Diagnose. Educate. Advocate. Live.
Autism Awareness month marks its eleventh day today and I am still going strong! Over the years, I have talked with many different parents of children diagnosed with Autism. I have read books, articles, and had very strung out discussions with my family and friends about the side effects, or behaviors that occur alongside ASD. Nothing amazes me more, than when Jaxon says or does something that really makes me sit back and take notice of how well he is doing and far he has come.
It has been no secret to anyone who knows me that this third pregnancy hasn’t been the cake walk that I had hoped, but rather a roller coaster of sickness, emotion, and excitement. I can’t wait to meet this little one who has been so eager to make his presence known! Well, this week was just another example of how I can go from feeling great and energized to “knock me off my feet” sick in a day’s notice. Jaxon has always been ver empathetic towards me (anyone for that matter which can be very hard for children on the spectrum) but lately he has been even more in tune with my feelings and the pregnancy itself.
A few months ago he would stand there holding a bottle of water for me as I would “pray to the porcelain God” over and over and tell me that he was sorry the “baby” was making me so sick. I tried to explain a few different times that it wasn’t the “baby” making me sick, it was the “pregnancy” but he just didn’t understand. Well, yesterday as my nose was running like a leaky faucet, my back was hurting like an old mans, and I was so tired I couldn’t put two logical sentences together, I heard him explaining something to his little brother…
“Carter, we need to be good today. Mommy doesn’t feel very good, she is pregnant, and sometimes growing a baby can be hard on you. Ok, Carter, let’s keep our toys cleaned up and be really good so she can rest and feel better.” At that very moment I didn’t care if he really knew what he was talking about, I was just so proud of him that tears came to my eyes. So yes, I “bucked” up and we all sat together and watched a family movie! Make sure you are looking out for those little moments that bring hope back into your day!
“Autism, is part of my child, it's not everything he is. My child is so much more than a diagnosis.”
― S.L. Coelho, The World According to August - One Good Friend
It has been no secret to anyone who knows me that this third pregnancy hasn’t been the cake walk that I had hoped, but rather a roller coaster of sickness, emotion, and excitement. I can’t wait to meet this little one who has been so eager to make his presence known! Well, this week was just another example of how I can go from feeling great and energized to “knock me off my feet” sick in a day’s notice. Jaxon has always been ver empathetic towards me (anyone for that matter which can be very hard for children on the spectrum) but lately he has been even more in tune with my feelings and the pregnancy itself.
A few months ago he would stand there holding a bottle of water for me as I would “pray to the porcelain God” over and over and tell me that he was sorry the “baby” was making me so sick. I tried to explain a few different times that it wasn’t the “baby” making me sick, it was the “pregnancy” but he just didn’t understand. Well, yesterday as my nose was running like a leaky faucet, my back was hurting like an old mans, and I was so tired I couldn’t put two logical sentences together, I heard him explaining something to his little brother…
“Carter, we need to be good today. Mommy doesn’t feel very good, she is pregnant, and sometimes growing a baby can be hard on you. Ok, Carter, let’s keep our toys cleaned up and be really good so she can rest and feel better.” At that very moment I didn’t care if he really knew what he was talking about, I was just so proud of him that tears came to my eyes. So yes, I “bucked” up and we all sat together and watched a family movie! Make sure you are looking out for those little moments that bring hope back into your day!
“Autism, is part of my child, it's not everything he is. My child is so much more than a diagnosis.”
― S.L. Coelho, The World According to August - One Good Friend
