Katie here, again!
Well, I was going to write about my amazing friends today but I'm going to save that for tomorrow because last night Kyle and I had our first grocery shopping trip!
First, a thanks to Kyle's friend and attendant, Shane, for taking us to HEB and helping us find some amazing deals.
I was super excited to make a shopping list. Kyle insisted that we didn't need one because we only needed like eight things and that he knew what we needed, but I made my shopping list anyway. All in all, the whole trip went pretty well. Nothing crazy happened. I'm starting to realize that I have a bad habit of muttering under my breath when I'm pushing Kyle, though. When people stand in the middle of the aisle or step right into our way, I always find it necessary to mumble some choice words in their honor. I don't think they can here me most of the time, so that's good. However, my second realization of the night was that my impatience makes me pretty hypocritical. I know that I probably stood in peoples' way like half of the time. Then, when people get annoyed with me, I have no idea why they're so angry and impatient! Funny how that works... :] I will definitely have to work on my grocery store etiquette for the future.
Secondly, if you don't shop at HEB, you should totally give it a shot. Both Kyle and I are pretty cheap, and our heads were reeling at all of the great deals. Those little yellow coupons are paper gold. For real. We bought ice cream and got Oreos for free. No joke. AND, the HEB brand saves you soooo much money. Now that I've done my share of HEB advertising, I wanna talk about Tide Pods. Yes, Tide Pods. you just throw them in the wash before you put your clothes in. And that's it. No powder, no liquid. Pretty cool.
So, my advice for the day: Shop at HEB, try Tide Pods, and do your best to be more patient. All three will pay off :)
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Thanks Everybody!
Hi! Katie here.
I have been so amazed by the number of people who are reading this blog and supporting Kyle and I. We have both always had great support systems, you guys have gone above and beyond this time. We both wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (and strangers!) who have been following the blog daily an showing their unending support. The comments and the input from you guys is greatly appreciated. I'm glad to know that you all love it.
I think one of our major goals in writing this blog is to keep friends and family in the know as to how we're doing and introduce them to a part of our everyday lives that they may not get to see. Of course we want to also connect with other people--both with and without CP--but you guys are really our inspiration.
Kyle and I have both been extremely lucky to have amazing families and friends. I am going to take this opportunity to recognize some of the people that have truly inspired and supported me through the years.
Of course, a big thank you goes to my parents. They have done everything they possibly could to make my life awesome. To my mom, for giving starers the stink eye. To my dad, for refusing to treat me like I have CP. Most of the time he won't even park in handicapped spots, which annoys me at the time but truly does give me insight into how he sees me-- as his daughter, CP or not. Although mom babies me, we all know she does it with the best of intentions-- and I really don't mind. My parents are two awesome people who came together in their awesomeness to create two awesome daughters. And for that, I will be forever thankful.
To my sister, Alli, who is my hero, my advocate, my reason for being me. She has stood up for me practically since the day she was born, even when she doesn't need to. She has slapped people, written school papers, and made school projects in my honor. She has been my worst enemy and my best friend. And she'll always be my sister. She has taught me more than she will probably ever realize. For those of you that know her, you know how much she loves me. She's the one who picks me up when I'm down and reminds me that there will be better days. Alli, no matter how much we fight, you will always be my number one.
To my brother Justin (Technically he's Alli's boyfriend, for those of you who are confused). I truly do consider you my twin, and I always will. You are one of the awesomest people I have ever had the pleasure of associating with. I swear. I don't think I've ever told a joke that you haven't laughed at (thank you). You know, growing up I would have been satisfied to be able to say that my sister's boyfriend is pretty cool because he makes my sister happy and is a half-decent young man. But I never expected to say that he is one of my best friends, my brother, and one of the few people that truly understands my weirdness. :) I will be honored to call you my brother-in-law one day.
To all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents- you really are the best family a girl could ask for. To two aunts that I am especially close to-- My Aunt Sharon and my Aunt Dayna-- you both are just the bee's knees. :) And to my girls, Becca (my Macarena teacher), Haley (my partner-in-crime since the age of three), and Camryn (who has given me some of the best advice when it was most needed- and she's only 9) and the rest of my wonderful cousins.
And that's just the family. Friends, I'm coming back for you tomorrow.
