I want to discuss collateral damage as it relates to accidental injuries.  I think that this can be pretty common in families with ASD children.  What do I mean by collateral damage?  What I mean is when someone is unintentionally injured as a result of another child's behavioral challenges.  For this post I'm going to refer to something that happened tonight.  Gavin was upstairs playing with Elliott and Emmett.  A short while into playing together, I hear Elliott start screaming.  Next thing I know Gavin is starting to freak out at the top of the stairs. Apparently,  accidentally headbutted Elliott in the nose. I believe this was an accident,  however,  that accident could have been avoided. Gavin doesn't self-regulate very well.  He's also not in complete control of his body…

Emmett has a thing for cameras.  The other day I found our old MiniDV camera,  that was thought to be broken. Low and behold it wasn't...at least not yet. Emmett has just fallen in love with this camera and has been itching to get his little hands on it.  So I figured,  what the heck,  we haven't used it in many years anyways. So Emmett has been toting this thing around with him everywhere. Maybe this is something he will continue to pursue.  Who knows but since my phone takes better video anyway,  what's the harm. Emmett's happy and that is way more important then an old camera. Do any of your kids have fascinations with more adult type things,  like,  taking pictures,  using the computer,  iPAD or tablet? -…

Elliott is extremely intelligent and is advanced in many,  many ways.  However,  he has this thing with putting his shirts on backwards. I'm puzzled a bit by this and I'm not sure what's behind it.  It's not a big deal but I'm curious if any of your kids do the same thing?  There are no tags on the shirt so that's not it.  Also,  the neck lines are the same as well. When I ask if I can help him fix it,  he tells me he wants it that way.  That indicates to me that he's doing this for a reason.  Preference...maybe? He knows how to put it on right,  he choses not to. Anyone have any ideas? - Lost and Tired Posted by Wordpress for Android via Tegra 2…

Gavin and I are at Dr.  Reynolds office for a follow up.  Dr.  Reynolds is Gavin's primary psychiatrist and someone on our short list of trustables.  We haven't seen Dr.  Reynolds since Gavin's immune system problems were discovered.  So that means basically all of the new neurological issues are on the agenda today. I don't think any medication changes are likely. However,  one thing Dr. Glazer stressed was just how dangerous and even life threatening Gavin taking Clozapine is. Clozapine is the antipsychotic that Gavin has been on for most of this year. He has been on every other antipsychotic there is and they stopped working.  Clozapine was a last resort. The big concern over Clozapine is that it can destroy the immune system by killing off the white blood…

I'm at the pediatrician..again...with Elliott.  He just can't seem to get better. Now he has a really nasty cough and the antibiotics have given him,  um,  tummy issues. Those tummy issues have led to some accidents that are also keeping Elliott home from school. We have also had to break out his rescue inhaler a few times since yesterday. Daddy is going on very little sleep over the past 2 weeks. So Daddy really needs everyone to feel before he goes plum loco. - Lost and Tired Posted by Wordpress for Android via Tegra 2 powered Motorola Photon 4G (provided to me at no charge by Sprint) without the use of proper editing tools and disadvantages of a bastardized version of auto-correct. Please Vote for Lost and Tired (just click…

I have 3 sickies total today,  Lizze,  Emmett and Elliott. Ironically and thankfully, Gavin,  the child with no immune system of his own is the one not sick. Crap...I'll be right back..I need to go knock on wood. I really hope everyone feels better soon cause I'm not feeling so hot.  I don't usually get sick.  Typically,  I fight it off without much problem.  However,  when I do get sick I usually end up in the hospital.  I call feel my body fighting this off but I'm pretty darn worn out.  So daddy will be in need of some time off at some point. Anyway,  while checking on my sickies today I thought they all looked so cute and peaceful. Thought I would share. - Lost and Tired Posted by…

Emmett and Elliott are both sick,  either again or still...not sure which. Elliott has developed the cough that Emmett has had.  Emmett's cough has gotten a little worse. Lizze had an appointment with the neurologist,  who then sent her to another unplanned appointment. My job this morning was taking care of my little sickies.  Despite the battles this morning,  they finally settled into some quite time on the couch using their Android4Autism devices. Elliott actually prefers this to his DSi anymore. It's the one thing they agreed on this morning. Well they also agreed on watching Sid the science kid.  I'll take what I can get..  Little victories.  Plus they are so adorable.... ;-)   I want to thank Scotty Brown from Android Activist for catching the typo. Apparently when…

I'm sitting with Elliott sleeping next to me on the couch (nightmares) and feeling guilty. I hate dead time because all I do is think and analyze the things that have recently occurred.  Tonight is one of those nights. Lizze goes to bed very early everyday because she can't physically go on. So I spend most nights alone with my thoughts,  writing.  However, sometimes I think a bit to much and doesn't always end well. Tonight is one of those nights where I feel incredibly guilty.  I feel guilty for not having more patience with Gavin. He just talks nonstop and constantly repeats himself and after awhile it gets to me. He tries so hard and deserves better from me.  All I can say is that I'm human and can only…