Posts Tagged ‘autism’
Welcome to Autism Island
When we walked out of the doctor’s office that morning, it felt like we had walked off of a plane at an unexpected layover on foreign soil. The world looked differed here. The air felt heavy and my husband seemed fine…like he knew where we were. Maybe because he’s been here before with his son. But this time, there was no connecting flight back to our old lives. It feels like we just stayed here and started our new lives, so welcome to Autism Island and wherever your journey may…
Read MoreThis Life of Autism
Dear Chloe Elizabeth, From the time I was old enough to dream about what I wanted to be when I “grew up,” I dreamt about being a mommy. A year after your Daddy and I married, we knew that starting our family was going to harder than what people made it seem. After two years of fertility treatments, many doctors appointments, medications, needles, tears, and prayers we stopped trying. We were broken. Mentally, physically, financially, and spiritually. A few months later the desire we had for a family was still…
Read MoreThank You Dad
I want to thank you, dad, for everything you have done to give me, and my sister, the best and most stable life possible. I know you gave up a lot for us, even if you don’t say it. We know. I know my rare disease of 22 q deletion, that has autism along with it, has presented itself with it’s own set of problems, along with losing your wife when your children were fairly young. I have heard you fight for us. I’ve heard you struggle to not put…
Read MoreA Boy and his Baby Brother
Oh how far he’s come. 14 weeks ago he refused to acknowledge our new addition. He had never touched a baby. Never held one. Honestly, never acknowledged one. We’ve worked in it every single day. We started slow. Eased into it. A wave. A smile. A quick touch. A hug. A kiss. And we built up to this. Today, he’s holding him, hugging him and kissing him. With a 20 second count of course. This kid is amazing. I have so much hope for their relationship. https://www.facebook.com/findingcoopersvoice/videos/344747129459436/ Interested in writing…
Read MoreThe Never-Ending Cycle of Adjustments
Often I think life is so unfair. Why did my child get autism and virtually no one else I know has a child with it? My son was diagnosed with autism at 2 years 10 months, right before he was about to age out of First Steps, Kentucky’s early intervention system. At the time, I was pregnant with my second son and scared to death my baby would be diagnosed eventually with autism as well. I was one of the “lucky” ones, though, I guess, because he was identified early…
Read MoreDreams Change
“When he is older he will be grand”, “he’ll grow out of it”, “ah you would never know looking at him”. Just some comments that are frequently said to me about my little boy. The reality is people just don’t get it. When you become a parent, you dream of doing so much with your little baby as they grow. Trips to the cinema, out for ice cream together, trips to the beach, or just out for a walk holding hands. I dreamed of all of these things too. I…
Read MoreA Letter to My “Typical” Son
Dear Eli, You are such a blessing to our family. You came into this world as a teeny tiny miracle. You arrived 6 weeks early. Those first few weeks were so hard. I ached to have you home. The house felt so incomplete without you there. Since the day you came home, you became mommy’s baby boy. You were a miracle in so many ways. Not only were you our little preemie but you also were our first child that was typical. You made us so happy with every word…
Read MoreMy Girl had Gotten out of the House
I am one of those people, even before kids, but even more so with kids, I immediately think of the worst that could happen in every situation, and then I try to do everything humanly possible to keep those things from happening. I know lots of mom’s and people like this, and then I have friends who are so laid back about things that I wonder how many milligrams they are taking a day! I absolutely have days where this instinct is less active than others, but for the most…
Read MoreFinding Alone Time, Tis’ So Sweet
I find so much joy to be able to be my sons caregiver. Somedays it can be emotionally, physically and mentally draining, especially if I am not intentional about assuring that my needs are met. And one need that I am intensely aware of is the need to be alone sometimes. Let’s be real for a few minutes, as Jake’s mom, I am eternally exhausted. I’m not gonna lie. I pour my everything into his well being, day in and day out. It is the most rewarding and demanding “job”,…
Read MoreA Letter to My Nonverbal Son
My sweet little Isaac. You can’t tell me you love me, but you sure show it. You don’t sing the words to songs, but your loud humming makes me laugh. I want to tell you I’m sorry though. I’m sorry you get frustrated because you can’t tell me things. I’m sorry for the bad days I have when I hate autism. I’m sorry the world doesn’t understand that you need patience and acceptance. But I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud that you can wave to me. I love…
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