I have been so amazed by the number of people who are reading this blog and supporting Kyle and I. We have both always had great support systems, you guys have gone above and beyond this time. We both wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (and strangers!) who have been following the blog daily an showing their unending support. The comments and the input from you guys is greatly appreciated. I'm glad to know that you all love it.
I think one of our major goals in writing this blog is to keep friends and family in the know as to how we're doing and introduce them to a part of our everyday lives that they may not get to see. Of course we want to also connect with other people--both with and without CP--but you guys are really our inspiration.
Kyle and I have both been extremely lucky to have amazing families and friends. I am going to take this opportunity to recognize some of the people that have truly inspired and supported me through the years.
Of course, a big thank you goes to my parents. They have done everything they possibly could to make my life awesome. To my mom, for giving starers the stink eye. To my dad, for refusing to treat me like I have CP. Most of the time he won't even park in handicapped spots, which annoys me at the time but truly does give me insight into how he sees me-- as his daughter, CP or not. Although mom babies me, we all know she does it with the best of intentions-- and I really don't mind. My parents are two awesome people who came together in their awesomeness to create two awesome daughters. And for that, I will be forever thankful.
To my sister, Alli, who is my hero, my advocate, my reason for being me. She has stood up for me practically since the day she was born, even when she doesn't need to. She has slapped people, written school papers, and made school projects in my honor. She has been my worst enemy and my best friend. And she'll always be my sister. She has taught me more than she will probably ever realize. For those of you that know her, you know how much she loves me. She's the one who picks me up when I'm down and reminds me that there will be better days. Alli, no matter how much we fight, you will always be my number one.
To my brother Justin (Technically he's Alli's boyfriend, for those of you who are confused). I truly do consider you my twin, and I always will. You are one of the awesomest people I have ever had the pleasure of associating with. I swear. I don't think I've ever told a joke that you haven't laughed at (thank you). You know, growing up I would have been satisfied to be able to say that my sister's boyfriend is pretty cool because he makes my sister happy and is a half-decent young man. But I never expected to say that he is one of my best friends, my brother, and one of the few people that truly understands my weirdness. :) I will be honored to call you my brother-in-law one day.
To all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents- you really are the best family a girl could ask for. To two aunts that I am especially close to-- My Aunt Sharon and my Aunt Dayna-- you both are just the bee's knees. :) And to my girls, Becca (my Macarena teacher), Haley (my partner-in-crime since the age of three), and Camryn (who has given me some of the best advice when it was most needed- and she's only 9) and the rest of my wonderful cousins.
And that's just the family. Friends, I'm coming back for you tomorrow.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sandwiches and Superheroes
Hi everyone! Katie here. Basically, today's post is a recap of yesterday because it was definitely an interesting one.
We decided to order Jimmy John's for lunch because I've been bugging Kyle about it for like a week because I LOVE JIMMY JOHN'S. If you've never been there, it's a sandwich place and it is delicious. Kyle called and ordered the food to have it delivered to the apartment. Now... for a little background, let me tell you about the apartment door. Kyle has the door wired so that when he presses a button on the "clicker" the door opens automatically. The catch? You have 8 seconds to complete your mission before the door closes again. If someone else opens the door, they have to close it manually... Okay, now back to the story. So the delivery guy knocks on the door and I grab the money. As I'm making my way to the door, Kyle decides that I'm taking too long and opens the door himself. At this point, I'm standing directly behind Kyle (who oh so cleverly placed himself smack dab between me and the door), and the door opens to a delivery man who, by the look on his face, wasn't expecting a palsy to be behind the door. The look on his face read something like, "What is this creature??" So we all stood there rather awkwardly (Well, Kyle sat-- but just as awkwardly) for a few seconds. I decided that I should be the one to make the next move, since I had the money and seemed to be a little bit closer to what the guy was expecting when he knocked on the door. Now that I think about it though, he should have expected Kyle, considering there's a ramp outside the door, but anyways... I squeezed my way past Kyle, and just as I started to hand the poor guy his money, the damn door starts to close. I was standing on the outside of the door so it was basically closing and pushing me at the same time. I can tell by the look on the guys face that this is probably one of the hardest deliveries he's ever had to do as he attempts to hold the door open and mutters a slight "Oh!" But alas, a door wasn't going to stop me from getting my darn sandwich. Apparently I'm pretty strong, because I forced the door to stop closing with my butt. With more awkward stares, I hand Jimmy his money and he gives me my sandwiches. He asks if I want the change and I tell him to keep it, hoping this small token of appreciation will keep him from developing PTSD laced with palsy-phobia. I wiggle my way back inside, and the ordeal is over.
