Archive for October 2018
What Being Your Mama is Like
You know the thrill of going down a roller coaster? You’re incredibly terrified, gripping the sides, white knuckles and all. You can’t even seem to breathe. You’re dizzy, and everything is a blur. It’s so loud you can’t hear a thing. You just know you’re about to be sick. Your hair is in your face and your stomach is in your throat. “What am I going to do?” you ask. You feel completely out of control, like wherever this things takes me, that’s where I’m going. You just have to believe…
Read MoreAdjusting to Life with a Baby (VIDEO)
I am so excited to share with you how we are adjusting to baby Harbor and to being a family of five. We are twelve days in! Honestly, overall, it’s going VERY, VERY well. In so many ways we are just your typical family adjusting to having a new baby. There are moments of chaos of course. But, there are also so many parts that are so much harder. Cooper still needs 100% of his self care administered. He can’t get his own snack or drink, or dress himself, or…
Read MoreWelcoming our New Baby
Cooper has a new brother! Welcome to the world, Harbor Edwin Swenson — born Oct. 9 at 4:17pm, weighing in at 8 lbs 7 oz. Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers. We are settling in at home! Sawyer is over the moon excited and asking to hold him every five minutes. Cooper is cautiously excited and slowly warming up to being near him. He laughs every time he squeaks and gets very nervous when he cries. https://www.facebook.com/findingcoopersvoice/videos/1932980700337447/ Interested in writing for Finding Cooper’s Voice? LEARN MORE Finding Cooper’s…
Read MoreSome Days I Dwell…
My kid is awesome. He is seven. He also has nonverbal autism. And even though he may never do the things typical kids do or even meet typical milestones…we are okay. He is amazing in his own way. I will give him his best life. And as his mother, I refuse to let myself dwell on the hard parts. The sadness. The things he will never do. It’s not healthy. It’s not who I am. And honestly, it’s just too sad. So, I use my energy to focus on the…
Read MoreWithout Autism…
This weekend my son Cooper is spending time with his grandparents. He is getting spoiled, doted on, and loved in that special way only grandparents can do. We needed this break. We just welcomed a new baby into our world. Our five year old Sawyer needed a break. Mom and dad needed it. Cooper needed it. Within 30 minutes of dad dropping him off, I let out the breath I had been holding. The breath I have to hold when I have Cooper. The breath I often don’t know I…
Read MoreAn Autism Halloween
I love this reminder: With Halloween upon us, please keep in mind, a lot of little people will be visiting your home. Be accepting. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy may have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy may have motor planning issues. The child who does not say trick or treat or thank you may be non-verbal. The child who looks disappointed when they see your bowl might have allergies. The child who isn’t…
Read MoreA Mile, A Marathon and A Tour Guide
Every once in a while, somewhere out in public, Noah will scream or screech with delight in a place he loves. He can’t help it! He has autism and he’s non verbal. It’s how he tells me he’s happy. However, sometimes it’s at a place like the grocery store or Lowe’s where it echoes across the whole store. That’s when I get a few different kinds of looks. Sometimes I get the look of pity which is unnecessary but at least has good intentions or I’ll get the ‘I get…
Read MoreA Day in the Life of Brayden
As the days tick down and school is about to begin I can feel the anxiety starting to climb at our house. When I was growing up I remember back to school as a glorious time. I remember going on a shopping trip to Mall of America or the local mall. We would spend the day laughing, wandering, and occasionally picking up a new pair of jeans or a needed pair of tennis shoes. It was never about the stuff. It was about spending quality time with your mom. Now…
Read MoreCall Out: I’m Thankful For You This November
This November, I will honor the therapists, teachers, doctors, friends, children, spouses, therapy centers, and family members that make a difference in your family’s life. This could range from the friend who sat with your child while you showered (for the first time in weeks!) to the doctor who finally listened to you. Or, the grandparent that took your other child to the park so they could get a break from their sibling’s disability to the therapist who puts in hour after hour teaching, modeling and praising your child. It…
Read MoreI Thought I Heard my Nonverbal Son Call for Mommy
I can count on one hand all the times that I have dreamt of Zachary talking in my dreams. You would think since my son is four years old and has nonverbal autism that I would be constantly dreaming of his little voice. At this point I think I subconsciously put a wall up in that area. Those dreams are so vivid, so beautiful, and feel so real. As I start to wake up from those dreams I sense myself being so unbelievably happy, and then I become fully awake…
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