Here in the Lost and Tired household, we experience a phenomenon with our oldest son Gavin that I've dubbed think to breath mode. I know I run the risk of sounding like a giant a-hole here, but I'm simply being honest about my experience. This is in no way intended to make Gavin look bad or otherwise meant to be taken as some sort of put down either. The truth is, right now I'm just a bit overwhelmed by Gavin. I suppose I should explain think to breath mode. O_o Think to breath mode is when Gavin enters into period of time where we literally have to think for him. Things like wiping his face, washing his hands, following simple 1 step tasks and just about every safety thing you…

I've actually accomplished a little bit of writing today.  My First article for Akron Children's Hospital should be going live today and that's pretty cool. The problem is that I just can't help but feel defeated right now because of everything I have hanging over me head. We're losing our utilities, one by one and just can't seem to get caught up on anything. I have less than 30 days until the boys are back in school and I'll be able to really focus on working again. Lizze will be able to sleep all day long if need be and it will not mean that I have to stop working in order to watch the boys.  That's going to be huge..... Feeling defeated is a really desperate feeling because it's…

Gavin's been a bit of a bad sport this morning and is spending some time in his room, not that it's a punishment.  Elliott and Gavin were playing a game downstairs.  Gavin spent the entire time complaining because he didn't like Elliott's rules. He essentially refused to play unless he got his way. This is pretty ironic because much of the time, the roles are reversed and it's Elliott or Emmett playing by Gavin’s rules. Gavin is a control freak. He wants to control the outcome of any game by manipulating the rules or simply making up his own.  I sent him upstairs because I just got tired of hearing him bitch about the way Elliott was leading their imaginary game of Pokemon. He needs to learn that you can't…

Because of Gavin's autonomic dysfunction, his doctors have him on a very, very strict fluid intact schedule.  Gavin's only allowed 2.5 liters of water (only) per day. We carefully monitor this because any more than 2.5 liters of water can cause an autonomic crisis any less and it's the same problem. Last night I just realized that Gavin's been drinking an extra 750 ml of water per day. Gavin has a water bottle that we've marked, so he knows where to fill it to.  He recently switched into a different water bottle and I erroneously assumed that it had been measured out. Last night I decided to double check because it didn't look right.  Turns out that he's been adding an extra 250 ml, every time he filed it up. …

Dearest Monday, So often it seems that we get off on the wrong foot.  You say some things and I say some things. Before we know it, the entire day has gone to hell in a handbasket. Let's make today an exception to that rule.  I look forward to enjoying you Monday and all that you will bring my way.  This site is managed almost exclusively via WordPress for Android. Please forgive any typos as autocorrect HATES me. ;-) Follow @Lost_and_Tired Visit the My Autism Help Forums To reach me via email, please Contact Me

This was a brilliant moment on Sunday.  Emmett fell asleep, all snuggled up to me on the couch.  I was essentially pinned by him for at least an hour.  As a father, I absolutely adore and live for these moments. This site is managed almost exclusively via WordPress for Android. Please forgive any typos as autocorrect HATES me. ;-) Follow @Lost_and_Tired Visit the My Autism Help Forums To reach me via email, please Contact Me

This is a really interesting question and I would love to get your feedback. Would you support a year round school year for your child on the Autism Spectrum? Please take a second and answer the poll. Let's discuss this in comments below. :-) [socialpoll id="12167 "] This site is managed almost exclusively via WordPress for Android. Please forgive any typos as autocorrect HATES me. ;-) Follow @Lost_and_Tired Visit the My Autism Help Forums To reach me via email, please Contact Me

I've written many time about Autism Awareness.  Personally, I'm not a fan of the whole Light it up Blue campaign.  That seems more like a marketing campaign to me and not about raising awareness for our children and adults with Autism.  To each their own. That's just my personal opinion, you're obviously free to feel or think differently and I totally respect that.  :-) April is still a ways off but I think that we should begin thinking about what we can do as a community to improve Autism Awareness.  Personally, I would love to see Autism Awareness take a more natural and organic approach to helping people understand better what Autism is.  I fear that we have put our faith in organizations that may have lost touch with their…