Strong Enough To Be Your Mom – Part 2
Remember last summer, I was in Mexico having nightmares about a promise I had made to Lucy.
(If you missed that, read: Strong Enough To Be Your Mom – Part 1)
Anyway, last summer in Mexico I found an advertisement for a glass bottom boat. I thought it would be perfect for Lucy, because she is not a fan of putting her face under water. She has dysarthria<--- which came along as a sidekick to cerebral palsy<--- which came as a sidekick to spina bifida (Thank you very much).
Because of her dysarthria, snorkeling does not work for Lucy. It is tough for her to get her body to either breathe through her mouth or her nose.
I asked Lucy if she would like to see the fish, but do it in a boat and not even get wet! She loved the idea. I called the company to make the reservation. I asked them about wheelchair accessibility 
there was none. A bus would pick us up and take us to the main location. We would board a speedboat and it would drive us out to a small submarine. Then we would transfer onto the sub go down a tight spiral staircase to our seats below!
No wheelchair. Not for any of it. We would be gone for at least 6 hours.
Could I do it? Could I carry all 40+ pounds of her? Could I carry her as I exited a boat, out in the ocean, and hopped over to a sub?
Was I strong enough to bring her to new experiences? Or because of my lack of physical strength was she literally “bound” to her wheelchair? Was I strong enough to show her the world beyond sidewalks and ramps? The worlds of dirt and gravel and sand and water and beauty? What would she think of me if I failed her? Worse yet… what would I think of myself?
My nightmares the night before included being dropped off with her in the desert, with nowhere to rest, nothing but sand, sand dunes and smooth rocky hills. After hours in the hot sun, moving her from piggy-backing to a side carry, to baby-in-arms hold, I frantically looked for anyone who might have a stroller. Even in the deep sand a stroller would give me a little rest and we could still slowly move forward. I moved her to my back as we bouldered across mountains of rock.
When I woke up I was exhausted, soaked with sweat.
That was a year ago.
I was able to hold her as we stood in line, transferred to the boat, transferred to the sub and back to the boat. We had a great time together and I don’t think my daughter ever knew my fear… my fear that I would let her down. The fear that I might be just one more “No!” in a world full of people, who throughout her life, will simply look at her and tell her, “No.”
Something changed in me that day. I began working out harder at the gym, running faster and farther. I looked for better backpacks to carry her in.
With Lucy as our inspiration, Aaron and I signed up with a personal trainer and started training with him 4 days a week. I felt silly doing it, I didn’t want to tell anyone because it felt so “Hollywood!” (Um, YES! I TOTALLY have a personal TRAIN-ER!)
But I wasn’t going to be stopped by feeling silly or cliché. My reasons were bigger than that. When Jared, the owner of the gym, and Matt, our trainer, asked what our goals were, Aaron and I said, “We definitely need to be able to dead-lift 50 pounds, over and over and over again. Every single day.” I said, “I don’t care if I lose weight, but I need to get stronger. We have to increase our overall strength because we have an 8 year-old in a wheelchair and every day she is growing. We have to keep up with her!”
Jared Trevino, who owns our gym, Fit Forever, offered to come to the house and watch how we lift and transfer Lucy. He watched us load her in and out of her car seat. Then we loaded her wheelchair in and out of our car. Next we lifted her from her wheelchair and sat her on her bed, then moved her back to the wheelchair. Then we transferred her to her feeder chair at the dinner table.
I set her on her back, in the bottom of the tub. I stepped in, straddled her and lifted her out, stepping carefully over the edge, one foot at a time, like I do when she has a bath. (A maneuver that is much easier when she is fully clothed and dry.)
We put her in her small wheelchair and “bumped” her up and down the stairs. We put her in her stander and then pulled her out of it.
Jared then showed us how to do each of those things with correct form, giving us more strength, more control, protecting our lower backs and protecting Lucy. We had been doing it all wrong… but only for the last 9 years. 
Our trainer, Matt Williams, says that very few of his clients train as intensely as Aaron and I train. I wonder if many of them have as much at stake as we do. We are Lucy’s legs. We are the wheelchair, when the wheelchair says “No.”
When we workout on our own, people literally stop and stare. They stop us to say that they are inspired by us and that they can see our determination. They assume we are in training for a physical, competitive event like a triathlon or marathon. When they ask what we are training for I say, “I’m training for my daughter, Lucy, who’s in a wheelchair. I’m training for our life.”
Lucy is my motivation. When I don’t want to run, I still run… and I run… because I can run. She may never run, not in her whole life, and I just won’t take my ability to do so for granted. I push myself physically so I can carry her. So I can run with her. I do it, so I can be a “Yes.”
A couple of months ago, Lucy asked, “Mom, can just you and me go to Disneyland sometime? Just you and me. Not Daddy, not Leah.” (In my mind I quietly, nervously, calculated the number of times I would need to lift her. Then I told myself to “STOP IT!” And I told my daughter, “Yes.”
“Mom, can I hike through Goblin Valley?”
“Yep.”
“Mom, can we hike all the way up to Delicate Arch?
“Absoultely!”
