Some good developments today

We sat down after the kids went to bed and listed some new good developments we noticed today:

• Alex has been "kissing" people...we think our toddler initiated this cute little ritual. They were kissing each other (at different times) and laughing...and Alex kissed our younger daughter, which delighted her. (We still spend a huge part of the day keeping the toddler from stomping, scratching, biting, pinching, hitting, or otherwise hurting Alex, but kissing is moving in the right direction!)
• We ALL went to church TOGETHER this morning, and it was NOT A DISASTER!
• Alex is recognizing more English words every day. Today Susan asked him if he wanted the blanket, and he said "Da!" and pointed to it (elsewhere in the room). He also said "hot" today.
• He wanted to feed himself and attempted to do so, somewhat semi-successfully...with beets!
• I spent about an hour roughhousing with the three youngest kids (with our oldest daughter joining in on the side)...everyone had lots of fun, and it was a good way to connect with Alex and the other kids simultaneously. Plus I snuck some stretches in there with Alex.
• When he was beginning to lose it around noon, we popped him in the bathtub and that calmed him right down.
• No stimming for at least a week! (=hitting his head purposely)
• No purposeful hitting or biting or scratching in days, even when he is very upset.
• We've been able to get his five different medications/supplements into him on schedule so far.
• We had another wonderful meal delivered by our wonderful neighbors.
• We managed to have a lengthy Sunday family prayer time (about 40 minutes) with Alex and the toddler both present, which is a small miracle.

Sometime this week I would like to post pics and a bit of a narrative from Gotcha Day. Right now, gotta get to bed!