Kids, Thanksgiving, in the news...

We were supposed to have Z's IEP meeting at school last week, but unfortunately the school psychologist had to cancel, so we rescheduled for December. The main reason I'm disappointed (besides the fact that I took a day off work for it) is that I'm very curious about some information that I think will get revealed.

At a meeting a few weeks ago, the Special Ed teacher mentioned that she had Z's IQ tested, because (I'm quoting), "you have to admit, we're all a little curious." Yeah, not an educational reason at all -- just wondering! She assured me quickly that I'd signed off on it (yes, I signed many, many papers). And while I might not have sought to have her IQ tested myself, now that it has been, I'm kind of curious. Especially since they let it slip that her scores were even higher than the first grade GATE tests had indicated. In fact, the school psych said they were "not used to working with students with scores like this."

Of course, we know she's bright, and a number isn't going to mean much in the long run unless she can also figure out how to eat with a fork and go to the bathroom before she leaks pee. But I am still pretty curious.

She's been pretty good lately. I mean, she has her moments of shouting, doing stuff long after we've politely asked her to stop (whistling, and thumping around in a cardboard box, just to speak of today). But we've been going outside a lot -- to the park, to the nature center -- and that seems to calm her.

The boy is just a love, as always. He gave me my first un-asked-for kiss a couple days ago. He's making lots of signs. Today he saw a kestrel and made the sign for bird. He also grunted and shouted at me to get the water bottle, and I said, "Lochlan, just ask me, please. Say, 'Water, please, Mama.'" He didn't look at me showing the water sign (he never took his eyes off the bottle), but he made the sign.

For some reason, although he can climb, walk while holding hands or strollers, and even run (while holding on to the couch), he just will not walk on his own. The doctor said to call if he wasn't walking by 15 months, which is now only two weeks away, but I'm not sure I will call. He obviously has the motion down and the strength -- he just needs the confidence to let go.

One thing that I hope I don't forget as he gets older is how he says "cat." He LOVES cats and gets excited when one of ours saunters by. He says cat in a high or low pitch, in a statement or question, as a yell or whisper, but most often just like "CAAAAAAAAAT!" Like a happy, high pitched sigh.

He's not a picky eater, but it surprises me how many things he will eat. Like, sometimes Sweetie will give him a Spanish olive. He grabs it quickly, pops it in his mouth, gives a little shudder of horror, then happily eats the next one. He was demanding to eat some spicy sriracha peas the other day, so finally I let him have one, thinking he'd spit it out and get over it. No, he wanted more and more, and got mad and cried when I put them away. The other night I made enchiladas with mole sauce, and while Z was throwing a hissy over how spicy they were, he was munching away.

Thanksgiving is in a few days. I'm thankful for the same things I always am -- family, home, health, my job -- but I am especially happy for two things. I'm happy that we got Z's autism diagnosis this year. I think that although it's slow going, it's really going to help us help her. And I'm thankful that Lochlan is such an easy, sweet little guy as he grows older and his personality starts to shine.


The news these days is bleak. Like... bleak as fuck. Donald Trump is running for president, and he keeps saying these insanely racist things, and after each one you think "Well, this is it! He's going to alienate people, drop in the polls, and quit the campaign, because people are basically good and sane." And then instead, people are like, "Yay, Trump! Right on! Brown people are terrible!" And you're like... really? Are people... NOT good and sane? Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I'm sick to death of this election season and we have a year left to go.

I couldn't help myself and I took the bait of someone posting an anti-Obama AND anti-refugee meme tonight, so they posted an anti-Obama thing on my timeline. And I should really just have a no-debating-politics with people who don't have enough brain cells to rub two together policy, but I posted a like "hey, here's why you're wrong, and here's the links to prove it." And got called a dumbass. By, literally, probably one of the dumbest people I know. So, like, just fuck it all, man! I AM a dumbass, for engaging with that bullshit! Learn to let it go, Mockula, because that guy can't find his ass with both hands, let alone make his way to the nearest polling place. It doesn't matter one whit whether I can change his mind, show him the error of his ways, or whatever. OMmmmm, mothafucka. Ommmmmmm.