To everyone who suddenly feels like the world is one giant infectious monster, to those holding their breath as they pass oncoming humans on the sidewalk, to the people cancelling plane tickets, locking themselves indoors and clutching the Lysol wipes as if they were the only hope, welcome to our daily life… the tribulations of... Continue Reading →
The Secret World of Non-Verbal Communication
For me, the strangest part of having a non-verbal child, is not really knowing who they are and what they think. Sure, on many levels, I do know Oliver. But as his little brother Nicco grows up before my eyes and I hear the speech that flows from him so naturally, it reawakens the burning questions slumbering in... Continue Reading →
Peeling the Onion
It has been said that the grieving process is like peeling an onion. As each layer falls away, it gives the gift of deeper understanding and also reveals the next level of processing. The stages don’t go smoothly from 1-5… denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. They are interwoven and revisit you many times even after... Continue Reading →
Unexpected Blessings
I was in rare form this morning. Well, let's be honest, it's not so rare these days. LOL After all of the craziness of the last couple weeks, I completely forgot about our Gastroenterology appointment at UCLA this morning. Luckily I had glanced at my calendar last night and caught my oversight before missing it... Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday Niccolo!!
Being the little brother of a special needs sibling has it's perks and some downsides too. On one hand, there's tons of super cool equipment to climb on, swings bolted to the ceiling of the living room, a therapy center that seems to be your own personal playground and PLENTY of trips to the doctors... Continue Reading →
Coming Home
It’s our first day home from the hospital and while I do feel great relief, there is also a weight of sadness plaguing my heart. I know this feeling. I recognize it because I’ve experienced it many times before. It is the resurfacing of grief. The unique thing about having a child with a brain... Continue Reading →
Armpits and Toothpaste
The early hours of this morning felt like something right out of a twisted psychological thriller. Oliver’s schedule is pretty off and he was still wide awake at midnight. I lied down in the parent chair next to his bed, put on the tv and tried to rest, hoping he would fall asleep too. We both started to... Continue Reading →
Shifting Perspectives
As someone who puts her foot in her mouth fairly regularly, I totally understand unintentionally saying something hurtful to someone. In our world of uber political correctness and extreme sensitivity, it sometimes seems that the safest thing to do is just not speak at all. I honestly believe most people are good and well intentioned in... Continue Reading →
The Day Moose Broke the Internet
Well, I never anticipated there would be a day when anything related to my family would “go viral”…or as close to viral as we may ever get. LOL I’ve always been extremely conservative on social media, setting my page to private and carefully selecting the parts of my life I allowed people to access. So it was... Continue Reading →
My “Official” Disclaimers & Guidelines LOL
1) In the words of Nahko and Medicine for the People, “I am no master, I know nothin'I am no master, I know nothin' yeahI am no master, I know nothin' but I am a servant and I know somethin' yeahI am no master, I know nothin' definitely still youngBuilt on hunger so fuckin' stubborn... Continue Reading →
Chasing Away the Darkness
I have attempted to start this blog 3 times now. Each time I’ve stayed up late into the night, overflowing with motivation and excitement, like the flood gates have opened and all the words that have been pent up in my mind and heart for the last 4 years are finally free to flow out... Continue Reading →