Angie and I spent last week in New York City. This was a much needed break from the madness of start-up life and the daily adventures of a family living with autism. We have been married for twelve and a half years. A good portion of the first five years was spent traveling to some very fun places. When you have a child with autism, travel often just flies out the window like the rest of your "planned life." Depending on circumstances, everything you knew prior to autism may seem like it vanishes into thin air.

AutismSpot is celebrating it's one year anniversary this month and we are excited to share some really great news with you. We love AutismSpot as much as you do. We are so glad to be sharing in this community with you. Every day is a new adventure.

Ike is visiting Texas right now. We have family throughout Houston and it is pretty bad from the reports they have been sharing with us. Most of the family has been without power for a day now and there doesn't seem to be hope that it will be back on for days. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you who are directly in the path of Ike and for everyone who has family they are concerned about.

Luke (3 1/2 yrs old) likes to occasionally torment his big brother Sam (7). Luke has an extremely quick wit, is very engaging, and his precious curls and big blue eyes serve him well. He also has a warm heart, is very affectionate, and (can be) very gentle. Sam is very outgoing (which dispels the myth that children with Autism don't like people), loves to interact with others (even if sometimes awkwardly), laughs a lot and is very affectionate as well. When it comes to brothers....these guys have an incredible bond. There is one issue though.

I typically drive Sam to school in the mornings. This is one of the benefits of not traveling as much as I used to. On our drive, Sam and I usually talk about the plans for the day, the after school agenda, and what time I will be home. The next phase of our routine kicks in and it is always a request for a song by the David Crowder Band. Every time I look in the rear view mirror and see his sweet smile and hear his gentle voice, I flash back to the years when Sam had very little language.

The Good News:
Researchers from a prestigious university "have embarked on one of the first double-blind, clinical studies to determine whether gluten and dairy products play a role in autistic behavior as parents have anecdotally claimed."
The Bad News:
It is August 8, 2008

Last night Sam came cruising around the corner of our bathroom on Luke's Big Wheel with a race car driver's helmet on and full face shield in place. Sam noticed Luke had put on underwear before putting on his PJs. (Sam is 7 years old & has Asperger's and Luke is 3 1/2 years old & neurotypical...in case we haven't met, this is important to know) Yes, I did say Big Wheel and shower at the same time. We have Big Wheels and tricycles inside our house and the boys seem to dig it.

Angie likes to scrapbook so she just went away on a three day Scrapping Weekend. I love the scrapbooks but I don't scrapbook. When Sam was young, I attempted to create a scrapbook of 'Sam & Daddy' memories. The book is pretty cool but all the little pieces of paper, multiple choices on types of paper, backing, scissors...it was a little much for me. Digital media is more of my thing.
5 Essential Requirements: A Successful Boys Weekend
1) THE List
a) 911 (it's good to be reminded that 911 stands for 911 and that = emergency)

We kicked off a new Dads Coffee this weekend. This new group came to us via the
Dallas Morning News Article that ran a few weeks back.
The funny part of the article is:
1) only one Dad in our initial gaggle is from Frisco (4 Allen, 1 Frisco, 1 Dallas)
2) we have never met in a Frisco, TX Starbucks. (It is typically Allen, TX)
3) we don't sit in booths...not enough room for guys our size

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