Nov 30, 2008

INDESCRIBABLE PAIN

Ryder's pre-school picture (I forgot it was picture day, hence the shirt)

I am confused. The night before Thanksgiving, Ryder only slept for 2-3 hours. No fever. No cold. Ears are fine. He began screaming and crying earlier that day and was very inconsolable. The day turned to night, and he couldn't sleep. He was very agitated. I massaged his tummy, listened for bowel sounds with my stethoscope (didn't need to, because you could hear them without it), I "ran energy" on his tummy. It helped a little. He was very clingy and didn't want to be left alone in his dark room. He was terrified and sobbed until he couldn't catch his breath. As I apprached his door, I noticed it was shut all of the way. I assumed Ryder was scared, even though he had a bright nightlight. I just held him for awhile until I HAD to get some sleep. Bill's turn. He was in terrific pain, but could not express to me where the pain was. I assumed it was his tummy. He did have some gas.

The next morning was Thanksgiving day, and we were preparing to go to my mom's house for the feast. Ryder was hand flapping wildly(he normally does NOT do this) as if he were possessed. It was so scary. He would scramble up me and cling to me as if he were trying to get away from the pain or something. He would actually try to climb over whomever was holding him, like he was running for his life. It was so hard to see. We had given him some gas drops and a tiny bit of Pepto--but there was not much reprive.

In the van on our way to Grandma's we heard an enormous, deep belch from behind our seats, followed by vomit spewing all over. Luckily, Bill caught most of it with a blanket. "Roll the windows down!" the kids screamed. I breathed a sigh of relief, and Ryder seemed a bit better, until we got to Grandma's and the hand flapping and screaming started again. Grandpa and Bill gave him a blessing.

Ryder settled down and just layed on Grandma's bed all day moaning and swaying his head back and forth.

I wondered if I should have taken him to the ER, but this has happened two other times this past year that I can remember. The doctors will just send us home and say, "treat the symptoms" and "remember he will flap his hands, he is autistic".

Then came the diarrhea. It wasn't too bad, we've dealt with worse. It is so hard to see him in pain, and there is absolutely nothing I can do except pray. Since then, he has not been himself. Dark circles under his eyes, he seems to be unsteady and I wonder if some of this is related to seizure activity. His eyes were dilated. His lips have been chapped with dark dead skin. If the GI system begins with the mouth, then do the black lips have something to do with it? Or is it just fibers from his red blanket that he uses?

He finally slept on Thanksgiving night, with the help of Melatonin. The next morning he was hoarse from screaming. Yesterday he did not want to be held and was very quiet all day. It is as if he regressed back to when he was a baby. It's as if his brain gets "stuck" in a wierd gear and he can't eat or sleep.

Usually when he has gas pains he'll cry a little angry cry and he might rock or stim more than usual. But this is unreal. Last February, this happened for two weeks! After three dr visits and being sent home with heartburn medication, I had had it. No more. Stupid.

I'm still trying to figure it out. Diet? Probably. I need to pay more attention, I guess. I've been trying to contact the DAN dr, but he's been out for the holiday.

Sometimes I wonder why this sweet, pure, innocent child has to suffer this way. I wish I could take his pain away.

Nov 20, 2008

A DIFFERENT KIND OF THERAPY

I've been participating in the IAN (Interactive Autism Network) project and answering questions about each of our kids. It asks about all of the therapies, treatments, interventions, etc. that you do and whether or not you see any progress and/or success. I find it interesting that they consider "prayer" an intervention or treatment. 'Prayer' is its own listing (see below):

Treatment Name

Coenzyme Q10 ( CoQ10, CoQ, Q10, Ubiquinone)
DHA
Diflucan
Essential fatty acids
Lamictal
Magnesium Citrate
Occupational Therapy
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Prayer
Speech and Language Therapy
Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid or folate)
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
GFCF diet
Potassium
vitamin B 12 injections
Physical therapy
Magnesium
Zinc

I guess prayer could be considered an intervention, treatment or therapy. I just never thought of it that way before.

The Oxford Dictionary says prayer is "a solemn request or thanksgiving to God".
And here it is Thanksgiving time. We have a lot to be thankful for.


Nov 15, 2008

RUNNING ENERGY


The kids keep passing a virus around. Mason missed three days of school last week, and now Hunter and Ryder have it. They have fevers, red bumps on the very back of their tongue, a sore throat and headache. Sometimes I will "run energy" on the kids when they are sick.

Last Spring I took a class on Energy Healing Therapy. It is really interesting--how every living thing has energy and how we can focus that energy and turn it into a healing experience. Here is a little bit about it taken from www.quantumtouch.com.

