Abe Sandwich

Abe woke up in the middle of the night.  He peed the bed, first time since he has been sleeping without a pull-up over the last 1 month.  He was mortified.  I was half awake and yelling, horrified by my behavior this morning.  I was angry because he wouldn't stop saying he was hungry and the reality was that he was trying to shift my focus from changing his sheets to his stomach.  The reality was, he wasn't hungry and I was too tired to realize he needed me to be compassionate in that moment.  Serious parent fail.   

This morning he woke his happy self and much later than usual (7:30 am).  I know his brain is going through some serious changes.  He's sleeping more deeply and he's relaxing more as well.  Maybe I could take a lesson and relax a bit as well?

The weather is changing and I think it is a good thing.  We found out today that Abe will be in the classroom we had hoped for.  Mellissa D-A is the BEST teacher and she gets Abe.  He has so much affection for her and she visits our home to make sure we are on track to make sure this kid does the great things he is destined to do.  Lately, it's been physics.  He is fascinated by the constructs of the universe and likes to know how black holes, white giants, etc. are made and how they perpetuate the galexies and constellations that make of the wide universe.  I don't even get it.

I like it, I just do!

Blue Monday

Abi came home last night and it made for a late and lovely homecoming. We all got to bed late and this morning we all woke late, except for Abe who was up at 6:00 am.  We had some pretty great realizations this weekend about Abe.  First, Hello Kitty snacks are poison to his body.  We knew the high fructose corn syrup was a problem, but we thought in small doses it wouldn't matter.  Well, not true and and the food coloring used in this product was "jacking him up", so to speak.  We have completely eliminated all corn products and have seen a measurable change in his behavior.  So, that means that Abe can not eat:  wheat, gluten, corn, peas, dairy, very limited amounts of soy and brown rice and finally tomatoes.  Essentially, Abe is a meat eating vegan.  Mind you, the meat that he eats must be organic grass fed beef, organic free range chicken/turkey and  wild salmon/fish.  Because truth be told, that corn fed crap f***s with him and us for that matter.  He turns 4 in one month and I have seen changes in him that give me new hope.  He has begun to play with his peers and is becoming more conversational.  He has started communicating what he dislikes vs. freaking out.  I really like that.  I am left wondering if that little brain of his is somehow rerouting and taking in all of the tools that we are trying to equip him with for life.  He desperately want to be present and we all desperately want to make that a reality.  

Good day and my name is Notch!

Presenting: Notch!

Today has been outstanding!  Not because anything wonderful has happened, but because it has been a day of status quo.  Abi comes home tomorrow from Oregon and we are all so excited to lay eyes on her and hug her up.  We have missed her like crazy!

Funny things that happened today... funny things happen everyday.
Abe has announced his alter ego, he refers to him as "Notch".  Seems appropriate since Abe has had a fascination with chainsaws, tree felling and the geometry of a good cut.

This morning we ate at local favorite that actually serves food that Abe can eat.  They have vegan doughnuts that always surprise and delight.  The Birchwood is one of the only places Abe behaves.  He sits, he eats and takes in the surroundings without too much fuss.  What was great this morning is that the State Fair was in full swing and we didn't have to wait to be seated.  Usually, there is at least a 1/2 hour to 1 hour wait.  This morning, we got to walk right in and sit down.  It was delightful!

This afternoon Abe and I built a trellis out of old limbs from the downed trees (earlier in June).  He enjoys using tools and figuring out best angles for using the hack saw.  Ill take it.  When we work together he likes me to call him "Partner".  I often wonder if that helps him phase into different activities by calling himself something else?  I'll take that too.  It occurred to me I might like that strategy as well.

Chainsaws make the world go round...

Then there is this guy!

I find myself thinking of my children most of the day and while I'm working.  Mostly, I'm processing what has happened the night before or that morning.  I'm still trying to process Abe's diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and how it is impacting our lives and our family.  Is it really?  Am I making that up?  Because really, when I think about it, don't we all have things we are dealing with?  Alcoholism, cancer, failing relationships, distance from loved ones?  I mean, it's all just life and autism is now part of ours.  It's not so different, but it feels like it when i'm in the midst of navigating a melt down or just trying to get this kid to eat.  It feels heavy and hard and I feel sorry for myself.  It doesn't last long, but I do feel sorry for myself.    

How about that Abe!  He is a bright light and a never ending stream of funny.  They say kids with autism are not able to distinguish social situations as well as most.  Abe is he king of funny and has such a love of words.  This morning the word was "lunacy" and every opportunity to use it was taken.  Me being late for my bus was a case of "sheer lunacy".  For a 3 year old, his vocabulary rocks my world and the fact that he wants to use words makes my heart happy.  He will often ask the question as he listens to Scott (my husband) and I in conversation,"Is that funny?" & "Are you joking?".  He desperately wants to understand the nuances of language so he is able to better participate.  This is a big deal and a great reminder that we are going to be o.k..