Thursday 4 October 2012

No Sleep and Red Bottoms

I'm back to the diet theory again.  Yes I know I go around in circles with these things, but seriously, the kids had some junk food at lunch time yesterday and by yesterday arvo they both had red bums.  Then last night Connor was up from about 12:30am until way past 3am and Merryn was pfaffing around from 9pm until midnight and then had a few little wake ups from then until 6:30am.  All in all Andrew and I are walking zombies and I don't think the kids feel that great either.

I have been so tired and swamped that I've allowed things like tinned spaghetti and BBQ shapes to feature too often in a regular week and I think it's having an impact.  We are still careful on the dairy, but I don't think that's enough.  All this means I need to get out the FODMOP (http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-information/low-fodmap-diet) book and plan a week out.  It requires time and organisation, which are two things I'm struggling with, but somehow I've got to make it happen.

I'm hoping I can come up with a list of stuff that is good, then make things up on the weekend.  Then all I have to do is pull things out of the fridge or freezer when snacks and meals are required.  This will reduce the times where I'm trying to prepare food and I'm too tired to think and/or the kids are yelling at me.  Now to get it happening!!!

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Anxiety and Sleep

The sleep clinic pediatrician said something interesting at our last appointment.  She said kids/adults with anxiety can often have sleep issues.  She isn't an advocate of using anti-anxiety medication on kids under 4, but she did feel that Connor was going to be a likely candidate for it.

I have had an inkling for a while now that he was going to need some sort of medication for his anxiety but I hadn't realised it could also help him with sleep issues.  While I won't be rushing into giving him that sort of stuff, it is certainly food for thought.

In the meantime the sleep clinic Pediatrician has sent Connors files through to the Child Psychologist.  She said she will chat to her before making any sort of recommendations for further medication.  I think Connor is going to start to rattle soon.

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Merryn's Turn To Burn The Midnight Oil

After Connor's efforts on Sunday night, little Mez didn't want to be out done last night.  I gave up after 2.5 hours and called Andrew in around 1am.  I found her in bed with him about 5am.  She wore him down until he gave up in the interests of a few hours sleep.  The poor love stumbled out of here at 7am to go to work.

These kids have stamina, I'll give them that!!!

Monday 1 October 2012

The Circadin Experiment

The slow release Melatonin tablet is called Circadin (http://www.circadin.com/). It is supposed to mimic the release of Melatonin into the body overnight so you can get natural sleep.

Connor's fabulous reaction to the Melatonin drops in the early evening have been miraculous, but his continuing issues during the night have meant we have been trying the tablets as well. At our last sleep clinic appointment we discussed what was going on (wake ups that last for hours and disturbed sleep) and we decided to try a week of double dose, a week of single dose (which is what he's been on for a few months) and a week of nothing, keeping a sleep diary to record results. We are a week into double dose, it's 3am and I've been up since 1am with boofhead (no I'm not feeling in a kindly disposition to him right now). So far my conclusion is its not working. The Dr said she suspected that might be the case and if so we are basically screwed. As in nothing is going to work, he will always have sleep issues and we are going to have to suck it up (not how she actually worded it).

I'm thinking of putting a lock on his door at night, sound proofing the room and moving back into my room about now.

*sigh*

Well Merryn is awake so I'd better go. Night!!!