Another chapter to write

This past year has been a year of growth and a year of challenges.

An increase in silent meltdowns have been challenging. Health issues have left us concerned. Emotional maturity has brought some relief.

We know there will always be challenges to overcome. The road traveled is not smooth, yet it is not as rugged as others that we know.

The silent meltdowns have mostly appeared in instances that are uncontrollable. (Don't they usually?) There will be too much sensory or mental input and the switch turns off. There just has to be understanding and comfort when this happens. We do still get those other meltdowns where all the emotion comes out. We are thankful that most times it just takes a calm loving voice with favorite essential oils to calm him.

Early in the year we were having daily migraines at school and were put on medication to help sleep. While the medication helped with the sleep and ultimately the migraines, hyperactivity and lack of focus became a major issue. We tried medication for the sake of academics. It did not last long when anger and lashing out developed. Over the summer, we stopped medication and started using essential oils. The results have been amazing and we don't have a set protocol yet.

This summer we had an amazing time at camp thanks to Ranger Josh and the Montgomery Bell State Park. They have a yearly camp for those with special needs and it was great! There was archery, canoes, rock climbing, learning about nature, making some great friends, swimming, and more. It was really an amazing time of being able to be true to myself. Then I was able to join PALS for baseball in September. It was amazing! But it was hot and I got tired easy.

This fall we have had some health issues. After a dental cleaning we developed an unknown infection that attacked the lymphatic system. Misery does not quite describe the situation. There was blood-work and an ultrasound on the lymph nodes in the neck. Everything came back clear aside from a high white cell count. After two different antibiotics and essential oils, the infection FINALLY decided to go away. Unfortunately, this has made it easier to become ill.

Once I got back to school from the lymphatic infection, I was able to go to a Vanderbilt Girls Basketball game with the school field trip. It was, overwhelming. I wouldn't mind going back with a much smaller group and after I learn a bit about basketball.

The last couple weeks I have been fighting what we believe is the flu. It is not fun. I haven't ran fever in a little over a week, but the fatigue and cough is hanging on. Yet, not sure if the fatigue is new or not. I have been getting tired easier.

This year may be ending on a low not with my health, but there has been a lot of growth. There are still a lot of sensory issues I deal with like noise levels. There are a lot of food sensitivities and allergies that I have to deal with. Mom's essential oils help with my sleeping and usually keep me pretty "normal" instead of hyper. I would rather read a great book or play video games any day, but I am doing okay in school.

Looking forward to a new chapter in my life that we pray will involve a lot more progress!

Stimmy Day

Summer is always a challenge.

No schedule, some schedule, no schedule, strict schedule, no schedule. It can be very difficult when you thrive on routine.

Today has been a day that I just need my own space and need to be left alone in my swing.

The soothing action of swinging helps me center myself. That and the wonderful essential oils!

Mom had already put the Balance on me. After I got upset with my brother and came back in the house, I asked for my swing. (Mom pulled it out of the attic too... that is huge! She hates the attic.)

Swing helped me calm down. After a couple minutes I asked her to bring me a pillow and put some Lavender on it.  I loved it. I rocked back and forth for about thirty minutes and calmed down.

My stimmy kind of day results in me being VERY emotional, easily upset, deep pressure seeking, and proprioceptive seeking.

This can result in me being very rough with my playmates. Mom does not let me blame my stimmy behavior for breaking the rules though. I understand. She wants me to overcome the sensory issues as much as possible and instead of making excuses on why I behave a certain way, it is better to adapt and attempt to eliminate the unwanted behavior.

It is hard. But when I am able to take a moment and chill out. It is all good.

By the way... we get our essential oils from here... doTERRA. We do not receive any retribution for sharing this link. Just being a supporter to a friend.

Sleep update, another diagnosis, and hope

The last few months have been remarkable.

In the end of January I was put on prescription medicine to help me sleep. I have had issues with sleeping pretty much all of my life. Mom would use lavender epsom salt, lavender soap, lavender laundry softener, lavender everything just to try to get me to relax enough to sleep. And up until about a year ago, the lavender would work in calming me and relaxing me in the evenings.

There were other things tried to and a bedtime schedule has always been a must.

As I said in the end of January I was given prescription medicine. It worked. I would sleep. Apparently, from nine years of not sleeping well, the ability to sleep all night made me very well rested and all of my active behaviors became aggravated. Aggravated as in I became less focused, hyper, and messier. This resulted in another medication a few weeks later.

While the Sensory Processing Disorder is quite evident, I gained another diagnosis.

It appears that while normally when a child is given a sleep medicine, the hyper-ness and unfocus will go away along with the headaches. Obviously I am not normal. Ha!

The other medicine helped a lot during school hours with a lot of my existing and newer problems. I was able to hold it together at school. Once I got home though I was very easy to get upset and moody.

So... for the summer, I am off of the daytime med completely and only take the sleep med when needed.

Meanwhile, mom has found some essential oils and they are helping. In the past when mom used Lavender everything, she tried essential oils from a couple brands and they would work for a little while and then stop working. We have finally found a Lavender that works and has been working continuously for a few months now. The brand is doTERRA. Mom has been AMAZED at the quality of the oils.

In addition to the Lavender at night, I am also using Balance during the day. And for the most part we see a big difference. The best part about the oils is that they are all natural, which means they are a lot safer for my heart than the prescriptions. Although, we do still have to watch how I react.