Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

Sometimes I look at Tucker’s gorgeous, smooth, wrinkle-free baby skin and want a time-travel machine to visit my teenage self.  I’ll slap then-me for going to the tanning salon, sunbathing using baby oil, and for skiing without sunscreen. I wonder if my skin would look more like his, now, had I done a more diligent […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Susan - oh my word, this is such powerful great writing . and I’m so glad you shared. Wow it’s just so good that I’m crying. I feel the same way and I’m not even as old as you and I guess from what you said that doesn’t matter that i’m not even as old as you right! Thank you for sharing this you really have a gift for making us mothers cry and it’s all good cries so thank you! please keep posting. there are lots of blogs out there and they are ok but yours is very extra nice. so thank you!!October 26, 2012 – 11:55 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Susan, thank you so much for your comment. And you’re right, it doesn’t matter how old we are, we’re entitled to feel older than we used to be, because we are! 😉 Thank you for visiting Finding Ninee!October 28, 2012 – 6:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Pam - Dear Finding Ninee,
    Thank you for sharing your story. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your son who is trapped in your middle world as you call it. My son is autistic but very verbal, he experiences echolalia. and i don’t know what’s worse. Because my son can talk but he had no clue what he’s saying. I think that maybe it’s better to be where you are. But their circumstances aside, I thank you for what is such a very nice post that made me cry and I had to read it to my husband too. It’s very visual and nice and we feel the same way for all our kids. Thanks for sharing it must be hard knowing that people you know might read it too which makes it extra special.October 26, 2012 – 11:59 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thank you Pam, for visiting, commenting and sharing your story. Honestly, I don’t know what’s better, having the language and not really knowing what you’re saying, or struggling so much to say what you want to. It’s hard being a parent anyway. Add struggles to it and, well, it makes it more frustrating anyway. You’re right that we do all feel the same way for all of our kids. Thanks again for visiting!October 28, 2012 – 6:03 pmReplyCancel

  • Sara - Hi, I don’t know if I can say it better than those 2 ladies, but it brought to mind this song that Ani wrote after her baby girl was born. It’s slightly more about realizing that the wrinkles don’t matter in light of the beautiful life you’ve (she) created (than about how that life just doesn’t care about those wrinkles), but a similar notion, none-the-less. Also, it has the added element of “that baby looks like me so how can’t I hate how I look?”

    Great insight, great reminder, great post. Thanks.


    October 28, 2012 – 12:48 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Sara, I wasn’t familiar with that song, but it’s so true isn’t it? That our logic is flawed. Thank you so much for sharing!October 28, 2012 – 5:59 pmReplyCancel

      • admin - I especially liked the opening:
        Lately I’ve been glaring into mirrors picking myself apart
        You’d think at my age I’d thought of something better to do
        Than making insecurity into a full time job
        Making insecurity into an art
        🙂
        I guess we all do it, huh?October 28, 2012 – 6:04 pmReplyCancel

        • Sara - More than we care to admit, I’m sure.October 29, 2012 – 10:55 pmReplyCancel

          • admin - Indeed. It’s too bad we don’t appreciate the youth we have when we have it. I can even remember grandparents and other Wise Adults telling me to appreciate it. And sometimes I did. But I now know that I didn’t really “get” what they meant.October 29, 2012 – 11:08 pm

          • Sara - I’m not sure that we CAN know when we’re on the other side of the fence. Until you know, you can’t really know (y’know?). It’s like trying to describe ‘blue’ to a blind person….or the Grand Canyon to someone who’s never seen it. Without any context, it’s hard to take in the depth of what you’re being told.

            (And it’s also a convenient way to take some of the blame off of us for not listening!) 😉October 30, 2012 – 10:09 am

  • Joy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

    Listen to the lyrics: Baz Luhrmann told us all these truths in his song! I really think of it very often and I had to think of it as I read your post!December 31, 2012 – 5:05 amReplyCancel

    • admin - I love that song! His words are perfect! <3 And yours, too!December 31, 2012 – 8:31 amReplyCancel

  • Stephanie @ Mommy, for real. - Ah, tears! That is such a beautiful reminder- I feel like I need to post something on my mirror to remind me of that same thing. (Although my six year old did just point out my pimple yesterday and tell me I had an “owie”. Thanks.) Glad you linked that one up on the Blog Hop so I had a chance to read it- good choice!January 2, 2013 – 4:53 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks, Stephanie! It was hard to choose one to post and honestly this isn’t my favorite of all time but I feel like I use my favorite of all time all over the place already, you know? And it is a good reminder, to all of us. We’re not going to ever look younger. Sigh…
      Thanks so much for reading and for the comment. You rock.January 2, 2013 – 7:50 pmReplyCancel

  • Beth Woolsey - I love this, Kristi! Thanks for the link.May 11, 2013 – 7:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Age 30 was one of my most depressing birthdays. I’d like to go back and give myself a snap out of it slap. I don’t think I was ever embarrassed by my parents but they were/aren’t that much older than me. Mom is 18 years old and and daddy is 20. As for catching that unflattering glimpse of something, I was curling my hair today and caught a glimpse of my elbows in the mirror. I said, “Ewww. No way my elbows are the same age as me.” Thanks for linking up with TALUMay 14, 2013 – 5:31 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi - If only we knew then what we know now, huh? That’s funny about your elbows. I bet they got lots of lotion today;)May 14, 2013 – 8:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - So sweet!

