New School
The schoolbus arrived at its new time this morning. In a good omen (I hope), Henry came running and eagerly danced onto it and into a seat. I was on tenterhooks all day. When the bus matron was helping him off at the end of the day she said "They told me to tell you he had a WONDERFUL first day!" What a relief! Of course, his behavior specialist warned me that there will be a "Honeymoon" period, then: watch out! But even just for now I am happy to be in the land of milk and honey. Or in Henry's case, the land of milk and cheese curls!

28 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
Watch as Henry runs out the door to cavort on the frozen lawn, shirtless and shoeless. With autism, you can laugh at the cold!

FENCE

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

ABSTRACT
I had the exquisite pleasure today of bringing Peter, 10, and Hugh, 7, to the art supply store with me for the first time. They were game but uninterested: till we got there. Then it was like watching smaller versions of myself in art store mode: their breathing quickened, their eyes started scanning quickly in all directions, and both hands shot out, gently trembling, to touch all the wonderful textures and fascinating objects. It was magical. And it was very hard to tear ourselves away from the "feast".

PRECIOUS
Katina had just had Nya's ears pierced, and the teensy little earrings are so darling. On a baby as gorgeous as Nya it is truly "gilding the lily". But who cares? Certainly not Nya, who casually fell asleep while being admired.

CHANGES
After much discussion, research and discussion with the school district (i.e. making a pain in the butt of myself), we've all agreed to change Henry from the private special needs school he is in now, to the autism support class in a local elementary school. This is a BIG change, and I hope it will be for the best. There is some regret at leaving the old school, but the new teacher seems great, and the classroom looks very organized and up-to-date. We visited today, to try and prepare him for next week's big change. Transitions with autistic kids can be (are usually) hellish, so PLEASE say a little prayer or make a little wish or think a good thought for us! We'll probably be "in the trenches" for the next few weeks.

PET
Hard to tell sometimes, who is who's pet?

CRACK
Henry is so addicted to sensory stimulation that he will sometimes do anything to achieve his object. After allowing him a long period of supervised water play, I turned off the water supply to the faucet, so he wouldn't flood the bathroom. Lunch had to be made, the other children had needs which required attention, etc. But apparently Henry had not gotten his fill of water. I was downstairs in the kitchen when "CRASH!!!" There followed a stretched out nano-second of silence, the kind when one is simultaneously figuring out what the noise meant, denying that it just happened, and then accepting it. "NOOOO-OOOOH!"

GLAMOUR
I was in the basement and came across this bin of my old dress-up dolls. I can't bear to throw them out: each flimsy little article of clothing is so saturated with hours of my childhood dreams.