I'll wash those words out with soap!!

What adult doesn't remember hearing the words, "If you say that word again, I'll wash your mouth out with soap!" I had it done numerous times when I was younger (I was one mouthy youngun, can you imagine that?). 

However, this is something I have never had to do nor would do. With the allergies my oldest son has, we're lucky if he can even USE soap to wash with, much less have it in his mouth! 

Yet, although I have never intended to use soap for the purpose of "washing out a mouth" I have used that as a consequence of potty mouths. When my older two were younger, they each let a foul word come out of their mouths. The first thing I did was to explain that it was a naughty word and they shouldn’t say it. The second time they said it, I told them that if they used that word again, I’d have to wash that word out of their mouth with soap. I still remember each time I told one of my children this. They looked at me with wide eyes and a look of shock! They each asked several questions about it…..how it would taste, which soap would I use, etc etc. Needless to say, neither child ever said the word in question again.

Enter……….Pookie. Today, while his speech therapist was here, he climbed in my lap and asked me to call her a not so nice name. I looked at him and told him that if he said that word again, I’d have to wash it out of his mouth with soap. I didn’t stop to think it through. I’d done it with two other children with great results, what was there to think about? 

But, as with all things, Pook’s way of interpreting information isn’t the same as ours. He hopped off my lap, looked at me and very serious said, “OK, wait here. I’ll go get the soap!” He then smiled and ran off to my bathroom. I joked with the speech therapists about his response. As he came bounding out of my bedroom on his way into the living room I was appalled! Pookie had a bar of soap in his mouth and was vigorously scrubbing his tongue. I herded him back to the bathroom thinking of all the horrible germs that were on that bar of soap! I took Pook to the sink and proceeded to wash out his mouth with water and have him wash his hands. He however didn’t see the need. Why wash his mouth? He just wanted to go play.

Today’s lesson is a lesson I’ve already seen a thousand times……… don’t say anything you don’t want done around Pook!

I’m just hoping that no one ever looks at him and says, “If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you?” 

He needs no more ideas!

Ear infections and other people's haircuts

Pook has had croup thru the winter since he was only a few weeks old. Nebulizers and albuterol fill most winter nights in our home. A couple of times there have been emergency room trips to the hospital, but overall nothing that wasn't handled. Most recently, Pook was diagnosed with asthma. Although he was started on Singulair in the hopes that we would not have to give him a stimulant (as if we want Pook jacked up any more then he normally is), it didn't work. So, Pook had to start Advair (an inhaler that is a stimulant). The pulmonologist told me that I could regulate his dosage, as long as I did not exceed the maximum dose. 


At first, we were able to use it just once a day but his coughing/croupy episodes begin to come more frequent and lasting longer. So, in addition to his nightly nebulizer treatments, he was also getting his inhaler twice a day and a cough syrup to boot. Still, no relief for his cough. So, after three weeks of nightly coughing, I took him to the doctor. He hadn't been running a fever and the only thing he'd complained of was his head hurting during the night. Since he suffers from migraines, and was coughing so much, a headache would seem "normal" under these circumstances. 


Upon the doctor's exam, it was discovered that he had an ear infection. The doctor said she was surprised he didn't complain about it. I got the impression he must've had it for a while. The doctor also seemed surprised that he had not had a fever.    

It didn't surprise me that Pookie hasn't complained of pain. I've seen that boy take falls that would make a grown man cry. He didn't bat an eye, just jumped up and kept going. Not running a fever though, this concerns me. A fever is a sign that your body is fighting off infection. Does this mean then that his body isn't fighting off infections? With no real sense of pain, and no fevers, how will I ever know that he is sick? 

I got to thinking about it; Pookie can't regulate body temperature either. In the winter he gets so cold, so fast that he feels frozen. In the summer he gets so rapidly overheated that his face is the color of a lobster with chalk white rings around his eyes and mouth. 

If he has issues in this area, could this keep him from running a fever? 

As always though, I'll look at the bright side. IF I ever put him in public school, at least he'll not get absences due to fevers! ;-)

OK, so now we covered Pook's current ear infection. But of course, that's not the end of the story. It appears that his increased inhaler use, nightly nebulizer treatments, cough syrup and his new antibiotic has resulted in his being even more active then normal. The coughing fits are really starting to upset him. This morning he woke coughing and the first few hours he was awake were horrible. He managed to throw all our VHS tapes on the floor, run about 50 laps thru the house (it's in the shape of an 8), beat up both his older siblings, and trash his room I'd straightened up the night before. Once he calmed down and was occupied, I went to jump in the much needed shower. However, on impulse I decided to cut my hair. Not much of a difference then before. I went from this......

to this......

 

 

 Nothing major, right? 

WRONG WRONG WRONG. Pookie walked into the bathroom and screamed at the top of his lungs........ 

"What did you do to your hair?"

He then proceeded to run thru the house, screaming and yelling while demolishing everything in his path. Now, when I attempt to talk to him, he looks at me like he has no idea who I am or why he should even think of listening to me. Each time he sees me, he gets this look in his eyes like its all he can do to maintain. 