Later, we went to go see The Dark Knight Rises. This proved to be another adventure, as I really don't like to go to movies. You see, a lot of people with CP have a heightened startle response (which I have recently learned from another blogger ;]). This basically means that I jump a lot when I hear loud noises and stuff. Hence, the the movie theater is not my favorite place. So, Kyle asked his brother Corey to get me some ear plugs, hoping that he could still convince me to go to the movie. Once I got the ear plugs, I was still really skeptical because I tried to put them in my ears and they really didn't do much. Just as I was about to surrender to my anxieties and force Kyle to go to the movie without me, Corey saved the day! Apparently I was putting the earplugs in wrong. Once I followed Corey's instructions detailing proper earplug use, a solution was reached. So they really did work! And now I'm so happy because I can go see movies without having to worry. And I will always bring my lucky earplugs.
Just your average Friday :)
We decided to order Jimmy John's for lunch because I've been bugging Kyle about it for like a week because I LOVE JIMMY JOHN'S. If you've never been there, it's a sandwich place and it is delicious. Kyle called and ordered the food to have it delivered to the apartment. Now... for a little background, let me tell you about the apartment door. Kyle has the door wired so that when he presses a button on the "clicker" the door opens automatically. The catch? You have 8 seconds to complete your mission before the door closes again. If someone else opens the door, they have to close it manually... Okay, now back to the story. So the delivery guy knocks on the door and I grab the money. As I'm making my way to the door, Kyle decides that I'm taking too long and opens the door himself. At this point, I'm standing directly behind Kyle (who oh so cleverly placed himself smack dab between me and the door), and the door opens to a delivery man who, by the look on his face, wasn't expecting a palsy to be behind the door. The look on his face read something like, "What is this creature??" So we all stood there rather awkwardly (Well, Kyle sat-- but just as awkwardly) for a few seconds. I decided that I should be the one to make the next move, since I had the money and seemed to be a little bit closer to what the guy was expecting when he knocked on the door. Now that I think about it though, he should have expected Kyle, considering there's a ramp outside the door, but anyways... I squeezed my way past Kyle, and just as I started to hand the poor guy his money, the damn door starts to close. I was standing on the outside of the door so it was basically closing and pushing me at the same time. I can tell by the look on the guys face that this is probably one of the hardest deliveries he's ever had to do as he attempts to hold the door open and mutters a slight "Oh!" But alas, a door wasn't going to stop me from getting my darn sandwich. Apparently I'm pretty strong, because I forced the door to stop closing with my butt. With more awkward stares, I hand Jimmy his money and he gives me my sandwiches. He asks if I want the change and I tell him to keep it, hoping this small token of appreciation will keep him from developing PTSD laced with palsy-phobia. I wiggle my way back inside, and the ordeal is over.
Later, we went to go see The Dark Knight Rises. This proved to be another adventure, as I really don't like to go to movies. You see, a lot of people with CP have a heightened startle response (which I have recently learned from another blogger ;]). This basically means that I jump a lot when I hear loud noises and stuff. Hence, the the movie theater is not my favorite place. So, Kyle asked his brother Corey to get me some ear plugs, hoping that he could still convince me to go to the movie. Once I got the ear plugs, I was still really skeptical because I tried to put them in my ears and they really didn't do much. Just as I was about to surrender to my anxieties and force Kyle to go to the movie without me, Corey saved the day! Apparently I was putting the earplugs in wrong. Once I followed Corey's instructions detailing proper earplug use, a solution was reached. So they really did work! And now I'm so happy because I can go see movies without having to worry. And I will always bring my lucky earplugs.
Just your average Friday :)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Date Night: CP Edition
Kyle here again. Katie doesn't know I'm writing this and I figured I'd try
to give everyone an insight into how me and Katie go on dates (with each other
of course). So in case you didn't know our one year anniversary is little over
a month away. And we have been on a lot of dates during that time. Our dates
have ranged from your typical dinner and a movie, to attending an Aggie
football game (Whoop!). Each date has its own obstacles. But it’s the
opportunity to go out by ourselves that we cherish the most.
