Read more about the article This week is off to a rough start 
My thoughts

This week is off to a rough start 

This school week is off to a rough start. I picked the boys up early today because Emmett had physical therapy at Akron Children's.  When I arrived at the school, both Emmett and Elliott weren't feeling well. Elliott had a meltdown at school because he wasn't feeling well but they said it didn't last long and they helped him to calm down. Gavin is supposed to be in Cleveland tomorrow for the immunologist but if the boys aren't feeling well, Ice got no way to make that happen. Plus the ideal of Gavin making a 90 minute drive and having to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes, isn't exactly on my short list of fun things to do.     Elliott and Emmett are in my face, constantly snuggling and…

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September 8, 2015
Read more about the article The results of my first of three IEP meetings
IEP Meeting / My thoughts / Periscope Broadcast

The results of my first of three IEP meetings

The IEP meeting has come and gone for today. It didn't really take that long. In fact, I waited longer for someone to even talk to me.  Below are the Periscope broadcasts from this morning, both before and after the meeting.     The long and short of things is that it appears that the best option is to withdrawal Gavin from school and when he turns 16 in a couple of months, remove him permanently.  It's not ideal but unfortunately, his health is such that I need to focus on that and school simply isn't as important.   If things improve, he could always go back or get his GED.   https://youtu.be/VOkQI9gc5KE https://youtu.be/zvXjjDSmjPc

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September 8, 2015
Read more about the article I have the first of three IEP meetings this morning O_o
Gavin / IEP Meeting / School

I have the first of three IEP meetings this morning O_o

This morning I will be dropping the boys off at school and then heading across town to the high school for an IEP meeting.  I'm not super excited about this but it's important to make the best of it.  The school terminated the online program that Gavin was involved with last year and I'm not sure what we are going to do this year.  There are some tough decisions that will need to be made and none of them appear to be easy at this point.   I'll let you know how it goes.     

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September 8, 2015
Read more about the article Gavin started crying today because he’s afraid to live in our neighborhood 
Gavin / My Crazy Neighborhood / My thoughts

Gavin started crying today because he’s afraid to live in our neighborhood 

First of all, the boys and I have started using Periscope to live broadcast moments in our life. We figure that maybe people can learn something or perhaps we can help someone.  Out of nowhere today, Gavin became hysterical after he asked to take the trash out.  He came back in the house, went upstairs to his room and started freaking out. When I asked him what was wrong, he said that while he was taking out the trash, he couldn't stop thinking about someone sneaking up on him and pulling a gun.  This sorta came out of nowhere but at the same time, he been indicating that he's uncomfortable in our neighborhood since the hostage crisis a couple of months ago.     I tried to talk to him about it…

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September 7, 2015
Read more about the article I received some bad news about Gavin and school
Gavin / School

I received some bad news about Gavin and school

I spoke with the IEP coordinator at Gavin's high school about what we were going to be doing for Gavin this year.  She informed me that they terminated the online program that Gavin used last year for school.  She explained their reasons and while the reasons make sense, this will a problem for Gavin.  Gavin really isn't capable of learning in the capacity that he will be required to if we do a more traditional home education.  I'm a bit worried about how this will play out.  Physically attending school is an impossibility for him for a million physical and emotional health reasons.  I'm seriously concerned about what our options are going to be. At this point, Gavin turns 16 in a few months and if I'm not mistaken, I…

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September 7, 2015
Read more about the article I don’t usually make this kind of mistake
My thoughts

I don’t usually make this kind of mistake

Yesterday was a rough one. Emmett wasn't feeling well last night and neither was I. Emmett's dealing with an upper respiratory thing and mine may just be allergies.  Anyway, turns out we don't have an appointment for Gavin today because the doctors office is closed for Labor Day.  This is a bit weird because I definitely have it on the calendar for today and I don't normally make that kind of mistake.  This leaves us with a whole lot of nothing to do and that fits just right. Emmett seems to be feeling a little better right now but you can tell that he's still under the weather and I'm nursing a sinus headache. Nothing on the schedule has worked out well.    

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September 7, 2015
Read more about the article If this week doesn’t kill me 
My thoughts

If this week doesn’t kill me 

If the next week or so doesn't kill me, it's gonna definitely make me stronger. Gavin's supposed to be at the immunologist in the morning but I need to reschedule because both Emmett and I are now sick. This works out for the best because it well over an hour and twenty minutes away and Gavin can't make it five minutes in the car without stopping to pee. Emmett's absolutely miserable and that makes life even harder for him.. This isn't a good week to be sick because I have 3 IEP meetings, at least half a dozen appointments and a trip to Akron Children's Hospital for Emmett.  I'll finish this post up tomorrow because my head is pounding and the boys are sleeping. I'm gonna crash...   

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September 7, 2015
Read more about the article What it’s like to take my 3 kids with #Autism to the store
Insights and Education

What it’s like to take my 3 kids with #Autism to the store

I'm hoping this gives some insight into the everyday challenges of being a special needs parent. Everyone's experience will be different but many of you will be able to relate, while others will learn what it's like for the first time. We had to run a few errands this morning and quite frankly, the boys did really well. That being said, really well for me is likely very different from really well for many other families.     I feel my kids did really well because I know the challenges they are coping with and what a sensory nightmare it is for them to be in large, crowded stores. The lights, smells, sounds and just about everything else can prove very overwhelming for kids like mine, especially when sensory processing disorder…

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September 6, 2015