After just a few days with a tiny increase in Zyprexa, my super kid is making a comeback.

After school on Friday, he was in a wonderful mood. We decided to ride our bikes to his favorite pizza place for dinner. He rode behind me on the tug-a-bug and shouted, "Let's go turbo, Mom!" So we blasted our way through rush-hour traffic to our destination.

That kid sprouted an appetite like Michael Phelps. He ate an entire twelve-inch cheese pizza, a chocolate cannoli, and washed it all down with a Sprite. I had a salad. The boy who professed several months ago that he wanted to be a vegetarian does not eat vegetables any more. Don't ask. I'm just trying to keep up.

We took the long way home through a couple of neighborhoods and to put in some extra time for exercise. He did fantastic, except for all the trick riding he was trying to do behind me. Every few feet the bike would wobble as he extended a leg or tried to ride holding on with only one hand. It's a good thing I couldn't see what he was doing, or I probably would have said something stupid and motherly like, "Don't make me come back there!"

When we got home, we selected a new book to read and went upstairs for his bath. As the tub filled, he sat cross-legged in the water, eyes closed, hands clasped gently as if in a deep meditative state. After a few moments, I whispered,

"Are you ready to hear the story?"

"Not yet," he replied quietly, turning his head slightly toward me in acknowledgment.

About twenty seconds later I asked, "What are you doing?"

"Feeling," he replied.

"What are you feeling?" I queried.

"The Force," he whispered.

"What does The Force feel like?" I wondered aloud.

"It feels like everything is great," he explained.

I reached my hand toward his. "You are awesome."

He reached with a wet hand, shook mine, and said, "And you're great too."

"Are you ready now?"

"Not yet," he answered. We paused, he continued to contemplate The Force, and I watched him breathe slowly as his body relaxed. "Now I am ready. The Force is good."

I have to remember this. The Force within him IS good, and he is capable of using it to strengthen his spirit and to find the calm within. A little extra Zyprexa probably helps too, but I sure do like watching him take control and make it happen.

Saturday we took the dog for a walk. Then Ian played basketball in his fitness class for Aspies. In the late afternoon he had a play date with a friend he had not seen all summer. They ran almost non-stop for an hour.

Then Sunday came, and I fully expected him to ask for a day to rest. But he got dressed and helped me walk the dog. In fact, we went almost twice as far as we did the day before. Later, he ASKED if he could do something that would give him some exercise. This is my child who doesn't like to sweat ... it's gross, he says. He swam for about 30 minutes.

I know exercise does wonders for a person's self-image and energy level. I've been telling Ian this for ages. It seems he is finally convinced. It's nice to see him embracing activity like he did as a toddler.