cup of Comfort and Chicken Soup for the Soul. I really need to focus on Jackie this summer so this bike couldn't have come at a better time. :D

When he's back in school I'll try again to see about writing, though I just don't think I could even if I tried. I did a short piece this Sunday for the Flash Fiction Challenge that they do on the writing board I go to. You guys might like it:

The Memory

"So you know what today is." Mother said casually but I drew a blank.

"Uh, no, what is it?" I asked confused and lost in my own head trying to pin down what made today special.

"It was your stepfather's birthday, he'd have been 88 today." She said with the same casual tone, as if we were talking about the weather.

"Oh, wow, I totally forgot Mom, thanks for reminding me," I said feeling majorly guilty over the distant past.

We talked about how much he meant to us and then she hung up the phone to get back to her current life with her new husband. I felt anxiety and emotional turmoil rolling through me like waves of sickness. I started crying. I missed him even though it was over ten years ago he'd passed.

Many memories coursed through my mind, but then one in particular came flooding back. One of him and Mom helping me to recreate a poster of my favorite band onto a sheet to win a contest. We worked so hard together for three days, but our efforts had paid off winning me the dream concert of my life with front row seats and back stage passes.

Dad had messed up on the lead singer's left eye but it was okay, it only served to add character to the portrait. Looking back and thinking about how much I missed him I recognized how much I needed to remember him from back then, when he was still strong and able bodied. The memories of him looking feeble after the stroke were too painful to bear.

To honor him I chose to focus on how he'd been when we'd worked on the banner. That stopped me from feeling guilty for not being able to help stop him from being put into a nursing home, or to be there when he died. The guilt was better now then it was ten years ago, but still it hurt bad just the same. The only difference was now I could see that what mattered was keeping his memory alive in my heart and thoughts. That was how people lived on after death.

Since you all know me and my banner story you can see that this was based on experience, hope you liked this piece. :)

Pam

The thing is that if you can't sell something right away maybe you can
get it published at least.

Donna

Well that's what I meant, sell it to a publisher. ;) :D

Yes, Pam, this might be a good avenue.
I think that Donna is suggesting starting out doing free pieces in places that parents of special needs children read -- Donna will correct me if I am not exactly right about this.
M.

Ah, I didn't think of that, good idea!~ :D

Yep that is correct.

To me for you Pam, the thing is to be published. And to write.

So to put things out so others can read is the big thing.

And one of the best things you could do is give some of the help
to a special needs parent like with this tricycle you are getting.

Another in your state would love to hear the story. Not that any
state or parent wouldn't.

Donna

I'll have to look at some of those kind of sites and see what I can do, I already did offer a piece to a autism site and they published it but I can't remember where. LOL! Swiss cheese perimenapause memory of mine....