Katie Cunion

So...Guess what? I got my new leg -- the C-Leg! It has a computerized knee and an ankle that has some move to it...all of this makes for a more natural walk. The leg is quite a bit heavier than the other legs I've had in the past, but it is well worth it. It will take me a while to fully "trust" the new leg to use it to its fullest capabilities, but I am working on it. I don't have a cover on it right now since we will be making changes to it's internal computer settings over the next few weeks, but I don't care. At least I don't have strangers asking me "did you hurt your leg honey?" every time I turn around. All it takes is one quick look and they know darn well I didn't "hurt my leg" I lost it.

Will is doing well but is into everything!!! Just the other day he got a honeybear out of the cabinet and before I could catch him he had popped the lid off and dumped honey ALL over the carpeting in the family room. He then proceeded to smear his hands in it and wipe it in his hair---FUN! He doesn't mean to be bad he is just so darn curious about everything. I normally have the cabinet latched (childproof latch) but I had taken it off when I was cooking dinner and he is so fast. He is climbing on everything. You can't leave him alone for a second for fear he will climb up on the couch and try to "free-fall" off the back. He is very gutsy! He got his first haircut this week. It was kind of sad to see his beautiful little curls falling to the floor, but he really does look adorable with his "big boy" haircut. He tried to be good but when the beautician asked me to hold his hands down he got upset and started crying. Bill went along too to take pictures. I can't believe he will be 18 months old next week. Where has the time gone?

I am faced with a big dilema right now. Many of you know that I have owned a horse for 4 years now. His name is Romeo and he is an ex-racehorse that I bought off the track and retrained. Well...due to the surgery he has not been ridden in about 18 months. He has been boarded at full-care facilities that have been cleaning his stalls, feeding him and turning him out to run in pastures every day. He has been VERY happy. I want to start riding again but after giving him that much time off I thought I should have someone else get on him first to see where his head is. My brother Paul offered to get on him. Paul has taken a few western lessons but is a beginner rider. I figured "why not?" Worst that can happen is that Romeo acts up a little. So...today Paulie and I went out to the barn. We put a western saddle on him because that's what Paulie is use to (not Romeo -- I rode English which means no horn on the saddle & it is much smaller) and off they went. Things didn't go too smoothly right from the get-go because Paulie knows how to neck rein (western steering) and Romeo know leg commands (english steering). Luckily Paulie has very good natural instincts and was managing ok. However; Romeo took off on a dead run and poor Paulie was trying to stop him but he wouldn't stop. Romeo was confused, scared, mad, etc... Paulie held on for a while despite Romeo's fast zig-zagging around the arena but then Romeo did a fast pivot to the side and the saddle (one I borrowed from the barn since I don't own a western saddle) slid to the side and poor Paulie hit the ground HARD! He insisted on getting right back on Romeo so that he wouldn't think he got away with something but shortly after we called it a day. This has all made me realize that Romeo is just not safe enough for me in my current situation. Back when I had 2 good legs I could handle anything a horse threw my way - I had no fear, but now, I can't afford to risk getting seriously hurt. If Romeo pulled that nonsense with me and I fell off but my artifical foot got stuck in the stirrup I would get drug & stepped on -- not exactly my idea of a good time friends. So...now what. I want to ride but I don't want to sell Romeo. I can't afford to pay for 2 horses. I just don't know. I'll have to give it some serious thought. Paulie has said that he will ride him again next week -- my kind of rider- brave!

Tomorrow my sister Margie and her husband arrive for the weekend. It is her birthday and I am having the family over for a cookout on Saturday - mom & dad, Paulie, Johnny & us. Nothing fancy just steaks on the grill but it will be fun having everyone here for the day. We are getting family photos done that morning for mom & dad.

Not much else going on. I will write more later.