Let’s just say it… there’s quite a difference in my physical appearance from Signing Time Series 2 to Baby Signing Time 3 & 4. Actually, I have been all over the scale map from the first show to the most recent.
Honestly, I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life and finally, finally I’ve found something that motivates me. A reason to push myself. A reason to really ask, “Is that all you can do Rachel? Are you sure?”
One word- Lucy.
A few nights ago I carried Lucy down the hall to get her ready for bed. I placed her on her bed, so that she was sitting up and leaning against the wall. She smiled at me and said quietly, “Mom, I can tell you’re getting stronger.”
And that’s the best reward of all.
Tags: cerebral palsy, Delicate Arch, disability, Disneyland, Fit Forever, Fitness, Goblin Valley, health, Lucy Coleman, mom, Rachel, Spina bifida, wheelchair
July 24th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I hope you enjoyed the Disneyland trip as much as Lucy clearly did! Thank you for the inspiration AND motivation!
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Da*n it Rachel! I told you to set up a tissue warning at the beginning when you’re going to make me cry!!!
Anyway, way to go on all your hard work! You look amazing, but the joy in Lucy’s smile is awesome!
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
and all the tweets and chats on the subject have really inspired me to get in shape too.
I see the photos of you backpacking and Ergoing her and I know how I ache after a long day with my son on my back and he’s just 18 mos and 23lbs or a short afternoon with my daughter (4yrs. 36lbs).
You are an amazing woman, thank you for always giving us perspective (and making us cry too)!
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Completely in tears. As the mother of 5 kids who are adopted with special needs (ages 4-11) and a Motivational speaker, I’m right on board. Same story, different details. I was also a foster parent to drug addicted newborns for 9 years. We found Signing Time to be a wonderful resource for All of our children who have crossed through our homes.
This includes Zoe … with severe facial deformity, born in China. Signs saved us in our communications with her. Jacob who is hydrocephalic and autistic. etc.
I also realized that I couldn’t keep taking home every one of the 143 million orphans of the world. So I started a non-profit to help deliver supplies, love and hope to the special needs orphans. Signs are a huge part of our ministry.
In a world where people tear each other down and condemn that which is unfamiliar, I want to celebrate WITH you on your triumphs of the journey of daily life. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the new dose of inspiration today.
Dr. Beth Gore
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
YOU ROCK!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I really needed some perspective today, and you totally gave it to me!
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I love this post. I, as you VERY well know, have been insprired by your strength (both physcially and mentally). I love that you did this not only for yourself, but for Lucy. I have tried to stop saying “no” so much because it’s hard on my, and your stories are what made me realize I do that WAY too much. I love both of your smiles!
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I just cried my way through that entire post.
I am relatively new to BST and sign language in general. With my first son, I didn’t want to do it b/c it was just so darn trendy, and to be perfectly honest, I was just too lazy.
Then my second son was born with Down syndrome, and I knew I couldn’t hide from sign language anymore.
My mom bought him the entire set of BST DVDs and CDs for Christmas when he was eight months old, but because he was recovering from his open-heart surgery and preparing for his intestinal surgery, we waited until he was about a year before we even opened the cellophane.
Now we are hooked. My three-year-old son and I are learning so many signs together. He requests to watch the DVDs by color. (“Mommy, today I want to watch the blue Baby Signing Time!”) We listen to the CDs in the car. As soon as the second song starts, Andrew announces which color BST it is. (And I bawl all the way through “Special to Me.”)
Benjamin (15 months now) is still just watching and (hopefully) soaking it all in. We sign to him a lot, but are still waiting for his first sign.
I just found your blog about a week ago. It all means SO MUCH more to me. I read Leah’s Story and Lucy’s Story and just cried. Being the mom to a special-needs child is so hard at times, and it’s such a comfort knowing we’re not alone.
We got some more disheartening news today about one of B’s medical problems. But, really, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal. Because I found out yesterday that I am expecting our third baby. Life is good. I have a wonderful husband, the sweetest boys ever (I can say that b/c you have girls.
), and a sense of peace. Even amidst all the chaos.
Loved this post. I’m going to read it aloud to my mom and my husband. They’re used to hearing me blubber my way through things.
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July 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I am with Kei here… tissue warning needed!
You rock Rachel! I was struck a the similar way you handled Leah’s deafness and Lucy’s physical limitations…in both cases you said we have to do… so we can keep up. But you guys have a track record of going above and beyond.
With Signing Time, you have affected thousands and thousands of people. We all are grateful for your determination.
And now, you have inspired us to go another step further.
My only questions is:
When will we see the Rachel and Aaron work out video?
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July 24th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Rachel – I’m recovering from oral surgery. I had seven teeth removed (4 wisdom, plus 3 more). I had to have one more extracted about a year ago. It’s been an incredible psychological blow. Today I’m starting to feel better enough after my surgery that I’m starting to feel the pain, grief and anxiety of dealing with a very noticeably broken smile.
I share all this to say, today, of all days – I get in my inbox your blog post about being strong enough for Lucy and I’m moved, shaken and challenged.
