Read more about the article The Truth About How I’m doing
COVID19 / Lockdown / My thoughts

The Truth About How I’m doing

It's been a couple of days since I've written anything. We're struggling but holding our own, at the same time. My brain is completely fried and I'm exhausted. I haven't been able to fall asleep for the last week or so. By the time I manage to pass out, it's about 6AM and I'm able to sneak a couple hours in before the kids are demanding my attention. Sometimes I can steal a nap but my whole cycle is thrown off and it's taking its toll. I desperately need to find the reset button for my circadian rhythm. The kids are doing okay but this is taking its toll on them as well. They're anxious, cranky and climbing the walls. Brotherly spats are more frequent and their inside voices aren't…

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March 30, 2020
Read more about the article How I’m continuing therapy during #COVID19 lockdown
COVID19 / Lockdown / My thoughts / Planning

How I’m continuing therapy during #COVID19 lockdown

I have my second online therapy session today. My therapist moved everything online and that's definitely a good idea. Online therapy is a bit weird for me because I prefer being face to face with people when I'm speaking or listening to them but we all have to make adjustments. I thought I would give you a quick look at how I have my online therapy setup. Doing this doesn't have to be super complicated and I don't really do anything special. My phone is mounted on the mic arm I use my podcast and simply I put in a pair of wireless earbuds, currently using the Galaxy Buds + by Samsung, cause they came free with my phone. I just sit at my recording table and have a video…

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March 26, 2020
Read more about the article We are getting unburied today
COVID19 / Lockdown / My thoughts

We are getting unburied today

As we're on lockdown, the bulk of our suoies are being drop shipped and because of that, we've become buried in boxes. I guess I hadn't really been paying much attention to that but for whatever reason, I did today. I decided to break everything down and store them because we may need to use them at some point. I was pleasantly surprised when all the kids, including Gavin, began to help me without having to be asked. It's not that my kids can't be helpful, especially Gavin. It's just that it sometimes requires the pulling of teeth. To be fair, Gavin's always super helpful. Anyway, the point is, everyone helped and I'm profoundly grateful for that. I'm really overwhelmed and little things like this mean a great deal. ☺

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March 24, 2020
Read more about the article Keeping my #immunocompromised son safe from #COVID19 isn’t easy
Clozapine / COVID19 / Gavin / Lockdown / My thoughts / Planning

Keeping my #immunocompromised son safe from #COVID19 isn’t easy

We survived the day and I feel pretty good about that. I was able to get the boys school work to and from the school this morning and had my video conference with Gavin's doctor. The morning went off without a hitch. As far as updates are concerned, the only major one is what we decided to do with Gavin's meds. Basically, the conversation with his doctor revolved around how to handle Gavin's Clozapine, while we're on total lockdown, inside the COVID19 pandemic. Clozapine is used to treat Schizophrenia and it works well. It's also among the most tightly controlled medications in the United States, requiring blood work before every refill. The concern is that in order to maintain the medication, I would have to take Gavin to have his…

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March 24, 2020
Read more about the article I’m quickly running out of shits to give
COVID19 / Lockdown / My thoughts / Planning

I’m quickly running out of shits to give

I'm not going to sugar coat this folks. I'm really struggling right now. We've been on lockdown since March 6th, when Elliott got sick and was diagnosed with Influenza B. That just sorta rolled into the COVID19 lockdown and we're only just beginning this journey. The boys are on edge and I'm not sure how to really help them with that, aside from keeping them distracted and that's proving to be a challenge. In front of the kids, I'm a rock, but not so deep down inside, I'm freaking the fuck out. I'm sure that the kids have picked up on that to some extent but I go to exhaustive lengths to hide that from them. It's well, pretty damn exhausting. I'm trying to balance a million different things right…

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March 21, 2020
Read more about the article What it’s like to be on #COVID19 lockdown with 3 #Autistic kids, 1 being #immunocompromised
COVID19 / Emergency Planning / My thoughts

What it’s like to be on #COVID19 lockdown with 3 #Autistic kids, 1 being #immunocompromised

We've had an interesting fourth day of lockdown. For the most part, the kids are doing well. Everyone is healthy and in relatively good spirits. Thank God. I thought I would share a bit of insight into what it's like to be a single Dad on lockdown, with three Autistic kids and one at very high risk. Here's just a few of my current challenges. They extend well beyond my worrying about food, water and provisions. It's well beyond worrying about paying my bills or even working from home. One of the challenges I am facing, aside from the COVID19 pandemic outside my door, is that my kids are not adjusting to home learning very well. Since school work isn't optional, they have to get it done whether they want…

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March 18, 2020
Read more about the article Trying to survive a pandemic isn’t helping my battle with #Depression, like at all
COVID19 / Emergency Planning / My thoughts

Trying to survive a pandemic isn’t helping my battle with #Depression, like at all

I started writing this last night but thankfully, fell asleep before I could publish it. Trying not to panic is one of my main goals as we hunker down and wait out the pandemic. Tonight, however, I feel scared and alone. I know this is going to sound weird, but I spent a great deal of time as a firefighter and paramedic. I did some training with FEMA, as well as training for mass casualty incidents. Thankfully, I never had to use that training, but over the years, I would run through scenarios in my head and figure out how I would manage them should they ever arise. In every single one of those scenarios, my family was whole, and we worked together to make it through. Not one time…

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March 17, 2020
Read more about the article Social Distancing Is Difficult But Necessary
COVID19 / Emergency Planning / My thoughts

Social Distancing Is Difficult But Necessary

We woke up to a dead fish in our aquarium this morning. The kids were very sad to find it belly up, after having for so many years now. I think having any fish for a few years is actually pretty notable. The aquarium received a thorough cleaning. We discovered that the water heater was broken and that probably contributed to things. A replacement is ordered. I want to try and focus on specific tasks each day. Now is a great time to catch the kids up on life skills they're currently lacking and hopefully, that will help the house run smoother. I think today's focus will be on laundry. Even if I don't get everything washed today, I want everything to get organized. Being organized will help make the…

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March 15, 2020