Attack of the Gideon Monster

About a month ago, I got a text from one of Gideon's therapist. He seemed to be pulling on one of hie ears and it appeared red. No fever or other symptoms but they were concerned. So, I picked him up early and took him to our pediatrician.  I didn't expect there to be much wrong with him and this appointment would just be a lesson in patience for me. 

But, to my surprise, Gideon had swimmers ear and a sinus infection.  Huh?  Who knew?  Not me.  He hadn't been acting particularly upset or in pain although it's difficult to tell with Gideon.  A couple of years ago (on Valentine's Day), he broke his arm.  We think it happened on the trampoline where he was playing with Daddy and his brothers.  He never once cried out or stopped playing.  But an hour later, he came to dinner and refused to use his arm. 

Some project that people with autism have a very high pain tolerance but I think it's more that they don't register the pain.  A week after he broke his arm, Gideon got a hang nail and, judging by the way he acted anytime anyone touched it, it was the worst pain he'd ever been in his life.  But he could see the injury and understood what he was feeling.  A broken arm?  Can't see that.

So here we were with two prescriptions for Gideon's ear and infection.  One was an ear drop, the other an oral liquid antibiotic. I laughed when the doctor prescribed the antibiotic.  "You know what it's like to give Gideon medicine?"

"I can imagine.  I expected you'd only get half down him," she assured me.

She was optimistic. 

That first night, a Friday, I attempted to give him the antibiotic (a thick, white, chalky liquid that didn't taste any better than it looked.  I always take a tiny taste of the things the kids are asked to take.  To prepare myself for the backlash). 

This did not go well. 

At all. 

When we were done, both he and I had to change our shirts, his face was covered in a white, chalky film and so was mine.  See, Gideon figured out that the best way to counteract taking medicine was to spit it out.  Right back into my face. 

This little scene needed to be done twice a day. 

But, it seems Gideon was not pleased with this turn of events.  He wasn't happy about the doctor's appointment or the medicine and, yes, he probably wasn't feel great.  So, as Gideon often does, he used his behavior to speak for him and he discovered breaking glass. 

A lot of glass.

At the beginning of August, I owned four 9x13 glass baking pans.  Today, I own none.  At the beginning of August, I had three vases. Today, I have one.  At the beginning of August, I owned an oval Pyrex bowl, a Pyrex measuring cup, a ceramic cross, a George Foreman grill, three bowls and one plate.  Today, I have none of those things.  At the beginning of August, Gideon has a plywood storage bed with drawers underneath and an attached headboard.  He doesn't have that anymore.  At the beginning of August, we had one fully in tact Kindle and iPad.  Both now have cracks.

We also, I'm afraid, had a few finger painting episodes.  Just not with paint.

The broken window (2nd story, of course)

And the piece de resistance? At the beginning of August, the boys had a fully intact bedroom window.  Then Gideon put his foot through it. 

Somehow, through all the glass flying, Gideon managed to not get hurt once, not even a scrape.  Katherine, on the other hand, stepped on a piece of glass and ended up at the urgent care one evening.  (Thankfully, no stitches). 

From the Friday I began giving him the medicine to the following Monday, Gideon went from fairly easygoing to monster mode.  I called the pediatrician and told her we needed to change up the medication or commit me to a mental ward.  So, she prescribed a capsule to break apart and hide in food.  But, friends, if you haven't met Gideon before, he's a smart young man.  He tries hard to make sure no one really knows just how smart he is.  People underestimate him, including, I'll admit, me sometimes.  The capsules weren't easier.  He knew by looking at the drink I'd put it in that it was there and he was absolutely not drinking it. 

I gave up on the antibiotics after he faked me out by picking up the cup, bringing it to his mouth to take a drink, and then quickly dumping the whole thing down the sink. Thirty minutes later, he opened the dishwasher and found a glass to break.

This path of destruction may have started because he didn't feel good but it's definitely ended up as a an activity that garners him attention. Now, he likes it because it's fun.   I've moved any glass I could, switched to silicone pans, kept him busy when I can, added a piece of plywood to protect his window, and prayed for patience. 

Lots of patience. 

Oddly enough, while the Gideon Monster was in full swing, we discovered something else.  We've been working on potty training for four solid years.  Gideon has never really initiated toileting but will go on a schedule (mostly).  One day, Gideon ran in the house, took himself to the bathroom, and then striped off this pants and underwear.  As long as he is au natural from the waist down, he goes to the bathroom by himself.  That's great news.  And also, confusing news.  Around the house, he can be pant-less but schools tend to frown upon nudity. 

What I've decided is that we are in a time of great change in Gideon's young life--a new school, a new routine, more reponsibility--and, I suspect, he's reaching some new developmental milestones.  It seems when he makes about to make a big jump in progress, we seen a noticeable change in behaviors. Maybe he's trying to figure out what's happening to himself. 

He's not alone, we're trying to figure that out too. 

It's been a wild, crazy, "wear your shoes, there might be glass," emotional, frustrating, exhausting month in our house.  As a parent, it's aggravating to not understand what your child is trying to communicate.  It's a guessing game and, sometimes, yours is as good a guess as mine.  I wish this was easier for Gideon and for us.  Sigh. For now, we lock up the breakables and see where this new phase in Gideon's life takes us.

And stock up on caffeine and wine. 

__________

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