Read more about the article I’ve chosen to focus on the blessings 
Blessings / Emmett John / My thoughts

I’ve chosen to focus on the blessings 

Last night ended with more tension than I like, but before that, we had a decent evening.  I took everyone to the park and we walked the track. We had to sorta improvise a bit because there's major construction going on in the park right now. We had to map out a new path and that required walking on a gravel trail for about a quarter mile.  Walking on gravel is just fine for everyone. Everyone that is, except Emmett.  Emmett will only wear crocs and only do so without socks. Every tiny piece of anything that touches his foot, requires the foot cleaning routine.  We walked about a mile and a half last night. However, it's was more like a mile and a half of line drills. I would…

0 Comments
July 21, 2017
Read more about the article I made it through without losing my mind
My thoughts

I made it through without losing my mind

I haven't been able to jump on the treadmill today, but I've been pretty busy.  Gavin and I had to go get his new glasses this morning. Emmett came along because we needed to pick up a few groceries, and he wanted to make sure I got the right cereal.  Gavin loves his new glasses and that's always a good thing. He says he can see better. ☺  Emmett's happy cause we got the right cereal, and I made it through all of this without losing my mind. lol

0 Comments
July 20, 2017
Read more about the article I know he’s miserable 
Emmett John / Fever Cycle / PFAPA

I know he’s miserable 

Emmett is very clearly in a fever flare. He's in a horrible place, and seems to have lost his ability to talk without screaming. He's been screaming all morning.  I know he's miserable, and I don't blame him for any of this but it's not easy to maintain the mindset, when there's so much screaming.  I wanted to share a time line of sorts, that show his temperature as a fever flare is overtaking him. 

0 Comments
July 20, 2017
Read more about the article If not for the kindness of others
Family Time / My thoughts / Photography

If not for the kindness of others

I wanted to share this, in case you missed it in a previous post. It was mixed in with a bunch of others, and probably deserves its own post.  We haven't had a family picture taken in forever. While this isn't a professionally shot image, it's still special. The only reason we even have this is because of the kindness of a stranger.  I really like this picture and I'm grateful that the kind woman offered to take it for us. ☺ 

0 Comments
July 20, 2017
Read more about the article It’s the only time I can break down
Gavin / Heartbreak / My thoughts

It’s the only time I can break down

Gavin is getting more and more frustrated with himself over his disappearing abilities. I don't really know how else to describe it. He hasn't necessarily forgotten that he should know how to do things, but he's forgotten how to do them.  I can't even begin to imagine what that's like for him.  While I'm overweight, my cholesterol is borderline, and I wage war with Depression, I'm otherwise blessed with good health.  Gavin is experiencing things that would be more common for someone seventy years his senior. He forgets almost everything (short term memory) and easily loses track of what he's doing. When it comes to the games he plays, he can focus, but getting him to draw a picture ends up being too much for him.  We return to his…

0 Comments
July 20, 2017
Read more about the article A night of massive meltdowns
Autism Parenting Struggles / Emmett John / My thoughts

A night of massive meltdowns

Last night was filled with meltdowns, freak outs, and trying to figure out what the fuck was going on. Emmett was complaining of a tummy ache but he couldn't express anything more than it hurts.  It's really hard to know what's going on when he's unable to help us better understand what's he's dealing with.  There's no question he was upset about his stomach but we couldn't tell if he was hunger related, constipation, or nausea. When we asked him about describing what he was feeling, he just melted down and screamed I don't know.  He ended up falling asleep without a huge amount of trouble.  He struggled a bit because he was convinced that he was going to puke, and didn't want to sleep on the top bunk. Lizze…

0 Comments
July 20, 2017
Read more about the article I’m off to a good start 
My thoughts / Personal Victory

I’m off to a good start 

The boys will be home soon, and I'm off to a good start on my goals for the day.  I just got off the treadmill and feel amazing.  Now I'm getting some writing done and planning the rest of my day.  I feel energized from working out and my demeanor is pretty damn positive.. ☺ 

32 Comments
July 19, 2017