Read more about the article Has anyone faced this bizarre #sensory processing issue before? 
Emmett John / Feeding Problems / My thoughts / Sensory

Has anyone faced this bizarre #sensory processing issue before? 

Recently, Emmett has been struggling a great deal more with eating. If you've followed our story for awhile, you might recall that we have an enormous challenge when it comes to Emmett and eating. He's extremely sensory oriented and struggles with things like food, clothes, noise and shitload of anxiety. The anxiety serves to make everything worse. Anyway, Emmett has a very small menu of foods he'll eat, and that makes it challenging to feed him. He's very sensitive to things like taste, smell, color, shape, packaging, presentation and imperfections. It's not uncommon for me to have to remake something a few times because something about it wasn't right. Recently, Emmett has begun saying things like, this doesn't taste right. The problem is, what doesn't taste right, happens to be…

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April 8, 2017
Read more about the article New health concerns for 2 of my kids with #Autism 
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder / Emmett John / Gavin / My thoughts / PFAPA

New health concerns for 2 of my kids with #Autism 

I haven't had the energy to catch you up on a couple of things that are causing us to be concerned, in regards to the kids.  I'll start with Emmett because we learned something new about his fever disorder, while we were at the immunologist the other day.  She is the doctor that handles his fever disorder, as well as Gavin's Immunodeficiency, everyone's asthma and seasonal allergies. She also handles Elliott food allergies.  When it comes to Emmett's fever disorder, we have been chasing this thing since he was roughly a year old.  Fever cycles consist of many different and evolving symptoms. What we refer to as a flare up, presents with mouth sores, joints that are hot to the touch, massive mood swings and sometimes a fever. These symptoms…

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April 8, 2017
Read more about the article This morning has completely fallen apart
General Update / My thoughts

This morning has completely fallen apart

We're not off to the best start today. Unfortunately, most of us are not feeling well. By most of us, I mean everyone in my family with an active immune system. Ironically, Gavin is the the only one who's feeling fine.  In reality, that's a good thing because the last thing in the world we want is for Gavin to get sick.  Nobody went to school today and we're all just going to take it easy this morning and see if things improve.  In regards to Emmett, I actually suspect he's in a fever flare. This explains his demeanor and level of aggression this morning.  Lizze can barely move today because of the weather. We went from a much warmer trend to this.  As for myself, I'm exhausted beyond words.…

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April 7, 2017
Read more about the article We have a really busy day today
My thoughts / The Day Ahead

We have a really busy day today

We have a really long day ahead of us. After dropping the boys off at school, we have to get a copy of Gavin's birth certificate from the Canton Board of Health. We can't find his for some reason and we need it cause in order to recertify this year, we have to prove that our kids are legal residents of the United States.  After that, we can go home for a short time before having to return to the school to pick up the boys and head to Cleveland for three doctors appointments.  The appointments are with Allergy and Immunology.  We'll be in the car for at least three hours, for what amounts to a thirty minute appointment.  The boys dislike these trips cause they're in the car forever.…

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April 6, 2017
Read more about the article Here’s some GOOD NEWS
Good News / My thoughts

Here’s some GOOD NEWS

While yesterday was a trying day, there was some really awesome news. We got our car back from the shop. My brother was able to get the ignition removed and replaced but it wasn't easy. The new ignition works like a charm and I'm so grateful for his help. I also was to say a huge thank you to my parents as well. They were a huge help as well and Lizze and I are both very grateful for that... My triumphant return to the driving world comes in the nick of time because we have to get all the kids to the doctors in the late morning. This is one of those out of town trips that will take us all day and this wouldn't have been possible without…

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April 6, 2017
Read more about the article 2 things my #Autism family is struggling with right now
Elliott / Emmett John / My thoughts

2 things my #Autism family is struggling with right now

It's been an exhausting day.  I managed to squeeze out five hours of sleep between last night and now. That was broken up into three tiny chunks and not all at once. That sorta kills the benefit.  Emmett's been having nightmares again for the last couple of nights, and in true Autistic fashion, he's generalized the cause as being his bed. In other words, because he had a nightmare while in his own bed, he will always have nightmares if he's in his own bed.  Generalization is one of the challenges Autism has brought into his young life and its tough to counter.  He's so smart and logically I think he knows his bed has nothing to go with bad dreams, but emotionally he can't put those things together.  It's…

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April 6, 2017
Read more about the article I’m in desperate need of sleep
Autism Parenting Woes / My thoughts

I’m in desperate need of sleep

I had a rough night. I fell asleep around 1 AM and was woke up about 3 AM by Emmett. I don't remember all the details but he had a nightmare and just wanted to snuggle.  Normally I wouldn't mind but I've spent the last several nights on the couch because Elliott's been dealing with insomnia, even on Melatonin.  As a result of many nights on the couch, my back has gone out. I don't remember feeling this much pain in many, many years. The point being that Emmett wanting to snuggle, wasn't going to work cause I was in took much pain.  I ended up moving down to the couch again and was eventually able to fall back asleep. Lizze is sending me back to bed and I'm going…

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April 5, 2017