Elliott created a bird that would be able to remind him of the birds he fed while not the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. He wants a parrot now and of course, we've told him "not a chance". He did the next best thing and made his own.  Check it out, it's pretty darn creative. This site is managed almost exclusively via WordPress for Android. Please forgive any typos as autocorrect HATES me. ;-) Follow @Lost_and_Tired Visit the My Autism Help Forums To reach me via email, please Contact Me

Emmett's in really bad shape.  He's in so much pain that he's inconsolable.  We tried and failed to get him into his pediatrician and as many of you know, taking an Autistic child to the ER or Immediate Care, doesn't always go well.  I called Emmett's immunologist at Akron Children's Hospital but they were out of the office today as well.  However, I spoke with the nurse on call and explained what was going on with Emmett. I explained about the fever disorder (PFAPA) and how the cycles have started up again.  When I called and she first answered, she thought I was calling in about a trauma because of Emmett screaming in the background.  Anyway, she was so incredibly nice and as a parent to a child with Autism…

My goal with this post is to educate.  I want people to understand what we go through and that can help you understand what others go through as well.  The video included is not easy to watch but it's a key to helping you understand the struggles that families like mine often face. There is a world of difference between a tantrum and a meltdown. The most significant difference is that a tantrum is a willful act, with the goal being to manipulate or change the behavior of the people around them. A tantrum can be defused and the person having the tantrum can hear you and may be able to talk back or respond to your voice. A meltdown is essentially the body purging because it simply can't cope…

My day began shortly after the last one ended. Emmett's been up since about 4am. He's miserable and couldn't sleep.  We moved downstairs to the couch and he had a popsicle to help numb his mouth. It's about 7am now and I traded off with Lizze, so I could get some sleep... This site is managed almost exclusively via WordPress for Android. Please forgive any typos as autocorrect HATES me. ;-) Follow @Lost_and_Tired Visit the My Autism Help Forums To reach me via email, please Contact Me

Okay, I've talking about these loud cannon blasts that have been happening almost every day.  They happen in the afternoon, evening and in the wee hours of the morning. For example, the one that just went off and woke me up. Lizze actually called the police yesterday morning because there were two blasts around breakfast time. She called the non-emergency line and explained what's been going on and apparently we aren't the only ones complaining.  The problem is that they can't locate the source of the explosion. We know the general area because smoke can be seen rising above the treeline, after each blast. We're really close to whatever is being set off.  A few of my neighbors have said that there's some dude with a cannon and he has…

Emmett is miserable and is having a really hard time sleeping.  We keep rotating between Tylenol and Advil to keep the fever down and help with the pain. He's in a bad place and so Lizze, God love her, is snuggling with him on the couch.  This was the only thing that calmed him down after the last time he woke up. I know she nit comfortable but I respect so much how she willing to deal with her own pain, in order to provide Emmett with comfort. I wanted to grab a picture before I tried to move him back to bed.  He transferred to his bed just fine but I going to wait a bit before going back to bed, just in case he gets up again. Lizze…

Emmett John is in a great deal of pain.  It kills me to see any of my kids suffer. My heart has been breaking for my sweet little boy since yesterday.  The fever disorder that Emmett has suffered from, for the last two years has officially made it's return after a about a 7 or 8 month hiatus. It began about two days ago when Emmett became cranky and started falling asleep during the day, which never happens. Then we noticed the first of what would become many mouth sores. By this morning, his mouth and throat were full of them and for the first since shortly after his surgery, he actually spiked a high grade fever. I thought that we had finally seen the last of these when they…