Autism presents many challenges in our lives but none more challenging for me personally, then the communication barriers. Emmett, especially, is VERY difficult to communicate with. Most of the time we kinda just learn to interpret the sounds as even the words he does use aren't always used appropriately. However, there are times, like now, where that just isn't good enough. Emmett is once again running a fever and not feeling well. Despite all of the words he has learned this year so far, he still can't tell us what's wrong. We know he's running a fever but we don't know if anything hurts or if his tummy is upset. This is beyond frustrating and promotes a rather helpless and distressing feeling for me as his father. When your child can't talk or talk…

Emmett is sick and sleeping upstairs. Lizze took Gavin and Elliott to my parents house for a cook out and I stayed back with Emmett, who was already asleep. Apparently we forgot to turn the night-lite on so when Emmett woke up it was pitch black and he couldn't see anything. I ran upstairs and realized what had happened. I couldn't see either so I found the light switch and I see Emmett sitting there shaking.  I can't tell you how bad I felt. As hard as I try, sometimes things like this happen. Believe it or not, I'm not perfect.....just ask my wife. :-) When Emmett laid back down to sleep he brought with him his flashlight.....you know...just in case. He fell back asleep holding onto it for dear life. So…

I've been a bit stressed out today and I just started writing down everything going on inside my head. I thought maybe that would help me to....maybe...process them a little better. It turned into a list which tuned into this. Sometimes just writing down how you are feeling can go a long way towards feeling better.   I wish we could sleep through just one night. I wish I knew how to better help my family. I wish I could remove my wife's pain and carry it myself. I wish I had friends to get together with every weekend. I wish I could just take the kids to the play ground. I wish my wife and I had date night. I wish my house was safer for the kids. I…

When Elliott was younger he called hide and seek "eddy & Knots". This was a couple of years ago when Lizze was playing "Eddy & Knots" with Elliott. He is so stinkin' cute. These are the moments that I already miss. I thought I would share this as it's one of my most treasured memories.   [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ld0ahiqMk[/youtube]

What do you guys think about these proposed (view them below) changes? Both PDD-NOS and Aspergers are currently on theautism spectrum. In May of 2013 when the DSM V is released that could all change. PDD-NOS and Aspergers would no longer be considered Autism. So then your currently Autistic child with Aspergers would no longer be Autistic...at least as I understand it. How do you feel about this? What does this mean for all the kids currently diagnosed and receiving services under the Autism diagnosis? What about those on SSI, like Gavin? The symptoms will remain but the label may change.  If this happens, Autism as we know it currently, will change. The question remains, will these changes be for the better?  I'm very interested in hear what you all have to say.…

This is where Emmett John said his very first word EVER. I was just randomly filming him playing with Maggie and he said "doggie". I was so focused on making sure they were playing safely and Maggie wasn't getting to rough that I don't think I even realized he said that until later on. This was a HUGE turning point for us. We NEVER thought we were going to hear him say anything...ever. I'm so glad my timing was "on" that day.   [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kznRO6fXsA[/youtube]

I decided that, today, I would revisit some of the most important moments along our journey....thus far. Some of you may have already seen some of these things but many others have not. I wanted to share some behind the scenes moments that may or may not have made it to the blog. Please enjoy....and stand by....

Gavin and I met with Dr. Pattie for about an hour tonight. There were no snacks and no prizes at the end. We sat there and talked. We tried to get a better understanding of where Gavin is coming from when he makes the choices he does. I don't think we are any better off right now because Gavin really didn't make a whole lot of sense when he was talking. At a few points he started to get worked up but we quickly responded and defused the situation. While we don't have a better understanding of his motives he did put together a pseudo behavior plan. Gavin made a list of ways he can "defuse" himself when he gets frustrated. These would be better options then melting down or hurting himself.…