Out of the mouths of babes

Spencer: "Work, go to school, AND take care of us? That's a lot!"

I Love FREEdom

We took Alex and Spencer to their first movie at the theater today. We saw "Ponyo." It was cute. Alex made it about halfway through, and probably ate his weight in popcorn. I wish we had one of those theaters that does the sensory friendly film showings around here. Then Alex could have stayed for the whole thing and we wouldn't have had to worry about him disturbing anyone.

On the way home we found free wooden bunk beds for the boys. Score! Spencer is so excited!

Best Indoor Therapeutic Device Ever!

Vestibular input really helps Alex get focused when he's scattered. We hung a chin-up bar from their bedroom door and added an ordinary swing. Voila! Vestibular input whenever he needs it. He's very happy!

New Developments

We took Alex to see a new developmental pediatrician on Friday. She is local and comes highly recommended by many parents and professionals. She said she sees so many wonderful things in Alex that she just wants to pull out of him. She feels strongly that Alex would benefit more from being in a dedicated classroom at the Annex. Apparently they are better equipped to draw out children like him and get them to interact socially. I believe that if he were more aware of other people and more interested in interacting his language would blossom. It's all in there, but he needs motivation to use it. I was considering checking out the Annex for kindergarten, and now I definitely will be looking into it.

I received a message on Facebook from a woman who has developed a discrete video modeling system for teaching children on the spectrum things such as social skills, spatial relationships, and reading. Her own children have benefited from it, as well as others. I had never heard of DVM before, but now I'm doing some research on video modeling for children with autism and it looks promising. At any rate, it can't hurt. I'd be happy to share the link to her video with anyone who wants it, she just asked me not to post it on a public site.

Spring

I realized with delight this morning that I'm going to enjoy spring so much more this year because I'm practicing being more mindful and in the moment. All of the trees are budding. The orchards I drive past on my way to work are going to be gorgeous soon. I love this rainy day we're having, it's peacefulness, it's cleansing, and it's promise of green to come.

One Singular Sensation

Several weeks ago I started singing "One" (from "A Chorus Line") to Alex. It wasn't long before he was requesting it by name and singing along (this is the kid who gets stars in his eyes when Julie Andrews starts singing in the opening number of "The Sound of Music"). Last week I checked out the DVD of the 1985 movie version of "A Chorus Line" from the library so Alex could see the number "One" in action. He gets positively giddy watching it! We watched another number from it today and he was actually imitating the dance moves, my little budding Broadway star.

Sickness, School, and Spelling

Alex has his first case of bronchitis in about a year. This is great, considering that, for a while, he got it about once a month. Not so great in the fact that he's sick. A sick Alex isn't much different from a well Alex. Just a little less energetic and with a smaller appetite. He actually didn't finish his popcorn this afternoon, and this kid LOVES popcorn (like his mama).

I'm home today with Alex today. A day off from work? Not what I wanted. I've already missed 12 hours this week, between the stomach virus Alex had earlier this week and my bad back. I've been at home more than in the office this week. I feel awful about it. I hate missing work. I can't handle the guilt!

Spencer decided last weekend that he want to pee on the potty. This was his decision, not prompted at all by Mommy and Mike. He's been wearing pull-ups all week and using the potty pretty consistently at home. It's much harder at the sitter's because he doesn't want to miss anything his friends, Lucas and Abigail, are doing (they are the Three Musketeers). Maybe I'll actually have only one kid in diapers by the time they turn four. Oh, how wonderful that would be!

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning Spencer's fellow Musketeers go to preschool at a local nursery school. Spencer stays at the sitter's house while they're gone and misses them so much. I was able to get him into their class and he starts there next week. He is so excited, as are Lucas and Abigail. I'm thrilled. It will be really good for Spencer; he'll love the socializing and organized activities.

Alex is learning the "at" group of words. He knew how to spell cat. Today in the car and told him that s-a-t spells sat and b-a-t spells bat. Then I asked him what h-a-t spells and he said "Hat!". Figured it out all on his own! I can't wait to get him that Tag for his birthday. He'll be reading in no time.