    I had to laugh at my original comment. I have since taken better care to lotion my elbows.

    I’m thinking kids in general (I don’t know) would never be embarrassed by their parents looks. Except those whose moms dare to pick them up from school in a bathrobe and rollers – stuff like that. But I KNOW they love us unconditionally. But I do believe the age is about now (age 13 for Christopher) that they can be embarrassed by what we do. Last year when we went to a football game where Christopher’s friends were going to be there he said, “Mom please don’t do anything embarrassing.” In other words don’t act like I do when I’m watching at home. I don’t know how I’m supposed to act with him actually playing this year.August 31, 2018 – 8:47 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - LOL about your elbows! Glad to hear you’re lotioning better now 🙂 Awww to “Mom please don’t do anything embarrassing” — I wonder what he means. I guess don’t jump up and down? I totally jump up and down. I wonder how many years I have.August 31, 2018 – 10:01 amReplyCancel

      • Kenya G. Johnson - I think I’m excused if he’s on the field. But that particular time he was going to be sitting by his friends and not far from us. LOL! I think you have until Tucker gets in the 7th grade.September 2, 2018 – 8:58 amReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - A couple more years then… and aha to him sitting near his friends but close to you. Heaven forbid you talk about something embarrassing! 😀September 3, 2018 – 1:15 pmReplyCancel

  • Josie Two Shoes - Exactly, to Tucker you will always be mom, and even when he us older and you are older still, you will always look just right to him. ♥️September 4, 2018 – 11:34 amReplyCancel

Part of the reason I started this blog was to connect with other parents who are in “The Middle World,” one where the autism spectrum exists, but the parents are able to hope their child is not autistic due to an official evaluation from a developmental pediatrician saying that he’s not.  So far, I haven’t […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Sara - I wonder what the numbers are, exactly how many (what percentage) of kids don’t talk before age 3…or 4, or even 5? I know plenty of anecdotal stories of kids who didn’t talk (or talk very little) before age 4, but what kind of numbers are we really talking about? And while, yes, it’s true that children who have delayed speech sometimes have trouble later (learning to read, or write, or communicate gracefully), that’s only true for SOME kids, and again, I wonder about the numbers. Because I know plenty of anecdotal stories of kids whose speech was delayed but who had no trouble whatsoever learning to read, write, speak gracefully.

    If I were unemployed I would definitely go to the library and spend a few hours researching the numbers, but alas, I have a job now…..October 25, 2012 – 7:48 pmReplyCancel

  • Sara - In the meantime though, accept that he has speech delays and love him and engage him and read to him and play word games and do all the things you’re already doing. Seems to me you’re doing it right.October 25, 2012 – 7:49 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thank you SO MUCH Sara!!! I hope you’re right….October 25, 2012 – 10:14 pmReplyCancel

  • Kate - I could have wrote this exact post. Actually I think I did. Cooper sounds a lot like Tucker. Cooper is severely speech delayed but loves to be held, snuggled, tickled. He flaps his arms out of excitement but doesn’t have any other stimming. He hates having his hair cut but so do many other children. I have lost hours of sleep and shed many tears over these same questions. And yes, if Cooper is autistic its high functioning. And Cooper improves every day. But after all that is said, I’m back where I started. Cooper still doesn’t talk and still has frustrating behaviors. My heart breaks for you because I know what you are going through. It’s so scary. It’s lonely and awful. I am so glad I found your post. Your son sounds amazing!January 23, 2014 – 12:55 pmReplyCancel

As anybody who has ever had a sick child knows, it’s horrible to see your little one feverish, lethargic, sad, and in obvious pain.  It messes with his sleep, with your sleep, with your life, with his life, and with your very thoughts.  It sucks.  Add the frustrations and sleep deprivation to an illness in […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Sara - Wow. Now I feel stupid for not thinking of it. Suppositories: of course. So WHY didn’t the docs mention it??? Just goes to show, you have to be your own health advocate (or Tuck’s advocate, in this case). And yaaaay H for the suggestion!October 23, 2012 – 10:00 amReplyCancel

  • Joy - Oh, I should have read on before commenting on your last post!! :-))December 31, 2012 – 4:32 amReplyCancel

  • Joy - And I wonder, are they more common in Europe as I just read that hint of your friend who was raised there? So sorry I did not know you back then because I would have suggested “butt bullets” (*lol*) back then, too, as you could see from my comment 5 minutes ago.December 31, 2012 – 4:35 amReplyCancel

