The power of comprehension

This morning Baduka woke up early. A little too early for my liking, but he's cute, and I needed a cuddle. I'm so happy he did though, because I finally had some one on one with him, to answer one of my questions about that beautiful head of his.

A few months ago, we realized he taught himself to read. But we weren't sure if it was all just memorization, or if he actually comprehended what he was saying. He can read books cover to cover. He can read signs, and text messages over my shoulder. He has a large vocabulary of words, and a play list of songs he sings all day long. But it's hard to tell what's just memorization and what's not, because he doesn't have normal, spontaneous speech. He can read the boxes, bottles, and labels, but he can't say, "mom, I'm thirsty." It's confusing, and a lot of times, very frustrating.

As we were laying cuddled up, I decided to test him. I opened a blank text, and typed in, "kiss mom". He read it out loud, smiled and kissed my cheek. I typed, "touch your eyebrows". He read it out loud, smiled and touched his eyebrows. I continued, with hide under the blanket, get a book, sing wheels on the bus. He did all of them.

I was in tears, even now I have goosebumps up and down my arms. I called Daddy, he didn't even know what to say, it's that amazing.

We got up to get ready. In the bathroom he turned on the light, I typed, "turn off the light please." He did. He climbed the stool, I typed, "feet on the floor, please." He climbed down. I typed to him, to brush his teeth, and wash his hands. He did that too.

We got to school, and I was telling his teacher about our morning. She looked so surprised,  amazed, and happy. I hope he doesn't pull his stubborn act, and not do it for her.

After dropping him off, me, Dizzy, and the New Kid went to Target. Yes, that was me, the Ecstatic Autism Mom buying a label maker, labels, and more lamination. This kid will be able to read his entire house soon.

true.

Things I know to be true:

* Sometimes a coat of paint is all you need.

* Boys are gross.

* When a kid with a speech delay spends months with early intervention, and you're the one that helps him the most, and he wakes up one day, says, "hi" to your good morning, and then when you go to hug him, he says, "I pooped." Well, that right there, is the best. No matter, how gross.

* Three boys in diapers means pretty much poop all day. It never ends.

* Being married to someone who knows when to save the last bite of a perfect sandwich for you, laughs at all your dirty, inappropriate jokes, doesn't make fun of the piece of hair that hasn't stayed in place for 2 days, and knows how to mix the perfect drink, is like winning the lottery.

* Making lunch while the kids are in the other room, leaving you alone for a few silent minutes, but being "supervised" by their dad, so you don't have to panic at every noise, is like a mini vacation. And on that vacation, if you choose to still hide under the snack shelf, and inhale cheese balls, who can really judge you?

There's probably a lot more that I know, but this is good enough for now.