Jun 27th, 2008 by woodstone
Yesterday was a challenge, a day of ups and downs (or more accurately, downs and ups).
M’s been pretty unstable for the past few days. He’s going back and forth between the calm stability he (we) had been enjoying for the past couple of weeks, and the edgy, unpredictability that’s been the norm since the beginning of the year.
Yesterday morning he had a severe meltdown in the car… something that’s pretty unusual these days. After going through many meltdowns in the car when he was younger, I’ve gotten very careful about not putting us in that situation. It’s incredibly scary when he’s out of control in the car, so I learned… If he’s too edgy, we just don’t leave the house.
But he seemed ok when we left the house. Unfortunately he fell apart within minutes. I should have turned around and gone back home, but R needed to get to day camp so I kept going… hoping he’d settled down quickly.
He didn’t though, and the 30 minute ride was a nightmare… No one was hurt, no damage was done, and we got there safely, but I felt completely exhausted by the time we got to camp. He was still unsettled and disconnected for the rest of the morning but, thankfully, stayed calm after that initial meltdown.
By afternoon M was more himself again and got school done before going back to pick up R. It’s weird how he can be so incredibly disconnected and out of control, and within just a few hours be thinking well enough to get school done. He recovers from these episodes faster than I do…
R was so excited after camp. I real hula dancer had come to camp and taught the kids a dance! (As a big Lilo and Stitch fan, she loves Hawaiian music! 
After dinner she brought her CD player downstairs, turned her Lilo and Stitch CD on, and taught us all her hula dance. Even dh got up and danced! R was having so much fun teaching us something… at one point she asked dh, “Have you ever smiled so much it made your head hurt?” She was having a wonderful time… It was silly and fun and just what we needed after the morning’s drama.
After dancing the kids and I went out to do the barn chores… but first M had to play with the donkeys. He’s learned that they get very curious when he sits down in the pasture (probably wondering why anyone would want to sit in that mess!), and even Jack will come over and see him.
It was good to see him connected again and enjoying life…
So… it was a day what went from REALLY bad, to pretty good. It’s so nice when things balance out that way.
What a roller coaster of a day! i’m so glad that you were all safe in the car. Your angels were working double-duty on that car ride! i love the pics of M and the donkey’s. Hoping today is better.
R needs to come to our house and dance. The girl’s room is carribbean beachy and we even have steel drum music to dance to, leis to wear and a few grass skirts.
(Yes, we would Liese if you were ever home….)
LOL at your comment back to Liese! hee hee
At the park Wednesday B invided DD over to play their wii and I was just wondering when that would ever happen. LOL! (btw: DD isn’t into video games at all, so no worries Liese about this never happening.)
I’m so sad to hear about M’s meltdown in the car and I’m so glad that you made it to take R to camp.
But I’m loving the pictures of M with the donkeys and how Jack allowed M to touch him.
Right now we’re babysitting Krista’s guinea pigs and they aren’t happy about it. DD is frustrated that they won’t allow her to pet them at all. But she’s still being a good girl and making sure they’re all taken care of. I thought for sure I would get stuck with this job.
Peaks and valleys eh? What a rollercoaster (as Jackie said).
Its good to hear that he getting along with the donkeys. They are very curious.
I didn’t know R was such a Lilo ands Stitch fan. I’m sure I told you million times but remember Chris from my high school days? He wrote and directed Lilo and Stitch and even starred as the voice of Stitch! Weird, he’s on the big screen and going to the Oscars and such, and I’m shoveling donkey poop. He’s missing out!
A roller coaster indeed. You guys are always in my thoughts.
M’s on-the-road-meltdown sounds more than stressful. I think in such cases I’d feel kind of claustrophobic inside a car or van like that. I’m better at emergencies that involve lots of space. Great to see pics though of M feeling better, enticing the donkeys into a visit…and the silly hula dancing with R. What a crazy mixed bag of a day!
Sometimes I wonder who has the tougher time on these “off” days, my son or me. Some days it’s a toss-up and some I’m thinking that it’s probably me. And on those days I’m grateful - exhausted but grateful.
Glad things improved later in the day. And glad to hear of R’s joy with the music and camp!
When reading Liese’s blog, I saw pictures of your farm and clicked on the link to your blog.
I found it so interesting, I read it all the way through! I especially liked seeing the before and after pictures of the animals. You take such good care of them.