Our Little Houdini

So yesterday after S1 got home from school I received a phone call from his principal! I was immediately curious because what could he have done to warrant the principal calling? Well, it turns out that a "patron" had found S1 out in the middle of the busy three lane road in front of the school! The person had managed to get him out of the road, but he wouldn't go to the school with him. So a second person ran into the school and got the principal and said,"We think we have one of your students who was out in the road"! When S1 saw the principal, he went with her back into the school.

It turns out that S1's teacher and main aide were gone that day. There were substitutes but they aren't familiar with the kids and their faces. Well, the subs had been watching the door to make sure that no one left the room. It turns out that S1 climbed out the window! Now, you have to understand the windows in the class. They are about two feet wide, one foot tall, about two feet off the ground. There is a top section to the window, about four feet tall, that doesn't open. When the bottom section opens, it opens from the bottom, pushing out about six inches or so. Obviously the opening was enough for S1 to lean over, get his head out with his arms down and "crawl" out the window and off to freedom. He tried to do this once from one of our living room windows and just pushed the screen out of his way. I found him hanging halfway out. Needless to say my living room windows are always locked.

Anyway, when the principal told me S1 had crawled out the window I actually laughed. He's so clever when it comes to getting away. You have to admire the ingenuity. I can't really even blame the subs because who thinks kids are going to be climbing out the windows? The principal was upset when she called to let me know and had already made a plan to keep this from happening again - including ordering screens for the windows. I let her know that he may just bust those out but she thought at least they might slow him down enough for someone to grab him before he could take off again.

I have no doubt that S1 saw this escape route and chose to exploit it. He probably tried to get to the playground but there is no entrance from the front of the school. So he then probably went for the road and the lovely yellow line down the middle just begging to be followed! This is the third time in four years he's managed to get out. The first time S1 went right out the front doors and they found him sitting on the bus parked out front, sitting in the driver's seat with the seat belt slung over his body and him "driving" the bus. That was in kindergarten. I think the second time was in first grade and he slipped out of the cafeteria during lunch and was found out at the playground. I figure once a year isn't so bad, that's how often he escapes from our house! Of course it should be zero, but I know my little Houdini and I can't keep him on a leash all the time.

Oh, after I got off the phone with the principal I said out loud, "Thank You Heavenly Father!" S3 looked around and said excitedly, "Where? Where is he mom?". Due to my vocal exclamation S3 thought I was talking to someone who was here physically and he was excited to get to see Heavenly Father I think. I had to explain that I was just so grateful that S1 was safe that I needed to say it out loud and right away. That even though Heavenly Father wasn't right there with us, he could still hear me. It was such a sweet reaction that S3 had to my outburst.

HI HO HI HO Off to McDonald's We Go

Well, since it was President's day and the boys were home all day from school, I thought it would be a good time for them to use their gift cards. However, as the van was at the mechanics to have some work done, we had no car. Luckily the weather complied (it was about 45 degrees with sunshine, no wind) and we were able to walk. Before we left I showed S1 the leash, he then stuck his arm out for me. But I told him that if he listened to mom, he wouldn't have to wear it. But that he would need to stay on the sidewalk.

So off I went with my little troop of boys. S2 took the lead with S1 hippity hopping along behind him while S3 wanted to hold my hand while we walked. It took us about 30 min to walk there because of our slow pace (after all, a three year old can only walk so fast) but we made it without incident! I couldn't believe it. S1 had stayed on the sidewalk the whole way, with just a couple of reminders when he got too close to the edge, had held my hand willingly when it was time to cross the street and didn't have a fit while waiting for the light to change at the crosswalk (although I did have to hold on to the back of his jacket so he didn't take off down the sidewalk). Even more amazing was that S1 actually played at the McDonald's playland. I usually don't go there because he doesn't like that playlands since it's all closed in. But the place was a zoo and he climbed and played in that thing for over a hour before I finally grabbed him and said we were going home. S2 and S3 also had fun playing, chasing and racing each other up the jungle gym and down the slides. We finally got everyone's boots and coats on and headed home with S1's leftovers.

