My daughters are members of Frontier Girls, which is similar to Girl Scouts. They earn badges, do activities, and apparently surprise their mother. This summer Niko and I came to two meetings and taught the girls about Williams Syndrome. We shared this short video. We talked about several of the WS characteristics. The girls asked Niko and I questions. It … Read More
Awkward Conversations with Geeky Writers: My Bloody Valentine Edition
Happy Friday the 13th, friends! Why don’t you spend that glorious day with the Geeky Writer’s crew? We’re having our first broadcast of the year, and you’re invited to participate! Ask us questions on the Facebook page and we’ll answer via live (and usually embarrassing) broadcast. Spend Valentine’s Eve with your four bloody Valentines. I’ll let Todd tell you the … Read More
Preparing Your Child with Special Needs for School
This is an old blog post and Niko is now in high school, but it’s still relevant. As school time rolls around, there are always things we can do to help the transitions become easier. Happy school year! I can’t tell you the tears, both his and mine, that have ensued because of new schools. This is my darling Niko. … Read More
May is Williams Syndrome Awareness Month
Most of you are familiar with the fact that my 11 year old son has Williams Syndrome. It’s an exceptionally intricate genetic syndrome that affects so many things about him. His heart. His mental capabilities. He’s going to middle school next year and he doesn’t have the dexterity to manipulate a button. But he loves. Oh, how he loves! I … Read More
So I Ran Away.
A few days ago. It had been one of those days. Those weeks. Those months. And I snapped. I needed out. My husband came home from work and I was clawing at the door, saying I was sorry but I needed to step out for a few hours and I loved him and I’d back after the kids were in … Read More
The Girl With Hamburger Bun Eyes
My son is absolutely beautiful. He just had a growth spurt. He’s stringing more words together than ever. He has Williams Syndrome. He’s such a joy. The other day he was smiling and touching my eyes. “Mommy’s eyes,” he said. His face lit up as he thought about one of his favorite things. “Hamburger buns. Mommy’s hamburger bun eyes.” There … Read More
So The Police Show Up With My Eight-Year-Old Son…
Sounds like a bad joke, right? Only it isn’t. Through a series of miscommunications and things that would be heartbreakingly comic if I was watching it on TV, my son ended up freaking out on the school bus. So much so that the school police were called. My car had mysteriously died this morning, my baby hadn’t slept all day and … Read More
Interviews
Mercedes M. Yardley at Zombiepalooza Radio Live My Space: Mercedes M. Yardley in Desert Companion Women in Horror Month- An Interview with Mercedes M. Yardley by the HWA. Reading: TIH: Luna e Volk by Mercedes M. Yardley on This is Horror TIH 120: Mercedes M Yardley on Gamut, Rejections, and Fairy Tales by This is Horror TIH 119: Mercedes M. … Read More
Today’s Thoughts on Williams Syndrome
Small Son’s test results came back, and his calcium is elevated. Once upon a time this happened to us, and he descended into kidney failure because of it. We’re hoping it can be changed with diet instead of drugs, and I’m keeping a diary of everything that he puts into his mouth. It isn’t much. Today he was supposed to … Read More