Read more about the article Our summer is NOT getting off in the right foot
My Crazy Life / My thoughts

Our summer is NOT getting off in the right foot

I don't know what the deal is, but both Elliott and Emmett are not doing well. Health-wise they're fine, but emotionally they're like two freight trains ready to derail at any moment.  Maybe the transition to summer break was harder on them than it typically has been in the past? Maybe it's related to the weather?  Regardless of the root cause, I'm already at my wits end.  Lizze came home and relieved me for awhile. Now she's resting for a bit before we take the boys to the park, weather permitting. I want to go walking, and Emmett has about half of a mile left to go before one of his Pokémon eggs hatches. I'm hoping that will be the motivation he needs to willingly go along with this. Gavin's…

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May 31, 2017
Read more about the article Trying to stay 1 step ahead of the next meltdown
Elliott / Emmett John / Meltdowns / My thoughts

Trying to stay 1 step ahead of the next meltdown

Summer break hasn't been going so well. I know it's really only been two days, but those two days have been completely filled with meltdowns.  Elliott struggled a great deal yesterday, for reasons I never learned. It may simply be a transition thing, but you might not believe how bad some of these meltdowns were. Emmett had his fair share yesterday as well,!  This morning, Emmett is in rare form. He's been screaming for about two hours now.  We were supposed to walk the track this morning, but Emmett is refusing to go. I realize that allowing him to dictate what we do is not a good thing. At the same time, I'm not a masochist. Taking him to walk the track would be a disaster. I'd end up carrying him,…

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May 31, 2017
Read more about the article Just some of the appointments we have coming up
My thoughts

Just some of the appointments we have coming up

One of the things we are getting caught up on in the very near future, is doctors appointments. We are actually behind on anything, but quite a few are coming due at the same time.  This week, Lizze has two appointments at the Cleveland Clinic. She scheduled them back to back so we could knock them out in one day, rather than having to make two trips.  Gavin has an eye appointment in the coming weeks, and we aren't sure what we are going to be learning about his vision there. We've transferred him to Akron Children's Hospital, from the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. This was done because aside from needing glasses, his eyes have been checking out great and we should be just fine in Akron. …

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May 30, 2017
Read more about the article How I’m setting a summer routine for my kids with #Autism 
Establishing Routine / My thoughts / Routine

How I’m setting a summer routine for my kids with #Autism 

I have a few reasonable goals for what amounts to our first day of summer vacation. The biggest being a change in routine for the boys, and routine changes are never easy for kids with Autism.  Lizze heads back to class in the morning, and the boys and I will be on our own.  One of the things I want to do this summer is make some serious progress on the house, both inside and out.  I'm completely overwhelmed by the house, and rather than look at it as a whole, I think it will be best to take it one room at a time. The boys and I will work on one room each day, and do so for maybe thirty minutes.  Before we get to any of that…

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May 29, 2017
Read more about the article One of my favorite pictures from this weekend’s adventures
One of my favorite pictures from this weekend's adventures I'm not sure what flower this actually is, but it's one of the newest flowers at the Canton Garden Center. Turns out this newest flower was also home to my new little friend..
My thoughts / Photography

One of my favorite pictures from this weekend’s adventures

I'm not sure what flower this actually is, but it's one of the newest flowers at the Canton Garden Center. Turns out this newest flower was also home to my new little friend. I'm not sure what he is either, but he didn't seem to mind my intrusion.. ☺ 

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May 29, 2017
Read more about the article Thinking outside of the box to meet my kids sensory needs
Autism Parenting Insight / Outside of the Box Thinking

Thinking outside of the box to meet my kids sensory needs

I've really been slacking off in the writing arena lately. I've been doing this for so many years that I get sorta burn out on writing sometimes. Taking a day or two or three off, isn't a bad thing.  I wanted to get you all caught up, as well as inspire you to think outside of the box, as I illustrate in this post.  If I had to summarize our Sunday, I would probably focus on something a little bit newer, that I haven't talked about recently.  I spent a large part of Sunday, trying to come up with creative ways for the boys to get some sensory feedback, in a very positive way. If you have a sensory seeker in your home, you're probably familiar with jumping on couches,…

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May 29, 2017
Read more about the article This a teachable moment for #Autism parents
Autism Parenting Insight / My thoughts

This a teachable moment for #Autism parents

I guess today was the first official day of summer vacation. It was a relatively uneventful day, as far as Autism parenting goes. I can actually put a check in the win column for this one.  Gavin had his IVIG infusion this morning, and it went really well. He spent the infusion in his room watching Netflix, but there wasn't anything that had him freaking out. ☺  He did spend a large portion of the day sleeping, after his infusion completed.  Elliott was feeling much better today and that's always a good thing. I hate when my kids are sick. Both he and Emmett had their ups and downs today, but in general, they got along.  As the afternoon began to cool off a little bit, I tackled the yard.…

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May 27, 2017
Read more about the article A chaotic last day of school
Emmett John / My thoughts

A chaotic last day of school

Yesterday was the last day of school, and it was a bit chaotic in the morning. I was up with Elliott all night, as he was sick and didn't want to be alone. I was fairly sure he wasn't going to be present on his last day of school.  Emmett on the other hand, should have been okay to go.  Unfortunately, he woke up not feeling well, wanting to go to school, but not wanting to go alone.  Both boys were under the weather, and clearly not in a place to go to school. I said fuck it, it's summer break a day early. Of course, I said that to myself, and not outloud...☺  I went to bed as soon as Lizze was up, because I hadn't yet been able…

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May 27, 2017