love, courage, and caffeine

  We’ve had a really difficult week. Ryder had been battling what we thought was some kind of gastro virus, when he became extremely ill, and was hospitalized for vomiting and dehydration. We drove to the ER, where Ryder was treated and discharged, drove home, and went back again in an ambulance, when Ryder was […]

Ryder has headed off to school, and I am sitting here on a sunny morning, sipping coffee and enjoying the quiet before the day begins. I love this time of day; so peaceful and calm, but I don’t often get to enjoy it. Our mornings are often busy and chaotic, or I crawl back into […]

I just got Ryder out the door to head to school. He vomited during breakfast, and I hugged him as he was gagging. His body was shaking, and he was squeezing me tight. He settled down, I cleaned him up, and we proceeded to get ready for the day. After I put him on the […]

Christmas. My favourite holiday of the year. The snow has arrived here in Calgary just in time. It’s magical! We’re having Christmas on our own this year; something we have never done. It’s a far cry from the big Christmas celebrations I loved as a child, but I’m actually really looking forward to it. The […]

One of the most difficult times a parent can go through is receiving a special needs diagnosis for their child. For some, it is a relief; finally having some understanding about who your child is. For others, it can be a time of great sadness. You might feel angry, disappointed, or scared. And I’m here […]

One of the most challenging aspects of my experience as a special needs parent is sleep deprivation. It affects our entire family. I had no idea how debilitating it could be, nor was I aware of the negative health consequences of poor sleep patterns, until I was trying to figure out what the heck was […]

I love Sundays. They are the one day of the week that we don’t usually have any commitments or activities scheduled. I try to use these days to rest and get ready for the week ahead. In theory, Sundays should be relaxing, but lately guilt has been creeping in on these days, and I have […]

We decided to take the plunge this year and take the kids to Ontario for summer holidays. It was the first time we travelled by air with both kids since Hayley was a baby. If you’ve done it before, you know that flying with a toddler is an act of true bravery. Throw in a […]

It’s officially summer. Sunshine, swimming pools, and family vacations. No more school, or schedules, and a much-needed break after a busy year. It’s also officially one of the hardest times of the year for Ryder. For a child who thrives on routine and consistency, summer holidays are the equivalent of having your world turned upside […]

I’ve just sat down after getting Ryder off to school. My heart is racing a little faster than usual. This morning I opened the door for him to walk out to his bus, but instead of walking to the open doors and up the steps as he usually does, he ran towards the back of […]