An Artist among Us

B. discovered his medium yesterday...he likes to work in watercolors. Over the past couple years I've tried getting him to paint every once in a while, to no avail. But yesterday he loved it.

He also said "paint" and, I think, "painting" several times. And when I tried to put things away as it started to rain, he said a very clear "NO!"

I'm hoping the paints really are truly non-toxic, because most of the time he had one brush in his mouth, and he drank part of a cup of the painting water.

Reason to party

I'm making a concerted effort to get out more with the boys. Last night we went to our neighbors' housewarming, and after some initial ear-plugging and wailing, all the boys had a good time. Our neighbor's youngest daughter has developmental delays, and is exactly the twins' age. They are also big "Signing Time" fans, and it was nice to have some other signers around.

This evening I brought J and G. to a church-related pot-luck. B. was asleep when I left, so he stayed and watched an important football game with Dad. I had to force myself to go, and the group is not quite what I'm looking for, but I'm glad I went for the boys' sake. Ideally I'll find a group that I like for my own sake and that's also good for them So far the autism groups I belong to come closest, but they don't get together often. I want a place where I can really be myself (goofy, combined with sarcasm and liberal views) But, I digress.

G. preferred staying downstairs with the grown-ups for most of the party, which was fine. He counted things, played with toys (!) and generally had a good time exploring. At dinner, he sat at the kids' table with no protest, and I wished I had my camera--he looked so mature. And next time he may even eat something more than a frozen waffle.

And now for my favorite moment:
All of us adults were lingering over dessert when G. climbed into a chair across from me and sat down. He looked at a lit candle for a little while, and announced "Birthday!"

I'm so happy about this, I can't describe it. I don't know exactly what it is, but I feel like he's moving to a new kind of thinking--making connections between things and events. It's so exciting to watch.

Language explosion

About a year ago, I kept thinking that the twins were due for their "language explosion". Wnen their big brother was almost two, he started saying all sorts of words, adding new ones every day. When the twins were almost two, although I was well aware of their being on the spectrum, I hoped that they'd suddenly start talking. Echolalia, song lyrics, whatever, I didn't care, I just wanted to hear words. It didn't happen, although once we started watching sign language DVD's, we did make leaps with language for a while.

Lately I think we are having the long-awaited explosion where G. is concerned. For a long time, he amazed me with the signs he could pick up from DVD's, but somewhere in the past few months, he's begun to prefer speaking. Today he said "guitar" and "slow" and "stuck", and probably some others that I've forgotten. I just love hearing his voice, and I especially love how he'll turn toward me, hold something up, and then name it. A year ago I remember worrying that he never showed me things (one of those classic diagnostic questions). Now he is so eager to show off. He even said "hi" when a neighbor came over today.

This makes me feel all the more determined to hear what B is thinking about. I know he will have things to say, eventually. He is chugging right along with his ABA, so we're headed in the right direction. He's a man of mystery--usually aloof, but then coming out with a word or a killer smile when you least expect it.
And every one of those words and smiles is so worth waiting for.

Where Do the Words Go?

Lately I've been wondering about B's words. They come and go, and often when a word goes, it seems to be for good. I think he peaked last December, when he had maybe ten words that he would occasionally say. At that point, he could also fill in words in songs (sometimes), which he does not do at all right now.

I don't want to be depressing. We are getting back to a stage of having a few words. "Cookie" came into favor for a while, and got his ABA therapist very worked up. It seems to have faded out again, although the ABA therapist says that he can say it, so we should expect him to. He also said "brush" for a few days after getting a new toothbrush which he loves.

I remember reading The Siege, by Clara Claiborne Park, long before I had kids, and even before I started teaching kids with autism. I remember being fascinated by her story. One thing that stuck with me was that her daughter would learn a new word, say it all the time, then move on to a different word. I can't remember how long that lasted, but she did eventually speak in sentences, and as an adult talks well. She's an artist now.

I disagree with our ABA teacher about thinking that B. "can" say the words, if he wants to. I think they are in there, but he can't necessarily retrieve them at will. But her techniques are so gentle, and rely so much on having fun with him, I'm okay with having some philosophical differences. One great result of her working with us is finding out that I should ignore tantrums (I should have known that, but I always end up either in conversations with J., or trying to comfort G.) So the last time J. tantrumed, which as always caused G. to plug his ears and have his own tantrum, I went over and looked at a book with B. It was great, and the tantrums probably did end quicker than usual.

The Night Max Wore his Wolf Suit...

B. seems to be doing well with the ABA (it's only three hours a week so far, so it's amazing if it does anything) He is starting to try to put rings on the ring stacker (if you put the ring in his hand, and pretty much give him no choice). He babbles like crazy at the ABA therapist...I think she gets him excited with all her effusive praise.

G. has decided to learn the English language starting with three syllable words. Of the thirty or so words that he can use, a big percentage of them have three syllables. Recently it's "animal", "dinosaur" and every once in a while he'll bring back "octopus". He also does a version of "Toot, toot, chugga, chugga, big red car" that sounds like it's in another language. I'm so fascinated by how he's approaching learning to talk. I think if we could sing everything we said, he might already be talking.

I don't know if I've mentioned it here, but B. has essentially stopped talking completely. I've shared my fears when G. regressed, and he's always come back within a few weeks. With B., he said so little to begin with, and the silence has lasted so much longer, I'm not sure what to think. One thing I've noticed about the ABA therapist: she's very optimistic about B., and I think he senses it. So I try to keep my hopes and my expectations high. One thing is for certain, B. is the mellowest and generally happiest member of this family by far. Lately he tends to look right into my eyes and say "Woooooo" very earnestly. It's very sweet.

At bedtime, J. has fallen in love with Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. I'm enjoying re-discovering it alongside him. My favorite line is "The night Max wore his wolf suit, and made mischief of one kind and another..." Max would feel right at home in our house

Blogger's Block

Haven't felt very bloggish lately.

Recent occurrences:

While being careful to avoid neighbor's kids playing at foot of driveway, backed the mini-van into the basketball goal and removed the side mirror. Made a big impression on J., who has now finally stopped yelling, "Careful, Mommy!" when I pull into the driveway.

Was lent a book about RDI by a friend, and am reading over Stage 1 activities.

Have hubby's permission to turn downstairs bedroom into a sensory, gross-motor play room. Which it unofficially is anyway.

Joined Blockbusters' online movie service, and intend to order as many feel-good, chick-flick movies as humanly possible. So far I have Ocean's Twelve, which I seem to remember getting awful reviews. Okay, not exactly a feel-good movie, but in a purely visual/esthetic/George Clooney and Matt Damon sort-of-way, I think it will fit the bill.

Discovered Double Chocolate Milano cookies.

G. was able to say "please" ("peez") for exactly one day. I'm sure it'll come back eventually. He retained the ability to say, "Ho, ho, ho" whenever we read Spot's First Christmas, which we have out of the library this week.

B. says numbers sporadically when other people are counting, and is still in the increased giggly eye-contact stage, which I'm loving.

J. is as always keeping me on my toes.