    • admin - I’m not sure if they’re more common in Europe or not but I do know that they WORK and I’ll forever have them on hand. I can’t believe his own doctor didn’t suggest them. Grr. Thanks huge for your comments!December 31, 2012 – 8:30 amReplyCancel

We’ve tried everything we can think of to get Tucker to take his much needed children’s ibuprofen to try and get his 103+ degree fever down and hopefully make his throat a little less sore.  I’ve mentioned previously that we usually sneak any needed meds into his juice, but since he’s not drinking enough* today […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Henriette - One advise, when they are sick like this – throw all mommy rules out of the window! They want ice cream? Let them have ice cream! They want jelly with vanilla custard? Let them have it… Olivia has ended up dehydrated a couple of times and it’s horrible!!! Just offer him what ever and if you are lucky he might fancy something… Crossing fingers Tucker will feel better soon!October 21, 2012 – 9:25 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Oh Henriette, you are indeed so wise, as this is what the doctor said as well. Which worked, yesterday. Today, what worried me so much was that he whispered (it hurt too much to say his few words) “no” to me, over and over, in regard to ice cream, juice, ice, all of his favorites. Which really sucked. I feel so sorry for him. After sleeping almost all day (seriously, he’d wake up for 15 to 45 minutes, stay on the couch and then fall back asleep), we rarely got him to take anything. We’d been in contact with his doctor, and were just about ready to give up and take him to the ER when he thankfully nodded yes to water requests. It’s just so heartbreaking! He feels awful. When his temp got again up to 103.4, we knew that our failed attempts to dose him with ibuprofen were unsuccessful, so we had to resort to infant syringes, drip by screaming drip. It sucked. But we got him down to 101.4 for bedtime. We’ll (well, I’ll) have to check again at 2:30 this morning but he’s in his own bed right now, with a sippy cup of water by his side (was worried a real cup would spill and still worried the sippy will leak but whatever) for when he wants water. I haven’t sang him as many “baby” songs since, well, he was a baby! So sad! I guess every parent goes through the first time their kid is REALLY sick. This is obviously mine (hopefully). He sounds like a 90 year old man who has smoked his whole life and also has allergies when he coughs! It’s ugly!!
      Thank you so much for the comment. And you’re right about all mommy rules out the window. The doctor backed you up 🙂October 21, 2012 – 10:00 pmReplyCancel

  • Sara - Poor Tuck! I hope he sleeps through the night and wakes up thirsty and ready to drink. I’m sorry I don’t have any advice. …..but I can say that I wholeheartedly agree that Homeland is great. We love it.October 21, 2012 – 10:52 pmReplyCancel

  • Joy - Maybe you could give him a suppository of fever medicine next time he refuses to take his ibuprofen juice? Are those available in the US? I know suppositories are horrible and Sunny hates them (and, fortunately, he accepts EVERY medicine I give him with a syringe!), but in this case they would be my last resort.
    (I am really diligent today with catching up on your blog, aren’t I? 😉 )December 31, 2012 – 4:31 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Joy! You ARE awesome! The suppository worked really well, actually. He didn’t love it but it was so much easier than trying to force the medicine down his throat and then not know how much he actually got. We can buy them over the counter (thank goodness). I’m still annoyed with our doctor for not suggesting them. And you really are catching up on all the old stuff. I love it! Thank you!December 31, 2012 – 8:29 amReplyCancel

      • Joy - I am glad that worked! Doctors… sometimes you really have to wonder, don’t you?December 31, 2012 – 10:07 amReplyCancel

Tucker’s developed bronchitis.  He received two steroid shots yesterday which helped with his cough.  As we had to go to an office with Saturday hours, he didn’t see the doctor that he usually does and she suggested antibiotics, which I refused.  From what I understand, bronchitis is usually viral, and antibiotics don’t help.  Tucker’s never […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Joy - We deal a lot with bronchitis in our house and the best thing you can do is to let Tucker inhale several times a day, either with saline solution or, when it gets worse and he cannot cough up, with a medicine that’s called “salbuthamol”. However, I do not know if you need a paediatrician to have it prescribed or how this works in the US. We always have it in our home because we need it very often.
    Maybe that helps for the next time. xoxoDecember 31, 2012 – 4:25 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks so much, Joy! I hope there is not a next time very soon because it was so hard to listen to him try to breathe…poor guy. I’m sorry to hear that Sunny gets it often but glad you have a good solution. I’ll have to try the saline next time!December 31, 2012 – 8:27 amReplyCancel

      • Joy - As soon as he gets sick he almost always gets a bronchitis, so I am really familiar with that (or he has an ear infection and, sometimes, even both). :-/December 31, 2012 – 10:09 amReplyCancel

« Older posts Newer posts »

N e v e r   m i s s   a   n e w   p o s t !