I should have known. The same thing happened when I changed my hair color. It happened when his "Bubba" had his hair cut shorter then normal. It happens when he gets new shoes or we go someplace new. Yep, change and Pook don't go hand in hand. 

 It could always be worse. The first time he discovered that hair could be colored, he insisted that everyone in the family have blue hair. Blue is his favorite color (and the only color he recognized his first 3 years of life). If my hair could be red, why not blue? He hounded us for days, even putting his bathtub paint that was blue in his hair and streaking thru the house to color all our hair also. 

Who knows, tomorrow maybe he'll forget my hair was longer.

***

Footnote: While putting in the hyper links to the text, Pook got scissors and started to cut his hair. I asked him what he was doing and he said he wants hair "just like Mike's".  Mike is the pastor at our church who married us. Only thing is..... Mike is bald. 

*********************

Update: Pook was sincere in his desire to look like Mike. He grabbed his kid safety scissors and made three significant cuts to his hair. Straight to the scalp and right in the front. Only choice was to cut it short. Soooo, he went from this.....

  

to this......

Sickness and the little things

Pook has had croup thru the winter since he was only a few weeks old. Nebulizers and albuterol fill most winter nights in our home. A couple of times there have been emergency room trips to the hospital, but overall nothing that wasn't handled. Most recently, Pook was diagnosed with asthma. Although he was started on Singulair in the hopes that we would not have to give him a stimulant (as if we want Pook jacked up any more then he normally is), it didn't work. So, Pook had to start Advair (an inhaler that is a stimulant). The pulmonologistmigraines, and was coughing so much, a headache would seem "normal" under these circumstances. Upon the doctor's exam, it was discovered that he had an ear infection. The doctor said she was surprised he didn't complain about it. I got the impression he must've had it for a while. The doctor also seemed surprised that he didn't have a fever!  told me that I could adjust the dosage as needed as long as I didn't go over the maximum dose. At first, we were able to use it just once a day but his coughing/croupy episodes begin to come more frequent and lasting longer. So, in addition to his nightly nebulizer treatments, he was also getting his inhaler twice a day. Still, no relief for his cough. So, after three weeks of nightly coughing, I took him to the doctor. He hadn't been running a fever and the only thing he'd complained of was his head hurting during the night. Since he suffers from migraines and had been coughing a lot, I figured this was "normal" for the current situation. 

It didn't surprise me that Pookie hasn't complained of pain. I've seen that boy take falls that would make a grown man cry. He didn't bat an eye, just jumped up and kept going. Not running a fever though, this concerns me. A fever is a sign that your body is fighting off infection. Does this mean then that his body isn't fighting off infections? With no real sense of pain, and no fevers, how will I ever know that he is sick? 

I got to thinking about it though, Pookie can't regulate body temperature either. In the winter he get so cold so fast that he feels frozen. In the summer he gets so rapidly overheated that his face is the color of a lobster with chalk white rings around his eyes and mouth. 

If he has issues in this area, could this keep him from running a fever? 

As always though, I'll look at the bright side. IF I ever put him in public school, at least he'll not get absences due to fevers! ;-)

OK, so now we covered Pook's current ear infection. But of course, that's not the end of the story. It appears that his increased inhaler use, nightly nebulizer treatments, cough syrup and his new antibiotic is resulting in his being even more active then normal. The coughing fits are really starting to upset him. This morning he woke coughing and the first few hours he was awake were horrible. He managed to throw all our VHS tapes on the floor, run about 50 laps thru the house (it's in the shape of an 8), beat up both his older siblings, and trash his room I'd straightened up the night before. Once he calmed down and was occupied, I went to jump in the much needed shower. However, on impulse I decided to cut my hair. Not much of a difference then before. I went from this......

 

to this......

 

Nothing major, right? WRONG WRONG WRONG. Pookie walked into the bathroom and screamed at the top of his lungs........ 

"What did you do to your hair?"

He then proceeded to run thru the house, screaming and yelling while demolishing everything in his path. Now, when I attempt to talk to him, he looks at me like he has no idea who I am or why he should even think of listening to me. Each time he sees me, he gets this look in his eyes like its all he can do to maintain. 

I should have known. The same thing happened when I changed my hair color. It happened when his "Bubba" had his hair cut shorter then normal. It happens when he gets new shoes or we go someplace new. Yep, change and Pook don't go hand in hand. 

 It could always be worse. The first time he discovered that hair could be colored, he insisted that everyone in the family have blue hair. Blue is his favorite color (and the only color he recognized his first 3 years of life). If my hair could be red, why not blue? He hounded us for days, even putting his bathtub paint that was blue in his hair and streaking thru the house to color all our hair also. 

Who knows, tomorrow maybe he'll forget my hair was longer.

***

Footnote: While putting in the hyper links to the text, Pook got scissors and started to cut his hair. I asked him what he was doing and he said he wants hair "just like Mike's".  Mike is the pastor at our church who married us. Only thing is..... Mike is bald. 