So as you could imagine, every time we go on a date it’s an adventure. First, I have to plan out ahead of time if I need my attendant to dress me up extra fancy for the date. Secondly, we are limited to the places we can go. I mean, a couple can only go to Chili's so many times (though I could never get tired of the molten cake =]). So the only ways of transportation are walking/rolling, or having Katie ride on the back on my chair. Then, she can't wear a dress because she is afraid to moon everyone from me speeding down the sidewalk. And I know she loves to get dressed up and wear dresses. Lastly, we are limited to the variety of dates we can go on. We're definitely not the couple who's gonna go hiking our mountain biking anytime soon (though that would be a pretty cool TV special). But all that really matters is that you have your loved one next to you no matter the date.
As I've been writing this, I had an idea. Wouldn't it be pretty cool if there was a charity whose mission was to provide disabled individuals assistance on going on dates? I know I'd definitely sign up for the transportation to and from dates. Let me know if you think I'm on to something.
Roll Out (I think that will be my new sign off).
So as you could imagine, every time we go on a date it’s an adventure. First, I have to plan out ahead of time if I need my attendant to dress me up extra fancy for the date. Secondly, we are limited to the places we can go. I mean, a couple can only go to Chili's so many times (though I could never get tired of the molten cake =]). So the only ways of transportation are walking/rolling, or having Katie ride on the back on my chair. Then, she can't wear a dress because she is afraid to moon everyone from me speeding down the sidewalk. And I know she loves to get dressed up and wear dresses. Lastly, we are limited to the variety of dates we can go on. We're definitely not the couple who's gonna go hiking our mountain biking anytime soon (though that would be a pretty cool TV special). But all that really matters is that you have your loved one next to you no matter the date.
As I've been writing this, I had an idea. Wouldn't it be pretty cool if there was a charity whose mission was to provide disabled individuals assistance on going on dates? I know I'd definitely sign up for the transportation to and from dates. Let me know if you think I'm on to something.
Roll Out (I think that will be my new sign off).
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Why Katie Inspires Me
Kyle in the house!! So I'm completing our series on why we think the other inspires us. If you are curious what we do on a Wednesday night, Katie is playing the Sims (she is always creating new families). And I'm watching Restaurant Impossible. I have been addicted to the Food network this summer. I know, I know. That's crazy coming from a guy who is a sports fanatic. But the shows are soooo good! And they make me hungry =].
As Katie posted earlier, we both think each other are pretty awesome (thats for you Mrs. Strang). I mean living with CP is no easy task. But Katie makes it seem so effortless. She never lets her disability get her down and she always has a smile on her face. Come to think of it, we both smile ALOT. Whether she is helping brushing my teeth or feeding me (after she sneaks in a few bites before me), Katie is always smiling. Why is she smiling? Because she is the most caring person I know. I am one lucky guy when it comes to having Katie help take care of me. As you may know, I have the more serious symptoms of CP. So that means, I need more help to be independent. And Katie never hesitates to be the one who gets to help me.
Since Katie pegged me as being the laid back social butterfly of our relationship. I would say she would be the smart and opinionated one. Katie is a genius. She is no slouch when it comes to school. Katie loves to learn. To her, the world of academia is one place where CP can't touch her. When she tells me all the assignments she has as a psychology major, I go "say that in English please". Which I'm sure she does the same when I talk to her about sports.
Warning: Don't mess with Katie. She can get pretty fiesty when it comes to matters of living with a disability. Like the time we went to go have lunch on Northgate. And recently there has been ALOT of construction in that area. So here we are trying to cross the street and we can't because the construction workers have blocked the ramps. And before I can say anything, there goes Katie yelling at the workers to unblock the ramp. Which I am pretty sure they didn't understand a word she said. I love the fact that she can be so passionate when it comes to making the world more disabled friendly. I think it creates a special bond between us because we can be advocates for each other.
So thats just a few reasons why Katie inspires me. I couldn't write them all because I would be here all night (mostly 'cause I type really slow). Ok. Back to our nightly programming of Famly Guy.
