Read more about the article @VivintGivesBack can help keep your child with #Autism safe
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back

@VivintGivesBack can help keep your child with #Autism safe

Wandering has reached epidemic proportions within the Autism community, as more than 50% of kids with Autism will wander away from a place of safety. Unfortunately, many of these episodes of elopement will not end well. It's a heartbreaking and terrifying thing for Autism parents to have to worry about but many do. I'm writing this to remind everyone that I'm working with Vivint Gives Back, to help secure your home and keep you child safe. As a father to 3 boys on the Autism Spectrum, I know first-hand the challenges that many families like mine face, every single day and night. I have also experienced first hand how Vivint Gives Back works with families like mine. When I was first approached about this project, I was very skeptical because…

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November 25, 2017
Read more about the article Holy Shit! Gavin hit a MAJOR milestone tonight
Gallery / Gavin / IVIG Infusion / My thoughts

Holy Shit! Gavin hit a MAJOR milestone tonight

Every once in awhile, the kids do something that completely blows me away. They always impress me but sometimes, what they do is a real game changer. Tonight, was one of those night for Gavin. For the last five years or so, Gavin has been receiving IVIG Infusions in order to treat his Common Variable Immunodeficiency. In all the hundreds of infusions, Gavin has always hated the needles and who can blame him. He's never liked them but at the same time, he's never complained. ☺ Over the years, he's slowly taken more and more responsibility for his infusions. He's gotten to the point where the only thing he wasn't able to do was put the needles in his belly. He has been to uncomfortable doing that and that was…

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November 24, 2017
Read more about the article Sleeping on the couch
Emmett John / My thoughts

Sleeping on the couch

The boys had a rough night, especially Emmett. They all went to bed but Emmett woke up not feeling well. He had a really sore throat and I ended up on the couch in the living room with this poor little guy. He did fall asleep and stayed asleep for the rest of the evening. I feel like I slept pretty well but I'm still tired from yesterday. So far, everyone's doing okay this morning and I'm hoping to keep things moving in that direction... ☺

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November 24, 2017
Read more about the article Thanksgiving 2017: The Good – The Bad – The Meltdowns
Gallery / My thoughts

Thanksgiving 2017: The Good – The Bad – The Meltdowns

All things considered, we had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. It was very low key and the food was amazing. I stuck with one plate because I'm trying to make better decisions, but it wasn't easy. My parents did an amazing job with everything and we are so thankful for all their efforts. I had assumed that because it was going to be so low key, the boys would do better. I was soon reminded of the old phrase, you know what they say about people who assume. The boys lasted about two hours before they began bouncing off the walls. My family is very patient with the kids but Lizze and I were very quickly getting overwhelmed by how hyper they were. Emmett had a meltdown because his piece…

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November 24, 2017
Read more about the article 30 Days of Thanks Challenge: Day 1
30 Days of Thanks 2017 / Challenges / My thoughts

30 Days of Thanks Challenge: Day 1

I've never been into these challenges before but I want to change that now. For the next thirty days, I'm going to share one thing I'm thankful for from that particular day. My goal is to better focus on the positive things in my life and inspire others to do the same with theirs. For today, I'm thankful for my family. It's Thanksgiving day and for me personally, it's all about family. As a family, we've been through so much and have been able to weather the storm, coming out stronger on the other side. I'm so thankful for my beautiful wife. She's the most amazing person I've ever met and I'm thankful for each day I have with her. Our marriage isn't always easy but we've learned that the…

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November 23, 2017
Read more about the article Almost everyone, had a tough time sleeping
My thoughts

Almost everyone, had a tough time sleeping

It was a weird night and I can't say what it was specifically but it was weird. I don't think anyone besides Gavin, slept well. Maybe it was the anticipation of Thanksgiving or just something in the air but everyone Semmes to be on edge. The boys were up at the ass crack of dawn but Gavin slept in. Gavin never sleeps in and it's strange when he does. Lizze had a really difficult time sleeping and staying asleep as well. She's been in a ton of pain lately and that makes life exceptionally challenging. Between Lizze struggling to sleep and the boys wandering around the second floor, I didn't sleep well at all. We're all excited for Thanksgiving dinner and cannot wait for 3:00 PM.

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November 23, 2017