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