My “best” moment in regards to my daughter’s autism actually came on the heels of my worst. It had been a stressful week. My mother was in town visiting. I was kinda-sorta halfheartedly still trying to potty train. Kira was sitting on the toilet. I knew she had to pee but she was holding it. She started to fuss and threw her head back, hitting it on the toilet lid. When she self-injures, which is rarely, it triggers something in me—immense frustration; almost rage. I snatched her off the toilet and…
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Hey friends, This January, I’m challenging you to write about your goals, hopes, and resolutions for 2019. This could be the goals you have for your child. In our world, we would love if Cooper learned how to ride a bike, had less screen time and learned water safety. Or maybe it’s your goals as a parent. For me, I want to slow down. I want to enjoy life more. And I want to read my boys a book every night before bed. Personally, I want to find balance. I…
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Hey everyone! Happy New Year! As promised, here is a video with Jamie, my partner in crime, and an appearance by Cooper. This video would have been up earlier but Sawyer needed an apple cut a certain way, the baby needed to eat and Cooper needed to dance. Essentially, life happened. In this video we discuss why we share our lives, how it impacts us and the kiddos, our 2018 accomplishments and goals for Cooper in 2019. I want to thank every single one of our supporters for being with…
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2018 has been one for the books. So many positives have transpired. I woke up to a beautiful smile this morning. Tap, tap! In the world of special needs, just like in typical parenting, when our children are thriving or, “gasp,” getting ahead, there are often those who are not cheering us on. Have you ever felt guilty because your child is moving forward and maybe a friend’s child is not? I get it, I really do…most likely I have been that mom too. One of my goals for 2018…
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Holy moly. Another year has come and gone. While I long to make goals for myself as a person, you know, fitness goals, financial goals, faith based goals, etc, all I can seem to focus on, as usual, is autism. How far my sweet son has come in the past year. But what can’t put my mind at ease is how far we still have to go. Sometimes after a really great day, Jackson’s smiles, high fives and quirks seem to bring so much joy to so many people, and…
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Recently my friend texted me, “I’m so happy our boys are out having fun together”. Just a normal text any friend would send when Dads take their boys to a basketball game together. Then I looked over at my sweet Finley who has Autism and thought I’m not happy because one of my boys is here with me and not out with everyone else enjoying a basketball game and that is because he has Autism. Then for the first time I started to realize that this kind of night would…
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I heard excited footsteps on the stairs. Zachary was standing in the living room. His little body jumping up and down. “Santa came, Santa came.” His enthusiasm radiated through the house. I watched as my older kids excitedly watched him. Despite the fact that they are “too old” to be excited the joy that exuded from Zachary was contagious. I look to the corner of the room. Brayden is sitting on the kitchen table. He is rocking back and forth. His hands covering his ears and a sad cry escapes…
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I always knew Max was going to be different. From the moment I found out I was pregnant I had this feeling I can’t describe. I had an amazing pregnancy, I loved being pregnant so much. It really is such a miracle and I didn’t take one minute of it for granted. Then he was born, my labor was tough with him but everything still “seemed fine” and we went home two days later. He was an incredible baby, I’m not exaggerating. He was a great sleeper, he nursed with…
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In the world of special needs parenting, the hard moments seem to be adding up the older my son gets. And they actually seem to be getting harder too, and more defining. This past summer there was one of these particularly moments, one that forever changed me. One that truly made me realize not only how autism affects Noah…but us, as a family. We made plans to go to an indoor jungle gym—the perfect place for kids right? We actually had celebrated Noah’s first birthday party there. But he wasn’t…
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I’m writing to honor our son Kash’s school paraprofessional, Susan Reed. We are so very thankful for the long hours and hard work Susan puts in to make Kash successful. We are a family of five. My husband Kyle and I are the parents to three incredible little boys. Our oldest, Kash is severely autistic and nonverbal. We reside in a small Texas community where I was raised. When Kash was diagnosed, we decided to move here because we knew our little town would love Kash unconditionally and embrace him.…
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