S1 did pretty well on the way home too. Once he did run out into the road, but I was able to grab him quickly before he got too far off the sidewalk. He came back cooperatively when reminded about the leash. Then when we were a little more than a block from home, he got distracted by the toys in someone's yard and wanted to stay and play with those. When he wouldn't come with me but kept dropping to the ground, I pulled out the leash for him to see and reminded him of what would happen if he didn't listen and he hopped up and grudgingly came with me. The rest of the way home was uneventful until we got to our yard. We've got gravel out front next to the driveway. As soon as we stepped onto it, S1 dropped and started to play in it. Normally not a problem but as I looked down I noticed that a cat had pooped in the gravel and covered it up. This was a problem because that was exactly where S1 stuck his hand and spread gravel around! Now I not only had to wrestle him to the house, but somehow get his hand clean before I got cat poop on me or his jacket or he stuck his hand in his mouth, while I unlocked the front door. By some miracle we managed to make it inside and get his hand cleaned without further incident. Needless to say I considered that my exercise for the day and once everyone was settled, collapsed onto my bed to recover!

No wonder I'm tired

I originally wrote this as a letter to my brother-in-law on a mission. I thought it would make a good blog entry so I modified it and here it is!

Our week was busy as usual. Last Sunday, the 8th, we got to speak for the first time since we've been in this ward. Our topic was the Atonement, specifically about repentance and how it ties into the Atonement. Our talks went well and we recieved several compliments. Since varying themes of the Atonement are the topics for this month, I gave a brief overview of the atonement and of repentance. Then I talked about how all the repentance in the world would be pointless without the Atonement. I used the scriptures, the Teaching of the Presidents of the Church : Joseph Smith, and Ensign talks to illustrate my points. My favorite quote was from Joseph Smith where he said that we shouldn't have to repent everyday. Basically that we should be living in such a way that we shouldn't be sinning all the time and that knowing we can repent shouldn't be an excuse to sin. Dave talked more about how if we repent it opens us up to have the spirit to be with us and how we shouldn't be compelled to repent. Dave almost let the time get away from him but at ten after noticed the time and quickly wrapped up. He spoke for twenty minutes. I teased him that he should be a high councilman. Dave was gone two nights this week with pep band games and gone another night on a gig. He was relieved when I told him I didn't want anything for Valentine's Day. I've finally managed to get back to the gym and worked out really hard this week so it's not like I wanted to eat a bunch of chocolates (Maybe I'd make an exception for See's). Flowers die to quickly and cost too much. So he gave me a much better present - he did the hand washing! You know, the dishes that can't go into the dishwasher. There was a huge pile of them.

Our family home evening theme this month is Self-Control. That's a fun one to try and teach a six and three year old. But it has actually come in handy, especially when they start to lose their temper over something trivial. The kids love to sing "Give said the little stream" at every FHE. S2 had his usual piano lesson on Monday. However, he had gone to his friends house to play before hand and I had to run over to pick him up because he lost track of time. His teacher says he's doing really well and she's giving him stuff she gives to kids a few years older than he is. S3 had speech therapy on Tuesday and loved it as usual. He loves having his own teacher. He's going to love preschool next year. On Wednesday I went to volunteer in S2's class as usual. I help the kids with one on one reading. While I do that the other kids in the class like to take turns reading to S3. Thursday I took the van in, yes, the 95 Astro Van is still alive, to get the muffler and tail pipe replaced so it would pass inspection to get it registered and I had to go shopping for S2's class party the next day. Friday mornings I go in to help with the PTA reading program and that afternoon it was the Valentine's party in S2's class (I was in charge) and let me tell you, that is the craziest party of the whole year! I was so glad when it was over.

S3 has decided that the TV is better watched on the ground and he likes to tip it on its side and upside down and watch it from all sorts of angles. Then once he rolls it too far the cord comes out the back and he comes to fetch me so I can set everything right. Repeat this every 15 minutes or so all day long - aaaaahhhhhhh! Tomorrow I am going to find someplace that sells plexiglass and order a piece big enough to go over the front of the entertainment center so he can't pull it out and do TV gymnastics anymore! Unfortunately it is President's Day so the kids will be home all day so I probably won't get it until Tuesday. Plus I'll have the place drill holes in it so I can just screw it onto the entertainment center.

