We’ve had lots of baby spam over here lately (#sorrynotsorry), but things are happening for big sis too! Believe it or not, it’s time for Madison to start SCHOOL! Well actually, she should have started already but coronavirus came and placed us in limbo for the last, what, 8 months now?! Madison has been a part of the Early Intervention program since she was just a few months old which provides kids with therapy opportunities through the age of 3 at which point they would transition to preschool. Madison turned 3 over the summer and so we had begun...
Pregnancy After Special Needs
One of the very first things John and I talked about after Madison got sick was the future of our family. We had always planned on having 3 or 4 kids, but as we sat in the hospital room watching our 11 day old babygirl fight for her life, we knew our entire future had just changed. How did Madison get sick? Could this happen again? Will we be able to handle another child or children with so much unknown ahead of us? We didn’t know the answers to those questions then, and we still don’t know the answers...
How Can It Be, My Baby is (almost) 3!
That’s right, my little miracle girl will be 3 next week! And truly I cannot believe it. I know all parents say that; I know all parents feel the shock of how fast time goes when it comes to watching their children grow; but birthdays hit different for parents in the medical world. 3 years ago I was thrilled to become a mom, the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be, and dreamed of all the things I would do with my little girl. But life didn’t go as planned. Instead of celebrating Madison’s first monthly milestone at home,...
Don’t Forget About Us
For the past 2+ months most of the world has gotten a small taste of what it’s like to be a medically complex family. Everyone has felt the fear of germs, stayed in the confines of their home when they’d rather be out and about, been considerate of those with underlying health issues, and began being more conscious about the spread of germs. But now that the world is slowly beginning to open up again, will all of you remember this? It is my fear and the fear of most special needs families that you won’t. I’ve seen so...
Why I Love Social Media
I love social media. There, I said it. Yes, it can be full of politics, and petty drama, and rude comments, and insensitive or uneducated remarks. And yes, it can be mindless and addicting in an unproductive but super fun way. (You can bet my hubby & I send each other funny memes while we sit in the same room lol). But it can also be incredibly connecting and wonderful on a much higher level. It can tether us to people and organizations that we may never have known. And for a special needs mama like me, those sort...
Always Worth It
If you follow me on Instagram then you know I spent last week in Maine for a little fall family getaway! We had this trip planned for months, and almost cancelled it countless times because so many things have been popping up, but ultimately decided we deserved some time away together. While we were away I decided I wanted to share a blog post about the importance of making memories when you have a medically complex child, but as our trip ended with a tough day and then a TON of traffic leading to a huge seizure filled meltdown...
So Long Sweet Summer – An Update on Maddie Claire
Fall officially starts next week, and for a girl who has always been all about summer, I’m strangely really looking forward to some cooler temps and a slower pace around here. Once cold and flu season is upon us, I typically schedule less appointments for Madison and don’t take her out quite as much since she’s so high risk. This summer has been pretty overwhelming, sometimes in a good way, sometimes not. But I’ve realized I haven’t shared a real update on Miss M in a while since we’ve been so busy! And what better way than to do...
OBX 2019
Vacationing with a special needs child can really be hit or miss. Madison’s stability varies and unfortunately when you book a trip there’s no way to know if she’ll be having a good week or a bad one by the time that trip rolls around. We traveled to Florida in November and while it was relaxing to soak up the warm weather, Madison wound up having awful nights almost everyday. She barely slept, had seizures, and seemed uncomfortable a lot during the trip, which made things hard for John and I. We booked a beach house in OBX knowing...
The Truth About Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. A day to celebrate the strength and love of all the moms and mom figures in our life. A day that is truly special for many. But what about for those that have lost their mother? Those estranged from their mothers? Those longing to be a mother? And those, like me, who’s journey into motherhood hasn’t been like what they had hoped or dreamed of. For us, this day can stir up a wide range of emotions and be extremely difficult. Last year was my first Mother’s Day with Madison, and it...
2018 in Review
I’ve been racking my brain trying to determine how to write this post. How to reflect on a year that has in all honesty, been incredibly hard on our family. How to really sort all of the bad from good and heartbreak from hope. I want to start the new year on a good note, which is hard to do when the end of this year has been particularly painful for us. So I’m gonna start with the not so great moments in the hopes that if I save the better moments for the end, those will be what...