February 29 2011 is our 3 year anniversary living with SMS.
Wow 3 full years have past since we were sitting in that Dr’s office waiting, anticipating and hearing those life changing words.
First off I NEVER would have survived the last 3 years without my best friend and rock, Jarvis. Most of you don’t know but I got pregnant with Autumn very early in our relationship. We were together for 2 weeks when I found out I was pregnant with Autumn. When she was diagnosed all I could think about was “is he going to stick around”. I wasn’t sure, I mean we were just told our baby girl has special needs and no one knows what we are to expect, all we know is we can expect some pretty bad tantrums, behaviors, and we will get little sleep.
When we got in the car after her appointment I was very upset, the first words out of his mouth were “I am not going any where, we are in this together, and we will get through this”. At that moment 10,000 pounds were lifted off of my shoulders, I have someone to turn to when I am at my breaking point, and trust me I turn to him daily when I am at my breaking point.
I remember the first time Autumn started having bad behavior issues, She was having a tantrum and banging her head off of our hard wood floors, my heart broke. I could not believe what I was seeing; I hadn’t seen anything like this before. After the tantrum was done I went to our bedroom and cried, it wasn’t long before Jarvis was coming up to check on me and again reassure me we were in this together and we would get through this and get the tantrums under control.
There are many days I think “what would I do without him”. To be honest I am not sure, obviously I would pull through but I would probably have a drinking problem!
In the last 3 years Autumn and SMS have taught me so much! It has been the biggest learning experience of my life.
Patience: Patience is a must when dealing with any child, but when dealing with special needs child you learn how to be patient, Autumn has taught me that with time she will do everything a “typical” child does, you just have to be patient with her.
Determination: Autumn is without a doubt the most determined person I have met, she wont stop trying until she accomplishes her goal, if she see’s one of her peer’s doing something she must learn how to do and she will accomplish her goal maybe not that day but she wont stop trying until she finally gets it right.
Strength: Autumn has low muscle tone for a “typical” child to roll over it is a milestone, for a “typical” child to walk it is a milestone, for Autumn it takes months upon months upon months to build the strength requires. Autumn has more strength then I could have every hoped or prayed for, she will hit every milestone regardless of SMS , she just requires more strength then a “typical” child.
These are only a few of the things I have learned over the last 3 years, there are so many more but this blog would never end, I could go on for days!
SMS has taught us more then any class could teach us, or more then any book could explain.
The last 3 years have been the best 3 years of my life, I have been taught more then I could ever imagine, I have met some amazing people along the way, and I have had the opportunity to not only learn about a rare genetic syndrome but also education others.
I believe everything in life happens for a reason, if you asked me 3 years ago why Autumn was diagnosed with SMS I would have said “because the world is against me”, If you ask me today I say I have been given Autumn because she is an amazing little girl who has so much personality, so much love to give, and is all together an amazing little girl who teaches me the meaning of life everyday, there is not one day I would want her to not have SMS, even when I have hit rock bottom she makes me feel like I am on top.
Autumn is an amazing Daughter, and an amazing big sister. I love every part of her including the sleepless nights, and the tantrums that sometimes last for days, without Autumn in my life I would not be the person I am today.
I Can’t wait to see what the next year holds!!!!!!
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