Saturday the boys were stoked to get Valentine's Cards from their grandparents. They were really jazzed when they found McDonald's gift cards inside. Then S2 wanted to call all his grandparents and wish them a Happy valentine's day. He called his paternal grandparents, both of mine and Grandma Ruth before he got tired of calling people but he had fun conversations with them. After we cleaned their room we made cookie hearts and decorated them and took them to the boys' primary teachers and a couple families in the ward. Then I had to run off to work. Oh, S2 decided to make me a valentine all on his own without any suggestion or help. It was so cute. Everytime I came into the kitchen he was quick to cover it up. When he had to leave he covered it with a paper and told me not to look. So when he gave it to me it was fun to read. The main message said, "Roses are red, Vilits are blue, Fowers are sweet and so are you." I told him that I love vilits and fowers. I let him know that he did a great job spelling everything out on his own. He's such a thoughtful kid. He had the scripture and prayer in primary today. He prayed that the kids could all be obedient to their teachers and that we could all be kind and love one another. It was great.

So that was our week, more or less. I called Jen (my sister in law) at the end of last week to see if I could help her after her foot surgery but she was doing well getting around and such. Dave was gone to the a Music Educators conference so pretty much with the three boys with me I would have been more of a hinderance for Jen than a help! This week I have to get invitations made for Katie's (my other sister in law) bridal shower and I am doing the donation request and collections for the elementary schools PTA fundraiser - joy. Plus all the normal stuff I have to do. Add on top of that that the boys are now dying to go to McDonalds and it will be another hectic but fun week at the Faires house.

Have you been sniffing glue?

You know those days when your kids just seem to be "on one"? They are just extra silly or goofy or whatever so that you'd think they were sniffing glue? But you know they aren't because you don't have any glue. Well, that was yesterday with S1 - like he would be able to sniff glue, he'd spill it all down his front! Anyway, I had the living room all picked up before the boys got home from school. I could feel a head cold coming on and I wanted to have something accomplished before I had to sit. The basket of toys was under the coffee table, an old 3 gallon ice cream bucket full of fake food had the lid on it and was next to the couch. Then the boys got home from school. Everything was fine for a while. S1 watched a video and had a snack, S2 was playing in his room. Well, next thing I know S1 is in the living room gleefully giggling to himself as he dumps out the toy box and begins to throw everything in the air up over his head and all over the living room. Meanwhile he's laughing like some great comedian is telling jokes. When that fun game is over he gets up and bolts over to the bucket of fake food and proceeds to do the same. Now the living room looks even worse than before I picked up! At least then everything was in a couple of piles but now it is thrown all over the room. I decide to just leave it because there is no point in picking any of it up. When I told S1 to stop he just ignored me and kept on with his funny little game. When he gets in moods like this, there is no stopping him. It's funny to watch but when he gets "on one" it sure gets destructive!

Friends

I've found that through the years sometimes I think, do I have any friends? You may not know this, but growing up I suffered from severe self worth issues. Why would anyone like me when everyone else was so much prettier/smarter/cooler? Although I've mostly overcome them (or suppressed them), sometimes those old insecurities sneak back. So, I guess before I can answer my question that first I have to define what a friend is. It can be a neighbor, a relative, an old school chum, a mission companion, the mother of my son's friends, someone from church or work. And what a friend is can change through the years. A friend in high school was someone with whom I ate lunch, had sleepovers, or went with to movies and dances or to whom I kvetched about parents and boys. A friend in college was someone I did homework with, shared an apartment with, hung out with after institute or went to young single adult dances with and to whom I discussed young men. Well, once I got married I no longer had homework and my husband filled most of those other roles. A friend was then someone I could kvetch to about my husband and kids!!! When I got married I also moved which physically separated me from many friends. Sometimes I think I have no friends because I can go days without chatting with one. My friend and neighbor Stacy may swear I call her at least twice most days, but sometimes I think she's the only friend I have. Until I think about what a friend really is. A friend is someone whom you like (and usually they like you back), that even though you may not see each other often, when together again it's like you were never even separated and you still have a great time together. Just because we don't chat every day or every week doesn't mean we aren't friends - it's just that life (aka family, work, church, distance) can get in our way. A friend is also there to help you out when you need it.

