My Next Prediction

I predict that August, 2011, is going to be a BIG month for me.  In Feb, 2011, I predicted that March was going to be a big month for me...AND IT WAS!!!  In March, 2011, my first two books were published and available for sale (The Princess and the Dolphin & The Princess and the Puppy);  I was on the TV News TWICE on March 8th (Channel 4 News and First Coast News); several newspaper articles were written about me being a quad who is writing children's books; I had two "Meet the Author" presentations that month and March was also when I became an official "client" of ATrue Productions with Brandon Ayers as my incredibly wonderful and talented marketing manager. August will be when my next two books will get published and become available for sale (The Princess and the Parakeet and The Princess and the Rabbit)... plus whatever Brandon has in store for us.  I just feel that whatever happens is going to be BIG.  Stay tuned...

New home therapies for me

A company called Americare Home Health has been sending me a Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist 2-3 times a week for the past 2 weeks!  I can actually move more parts of my body now, than ever before!    I know I am a quadriplegic, but if I try real hard, I can move every part of my body (even if it's ever so slightly). I'm giving it all I've got because I can see the results and I want to get better at everything I try to do.

My BIGGEST handicap is my speech.  I have been praying so hard that God will grant me the gift of better speech.  I've been told that I have a good sense of humor, that I am mentally alert and creative (which is why I have become a published author of children's books) and that I have a brilliant mind, but what good is all that if I can't express my thoughts clearly enough to be understood when I speak? Or fast enough to interject my thoughts into the conversations going on around me? I am also seeing a speech therapist, but that doesn't seem to be helping me much.    I am very frustrated right now, but I have the faith to believe that God will get me through this....somehow.

My Speech

Some people have to learn how to walk all over again after their legs have been injured. I have to learn to SPEAK all over again after the speaking part of my brain was injured.  It's not easy.  I need constant reminders to  NOT open my mouth when I want to say something.  I have to CLOSE my mouth, breathe in through my nose, put my chin down (and control it from not going back like it always wants to do) and then speaking (slowly and clearly - only ONE WORD AT A TIME) while I am exhaling through my mouth.  I need a LOT of practice learning how to speak this new way, but it is what I am being taught to do in Speech Therapy. Everyone has SOMETHING they have to learn to deal with in life and speaking so that anyone can understand me is definitely MY biggest challenge.

My Birthday

I had a very nice 32nd birthday on June 8th. Brandon Ayers, my marketing manager of ATrue Productions, made it special by taking a few hours out of his busy schedule to come by and visit with me. He brought a huge bunch of Happy Birthday helium balloons with him. Several photos are posted on my facebook.  It was exciting to see that 65 of my friends on facebook also took the time to wish me a happy birthday. I think life is all about having friends and being there for them.  Facebook has given me so MANY new friends....I LOVE it!

Physical Therapy

Brooks Rehab in Jacksonville has a new gym for people like me with neurological disorders, or brain injuries, to use!  My mom took me to be evaluated there today.  I don't think she was very happy with me because all I did was complain that I was cold and it hurt to use any of their equipment. I don't think I will ever choose to have more pain by forcing my body to move.  I always like to sit with my head leaning back in my wheelchair because my hips hurt if I sit up straight (probably because my back was fused with rods about 10 years ago). There isn't much you can do if you can't even sit up straight without pain.  I know she was hoping that I would become motivated to want to start going there once or twice a week, but it just wasn't for me.  Since my body and speech don't function very well, I'm sure glad my brain is still sharp so that I can continue to be an author of children's books.

My future as an author

When people purchased one of my books at the "Art and About" Fair on April 30th, they got a free Smencil to go with it (my favorite pencil smell was root beer).  I loved meeting so many new people and lots of people loved meeting ME!  Pictures taken that day are on the facebook of Atrue Productions.  I am excited to have now become one of their latest new clients.  I have total faith and confidence that Brandon Ayers, head of Atrue Productions, will make sure everyone knows that I am the quad who writes children's books. He is super talented in knowing how to promote his clients.

Art and About on April 30, 2011

I am REALLY looking forward to my first "show" as an author!   I will be one of the artist vendors under a tent at the Art and About event on the corner of Hwy 17 and Kingsley In Orange Park, Florida, from 11-4,  My space will be somewhat near the entertainment stage. I will be there with my mom and caregiver.  I will have my books to sell and a large cloth castle that was handmade and  matches the castle in my books!  PLUS there will be a real live Princess Ava dressed in a blue princess dress (just like the one in my books) who will be walking around my display, talking to people.  Brandon Ayres of Atrue Productions in Fleming Island is setting it all up for us, having banners and hand-out cards made.