Resolutions

Resolutions: Using respite the right way

Something I want to start doing this year and really need to do for my own health is using respite services to take a break and do something for myself. Respite allows caregivers time away from their duties while someone else comes in to care for your loved one. Breaks are important for any parent […]

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Resolutions

Resolutions: It’s OK to say ‘no’

One of the things I want to work on this year is our busyness as a family. This includes therapy sessions, doctor appointments, and meetings with various service coordinators. After everything with the kids, there’s not a lot of time to be with our family. It’s easy to get sucked into all the therapy that […]

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2018

Top moments in 2018

This year was big for my family. There were exciting times when important milestones were met such as walking and talking. Our family grew by one more when our daughter Grace was born in February. There were also hard times like when half our family was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation. Whether it was […]

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Appointments

Managing the never-ending doctor appointments

Having three kids with special needs means spending an incredible amount of time in doctor’s offices. Whether it’s a just a regular check-up or seeing a new specialty doctor, the appointments are part our weekly routine.  My son Nicholas is very medically complex. At first he just had follow-up visits after being in the NICU […]

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Autism

Communicating with pictures

One of the main goals we’re working on with my son Nicholas, besides learning to walk and eat, is communication. Nicholas is 3.5 years old, is developmentally delayed, and has Autism. He is non-verbal so he primarily communicates by using us as a tool. If he needs something he will push our hand in the […]

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Thanksgiving

I’m thankful for my mom and mother-in-law

I would like to honor my mom and mother-in-law this Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for everything they’ve done for my family in the past three years. I have three kids with special needs and they both have been there since the beginning. They’re our biggest support system. My first son Nicholas was recently diagnosed with Autism. […]

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Prematurity

Feeling grateful on World Prematurity Day

My first son Nicholas was born premature at 35 weeks via emergency C-section due to his lack of movement. I thank God every day that I was aware of his decline in movements in the womb. Nicholas was pretty active during pregnancy, so when I wasn’t feeling him moving around anymore I became concerned. What […]

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Hospital stays

5 tricks to surviving long hospital stays

Hospital stays are hard, especially when it lasts more than a few days. The days feel long when we can’t leave our room due to being hooked up to a bunch of machines. It’s difficult when my kids aren’t allowed to eat, are really sensitive to strangers, and can’t move around too much. Plus, the […]

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Developmental Delay

Learning how to walk at 3 years old

I’ve been told a few times by doctors that my son Nicholas may never walk. He arched his back a lot due to low muscle tone, had sensory issues, and poor balance. Since the beginning, Nicholas has been delayed with his gross motor skills. He never liked tummy time, would roll over occasionally, and never […]

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