Everything vibrates. When two things vibrate at different frequencies, there is a tendency for the vibrations to come together. Most often, the slower vibration will rise to match the faster frequency. There are many kinds of examples of entrainment: over time, similarly tuned electric oscillators will match frequencies; disembodied animal hearts when placed near each other and kept alive in a lab will all beat in unison; and when women share a dormitory, over months they will often start menstruating at the same time.

Healing is a fascinating process which is generally very poorly understood. While many people think they can heal other people, it is of utmost importance to realize that all healing is self-healing. Ultimately, cells heal themselves. Cells desire to be well, and given the right energetic, emotional and nutritional environments, they will do just that. The body has an extraordinary intelligence and ability to heal itself. My favorite definition of a healer is someone who was sick and got well; a great healer is someone who was very sick and got well quickly.--Richard Gordon

I've been trying to practice and study it and get my 60 credit hours in so I can become a practictioner. It is so calming and relaxing and I can certainly benefit from this bonus, too!

Nov 11, 2008

FIGURING OUT IDIOMS


Here is an example of what Hunter is working on in speech therapy using idioms. See if you can pick the correct answer!


1. Whenever people argue, Joe puts his head in the sand.

a. Joe thinks arguments are as much fun as a sandbox.
b. Every time people argue, Joe pretends he is invisible.
c. Joe tries to ignore people when they argue.

2. Every time I turn around, Martha has a new cat.

a. Martha has one cat after another.
b. Whenever I twirl, Martha gets a new cat.
c. I can't believe how quickly Martha gets a new cat.

3. Let's mend our fences before school gets out for the summer.

a. Before it's summer, let's make sure all our fences are fixed.
b. Let's make up before summer starts.
c. We should settle our differences before the summer starts.

4. An apology was on the tip of Katie's tongue.

a. Katie was almost ready to say she was sorry.
b. Katie had a sore tongue.
c. Katie was just about to apologize.

5. When Dad asks Jim to do something, it goes in one ear and out the other.

a. Jim doesn't listen when his dad wants him to do something.
b. Jim quickly forgets what his dad asks him to do.
c. Jim's dad can send messages right through Jim's head.


Actually, I don't have the answers, but I think "C" is a good one for all of them except #5. That would be "b."

Nov 7, 2008

MY ASPIE HUSBAND


Today I wondered, will I ever miss the things that drive me crazy about my Aspie husband? Or will those memories be a source of comfort and happiness someday when I'm old and gray?


Will I miss Bill's 11 pens in his right pants pocket?
Will I miss his giant pickle jar filled with quarters devoted to the USA Today's weekly edition of basketball stats?
Will I miss his endless aches and pains?
Will I miss the methodical way that he eats fried chicken-crunching and nibling ever so slightly on the tiniest of bones?
Will I miss his growing collection of crossword puzzles with each page finished in pencil and the time it took to finish it highlighted at the top?
Will I miss his quest for descriptive details?
Will I miss the way he can't hear his alarm go off?
Will I miss his hourly (it seems) bathroom episodes?
Will I miss the quirky way he ties his shoes and matches his clothes like Cousin Eddy?

Will I miss all of the receipts, trinkets, ticket stubs, and fast food restaurant napkins he saves? Gag.

In the present, I would miss his help in changing Ryder's diapers.
I would miss his taking the garbage out.
I would miss his help with bathing the kids.
I would miss his staying up late "just in case one of the kids wakes up".
I would miss his cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night after Hunter or Ryder has a seizure. I would miss the candy bar he buys me every time he fills his car up with gas.
I would miss how he holds the door open for me even when it really isn't logical.
I would miss having a walking dictionary.

Nov 3, 2008

AN EEG ATTEMPT FOR THE 5TH TIME

Ryder has a reputation at his neurologist's office for the record number of times an EEG has been attempted, with still no sleep. This was supposed to be a sleep-deprived EEG. As you can see, he is awake; he is in a drunk-like stupor, but he is awake. Before this final attempt, the doctor prescribed something that would aid him in sleep. There was a 10% chance that the medication would cause the opposite effect. Well, guess what... Ryder is part of that 10%. He was hyper and giggly and very "under the influence". As Mercedes and I were waiting in the waiting room, we kept hearing Ryder moan like a cow. Mercedes was concerned that they might call animal control.

The doctor decided to go ahead and hook him up to the EEG and do it anyway, even if he was awake. Well, guess what...he fell asleep. (Is that all we needed to do?!)

Last I heard, Ryder no longer held the record. A two year old had passed him up.


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BEING GREEN

THE CUT-OUT KID STRIKES AGAIN!

Ernie and Oscar learn they like different things-great for kids on the Spectrum!