Update to the Otter Pops post.  I went out to soccer practice with our younger son.  When I came home, I found that my wife had already given Anthony a bath, and I asked why.  She had taken our daughter out briefly so she could go to a local play, figured Anthony would be all right for less than 10 minutes, and left him home.  When she came home, Anthony had pulled a new box of Otter Pops, yet unfrozen, out of the freezer, cut open several of them, and gotten the contents all over himself and the counter (and my laptop!).  So, we either watch Anthony at all times, or get a chain lock for the refrigerator/freezer.

Anthony loves Otter Pops®.  And that would be fine, but never before has his motivation to eat something been sufficient to go after it himself.  He also loves oranges, for instance, but he has never opened the refrigerator to take any out.  But not only does he open the freezer--thankfully, he closes it afterward--and take Otter Pops out, but he grabs scissors and cuts the top of the plastic package so he can get at it.

I could applaud Anthony for his ingenuity, but he doesn't stop at one.  Nor will he stop at three.  The other day, when no one was paying particular attention to him (each of us being occupied with something else or being out of the house), he helped himself to eight of them.

He is also learning to operate the DVD remote on his own.  Until recently, he only knew how to open the player and insert a DVD, so he was stuck if there were no autoplay feature.  Not any more.  He has figured out how to start the movie with the remote. 

So the question for me is, can we teach him more?  I don't know.  But I could certainly use help mowing the lawn.

(The following is from my wife's personal blog directed to extended family and close friends.  I have edited out our other children's names as is my normal practice for my blog, which is open to anybody.  I also have not included my wife's dual translation into Japanese--I'm guessing anyone reading this blog reads English just fine!)



The school Anthony goes to has an annual schoolwide musical in Spring. They started it last year and performed "The Lion King". I was a little skeptical, but went to see it anyway by myself. It's just emotionally overwhelming to watch those special needs kids performing because I'm often not sure if they are aware of what they are doing.

This year's production was "The Little Mermaid", and the performance was last week.  Our younger son is currently "off track" from year-round school, so I took him with me this time. Before we arrived, he asked me if the show was going to be good, and I told him that it would be cute and sad at the same time. When the show started, he whispered to me that it was indeed cute and sad.  Most of the students who played the main characters used an iPad or some other speech device for their lines since they were physically unable to speak. About half of the cast were on their wheelchairs and the teachers/therapists pushed them around the stage. Again, it's just so heartbreaking to see all of those kids. Not that I'm pitying them. Watching them makes me think about their families, and that touches me so deeply. It's really hard for me to hold back my tears. I saw one dad who was filming the performance wiping away tears as well.

I was waiting for Anthony's class's appearance, and getting ready to film it. When they came out to the stage, we didn't see Anthony. Then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and saw the principal, and she handed me a note. It said, "Anthony is having a hard time so he stayed in his classroom."  It didn't surprise me because all of his classmates were wearing costumes and makeup. Anthony doesn't do well with those, so I suspected that he probably got upset and tried to remove them. Our younger son looked very disappointed, and I was too. Still, it was OK. I'm used to this kind of disappointment, so I tried to stay calm. I felt bad that our younger son had to experience this. I was glad though that I didn't invite anyone else (like our daughter, my husband, or my mother-in-law) to the program.

After the show was over, we went to see him in his classroom. He wasn't there, and I was told that he was in a different room with Jeff (a great teacher who handles Anthony extremely well). One of his teacher aides, Dan, who is in charge of Anthony daily, walked with me and told me what had happened. Anthony was fine this morning for the dress rehearsal, performed very well in costume and makeup, but when they were going down to the stage this afternoon, he took off his costume, and didn't want to put it back on. He went wild and shoved Dan in the face. Dan said that he found out later Anthony needed to go to the bathroom because he wet his pants after that incident.

When I saw him with Jeff, Anthony was sitting on a big beanbag. His eyes were so red from crying, and he seemed still on the edge. I sat next to him, and started talking to him while stroking his hair, saying "Anthony, how are you? I heard you did really well at the performance this morning...", then I just couldn't stop crying. I don't usually cry so easily, so I'm not sure why I was so emotional. When it comes to Anthony, I'm always blocking the emotions because it is easier that way. I know that might not be the best way to handle it, but otherwise, its just too painful. Anyway, I think watching the musical shook me emotionally, so I was more vulnerable than usual. It took me a while to stop crying, and I was grateful that the teacher didn't react to it at all. Maybe they are used to seeing the parents becoming emotional.

Anthony wanted to come home with me because he didn't want to let go of my hand. I drove our smaller car to the school, so I couldn't take him home with me. It is too dangerous to drive with him sitting next to me while he is still upset. The teachers told me that it would be fine to leave him and they would handle him. Dan said, "If he's going to blow up, it's better here than anywhere else, especially in your car." I left quickly without saying good-bye to him so that he wouldn't get upset. I felt so bad because he obviously really wanted to come home with me. I felt like a selfish, uncaring mom. Later when I got home, I received a phone call from his teacher and she told me that Anthony left school by bus and was in a great mood. She also said that the school filmed the morning dress rehearsal so they would try to give me the copy of it. That's so nice of them. Everyone at his school cares about each student and his/her family. I'm so grateful for that.

Anthony came home smiling as though nothing had happened. It is quite impossible to know what he is thinking, but I hope he knew that I was there for him and  I love him as much as I love our daughter and younger son.

Here is the picture of Anthony on Vehicle Day at his school a few days ago. His teacher took this picture and sent it home for me. He looks very happy, and that makes me so happy as well.