They get too big too fast

Henry has gotten into this habit of actually waking at about 5 AM.  He drags all his knit and crocheted blankets and piles them onto my bed before attempting to climb in himself.  At this point I groggily say, “You can’t come in my bed until you go potty.”  That is, after all, what woke him.  He just won’t acknowledge that on his own.  Last night he said, “Follow me.”  I was obviously still quite asleep, because I remember saying, “Where are we going?”  He walked to my side of the bed, held out his hand, and answered, “To the baff-room.”  In my head I was thinking, “Right.  Right.  Of course.  The bathroom…” So we stumbled down the hall together.  He stood for a moment by the unopened toilet.  I asked, “Are you going to go potty?  Or should I go first?”  He said, “We’ll go together.”  (I think he’s still under the impression that everyone has a penis.)  He said he wanted to stand to pee.  He looked so cute on his tippy-toes, using both hands to aim–even though he really doesn’t need to.  When we were all finished in the bathroom, we stumbled back to bed.  Just as I got in, he asked, “Where’s my blue blankie?”  I probably mumbled, “I don’t know.”  And Henry said, “It has to be dum-where.”  After a few more “It has to be dum-where’s” I found it on the floor on his side of my bed.  He snatched it from my hand and said, “Dare it is!”  And he snuggled down to sleep a few more hours.

Celia’s Wisdom

The other week at her dad’s house, Celia said, “Chocolate is like jeans.  It goes with everything.”

What a day for a headache…

This morning David is a little out of sorts.  He was playing Batman on VSmile, Daniel was on the couch behind him.  And David was upset because Daniel was holding a toy.  Daniel wasn’t touching David.  His toy wasn’t making noise.  But David was flipping out.  When David walked away from VSmile, all 3 boys ended up sitting on my lap and I played a game.  David was upset because he wanted me all to himself.  I suggested he could play Batman again.  He said that no, he didn’t want to.  About 5 minutes later, without anyone suggesting it, Daniel hopped off my lap and said that HE wanted to play Batman VSmile.  You’ll never guess what happened next: David got upset.  Five minutes later, David was sitting on the bedroom floor surrounded by toys.  I asked if he wanted to play a game on my computer.  He said “Not right now, I’m trying to destroy Daniel’s life so I can have mine back.”

Summer School

Well, David (being Autistic) qualified for Extended School Year (ESY).  It began this past Tuesday.  It will run Mondays through Thursdays for the month of July.  And he’s home by lunch.  This week went rather well.  I thought.  David had to ride the short bus with all the other ESY kiddos, which meant his best friend is on his bus.  And in his classroom.  And they’ll be in the same classroom together next year for first grade.  Last night as we were reading our nighttime story, David looked at me and solemnly said, “Mommy, I have a headache…tomorrow.”

Playtime with Daniel and Henry

Henry picked up a Superman tee-shirt from the floor. He showed it to Daniel, “Wook. Ba-man!”

Daniel asked, “You wanna be Supaman? Okay!” He took the shirt from Henry. “Wook here.” He slipped it over Henry’s head. “Wee-as Henwee?” He pulled it down. “Dare he is!” Henry giggled. “Okay,” Daniel said, “put your ahm up.” He held the shirt as Henry’s arm popped out. “Udder side. Ahm up.” But the shirt was folded under so Henry couldn’t get his arm in.

I said, “You’re going to have to help him with that one.”

“Okay.” Daniel reached in and grabbed Henry’s arm. Steering him like you do a newborn. Still the folded shirt blocked him.

I reached over. “Here.”

Daniel steered Henry’s arm up and out the hole.

Then Henry picked up a blanket and brought it to Daniel, “Cayfe.”

Daniel just said, “Go to mom.”

So Henry came to me. “Cayfe.” I smiled as I tied it around his neck. Then Daniel bounded off. He found another Superman shirt and a bandana for his cape. I tied it on and they flew away.

