Sensory Seeking Chaos

I knew it was coming. It's been raining for several days on and off, highly limiting the amount of time Pook has been able to play outside. Playing outside is a MUST for him. He has a trampoline, a basketball goal, a bicycle and a dog......all of which provide great sensory input for him.

Add to the fact that the weather has prevented his outside play, we also have been living in the midst of a large swarm of very noisy Cicada's for three weeks. It sounds as if a house alarm is constantly going off. There have only been two times through the three weeks the Cicada's have not been playing their "song".....when it rains, and at night time. Of course, Pook isn't normally outside during those times anyway!

So, I've been waiting for him to melt...somehow, someway. Today was that day. I woke EARLY this morning to Pook's face directly in mine. He was talking very loudly and telling me to do something (I'm still not quite sure what). He was adamant, loud, and very pushy. He seemed to have completely forgotten any concept of personal space.

Our day was filled with him mouthing all kinds of objects that should not go in a mouth. He jumped around everywhere and climbed on everything in sight. He slammed doors over and over again and repeatedly returned to the kitchen for big metal spoons to bang on the counter tops. He banged on windows, walls, floors.....everything he could. He banged with sticks, toys, belts....all of it.

When I had to make a business call, he ended up screeching over and over again right next to me. May God bless the wonderful patient woman on the phone who was handling the call!! Despite my attempting to go to another room, my screeching son followed me, close to my heels.

His diet today has been awe inspiring. He has eaten at least 8 oranges (though I suspect much more), a bit of peanut butter with shredded cheddar cheese mixed in, Taco Bell Fire Sauce and Texas Pete Hot Sauce. The latter two he ate straight from the packs and bottle. Oh, and he also ate an apple juice popscicle.

He refused to shower, telling me that he was a Ninja and his Mommy told him he's not allowed to take showers at other people's homes. He also got into the fridge and jugged almost an entire 2 liter of his fathers caffeinated beverage. He refused to have anything to do with his bedroom.

Just watching Pook today exhausted me!!

Then, Daddy came home. I'd printed out an article for Daddy last night from Hartley's Life With 3 Boys. The article, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by Alysia talked about the specific sensory play that her husband has with their son each morning to start the day. When hubby came home this evening, I handed him the printout, pointed to the first picture and said, "Let's try this". We explained to Pook what we wanted to do and was met with a crying and resolute "NO!". So, I sat down and showed him the picture of the father and son. Well, apparently if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for him! I laid on the bed, relaxing for the first time today, and watched as Daddy pulled Pook up into the air and Pook transformed his body into an "X". For the first time today, Pook smiled and from there his smiles turned into giggles and laughs. His intense gaze that he'd had all day begin to soften. Dad was able to get him into the shower shortly therafter and cuddled with him (while providing deep rubdowns) on the couch until he fell asleep.

I came to terms a long time ago that I couldn't give Pook quite the sensory input that his Daddy could give him. I'm OK with that, except when Daddy isn't here!

Don't get me wrong....sensory seeking days aren't all bad. Today we found a tick on the inside of Pooks thigh. Dreading having to remove it, I laid him down on the bed and got the tweezers ready. First pull....nothing. Second pull....nothing. After several times attempting to get the tick to disengage itself from Pook's thigh, it finally came loose. Pook didn't bat an eye. He just laid there and talked to his sister about various subjects. I'm sure we wouldn't have had the same response from him on a different day!!!

Raising a child with special needs is filled with exhausting days like today. Yet, I am blessed beyond belief to have Pook teaching me each day things I would have never even noticed without him.