[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObkxEXKoklI[/youtube]

This actually illustrates quiet well some of the challenges facing the special needs parent. Autistic kids have sensory needs and will often do anything to fulfill those needs, even at their own risk. I was taking a random video of Emmett John just trying out the camera and this happened. He has very specific sensory needs and he gets some of them filled by jumping on the couch. He didn't get hurt in this video but he does quiet often trying to ground himself. I was taking a random video of Emmett John just trying out the camera and this happened. He has very specific sensory needs and he gets some of them filled by jumping on the couch. He didn't get hurt in this video but he does quiet often trying to ground…

On Tuesday morning we took Gavin to see Dr. R. We found out that Gavin can no longer safely take his MUCH NEEDED anti-psychotics. We knew we needed to adjust the Lithium but he needed bloodwork first.  Wednesday morning Lizze took Gavin for his bloodwork and he did great. While she was gone I was revieving our business and personal checking only to find out there had been 2 unauthorized transactions the night before. This makes 3 times so far in August. After I freaked out I thought "at least we weren't overdrawn". Then I realized that I cut payroll eariler that week and those checks hadn't cleared. Now there isn't enough left in the account to clear the checks. They will probably clear over the weekend and that will…

ER had his first day of year round pre-school today. I was so worried about how this would go but he had a great day. He likes his teachers and classmates. He didn't like the "carrots and green stuff" that were served with lunch. I can't express how much relief I felt knowing it went well for him. He should do even better tomorrow as he knows what to expect. We really didn't see much in the way of breaks today and Gavin had appointments we needed to attend. We won't have a break tomorrow either as Gavin has bloodwork. At least ER had a good day.

Gavin went to see Dr. R this morning. Here's the dime store version. Gavin can no longer take anti-psychotics safely. Dr. R isn't comfortable with Gavin being on them for right now at least. As we suspected Gavin is EXTREMELY manic and the current does of Lithium is working. He has bloodwork in the AM to get his levels and Dr. R will adjust as needed. The problem we face now is that Gavin will not be properly medicated. I don't know how we are going to survive this going forward. I'm greatly concerned about how this is going to effect everyone. School starts soon for him and I don't see that going well. That's the run down for where we are with Gavin at this point. I pray he…

My heart has been broken tonight. We went to visit Elliott Richards new school this evening. Everything was went real well. Then we went into the classroom to meet the teachers. Most of his classmates were there. Everyone was playing together. Elliott Richard was off by himself and for the first time I saw him as an Autistic child. It was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears in front of him and everyone else. I tried so hard not to cry. I eventually had to go outside to get some air. I knew Elliott Richard had sensory and anxiety issues but for some reason I never saw what was behind them. If I am to be honest, ER is my weakness. I am the closest to…

Well today's my 32nd Birthday and I now have 61 subscribers to my examiner page. I was hoping for 50 by today but you guys exceeded my expectations. I would like to say thank you to everyone for helping to support the Lost and Tired family this way. If you haven't yet subscribed (for free) and would like to click on the "Support the Lost and Tired Family" at the top of this page for instructions. I haven't been writing as much as I used to. Basically, things are pretty bad right now and I haven't had the energy to write about everything. I'm going to make an effort to fix this because even if it's depressing to read (and it is) I want people to know what life is…

Gavin is causing everyone grief. He has Elliott Richard so scared (from all the stories and thoughts he shares with him) that he won't be by himself even for a minute. Elliott Richard won't even use the bathroom because he's so afraid. This is when the whole adopted child vs biological child comes into play for me. Gavin is causing ER to be in distress. I know I would be just as upset if Gavin was my bio child but the fact is he's not. Everything in me is telling me to make ER and EJ safe and I can't find a way to do that with Gavin here. His problems have sucked the life out of this family and now EJ is following in his footsteps. EJ has become…