Michael-isms

Michael's mind works in funny ways.  He is three and a half and the thought of potty training terrifies him, but he can sight read at a first-grade level.  He knows how to add "plus one" to a number and can count to 130 but he doesn't use pronouns correctly.  (We're getting there!)  Some of the joys of autism -- and I do mean joys.  Michael is definitely wired differently, but he's so simple and sweet and interesting that you have to love him.  We don't always understand what he's thinking, but when we figure it out, it's like a little present.

For example, one day he kept insisting on wearing his "snake shirt" to school.  Ben and I had no idea to what he was referring, since none of his shirts had snakes on them.  We sent him to school in a different animal shirt, much to his disappointment.  It wasn't until I did laundry and was hanging Michael's clothes that he pointed at one I was holding and screamed "Snake shirt!!!"  It was a Superman shirt!  He thought the "S" emblem was a snake, even though both Ben and I called it his Superman shirt (Michael was "Super Schmid").

We "donated" some money to school so he could attend a one-off "popcorn, movie, and a playdate" with his teachers and some classmates yesterday afternoon.  When I came to pick him up, I found him sitting among his his classmates, happily munching some popcorn and watching "Rio."  When he saw me, he smiled widely, looked at me, then the screen, then back at me, and kept repeating over and over "Oh my!"  He was the last one to get up from the mat, because he wanted to finish every last piece of popcorn.  On the way home, he told me he had fun playing with Tyler (his friend) and Mrs. Cox (his teacher).  And I was just struck by the innocence, sweetness, and normal-ness of the whole exchange.  He's such a happy kid.

Michael no longer loves Mommy

A few months ago I discovered exactly where I ranked among Michael's preferences:
"Michael, do you love Mommy?"
(playfully drawn out) "Nooooooo!"
"Michael, do you love Daddy?"
"Noooooooo!"
"Michael, do you love oatmeal?"
(pause) "Yes.  Want some oatmeal!"

Today Ben asked for a hug, and he complied with a big smile.  I asked for a hug, and he screamed "No!"  I  asked again and he scooted away from me on his butt on the floor towards Ben.  Ben came around to me, asked for a hug, and Michael ran over to give him a hug and Ben pushed me in front only to have Michael scream again "No Mommy hug!"

I asked if he loved me.  He said "How about Daddy?" I asked if he loved Daddy.  "Yes."  Mommy?  "No."  This went on for about twenty minutes, me cajoling him to give me a hug or say he loved me.  He got upset when I said Daddy wasn't going shopping with us, and I asked if he wanted me to stay with him or leave him alone, and he said leave.  He was going to go find Daddy.

The last few weeks

As you all know, due to a family emergency I left Michael in Ben's capable hands for a week starting the day after Christmas.  Apparently Michael started to go a little batty at the end, babbling to himself about Mommy and num-nums, but overall it sounds like he adapted well to the situation.

I got back after 1 a.m. after a long delay at O'Hare.  We boarded the plane two hours late.  Then, due to a false alarm with the engine and waiting twice to get de-iced, we ended up sitting on the plane another two-and-a-half hours before we actually took off.  I learned though that there were many cancelled flights (including the flight after ours to Austin) and it got even worse over the next few days, so better late than never.  Honestly, it was still easier than traveling with Michael on the smoothest of flights.

I snuggled up to him in the middle of the night after I got home.  When he woke up and saw me (after I went to sleep in my own bed), he cried "Mommy!" and excitedly ran into our room.

I had to note this exchange that happened a few nights ago.  Michael was taking a shower and Ben and I were waiting in the bathroom for him to finish.  I was sad and tearful, and Michael kept barking at Ben repeatedly from the shower, "Be careful, Daddy!  Be careful, Daddy!"

Ben:  "Okay!"

Michael: "Now give Mommy hug."

(Ben hugs me)

Michael:  "There we go." (pause) "Now give Mommy hug again."

(hug)

Michael:  "There we go."

It's impossible to be sad around Michael.