Autism & This Week

   I talked last week about autism and scheduling in the summer (or not scheduling in the summer). A whole week has gone by- one entire week of summer holiday-and I'm still feeling sane! :) 
   In the last few months Caleb has learned that his birthday is in July, though the fact that there is a specific date was still unclear to him. So, he has been saying "Caleb will go to Toys R' Us on Tuesday!", and we kept saying, "well, maybe we'll go, but it might not be on a Tuesday...?". Then our wonderful Leslie (Mrs. Beatty. Caleb's former E.A., and a friend to us) says, "maybe because July starts on a Tuesday, so he thinks it's his birthday?". Yup, that is actually very likely what his brain is concluding! Smarty pants. 
   All that to say, Tuesday July 1st came and went, we didn't go to Toys R' Us, and Caleb did fine with that. A year ago, that would have resulted in a pretty serious meltdown, and an entire day being lost.  

Their clothes got soaked from playing in the water at the park without bathing suits! When we got home they had take off their wet stuff before I could get a picture! :0

   Well, as for this week, Caleb has driven around the county with us not exactly knowing where we were going (looking for something on Kijiji), then dealt really well with the many animals we found when we got to said house. 
   He has been told he was going to the park to play with friends only to stay home because I was immobile due to a pulled muscle. Our friends came here to play, and he was happy with that.   
   He had a sleep over with Mrs. Beatty and her kids, and spent an ENTIRE day in the sun at the beach with us, and then stayed up until 11:30 ish......all without a gripe or fight or hint of a meltdown. 
   He enjoyed Canada Day celebrations with all sorts of unknowns! First, he didn't care that the parade was short (the girls complained!), then he played in his not-bathing-suit-shorts in the water from a fire truck hose. Third, was o.k. with not eating Canada's birthday cake because it was not gluten free, and even stood patiently while Adam and I talked about what we would do next: stay in town for more activities, or go home. Honestly, at the end of that day, if I were keeping score, he would have won the best child award in our house! Rewind 6 years ago when I was pregnant with our second and was so scared and nervous about having another child while still trying to care for Caleb who was more difficult than I could have imagined! Geepers! I could have never guessed he would become who he is today! 
   But, moving on with the week, yesterday we went to a new splash pad in Napanee, and he not only didn't complain about it not being our 'usual' one in Madoc, he played and played and played and never complained about being cold (even though it was overcast/a smidge rainy). Then he played at a friends house (where all the kids were much younger), and I didn't have to tell him once not to steal toys from the babies (that is a regular thing, by the way!)! I did have to tell him to stop stealing the Rice Krispie squares I brought, but I think that might be a normal boy thing?!  

Caleb having so much fun riding our Excel.

   Last night while I was praying with him, I just praised him for what he accomplished, and that I was proud of how hard he worked to have such a great day. I acknowledged the fact that today could be a different story, and that would be o.k. too. Most "neurologically typical" (aka:non-autistic) children have good days and bad days, so I need to expect them from Caleb. 
   All this to say, we've gone through a whole week without really informing Caleb about much, and he has rolled with it all. This week ahead may be a different story, but that's fine. At the end of the day, he still has autism. He may be learning to really deal with it better, but he is still dealing. It's not magically gone, or healed. He is just an amazing young man who works hard everyday to do what he is being told and to implement what he is learning. He is still crotch grabbing, speaking very loudly, and if someone we meet says, "how are you?", he goes on a rambling, mumbling monologue about Buzz Lightyear and his utility belt. 
   I love that kid so much though, he is so full of life, and sillies. He is honest, and genuine. He struggles, gets so confused, still can't follow direction very well, but he is determined. Whether that determination shows up as stubborn and difficult, or determined with a great goal and wanting to see his results from his hard work. 
   I am still excited/nervous about the rest of the summer, but with one week down I am in awe of my Caleb!