I don’t know how I will get past my instinct to hide away, embarrassed and ashamed. I don’t know yet how I will get past my fear of being judged or looked down upon. But it must happen… not just for myself, and not just to not allow fear a single day without being challenged in the name of love and courage… but because of my beautiful 4 1/2 year old girl, Amira. How I deal with my fears, my weaknesses, and my challenges are all examples to her of how to face her own when they come. And even though I don’t want her to face those difficulties, she will.
Lucy’s saying to you, “Mom, I can tell you’re getting stronger.” is transformative. Thank you for sharing your experience and journey. I emailed you a few years back thanking you for your incredible contribution through the Signing Time DVDs. Today, I’m thanking you for helping and encouraging me on my journey to becoming a stronger person and of special importance to me… a stronger mom.
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July 24th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I’m with Kei on this one! Not nice to not warn!
I’ve been thinking the same thoughts (you know, about being someone’s legs and strength) for a long time as well. Perhaps you’re the push it is going to take to make me get off my rump and do it. I’ll keep you posted.
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July 24th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Wow! How awesome for you to have that incredibly life changing event take place in your brain and body! How awesome for you as a mommy and as a public figure as well (now you’re motivating all of the rest of us). Just look at Lucy’s face in any of those pictures (or your face for that matter) and you can see the glow.
Great job there!
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July 24th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I have been thinking so much about the Strong Enough Post 1 lately. I was diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago, and, as a mom of a 4-year-old ST fan with Down syndrome, my biggest fear and sense of loss was wondering if I will ever again be strong enough for this job. Clearly, for the next many months, I will not be physically strong enough. However, what I’m seeing unfold before my eyes is strength gained from leaning on friends and family, including my children themselves, in getting through this. The lesson of the caregiver gone bad I guess.
Do another 100 reps for me, Rachel, but also know, with all the blessings and gifts you have shared with so many families, you will always be strong enough–even when you’re not. Keep up the great work!
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July 24th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Oh, Rachel! You made me cry! it’s amazing how motivated we can be to reach a goal that seems unattainable when our kids are the reason “why.”
Thank you for being so transparent and for sharing your “why.” Thank for your being an inspiration, not only to regular folks like me, but most importantly to Lucy. Your actions speak so much louder than your words.
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
A tissue warning would have been nice! What an inspiration you are to all of us!
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
[...] “Signing Time” wrote a new post about her motivation to increase her physical strength, “Strong Enough to be Your Mom- Part 2″ . It made me cry, and y’all know I have a heart of [...]
July 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
WOW! Look at those arms! I thought you talented for your singing voice. I thought you smart for learning sign language to communicate with your daughter. I thought you ambitious to start a company teaching others sign language to open doors for your daughter and children of others. I thought you strong when Lucy was born with more obstacles ahead. I thought you inspirational when I read your blogs. Now I know you are just an amazing force of nature that not only embodies the term ” Super Mom” but illuminates from inside out.
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
You are one very inspiring woman. Thank you for sharing with us so that Lucy can be an inspiration to me too.
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Your blogs and your song lyrics have such inspiring messages….and this one made me think of a line from Show Me a Sign, ‘Every day you grow up more
And teach me more about what I’m here for’….. You are here for Leah and Lucy and Aaron, and by special chance for all of us who follow your blogs, tweets, and get daily doses of your DVDs and CDs.
You have always looked great to us and I am cheering you on in your life-a-thon all the way. Go Rachel!
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
You amaze me! You inspire me! Thank you so much!
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July 24th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I think I cry every time I read you’re blog…sometimes laugh too. You are truly an inspiration!
Lucy (and Leah) are so luck you have you as a Mom!
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July 24th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I first heard of Signing Times through a 2 year old girl who I watch in my family daycare. Her grandmother started buying the dvd’s and CD’s. Now, Lea, age 4 knows how to sign her entire alpabet and I’m learning from her.
I now have a daughter who is almost a year old. I’ve been teaching her signs even though she too hears perfectly. But just the other night during her first birthday party, she very obviously showed us the sign for “more” This was so exciting for me. I’m hoping to start getting the month by month dvds so that we all can continue to learn signing together.
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July 24th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
wow. My son has no trouble walking, but has autism, is a flight risk, and just loves mommy’s hugs. I’ve been thinking, what am I going to do when he is too heavy to hold, but not tall enough yet to just reach out around my shoulders and hug me? I’ve been thinking, though he’s been improving, as he gets bigger, he’s harder to control. Thank you for this. I need to save up some money for a gym membership…
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July 24th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
What an inspiration…my son with CP and Autism is 70 lbs…I have a strong upper body, but years of exhaustion ( he doesn’t sleep much at all — so neither do I) are wearing me down…hard enough to function for the day so exercising has taken a back seat. I need to simply suck it up so I can be there for him for a long time! Thank you Rachel!
Please check us out at http://www.penmetfoundation.org/boundless — that is Ian and me…raising money for a Boundless Playground in our community…
Jennifer
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July 24th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
You and your family are an inspiration! I whined when I had to carry my 3-year old multiple blocks in DC this spring because the poor thing was too tired to walk the many miles we walked all day!
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July 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel–not many people can make me cry in spite of my Zoloft but you are definitely good at it! The pictures are worth a thousand words, but your words are worth a million bucks. Thank you for shamelessly tugging (make that YANKING!) at our heart strings because there are so many smiles behind the tears. You and Aaron, Leah and Lucy make one unstoppable team and I am very very proud to know you.
