Posts Tagged ‘autism blog’
Chronic Medical Struggles in Nonverbal Children (Video)
Hey all, here is the update on Cooper’s ear infections, Cat Scan, and most recent request for ‘help’ and a ‘doctor.’ So many of my wonderful followers have been asking for an update and it makes me so happy to know that people care about Cooper. I used to think if I could just get him communicating I’d be able to help him. I was wrong. Now that he communicates we still can’t help him. I’m chasing doctors, demanding tests, advocating, researching, going slightly crazy, all while my kid melts…
Read MoreA Super Cooper Update (Video)
Hi friends! Here is a good ole fashioned Super Cooper and Kate update. We haven’t done one in a while! Cooper is healthy, happy, sleeping and working on many different skills in ABA. He’s specifically working on pairing two sounds together! I want people to know that yes, I get caught up in the struggles that go hand-in-hand with parenting. And especially parenting a child with special needs. But, what matters most, is my son’s happiness. And this kid treats every day like it’s the best day of his life.…
Read MoreSometimes I Wish It Wasn’t So Hard
My autism “ah-ha” moment came when my youngest son was six years old. He was diagnosed at age four with moderate to severe autism and a global delay. I was recently a single mom of the three boys, with two of them on the autism spectrum. My one son however was high functioning and steadily progressing. That was not the case with my middle son though and it was a very hard pill to swallow. We had many medical professional tells us that we needed to focus on quality of…
Read MoreTo My Son’s First Friend…
To my sons first friend, I’m not sure that you know what you mean to me. I have watched you and my boy, for months now. I have seen the way you tend to him. Not in a, here I’ll help you because you’re special needs…kind of way. But a, you’re my friend and I want to be with you…kind of way. I have seen the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. I have watched you get him to do things, that others can’t.…
Read MoreA Letter to My Daughter, My Son’s Biggest Fan
Today was, as you call it, a “Mommy Day.” I don’t work on Mondays, so we played and snuggled and went to music class and ate lunch at Panera. Then, we picked up “Col Col” from preschool. You burst into the classroom, thrilled to see your big brother, and he proudly announced “This is my friend, Grace!” You two giggled and ran around, and didn’t listen to Mommy, and giggled some more. I love seeing you two together (even when you’re being a little naughty) because I didn’t know if…
Read MoreComing Face to Face with Normal
A few weeks ago I found myself at an event with lots of adults and kids. But not just any kids. Seven year old kids. Specifically, seven year old boys. Boys that are the exact same age as my son. My son’s peers. I should have felt right at home. I am a mom. I know boys. My son is seven. Except, I felt like these boys and their moms were speaking another language. I don’t know anything about seven year old boys. Not really. My son may be seven.…
Read MoreWill My Autistic Son Learn to Read?
When my son was diagnosed with autism at age three I was flooded with emotions and questions. I wanted to know what our future looked like. I wanted to know if my son would ever be potty trained, speak, live on his own. The list goes on and on. I felt like our future had been changed in an instant. For years I would ask therapists and teachers question after question. I’d ask if they thought he would ever talk. Some would say yes. Some would so no. Some would…
Read MoreI Am A Parent Who Waits
I remember when I was pregnant with my son I would imagine and dream about his future. I’d think about the cute things he was going to say and do. I’d look at other children and imagine myself with my son. I’d imagine him playing sports, making friends and playing games with me. I envisioned the conversations we’d have. I would get lost in a daydream of Jamie teaching him to catch his first fish and me running behind after his bike. I pictured myself having the kid that says…
Read MoreA Constant Sense of Urgency
I felt a sense of urgency the second I realized that something was different with my son. An urgency to help him. An urgency to do everything at once. An urgency to ramp up, take autism head on, knowing in my heart that the more we did, the better the outcome would be. I remember the day our Pediatrician did a referral for the Help Me Grow service to come to our home to evaluate Cooper. Their job was to see if he had delays. I called them immediately. I…
Read MoreLoving Our Son For Who He Is With No Expectations
This post is about the ‘start’ of our autism journey with our now 17 year old son Cody, who is on the severe end of the autism spectrum. This is when I first realized that my life was not going to be as I had anticipated or even hoped it was going to be and how I learned to be okay with it. And more importantly, how I turned those lost hopes and dreams into what is now my only desire. A lifetime of happiness for my son with no…
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