School District Meetings and The Bomb

Here it is. Do you think I will sleep tonight? Tomorrow we meet with the school district to see what they are going to "recommend" for Zach. I am VERY curious and terrified at the same time. I have not done my research. I think with the stuff going on with Sophia and life in general, I am in a "flight" more than a "fight" sort of mode in dealing with the current conflicts. Most of it because work and getting some things settled around the house have taken temporary precedence - and I have to say it was nice to act sort of "normal". I got a lot done at work lately, am pleased with my work, and have others who are pleased with my work too. This feels so good to have some amount of control with at least one aspect of my life and have someone say "nice job".

Today we had a really nice brunch at our house for our friends from the old neighborhood. Gosh, I really like these folks. What are the odds that there would be four of us pregnant at about the same time for the first time - and we all managed to have girls and live within two blocks of one another? Even after moving from the neighborhood, I feel so attached to these people. Sophia asked me if I knew a few of them prior to her being born- and the answer is 'no'. We really got to know each other because of the most life altering events in our lives - becoming parents. So there were 11 kids running around the house, and since the weather was a little unsavory (kind of wet outside) we did the Easter egg hunt inside. Zach clung to me like glue at first, but eventually warmed up to the chaos of children screaming, laughing, and running. This was so good for him! I think every time someone comes to the house, it is usually to make him work, thus he clings to me to save him from the injustice.

While at the house, one of the couples who are competitive types, discussed how their son (who is 3 weeks older than Zach) is talking only marginally for his age, but is already riding a tricycle, and compared their son to another friend with a son the same age as Zach who happens to be talking very well, but can't ride his trike. I chimed in with a - "Oh yeah - well Zach dropped the F-bomb before either of your sons! " And yup, it's true. While out of the house yesterday, apparently dear son got into something, only to be discovered by his Dad, who, you guessed it, dropped the F-bomb when he saw the trouble Zach got into. Zach went on to immediately repeat it. Yup. This is why mothers everywhere are afraid to leave their kids with their Dads. :)

Later in the day, the local FEAT group (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) had a Fun Day at Blessed Sacrament school in the city. The place was jam packed - and they had a lot of stuff- including food, games, bounce houses, face painting. It was terrific. Sophia and Zach had a great time. I was very impressed with these people. I was overwhelmed by how had I not known any better, I hardly would have guessed at these kids diagnosis. I was also overwhelmed at all the volunteerism that went into making the event successful. It was awesome. I am very impressed. Zach loved the GFCF pizza (which shocked me) and manged a whole piece of GFCF layer cake in two seconds. There were so many people there. So many. I just have a hard time believing that the increase in number of cases of autism is just because of the criteria for diagnosis being broadened. In fact, Steve has done specific research in this area, and he claims this isn't so. I'll see if I can get him to write a summary and post it.

Zach has begun saying "bye" a lot lately, he also pointed to an apple and said "apple" and then went on to eat one up. He requested an apple using a word and pointing together - this is totally terrific. I am feeling that he may be on a verge of verbal progress. Is it something in the weather? I almost feel like it is. We'll just keep moving.