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
YOU ARE AMAZING! THAT IS BASICALLY ALL I CAN SAY! AND THAT LUCY IS ADORABLE AND IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE LEAH!!! VERY CUTE GIRLS!
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Yes,tissue warning please! WOW! I would be so honored to have you be Cole’s mommy (the dream). So often it takes all I have just to get through the current day much less far enough into the future to admit I may have to be doing the same for Cole. I know I am so much stronger than I was a year ago and family and friends often ask how I carry him around everywhere but I also know if I’m gonna stay ahead of his needs, I better step it up. BTW-can you give me info on those backpack carriers? Or you could just send them our way as Lucy outgrows them.
Love the pics…such beauty!
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Oh my word, Rachel. She is getting so big.
I would like to be able to do those things. Ski, rock climb, water ski, just everything. I need to get more motivated to exercise. Whenever I feel weak, physically or emotionally, whenever I wish that the physical therapy and braces and walker and wheelchair were out of my life, whenever someone tells me “no, you can’t” I think about Lucy Coleman and how, even though we’ve never met, this little girl has made such an impact on my life. I don’t mean to leave Leah out of the picture. I would just like to say that she is equally awesome as well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… I see little bits of myself in both of them, and I will be forever grateful that you guys are a part of my life. I’ve been slacking a lot lately on my independence, but you’ve inspired me to keep going.
My dream one of these days is to be able to go to the National Ability Center. I’ve read about it online. I’ve never been much of an athletic person, but it never hurts to try, right?
Anyway, just wanted to say thank you so much for posting this tonight.
I needed it.
-Ashley
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July 24th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Rachel,
I admire your dedication to your family! It sounds like you have many awesome stories to share on how the Coleman family doesn’t accept “no wheelchair access” – you don’t turn around and find something else she can do with her wheelchair … instead you do what many other families may have been frightened about and can now look at your family for strength.
I think it would be awesome for you to share these stories to Lucy and Leah – start videotaping you and Aaron telling the kids things you promise, stories of past vacations and worries … and when they are older they can watch it to see that life does have some difficulties along the way, but we can overcome them! In fact, they already HAVE
I have a few students that I wish had parents like you and Aaron. Maybe you and Aaron can do a documentary about how your family has adapted to show other families it can be done – you can live life to the fullest and give your children the same experiences as ALL Children receive.
You guys ROCK!
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July 24th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
That’s very cool although not exactly a surprise. You appear to have an amazing ability to rise to any challenge!
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July 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Amazing!
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July 25th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Phenomenal words of determination and, in turn, encouragement. I could blabber on in detail, but suffice it to say that this was well timed for me to read today. Though my little non-toddling toddler is a dainty 21 lbs at 32 months, I still have been battling the need to get myself together to just plain be able to play and roll and bend and jump as the case may require….for them. For my girls. I want to be strong enough, ABLE enough, and not let my own failures in health stand in the way.
Keep hiking, Lucy!!
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July 25th, 2009 at 9:44 am
ONE OF THE BEST BLOGPOSTS EVER. you are AMAZING. in every way. and certainly an inspiration to me. love always, allie, mallie and quincie bestwick.
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July 25th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Ray–I am proud to be your business partner and sister. Am I strong enough for those roles? Hmm. Love you.
EM
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July 25th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Alright, tissue warning. I love you Rachel {{{{{HUGS LUCY AND RACHEL}}}}}}}
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July 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Wow, Rachel! You should’ve put a tissue warning on this. I have been thinking an awful lot about you and your family lately. Just yesterday I thought of how Lucy was one of the most amazing kids I’d ever seen, and how you’re one of the most amazing moms I’ve ever seen. You are not taking no for an answer, because you honestly shouldn’t have to. You are getting stonger for your daughter. You make me want to work out/train, even though I can’t think of a reason to right now (other than “I’m weaker than a piece of string”).
Your entire family rocks!
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July 25th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Such inspiration! And Lucy’s face is beamingin every picture. You are amazing, Rachel. Thanks for sharing, as always…
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July 25th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
See Ray? I’m not the only one who needs a tissue warning for your blog posts!
I know you say you’re just a mom, but you truly are one of the most inspirational people I know. Love ya!
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July 26th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I loved that story! That is the best reason to be fit and healthy– for LIFE! Not for vanity, not to be skinnier than a pole, but to be healthy and functional. You are so lucky to have Lucy and Leah, they are gifts from God. I love those pictures! Lucy is such a beautiful child. You are such a beautiful mom. I mean that in every sense of the word “beautiful.”
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July 26th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Rachel-
You are an amazing woman, married to an amazing man, with 2 amazing and beautiful daughters. I am so blessed to have gotten to meet you! Thank you for writing things that matter in a world so full of things that don’t. And, as Jed said, “You are looking hot! Aaron must be stoked.”
Much love,
Emily
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July 26th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
WAY to go, Rachel! You are such a wonderful example for all of us, and I deeply appreciate you sharing your journey. Lucy, you just rock for being such an inspiration to your mom, your family, and to all of us!