This all came about because Dave suggested that I go out with a friend to breakfast this week since he was home. He also was going to go out with one of his fellow band directors so he thought I should get out too. I was kind of stumped. Who wouldn't think I was weird calling and asking them out to breakfast? Did I have any friends anyway? I thought about it for a while and I realized that I had many friends. Yeah, I really wished my cousin lived closer than an eleven hour drive, but I'd have to chose someone else. As I pondered the possibilities, I finally came up with a friend who I knew when we our husbands were in college. I hadn't seen her in months, but we had mutual interest and always enjoyed hanging out together. I called and she accepted and we had a great time. It was so nice to get out and chat with her about all that was going on, what our plans for the future are, etc. We even hit the Outlet Mall on the way home. She agreed that it was hard to get out and do something for herself. It has inspired me to take a wider look around and make this breakfast thing something that I do once a month and invite someone different each time. I need to make a concerted effort to have more fun with my friends and not to let the details of life get in the way!

Lyrics

Okay, my boys just got a package from their great-grandmother containing Christmas presents. One of those was a Sing-a-long CD Player. S3 was sitting next to me having fun with the mic and singing the alphabet song. The next thing I knew he was singing the chorus to "Smoke on the Water". Then I realized he wasn't really singing the right words, he'd go, "Da da daa, da da da da, da da daa, da da, Knock on the Do-or." I about died laughing. I tried to correct him but alas he's three so he knows everything!

We should go away more often... Part 2

So yesterday I had the TV on in my bedroom and S1 was enjoying watching the bands play. It's his favorite part of any parade. When one band finished, he walked across the hall to David, who was using the computer, and S1 said, "Band. 1,2,3,4. Band. 1,2,3,4." He was so excited to tell his dad about the band he saw and to count it off. It was amazing to watch him try to share something he found exciting with his dad. Now we've just got to get more of that!

A Chore

Okay, I figure if I expect S1 to learn and grow and get developmentally closer to his actual age, I'd better try and teach him something. They say developmentally he is between two and three years old. So I tried to think of a chore he could have that would be appropriate. By that age my other sons have been unloading the dishwasher, stacking plates and bowls for me to put away. I work with them and take care of the silverware and cups and put everything in the cupboards. Well, the thought of doing that with S1 was just too overwhelming, his fine motor control still isn't so great. So I decided that since he still isn't potty trained, that he was going to help take some responsibility for it. Thus, his chore since this summer has been to throw away his own diaper. I've already written about how well he's been doing. However, while we were gone, I don't think he had to do it. So I wondered how he'd do when we got back. But I didn't need to worry. As soon as David handed him that diaper, S1 turned and took it to the kitchen and threw it away. Then he ran back to his show. Now I need to think of a new chore for him. Maybe I will have him help with stacking plates or bowls from the dishwasher. Or helping me to put away his clothes in his drawers. Maybe not that one. Then he'll know his drawers are in his closet and he may take to throwing them around! If you can think of a chore that would be appropriate, let me know.

We should go away more often...

Well, I doubt my in-laws would agree with that but still. Dave and I went on a 8-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. His parents volunteered to come and stay with the kids so we could get away. And away we went - to Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. However, S1 did well with new blood to take care of him and my back sure appreciated the break - especially since I slipped on the stairs the Sunday after Thanksgiving and land smack on my T5/T6. Anyway, we got back late in the evening and Dave's parents took off the next morning. That afternoon S1 wanted us to go down the stairs with him and he started repeating, "Come on, Come on, Come on" while gesturing a bit with his hand. True it was a bit garbled, but I was amazed at what he was saying. He later also told David, "Let's go, Let's go, Let's go" which sounds more like lessho. Come on sounds more like omon. But still, picking up two new phrases while we are gone was fabulous.

Where did that come from?

