Hi Carla,

   Well, Amber tripped this weekend, but it was on one her own pantlegs.
Fell dramatically and slide down the hall ( hardwood floor) arms extended
like Supermans. We spent 3 hours in the ER, and we lucked out - only a badly
sprained great toe on right foot. When the Doc said "Are we a Klutz? - I
said, No she has CP. Oh I didn't know - well it was on her chart!  I hate it
even if someone is clumsy - because even graceful humans must trip
occasionally.  We look like a semi matched pair, I am still in a sling and
splint from my header down the stairs ( best Hollywood style - was an
awesome trip but I never want to do that again) and she has a cast boot
thingy.

   We do have 4 cats and 2 dogs, and especially first thing in the morning -
I am covered in furry critters. The new puppy a long haired miniature
Dachshund - is always right under the feet. Both dogs sit by my feet when I
cook and clean in the kitchen and the dishes and the cats help by climbing
in the dishwasher and the lower cabinets when I put away the pots.

  The new kitchen is nice - but I still don't have windows. The last
contractor was horrible and I fired him - when the wall paper started coming
off the wall the day after it was put up. The ceilings were painted 2 shades
of white, and a mess of other things. I had the plimber in after they left a
$500 bill for breaking a pipe in the kitchen and starting a flood, after the
put the sink and desposal and dishwasher back. Amber helped me replace the
potty guts. She was good. Better than the contractor and cheaper than the
plumber!! When I had Alex help me - she broke the tank top. I am not sure
the house is going to survive the kids, and the contarctors!!

   Amber has a great winter - 2 weeks off from school for the snow!!

   Her IEP is Thursday - so wish me luck.

                                       Trisha


> The only major flip I took was back in 1984, but that wasn't cp related.
> It
> was cat related. I tripped over a black cat that I touched with a bare
> foot,
> in a dimly lit hallway. He decided to park his furball butt in my bedroom,
> and as I made my way along and switched on the bedroom light, down I went.
> I
> essentially chose to land on my hands to avoid a head hit, never realising
> that my dominant arm would take the full impact to such a damaging degree
> -
> dislocation of the elbow. Not a pretty sight. Took months to recover with
> therapy. Nothing like being incarcerated in a hospital for a month where
> your father is one of the staff physicians whose purpose it had become to
> drive you insane. Couldn't use my crutches, couldn't propel a wheelchair
> (kept going around in circles). Totally trapped. I took to pushing an
> empty
> wheelchair up and down the hall, using my good hand/arm. Got sick twice.
> Damned hospital germs!
>
>   Moral of the story - if you have a lay-about pet, make a lot of noise to
> get the brat outta the way. And turn on lots of lights!
>
> Cheers!
>
> Carla
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of BG Greer, PhD
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 6:02 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: CP and ambulation
>
>
>  My problem relates to weight, or rather, over weight. Sometimes I feel
> off
> balance like  my center of gravity has shifted.
>
> Bobby