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.

There's something strange going on around here...

It's not a hidden, deep dark, secret that kids are little weirdos, or anything, but mine reach levels of weird, that really make me question who I hang out with all day. Because they're really, very weird.

Like take Baduka, he has all sorts of strange going on. Some from autism, some from just being related to me (I totally understand his need to lick Tide Laundry Pods,) but his hatred of cuts and scabs is getting awkward. He picks scabs off, because he hates them, but that just creates new scabs. It's a neverending process. Goodness forbid, I have a blemish of my own. Then there was today. The other day Dizzy fell while holding a toy, and scratched a 2ish inch booboo onto his temple. They sat next to each other in the wagon at the grocery store. While I was dragging them around behind me, Baduka picked the scab off of it. Dizzy never said a word, or made a noise. Which means HE LET HIM. Why?!

Speaking of Dizzy, he spent 2 hours today wearing a t-shirt as pants. Seriously. Legs in the arm holes. Lost his mind when it fell down. It got to the point that I actually, pegged the waist, around his waist, to help it stay up. Which means I'm an enabler. I encourage the weird. And why? Because every time I said, "Want real pants?" He looked like he might cry, and answered back, with a lingering, "No". Who am I to judge his fashion sense? I haven't changed my shirt in 2 days.

And then there's our friend, the New Kid. He's found his own friend, the Penis, or PeePee, as he introduces it EVERY TIME I change his diaper. He then introduces whatever is around him, to his PeePee. Books, matchbox cars, puzzle pieces, cereal...

Sometimes I think they do these things so I question my own sanity. If it continues, should I crochet my own straitjacket?

Mom, Mom, Mom

I'm that mom today, that just wishes someone would listen to her when she says anything.

I'm that mom today, that just wishes she had a clone specially made for sleeping for both of us.

I'm that mom today, that heard "Mom" being screeched, screamed, moaned, yelled, and whispered too many times, and now wishes her name was Bob.

I'm that mom today, that yelled in the car for one of her kids to just stop saying mom for no reason. And then when that kid at a red light said it one last time with the saddest little face, then pointed to the front seat and said, "raroo" her heart broke into a bajillion pieces, because the whole time he was saying it, this time today, was because he wanted to hold his brother's kangaroo for the ride. It's not his fault he doesn't know many words, and the one word he has perfected is supposed to get the attention of the one person who knows what he always wants and needs. And he worked so hard to find the real word that would get him what he needed to take the ride. Because his mom was too tired to know this time.

I'm that mom today, that drove all the way to the faraway Target, because they have a drive through Starbucks in the parking lot and 2 of the kids are car napping, and it's finally quiet enough, to actually think. And what am I thinking about? How bad I feel for being so tired today that I wish my name was Bob.

I'm that mom today, that forgot to appreciate how amazing it is to actually be a mom.

highlight reel

It's been a long week here, some crazy, some exhausting, some ugh. Here's some awesome though--

* Dizzy has talked soooo much! By himself! Things like, "ouch that hurts!" "Need pants!" "Look a bird!" He amazes me too. It's like he finally realized words get you things. Like hugs, and kisses, and high fives. Important stuff to a kid who's favorite thing is clapping.  Enthusiastically. For everything.

* The New Kid woke up crying. So I said, "(Baduka) let's go see what's wrong..." He ran in to the bedroom, and said, "What happened? Are you okay?" And hugged him! The New Kid obviously didn't realize the awesomeness of the situation so he kicked him, but still!

* We got a Nabi 2 Tablet, to try and use better communication tools with Baduka. Fingers crossed we figure it out. He spent a few hours playing games on it, getting used to it. Best part? He didn't lose his mind when I took it away. Huge deal in this house.

* The New Kid farted on my lap, looked up with a shocked face, said, "I faaahhht!" And chuckled so hard he farted again.

*The texts from Daddy that said, he cashed his check at a bank next to a liquor store, so he already bought the wine.

This is the life.

Just a regular Wednesday

It's Wednesday. The house is a mess. There's dishes to wash. Laundry to fold, and wash, and dry. There's toys, and clothes, and popcorn everywhere.

What am I doing though?

Sitting on the couch, listening to Baduka reading, and acting out, From Head To Toe by Eric Carle, for Dizzy.

He's very animated, and there's wiggles, and pointing, and animal sounds, and giggles.

I've heard him reading and acting out this book many times before. I've even recorded it to post to Facebook, so you can all experience the cute awesomeness of it.

I actually recorded it again today. But I won't be uploading it, in all of its cute awesomeness. Are you wondering why?

Baduka is doing today's reading naked.

Anyone shocked?

School's in session!

Last week was April vacation, and I am pretty sure it wasn't that bad, or I drank enough to forget it. I do know that Baduka wasn't nearly as crazy as possible, and Dizzy and the New Kid were probably just regular.

Today Baduka went back to school. We got home from picking him up at 2 o'clock.

In those 4ish hours, there's been running, jumping, yelling, and maybe some tears. From me.

They've also shared in the general noise level.

There has been Legos, Playmobil, markers, crayons, PlayDoh. Climbing, jumping, pushing, yelling, crying, kisses, and hugs.

But the highlight?

New Kid and Dizzy being chased down the hallway, past the laundry baskets, over the dog, around the cat, by Baduka.

Wearing nothing but a shirt.

Ahhh, back to normal.