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July 27th, 2009 at 12:29 am
wow rachel. that is an amazing story and so incredibly inspiring. i am so happy you have accomplished so much and i am so happy lucy has such a remarkable family. you are amazing. that story is amazing. i am sobbing like a baby cause it made me feel so good inside. i am kinda speechless. i want to share this with everyone i know just to say “wow look at this amazing woman and her wonderful daughter.” you rock! and you go girl.
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July 27th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I have to say that as I read this I laughed. I have had conversations with a few of my friends about this very subject! I LOVE that you did something about it!! You do indeed ROCK!
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July 27th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I, too, just cried my through this. I am so proud of you for doing so much for Lucy. And I am equally proud of Lucy for being so strong. She is an amazing little chick. Both of your girls seem to be amazing little girls.
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July 27th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Rach,
Em just sent me the link to this post and I knew it was going to be a tear jerker! You are so inspiring and in tune with your family and have such an amazing perspective on life! I got to hang with the girls for a little while a couple of weeks ago and was so touched, uplifted and inspired by their spirit and their personality! What an amazing family you have and such polite and sweet girls you and Aaron have raised. I wish you could have seen how the ten adults in our family sat around and just became mesmerized by their spirit and Leah’s hilarious “sign-off” with my brother!
I love your family and I am so inspired by what you are doing.
Lindsey
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July 27th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Thanks for this story. I have 5 cute kiddos and I am inspired by your story to be ’strong enough’ for them. Thanks for sharing.
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July 27th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
CS: We did have a blast together. Two days, Disneyland and California Adventure. I think we rode Dumbo 10 times.
Kei: I know you think I do that on purpose Kei, but I don’t I promise.
Maybe you should be in charge of the tissue warning. Then people can scroll to the comments first for a head’s up.
Jaclyn: I’m glad to have inspired you as well. Honestly, I don’t spend more than an hour at the gym and I don’t go every day. I try and get in, get it done and get back to life.
Beth Gore, PhD: Wow Beth, amazing story. Thanks you for sharing and for having such a big heart. Your kids are lucky to have you. I’m glad you found Signing Time to be a wonderful resource!
Leesavee: Thank you. New perspective is always good.
Cathy: Maybe we are programmed to say “no” first because it is faster and easier than creating a workable solution. I don’t know. But it’s good to recognize it for starters.
Angela: I love it! I have heard people say they were not gong to sign with their kids because it was too trendy LOL. That just cracks me up, considering there is a HUGE segment of parents who have STILL never heard of doing it. Glad you found us and I hope you stick around.
Brie: Thanks for that amazing acknowledgement. I actually had a meeting with our trainers about doing a Health and Fitness DVD for toddlers and kids… LOL do you think your kids will recognize me without colors on my fingers?
Janece: My heart goes out to you. It’s true, our children watch us and they see the choices we make. I know Lucy will have rough days ahead, I know it. She was heart broken a few weeks ago when a little boy told her, “You’re voice is weird!” It’s my hope that my kids learn that their circumstances do not have to define them or their happiness. We ALL have circumstances that we didn’t expect or plan for… it’s called “life.”
Heather: Can’t wait to hear about it. You know we’re always dishing out tips on The Signing Time Forums http://www.signingtime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3310 and some are donating their lost pounds in dollars to The Signing Time Foundation.
Sarah: Yep a complete shift in brain and body. Oh, that “glow” you commented on, around here we call it “shining.” ?
diane: Give yourself time diane. This took me over 2 years! I wasn’t perfect all of the time, but I didn’t let that stop me. Sometimes I would get frustrated when the scale wouldn’t budge for weeks even though I was working so hard. Aaron would just ask, “Are you committed to a number on the scale? Or are you committed to being healthy and strong?” ?– that was the perfect reminder.
Heather @ Not a DIY Life: Our kids can bring out the Momma Bear, can’t they. We just need to channel that power toward good things.
Cricket: Kei is now officially in charge of tissue warnings.
Veronica: Just so you know I am going to come back to your comment when I’m having a rough day. You have a way with words! I love the idea of being “an amazing force of nature” that makes me smile.
Renee: You GOT it! Our kids are inspiring, they are the fuel for the fire.
Anita Phares: “Life-a-thon” perfect, Anita! I love it.
Marie Smith: I am so gald! You are welcome.
Kristi: I am glad you laugh too, or I would imagine that inbox notification is a real downer… “Oh boy! Rachel Coleman is at it again!”
Sandra: Her first sign! Congrats. Isn’t it nice to have more firsts to celebrate? It still amazes me to see babies signing… still!
navi: chances are good that Lucy will be taller than me. I’m only 5’2” and I was hoping to give the genes a boost in the height area when Aaron and I got married LOL. (I didn’t JUST marry him for his genes) I think Lucy will also be taller than Leah. At least it’s not going to happen over night, we have time to grow and get strong together.
Jennifer: I don’t know if “just sucking it up” is key – get some help if you can. I sleep best when I’m on the road for Signing Time. I don’t have to worry about listening for Lucy, I know someone else is doing that. Promise me you’ll get some sleep.
