Posts Tagged ‘apraxia’
Hope Bubbles Up
Four years ago I sat across from a speech therapist, whom I loved very much. She looked at me and said, ‘Kate, you need to prepare yourself for nonverbal forever. You need to acknowledge a world where Cooper doesn’t speak.’ I remember I felt like my world ended. I learned after years of self growth that she said it to me with love. She knew I needed to hear it. We just left a speech evaluation. Probably our twentieth over the years. Only this one was different than all the…
Read MoreTo the Women who Heard Me
“He qualifies for the full day program.” It was like being smacked with a brick. How on earth could I put my little boy, who said nothing, into the care of complete strangers and trust that he will be taken care of the way I take care of him. When my son was 2 years and 8 months old he went to a preschool screening and I was faced with another harsh reality, that he was still so behind. He qualified for all day preschool and would be starting there…
Read MoreWill He be Ok?
As I was drinking my coffee snuggled on the couch in my PJs this morning, I looked at my sweet little boy buzzing around collecting all of his wooden puzzle pieces in his upside down drum. He noticed me watching and smiled for a split second before he went back to his “work“. I said to him, “I love you buddy.” He replied in his broken word approximations, “ah uv too”. It still makes my heart melt. Several months ago I wondered if I would ever hear those words from his…
Read MoreWhat is Our Relationship Like…
When my son was five or six, I finally accepted that he ‘may’ be nonverbal forever. It wasn’t easy. And it almost depleted me. I grieved the words I may never hear. All the mamas, I love you’s, and endless questions. Around that time I started wondering what our relationship would evolve into without words. Would we have conversations? Would it be quiet? Would I be lonely? Would I spend endless hours wondering what he was thinking or needing? Well, the answer is no. Cooper and I ‘talk’ all day…
Read MoreThe Lessons We Learn Along the Way
I read a quote today by Shakespeare. “I cried when I had no shoes, But I stopped crying when I saw a man without legs…” Wow, did that hit me hard. I want you to know that I was devastated when my son was diagnosed with autism. I am a big enough person to admit that. I couldn’t understand how or why. Why him. Why our family. Why. And, I even knew it was coming. I’d done my research. I saw the writing on the wall. He wasn’t talking at…
Read MoreMedical Cannabis Update-Week Four
I promised I would give a weekly update on our journey with medical cannabis for our severely autistic son. We are 28 days in! In Minnesota, medical cannabis was legalized for autism in July 2018. The program is regulated by the state of Minnesota. You can read more HERE about how we got started. Want to know if medical cannabis is legal for autism in your state? Click HERE. After getting a prescription from his doctor and jumping through all the hoops, we started him on the lowest dose possible.…
Read MoreA Look at Nonverbal Autism
A few nights ago I was talking to an acquaintance about Super Cooper. He was asking me questions about what it’s like to have a nonverbal child. He asked me if it is sad. He asked me if it was quiet. He asked me if Cooper has a desire to communicate. All AMAZING questions. They even brought me back to the day a speech therapist told me that we should prepare ourselves for the very possible fact that our beautiful son may never speak. I’ll admit, that sentence leveled me.…
Read MoreI Want Greeting Card
Last night when Cooper got home from school, he immediately ransacked his bag. He pulled everything out. Then grabbed his speech device and said…’I want greeting card.’ I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. As he got more frustrated, I got more confused. Then this morning I get a text from his amazing therapist…’Did Cooper give dad the birthday card he made?!’ And then sent these photos. I seriously almost fell out of my chair. First, my kid is a genius and amazing. Second, he used his…
Read MoreStop Worrying and Enjoy Your Child
Yesterday, there was a beautiful noise at our house. One that seemed out of place. One that we rarely hear. One that for years was hard to produce. It was the deep, loud, silly, belly laugh of Cooper playing in a pool with his brother and his brother’s friends. He was in there for three hours total. He was one of the kids. I have never seen a happier child. Or heard a better laugh. We are talking pure joy. As I watched him play, I was overcome with emotion.…
Read MoreThe Honesty of Six Year Old Boys
Our world is completely different than it was less than a week ago. A week ago we lived in a neighborhood without any children. So, our five year old son Sawyer really depended a lot on mom and dad for entertainment. He had a bit more screen time than he probably should have. He often told me he was lonely. He wanted more friends. This week, we live in a new house in a neighborhood full of children. All kids Sawyer’s age. All wanting to play and have fun. On…
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