Tired moments

In our home we go through cycles when it comes to sleep. Peanut stopped having sleeping issues after we began to address his GI issues, although every once in a while he will wake up in the middle of the night and want to play instead of sleep. Sassy on the other hand is another story all together.
I have recently noticed her sleep issues go in cycles. She falls asleep very well, but it's staying asleep that is the issue. I'm afraid last night began another one of her cycles. Of course it's during the busiest week possible that I now not only have to operate without sleep, but also have to drag a tired 3 year old around to her brothers therapy appointments.
I know I'm not alone in the never ending sleep battle. It's not uncommon for children on the spectrum to have issues with sleep. I'm thankful to God that at least both children don't have the same issue.
Today had been a tough one. Sassy just spent the last hour following me around insisting I hold her. My heart breaks when I have to say no. Poor Peanut handles it well. He tries to ignore the crying, and tends to listen better which is nice, and he is quickly rewarded for his amazing behavior. Now she says her right ear hurts. I'll be honest the crying was wearing on me. I knew she was tired but I wondered if she was in pain too. I dropped some garlic oil in her ear which quieted her for a bit, but she quickly started back up.
I almost never medicate my children with traditional medications anymore, but today I gave in. On the way to Peanuts therapy I stopped and got her some dye free Motrin.
Is it bad I'm praying she was up last night because of an impending ear infection? At least I can work on healing that. I'm now enjoying the silence as she sleeps in the car in the parking lot of Peanuts therapy office. The OT was nice enough to come out and get him so I didn't have to wake Sassy.
Ahhhhh....silence. My rant is over, thanks for the ear.

Phew!

It's been a crazy month to say the least!  The kids have been doing great.  Peanut has started Speech Therapy and Physical Therapy on a weekly basis, as well as continuing Occupational Therapy.

It's been a little while since I've written.  Sometimes I have so much on my plate, certain things have to be put on hold, and this time, it was the blog.

Our Home school: We have been primarily using a  computer program and workbooks for preschool work.  Both children are at a Kindergarten level at this point with the exception of their fine motor issues, so we have been working on drawing and writing to try to catch up with this.  I am in the process of putting together a Kindergarten program.  This has been our first year of full time homeschooling and I have never once regretted it.  I feel blessed that we can home school both children.  I enjoy all the time I have with them.

Our Classroom: We have family that have generously offered their time and expertise to help us to design and construct our home school room.  The kids haven't use the sensory room since before Thanksgiving, so we decided to utilize the space for homeschooling.  We are currently using our dining room, and it has quickly been overtaken and my dream has been to have a space just for the kids work.  We are busy cleaning things up down stairs so we can get started.  I'm so excited!

Operation Organization: Around Christmas time the organization slowed, but hasn't stopped.  I'm working on our basement and making my way up. (Gotta clean out the storage areas before you find things that need to be stored right?)

Let it snow! March first brought a snowstorm with enough snow to actually play in.  The kids had a great time playing in the snow and making a snowman.

Mommy/Daddy time: We had an awesome date night this month!  We went to a Casting Crowns concert, which was amazing!  It's nice to get out an be an adult every once and a while.

Casting Crowns 3/15/12

I also had an opportunity this month that I never thought I would have.  I had the opportunity to attend a conference to see Eustacia Cutler and Temple Grandin speak!  What an awesome experience!  (I promise I'll share what I learned as soon as I am able to!)

 Eustacia Cutler

Temple Grandin

Our little getaway:  My husband was honored to win an award at his job, recognizing all of his hard work.  The award includes an all expenses paid trip to California! (Thank-you GOD!!!!)  We were just joking that the only way he and I could travel together on a little vacation would be if someone paid for us to go! (Obvious answer to prayer?  I would say YES!)  So we are going on a trip, just me and my husband!!

The Resolution Revolution: Recently my husband and I, as well as a few others from our church have felt called to start  Resolution bible study groups within our church.  The Resolution is based off the movie Courageous.  (If you haven't seen the movie, I would highly recommend it!).   The mens group has 28 men attending.  We announced the womens study last Sunday and had 47 women sign up!  It has taken some work for sure, but we know that God equips the called and we have faith he will guide us through this whole process.   We are so excited.  The study's are life altering for sure!

After the snow: Who would have thought that the beginning of March would bring snowmen, and the end of March would bring sunny 85 degree weather.  The kids (and I) have had a ton of fun playing outside, soaking up as much of that Vitamin D as possible!

So that's what we have been up to in the past month or so!  I'm hoping to be back online soon to share more in the next week so stay tuned!


God Bless!
Mommy Provost

Thankfulness

Every time we go to the Developmental Neurologist for an appointment, they find something wrong with Peanut.  We went the first time in 2009 and they told us Peanut not only had Autism, but he may also be having seizures.  (Thank God there was no evidence of seizures on a 24 hour EEG).  Then we went for a follow-up and they told us he had a motor ataxia and  an intentional tremor and they want to do a brain MRI to rule out a stroke or tumor.  I was a wreck to say the least.  We went back again and was told, he didn't have evidence of stroke (thank-you God) and he didn't have any tumors (again, thank-you God!) but.....he has a Myelin Delay and they are concerned he may have some kind of Demyelinating Disease, some of which are fatal.  We were told although his blood and urine tests were all normal, there is no way to know for sure until he gets older.  Basically, just wait and see what happens.  I'll be honest, that was a pretty tough pill to swallow.  
We went back today for our one year follow-up.  Over the past year Peanut has made great progress and has not had one regression.  We are confident that we don't have anything to worry about, but then again, every other time we went in for a follow-up we thought everything was okay and they would drop another bombshell on us.  The Developmental Neurologists office is 2 ours away, and so I had 2 hours to drive, think, and pray.   Although I walked in nervous, I knew our lives were in Gods hands, and He has a plan for us.
The visit went well.  They were very surprised at how well Peanut was doing.  They followed us out into the waiting room as we left and sat amazed watching and listening to Peanut as he talked with another child.  We don't have to follow-up for another year.  They seemed confident that we didn't have to be concerned about seizures or a demyelinating disease.   
I got the kids fed and packed back into the car and we began to drive.  They were perfectly behaved little angels munching away on a snack in the back.  All of the stress I had been carrying for the past year began to melt away, and I started to immediately thank God.  I thanked him throughout our entire 2 hour ride home.  Our son is recovering, and so is our daughter.  Despite all we have gone through we have chosen to praise God for all he has given us, and he is healing our children.
If you are going through trials, be careful not to blame God, but instead be sure to praise him, because He is the only one who could every carry you through.


 "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness."
Matthew 9:35



God Bless!
Mommy Provost