JanineK: I am sure it was tough to do and you weren’t expecting it. I’m just sort of “planning ahead” now.
Vickie: Bwah ha ha “not many people can make me cry in spite of my Zoloft” – I love it Vickie. Oh and I am sending you part of the gift basket “we” won for the Women Doing Good Contest. Thanks for nominating me!
HEIDI: You are right, Leah and Lucy are starting to look alike.
Leanna: It’s called an Ergo-baby carrier. RhettsMom gave it to me, she had two.
When Lucy outgrew the baby backpack, with metal frame, we cut out the bottom part where her feet were hitting and added stretchy fabric so she would have support.
Ashley: My advice is don’t wait around to get motivated, that doesn’t usually work or it may take too long. By getting up and doing, you’ll motivate yourself to keep going. When you make it to the NAC you better let me know!
Jennifer: I do hope that other families will be able to recognize (and smash) the completely made up barriers we hold about what our kids can and can’t do. The truth is, we have no idea. We really don’t. I couldn’t imagine a way to have music in our home, when we found out Leah was deaf… I had no idea!
Doug Wade: Thank you Doug. Though, I have to say I am still surprised. I wake up each day and I am surprised to have the body I have. Does that sound silly? It is still novel
Donelle Anderson: Thanks!
RK: A few years ago Aaron had a herniated disc and ALL of the lifting and transferring was up to me. Let’s just say it didn’t go well! I told him he could never let that happen again! As Lucy has grown, the list of people who are strong enough (literally) to care for her has shrunk. I am determined to stay at the top of that list.
allie bestwick: You are too kind. I got your message: you don’t have to do it perfectly, just consistently. We tend to quit when we aren’t perfect and that is so ridiculous. What a joke of an expectation: PERFECTION
EMILIE: Oh puh-lease. You know I wouldn’t do half of what I do in ST! if it weren’t for you. My favorite conversation was when you said you were quitting and I said “I’m not doing this without you! If you quit, I quit!” And you said, “You can’t quit, you’re Rachel Coleman!” So- neither of us quit, and here we are.
Googsmom: Thank you. (Got the hug)
Purplewowies: Imagine if any of us could actually know how many people we touch and inspire. Would we be able to take that in?
JenML: She was beaming… the ENTIRE time. The pictures from that trip… ah, maybe I’ll just do a photo blog of it.
Kei: No, I say I’m a mess… and a mom.
Cat: You nailed it! I don’t think I am “skinny” at all. Skinny? I am not. I don’t like that word. The other day I told Leah that one of her aunts had signed up to train with Matt, Leah’s response was, “Oh really? You mean she is going to get fit?” That was a proud moment for me, my 12 year-old, daughter didn’t say, “get skinny” or “lose weight.”
Emily: No fair! No quoting Jed, without a tissue warning. Yeah I think that was the last thing he said about me, could’ve been worse.
Amy: Thanks. We all have reasons why we don’t do things, lots and lots of them. I’m just hunting down the reasons TOO do things.
Andrea: There are so many times at the gym when I think of Tony. My dad would be at the dinner table unable to lift his fork after their workouts. Those were the days.
Holly: Yeah we all like to talk about getting in shape, don’t we? Now I laugh at the commercials for pills and paint-on abs. It’s STILL eating healthy (and less) and moving your body.
Charisse: Thanks, I’m proud of myself for actually doing it! Yes those chicks are amazing.
Lindsey: Ooh I want to see Leah in a “sign-off!” I couldn’t figure out the context, where all of that happened, though I knew I was obviously not there, so I read it to Lucy and she said, “Oh, oh! That’s E-rob’s sister!” LOL
Marci: “Strong Enough” can show up in many different ways. It may be spending one on one time. Bedtime stories. Or just actually doing the things when we say we will do them.
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July 28th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I am so glad I found your blog! My daughter, Addy, is almost three years old. We adopted her when she was nine months old. She has Down syndrome and is our greatest gift. We used to watch Signing Time everyday but it’s no longer on public television here! I wrote a letter complaining to no avail. We have the Baby Signing Time DVDs 1 and 2 and she is learning so much with them, she has no verbal words yet but I know they will come.
I loved reading your post about Lucy’s inspiration, she is! Addy is motivating me to do more as well, she is a tiny thing but I want to be able to keep up with her when she is mobile and not so tiny!
So glad to follow your life since you are already in our heart and home!
Cammie and Addy
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July 28th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Cammie Heflin: I am glad you found it too! I do have a post on why Emilie and I pulled ST! from PBS check it out and hopefully it will answer all of your questions. Don’t be mad at PBS, they didn’t cancel us. Welcome to the Signing Time Family!
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July 28th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I have always loved the way that you write, when I read it I hear the way that you talk
The honesty and emotion behind the words are more inspiring than any motivational speaker I’ve ever heard. Thank you for having the guts to put it all on the line (or online) and share with us.
I remember when you first started losing weight you inspired me to lose 30 lbs and I’ve kept it off now for over 2 years. Now the inspiration is to tone and shape so I can keep up with my inspiration
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July 28th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Ronai: Have we been doing this for more than 2 years? I guess that’s a good thing though, none of that get fit-quick stuff. FYI-I’m wearing your pants in the Goblin Valley photo. You’re going to have to earn them back LOL. Let me know when you’re ready for them.