A Bad Day

Overall the last couple of weeks have been without event. A couple small meltdowns here and there but mostly just the basic day to day stuff. You know, the car seat battles, the not being able to sleep, not eating, constantly moving, wearing the same clothes days on end.....just the usual stuff. Today however is A BAD DAY. 

Today, Pook must spin. He has commandeered my desk chair. I am now sitting on the coffee table, typing and reaching out every few seconds to spin the chair. This has been going on for quite sometime now. He alternates between holding his head straight up, his body not moving and staring at the ceiling or banging his hands together while spinning (as in the picture).

Pook has now decided to eat lunch, which is a good thing. He's eating a hotdog and chips while spinning. Which is probably not a good thing. But, you pick and choose. Getting him to eat when he's like this is difficult. He may not eat again today, despite our best efforts. So, I'll choose to let him eat a hotdog and chips while spinning and hope for the best (a bucket is on standby just in case). 

Did I mention that Pook does NOT get dizzy. Nope, never. He has learned to "fake it" if he has an audience. He started out copying his siblings when they'd get off the merry go round at the park and does it occasionally just for the fun of it. But, he's not really dizzy. This is an issue with his "vestibular system".  It also explains part of the reason he is in a constant state of motion.

Lunch for the rest of us today was quite an adventure. One of us had to be spinning Pook at all times. I attempted to do a family lunch today, but that resulted in my file boxes, my "to sort" box, and and all my envelops, printer paper, and more being strewn across the living room floor. So, one of us spins while the others eat. 

While all this is going on, we have listened to the same song over and over and over and over and over again. It's Pook's favorite song, "Every Move I Make" by Integrity Music. I'll be singing "Na na na na na na" in my head for weeks. It could be worse, at least it's Jesus music! ;-)

Overall, in the scheme of things, today isn't really a bad day. I mean, compared to some days we've had today is quite good. He's not harming himself physically. He's not flipping out over little things today. All this spinning might actually help him settle down for a nap (with weighted blanket and sound machine of course).  Really, now that I think about it, today isn't really a bad day after all. Just different. 

And different is not a bad thing!! ;-)

Have a great day each of you and follow the blue links above to find out more!! Thank you for taking the time to read! If you have a child with similar uniqueness, then know that you are in my thoughts and not alone. If you know someone who has a child with a similar uniqueness, then please take the time to follow the links above and learn more. It's always refreshing to hear a friend mention a word that is "normal" in our own vocabulary that we know is not in theirs. It shows us that someone cared enough to find out more, and this is what helps keep us going.

How did Pook do at the Wedding??

I am quite ashamed that I haven't gotten back here to update. So many wondered how Pook did at the wedding. Here is the update.

Pook was quite excited at the wedding. He hung out with me or his father and seemed to be doing quite well. We had decided to play his favorite song, "Every Move I Make" by Integrity Music and let him and his siblings dance down the aisle in an effort to distract him from the assault on his senses. All seemed to be going well until the moment arrived for him to get ready to go down the aisle. He suddenly decided instead to go thru a different door and go before his time, when his soon to be daddy was walking his mother down the aisle!! I managed to get him around to the proper door and keep him from disrupting the ongoing procession. When it came time for him to go down the aisle, the doors opened, he took one look, and shook his head no while backing up. His sister went down the aisle first instead....Nope, he still wasn't going. Next his brother....he's thinking about it. Then, we talked him into going. He ran as fast as he possible could, screaming at the top of his lungs. Fine with me, he made it to the stage and stood beside his siblings.

Due to my own health issues, chairs were put on stage for us all to sit in. Pook sat down with seemingly no problems when it was time to sit....for about 15 seconds. Then, the acrobats started. He went round and round in his chair and then was hanging upside down from it. He walked to me during the ceremony and I told him to go sit with his Nana who we made sure had a front row seat closest to him. He left the stage and made his way thru the crowd hanging out with family and friends. He returned to the stage and sat with me during the slideshow his new father had made for him and his siblings and then returned out to the audience for the remainder of the service. 

The reception didn't go as well. It took everyone there to contain him and everyone lent a hand in helping out with him. Overall it was a wonderful success. I'm quite pleased at how well he did. Of course, there were tons of people praying for him to do well during the ceremony and I've no doubt God interceded in his behalf.

You never know what might happen in a day of Pook's life, but there will never be a dull moment. He recently got a bicycle and is absolutely thrilled with it. It looks like a miniature dirtbike. Daily he caresses it with love and admiration. Daily he sits on it screaming and thrashing around because he can't quite figure out how to pedal all the way around without occasionally getting stuck. Daily he sleeps with it by his bed at naptime and the same at bedtime. Daily he craves the feel of the spiked pedals on his bare feet and daily he screams that they hurt him. He loves it though and as with most things he loves, in some way they are an assault on his senses.

I love my Pook and wouldn't change him for the world. Yet, if possible, I'd change his world so that it didn't hurt him daily.

Hugs to all the other parents out there who strive each day to make the world a little bit easier for their child with sensory issues to endure!