We came home from the boys doctor appointment yesterday and discovered this grizzly scene. Apparently, the at some point while we were gone, and Maggie decided it would be a good idea to play with Emmett's Jumbo Crayola Crayons. Sadly there were few survivors. I was at a loss for words after witnessing this senseless carnage. However, while I was at a loss for words Emmett was not. After seeing what had happened and enduring yet another trip to the pediatrician, Emmett looked at the crayon carcasses and angerly said, and I quote........ "dammit Maggie, Emmett's crayons".. What can you say to that? On one hand he should not have said that but on the other hand he actually said that.. Also, the of you look carefully you will see…

I shared awhile ago about my personal struggle with depression. It's not something that I talked alot about before but I decided that it was important to me, that I share this part of my story.  I'm not really sure why people are so uncomfortable talking about depression. I think that by talking more openly about it, we can help to dispel some of the stigma surrounding it. Anytime we can remove the stimgma attached to something, we make steps forward in better understanding it. I shared previously, that I went back on antidepressant's a few months ago. I had really begun to struggle with life in the sense that I was very pre-occupied with my own mortality and it had begun to influence some of my decisions. That was…

I had mentioned eariler today that Elliott and Emmett were both going to the doctor this morning due to high fevers and generally being miserable. Emmett checked out ok in the sense that he doesn't have pneumonia. However, they changed his antibiotic because he was throwing up after taking his current one. Elliott has a bad ear infection in his left ear, a rash on his chest, back and arms, as well as a fever north of 104°f. He started on antibiotics to night and hopefully, God willing, he will feel a little better. Lizze likely has strep throat as well and will have to begin antibiotics as well. I can say this with the without any hesitation, my family never does anything half way.... - Lost and Tired Posted…

Elliott was up almost all night. He kept talking about being covered in green. Not really sure what that was all about but he may have been talking in his sleep. I'm concerned that he may have an ear infection because he screams when we take his temperature via his ear and that has never been a problem before. Emmett seems to be getting worse. We concerned that in the struggle to get him to take his meds, he may have aspirated. It's also possible that the issue he had with his lung actually turned into pneumonia because Emmett hasn't been taking his meds without spitting them right back out. The boys have appointments at noon today go be evaluated. We are worried that Emmett may need to return to…

Something I have never shared with all of you is my life long love of animals. When I was a kid, I was always outside exploring nature. My family went camping on a regular basis and I would just marvel at all of the amazing animals I would encounter along the way. I was always finding and trying to care for injured animals, birds mostly. I was always fascinated my birds, they were the picture of freedom for me. They could go anywhere they desired and their ability to take flight and soar into the clouds was something I was envious of. When I became a father, I wanted my kids to see the wonder that this nature. Over the years, I have forgotten much of what I learned as a child…

Elliott fever has reached north of the 104°f mark tonight. He is definitely struggling and I would say disoriented as well. He wakes up and mumbles something that makes no sense before crying and going back to sleep. This is going to be a very, very long night. - 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 the link) and help me spread Autism Awareness. Everyone can Vote once a day :)

So this is another edition of Everyday Lessons. In posts under this title I show specific examples of how I use everyday things to teach important lessons. One of the things that my wife and I have always struggled with was ensuring the kids have a healthy, well balanced diet. Due in part to all three of my boys being on the Autism Spectrum, this have proven to be a rather difficult task.  They each have their own unique proclivities with food. Sometimes they don't like the texture, color or even the look of food items and will simply refuse to eat them. This has been especially true with Elliott and Emmett. So what I like to do is try to provide choices for them that are healthier. I also…