Wonder Woman Wednesday

I am so excited to tell you all about a new little segment on The Pickled Bean. 

Wonder Woman Wednesday! 

Every Wednesday I am going to be featuring a Wonder Woman! A woman whom God has picked to raise a child with disabilities. They will be sharing there stories, a few pictures and what they learned about themselves after there child was diagnosed. My hope is that we can continue to spread awareness but also spot light the struggles and joys that women go through when raising a child with disabilities.

I am honored to introduce to you Jessica Dares and her ohhh so perfect daughter Skyler. Truth be told I'm kind of obsessed with her right now. She is so beautiful on the inside and out and she has a wonderful blog. Please follow the link to her blog below

Check out her darling blog I have the missing link

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{All image credit goes to Jessica Dares photography}

Here is a little information about and Skyler's story as well as a lovely blog post that Jessica wrote. Okay... this post was over a year ago but I loved it, I had to share it. Please read it, I know you will love her as much as I do.





When I was pregnant in Louisiana with Skylar I had a ton of problems, and complications. I ended up having her 6 weeks early and she weighed 3.5 pounds. Still with no answers she was released when she was a month old from the NICU. After going to many different doctors, enrolling her in early steps and constant questioning to her pediatricians the diagnosis I was always given was she was premature she will catch up, or she may be mildly autistic. I KNEW MY CHILD WAS NOT AUTISTIC. Finally when she was 3 and a half we were referred to a geneticist. Upon walking into the geneticists office he automatically knew what she had but said it could not be confirmed without a fish test. Three weeks later we got the results and were confirmed yes it was indeed Williams Syndrome. While life has been a hectic road, filled with a separation from her father, some very rough spots and struggles, she has taught he to truly appreciate life. To appreciate what is around us, for we could have nothing, and if she can smile after all shes been through in her 4 years of life, there is no reason I cant. She is a blessing in my life, a miracle and the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Seriously she is as beautiful as they come

Life As You Know It

Skylar has finally fallen asleep. I can say that this stomach virus has officially lasted 24 hours and shows so signs of giving up as of right now. I feel so bad for her. She wants nothing to eat and nothing to drink not water, not pedialyte, not gatorade, BUT she wants milk.... Which leads me to my dilemma do I give it to her? Its not helping her stomach but she begs for it, and why I have no idea because it only leads to more ows and tears so I'm slowly just getting water to drink water out of my cup like me which seems to be going well. Well see how the middle of the night and tomorrow goes.

I hope I don't get it either. There is no way Josh could be home, so me and Sky with a stomach virus and a sick puppy. No bueno.

I've found some time to write. Josh is gone for the night and its amazing how different Buddy and Sky act when he is home. Much more hyperactive and well crazy lol. I tell him I don't mean this ugly but please go so they'll settle down. He leaves, Skys out and Buddy's curled by my feet on my bed in .5 seconds. This has become abnormally comfortable.

I was laying here watching Skylar sleep, exhausted from the day but of course my brain is never ready to shut off. So I started to ponder on my youth, my teens, my rebellion, motherhood and so forth. I had the life of a "normal" child as they would say. A mother and father household, two brothers one sister. We had a good life, we moved a lot due to my dad being in the National Guard but we were always close to family. They we're always important.

As I grew older we had our sleepovers, school dances, school get together, soc hops and so forth. I always fought with my parents to go with someone caving in because let's face it when our parents say "don't lie I will find out the truth" they damn well mean it. We never figure out how but they know. I remember growing older and sneaking out, fighting for an later curfew, and more options that were so not necessary for a girl my age and I am glad my parents told me no. I feel like I took like for granted. I knew what I was capable of and I did what I wanted without taking the words of advice that we know we should. But that's teenagers right!? I don't know, we all live our lives our way but I don't remember the small things like I want to.

I remember going to Pops camp and swimming and fishing, I remember the rare alligator trips I took because I never felt comfortable hahha, I remember Christmas with my whole family, and when wed get together for the holidays but now with Sky I feel like we stop to remember everything. She reminds me to smell the flowers, to feel the wind outside, to run back and forth and to be care free. To re-live my youth in a different way, as an observer to something different to what I know. She reminds me not to let the small things matter and to laugh even if people are watching, to be friends even if the gesture isn't returned, and to love because that's what's important.

I was not the perfect child, I should have thanked my parents more and make it a daily habit to do so now. I don't think I realized how much they did for me until I was a mother myself. I was definitely the kid who always felt sorry for themselves. I'm not sure why, maybe sometimes you get lose in a big family. But my family always cared and did their best to give us the life we not only wanted but the one they deserved. They busted their ass for us and those are my intentions with Sky.

I just need to remember that life isn't as big as we make it. The things we stress over and freak out isn't necessary, we need to let God take control and he will steer us in the right direction. Sky has taught me so much in her short time of life, things I wouldn't have learned without her. I am truly blessed because without her I don't think I'd remember to stop and take in the small things, the true beauty that God grants us with ever day, not the demons he wants to bring us down. To be thankful for the life I had, and what I was blessed with because not everyone gets that.

--Jessica Dares

I love, love this picture. This should be in a Williams Syndrome Research Book. The PERFECT example of the striation in pigment in Skyler's eyes. Cooper has the same thing but I have never been able to capture it like this.