The sleep issues. They are the sucksville

So tons of kids have sleep issues.

Kids with autism have a far greater issue than this than the world at large. Difficulty going to sleep. Difficulty staying asleep. It's all fantastic. Or notsomuch.

We are lucky and Liam has now learned to put himself to sleep. He asked "go goodnight" and off he goes climbing into bed. Yapping to himself. Singing. And then zonking out.

Then there's the rest of the night.

He still sleeps with us. Which wouldn't be a big deal except he wakes up most nights a handful of times. To find his bottle to hug. To have a body to snuggle. Covers on. Covers off. Even with his weighted blanket it's HELPED but not CURED the issue.

We're lucky to get a sleep through the night once a week. And it IS delightful when it happens.

We utilize melatonin occasionally if he's having a rough time settling into sleep. It's been a great aid. Unfortunately it doesn't help with the sleeping through because he's too small to use a delayed release melatonin. However the fact that I can bet on him going to bed at 8p on the dot? Is a really great detail.

I can also bet on him NEVER sleeping past 6a even if he stays up later. And if I'm lucky like tonight? We'll have a random 230a party that lasts until 430a. And once *I* am up? I can't crash again until 6a or so which is unfortunate because dude. I? Need sleep. For my fibromyalgia reasons. For my anxiety reasons. For my hello I have two small spirited children reasons. lol.

I have to say...the sleep difficulties are one of the hardest day to day difficulties. And even when Liam sleeps solo to begin...partway through the night he needs a parent near him for comfort. Which is not the worst thing in the world at 3 1/2 (some day soon he wont' want those snuggles!) but it sure does make sleep difficult.

And I am thrilled I went to bed at 930 last night. Hey. I got 5 hours of sleep last night! And I should get a few extra hours eventually.

All to go to damn chuck e baaaaaaaaaaaaarfcheese for my niece's birthday.

Thank heavens for a husband that rocks it. He's sleeping in there with them now and I've no doubt he'll get things together while I try to sleep. I sure hope so. Because the idea of going to piss e cheese without taking a little more sleep? Impossible.

Damn you autism. I REALLY needed good sleep tonight! Or last night as the case may be.

Wanna hear my biggest complaint against autism? Fucking sleep issues. We'll work on those eventually. They are something that can be overcome. hell Liam would be perfectly happy to just watch tv in the middle of the night and draw himself back to bed when he's ready. Which is SO tempting an idea but lets hope we teach him DIFFERENT options to get himself back to sleep and stay asleep.

Alright. Seriously. Going to lay my ass down and watch tv and try to convince myself I'm tired. I mean, I AM tired (read this entry! makes. no. sense!) but need to con my brain into thinking I can go back to sleep.

Maybe we need to work on training ME to sleep too after Liam screws up my sleeping.

~M