Jennifer Briggs

I have started reading a book called The Yes Brain by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. It has inspired me to think differently about Sarah and how to help her/us. It has become increasingly obvious that she really has very little capacity to hear “no” without going into full-stress fight mode. We need to figure out… Read more »

The April Fool’s joke for us was a notable amount of snow. We made a huge snow mouse that is taller than the kids, and Sarah enjoyed rubbing noses with it. Carl also got to go cross-country skiing. Yesterday Amy orchestrated a talent show and asked me to be the judge. I hate judging among… Read more »

The week has felt overshadowed by grief and loss. I know there has been an abundance of good, but I have also needed the time to just feel sad and sluggish. A college classmate died from brain cancer. A few months ago she was as well as you or I, and now she is gone…. Read more »

When we began the Great Stuffed Animal Sort of 2021, Sarah wasn’t interested because she wanted to play basketball. Carl had been talking about maybe getting a basketball hoop and she was stuck on that idea. So, Carl propped our hula hoop over Sarah’s radiator and the girls tossed their stuffed animals through the hoop… Read more »

Spring has sprung! New sidewalk chalk has been purchased and used. I got my first Moderna shot! Amazingly, about a minute after I sent last week’s update, a friend who read it sent me a message offering to help me get an appointment. Five minutes later she had an appointment for me for yesterday. I… Read more »

Sarah’s school speech therapist nearly fell over from delighted shock when Sarah began their session by asking, “How are you, Ms. P?” Sarah started asking this of people maybe a week or two ago and it is wonderful. I have been appreciating the ease with which Sarah prompts people to say what she wants them… Read more »

Amy had one day of in-person school and absolutely loved it. She came home beaming, saying it was the best day of her life. Unfortunately, this coming week her school is all virtual again due to covid precautions. I’m glad they are being cautious and following good procedures, but Amy is sad about it. Part… Read more »

To her great delight, Sarah now has a carseat carrier for her baby doll Chester. She loves pretending that she is bringing Chester home from the hospital, to emulate the pictures of when we brought her home from the hospital. We have been enjoying time at our mountain house where there is more snow than… Read more »

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you feel deeply loved. If you are reading this then you know that I love you. The bravery in our household this past week has been strong. The girls and I took downhill skiing lessons. I managed the bunny slope!! Sarah learned how to slow herself and stop. Amy took… Read more »

The morning after Sarah’s wonderful birthday was a bit challenging. I have since decided that if there is a day when Anna isn’t arriving until sometime after 9am then Sarah will not even know they are coming. On Monday Anna was coming at 1 and that meant Sarah whining, yelling, screaming, and asking repeatedly “when… Read more »