5/23

Ware is our daughter???

Jim and I are always on guard about ware K is at.  We live so close to the highway, her fish pond, the swimming pool....  She hasn't ran away yet thank goodness.  She is getting more and more independent so we just have to be careful.

Not in the school,  not in the kitchen,  not in the nest, not behind the sofa.  We looked and looked.....


and looked.

Then we found her on the trampoline...... fast asleep.

Sleep is always a gift and I try to let her do it any chance we get.   I just didn't have the heart to leave her out there all night so I woke her up and made her come in.  

So she is up for the night.

Busted

I sleep with K.  It is the only way we survive.  Jim uses ear plugs and locks his door.  I stay up with the girl and catch every moment of sleep that she will allow.

I have been having hot flashes or "power surges" lately.   They are getting pretty intense.  I was having a whopper of one last night.  I had sweated SOOO much that my clothes were soaked, my hair was wet, the pillow... just everything.  K sleeps on flannel sheets an silly me went to bed with my flees PJ pants on.  (bad idea)

I didn't want to wake K so I sat there and suffered for a while.  Then I really got cooking so I decided to risk moving because I was awake anyway. 

As slowly and carefully as I could I shimmied out of my pants and got on top of the covers.  There was a miracle because K didn't wake up. 

A few hours later I was having a good dream and and wake to an icy hand on my knee.  Then it pats up my leg..... gets to my bum... and then whack!    I got a spanking.

"Moooooommmm!"  she says  "shoes on!"   I know she really means "put your pants on" but I pretend I don't know what she is saying.

So, the little smartie pants,  goes and gets a beach towel and tucks it  around me.

Every so often I would feel her patting my bum just to make sure I was still being modest.

3/9

Right away I knew it was going to be a good day because K slept for the fist time in days.  (Translation)  I got some sleep for the first time in days.)  

I can deal with so much more with a little rest.  I read somewhere that being sleep deprived causes the same delays as being a little drunk....  Hee hee.  I bet all the "normal" people of the world would be so scared to go out if they only knew how many autism moms were running around out there half cocked, right on the edge, and full of grief.  Add in the really real drunks, the collage students, postal workers.....  Maybe the Angels have it right.  Just stay inside. 

Even on the good days.

sleep

My Angel has been sick for over 2 weeks now.  Just a little virus that has been going around town.  She has been sleeping and sleeping.

It is so weird!

It is really common for autistic Angels not to sleep at all.  I joke that we haven't slept in 6 years.... and it isn't a joke.  so I am grateful that she is getting rest.  That means so am I. 

Melatonin works for some Angels, but not for K.  It gives her a migraine.
Lavender oil helps some.  (she thinks it stinks so she will no relax)
A bed time routine works well for "typical kids".  If you know anything at all about Angels you know that everything is a routine.  Even not sleeping???

So my best advice is to take care of your self.  Eat well and stay healthy because life with an Angel will test your endurance.  Then enjoy the moments of rest like you just won the lottery!