“Big girl”

Audrey’s 5th birthday came and went last month. I still can’t believe my baby is FIVE.

The years pass quickly but the milestones still crawl by.

We see the gains daily but having a non verbal, non (independent) walker at age five is something else.

We take stroller walks almost every day. She likes the same toys, books, shows and songs that she did when she was 1.5 years old.

I see Audrey maturing. I see her growing physically. I love her more and more every single day but sometimes I wish she was still “just a baby.”

Not for the same reasons any mom wants their child to stay their baby.

Babies are cute, they make squealing shrieks that everyone smiles at. They ride in strollers, eat in high chairs, wear diapers, have tantrums because they can’t verbalize what they may need or want .

But the thing is, my big girl does all of those things as well.

Her age is more noticeable now. Kids can tell she’s getting too big for the bucket swings at the park. Parents see me handheld walking with her or notice me quickly answering questions for her.

Every year I get a bit stronger and more confident with these social interactions and attempt to educate/bring awareness to her differences. I’m still waiting for it to not hit me like a ton of bricks.

Day by day we get stronger together though. Pushing thru, kicking CASK.

Author: Rachel Alves

Hi there! I am a special needs mom to a beautiful, sweet girl. Audrey has a mutation on her CASK Gene. This is a rare genetic disorder that effects her globally. It has caused a seizure disorder as well as gross motor, fine motor and speech delays. A Microcephaly diagnosis comes along with it as well. Our last 8 years have been filled with therapy, learning about our daughter's disorder and also learning to cope while finding joy. Thank you for taking the time to read about our journey. For more information on the CASK Gene, please visit my Instagram @alvesmomkickingCASK. View all posts by Rachel Alves