As Katie posted earlier, we both think each other are pretty awesome (thats for you Mrs. Strang). I mean living with CP is no easy task. But Katie makes it seem so effortless. She never lets her disability get her down and she always has a smile on her face. Come to think of it, we both smile ALOT. Whether she is helping brushing my teeth or feeding me (after she sneaks in a few bites before me), Katie is always smiling. Why is she smiling? Because she is the most caring person I know. I am one lucky guy when it comes to having Katie help take care of me. As you may know, I have the more serious symptoms of CP. So that means, I need more help to be independent. And Katie never hesitates to be the one who gets to help me.
Since Katie pegged me as being the laid back social butterfly of our relationship. I would say she would be the smart and opinionated one. Katie is a genius. She is no slouch when it comes to school. Katie loves to learn. To her, the world of academia is one place where CP can't touch her. When she tells me all the assignments she has as a psychology major, I go "say that in English please". Which I'm sure she does the same when I talk to her about sports.
Warning: Don't mess with Katie. She can get pretty fiesty when it comes to matters of living with a disability. Like the time we went to go have lunch on Northgate. And recently there has been ALOT of construction in that area. So here we are trying to cross the street and we can't because the construction workers have blocked the ramps. And before I can say anything, there goes Katie yelling at the workers to unblock the ramp. Which I am pretty sure they didn't understand a word she said. I love the fact that she can be so passionate when it comes to making the world more disabled friendly. I think it creates a special bond between us because we can be advocates for each other.
So thats just a few reasons why Katie inspires me. I couldn't write them all because I would be here all night (mostly 'cause I type really slow). Ok. Back to our nightly programming of Famly Guy.
Why Kyle Inspires Me
Katie here. So, I'm feeling sentimental today. I wanna talk about Kyle. But he thinks I'm writing about something else, so it's a surprise :)
I'm sure all of you assume that I'll talk about about how he's so inspiring because he's disabled but he doesn't let it stop him from doing anything. I'm not gonna talk about that. Remember, I'm disabled, too. The fact that he wakes up and lives his life just like everybody else is something that I consider to be a pretty basic principle. Ask anybody with CP, or any other disability for that matter, and they'll all say the same thing: "What did you expect me to do? Sit in a corner and watch all you people live your lives?" I hate to break it to you, but we aren't trying to be inspiring. The fact that I'm able to get up in the morning and make myself a bowl of cereal isn't some amazing feat because I have CP. Maybe I'm just hungry, for God's sake. No, the reasons that Kyle inspires me are much simpler than that, and probably not all that different from the reasons that the people in your life inspire you.
Now, to get on with it:
Kyle is quite possibly the most likeable person ever invented. Everyone likes Kyle. I mean really, I get jealous of it sometimes. Random people come up to him and start conversations like they've known him for a while. People like to talk to him 'cause they think his story will be interesting and whatnot. And he just rolls with it (no pun intended). And people LOVE him for it. He is definitely the social half of the couple. Sometimes, I watch him talk to people in amazement because he always seems to know what to say. And he's so damn comfortable with himself. I've always been pretty self-conscious --not about having CP in particular, although it has its part-- and I always find myself in awe of Kyle's self-confidence and ability to be himself under any circumstance. I'm actually really thankful that Kyle's social abilities can make up for my occasional awkwardness. Like they say, opposites attract.
Kyle is an amazing, strong, genuine person who I'm very proud to call my boyfriend and my best friend.
I'm sure all of you assume that I'll talk about about how he's so inspiring because he's disabled but he doesn't let it stop him from doing anything. I'm not gonna talk about that. Remember, I'm disabled, too. The fact that he wakes up and lives his life just like everybody else is something that I consider to be a pretty basic principle. Ask anybody with CP, or any other disability for that matter, and they'll all say the same thing: "What did you expect me to do? Sit in a corner and watch all you people live your lives?" I hate to break it to you, but we aren't trying to be inspiring. The fact that I'm able to get up in the morning and make myself a bowl of cereal isn't some amazing feat because I have CP. Maybe I'm just hungry, for God's sake. No, the reasons that Kyle inspires me are much simpler than that, and probably not all that different from the reasons that the people in your life inspire you.
