Development stages in the first year of life

From a newborn baby who spends most of their time sleeping and eating to a toddler who won't sit still, the transformation in the first year of life is nothing short of miraculous. Every month brings new developmental stages that are exciting to see. Although babies develop different skills at different rates, sometimes missing a milestone could be due to something more serious, such as cerebral palsy - you can find out more on this website. If you have any concerns, speak to your pediatrician.  One to three months During the first three months, your baby is getting used to the outside world. The sensations and sounds they felt and heard in the womb are still the most comforting, and they spend the vast majority of their lives sleeping. However,…

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Two of my three kids are sick and I’m slowly but surely losing my mind

My kids are being everything but cooperative today. They don't like changing from routine and I'm asking them to do that in order to better prepare for whatever COVID19 is going to throw our way. We need to make changes in order to help prevent any kind of illness from taking hold in our house because Gavin has a compromised immune system. I'm really stressed out and trying to gain control over the chaos but the kids just aren't having it. Truthfully, neither of them will or at least shouldn't be going to school in the morning. Elliott's been running a high fever all weekend, with a headache, cough and congestion. Emmett started with a cough last night. I don't know what else to do but keep them home. So…

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The exception to the rule

Elliott's still asleep at 11 AM. I checked on him and he said he was fine. He seems to have slept well and that's good, cause he needs his rest. I haven't checked his temperature yet but he hasn't been coughing or anything like that. I'm hoping that this passes quickly and without incident. Unfortunately, the reality is that these things tend to linger, especially in Elliott's case. It would be great if this was the exception to the rule.

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How I’m preparing my family for #COVID19

With COVID19 spreading across the globe, the CDC has said it's not a matter of if but when. While panic isn't advisable, being prepared is. My kids are concerned about the virus impacting us directly. They're far too smart to be placated and rather than try, only to make things worse, I've decided to take a different approach. I've explained the facts, as I know them, and helped them to better understand and put COVID19 into perspective. It's incredibly important to only get information from reputable sources. Those sources include the CDC, public health officials and trained medical professionals. My personal source of information is a new friend of mine, Dr. Tara Smith. You may recall she was a guest on the pod this season. You can listen below. Anyway,…

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Fevers, Podcasts and Maintaining Hope For The Future

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning. Emmett's bouncing off the walls and Elliott is still running a high fever. All things considered, being overwhelmed is okay because I'm continuing to push forward. I spoke with Lizze and apparently, she's sick as well. The kids were with her on Wednesday and Elliott became ill on Thursday evening. The other two seem to be doing fine and I am as well. It could be coincidence though because Lizze and Elliott are presenting very differently. Who the hell knows. Anyway, I'm trying to keep him contained in his room for a bit today. I'd very much like to limit the risks to the rest of us, especially Gavin. I need to get to the grocery store today and work on the house…

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THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF PARENTING A CHILD ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism, is a neurological condition that affects a large number of Canadian children and their families. In fact, it is the most common developmental disability amongst Canadians aged 5-17, with 1 in 66 children and youth diagnosed. As a result, minors with autism have trouble with social interactions, communication problems, and a tendency to repeat certain patterns of behavior. Depending on where they fall on the spectrum, the severity of the condition and level of functioning differs from child to child. As a result, separate types of treatment and programs are offered to different kids. Parents raising children with high-functioning autism, for example, are subject to more expenses than those with kids who have low-functioning autism, due to the extra care commitment required. Nevertheless, the…

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Houston, we have a fever

Nothing is ever easy in The Autism Dad household. I was able to get to sleep early last night but woke up because Elliott wasn't feeling well. Long story short, he didn't sleep well and was under the weather. I did manage to get Emmett to school, which was a bit challenging because he doesn't like going alone. Anyway, Elliott went back to bed and woke up a little while ago with a fever of almost 103°F. I'm not sure if it's a cold or not but he's very congested and has a headache. It sorta seems like the status quo for when he gets sick. It's usually upper respiratory in nature and sets in rapidly. I just have to watch him closely because he's prone to pneumonia and other…

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I just want him to be a kid

I thought I would share this because it's both funny and a bit reassuring for me personally. So Emmett has completely taken over the dining room with a giant blanket fort and refuses to let me take it down. I know I could do it anyway but he's not hurting anything and it's something that helps him feel a bit more in control. Obviously, it can't stay there forever but I think I'll let him be a kid for a good long while. He's dealing with so many grown-up issues right now and I hate that he's growing up so fast. Is it really a crime if I encourage him to just be a kid right now?

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