Gavin

Today’s Victory: Navigating Basic Social Interactions 

Gavin is very, very, very black and white in his thinking. We had to work very hard to help Gavin understand basic safety concepts like don't talk to strangers. He took that lesson to heart and to the extreme.  For the most part, Gavin will not talk to strangers. This is good but he's got no concept of the grey areas.  Here's a great example of what we're trying to work on and how Gavin totally owned it today.  When Gavin and I walk the track in the morning, we walk by all the same people almost everyday. When we pass someone, we exchange pleasantries such as hello or good morning.  People make it a point to wish Gavin a good morning and he almost rudely ignores them. He's not…

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September 26, 2016
Cleveland Clinic / Clozapine / Gavin / Pediatric Urology

Gavin’s not doing well

It's been a difficult couple of days for Gavin. It's safe to say that the increase in Clozapine has significantly increased the side effects he had begun suffering from about two years ago. Gavin's been struggling with what presents itself as bladder issues.  He's constantly running back and forth to the bathroom, without having to actually go. He has the overwhelming urge to go and while sometimes he does indeed have to go, most of the time it's a false alarm. We're having many almost accidents and Gavin is absolutely miserable because he can't go anywhere without this interfering. This isn't a bladder infection because he's been tested and cleared many times. Unfortunately, this is a very rare but documented side effect of Clozapine and is apparently more prominent if…

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September 26, 2016
PSA

(PSA) Love & Autism: A Conference with Heart, Hosts 3rd Annual Event with World-Renowned Speakers, October 8-9

​Love & Autism: A Conference with Heart, Hosts 3rd Annual Event with World-Renowned Speakers, October 8-9 -Love & Autism collaborates with professional speakers to discuss the paradigms about love and relationships for those on the autism spectrum as well as those who have been affected by autism-   San Diego, Calif. (August 17, 2016) – Hundreds of guests will come together October 8-9, 2016, to attend the third annual Love & Autism event, a conference to inspire and bring awareness to the fact that every individual, even those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, deserves to be loved and have high-quality relationships in life. Held at Liberty Station Conference Center in San Diego, Calif, the two-day conference will feature world-renowned professional speakers in the autism field and role models in the…

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September 26, 2016
My thoughts

Today’s Victory: Taking care of ourselves

Everyday I want to try and celebrate something positive that occurred. It's important to me that I not get swallowed up by all the shit in our lives. It's also important that I present both sides of Autism parenting.  There are days that truly suck and I'd love nothing more than to board the Crazy Train with a one way ticket to I don't care where.  At the same time, there are also moments where I'm reminded how truly blessed I am to have my kids. It's these moments that I live for because they help me find the strength to keep on keeping on, especially on the bad days.  With that in mind, here's what I'm celebrating today.   The boys went to spend some time with my amazing…

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September 26, 2016
My Crazy Neighborhood

It’s not been a good day in our neighborhood 

The boys are spending the day with their Grandparents. It's not been a good day in our neighborhood and I'm glad the kids are able to get away and enjoy the weather in a safe place.  I'm reminded of just how badly we need to move but can't... 😕 It's frustrating and one of those things that always sits in the back of my mind. Days like today allow it to bubble to the surface... 

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September 25, 2016
Emmett John / My thoughts / Sensory

Today has been a sensory nightmare for my family 

We've all heard the phrase if Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy.. In our case it's a bit different because it goes if Emmett ain't happy ain't nobody happy.  Today was a day where Emmett really, really struggled.  Everything surrounding food was tough for him and navigating through the day, while coexisting with his brothers proved very trying.  All the boys need to be able to play outside. There's a great deal of sensory input that can be had from crashing and bashing around the yard.  Unfortunately, where we live, it's just not something we can let them do and that breaks my heart.  Anyway, Emmett was like a very tightly wound spring, all day long. He was like a cat getting ready to pounce on something. There's that moment…

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September 25, 2016
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts / Reference Post

Why it’s so hard to keep my kids with #Autism and #SPD fed

This issomething I've been meaning to talk about but haven't gotten around to it. I know many of you parenting kids with Autism and or sensory processing disorder will be able to relate to this.  I'm talking about how difficult it can be to feed my kids.  This is one of those things that unless you're experiencing it, it's extremely difficult to wrap your head around because instinct tells us that if the child is really hungry, they'll eat. In more typical cases, that may apply but in cases of Autism and SPD, this does not apply.  When it comes to my family, there are numerous reasons why feeding my kids is very difficult to do.  These reasons are all intertwined, tangled and knotted up together. It's very challenging to…

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September 24, 2016