Doctors, Stims and More!

The grandparents left today after brunch and I must say, I think they,mostly grandma, are getting it. Emphasis on I think. Grandpa isn't quite at the understanding that Gabe is Autistic, because agreeing with me or admitting I was right would cause cataclysmic catastrophes around the world . He can be a butt with a capital "B". He reminds me of my mother, funny at times but with a sharp tongue that can leave you nursing your wounds for days.

Here is one example of the "Big A" rearing its head with Gabe, when we got out his spring jacket to wear instead of his winter one. It started like this...
"NO!" (just upon seeing his red coat)
"NO!" "No!" "No!"Gabe repeated over and over until a shrill scream took it's place.
After getting his arms in , he layed on the floor still screaming, trying to get out of his coat. We said he needed to wear the coat. We had to follow through. If we didn't, Gabe would be wearing his winter coat until it was 90 degress outside.


Gabe in the same coat, only 5 months ago.

Now, my therapist always said to me, ( I had one because I always wanted one and my parents left me with A LOT of little goodies to sort through from my childhood)
"Kristin, you never can know what someone is really thinking. Most people are pretty self- centered and are truly thinking about themselves, not you."
However, you can see, sometimes even feel, the judgment. I felt it from Gabe's grandpa.He stood aside and watched the whole scenario unfold. I was waiting for the...
"He doesn't want to wear the coat."
"It's warm out anyway."
Or this is one that he was dying to say (I know it!),
"I guess if mom wants you to wear the coat, I guess you have to no matter how hot it is."
I know him. I lived with a version of him for years. Thank God he spared me today. I think he may know (I think) that this maybe something that could truly set me off once and for all. He has graduated with honors on how to "get my goat". We made it to brunch, all of us unscathed, hungry, with the red coat on.

Well, I finally found a great Pediatrician. He had a wonderful disposition and was very thorough and easy to talk to. He will be only used for the common stuff, like colds and references for specialists. Is he the best for Autism, not quite. But, he related well with Gabe and I. That's good enough for me right now. Did I mention that he is a family physician? We can all go see a doctor that is only 10 minutes away.( I think we will keep him and hug him and call him George).

Now the stimming. Gabe does like to line up things recently, started this month, but I can easily mess up his "line of cars and animals" and he could care less. His ABA therapist said that was a good sign. But, Gabe has reverted back to carrying around about 3-6 things (cars, balls, animals) in his hands throughout the day. He does it in new situations, around new people, when his schedule is off, as a coping mechanism. Sometimes it can be disabling, because he is unable to use his hands. I'm waiting to see if it lessens and eventually goes away. I wonder if it is due to him having a break at school for a week.

THE BIG FINALE!!!!!

At brunch today, Gabe picked up a crayon and proceeded to print (Upper and lower case) and say the letters in his name. Gabe literally wrote his name right in front of us!!!!!He's not even three! My husband and I were like,
"DID YOU SEE THAT??????" looking at each other.
"DID YOU SEE THAT!!!!!" looking at the people around the restaurant.
"OH MY GOD!"
Then it was followed by grandpa's,
"Are you sure that's what he wrote?"

Where the hell is my goat!