Read more about the article 20 amazing pictures from our adventures in the creek
Family Time / My thoughts / Photography

20 amazing pictures from our adventures in the creek

A few days ago, I took the family to a local park. The boys wanted to go hunting for salamanders in the creek, and that's exactly what we did. Everyone had a ton of fun, we caught lots of salamanders and gently released them back where we found them. Before releasing them, the boys got to spend a little time checking them out. One of them took a liking to Emmett's shirt.. ☺ Oddly enough, until last year, I didn't know salamanders were even living in my area. I guess now I know.. ☺ Below are a bunch of pictures of our trip. Simply click the image and the gallery will appear.. Enjoy and let me. Know what you think. [foogallery id="56634"]

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July 3, 2017
Read more about the article Continuing to lose devastating amounts of sleep
Elliott / Emmett John / My thoughts / Sleep Issues

Continuing to lose devastating amounts of sleep

It's been another horrible night. Elliott has yet to fall asleep, and that means I didn't get any sleep either. About half way through the night, Emmett joined us in the land of people who should be sleeping, but aren't.  Lizze has class in about an hour, and I'm barely able to even focus my eyes on the tablet I'm using to write this.  I'm concerned that Elliott's having so many sleepless night, even while taking Melatonin.  God help me today, I'm going to need all the help I can get. Frankly, a nap wouldn't hurt either. 

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July 3, 2017
Read more about the article Why it’s ironic my kids are so loud
Autism Parenting Insight / My thoughts

Why it’s ironic my kids are so loud

The boys are in rare form this morning. Emmett is refusing to wear clothes and Elliott won't stop talking. There is so much needless noise, and it's ironic because the loudest people in the house, are the ones who hate notice the most.  I would love to have some quiet but I don't think it's in the forecast.. 

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July 2, 2017
Read more about the article Understanding a devastating #meltdown from start to finish 
Autism Parenting Insight / Emmett John / Insights and Education / Inspirational Posts / Meltdowns / My thoughts

Understanding a devastating #meltdown from start to finish 

My goal with this post is to help you understand the meltdown process from start to finish. I'm hoping to reinforce that meltdowns are not behavioral problems. Meltdowns do not require discipline and aren't indicative or bad parenting or a bad child. I am using an example that happened in our lives recently, to help you better understand meltdowns.  We went to the grocery store in order for Emmett to pick out his birthday cake. It was a momentary lapse in judgment, and believe me, I paid the price for it. In truth, Lizze, Emmett, and I paid a price for it.  The store had tons of ice cream cakes, but the only white or yellow cakes had a graduation theme. The theme was only plastic decorations that could be…

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July 2, 2017
Read more about the article More bloodcurdling screams and massive meltdowns after midnight  
Autism Parenting Struggles / Elliott / Emmett John / Meltdowns / My thoughts

More bloodcurdling screams and massive meltdowns after midnight  

I didn't get a chance to write much today, and there's a good reason for that. I was up all night with both Elliott and Emmett. I don't know why Elliott was up but it's concerning when we've possibly got Bipolar disorder on the radar.  As for Emmett, he was nauseous and running a fever. He was set up on the couch, with a puke bucket and a very low threshold for anything.  Being up all night would have been bad enough, but he wasn't just awake. Emmett was having massive meltdowns into the wee hours of the morning. These weren't mini-meltdowns either. It was a super surprised that someone didn't call the police kind of meltdowns.  This, of course, didn't help Elliott sleep, but he was already not sleeping…

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July 1, 2017
Read more about the article URGENT: Ohio General Assembly wants to freeze Medicaid enrollment
My thoughts / PSA

URGENT: Ohio General Assembly wants to freeze Medicaid enrollment

​This is a message from the Autism Society of Greater Akron. I'm simply helping to spread the word, and drum up support. Please take a second and read this, especially if you're in Ohio.. I fully support the Autism Society.. When they speak, we need to listen.  This week, Ohio's legislature passed a budget bill that freezes enrollments in expanded Medicaid after July 1, 2018. The bill has been passed to Governor Kasich and he is expected to veto the language that freezes enrollments.  If that happens, the legislature may have the votes to override his veto and pass the enrollment freeze into law.   Here's what you need to know and how you can help: The Autism Society of Ohio and other ASA affiliates around the state have sent letters to the…

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July 1, 2017
Read more about the article We had a good day because believe it or not, it does happen
My thoughts

We had a good day because believe it or not, it does happen

My family and I managed to have a pretty awesome day today. It began with an early morning trip to Chuck E Cheeses. As a result of our previous experience, their PR people sent me two family passes so we could try again.  This time around was much better.  The boys had a great time and it seems that they've made some changes to the way the new system works. We spent a few fun, family hours playing games.  Thanks to Chuck E Cheeses PR people for the chance to try things out again.  While we were there, I received a phone call about Gavin needing blood work. We took care of that on the way home, and Gavin did great.  After a busy morning, we tried to have a…

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July 1, 2017
Read more about the article An exhausting day full of #Autism and chaos
Autism Parenting Struggles / My thoughts

An exhausting day full of #Autism and chaos

I have lived through a day that was full of Autism. That shouldn't be surprising, as all three of the boys, and probably the wife, is on the spectrum.  Here's the thing.  We can get through days sometimes, and while challenging, there wasn't really anything that made the word Autism pop into my head. I don't know if that makes sense, but let's assume it does and move on.  We can also have those days where it's incredibly obvious to me that Autism is playing a huge role in everything we're struggling with that day. That's what Thursday was like for me.  All three of the boys were in rare form.  Emmett was taking everything literally, even more than usual. There was no wiggle room with him in this area,…

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June 30, 2017