Autism On The Farm

  Today is Dereck and I’s anniversary.  We’ve spent over 13 years of our lives together.  He was the first boy to take me on a date my freshman year of high school.  He asked me to be his girlfriend the first time on February 14, 2009 Then again on January 24, 2011.  He was the only prom date I had for all 3 times I went in high school.  We have our 3 beautiful babies, our farm, and our cows.  He’s my best friend.  We might only be 29 and 31 but it feels like we have lived a lifetime together.  If you would have asked us all those years ago about our life neither of us would have said Autism.  Now autism is in every aspect of our lives.  I’m not the same girl he asked to be his girlfriend.  I’m not the same woman that had our first daughter.  I’m not the same woman that had our second daughter.  I’m not the same woman that had our son.  I’m not the same woman that stood across from him at our wedding.  Life ...

  This is Advocacy.  It’s taken me 6 months to get these medical supplies for Harper & Dallas.  Constant calls to insurance companies.  Constant calls to all of their doctors.  Constant calls to medical suppliers.  Piles of paperwork.  Private Insurance is a nightmare.  So many people think if you get the diagnosis they have to cover what is needed.  I thought that.  But that is the furthest from the truth.  On this journey I quickly realized that the state nor your private insurance company does not care about your child with a disability or your family, if you go to work everyday and make a honest living, your child’s disability doesn’t matter.  Being denied for these supplies didn’t sit right with me so I have fought.  It’s a full time job to advocate.  Filled with loop holes and hoops to jump through.  When these came in the mail I might have shed a tear.  This side of things can be mentally exhausti...