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July 29th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Rachel – wow. I managed not to cry when my two year old asked me not to go to work for the first time. She’s been home with my wife all summer (teacher schedule) and has rarely noticed when I walk out the door. Today was different.
So anyway – I managed not to cry or be too frustrated by having to sit in traffic after that, but having read both of these stories I am crying tears of joy for you and your “motivational” Lucy. All of your adventures look incredible.
(Side note: I love that you use an Ergo Baby. We love ours and have used it everywhere from the beach to airports. Wonderful tool.)
Now I feel like I need to run…
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July 30th, 2009 at 8:09 am
You might be Lucy’s legs and carry her physical body, for the rest of us you carry us mentally through times of weakness and doubt. You carry us to a higher state of mind full of love and life. The first time I saw you and your incredible husband work out I held my head a little higher. When I was working out after that I thought what if I needed to carry a love one like Lucy, would I be strong? My work outs are more intense sense I have known you. Your love and passion is contagious and exciting. You don’t only carry Lucy you carry us all. Keep inspiring the world and working out like a super hero. We are all blessed to know your special family.
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July 30th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
That was such a wonderful inspiration! Since watch the Sighing Times vids, and now reading about your family and you life and your motivation, I have come to learn what a wonderful mother you are and it is very inspiring and uplifting to me! I am the mother of 2 little girls, the youngest has Down Syndrome and several other medical conditions requiring 24 hour care (tube fed bolus feeds every 3 hours all day all night) and my “strength” has to come in a different form… I have to have the mental strength to sleep very little and still be able to care for my children and remember all of the little one’s therapy times, feeding times, med dosages, doctor appointment dates and times, and all the other things I’m sure you know go along with parenting a special needs child. I love how you wrote that you run, and run, and when you don’t want to run anymore, you still run because you can… that is about how I feel at 3 in the morning at feeding time…
I would love to travel with my children as you have with your daughter…
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August 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 am
You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing!
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August 4th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
RobMonroe: Nah, you don’t “need to run,” you get to run.
Jared Trevino: You are great Jared. Thanks for your willingness to go above and beyond… and outside the gym to help us become stronger.
Katie: I agree, there is a mental strength that comes with a young person relying on you.
3e: You are welcome!
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August 4th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Is there a stronger word than “strong”? Because strong does not even begin to describe you! You are an absolutely amazing woman. Thank you for the reminder to me, a parent of a child who is healthy, to keep going on those days when I feel like I just can’t. Words cannot express how thankful I am to you for Signing Time and for the inspiration you give me!
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August 4th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
You are amazing!!! You are an inspiration! Lucy and Leah are so lucky to have you and Aaron as her parents.
I did notice the physical appearance in the videos, but I didn’t think much about the reason behind it. You are looking great and I can tell feeling great.
You probably don’t feel it… but, you really are amazing.
P.S. I can’t shout enough about how I love communicating with my daughter because of Signing Time! Thank you!
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August 5th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I’m so glad I visited your blog today. I was having a rough morning and I needed some inspiration and I came back to your site. You have me in tears here. I love your program and your videos. My daughter (now 21 months old) has watched them since she was two months old. She doesn’t really speak much yet but she signs all the time and she understands quite a bit. I’m so glad I discovered your story and your products when I was pregnant. My daughter is not hearing impaired but she’s a little behind the “normal” kids. I really love watching Leah and Alex grow and about hearing how your company is doing so well. I really hope you do train certified signing instructors across the U.S. I’d be interested in doing that. I’ve always enjoyed signing and want to do more with it. I can’t think of a more rewarding way to use my communication skills. Thanks for your inspiring words and stories. You have a beautiful family and a beautiful soul. ~Mandy
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August 5th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Oh and one more thing Rachel, if there is ever any way I could help you and assist in spreading your message, please let me know what I could do! I have a big mouth. LOL! My friends say I’m great at PR and marketing. I’m a great writer too. Let me know if there is a way I can help you, Leah, Lucy and others! I’m looking to add more meaning to what I do.
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August 6th, 2009 at 4:27 am
OMG, the ending made me cry!
This is such an inspiring story, Rachel (to add to all the others). I feel funny reading it because I too have been enjoying lifting weights (with a trainer… eep!) and finding it easier to carry my daughter… who is 22 months old and weighs 27 pounds.
That’s great that the “Big AC” is joining you in the muscle-building project.
I wanted to tell you that you lost too much weight for BST volumes 3 + 4 – that you can relax and eat more now! But now I understand what happened.
Good for you! You’re such an amazing person and your family is such a huge inspiration.
(I will stop complaining about having to carry Naimah now.)
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August 6th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Sandy Lovell: Thank you and… Please keep shouting it out!
Mandy: Be sure to sign up for our Signing Time newsletter. All of the information about certified Signing Time instructors will come out there. I am glad you are excited, I am too. It’s going to be a great big Signing Time Family!
Mandy: Good to know. It’s awesome how many very skilled volunteers we have. Some even end up as employees. If you see something you can offer, please do!
Madeleine: Why do we feel silly about that? I just don’t know.
