We are awash in boxes

And today they're moving them all out. We will have an apartment tomorrow, with actual cooking untensils and everything. Dare to dream, I say. I dislike this part of moving, but the kids seem to be taking it gamely. Rob's brother Jay is here visiting, and everyone has had a great time playing with him. We all went to the mall last night to find some dinner, and Ben was in rare form. The spitting is still a problem, but he's been so absolutely happy and dare I say, exhuberant, that it's very hard to get angry at him. He's such a happy kid most of the time and a real joy to have around. Sure, he gets looks from people who don't know him, but I don't think there's anyone I know who enjoys everything life has to offer more than Ben. I writing this post today using my neighbor's unsecured internet connection (shhhh!) and so for the next few weeks I may be even more sporadic than usual. At this point, it's starting to look like we probably won't be able to live in Idaho after all. The nature of Rob's job as a commander doesn't look like it will permit him to live far from base. And it's remotely possible that we may be moving again in a year and a half (not likely but possible) so perhaps buying a place wouldn't be a wise move. Right now, I'm planning to keep working with our ABA therapist over the phone and through email, even if that means our insurance won't foot the bill for non-face to face contact. Ben's benifitted from ABA moreso than any other type of therapy and I really support the goals it sets for Ben's functionality. Still, I'll try to enlist some help doing it from one of the local college students. I'm an optimist, I'm sure it will all pan out.

I Think I Might Be Loving Idaho

Okay, get this. I just got off the phone with a ABA person in Idaho. Apparently, Idaho is one of only 3 states that pays for kids with autism to have ABA therapy. 30 hours a week! Regardless of your income! Holy cow! So, as much as I want to live on base, we have to seriously think about living in Idaho instead of Washington. It's a longer drive for Rob, but Ben would get 30 hours of ABA a week. The therapist I talked to is the director of a school in Coeur D'Alene which does the ABA therapy and has room for Ben. And it's free of charge, once all the paperwork gets done. Oh my gosh. I think I'm going to faint. I'd better go.

Ajax, Figure Skating and More spitting

Hello again, all! We're gearing up for our move now and getting quite serious about it. Today will be our last "relaxing" day. The movers come to pack us on the 25th, and we'll be moving into our temporary apartment over that weekend. So now I'm figuring out what I want to bring with me, so the movers don't pack it. Ben found the Ajax dish soap yesterday and comandeered it from the sink before we knew what he had. It's orange smelling and that's why he liked it, I guess. Anyhow, he spilled it all over the wood floor and we think even put some in his mouth, but I can't imagine it tasted that good. Needless to say, we hid it and locked it up. He's been doing fine lately, and has been happy and social. We had figure skating on yesterday afternoon and he seemed to like it, especially the spinning. I've been able to work with him pretty consistantly and per Kim (his ABA therapist) I have been concentrating on the "do this" command to request imitation from him. I went on a puzzle search yesterday for a very small jigsaw puzzle, as he's almost solved his 5 piece Horse inset puzzle. Jigsaws are supposedly the next step. I mangaged to find a baby jigsaw set with 4- 4 piece puzzles in it at the Children's store, so I'm ready for that goal. You wouldn't believe how few and far between little jigsaws are! Sure it's easy to find 9-12 piece puzzles, but Ben clearly isn't ready for that. He still has to get the idea of lifting up the jigsaw pieces to make them fit. As far as talking goes, he's said "hug" a few more times in context, but I haven't had much luck in getting him to imitate any sounds I make. I guess that's par for the course.

Hugs

Ben talked again yesterday. Rob and the kids were outside in the front yard at around 7:30 and since it was close to bedtime, I went outside to get them. Ben was in the driveway playing with a gum tree pod (he loves those). I sat on the front steps and called to him. He looks up at me, drops the pod and comes running to me saying "Hug, hug, hug, hug, hug" and runs into my arms. I didn't ask him if he wanted a hug, I just told him to come inside. How cool is that? Rob and I both heard him do it, and we were very surprised. Rob says he thinks Ben does these things now and then to give us hope. I don't know if we'll ever hear that word again, but it was nice to know he has the ability and that he has that happy word inside him.