Read more about the article A long overdue update
My thoughts

A long overdue update

I've wanted to write about how we’re doing, but I suppose the fact that I haven't sort of tells part of the story. So let's play catch up. There's so much to talk about, and I'm not sure exactly where to begin. For starters, the kids are doing pretty well. Gavin's entering into his adult life, is involved with the Board of DD, getting job training/coaching, received his very first paycheck, and is looking for part-time employment. His goal is to move out of the house this year or next. He's a little overwhelmed by all the changes, but he's also excited. He’s come so far. If you’re a long-time reader, you might remember how much he struggled. It’s incredible to see where he is today. Gavin’s 23 now and…

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March 24, 2023
Read more about the article The Importance of Self-care
My thoughts / Self-Care

The Importance of Self-care

Self-care is something that everyone should be prioritizing in their life. This is especially true if you are a parent of a child or children with special needs. Taking time for ourselves can be challenging when we are constantly juggling appointments, therapies, and other responsibilities that come with raising a child with special needs. But it's important to prioritize self-care, not only for our own well-being but also for the benefit of our children. As parents of children with special needs, prioritizing self-care is crucial for physical and emotional well-being. Alongside nutrition, exploring peptides near me is a valuable option. Peptides are recognized for promoting skin health, enhancing energy, and fostering vitality, aligning with self-care goals. Embracing innovative treatments like peptides allows parents to proactively support both their own well-being…

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March 20, 2023
Read more about the article Emmett’s been in a lot of pain lately
Akron Children's Hospital / Autism / Emmett John / My thoughts / Physical Therapy / Sensory

Emmett’s been in a lot of pain lately

Emmett’s been having a lot of back pain recently. He’s been to the doctor and it appeared to be muscular in nature so he was referred to physical therapy. The appointment was scheduled but we had a month or so to wait and it felt like forever. Yesterday, Emmett had his evaluation and they believe it’s muscular as well. He did great and has exercises to do each day. I’ll also now be taking him to PT every Friday morning at 7am through July. I’m not super excited about that but we do what we must and he definitely needs the help. Part of the problem is that Emmett has grown so rapidly recently. He went from this tiny kid who hadn’t grown forever to this giant teenager, seemingly overnight.…

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March 9, 2023
Read more about the article I’m in a pretty dark place and I needed this reminder today
My thoughts

I’m in a pretty dark place and I needed this reminder today

I’m in a dark place right now and I’m trying so hard to work through it. I’m reminded daily by those closest to me, how far I’ve come, and how far my kids have come but I just can’t always see it for myself. I need to focus on it though because it’s keeping me moving forward on days I don’t even want to get out of bed. I found this picture while scrolling through my photos today. It’s heartbreaking when you know the story behind it and while it was happening, people always told me to force him sleep in his own bed but I just couldn’t. For the first couple of years after his mom left, the only way he would sleep at night is if he wrapped…

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March 1, 2023
Read more about the article Learning to Self-Advocate
Gavin / My thoughts

Learning to Self-Advocate

It’s been a really long day and I’m calling it a night but before I do, I want to shine a spotlight on Gavin for a few minutes. Gavin had a big day today, and I want to recognize some significant accomplishments. I will not go into much detail here because I want to record a podcast episode about this later. Gavin had two appointments today. The first was at the Cleveland Clinic. Gavin’s been dealing with depression, and we were meeting with his doctor to discuss the possibility of starting him on an anti-depressant. I’ve never been a massive fan of medication, despite all the meds Gavin’s been on. I’ve learned over the years that sometimes medication is a necessity to improve quality of life. The proper medication used…

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January 27, 2023
Emmett John / Gavin / My thoughts

How a Dump Cake Brought 2 Brothers Together

It was a really fun day. It was super busy and I had multiple meetings but it was a good day. Things are definitely looking up for us here in The Autism Dad household and I’m so grateful for that. The boys got off to school without a problem and in between meetings, Gavin and I spoke about his new found love of baking. He informed me the other day that he finds baking to be relaxing. As he’s been stressed out a bit more lately with all the transitional changes in his life, he’s been baking a lot more. https://www.facebook.com/100050605414132/posts/pfbid0jvxgB5uzPSv5pxkdsARGhvr4g15UCuKWsNcganyLXbKwkWdU7AM6tzpsD1X1v416l/?mibextid=cr9u03 The other day, someone sent me a recipe for Gavin to try and after discussing it, Gavin wanted to give it a go. He and I went to Giant…

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January 6, 2023