Bells and Alarms

Paired sleeping for comfort

Bedtime in our house is a familiar routine to any other household with kids. You know, that mad frenzy to get the kids fed, washed and clothed for bed. You pray you can get it all done before 9 pm so you can tend to some house chores and maybe get a chance to shower before you crash into bed. It was a night just like so many others of wrestling to get kids down when I found myself thinking back on simpler times that I recalled something about E.

When E was just an infant, he always seemed to prefer to be swaddled for bed. He slept best that way. He seemed to love to be held close or snuggle with his twin sister in the crib. If you put him down alone and unswaddled, he would cry. We thought it was because he was colic. But as he approached the 1 year marker, he liked me to keep my hand on his back while he fell asleep in his crib. Many nights I stood at his crib side, my hand on his back. If I removed my hand he would cry or wake. So back my hand went on his back. I became a pro at alternating hands with out him feeling my switching of hands. It was exhausting. And God forbid his sister would wake, then I just had a cry fest on my hands.

Many times I thought of filling a dish glove with rice to lay on top of him to try and give myself a break. My concern was that some how that could hurt him, so I never did try it. Little did I know that weighted blankets would be in our near future.

Nightly headstands

After the year marker, he liked me to hold his hand or rub his feet. Eventually, he just wanted me in the room with him. He would stand on his head or ram his body against crib. So every night, I lay on the floor with the twins as they fall asleep.  Stopping E from potentially hurting himself. Some nights are more of a struggle then others but it is improving. No more body ramming or headstands since we give him plenty of sensory before bed. Melatonin helps him settle down a lot quicker, as well as a drop of essential oil on his pillow and woobi (security blanket) to help him focus on his breathing.

In any case, I thought back on this time and realized that he was seeking sensory stimulation even way back then. I also made the comparison in my mind in regards to my eldest son. Another sensory seeker from early on as well all though we are just now learning that this is what he too has. E, still loves a good tight hug so long as it's on his terms, loves joint compression, a good pillow squash and is slowly starting to enjoy the brushing. Both my boys do.

Bells and alarms.

I wonder why I didn't put it all together sooner. Was it lack of experience as a mom or denial? Perhaps both. My first son, N, met all his markers on time if not earlier then most kids. And E, my second, did not, so it was easier to notice some potential problems for him. So how did I miss N's sensory issues. Early on I though maybe there was something going on so I had the school evaluate him for potential behavioral problems at two but they thought he was just high energy. But there were signs, the late speech development, the covering of ears, the constant jumping and moving, the slamming his body into yours for hugs, the unexplained outbursts/fits, jumping from high heights, banging his toys down hard. Honestly, his hugs feel like a Mack truck is trying to run you down to the ground. Kisses that squash your face. Anxiety. I mean I should have known something earlier but I just figured because he is so bright that he was quirky. I LOVE quirky. And the professionals were telling me he was okay. My boys are healthy and happy, it's all a mom ever really wants to hear. But I kept pushing for answers.

So now at 5, N has been formally diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and is now receiving Sensory Integration Therapy through Occupational Therapy. An answer and a solution.

Having these diagnosis' for my kids doesn't make life any less challenging but it gives us a great deal of explanation and motivation to get them the help they need to be successful in life. Do I still long for simpler times? Sometimes. But truthfully, they were never REALLY simple. Nothing ever is.

Thanks for following and have a blessed day.

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