I have the first of three IEP meetings this morning O_o

This morning I will be dropping the boys off at school and then heading across town to the high school for an IEP meeting.  I'm not super excited about this but it's important to make the best of it.  The school terminated the online program that Gavin was involved with last year and I'm not sure what we are going to do this year.  There are some tough decisions that will need to be made and none of them appear to be easy at this point.   I'll let you know how it goes.     

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Gavin started crying today because he’s afraid to live in our neighborhood 

First of all, the boys and I have started using Periscope to live broadcast moments in our life. We figure that maybe people can learn something or perhaps we can help someone.  Out of nowhere today, Gavin became hysterical after he asked to take the trash out.  He came back in the house, went upstairs to his room and started freaking out. When I asked him what was wrong, he said that while he was taking out the trash, he couldn't stop thinking about someone sneaking up on him and pulling a gun.  This sorta came out of nowhere but at the same time, he been indicating that he's uncomfortable in our neighborhood since the hostage crisis a couple of months ago.     I tried to talk to him about it…

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I received some bad news about Gavin and school

I spoke with the IEP coordinator at Gavin's high school about what we were going to be doing for Gavin this year.  She informed me that they terminated the online program that Gavin used last year for school.  She explained their reasons and while the reasons make sense, this will a problem for Gavin.  Gavin really isn't capable of learning in the capacity that he will be required to if we do a more traditional home education.  I'm a bit worried about how this will play out.  Physically attending school is an impossibility for him for a million physical and emotional health reasons.  I'm seriously concerned about what our options are going to be. At this point, Gavin turns 16 in a few months and if I'm not mistaken, I…

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I don’t usually make this kind of mistake

Yesterday was a rough one. Emmett wasn't feeling well last night and neither was I. Emmett's dealing with an upper respiratory thing and mine may just be allergies.  Anyway, turns out we don't have an appointment for Gavin today because the doctors office is closed for Labor Day.  This is a bit weird because I definitely have it on the calendar for today and I don't normally make that kind of mistake.  This leaves us with a whole lot of nothing to do and that fits just right. Emmett seems to be feeling a little better right now but you can tell that he's still under the weather and I'm nursing a sinus headache. Nothing on the schedule has worked out well.    

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If this week doesn’t kill me 

If the next week or so doesn't kill me, it's gonna definitely make me stronger. Gavin's supposed to be at the immunologist in the morning but I need to reschedule because both Emmett and I are now sick. This works out for the best because it well over an hour and twenty minutes away and Gavin can't make it five minutes in the car without stopping to pee. Emmett's absolutely miserable and that makes life even harder for him.. This isn't a good week to be sick because I have 3 IEP meetings, at least half a dozen appointments and a trip to Akron Children's Hospital for Emmett.  I'll finish this post up tomorrow because my head is pounding and the boys are sleeping. I'm gonna crash...   

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What it’s like to take my 3 kids with #Autism to the store

I'm hoping this gives some insight into the everyday challenges of being a special needs parent. Everyone's experience will be different but many of you will be able to relate, while others will learn what it's like for the first time. We had to run a few errands this morning and quite frankly, the boys did really well. That being said, really well for me is likely very different from really well for many other families.     I feel my kids did really well because I know the challenges they are coping with and what a sensory nightmare it is for them to be in large, crowded stores. The lights, smells, sounds and just about everything else can prove very overwhelming for kids like mine, especially when sensory processing disorder…

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The Lighter Side of #Autism: Snuggles

While Autism parenting is the really challenging, difficult, frustrating, overwhelming and throughly exhausting, there is a lighter side to Autism as well.  Sometimes there are moments that are truly peaceful. They make having to go through everything to get there worth it.  ❤️❤️❤️   

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How is the morning going after a night of little sleep?

While I'm running on fumes, we are off to a great start this morning. Emmett finally fell asleep around 2 am and I was out soon after. Despite the general lack of sleep in the house, everyone is in a good mood and getting along.  Sometimes when the boys don't get enough sleep, the can become more easily overwhelmed by the world around them. Sensory issues become more prominent and the meltdowns are abundant. This morning however, the boys are holding their own and that's pretty awesome.....  ❤️❤️❤️❤️   

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