Okay, I was in the kitchen doing dishes. S1 was out jumping on the trampoline. I hear him coming into the house so I turn to look. In he walks with a pee pee diaper in his hand. Where did that come from? S1 looks around and puts the diaper in the trash can. I tell him good job as he runs off to the TV and take him some candies because I am so impressed. Yet still I am wondering where did that diaper come from? So I give S1 a pat on the bum and discover that he's freestyling. There's my answer. Apparently while jumping on the trampoline his diaper fell off and out his pants down one of the legs. Quickly I give thanks that it wasn't a poopy diaper! Next I marvel at my little guy. We've been working on getting him to throw away his own diapers this summer. It's gone pretty well and he's at the point that we don't even have to turn off his show most of the time to get him to do it. He'll just take it, dump it and run back to his movie. Well I am so impressed because he noticed the diaper and knew exactly what to do with it and did it! Heck, most normal kids would have kept on jumping. So, I am so proud of my little guy and that he made the connection. I just had to share.

I'm so glad when daddy comes home

Dave was out of town for a month. That's right, an entire month without coming home. First he went to a conducting seminar at the University of North Texas for a week, then he went to Southern Oregon University's American Band College for just over two weeks to work on his Master's Degree, and from there it was off to Chicago to attend Northwestern's Wind and Conducting Symposium. So while he had fun eating out, going to the movies, playing his trumpet, hanging out with fellow band geeks, staying in a hotel, (supposedly studying, working hard, ; )) etc I stayed home with the three munchkins and tried to retain that shred of sanity that I so dutifully protect. I mean, if I lost it, what would my family do? Anyway, I shall tell you how I survived that month later on, to get to the point, the boys missed Dave like crazy.

S3 noticed the second day that Dad hadn't shown up like usual and started asking "Where's Daddy?" S1 didn't seem to notice or care and S2 understood what was going on. Plus, S2 and S3 would talk to Dave on the phone or Skype with him. S1 just wasn't interested. Well, fast forward one month. Dave got in at about 2 am so obviously the kids were dead to the world. But the next morning I woke up to S3, who has the sweetest little voice in the world, standing by my bed and saying, as usual, "good morning mommy". I cracked open an eye and said, "Good morning S3, go around to the other side of my bed." Being the obedient little child he is, he did so and exclaimed, "Good Morning Daddy!" He then proceeded to give dad hugs and kisses and climb up into our bed. S2 heard the Good morning Daddy and came barreling in jumping on top of dad and shouting, "Dad you're home!' before bestowing his own kisses and hugs. After the main excitement had died down one of the boys let S1 out of his room. When S1 came in he made a beeline for the TV, but Dave said, "Good Morning S1!" S1 immediately stopped in his tracks, looked over at me, then stood up straighter while looking over me to find the source of the voice. When he saw Dave, the smile that lit up S1's face was worth a million bucks! Dave got up and they spent the next few moments giving kisses and hugs and S1 just grinning the funniest grin. We were dying to know what he was thinking. S1 would look over at me as if to say, "Hey, is he really back? I was wondering what happened to my dad." Cutest grin ever. So Dave had a good homecoming all around.

I have a fish!

Okay, S3's been fairly skittish about the pool. He enjoys it, but he's rather clingy. I've been trying to build his confidence. He'll willingly go to his swim lesson - as long as it's his teacher. He refuses to get in the water if his aide isn't the one he sees. Once he sees her, off he trucks through the water with a smile on his face.

So today when we went as a family to go swimming, I introduced S3 to his monkeys. They are water wings with monkeys on them. He thinks the monkeys are pretty cool. Well, we started by wading in together. Then when it was deep enough I told him to try and kick. When he picked his feet up and he still floated, he thought that was pretty cool. Now, he's not a swimmer yet by any stretch of the imagination, but this time he didn't want me to hold him at all! He played a game of "catch" with S2 in the deeper section of the pool (the 3 to 4 foot deep area) for quite a while. And then when we needed to follow S1 to the deeper section, S3 wanted to do it by himself, trying to kick and use his arms to get around. When we were close to the edge S3 would climb out at the ladder and then sit down and slide back into the pool again all on his own. Then he would "swim" to get a ball or just away from the wall, turn around and go back again. When we had to follow S1 back to shallower waters, S3 pointed back to the deep end and said, "Go back over there!" So, now that he's discovered freedom and can "swim" like his brothers, he wants to keep doing it.

