Read more about the article Gavin’s complaining of the weirdest thing today
Gavin / My thoughts

Gavin’s complaining of the weirdest thing today

Ever since Gavin was little, hes had a weird relationship with pain. It's been labeled a sensory issue but it's still weird.  Back when Gavin was self-injuring in a major way, he would scratch his face open or punch his legs until he left giant bruises. He would never complain about these things hurting and they obviously should have hurt.  At the same time, if he had a barely visible hang nail, he would freak out and react as though it was the end of the world. He's always been this way.  This morning, he began complaining the webbing between his fingers was cramping up. It wasn't his fingers or hands either. He specifically pointed to the webbing and said it's cramping between each finger, and on both hands.  WTF…

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April 18, 2017
Read more about the article Things got better after the massive meltdown
My thoughts

Things got better after the massive meltdown

I was up with Elliott for most of the night. He was dealing with some congestion and doesn't cope well with that feeling.  He woke up about 1am and we moved downstairs so he could more easily sit up.  It took him a bit to get moving for school but once he did, he was feeling much better. Emmett on the other hand, was in a foul mood this morning and my ears are still ringing from all the screaming.  After a relatively major meltdown, he seemed to feel better and we were able to move on with our morning.  Both boys are currently in good moods and in school.. Unfortunately, it's Gavin's turn to not feel well.  It's going to be a long day..... 

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April 18, 2017
Read more about the article Why my heart breaks for my oldest #SpecialNeeds son
Heartbreak / My thoughts

Why my heart breaks for my oldest #SpecialNeeds son

With all Gavin has going on in his young life, he's blissfully ignorant to what it all means. In a way, that's a blessing. He's always so positive and looking forward to growing up. He's seventeen years old and he's looking forward to growing up.  Gavin doesn't understand that there's a better than good chance, he will never be able to live on his own. He doesn't understand that he will never drive a car. As heartbreaking as it is for me to even say this, he will never get married or have kids of his own. 🙁  When Gavin says he can't wait until he's grown up, I don't know what to even say, except don't be in such a hurry to grow up..  Today he told me one…

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April 18, 2017
Read more about the article Sometimes we just need a break from each other
Autism Parenting Insight / My thoughts

Sometimes we just need a break from each other

At the time of writing (10:30 PM), there's a really good chance that both Elliott and Emmett will be going to school in the morning. This would be a hugely positive thing for us, because we need a fricking break already.  The boys have been trapped in the house for most of Easter break because they've been sick.  It's safe to say that we are all getting on each other's nerves a little bit and could use our routine back. With everyone being fever free at this point, it looks like our routine is on its way... ☺  We love our kids and we know our kids love us. That doesn't mean we couldn't use a small, school day sized break from each other... ☺ 💙 

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April 17, 2017
Read more about the article I’m so grateful to @Healthline :-)
Announcements / Awards

I’m so grateful to @Healthline :-)

I want to take a second and give my most humble thank you to healthline.com. I have been chosen as one of their Best Autism Blogs of 2017. As usual, I'm in amazing company and you can check out the complete list over at Healthline by clicking here. Thank you again for this great honor and I hope that I can continue to live up to it. :-)   Healthline  

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April 17, 2017
Read more about the article This is what #Autism Parenting is like for me today and it’s not fun
Autism Parenting Insight / Autism Parenting Woes / Gavin

This is what #Autism Parenting is like for me today and it’s not fun

Tensions seem pretty high right now because people are sick and we're trapped in the house. Lizze and I are both extremely stressed out today and that makes for a fun afternoon.  When my resources are as low as they are at the moment, I'm far less tolerant of everything Gavin does.  Normally, I doing well with the amount of patience I seem to have. I don't know of where it comes from but it always seems to be there. Today however, I'm running on fumes and things are getting to me that normally wouldn't.  Gavin's level of functionality is probably the lowest it's ever been, and as a result, I'm essentially having to micromanage his life at this point and it's absolutely exhausting. I know it's not his fault…

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April 17, 2017
Read more about the article Today’s Victory: He ate it
Emmett John / Today's Victory

Today’s Victory: He ate it

I'm pulling the trigger on this one a bit early but it's totally worth it.  In my last entry, I was talking about how Emmett would it longer eat corn dogs, one of the last goto foods he will still eat. I bought a big box while shopping because we are on a very meager budget this month and it's something Emmett always eats.  Unfortunately, the first couple of corn dogs he tried, tasted funny.  Generally speaking, if something tastes funny once, in Emmett's mind, it will never taste right again.  That being said, he wanted to try corn dogs for lunch today and while I didn't want to waste food again, if he wanted to try, I was all for it.  At first he ate one and then he…

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April 17, 2017
Read more about the article He won’t even eat corn dogs anymore 
Emmett John / Feeding Problems / My thoughts / Sensory

He won’t even eat corn dogs anymore 

The continuing saga of Emmett no longer eating the things he historically has, keeps getting worse. In this latest chapter, he no longer eats his most favorite food of all time.  There have been two goto foods that Emmett has always been able to eat, should all else fail. One is Little Caesars pizza, and second is corn dogs.  Little Caesars pizza has become sorta hit or miss lately but he will still eat it warm. Unfortunately, corn dogs are no longer an option. We went through several the other day and none tasted right.  Emmett's become very difficult to feed because nothing he eats tastes right to him anymore. He only regularly ate a handful of different foods and so losing anything is a major issue.  It's really frustrating…

3 Comments
April 17, 2017