A few minutes later, Henry’s cape came undone. He brought it back to me. I asked, “Can you find a better cape? A bandana like Daniel?” He wanted his favorite blankie, but I don’t like tying them and wearing out the yarn. He came back with an already worn out blanket. “Perfect,” I said.

Suddenly Henry got in a snit. He threw down the green blanket. “No.” Then he took off his Superman shirt.

Daniel, being supportive, chimed in, “Good job, Henwee!” Daniel picked up the discarded shirt. “I can pud id away!”

He began walking to the closet, but Henry objected. Daniel turned and handed it to him. Henry furrowed his brow, took the shirt, and threw it on my bed.

Daniel shrugged and walked away. He continued to be Superman. With or without Henry.

The Kids Are Doing Well

A pleasant surprise for everyone: my kids are adjusting and behaving rather well.  We have been able to visit my grandparents several times.  Only once did we have to leave because the kids couldn’t behave.  Other than that, at all the family parties and functions, the kids did well.  I’ve received some nice compliments from some very critical family members.  Yes, there were also some ludicrous comments.  I can’t escape that.  Like when my cousin (who is 15 mo old) was screaming (which he does well) and my aunt said, “Your last name is Henry not your first name!”  But David did rather well.  Of course, to be on the safe side, I put David’s “I’m Autistic…” shirt on when it was time for my cousin’s engagement party.  That way, when surrounded by all the people I didn’t know, and all the people–including family–who aren’t used to David, they would know he’s Autistic and I wouldn’t just be making excuses for any unacceptable behavior.

Rachael’s Quote

Rachael is my 12 year old little sister. As we were chatting and joking around yesterday, she said, “Life’s not a garden. Don’t be a ho.”

Hotdogs

Yesterday I picked up hot dogs for an easy meal this week.  David asked for them right away today.  Scott told him we’d have them for dinner tonight.  David said, “If I don’t get a hot dog it’s going to get ugly.”

Another David Moment

David got into the baby vapor rub.  He smeared it on his hands and in the doorway of the dining room.  I immediately cleaned him off and scrubbed myself–the smell makes me sick.  I put what’s left of the tub up  in a cabinet.  And I confess, I forgot about the doorway.  About two hours have passed.  And David saw the doorway.  Celia whined, “Ewww!  David has stuff on his hands!”  He held up his glistening palms proudly.  I simply said, “Go wash your hands.”  He came out a moment later, and proudly lifted his arms.  His underarms now glistened.  I asked, “Did you put it under your arms?”  He nodded real big, “It’s for my exercises!”

David’s Tooth

Last week David announced he had a loose tooth. I nearly cried. I encouraged him to wiggle it. Which he did naturally. Celia took it upon herself to tell David what it was like to lose a tooth. She meant well. However, when she said it’ll bleed only a little bit, David freaked. He does not like to bleed. (Isn’t it ironic that he is the only one of my 4 children that has chronic nose bleeds?) So, for the last week, he has allowed me to wiggle it a little bit, but has declared that he’s keeping his tooth.

Yesterday on the way to Lubbock, I was again telling him to wiggle the tooth. He kept saying that he decided to keep it. He desperately wanted a Tails the Fox (from Sonic the Hedgehog) and I told him we’d get Tails as soon as his tooth came out.

David said, “Mommy, the Bible says, ‘We are to keep our tooth AND get Tails. John 8:24.”

In the mall, however, I got him to allow me to wiggle the tooth. Without much work, the tooth was coming away from the gums. Then it bugged him. He began wiggling it and he asked me for help. Soon the tooth was out and we marched off to Kay-Bee to buy Tails.

On the way, I asked if David wanted to call anyone. He said, “Grandpop Leon.” He called my dad, and announced, “I lost my very own tooth! And it bleeded only an eensy, weensy, teeny bit!”

Later on in the evening, I called my mom to tell her about my baby’s milestone. She was at prayer meeting. As she left the room, she whispered, “Put him on!” David told her all about losing the tooth and then buying Tails. She was having a hard time understanding. I heard him say, “Tails the fos and Sonic the hedgehog… No, fos with an X!” David knew that FOX ended with an X!!!