How Cycling Helps Children With #Autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder can be prone to issues with balance and body awareness as well as social interaction and cognitive problems like the ability to pay attention and concentrate. There are many different treatments out there to help improve these common issues that may accompany ASD. One of those treatments includes occupational therapy making things like riding a bike an excellent way to boost their proprioception. A 2015 study found that autistic children were able to exponentially improve their physical stability after five weeks of regular training on a no-pedal balance bike, dissolving the common belief that children suffering from ASD cannot learn to ride bikes. “Stability scores in all body planes were significantly improved during the five-week duration,” Dr. Andrew Shim, Chairman of Briar Cliff’s University’s Kinesiology…

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It’s been a stressful day

It's been a pretty stressful day. We had a decent sized graduation party next door, where no one was wearing a mask or social distancing. Personally, I find that incredibly selfish and immensely frustrating. That being said, it could have been much worse. It was pretty low key and relatively quiet. Normally, it's very loud and obnoxious over there. I'm very grateful it wasn't any worse than it was.. I spent a large part of the day scrubbing carpets. Ruby has been peeing in the boys room, probably because she's stressed out. It's small enough that you don't notice it until it happens enough that the smell catches your attention. The carpet on the second floor is at least 50 years old and in awful condition. Scrubbing it really doesn't…

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Frustrating and Dangerous

I'm really not looking forward to today because my covidiot neighbors are throwing a graduation party. There's maybe 30 feet between our houses. Historically, their parties are big, loud and 100 proof. This just isn't safe and I don't understand why people put themselves and everyone around them in danger. This is a bit worrisome right now because we're in such close proximity, and it's going to be stressful, especially for Gavin. His window overlooks where the party is taking place and there's no way to take his attention away from it. As I'm writing this, he just walked into my room, telling me that he thinks the neighbors are having a party. I told him that I think he's right and he simply replied, oh hell no. 😂 The…

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I’m not even sure what to say anymore

I've been struggling today and I'm not entirely sure why. Recently, I've been in a pretty good place because everyone is safe, healthy and doing as well as can be expected. Work is going really well and I even have a new partnership I'm finalizing. These are all good things. The world around us is imploding and there are protests within about a mile of my house. I've been extra anxious, overwhelmed and on edge recently. Gavin had some issues with his IVIG Infusion that caused some drama for everyone in the house and that sorta set the tone for me. That was only one incident and I should have been able to shake that off, but things just seem to snowball from there. We're quickly approaching the 3 month…

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A Major Decision Has Been Made

It's been a minute since I've felt like writing and I wanted to get back to it while I had a chance. There is a pretty major update that I need to share and just a few other little housekeeping type things as well. First and most importantly, a decision has been made in regards to the boys education moving forward, at least until such time that a working COVID-19 vaccine is widely available and we've established some herd immunity. Lizze and I have been talking about this quite a bit, in consultation with their therapist and we've decided that the boys will be homeschooled in the Fall. This wasn't an easy decision for a number of reasons but it's without a doubt, the safest thing we can do. Their…

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I feel like we kicked ass today

The boys and I have had a pretty decent day.  Actually, I'm going to promote the day from decent to pretty darn good. Nothing particularly eventful took place but I'm really proud of my boys because they demonstrated a shitload of teamwork today. Part of Gavin's new bedset came in over the weekend. His actual mattress is coming early as well and will be here on Wednesday. I wanted to get his old mattress, boxspring and frame out to the trash today. Someone will come and scrap the frame before morning. Anyway, everyone helped haul things down to the first floor. I took most of it out by myself because I live in a neighborhood full of covidiots and I need to be extra careful. I was able to get…

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An Open Letter To Everyone Not #SocialDistancing or Wearing A Mask

For those sleeping under a rock, we're in the middle of a pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic to be more specific. We're not even in the middle yet because we're not even through the first wave. We are currently living through the worst public health crisis in the last century. This has to be taken seriously. I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I know I'm going to piss some people off but frankly, I don't care. I'm not here to make you feel good. We need to have a serious conversation about social, and personal responsibilities. I've been on complete lockdown with my 3 autistic kids for 80 days now. My oldest is immunocompromised and we have to be extremely careful. We're also doing our part to protect you…

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My kids are home and the transition has been rough

The kids came home after 2 days and they are a little worse for wear. Fun was had by all but they know it's going to be awhile before they can go back. We're hoping July will work. Lizze won't be in a position to quarantine for 14 days for awhile due to upcoming doctors appointments for her and the people in her house. I get it. Some of these appointments can't be missed and also, can't be done via Zoom. Anyway, the boys have had a good day, but they're grouchy and irritable. The transition has been a bit challenging but we're tomorrow's a new day. I'm so happy that Lizze got to see the kids and vice versa. I'm so grateful they all had this chance. I don't…

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