Read more about the article This is how we were able to work though our first tummy ache of the new school year 
Emmett John / School Related Issues / Tummy Aches

This is how we were able to work though our first tummy ache of the new school year 

I didn't sleep long or well last night.  I'm too stressed out and worried aboit a great many things but right now, Gavin's at the very top of the list.  I actually slept for about 3 hours last night and was awoken by a little Emmett John  who wasn't feeling well. The before school tummy aches have returned.  It was one of those mornings where Emmett had a tummy ache and didn't want to go to school. In fairness, he's got a lot of sinus drainage and I think that's what's upsetting his tummy.   We tried everything to convince him to go, short of dragging him out kicking and screaming.   We felt it best that not push him at this point but instead take the approach I took…

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September 13, 2016
Read more about the article We barely made it through our little sensory crisis this morning but we did :) 
Emmett John / Lizze / Sensory / Shoes and Socks

We barely made it through our little sensory crisis this morning but we did :) 

Lizze managed to get Emmett to at least wear his crocks to school today. That was no easy task because she worked through screaming and kicking, never giving up on him or losing her patience.  Eventually, she was able to work him through this little sensory crisis and we made our way to school.   We did pack his socks in his backpack just in case he decided he needed them.   At this point, it's whatever works.. ☺ 

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September 12, 2016
Read more about the article It’s a major sensory morning in this #Autism house
Emmett John / School / Sensory / Shoes and Socks

It’s a major sensory morning in this #Autism house

I've put myself in time out for a few minutes. I'm going on four hours of sleep and Emmett is a sensory nightmare this morning.  He's really struggling and at this point, we can't help him to wear his socks.   The last resort is sending him barefoot in his crocks but that's what we had to do on Friday and we'll do it again today.   Right now I'm having Emmett stand in a big box of rice, hoping to wake his feet up, as his occupational therapist would say.  I'm not sure it's going to help much but it's something to occupy him while I take a breather.   It's important to recognize my limits and make sure I don't lose my cool. Putting myself in time out,…

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September 12, 2016
Read more about the article We have a very difficult decision to make about the education of our two little boys with #Autism
Elliott / Emmett John / School Related Issues

We have a very difficult decision to make about the education of our two little boys with #Autism

Lizze and I have been discussing something that makes me incredibly uncomfortable. While this is something I really don't even want to think about, as parents, I don't think we have much of a choice. The topic of concern is whether or not the boys are in the right school. I don't like this conversation because the idea of even thinking about moving the boys to a new school is something that terrifies me.  At the same time however, I've become more and more concerned that a move may be necessary. Let me say that I really like the staff and the school as a whole. I would recommend it to people who have kids that struggle in the public school system. The concern for us lies in whether or…

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September 6, 2016
Read more about the article That moment when you resign to the fact that you’ll not likely be getting much sleep tonight
Autism Parenting Woes / Emmett John / My thoughts

That moment when you resign to the fact that you’ll not likely be getting much sleep tonight

As of 2am, two of the three boys are sleeping soundly.  Emmett on the other hand, is currently close to joining his brothers in sleepy town. The only different is that he's on the couch in the living room and not in his own bed.   Unfortunately, that means that I'm on the adjacent couch, wishing I was sleeping.   Poor Emmett has had such a rough time getting to even this point tonight. His tummy ache was pretty bad but thankfully, his eyes are now closing for longer periods of time.   Before long, he's going to be very much asleep.  I snagged this picture because he's so precious and I wanted to permanently mark this moment in time.  

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September 5, 2016
Read more about the article I’m trying to recover from a massive meltdown this morning and I’m not doing very well
Emmett John / Meltdowns / My thoughts

I’m trying to recover from a massive meltdown this morning and I’m not doing very well

Starting your day off with a massive meltdown, is really a pretty shitty way to do it. I've lived through one such morning today.  Shoes and socks are such an issue for Emmett.  I was hoping this year would prove to be different but it hasn't, at least not yet.  In fact, I would say his sensitivity to anything on his feet has significantly worsened.   This morning was really bad and frankly, I'm in a horrible fucking mood now because of it.   Emmett screamed in my face for most of the morning because we had to get him dressed.  I'm not dealing with that really well today but at the same time, I'm not mad at Emmett because he has no more control over these sensory issues than…

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September 1, 2016
Read more about the article Never doubt the seriousness or incapacitating nature of sensory processing disorder 
Emmett John / Sensory / Shoes and Socks

Never doubt the seriousness or incapacitating nature of sensory processing disorder 

We've had two meltdown moments today.  The first one was from this morning and it was massive. The second one was a after school, while at the store and it was not quite as bad. This morning's meltdown was over shoes and socks.  Part of the issue was that Emmett was up since about 3am and was exhausted. This tends to exacerbate the symptoms butake no mistake, this is something we have to contend with, every single day. Unfortunately, this morning, he just couldn't tolerate shoes or socks and it took forever to help him work through it.  I promised him that if he at least tried, we would get donuts on the way to school tomorrow. That didn't really help a whole lot but it was something for him…

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August 31, 2016
Read more about the article I don’t even know where to start
Elliott / Emmett John

I don’t even know where to start

Emmett had the hardest time sleeping last night. I'm going to skip the pleasantries and get right to the point.   Elliott woke me up around 3am because apparently, Emmett had woken up and decided to screw this plastic nut on his index finger.  The only reason he was able to get it on was because it's threaded on the inside.   I don't know what he was thinking but he screwed this thing over his knuckle, which couldn't have been easy or comfortable.  By the time they came and got us, his poor little finger was swollen purple.   We had to do a 3am emergency removal of this stupid and it wasn't easy or pleasant. That said, I did manage to get it removed.  Unfortunately, Emmett and Elliott…

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August 31, 2016