I do have to stay close because although he does pretty well with keeping his mouth closed or spitting water out, there were a couple of times when I had to hold him up until he could cough it out and catch his breath, but then off he went again. After just over an hour we left the pool and although we only live a block away, S3 was asleep in the stroller before we got home! Heck, he even slept through getting his swim clothes off and a dry diaper. And no, he's not dead, I can hear him breathing just fine. I am just so happy because here I thought I was going to have a scaredy cat of the water and it was going to make it so much harder to take all three of the them to the pool by myself. This is much more fun.

New Words

Well, one of the biggest struggles with S1 is communication. But we've had some major breakthroughs. A couple of months ago he started saying "eat" when he is hungry!!! Hooray!!!! For a "normal' child this might not be such huge news but for S1, who is 8, it was a miracle! It's so nice because now he'll come to me and say "eat" whenever he is hungry instead of just being whiny! Another word he loves to use now is "Wow!" He says it when he's impressed about something (like the waterfall at California Adventure @ DisneyLand) or had a lot of fun, like today when he got out of swim lessons. Another word he knows is hot. One Sunday we were getting ready for church and he started repeating hot and kind of whining. I thought he was being silly until he laid down on the floor and curled up into a ball. Then I took his temperature and sure enough, he had a fever! I couldn't believe it. I was floored. So we didn't go to church that day because S1 was hot.

Touching

The other day Dave had some friends passing through town on a road trip so they used our place as a rest stop. Which, by the way, you are also welcomed to do if passing through. We had a nice little visit. S3 was very friendly with our visitors and S2 basically hid in our bedroom. He finally came out and clung to my leg. As S2 refused to look at or greet our visitors, S3 said, "This is my brother (S2), he's my best friend." I almost melted on the spot. It was so darn sweet. S3 was so sincere, it was wonderful.

He likes me, he really really likes me

So, S1 is still a happy little chap. Lately a couple of things have happened that show how much he's learning or cares. The other day I worked an extra shift (12p to 5p on a Saturday). When I got home I basically had time to soak my feet (I had ingrown toenails removed) before I had to work my regular shift. Before you think it amazing that I can work on top of everything else I do, it's really not bad. Basically I hang out with the elderly with alzheimer's to keep them company/out of danger. I usually work 3hrs Saturday and Sunday evenings. So it gets me out of the house and I get paid for caregiving - which I do for free the rest of my days. It's really low key and a good chance to get away from my usual duties. Anyway, back to S1. I was sitting at the kitchen table with my feet soaking when S1 comes in the door from outback. He makes sure to close it all the way and then starts heading down the stairs to the basement. He hadn't looked my way and I could basically only see the top of his head. So I tried an experiment. As he head disappeared down the stairs, I called out, "Hi S1!" Now, I already knew that he knows my voice, I just wanted to see if he cared that I was home. Sure enough that little head pops back up the stairs, he looks straight at me when he gets to the top, grins, and comes over to me and starts talking!! Holy cow. He starts saying, "Treat, more, please, treat, more, please" which is his code for I am hungry. I just had to smile. I was so happy. Not only did he acknowledge me, he came right up and started communicating his need. Way to go kid. Now I know he likes me, he really really likes me - or at least knows I'll feed him.

He went with Dad to Blockbuster the other night. When Dave took him to the kid aisle to pick out a movie, he reached out for the nearest Barney movie he could get to. Dave suggested to him that he look at all the movies and then pick one. So S1 looked up and around, took a few steps forward and then picked out another movie - still a Barney movie but one with a Tuba on the cover! He was cooperative about giving the other movie back to Dave. He then counted off the band and chanted Tuba the entire ride home. When they got home I was in the kitchen when I saw this kid streak down the hall to the TV in our bedroom. It was S1. He had that movie in his hot little hands and once in the house knew right where to go to watch it. So, it was nice to see him make an actual choice, stay focused on it, anticipate what was to happen and then take the movie to the appropriate location for viewing. Huge strides in the whole thinking process. Never doubted that he could think, it's just so nice to see it in action.

It's also fun to watch when S1 is out jumping on the trampoline. He loves to "go". It doesn't matter to him where to, just as long as he gets to "go". If he's jumping on the trampoline, all we have to do is stand on the back porch and say, "S1 it's time to go" and that boy drops to his bum, hops off the trampoline and bolts across the yard. Watching S1 run is quite funny because although he usually doesn't fall anymore, he also is still very gangly and uncoordinated. So it's fun to watch him run pell mell across the yard.