Now, to get on with it:
Kyle is quite possibly the most likeable person ever invented. Everyone likes Kyle. I mean really, I get jealous of it sometimes. Random people come up to him and start conversations like they've known him for a while. People like to talk to him 'cause they think his story will be interesting and whatnot. And he just rolls with it (no pun intended). And people LOVE him for it. He is definitely the social half of the couple. Sometimes, I watch him talk to people in amazement because he always seems to know what to say. And he's so damn comfortable with himself. I've always been pretty self-conscious --not about having CP in particular, although it has its part-- and I always find myself in awe of Kyle's self-confidence and ability to be himself under any circumstance. I'm actually really thankful that Kyle's social abilities can make up for my occasional awkwardness. Like they say, opposites attract.
Kyle is an amazing, strong, genuine person who I'm very proud to call my boyfriend and my best friend.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Transportation: Not as easy as it looks...
Hi everyone! This is Katie, again. Kyle is playing words with friends (and he's supposed to be doing work). And I like writing this :).
Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on transportation-- public and otherwise. You know, I'm a big fan of the whole "yeah, we're disabled, but we can do normal stuff too. And we probably do it in a cooler way than you" movement, but being disabled really does make transportation a pain in the butt.
As previously mentioned, neither Kyle or I can drive. So there's one problem. However, since we are currently in College Station, there are a lot of restaurants and stuff that are in walking distance (even for me). So there's one plus. Usually if we walk somewhere I ride on the back of Kyle's wheelchair because there are two little pegs that you can stand on. I can usually only ride for a few minutes because standing on those pegs is really hard on your calves and feet. So then, I walk for a while. And the cycle continues until we reach our desired destination. And trust me, if I were to walk the whole way, it would add like an hour to any commute, so props to Kyle for having two little pegs on the back of his chair.
For the places that aren't in walking distance, we ride the bus. I hate the bus. And here's why: First of all the drivers never seem to know how to work the wheelchair lift. Every time I think, "Did you actually have training for this? Because all my instincts are pointing to no..." And then I get all self-conscious because it can take up to seven minutes just to get on the bus and people start to give us that look. You know, that "oh my gosh, I have important things to do, couldn't these handicapped kids have picked ANY other bus" look? Yeah, you may have never seen that look. It's intense.
Most importantly, I hate the bus because I have had the overwhelmingly wonderful pleasure of being jammed in the bus door. Yes, you read correctly. The bus door has closed while I was in the process of getting off the bus. Basically, Kyle had already gotten off, so the driver was waiting in his seat. And since I move slower than the average human being, he assumed that I had situated myself safely on the ground, when in fact, I had not. Thankfully all the passengers on the bus started screaming so the driver opened the doors before he drove off. Nobody was injured during this ordeal, with the exception of my pride. I was embarrassed and mad and frustrated with myself and the bus and the driver and everyone within a mile radius.
But all in all, I feel like the whole incident really strengthened Kyle and I's relationship. It really made us both upset and I think it scared the pants off of Kyle. I think it showed us that we're gonna have to go through a lot of hard stuff as a couple, but it's how it has to be. And at the end of the day, having someone that can really relate to your struggles is an amazing gift.
So, in conclusion, if you're looking for a relationship strengthening exercise, get stuck in a bus door. That one will definitely through your boyfriend for a loop. And he'll realize how awesomely irreplaceable you are. You're welcome, ladies.
P.S. Kyle's brother Corey has been angered by the fact that he has not been mentioned up to this point so Corey, this one's for you: Thank you for driving our handicapped asses around in your awesome yellow truck. Beats the bus any day.
Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on transportation-- public and otherwise. You know, I'm a big fan of the whole "yeah, we're disabled, but we can do normal stuff too. And we probably do it in a cooler way than you" movement, but being disabled really does make transportation a pain in the butt.
As previously mentioned, neither Kyle or I can drive. So there's one problem. However, since we are currently in College Station, there are a lot of restaurants and stuff that are in walking distance (even for me). So there's one plus. Usually if we walk somewhere I ride on the back of Kyle's wheelchair because there are two little pegs that you can stand on. I can usually only ride for a few minutes because standing on those pegs is really hard on your calves and feet. So then, I walk for a while. And the cycle continues until we reach our desired destination. And trust me, if I were to walk the whole way, it would add like an hour to any commute, so props to Kyle for having two little pegs on the back of his chair.
