Read more about the article Review: The @Jabra_US Elite 85h Active Noise Canceling Headphones are AMAZING
Link / Reviews

Review: The @Jabra_US Elite 85h Active Noise Canceling Headphones are AMAZING

Before we get started, I want to thank my friends at Jabra for enthusiastically supporting my efforts to raise Autism awareness and sponsoring this review. All opinions are my own. One of the things that many Autistic kids/adults have in common is something called Sensory Processing Disorder. While I won't get into the details of what SPD is, I've embedded a link a few words back, that explains everything you need to know about SPD. For many with Autism and/or SPD, sound can be very painful and overwhelming. Aside from limiting exposure, which isn't always possible, noise-canceling headphones are the weapon of choice. I'm very grateful that only one of my three kids on the Autism Spectrum struggles with noise sensitivity enough to require the use of noise-canceling headphones. I've…

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September 16, 2019
Read more about the article Trying to help my kids with some outside the box thinking thanks to @StarkParks
My thoughts / New Beginnings

Trying to help my kids with some outside the box thinking thanks to @StarkParks

I was chatting with my friends at Stark Parks on Twitter this morning and I was reminded about the new Mindfulness Walk that was completed a few months ago. This is a walk through nature and it consists of 10 stations where you can stop, self-reflect and focus on your mental health. Ten stations promote relaxation, focus and awareness, reflection, and embracing the present moment. Examples include a zen sand garden, a musical instrument, stacking stones, and a labyrinth. It's beautiful and I've been meaning to get the kids out there all summer but it kept slipping my mind. I know the boys are having a very difficult time right now and I thought it might be the perfect time to help them unplug. Everyone was excited to go but Elliott. He was…

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September 16, 2019
Read more about the article In other news
Gavin / IVIG Infusion / My thoughts

In other news

In other news, Gavin's IVIG Infusion went well. I'm still batting a thousand in the IVIG infusions that don't leak category. Gavin's happy and it also means less pain for him as well. His infusion went pretty quick today. It took less than an hour in total and that's always a good thing. Sometimes it can take four hours or more and that makes him very anxious. Today's infusion was a success and I think Gavin did a fantastic job.

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September 16, 2019
Read more about the article What a difference a haircut can make
Elliott / My thoughts

What a difference a haircut can make

Over the weekend, I was able to get Elliott a major haircut. He hasn't had a haircut this significant since Gavin's wish trip to Florida, and he wasn't happy about it then. His hair was getting out of hand and much harder to maintain. We stopped by on the way home from our train ride on Saturday and got it done. He was remarkably cooperative but his hair was cut shorter than what he was comfortable with. In order to quickly diffuse the situation, I pointed out that he had the same haircut as Season 1 Sam Winchester. Since he was dressing up as Sam for Halloween this year, his frown, quickly turned upside down.. Check out my handsome young man.

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September 16, 2019
Read more about the article Being a single Dad is not easy but we made some serious progress today
Fit4Autism / Gavin / My thoughts

Being a single Dad is not easy but we made some serious progress today

I know it's Monday and Mondays usually suck but I want to focus on some pretty amazing progress being made by one, Mr. Gavin. I'm so thankful to have my kids in my life every single day. Many single Dad's don't have that and I know how lucky I am. At the same time, it does present a few challenges that have forced me to make unwanted changes in my life. One of those challenges is that I can no longer go walking in the mornings like I have been for years. This impacts my health, both emotionally and physically, as well as my weightloss. The kids can't stay home alone for a multitude of reasons, and that means I have to take them with me, everywhere I go. It's…

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September 16, 2019
Read more about the article So Far So Good
My thoughts

So Far So Good

So far so good. Everyone is going to school without a problem. Elliott is dragging a little bit but he's also a teenager. I have some serious concerns about how school is going to go today for him. I'm grateful that he's not putting up a fuss about going at this point. That tells me that he's at least making an effort to go and that's important. Gavin and I are going to go walking after we drop the boys off at school. I feel like I slept really well and that's a good way to start the day.

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September 16, 2019
Read more about the article I got yelled at a lot tonight and it f*cking sucked
My thoughts

I got yelled at a lot tonight and it f*cking sucked

There's so much to talk about but I'm exhausted beyond belief and want to call it a night. Thay said, I figured I'd sum everything up quickly and maybe provide more detail in the morning. The boys had a visit this morning with their mom. They left around 9 AM and were back a little before 3 PM. I did absolutely nothing while they were gone. At first I felt guilty about that but that didn't last too long because I needed sleep. I crashed on the couch with Ruby for a decent power nap and ended up feeling better after. When the kids got home, Elliott was upset again but he wasn't dwelling on it so I told him that I was there if he needed to talk. Emmett…

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September 15, 2019
Read more about the article We were able to escape our lives for a little while yesterday
My thoughts

We were able to escape our lives for a little while yesterday

Yesterday was a really long day. It was spent on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and it was pretty amazing. The boys and I had never ridden on a train before and we can now check that off our bucket list. We arrived early and rode the train to the end of the line. On the return trip, we stopped at the small town of Peninsula, Ohio (population 500). The train would pick us back up about 4 hours later. During that time we were able to explore this beautiful little town and spend time as a family. We had a fantastic lunch, before visiting an art gallery, gift shop, ice cream parlor and a few other little town stores that lined the main street. It was a really nice…

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September 15, 2019