Brothers acting like brothers!

I just wrote a depressing post about how G. used to use language in a more social way back when he was two. But I decided not to hit "publish". Now he comes up to me and puts his hands on my cheeks, or presses his nose into my face and inhales lovingly. So what's to complain about really?

Also, on the big news front, B. has decided that his big brother is funny. If J. hops into B's bed, or gives him a bear hug, or better yet, lies down on top of him, B. gets a fit of the giggles. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it is such a joy to see! They'll wrestle around and laugh, until it usually ends with B. getting over-excited and grabbing his brother by the throat. That doesn't sound so great, but it's meant in a loving way, I"m pretty sure.

It's so nice that things like this can come up and surprise you, even if you have to wait til they turn six. I think of myself back in my desperate Floortime days--trying so hard to get them to do pretend play or interact with each other. So many things just have to happen in their own time. As frustrating as that sometimes is!

Even keel

B. seems to be doing okay with this kindergarten thing. He doesn't like the cafeteria, but who would? I've been picking him up early, to help him ease in. Right now he's talking in what sounds like paragraphs of babble or some language I don't know. I may be imagining it, but I feel as if he's talking to himself more since we quit ABA.

Every once in a while I feel a jolt of surprise when I realize both the twins are in the kind of class I used to teach, with a very low ratio and goals like putting their lunch boxes away (along with some loftier things, too.) Most of the time it seems normal, and I'm so, so glad that this year we have a teacher who says things like, "They are both so smart, we just have to learn how to work with them". I'll just let last year's teacher fade into a distant memory!

My mom is home, and continuing to improve. So right now things are good, although I do miss seeing as much of the twins as I used to.

Starting Kindergarten

Okay, Mommy needs a drink, or a massage, or a Valium, or something! I'm taking deep breaths, going to my happy place, etc. This morning I dropped B. off at his self-contained kindergarten. It's the same class G. is in, so it should go fine. When I left, he was sitting in the general ed. kindergarten for calendar time. He was singing some Christmas song in a low, relatively quiet voice. He tried to stretch out on the carpet and ended up sitting in an aide's lap. I guess now he'll start coming home smelling strongly of perfume, as Greg always does.

I actually feel better about it than I thought I would. He walked into the building with a huge smile on his face. I'm picking him up early and hoping he's still smiling or at least not crying. So far, this is definitely harder for me than for him. Thank God for good teachers and aides.

Woo hoo!

My dad just called and said that this morning my mom was suddenly conversational again. She told him where the Christmas tree ornaments are, and which grocery store has the chicken nuggets that the twins like.

Keep the faith!

Strange parallels

Recently my mom was in a one-car accident, which caused what was essentially a stroke. When she first woke up, she seemed very alert and able to converse. Since then she has talked less and less, and now comes out with occasional clear sentences every day.

As I talk to my dad, who is there with her, I keep being struck by the similarities with my first years that I knew the twins had autism. They would say something, and then not talk for weeks at a time. It was a kind of torture.

I don't really know if it's true, but I told my dad that I believe my mom still has it all inside her. Right now her body is working on another part of her recovery-- she's getting a lot of physical and occupational therapy. Maybe that's taking all of her brain power right now.

One thing I've found, even though the twins still don't talk much, is that it's ALL still in there. They still know what they used to know, and much, much more. And I'm pretty sure that my mom does, too. It's another situation that calls for more patience than I ever thought I had. Hopefully we'll go back to making progress soon, but meanwhile don't look too far ahead, and find joy in every little good thing that happens.

IPad!

We have a new IPad and we are loving it! Both twins can use it, although it's a little easier for G. than B., as far as I can tell.

Met with the school psychologist today, and she is going to look into a grant that might give them some IPad funds.

I enjoy watching the kids use the IPad, but so far the only app I've used much is an Air Hockey game. I play it on the kiddie level, when I try to move up to the "Easy" level, I lose very, very fast.

Time to relax

Things are going better at school. I don't know why, but he's not screaming, not scratching, and back to his smiling self. Phew.

Also, he counted to 25 on an abacus yesterday. That's the kind of note a mom wants to get from school!