For the places that aren't in walking distance, we ride the bus. I hate the bus. And here's why: First of all the drivers never seem to know how to work the wheelchair lift. Every time I think, "Did you actually have training for this? Because all my instincts are pointing to no..." And then I get all self-conscious because it can take up to seven minutes just to get on the bus and people start to give us that look. You know, that "oh my gosh, I have important things to do, couldn't these handicapped kids have picked ANY other bus" look? Yeah, you may have never seen that look. It's intense.
Most importantly, I hate the bus because I have had the overwhelmingly wonderful pleasure of being jammed in the bus door. Yes, you read correctly. The bus door has closed while I was in the process of getting off the bus. Basically, Kyle had already gotten off, so the driver was waiting in his seat. And since I move slower than the average human being, he assumed that I had situated myself safely on the ground, when in fact, I had not. Thankfully all the passengers on the bus started screaming so the driver opened the doors before he drove off. Nobody was injured during this ordeal, with the exception of my pride. I was embarrassed and mad and frustrated with myself and the bus and the driver and everyone within a mile radius.
But all in all, I feel like the whole incident really strengthened Kyle and I's relationship. It really made us both upset and I think it scared the pants off of Kyle. I think it showed us that we're gonna have to go through a lot of hard stuff as a couple, but it's how it has to be. And at the end of the day, having someone that can really relate to your struggles is an amazing gift.
So, in conclusion, if you're looking for a relationship strengthening exercise, get stuck in a bus door. That one will definitely through your boyfriend for a loop. And he'll realize how awesomely irreplaceable you are. You're welcome, ladies.
P.S. Kyle's brother Corey has been angered by the fact that he has not been mentioned up to this point so Corey, this one's for you: Thank you for driving our handicapped asses around in your awesome yellow truck. Beats the bus any day.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Living with Cerebral Palsy
Hi, everyone. Katie here. I decided to use our first real post to explain how CP affects Kyle and I and our life as a couple.
As mentioned earlier, I am the half of the relationship known as "Limpy" :). My gait is pretty typical of someone with mild CP. I don't walk with a walker or anything, but I do like to have help from a friend going down curbs and stuff just to be safe. I currently don't drive because it is kinda hard with CP, but I do have a permit. Mostly, I'm just worried about driving long distances and being safe. Plus, Kyle does not have much faith in me as a driver (I mean, worries about me...), so he would rather have me limping around everywhere or riding on the back of his chair. My left side is my stronger side, so if you see me standing around I'll most likely be supporting myself entirely with my left leg. I have only had one surgery, and that was about 12 years ago. My legs get tired pretty quickly so I use a wheelchair for long distances. My legs are the only part of my body that are majorly affected, although my right hand is a lot weaker than my left.
Kyle, or "Wheelz", has some wheels. He uses an electric wheelchair to get around. All four of his limbs are affected, and his right side is his stronger one. And by the way, he's a great driver, just not with your typical vehicle. Probably a result of him driving himself around since he was 3. He's had like eight surgeries or something like that, but he's too lazy to count them. If you see him doing this weird thing with his head and you're worried that he's having some sort of Palsy attack, don't fret-- he's just sitting up. Oh yeah, and he shakes a lot 'cause his muscles are super tight and sorta spastic. I have gotten punched in the face a number of times. He also has a manual chair that he uses when we can't fit his electric one in the car. Obviously, he doesn't like that as much because he likes to drive himself and, as previously mentioned, my driving abilities are questionable.
As a couple, we are awesome. People stare at us a lot because I ride on the back of Kyle's wheelchair a lot of the time, and I have a feeling that is something new for most people. But we get a lot of awkward smiles and head nods, which I do enjoy. We do pretty much everything you normal people do, we just find our own way to do it. Like dancing-- if anyone has any ideas about how we can dance together, let me know. I've been trying to put that one together for quite some time. If it looks completely ridiculous, we'll still do it.
Now for some fun facts!:
1. Katie can't walk backwards.
2. Yes, Kyle can shake hands with you.
3. When Katie runs, she looks kinda like a T-Rex, so she gained the nickname K-Rex.
4. Kyle's neck is probably stronger than Katie's left arm (yes, that is her stronger one).
5. When Kyle makes weird faces, he's itching his face.
6. Katie can point her left foot but not her right one.
If you are ever curious about anything, let us know. We would love to answer your questions.
