Life with Lars

I know, I know, it's already Wednesday and it's September. You don't have to tell me.

I know it's Wednesday because my husband goes to church and it's always questionable if he's ever going to return. Not that I don't appreciate trying out single parenting once a week to know how lucky I am, and it gets me prepared for the season of Advent. That's the positive way I look at it, anyway. That's how I know it's Wednesday.

I know it's September because all the flies and wasps that have been just fine hanging out all summer in the outdoors decide to come in my house in droves, just to annoy the heck outta me and my dog. Samson has been swatting them in the living room with his tail and trying to eat them all day. Looks better than those fly strings that hang in people's kitchen and gross you out, you know?

I am thinking that blogging has become has become such a main stay therapy of my life that I need to do it more often when the mood hits, instead of trying to wait till the end of the week to remember what I was going to say and then forgetting anyway, and not having time to get it done! So, having said that, let's see if I follow through or if it's really just something to put in my bucket list for after all my kids go off to college and I have time to write more. You know I'm going to write a book someday.

What is a bucket list, anyway?

What's in your bucket list?

Eden began Headstart last week on Thursday. The first two days there was no bus service, so we took her and picked her up. Yesterday, however, the bus arrived at 0735 and she burst into tears and balled up her blanket to sob on it. Thankfully, the bus waited for us. And waited. And waited. I had instant memories of my mom running after the bus in her night gown, waving it to stop so she didn't have to take me to school when I wasn't out at the end of the driveway in time.

I walked Eden up onto the bus and she eventually picked out a seat next to another little girl who looked equally as miserable and sad. As they drove away, she looked pitifully out the window at me and I felt torn between 'awful' and 'Thank God'.

Since I had to pick her up that day because of an appointment, I arrived at the school with a big smile on my face, waiting to see a happy Eden greet me to get in the car. Instead, I walked in and Eden said, crying, "But Mommy, I wanted to go home on the bus!"

I can't win.

Elia is a growing girl, who has found a new love in sucking on various fingers on both hands. She favors her right thumb OR pinky, and her left middle/ring finger. Eden calls this her 'married' finger, which I think is very cute. Still sleeping through the night (God knew we needed that early on), she is a very amicable baby who has started laughing a lot at nothing. (God knows we need that, now, too).

Lars. Oh My Loveable Lars.

Lars has had several weeks of distress and anguish, followed by discomfort, tears and tantrums. Along with several aggressive behaviors and screaming fits that go on for several hours each day. I realize this has been going on since the night he was born and the nurses refused to keep in the nursery because he cried the whole time, but after nearly three years of that & now 6 solid weeks of pure insanity, I started making some phone calls. One receptionist actually asked me to call back when my child stopped crying because she couldn't hear me. I said, "EXACTLY!"

In the last two weeks, we have been to the pediatrician, who gave us a list of vitamins/minerals to begin supplementing and had his food allergies and Celiac Test re-done. (He is now allergic to Egg Whites and his intolerance to Gluten has increased tremendously over one year).

We have seen an Occupational Therapist who specializes in Sensory Disorders. This man is amazing, and he was here 3 hours one week and 2 hours the next, filling our heads with information and tools to help Lars. I have also applied for respite care, but need to find somebody who will take him & love him for a few hours each week. Anyone interested??

We've filled out loads of paperwork and profiles and questionnaires and have received some test scores back that strongly suggests, at the very least, a sensory processing disorder, which is exacerbated by the food allergies and chronic stomach aches and diarrhea.

We made him an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist at St. Luke's Children Hospital in Denver for the end of this month, got him fitted for a weighted vest and blanket, and acquired a weighted turtle from the school, which has already been a calming presence among us all, especially during car rides, diaper changes and meal time.

The OT taught us how to use a brushing technique on his body, as well as joint compression, and we do that about every two hours while he's awake. We have a new therapy ball for deep pressure massage, a new system to recognize his triggers, and a relatively new outlook on "Life with Lars".

Now...on to finding a recipe for a dairy free, gluten free, egg free 3-year-old birthday cake....