The Latest

So I haven't posted in a LONG time. We've had some really good days, some bad but really, he's doing quite well lately. We are now in the exhaustion cycle. Marshall isn't sleeping well again. Every night for the past 2 weeks, he has been waking up screaming. We have to go into his room and tell him he's OK. Then he goes back to sleep until the next time. He also talks in his sleep a lot. We go in his room at least 4 times a night. It is exhausting!! Still, overall I can't complain. He is eating and less angry too! That is so nice. We still need to improve eating some textures but when it's something he likes, he gobbles it down. We still can't get him to eat noodles. I made Chicken Noodle Soup with my own homemade noodles. We made him try a bite but he threw up. Oh well. It's still progress.

Four weeks ago, he was SO mad that I called my husband to say I was dropping Marshall off at the nearest crisis center because he was so out of control and I felt myself getting there too. Brian just told me to rake Marshall to him. He was at school working on his research so he made Marshall go there and be bored. Then, just before I was supposed to pick them up at the bus stop, I smashed 3 fingers on my right hand in the garage door between 2 of the sections. I broke my ring finger all the way through at the tip but only bruised the other two. I'm still wearing a splint and sometimes it still hurts REALLY bad but I think it is starting to get better.

Well, that's my update. I hope all of you are doing well.

I Must Be Crazy- What's Going On With Us

This is what is going on here. It's not the best post but I'm really tired and want to get to bed but need to post this.

We are planning a vacation at the end of April to go to Naperville, Illinois, where I grew up. I'm really nervous about how Marshall will handle it. He has been more intense these last few weeks. Yes, it does cycle, but this is out of control. He doesn't sleep well, tries to eat but tells me he has to throw up. He is hitting a lot more and now started licking people and things again. Gross!!! He likes to lay on my arm or just lay on me while I'm sitting up. He touched our feeding therapist in the crotch 2 weeks ago and has tried touching me on the chest a few times too. The hyperactivity is going strong still too. Oh, and he's been a LOT more angry and threatening over the last few weeks. He doesn't seem happy. Who could? I want to take a picure of him so you can see his eyes. They have dark circles under them. I brushed him and did his "tens" (joint compressions), and with Clonidine and Melatonin in him, he went to sleep. I love that time of day. In the mornings, he's a bit snuggly but easily upset. All he wants to do is to play Disney's Toontown Online . He cries a lot, screams a lot, talks a lot (AND LOUDLY!!!!!!), jumps like crazy all over the place, and is more defiant. We are all tired. Really tired. I have more that I need to blog about but I haven't had time to do it yet.

Feeding Issues Continue

We had cereal for breakfast but it took Marshall FOREVER to eat his little bit. I ended up feeding him most of it. Thankfully, he wanted a snack at church so I gave him a Sweet & Salty Peanut Bar. Those are SOOO yummy!

Then, this afternoon, we gave Marshall 1/4 cup of Chili, which he loves, and a few other things for lunch. He ate his crackers (the crunchy part of his meal), and a few bites of his fruit leather (the fruit choice), but STRUGGLED to eat the Chili. He just wouldn't do it. He played and talked and played and talked but never wanted to eat. He had one bite in 20 minutes. So finally, out of desperation, I started feeding him. The SLP told me I should because he has a significant feeding delay. First, I told him to eat four more bites (which he eventually did) but then he wanted to be done. So I fed him a few more bites but he just would not finish. I finally gave up but that means he only ate MAYBE 1/8 cup of Chili. That can't be enough to keep weight on this boy!

Dinner started with a battle. He complained and complained about the smell (we had Beef Stroganoff), said it was yucky before he tasted it at all. When my husband put Soy Sauce on Marshall's food he said it was yummy. Still, he wasn't eating so I decided to let my husband feed him this time because I already had a turn and I had been done eating for about 10 min.
I was only gone for a few min. when I hear coughing in the kitchen. My husband yelled something so I went in to see what was going on. There was Marshall throwing up in the trash can. At least he puked in there and not all over his booster seat (which I still can't get all the way clean). My husband was FRUSTRATED and earlier had sent Marshall to bed as a punishment for not eating. I told him we can't do that!! My husband's punishment is always send them to bed but I don't agree with that. Anyway, so my husband, in frustration said, "We might as well take him and let them put a G-Tube in him." Marshall is not that bad. Yes, he has major feeding issues and yes we are frustrated and SICK OF FEEDING ISSUES, but that doesn't mean a G-Tube is the answer. He is still about 34 lbs which is really not bad for a four year old. Unfortunately, the SLP doesn't have appointments available this week so we have to wait a week. She's only in on Thursdays but I will leave her a message and beg her to call us and give us SOME clue as to how to help this boy!! We're at a complete loss.

Sleeping is still a problem but he's had a few more good nights. Sadly, he looks so tired all the time. Last night he slept in our room on his little bed, and cried out so much in his sleep. I wish he could have peaceful, restful sleep. Maybe someday.