And I think what happened in BST 3/4 is this; I had just lost about 25 lbs in 3 months, my skin and body hadn’t adjusted. I have lost another 10 lbs since then and I think I look pretty normal. But I am open to feedback and I do eat more now and not just grilled chicken, veggies and brown rice
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August 9th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I hope to Goodness somebody has put you in touch with Team Hoyt!
http://www.teamhoyt.com/history.shtml
You are awesome!
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August 28th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Rachel –
Wow. I love this post! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
You may not know it but you are the newest member of our family.
My daughter, Kaila, has Auditory Neuropathy. It’s confusing, but the long and short of it is this- she can hear, but for some reason she isn’t talking. She turned 2 in May. For a long time I refused to do sign language with her for two reasons. 1. I was lazy. 2. I was afraid that it would become a crutch for her and that would delay her speech even longer.
Then I realized something – Children WANT to be like other people. They WANT to talk. Giving them the option to communicate with sign language won’t change that. They will use sign language as long as they need it but as soon as they are able to speak, sign language will become secondary.” I purchased the entire baby signing time set and Kaila LOVES it! It is the first thing she asks for (by signing of course) when she wakes up in the morning! I’m almost embarrassed to admit that one of the 4 dvds is almost ALWAYS playing!
Our “team” from the school came out the other day and they were AMAZED that Kaila has learned about 100 signs in just 4 weeks!
Thank you so much for what you have provided in Signing Time! We LOVE listening to your sweet voice singing all day long! Kaila just might be your biggest fan!
Lots of Love,
Suzi Bullock
Nebraska
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September 15th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Awesome post! The first time I read your story about ST, I said, “I hope I’d be as strong.” Thanks for reminding me AGAIN to be strong for my children. Beautiful!
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October 25th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I BOW at your AWESOMENESS. When I think I have worked hard, and I read this, I feel like I haven’t worked hard enough. You have inspired me to do the things that I have put on the back burner. Bless you and your family.
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November 17th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Kim: Love Team Hoyt! My dad wants to do a triathlon with Lucy.
Suzi: I am so glad you got over the fear that signing would be a crutch… and thinking that a crutch is even a bad thing… you know, when you break your leg and you NEED a crutch, you are thankful for it. When your leg heals and you don’t need that crutch, you stop using it.
oh amanda: You’re a mom. You’re strong!
Asperger Ninja: Thank you. (blush)
I am glad to know I have inspired you. The back burner is an awful place to put things.
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December 7th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
rachel i love this post,
i have tears still in my eyes. i have been following your blog for a while now, i have two children lilly who will be 3 in jan., and max who was 1 in oct., max was born with Down syndrome. so on some level i feel the same way of being in shape and healthy, i told my husband “we need to live forever” i need to be around as long as possible. i need to be here for max, don’t get me wrong lilly to just in a different way. so i am trying really hard to get healthy.
i wanted you to know i heard about signing time from other moms in my Down syndrome family network. lilly loves it and you should see her with max… signing to him its so sweet. max already is signing more and all done:) i truly feel your dvds made a huge difference:) so thanks for that:)
oh and we are super excited to meet you… i am a member for our first annual Down syndrome awareness walk in neenah wisconsin and you… “Rachel from Signing Time” are going to be the big entertainment!!!
so again looking forward to meeting you and beautiful post:)
-sara pingel
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December 11th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
hi, as mom to 6 kids, 5 with special needs and 3 of which are cerebral palsy, i understand and felt your post deeply. a co-worker told me the other day that i would have to stop lifting my 5 y.o. who can not hold her head up because she is getting so big and will hurt my back…. and i just looked at her like she was crazy. i will do anything for this child. i am taking your training as a challenge. i have been focusing on my children for a long time, but also need to take care of myself so i can continue to take care of them. thank you for the reminder and the inspiration. we LOVE your videos! rachel
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January 4th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
We’ve been watching BST 1&2 for quite some time now…we received them as presents from a friend, for our daughter Natalie’s first birthday. She loves them, and now cradles when she wants to watch! She’s caught on to quite a few of the signs. Because of this, for Christmas we bought her BST 3&4.
The first thing that jumped out at me when we popped in BST 3: your weight loss. The first thing I said to my wife was “OMG, look at Rachel, she looks terrific!” Not that you looked bad at all beforehand, but as someone who also works out, it was immediately obvious to me that you’d been doing some serious work! Upon reading this blog (I actually did a search – Rachel Coleman weight loss – to see how you pulled this off), I’m glad to see that, instead of obsessing over weight, you were more concerned with health and strength. THAT’S the way to go!
One mild criticism, regarding BST 3&4…don’t get me wrong, we enjoy them, as does Natalie, but sometimes it feels like the signs are taking a backseat to the music and your vocal chops. Not in a overly blatant way, but I never got that feeling from watching BST 1&2. I’ll say this much…and I’m sure other watchers can attest…those songs sure have a way of staying in your head…and making you smile.
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January 20th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Rachel, you are amaizing. I wonder if I´ll be able to do the same for my daughter with spina bifida. She is only 17 months (almost 18), but I keep wondering what her life will be like in the future.
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