Stress and sickness

I really don't like it when Monster Man is sick.  When he's sick, it's a whole new experience compared to what it is like when Angel Baby and Little Man are sick.  With Monster Man, even a slight cold can completely knock him out and make him miserable.

Take today, for example.  He started coughing a little last night, but it was nothing major.  In fact, it almost sounded like he was making himself cough, something he's done off and on in the past as one of his tics, so we just kind of ignored it.  This morning, he woke up feeling miserable.  What had started off as a fake-sounding cough last night had turned into a sore throat, headache, stomach ache, body aches, slight cough, and a low-grade fever.

I could barely get him down the stairs when I woke the kids up for school, let alone get him to get dressed.  Even though he knew he was staying home and that he needed to get ready for a trip to the doctor (I thought maybe he had strep throat since it was going around and his tonsils were rather large), it was still a battle to get him to get up and eat breakfast.

It didn't take long for Monster Man's body temp to start to rise.  While I couldn't find the thermometer to take his temperature (which isn't an easy task to begin with when he's ticcing), I could tell that he had gone from being a little warm to burning up.  It's not uncommon for Monster Man to spike a fever like that, and he has even been known to develop a fever when he is stressed out.  And Monster Man was definitely stressed out this morning.  He was convinced that he was majorly sick, and the stress not only added to the fever but also to the severity of his tics.  While in the waiting room at the doctor's office, he was so concerned that his head was shaking almost nonstop during our wait.  The head-shaking didn't slow down until he realized that he was going to get to see his usual pediatrician (who has recently returned from maternity leave).

The trip to the pediatrician's office revealed that he didn't have strep throat after all.  The doctor said his symptoms appeared to be viral.  Amazingly, once he realized that he was going to make it and that he didn't even need a prescription, his temperature started dropping.  By the time we walked back out to the car, he was even smiling and asking if we could go to the store.

It's become apparent to me that Monster Man is able to make himself sick whenever he gets worked up.  It's almost like the stress triggers his entire body to start acting up.  I don't really think that he knows he is doing, just that he gets himself so worked up that he makes himself sick (and not just the usual sick-to-the-stomach kind of sick that usually accompanies stress).

Hopefully we'll be able to find a way to help him cope with his stress without becoming so sick.

Camp Twitch and Shout Family Camp

I've mentioned previously that Monster Man attended Camp Twitch and Shout over the summer, and that the camp has come to mean a lot to him and to our family as a whole.  During the weekend of September 23 - 25, we got to experience Camp Twitch and Shout as a family.

When we arrived at the camp on Friday night, we were a little nervous.  We knew we would be sharing our cabin with another family, but we didn't know who that family would be.  What would it be like to be put in a cabin with a family we didn't even know?  I guess that is what Monster Man must've felt like when we first dropped him off at camp over the summer.  

We'd barely gotten a chance to introduce ourselves to our roommates (which, thankfully, turned out to be the family of one of the boys from Monster Man's summer cabin) when it was time for dinner, followed by some get-to-know-you games and then a dodgeball tournament.

The tournament was followed by s'mores around a campfire and then bedtime.  We had to turn in early because our Saturday was packed with activities.  Shortly after our breakfast, the kids were taken off in supervised groups while the parents had some time for a quick meeting followed by some Minute-To-Win-It games.

Afterward, we had some family time.  We took a few minutes to practice some archery, and then my hubby and the kids all went either kayaking or on paddle boats.

After lunch, the kids went back in their supervised groups while the adults got to enjoy some activities without the kids.  For my hubby, this meant wall-climbing.

After a kickball game and some more family time, it was time for a cookout in the pavilion.  Angel Baby enjoyed this a lot, since she ended up dancing before dinner with some of the counselors and campers.

That night, despite the cool temps, we had a pool party and a build-your-own ice cream sundae event.  We all enjoyed both events before turning in for the night. 

Sunday morning was a little sad.  While we enjoyed the activities that were planned, we knew that our time together was coming to an end.  After breakfast, we spent some family time doing activities we enjoyed.  We spent a little time fishing, and Little Man caught his first fish.

After our family time, the families all came together for some messy olymp-tics games.  

We barely had time to clean up before it was time for lunch and then closing ceremonies.  As part of the closing ceremonies, we were asked to write our wishes for Tourette Syndrome or for Camp Twitch and Shout on a card, which we attached to a balloon and let go at the end of the ceremony.  During the closing ceremony, everyone was invited to come up on stage and share his or her wish with the other campers.  Monster Man shared his wish, that he could have camp everyday, with the crowd before we released the balloons.

We were sad to see family camp come to an end, and to have to say goodbye to all the new friends we made while we were there.  We are already looking forward to Camp Twitch and Shout's family camp next year!

Eleven!

Tonight, I went into Monster Man's bedroom and told him goodnight, realizing that it was the last time I would be telling that to him as a 10-year-old.  Tomorrow, my Monster Man turns 11!  What a wonderful 11 years it has been leading up to this big birthday.

Happy 11th birthday, Monster Man!

