The Girl & Cerebral Palsy

What You Want to Know About Sarah Kate But Don’t Want to Ask

June 18, 2013

In Calera, Alabama, a building sits at the intersection of US Highway 31 and County Road 22. It’s one of those dining zombies – built to house one restaurant that closed down, followed by another and another, with no real explanation for why none of them last. It started out as a meat-and-three but has [...]

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Behind the Scenes Commentary on The Ten Year Marathon

June 11, 2013

Last Thursday, I posted an updated video (embedded above) showing the progress Sarah Kate has made in her gross motor skills over the seven years since she underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery at age three. I had intended to include a commentary of the video when I posted it, but as I was editing it and [...]

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VIDEO: The Ten Year Marathon: Seven Years Post-SDR Update

June 6, 2013

I can’t believe my baby is ten years old. Okay, so I know she’s been ten for almost six months now, but the end of the school year really cemented it in my mind. She’s not a baby anymore, and she really isn’t even a little girl, either. I got to thinking a few weeks [...]

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To the Lady in the Black Sedan…

June 4, 2013

I get it. I understand why you did what you did. The main parking lot is a pretty long walk from the building, and the circular drive out front is always a clusterfark during pickup and dropoff for swim team. Your kids are old enough to be left at practice by themselves (I’m guessing 7-8?) [...]

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Final Game. Final at Bat. Would She Finish Strong?

May 9, 2013

It’s been a tough softball season. Sarah Kate’s team wasn’t very good, combining 8U with 6U wasn’t ideal, and despite being better at hitting the balls this season, Sarah Kate seemed to always hit them in the fielding “sweet spot,” giving her little chance to get a single, much less score. She had lots of [...]

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A Few Thoughts From Sarah Kate

May 1, 2013

When I agreed last week to let Sarah Kate write a guest post for me, it hadn’t occurred to me that she hasn’t been taught any creative writing in school yet. Many of you were enthusiastic about reading what she had to say, so I’m sticking by my original decision to post her thoughts today. [...]

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BREAKING: Sarah Kate Starting a Blog!

April 25, 2013

On Wednesday, Sarah Kate announced that she wants to start a blog. She’s mentioned it before, but in the past I’ve smiled, nodded, and tried to ignore it. Based on her demeanor, though, I suspected this time might be different. I suggested that a blog was a big commitment – something she would have to [...]

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Three Truths, One Lie – Can You Identify the Lie?

April 15, 2013

Let’s have some fun on this Monday morning! I’ve got a poll up over on my Facebook page and I’d love it if you’d help a sister out by heading over and selecting one of the following four statements. Three of the statements are true; one is a lie. Can you identify the lie? Individuals with CP [...]

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Sarah Kate’s Birth Story: The Epilogue

January 3, 2013

Thank you to all of you who tuned in for Sarah Kate’s birth story. In case you missed it, you can click here for Part 1, Part 2 , and Part 3. I promised you an epilogue, which I’ve written as a series of vignettes, rather than a narrative like the first three parts, and [...]

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Sarah Kate’s Birth Story: Part 3

December 27, 2012

I’ve debated for a long time whether to post my children’s birth stories. On the one hand, it feels a bit narcissistic to publish them, but on the other, aren’t all of my posts a bit narcissistic? It does seem from what I’ve read elsewhere that many people enjoy reading birth stories, so in honor [...]

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