Read more about the article @VivintHome is giving away 4 free SmartHome systems in honor of #Autism Awareness month
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back

@VivintHome is giving away 4 free SmartHome systems in honor of #Autism Awareness month

I wanted to take a second and share something really amazing that my good friends at Vivint Home are doing in honor of Autism Awareness month. They're giving away four (4) free SmartHome systems in the month of April. (see below for details) I've spoken about this countless times before. There is no way to completely eliminate the risk of a child with Autism from wandering or escaping the house. This is a widely accepted fact that keeps many of us up at night, there are things you can do to limit the risk of your child getting out of the house and wandering away. How can Vivint's SmartHome system help prevent wandering? https://youtu.be/fhOFiycKx4w Who's eligible and how do I enter? Any North American household with at least one member…

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March 29, 2018
Read more about the article Shipping the kids off tonight
My thoughts

Shipping the kids off tonight

The boys has a meds check this morning at their pediatrician. They were a bit of a handful but considering we were there for a total of two hours, I think they actually did quite awesome. ☺ Everything checks out with the boys and meds were refilled. Both Elliott and Emmett's idiopathic fevers were once again documented. There's nothing we can do about them but documentation is very important. As for the rest of the day, I have a few errands to run before the boys leave to spend the night at my parents house. If all goes as planned, we will have the first night off, since our trip to Florida. I think that's right. Either way, it's been forever and we desperately need it. For awhile now, at…

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March 29, 2018
Read more about the article The sweet story behind this thermos
Emmett John / My thoughts

The sweet story behind this thermos

This may look like an ordinary thermos, sitting on my nightstand but it's not, at least not tonight. After I got home from taking Elliott to his last day of physical therapy, I wasn't feeling well. Lunch wasn't agreeing with me and I needed to lay down in order to make it through the nausea. I woke up after a little while because Emmett had quietly snuck into my room, rubbed my back for a minute and placed this thermos on my nightstand. He explained to me that he knew my stomach was upset and so he made me some ginger tea because it knows that can help with nausea. That was so incredibly thoughtful and sweet of him. Lizze and I have clearly done something right along the way..…

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March 27, 2018
Read more about the article We have serious rules when spending time outside in our neighborhood
My thoughts

We have serious rules when spending time outside in our neighborhood

The boys and I spent some time outside this afternoon, cleaning up the yard. The neighborhood has been relatively quiet recently and so we felt comfortable enough to do this. We do have to have some serious rules in place, when it comes to being outside in our neighborhood. If I say that get in the house, they do so immediately and without question. We have also told them to never talk to anyone who approaches the yard unless it's one of our neighbors or the police. This was important today because we had a know addict approach us twice for money. After awhile, we get to know the faces of the people looking for money to score drugs. Sometimes we see them get arrested and other times, they flat…

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March 26, 2018
Read more about the article It’s getting harder to cope
Gavin / My thoughts

It’s getting harder to cope

I'm having a harder time coping with Gavin lately. God forgive me but he's driving me fucking crazy and I simply don't have the patience he deserves to receive from me. It's important to understand that Gavin's isn't necessarily doing anything wrong. He's just being Gavin. The emotions I'm experiencing in regards to coping is probably two fold. It's part frustration because Gavin's functioning at maybe fifty percent of what he was, say two years ago. The other part is pure, unadulterated heartache because he's only functioning at maybe fifty percent of where he was two years ago. The frustration and heartache are very real. They are very, very impactful emotions, that are at odds with each other. I find myself frustrated by his behaviors and exhausted by how difficult…

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March 26, 2018
Read more about the article It’s been a nice day thus far
My thoughts

It’s been a nice day thus far

We've had a decent day thus far. The boys got home about mid-afternoon, after having a great time at their Grandparents. Lizze, Gavin and I checked out this insanely awesome new home and garden store that just recently opened. I see myself spending some time there this summer and we work on the house. ☺ We're getting really to head out to the Garden Center for a bit. We have a few rocks to hide and the boys want to play Pokémon Go. I'm not sure if Lizze is going cause she doesn't do so well in the cold weather. I'm looking forward to taking some pictures and updating my Instagram.. ☺

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March 25, 2018
Read more about the article There are times as his father, I have to turn away and cry
Gavin / My thoughts

There are times as his father, I have to turn away and cry

Lizze and I had a fairly decent night to ourselves. The E's were at their Grandparents but Gavin was home. It's not really a night off, even with Gavin being the only one home. Gavin is becoming more and more difficult to manage. That wears heavily on us both physically and emotionally. It's physically exhausting because it's physically exhausting. It's emotionally exhausting because it's painful beyond my ability to articulate, seeing Gavin decline to the extent he has. Heartbreaking is probably a better word choice. Gavin is such a sweet kid but he's 18 years old and we have to seemingly micromanage his every move. We have to make sure he doesn't hurt himself doing something he shouldn't. We have to make sure that all the things that he doesn't…

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March 25, 2018