Guess What? Monster has autism.

I admit, I couldn't think of a good title.

There are some characteristics that are associated with autism spectrum disorders.

1. Lack of social awareness
2. Difficulty communicating
3. Requiring rigid routines
4. Concrete thinking

Yeah, there are more, but those are the ones I think of as fairly common across the spectrum.

Monster was unofficially diagnoses with autism when he was 4 months passed his 2nd birthday. He got the official diagnosis when he was 3 and his diagnosis was confirmed when he was about 3 1/2. However, because he lacked the ability to communicate effectively with us, it was always hard to determine how he viewed the world. In the past few years, his language has improved so much. Even more, he has gotten better and better about expressing his emotions. A few weeks ago, he asked me for a magic wand. since he watches a lot of Disney movies, I'm sure he has a good idea what a magic wand is. Anyway, I got a stick off the ground and gave it to him and he proceeded to wave it around for a while (it really was cute to watch).

Last night, I picked up a stick and told him "look, a magic wand". I had pointed it at him and started signing "bippity boppity boop", but he got very scared and wanted me to point the wand somewhere else. I'm sure he thought the wand really was magic and I was going to turn him into something. I then had a discussion about him regarding pretend vs. real, of which I'm not sure how much he understood since he kept giving my stick a wary look.

So another check off of the list-Monster is a concrete thinker, though coupled with a rich and amazing imagination.

So, yup, Monster has autism ;)

Our first day of school Odyssey

Well, we managed to miss the bus this morning-not an easy thing to do when they are picking up your child AT YOUR HOUSE (and no, I don't mean a bus stop that happens to be at our house, they actually came to our house to pick him up).

The school secretary told me 8:00, same bus driver, aide on board. The bus showed up at 7:45, new driver/monitor and no aide. We aren't the type of folks to be ready early, so after oversleeping this morning (and having only been awake for 15 minutes), we hit the high gear and I tried to set a speed record for Z to be dressed. Mr just went and told the bus driver, sorry we thought it was 8:00, we'll drive him.

Anyway, Monster fell asleep without a problem last night (I was expecting a full out war) and seemed happy this morning. When I was getting him dressed because "the bus is here", he said "Camp", and when I said no camp, school, I got the customary "No school", but his heart wasn't in it. He was just testing boundaries. We got him medicated, washed, brushed and dressed (sorry, no pictures). When it was time to go outside, he didn't even detour to the swing or bubbles, just straight to the car and got in h is seat.

On the way to school, we asked him what he says when he gets to school and he responded "Good Morning, Miss V"-and we hadn't prompted him before this, he just remembered from last year! When we got there, his aide had us pull around the way the bus would (to get him into his routine somewhat, we had texted her about the bus kerfuffle) and let him out at the bus stop. He got right out (after putting his shoes back on), grabbed hold of V's arm and started rubbing his forehead on her arm-kind of like putting his scent on her Wink.

He seemed eager for his overly emotional, hovering mom to leave, so Mr and I said good bye and headed back home.

I told Mr I didn't think Monster would last past lunch; Mr thinks V can coax him to stay until the end of the day. I suspect Mr is right.

Not a bad beginning.