My Beautiful Child

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas. We did. We took a road trip to Southern California to visit my grandfather. He's 82. We had a fabulous time and even, courtesy of one of Santa's Helpers, got to spend a day at California Adventure and Disneyland. Needless to say after being gone for five days, on the way home I was wornout. We were at a Mc Donald's and S1 stayed in the playland for all of five minutes before he wanted to roam the restaurant and leave the premises. So while Dave tended the boys I ordered and when the food was ready, I took it to them and went to walk S1 outside. As we went to exit the play area, a mother we were passing leaned over and said, "He's a beautiful child." I quickly said, "Thank you" before the tears could spill from my eyes and S1 could run out the door without me. Even though he'd been in the car for two hours and was going to be in it for ten more hous, all S1 wanted to do was sit in the car! So I let him while I ate my lunch and contemplated what the woman had said.

Of course S1 is a beautiful child. I knew this. Beautiful inside and out. But I was so touched because sometimes I feel that only those close to him see it. I fear that everyone else looks at him and sees his odd behaviors and what is "wrong" with him. I fear what will happen to him if I pass away first. It was so reassuring to have a complete stranger recognize his value. Later on when I went in to get Dave and the boys I had a moment to talk to this mom. She was there with her four kids and I found out that she had worked in an Autism preschool so when she saw S1 she knew exactly what was going on. Later on when I told Dave about it, he was relieved because when her son was playing in the playland he was trying to get by S1 and S1 of course did not move out of the way. So the boy told his mom that S1 had pushed him. It was a relief to him that the mom understood. I guess the moral of the story is that if any of you see a parent out with a special kid, go ahead and step out of your comfort zone and compliment them. It'll make the whole day brighter.

Mr. Independent

Well, I gave you snippets about S1 and S2, so now it's S3's turn. S3 is now 2 1/2 years old - if you can believe it. I can't, I still think of him as my baby and I am constantly amazed at how he is growing up! Right now he has hit the independence stage of development. I am constantly hearing, "No mommy, don't touch it. I do it." Or S3 will run into the room, throw his arms victoriously in the air and say, "I did it!" I'll always say, "Good Job!" or some other equally congratulatory phrase, even though I usually have no clue what he just accomplished. But heck, if he's proud, I'm proud.

He's also going to be a smarty like S2. He knows his basic colors, how to count to at least 10, count out up to 10 objects and is identifying letters. His favorite show on PBS is Super Why - a show about using books to solve problems and learning to read! Last night around 5 pm he was mad because he kept saying, "Super Why" and I kept telling him it wasn't on. He tried messing with the TV and VCR and was unsuccessful at finding what he wanted. Since he hadn't had a nap, that independent streak you know, he was reduced to tears and fell asleep for the night at 6 pm without having eaten dinner. Thus this morning I am taping an episode for him to watch later on today should he request it again.

S3 is in a big boy bed now so it's fun to rollover in the morning and see his little face looking at me as he stands next to the bed waiting for me to get up. Once I open my eyes he chimes, "Good Morning Mommy". You can't blame me for sleeping as it is usually about 6:45 am when this occurs. However, being in a big boy bed makes it very difficult to get him down for a nap as he is no longer entrapped by a crib. I'm going to start working on potty training him as soon as I get the motivation. He's pretty much ready, I think, but I'm not looking forward to it. Not that S2 was hard, but it's still one more thing to do when I have so much to get done. Speaking of which, I'd better go and get some weeds pulled or bushes trimmed before the trash man gets here. Wish me luck.

The Ice Man Cometh

Okay, I've never read that play so the reference probably isn't the best, although technically accurate. A few weeks ago I got a flier about a special needs ice hockey team. It stated that they would have limited space for non skaters so given that I would have to drive 30 min to get to the rink each week for practice and I didn't want S1 to take up space on the team if another skating kid wanted to play. Well, a few weeks into the "season" a friend of mine was telling me about how much her autistic son LOVED being on this new ice hockey team. I told her my reservations and she insisted that I try it out, that there were like three volunteers for every kid. So I called the people in charge, found out there was room on the team, and signed a zillion papers. Turns out that the team is sponsored by some corporations so it's basically free to the players - we had to buy a mouth guard (which he won't keep in of course), a cup (isn't his diaper enough padding?), and a hockey stick (which he absolutely LOVES - it also doubles as a guitar or a horse). He gets a helmet, skates, shin guards, gloves, shoulder/body pads and jersey from the team.

