Life & Shop Updates

African American Mother and Baby Print by claudine

Since it's been awhile since I've posted anything I figured people might be wondering what's up. As you may remember from a few months back I explained my struggle in raising my daughter. Back then we just found out she is high needs. 

Recently, two people mentioned to us getting her evaluated for sensory processing disorder. At 10 months she's still a bad sleeper. We still have to help her fall asleep and she wakes frequently. She also dislikes diaper changes, baths and clothes being pulled over her head. She's always in motion and is unable to just sit and relax. It takes a lot of energy to keep up with her. Although we are seeing improvement in the day to day as she gets older.

One huge accomplishment we were recently able to do was to get her to sleep in her bed. Since birth she had been sleeping in her swing or sometimes her bouncer chair. Then she caught the flu and woke every 15min- 1hr, and continued this pattern for two weeks. Out of desperation I decided to try something new. 

Cartoon Drawing by Mama Love Healing

 


Yeah, this looks more like us.






In her room we use a Montessori style floor bed. This allows us to lay next to her and do what we can to keep her calm until she falls asleep. This includes reading books, singing to her and feeding her a bottle. It can take anywhere from 30min- 1hr for her to fall asleep. Then she usually stays asleep for 2- 2 1/2 hours at a time. So far some nights have been every hour. After 4 or 5am she is still difficult to keep asleep, at which time she goes back into her bouncer chair. 

The bed is working very well. Even with the hourly wakings it's not as bad as it used to be. In the past we had to bounce or aggressively rock her to sleep. This would take 15min or more when she woke up. Now I just give her a bottle. It's the only thing that comforts her enough to fall back to sleep when she's in the bed, but it only takes a few minutes. By morning I feel a little more rested than I used to.

What does that mean for the shop? Most of my day is caring for my little one. I work here and there as she allows me, but my pace is not where it used to be pre-baby days. Even if things get silent around here I want you to know I'm still here and still working. 

Currently, I've been working on more star and heart pillows. They're coming along slowly, but they're coming along. I also have plans to stock more baby bibs and birthday banners. Then hopefully by the end of all that I'll be able to work out some new items. :)