We're making progress with the jacket!! YAY!!
(Baby steps...but they're still steps!)

"Cuyler had a great morning except the jacket thing. He got upset as soon as he saw the other children getting their jackets on. After some effort and showing him his pic, he decided that he would hold onto the jacket. He played outside the entire time with the jacket in his hand and would not let go of it. He stayed on the teeter totter for quite some time, socializing, trying to communicate with the other children and making good eye contact."

This was part of what was written in the communication book by Cuylers EA this morning. Each night Sean comes home, he eats dinner and then sits on the couch with Cuy's book. I think it's his favourite part of his day.

When I dropped Cuyler off this morning, another child was being dropped off as well. She was talking to her dad. And I couldn't understand her when she spoke. Then I looked around and realized that many of them are not yet great talkers. And most are still in diapers. And I realized at that moment, how, in that setting, he is much more LIKE the other children than he is DIFFERENT from them. What a tremendous feeling that was. And All I could think was, "He's going to grow and develop with them."

We've been watching our home videos regularly for about a week now (since Cam asked about his birth). We watched up until last winter and I really can see why I was so concerned. At one point, when we were watching tonight Sean said "This is when you started to worry." Cuyler was 15 months old in the video. I said "No honey, I mentioned autism to the developmental consultant when he was 11 mos old."
"Oh ya..."
He was such a different baby than Cam. And the irony is - they tell you not to compare. But the way they diagnose autism is by comparing. That's what the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) is. A comparison of your child against typically developing children and their milestones. So don't compare. But if you wanna find anything out...compare...ugh!

We had a huge BLOWOUT this morning...more like 3am...and by huge blowout, I mean that Cuyler had a massive shit that soiled his comforter, both sheets, mattress pad, books, and even some of his puzzle pieces had poo on them.
And - because Cuyler has the bestest Daddy in the world, he got a bath and everything!!
Just when I think that we may be getting somewhere with the mystery of his bowels, we get this. So now that his system is cleaned out - we will start fresh and only put good stuff into him. He's off the CLO and the corn. Once we get a nice formed poop, we add them back 1 at a time and see which one is the offender! What a pain in the ass this diet is. But it's helping...keep remembering - it's helping...

Cam is so awesome! Just before bed tonight he said to Sean "Daddy, if I help you keep the house clean, can we have another baby?"
Sean said "Uhhhh...no Bud, I don't think so."
Cam starts crying this ever-so-dramatic cry. I was so proud of him. Taking my side like that. But, ya, keeping the house clean will not give us another baby. Otherwise it would be spotless 24/7 - I'd make sure of that. So I'm content in my kinda tidy, sorta clean home. And 2 kids. Content - kinda. Damn you Sean!

I can't be that annoyed with him. he did find my Canada Dry Cranberry Gingerale! Geez - I just love that stuff. It doesn't usually come out til closer to Christmas. But he found some - and bought me a case!
So, now it's time for my CranGingy and AR8 - Family Edition!