It is harder at times with a "special" one....knowing that his brain does not always function like his brothers and having to find ways to keep his emotions from escalating. He apparently has not had an episode at school yet, but I think that is due to the shift in events every 10 minutes (he is pulled out at least once/twice a day for his developmental class, and once a week for OT and Speech). He definitely is more of a handful when we've had regular milk (at McDonalds) which we rarely eat, but when travelling he does get it....he doesn't understand yet that the milk does effect his overall mood....And thankfully he loves the Soy milk and drinks water when there is no other option. Diet has definitely helped modify most of his behaviors but he has such a difficult time getting his emotions out in a rational manner. It is just one more thing in a list of things to work on....I can't help but just want to scoop him up and hold him when he is out of sorts.....but he can say some pretty harsh things for a 6 year old and start screaming to a point that it is upsetting his twin brother.

Yesterday we had such a great day after his OT appointment....he bounced basketball outside (counting while bouncing...his fav thing) then dinner....then we played Candyland and Whack a Mole.....then bath and 10 minute playtime....and storytime (which he earned the mommy lap spot...if they are really good they get a special story with just mommy while sitting in my lap....otherwise it is me reading a story with each of them at my side) He was so excited that he had laptime since he had two not so good nights and had to sit beside me. And after the story we said prayers, and had kisses and then he had an OCD moment about his stuffed animals on his bed (which he had one, which grew to 10 quickly and became a problem so we compromised and had 3....and last night he was stuck that he wanted 6)......which led to him screaming that he wanted 6 and he wasn't hearing anything anyone said....Cooper was trying to sleep and Elliott kept getting off his bed and trying to take Cooper's stuffed animals and when Cooper told me that was what he was doing....Elliott started screaming at him for telling on him. I finally had to take all of Elliott's stuffed animals off after giving him a warning that if he continued he would lose this privilege. Exhausted and overwhelmed....and by the time hubby got home from work they had finally settled down but I was wiped out!