During the rain I'm not calm. There's not a cool or even a collected in sight. I hold white knuckled to the branches and squeeze my eyes tightly shut.
I pray.
I wonder why in the hell the rain intrigued me in the first place. It's cold and I'm wet and I'm scared and I don't even have an umbrella or a change of clothes. I suddenly wish I hadn't taken for granted the clear skies from the day before.
And it's in the quiet and calm after the storm that I realize, Boy... I sure do love the rain.
Yesterday I get an email from a producer at NBC. The Today Show and Nightly News with Brian Williams were interested in our story. And they wanted to cover it. In just a few hours. I hadn't showered and clutter happened all over the house. I haven't had a pedicure in forever. You know- things that are KEY elements when sharing Autism Awareness all over the world.
FREAKING.
I just sat there with the Producer's email open. Not really breathing. I didn't think -YES! I'm so EXCITED. I thought, Oh curse word...
Everything I touch doesn't turn to gold. I'm not usually the girl who always got the boy, the job or the win. I've worked so hard for everything I have. I am the girl who doesn't give up. The girl who is scared but does it anyway.
And one minute I am in my living room watching Yo Gabba Gabba, and the next my living room is filled with a crew of people, all with a common goal of sharing Greyson + Frank's story. I wish you would have been there. I wish you could have felt the love.
We received a text early this morning that our story would not be airing on The Today Show. I felt a breeze of disappointment. But honestly? Getting bumped from The Today Show is probably one of the coolest things ever to happen to me. I actually can't believe I was honestly almost on The Today Show in the first place.
After that initial text I figured that we would certainly not air on Nightly News with Brian Williams. And I had this strange sense of peace that everything was going to be just fine anyway.
And this morning taking the boys to behavior therapy, I caught a glimpe of us in the truck ahead of me and I just started to tear up because I was so happy and felt so proud.
I'm just a Mom, in a car, taking her boys to school, changing the world two eyes at a time... Yesterday was an experience I will carry in my heart forever. It was pure awareness and adrenaline-filled fun. (Don't fret- I was at a red light here).
If yesterday wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have met Kathy the producer. If God was a woman her voice would sound soft and soothing and say all the right things to make me not nervous- like Kathy did. She's a working Momma, she gets it.
I wouldn't have met intern Michelle, a Fresno-Native who helped out and watched my babies and entertained them in the pool while Michael and I were filming. I can't forget camera man God, Abraham- who could frame a shot so sweet that I was jealous and he sweated his rainbow sprinkles off working so hard and waiting for Greyson and Frank outside in the hot desert sun. Rick the sound guy was the kind and patient when the boys were fascinated and touching his gadgets.
And I can't forget the brilliant and darling producer Tony- who oozed passion and pride in what he did, not to mention, Belle the dog fell madly in love with him. And lastly, the amazing correspondent, Miguel who truly invested himself in our story. I saw soul through his eyes. I asked him to read a few lines of the Awareness post and I watched across the room as he read the whole dang thing. That spoke volumes to me.
So I was content walking away without any National Television coverage knowing that I simply had an amazing and exciting day... Not really your typical stay at home Mom kind of thing.
But God had different plans.
And we found out this afternoon that Greyson's voice would be heard through our story all over the World on Nightly News with Brian Williams. Please, take a moment to watch it HERE.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
I'm so proud of my new Friends that did such a good job.
And Thank you, Mr. Williams. I'm proud of you too, Sir. And I loved you on 30-Rock. And I'm sorry I don't watch the news but it usually makes me sad. It sure made me happy tonight though.
And after you watch the package, take a moment to remember that your own wildest dreams can come true too. DREAM BIG.
Blog Friends, We are on the Nightly News With Brian Williams, website. I think I'm supposed to be cool about this stuff, but I am totally dorking out.
Today I was happy to go back to being a regular old Mom...
I went, Sorry you didn't make The Today Show, retail therapy-ing.
We jumped on the bed.
Greyson hid from his Teacher during afternoon Therapy.
And I found Parker-Doodle's twin.
Regular every day Life is my favorite.
I want to extend a special welcome to all our new Friends.
Hey! We are so glad you are here. This is a blog about autism and so much more. It's a blog on how to live a happy life, even if your circumstances aren't ideal. I don't think anyone is living the exact Life they planned. I think what's most important is that we try to love the Life that we actually have been given.
I don't offer advice unless you ask me. In turn, I don't want advice on how Greyson or Parker can be cured or advice on which therapies we should be doing. I did my homework and we are doing what works for us. I don't want to talk about vaccines, special diets, supplements or biomedical treatment. There are plenty of other great sources out there for that.
I want to talk about a beautiful and sometimes really hard thing called Life.
We all have one, so we can all relate. Thank you for being here.
Love,
Chrissy
PS- Mr. Lauer, this is NOT the last you've heard about Life with Greyson + Parker.
In the meanwhile, come give us a LIKE on Facebook. We need World changers like you.