As mentioned earlier, I am the half of the relationship known as "Limpy" :). My gait is pretty typical of someone with mild CP. I don't walk with a walker or anything, but I do like to have help from a friend going down curbs and stuff just to be safe. I currently don't drive because it is kinda hard with CP, but I do have a permit. Mostly, I'm just worried about driving long distances and being safe. Plus, Kyle does not have much faith in me as a driver (I mean, worries about me...), so he would rather have me limping around everywhere or riding on the back of his chair. My left side is my stronger side, so if you see me standing around I'll most likely be supporting myself entirely with my left leg. I have only had one surgery, and that was about 12 years ago. My legs get tired pretty quickly so I use a wheelchair for long distances. My legs are the only part of my body that are majorly affected, although my right hand is a lot weaker than my left.
Kyle, or "Wheelz", has some wheels. He uses an electric wheelchair to get around. All four of his limbs are affected, and his right side is his stronger one. And by the way, he's a great driver, just not with your typical vehicle. Probably a result of him driving himself around since he was 3. He's had like eight surgeries or something like that, but he's too lazy to count them. If you see him doing this weird thing with his head and you're worried that he's having some sort of Palsy attack, don't fret-- he's just sitting up. Oh yeah, and he shakes a lot 'cause his muscles are super tight and sorta spastic. I have gotten punched in the face a number of times. He also has a manual chair that he uses when we can't fit his electric one in the car. Obviously, he doesn't like that as much because he likes to drive himself and, as previously mentioned, my driving abilities are questionable.
As a couple, we are awesome. People stare at us a lot because I ride on the back of Kyle's wheelchair a lot of the time, and I have a feeling that is something new for most people. But we get a lot of awkward smiles and head nods, which I do enjoy. We do pretty much everything you normal people do, we just find our own way to do it. Like dancing-- if anyone has any ideas about how we can dance together, let me know. I've been trying to put that one together for quite some time. If it looks completely ridiculous, we'll still do it.
Now for some fun facts!:
1. Katie can't walk backwards.
2. Yes, Kyle can shake hands with you.
3. When Katie runs, she looks kinda like a T-Rex, so she gained the nickname K-Rex.
4. Kyle's neck is probably stronger than Katie's left arm (yes, that is her stronger one).
5. When Kyle makes weird faces, he's itching his face.
6. Katie can point her left foot but not her right one.
If you are ever curious about anything, let us know. We would love to answer your questions.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Welcome to Wheelz&Limpy!
Hello, everyone! We are Katie (a.k.a. Limpy) and Kyle (a.k.a.Wheelz). We are a couple with Cerebral Palsy. If you don't know what that is, we put a handy link over there for ya ------->
Okay, so to introduce ourselves:
Kyle is a 23 year old graduate student at Texas A&M (whoop!) and is majoring in sports management. He loves sports, especially college football, and can probably tell you anything about them. Right now he is interning in the Texas A&M Athletic Department's Academic Center. His career goal is to be an athletic director at a major Division I institution.
Katie is a 20 year old undergraduate student at University of St. Thomas in Houston and is majoring in psychology. According to Kyle, she is the nerd of the relationship. She loves reading and learning everything she can about psychology! Once she graduates she plans to go to grad school and would eventually like to have a career working with disabled children.
Kyle and Katie met through a mutual friend who suggested that they meet because they may just hit it off (and she thought we'd be super cute 'cause we both have CP), and she was right!
This blog will follow us through our triumphs, obstacles, and awesomeness both as a couple and as two people chillin' with CP. Enjoy!
Okay, so to introduce ourselves:
Kyle is a 23 year old graduate student at Texas A&M (whoop!) and is majoring in sports management. He loves sports, especially college football, and can probably tell you anything about them. Right now he is interning in the Texas A&M Athletic Department's Academic Center. His career goal is to be an athletic director at a major Division I institution.
Katie is a 20 year old undergraduate student at University of St. Thomas in Houston and is majoring in psychology. According to Kyle, she is the nerd of the relationship. She loves reading and learning everything she can about psychology! Once she graduates she plans to go to grad school and would eventually like to have a career working with disabled children.
Kyle and Katie met through a mutual friend who suggested that they meet because they may just hit it off (and she thought we'd be super cute 'cause we both have CP), and she was right!
This blog will follow us through our triumphs, obstacles, and awesomeness both as a couple and as two people chillin' with CP. Enjoy!
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