Fundraiser for Camp Twitch and Shout

Camp Twitch and Shout, located at Camp Will-A-Way in Winder (in partnership with Camp Twin Lakes), is a week-long camp for children ages 7 to 17 who have Tourette Syndrome. As many of you know, Monster Man attended this camp over the summer. It did amazing things for him, helping him connect with others like himself while boosting his self-confidence. Camp Twitch and Shout has given so much to my son, and I want to help give back to the camp. More information about the camp can be found at http://www.camptwitchandsh
out.com/

From now until noon on August 31, I am hosting a fundraiser for Camp Twitch and Shout through my Pampered Chef website. Depending on the total sales, Camp Twitch and Shout will receive between 10% and 15% of the sales. In addition to the percentage, Camp Twitch and Shout will receive an additional $3 per cooking show (in the Atlanta area) or catalog show (anywhere in the U.S.) that is booked through the fundraiser. Even if you are not interested in purchasing any Pampered Chef items at this time, you can still contribute to this fundraiser either by booking a show or by passing on this information to others. Please feel free to send this invite to your family, friends, co-workers, etc so that they might be able to help raise money for Camp Twitch and Shout.

To check out the fundraiser, please visit my page at www.pamperedchef.biz/alissadorough. Once you are on the site, click on the words "Shop Now". When prompted to choose a host, you can either enter 'Camp Twitch and Shout' OR use the host name 'Twitch Shout'. This will allow you to view the catalog. If you are interested in setting up your own show to contribute the additional $3, please use the 'host a show' option to contact me. I will then be able to call you back to set up your show.

Thank you in advance for your help with this fundraiser!

Alissa Dorough - Pampered Chef Independent Consultant

www.pamperedchef.biz/alissadorough

Ups and Downs

The past several weeks have been a series of ups and downs where Monster Man is concerned.  School starts this coming Thursday.  For Monster Man, that doesn't just mean a new school year; it also means a new school.  Monster Man will be moving up to middle school this year.

At the end of last school year, he was so excited about the new opportunities that lay ahead.  He was eager to join the band, attend after school clubs, and go to his first school dance.  Most of all, he was looking forward to having a locker.  Middle school would be filled with exciting changes!

Then the anxiety hit.  Kids in middle school can be mean, as Angel Baby so nicely informed him.  Middle school comes with more responsibility, and he suddenly realized that the school work would get harder too.  Just the thought of harder work alone was enough to bring Monster Man to tears.  He began to have panic attacks at the mention of middle school and the start of a new school year.

I was in between a rock and a hard place.  On one hand, I wanted to be able to stay at home and homeschool Monster Man again.  I wanted to be able to hold him back and protect him from all the things he found so frightening.  On the other hand, I knew that sheltering him from the things that scared him wouldn't help prepare him for the future.  I also knew that my own busy school schedule wouldn't allow me to be home to homeschool him.

Just when I was about to give up my own classes to stay home with him, he decided he was excited again.  Over the past couple of weeks, Monster Man has continued to go back and forth on the issue. One day, he's excited about going to school.  The next, he's back to being scared.  His backpack is packed and ready to go now.  We meet his teachers Tuesday night.  Thursday morning, I hope to be able to get him on the bus without his anxiety building up too much.  If it comes down to it, I will drive him to school to give him more time to calm his nerves.

I am sure he will be fine.  I can't wait for Thursday to get here so I can hear how his first day of middle school goes!

Haircut Time

Monster Man has been trying to let his hair get a little longer.  He has a certain style in mind, though we're having to come to a compromise on it.  He wants it longer like many of the boys are wearing these days, with his bangs coming slightly over one eye.  I, on the other hand, do not like the way it looks having hair over the eyes and worry about how it would affect both his vision and his eye tics.  I've agreed he can wear it a little longer as long as the bangs are not in front of either of his eyes.

The biggest problem I am having is getting Monster Man to understand that it needs to be trimmed from time to time to make sure he doesn't end up with a mullet or some other crazy hairstyle.  He's afraid that even a trim won't let his hair grow out.  The need to trim his hair has become a bit of a battle, and battles with Monster Man are never easy.

Last night, I gave Angel Baby and Little Man some very much needed haircuts.  Theirs were not trims, but instead were major cuts.  I planned on trimming Monster Man's hair afterward.  When he sat down and I started trimming just a little off the bangs (about 1/4 inch, if even that much).  I knew I had to take it slow, cutting very small amounts at a time since his head shaking tic has been bad again and I didn't want to end up cutting it too short.

I barely got any of it done before I came to the realization that I'm not going to be able to be the one to trim his hair when his head shaking tic is so severe.  Between the need to keep my hands steady and work to keep his hair looking good (especially since I have no training when it comes to cutting hair) and the need to fight back tears watching him struggle so much, it makes cutting his hair almost impossible for me.

I think for now I'll take him to get it trimmed, and try again another time if his head shaking isn't a problem.

Camp Twitch and Shout

Monster Man had the honor of attending Camp Twitch and Shout last week.  This incredible camp offers kids with Tourette Syndrome the chance to spend a week with other kids like themselves, being themselves and not having to worry about hiding their need to 'twitch and shout'.

When we first dropped Monster Man off at his camp last Sunday, we were a little concerned about how he would do.  After everything we had read about the camp, and after the wonderful tour and friendly staff, we had no concerns about it being the right place for our son, but we weren't sure if he was ready for a week away from us.  We had some many questions about how he would react being away for so long, whether or not he'd have a rage episode, if he'd try to test the limits while swimming, etc.

Thankfully, the counselors had taken the time to get to know everything that we reported might present a problem during the week.  They had come to the camp prepared for anything Monster Man might throw at them, and they did an amazing job giving him what he has told us was 'an amazing week'.

Monster Man loved the camp so much that he was in tears when I went to pick him up, sad to be leaving his new friends behind him.  He is already counting down the days until the family camp in September, as well as making plans for his trip to camp next summer.

I am so thankful that he has Camp Twitch and Shout to help him make new friends like himself and to help him discover that he isn't so different after all (and that being different is a great thing to be!).