You did it girl! So proud of you!! So awesome!!! I am gonna sleep well tonight with great dreams. I really hope I can actually meet you some day! I live in a suburb of St. Louis and I would be honored for Brady and Greyson (and parker) to meet some day in the future! You are a breath of fresh air and I look forward to reading your blog every night! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way! I loved seeing your hubby showing his vulnerable self - with tears. That, my friend, takes real guts. That would have been my hubby too! :)
ReplyDeleteI've only been following your blog since Glennon introduced you a little while back. I have tears in my eyes watching the video. You are doing amazing things and changing the world. Way to go!!! btw, Minion Parker is awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteYou and your family are amazing!! I cried happy tears watching the nightly news with Brian Williams last night (and I'm like you - I never watch the news normally but I loved it last night!). I love your blog ever since I found it from momastary and look forward to your beautiful writing every day.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've only been following you since finding your blog through Glennon earlier this summer, I'm completely over the moon for you. What a happy post to start my day with.
ReplyDeleteThank-You...just Thank-You. You inspire me to keep going on days that I think I can't. I'm so happy for you that your story got to be shared for so many to see! K
ReplyDeleteI was so excited to find this clip in the NBC section on my Roku Box! Yay! I got to watch it on tv instead of my old, slow computer. They really did an incredible job with this story! Minion Parker could be NO cuter either!
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is Wow! Good things come to good people!!!! And I am so happy for you! I love how you say regular day life is my favorite! That spoke to me! We need to love the ordinary days!
ReplyDeleteI love your story, your passion and your skills for communicating with words and pictures. Your blog is always interesting, fun and upbeat! You are an amazing mom and woman. I am happy that your story hit the mainstream and is making an impact. You are not only your family's advocate, but an advocate for autism awareness. Keep up the great work. You are a changing the world "two eyes at a time" times millions of eyes when you count your Facebook, blog and now NBC!
ReplyDeleteWow! Two of my favorites - Life with Greyson + Parker AND Brian Williams <3 How much bigger does it get than that?? You keep doin your thing ;)
ReplyDeleteOh - PS, I hop on my TV stand to smooch Brian Williams every night, totally normal. I (heart) him.
Love & happiness to you sweet momma/world changer. Jennifer
I LOVE READING your "life" each day!!! Your family is awesome and you do make a difference each and everyday by sharing your story with the world. You go girl!!! Keep living and sharing and loving!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting. I'm not a news-watcher either but definitely wanted to watch this. It makes me feel so good to see: 1) the joy that Greyson expresses, 2) the love that you and Michael have for your sons 3) the graciousness, helpfulness and care Frank shows and 4) that a ginormous TV show took the chance to show the world a happy story that can encourage a LOT of people to do something positive themselves. I feel good all over!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through Momastery and have been so moved by your writing. I sat down with my family last night to watch your story and my husband and I had tears of happiness streaming down our faces while we watched. I too LOVE Brian Williams (really loved Tom Brokaw) and thought the story was beautifully told! Love it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, I'm so happy for you! It was fun to hear your voice and "get to know you" a little bit more!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read your post about this whole thing last night. Suddenly, there you were on television! I have been telling my husband bits and pieces of this whole story as I read it on your blog. Even he got a smile when I yelped, "It's them, the kid I was telling you about." I felt like I saw a friend on tv.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you! Your family is wonderful. Kelly
ReplyDeleteWell, I just want to pass on some info...which I am SURE you probably already know...but Clovis Unified has GREAT programs for autistic students from babies on up! On their third birthday they can enter a 5 hour per day program. One is just opening up at Valley Oak - 5 min. from your home! I just want to make sure you have the information about Clovis!! I'm the teacher for the VO program so if you have any questions you can email me! margodeniston@cusd.com I check my work email every couple of day during the summer! Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog when I was reading a story on MSNBC. I'm the mother of a first grader on the spectrum. I can't believe I haven't seen your blog before. I'm going to follow it from now on. You have a beautiful family and you're an amazing mom. Your husband is a good dad. He reminds me of my great husband who is our child's biggest supporter. All the best to you....
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yip yip yipee! how exciting! i've been trying to leave comments and every time i write a long book and it gets erased when i try to publish it, so this one is short and sweet. so happy for you and your boys. and i loved that picture of michael saying "this is green". laughed out loud. susan from pa
ReplyDeleteThe news clip brought me to tears, as many of your posts have in the past weeks since I discovered your blog. So thrilled to see you and Greyson making a difference across the country. I want you to know that each of your posts and touched my hearts and gives me hope that the world can become a kinder place for our children with special needs.
ReplyDeleteKara in OR
It was so great....I saw it on the news after I had been singing we sure could use a little good news today and it was so wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled on your page from some news page of sorts. I haven't even finished reading what happened with Greyson. I've been reading the most recent blogs first. But I want to say, you have a beautiful life. You seem to embrace your challenges and I love that. Your boys are incredibly handsome - some of the most beautiful children I have seen...and I have a damn good looking 19 month old son!
ReplyDeleteKeep up that positive spirit. I can't wait to finish reading about your life. Thank you for sharing.
CCW