Having kids is a roller coaster ride

Having kids changes you. It makes you more vulnerable. The minute you see them, they become your everything. You thought you loved your husband, your parents, your siblings, your 1st dog or pet hamster, your 1st car, baseball. Nah-- that's nothing compared to the love you have for your children. Heck- you feel that way the moment you know you have a little jellybean in your tummy. Well atleast when you're the mom. I suspect with the men it comes a little later when the baby resembles a human.  Each ultrasound, (and I mean all of them- I had many since both my pregnancies were high risk), is a mess of angst, begging God that everything goes ok, and absolute joy and wonder, to that exhale when they tell you everything looks good. But that 1st moment you see your baby-- that is magical. Sure you're exhausted, in pain, and maybe in shock from the experience (with your 1st at least) but it is wonderous.

And then the roller coaster begins! The highs, the lows, the in between lull. The well check ups, the shots, the 1st cold, the 1st fever, a missed developmental milestone, even a pooped diaper are all reasons that can start that roller coaster in motion. And then a hideous beast of illness comes into our life and affects your children, you shatter. Oh the pain and hurt!!

Autism scares the crap out of me. And so when our 3 year was diagnosed right before Christmas 2011, it shattered our life. When our oldest daughter was diagnosed with torticollis, it scared us. Each appointment to a specialist, therapist, early intervention folks, all of it-- there's that roller coaster. And yet your babies go on being children and we try to keep sane! Life with children changes your whole life.