I thought that today's discussion could be about what your experiences have been while taking your child with #Autism, outside your home and into the public arena. How does your child handle the stress involved in leaving the safety, security and predictability of your home? Sensory sensitivity is a big challenge for many kids on the #Autism spectrum.  Do you have any tips or tricks that have helped your child to make it though the trip? This was posted via WordPress for Android, courtesy of Samsung’s Galaxy S III. Please forgive any typos. I do know how to spell but auto-correct hate me. Please join our Autism Help Forums Look for "Autism Help" app at the Google Play Store

Last night,  Gavin was on the verge of an autonomic crisis.  Because we can never get reliable information from him,  we have come up with a system to help. The system is simple and consists of the numbers 1-5. We will ask Gavin how he's feeling,  he will use the number 1-5 to describe how he's feeling.  1 means he feels good and there are no problems.   Last night,  Gavin came down and told us that he was at a 3 and having chest pain and nausea. The 3 turned into a 5 and he was in a great deal of pain and discomfort. We got him his anti-nausea meds and got him to lay down and rest.  About 10 minutes later, everything seemed to subside. I don't know how…

Good morning everyone.  The say started off pretty early with Emmett still not feeling well. He won't let me leave his sight. If I do, he just starts to cry.  :-( This was posted via WordPress for Android, courtesy of Samsung’s Galaxy S III. Please forgive any typos. I do know how to spell but auto-correct hate me. Please join our Autism Help Forums Look for "Autism Help" app at the Google Play Store

When you hear four days, it doesn't always seem like a long time.  We all love the four day weekends, right? For me,  four days is the amount of time that will go by before my Elliott comes home.  In have never been away for Elliott for four days.  To be honest, I'm not sure how well I will handle this.  I know he's going to be safe and I know that he needs this.  Having said that,  it's four days. I know we can all use a break but holy crap,  I don't know that I'm ready for him to be gone for that long.  I'm a big softie. I cried at his preschool orientation and after dropping him off for his first day of kindergarten. Elliott and I…

The highlight of my 34th birthday was being able to send Elliott to realize his dream of collecting sea shells on the beach.  The ending to the day was awesome as well.  I got to snuggle with Emmett on the couch. We both dozed off on the couch and it was very peaceful.  Emmett is sick and has been miserable all day. It was nice to be able to provide him some comfort even if it was just enough for him to fall asleep.  :-) This was posted via WordPress for Android, courtesy of Samsung’s Galaxy S III. Please forgive any typos. I do know how to spell but auto-correct hate me. Please join our Autism Help Forums Look for "Autism Help" app at the Google Play Store

I have decided to call our new journey with Gavin Operation Hope.  I think the name speaks for itself. So that's that. No progress was made today in the way of funding etc.  I have calls into Stark County Family Council but have not heard back yet.  I will be following up on Monday morning.  I have to call the treatment facility and get some information as well.  We haven't said anything to Gavin and obviously won't until the time is right.  However, when is the time going to be right? I suppose we will have to rely on the experts to tell us the how and when to explain this whole thing,  not only to Gavin but also the other boys.  This was posted via WordPress for Android, courtesy…

There has been a great deal that has happened today.  Most everything has been pretty rough or at least unpleasant.  However dark the day has been,  there still exists a silver lining.  In this case the silver lining revolves around my sweet Elliott Richard.  Last year my sister moved out to the East Hamptons and took a job as one of the only physical therapists there.  She has a beautiful house in a beautiful area. My parents and grandmother are going to see her this weekend.  They are leaving tonight,  around 7pm and will return in about 4 days.  Elliott will be going with them. This is a bittersweet moment for me.  Elliott desperately needs and deserves a break from all the chaos the Lost and Tired family has to…

One of the challenging things that my wife and I face as special needs parents creating rules and boundaries. Because we have 3 boys with various special needs and in various different places on the #Autism spectrum,  I find that we have to have different rules for different kids. I was wondering if anyone else finds that they have to have different rules for the same or similar aged children? Do you have to do this because of safety or developmental issues? Do you have any issues with resentment or frustration as a result of one child wing able to do something the other can't? This was posted via WordPress for Android, courtesy of Samsung’s Galaxy S III. Please forgive any typos. I do know how to spell but auto-correct…