Well, the moment we went into the ice rink and S1 saw the ice, he ran for it. People were there for free skate still and he wanted to join them. We finally got him all in his gear and he loved getting onto the ice. Of course he had to have someone stand behind him and keep him up, but he loved it. Except for his helmet, he kept trying to rip that off. So we pulled him off the ice and got him a smaller helmet and exchanged the wire face guard for a clear Plexiglas one. While we were in the pro shop getting it all taken care of, I noticed that he was standing straight up on his hockey skates without any help or support! I was amazed. Then I couldn't believe it when he just started walking away and didn't fall down! Up until then we'd been helping him walk in his skates- it was kind of like watching Bambi first learn to stand up and walk. He was confident enough that he walked right out the proshop door, closed it and, from the other side of the glass,waved bye-bye, said bye out loud and took off practically running back to the ice. I was flabbergasted that he was able to adjust his balance and coordination that quickly.

Anyway, he got back out on the ice and was able to stand on the ice by himself with holding the wall for support. He laughed and smiled the rest of the time with his volunteer skating out on the ice. When practice was over and it was time to go home, we had to drag him off the ice to the changing room. Once there he cried as I took off his gear. He only stopped once he heard the word treat and happily took off with his helper while I collected the gear. After the treat when I tried to get him to leave, he just sat on the ground and tried to crawl away from me back to the rink. One of the other dads helped to get him up and out the door, where he became much more compliant.

So, much to my surprise and utter excitement, S1 loves to be on the ice. We'll see how he does this week.

Mr. Perfect

Okay, it's been awhile. I've been having a hard time finding time to sit down and type. Now that I thought all was quiet, I'm going to try, but even as the page loaded up, I hear S1 coming! Wish me luck.

S2 is now in kindergarten and he got his first quarter report card. He got a Y for complete mastery in every category that they tested him in and for each social skill. He also had zero absences and tardies. I had to laugh when I told him that he got his report card and that he'd gotten all Y's and had zero absences and tardies and he said, "I have a perfect report card." It kills me how much stuff he understands - I hadn't used the P word at all. I just hope that he doesn't feel too let down if he doesn't get a perfect report next time!

Just one other anecdote about Mr. Perfect. We went to the pharmacy to pick up a couple of prescriptions. When I got to the window I told the lady that we had to pick up two prescritions, one for S1 and one for myself. Away she went. A couple seconds latter she comes back and says, " I'll have your prescription ready in just a moment." Matthew pipes up and says, "Oh, that means she has S1's ready." Which was true as she had brought it over and set it down by the register - all out of S2's range of vision given that we were in the drive thru lane and he was sitting in the front passengers seat. Before anyone freaks out, our van is so old there is no air bag there. Once again I was just floored by his level of comprehension at only 5 years old. Boy, are we in trouble!

The Dawning of Comprehension

A couple of things happened this past week that made me see just how much more S1 is understanding. The first was with S3. S3 had been playing with a group of toys on the kitchen floor and walked away. S1 came in, inspected the lot, and picked up a toy that he wanted. Instantly S3 began to scream. As I stood there trying to help S3 understand that he left the toys and that now S1 could have a turn, S1 looked at S3, looked at the toy in his hand, and then looked back to S3. S1 then reached out his hand and gave S3 the toy! I'm not sure that he's ever made that connection before. I am sure that it was the first time he has willingly given back a toy!

Second, S1 took me out back and walked to a blank stretch of fence. He looked at it, not finding what he was looking for, and continued to drag me along to where the gate was. He then reached up and grabbed the pull cord, which until now he was too short to reach, and dropped my hand and ran out the back gate! Arghhh! Now he can't just play in the backyard by himself. Well, actually he can because I went to the other side of the gate and pulled the cord out so now we can't open the gate from inside the yard, just the outside. I'll have to solve that dilemma once he's back in school.

See what happens when kids are home from school for too much time!