I thought I’d offer up a post about the kids today. I’m sad that our living situation has bounced around the way it has, and I can’t help but feeling that I haven’t done a good job of keeping them feeling safe and warm. Its been a challenge. Thankfully, where we are now is both safe and warm, as well as familiar, delicious, and quiet, so pretty much exactly what we all needed.
I wanted to share with you how they exhibit stress, because some of the ways, I didn’t know were real until I witnessed them in my children. Besides rocking some BIG feelings, and struggling with attitudes and general change, they have shown stress in surprising (to me, anyway) ways.
Dekker is itchy. ITCHY. We started dousing him in lotion daily when he wouldn’t stop complaining about it. He would reach as far behind himself as he could, but couldn’t seem to satisfy the scratchy spot. When we checked, he was scratching his spine red. I am pleased to say that since moving in with my parents, even just after a week or so, his itch has gone away. His skin looks great and he hasn’t mentioned it in a few days. I’m taking this to mean that his stress level is going down. Whew!
Laela has dry, cracking, chapped little lips. Poor little girl just picks at the flaps until her lips bleed. Now, I know this just sounds like dry conditions, but it started back at the last place and it is FINALLY settling back. She has only one red spot left on her lips where she has recently picked. I’m so relieved she’s on her way out of stress as well.
And Rowan. Poor Ro. His bum is just in shambles. Nothing in the way of his products has changed, but he has a bum rash like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve heard of this one before, that some kids exhibit their stress through diaper rash, but if you’ve read long enough, you know that Dekker had an awful yeast rash on his bum for an entire year, and that was the year before all of the struggles with his eyes began, so I wouldn’t attribute that rash to stress. But I would be willing to wager that Rowans is. It had its worst day a couple of days ago and appears to be on the upswing now. Poor kid, though. He’s sure been feeling it.
I wanted to record this for my sake, but also just to put out there that my kids are feeling better. Finally. Sometimes it helps to see physical symptoms change, rather than just attitudes. Its hard for me to know, sometimes, if they’re struggling with life a bit, or if they’re simply entering a new stage that we’ll navigate, regardless of our living situation. I’m relieved to have some answers, and also, that they are the answers I wanted! I am thrilled that my kids are feeling better. Brady and I are as well. Our sleep is more restful. We are comfortable here. We can’t stay for the duration of our build, but I am actively praying that our next rental will be THE place until our house is ready. I’m hoping it is exactly what we need, that everyone is comfortable, and that the kids especially can really settle in and enjoy. Feel free to pray for this with us.