E is for Exploreum. The first egg hunt of the season for us was actually two weeks ago at the Gulf Coast Exploreum. The boys received a membership there as a Christmas gift from their grandma Angelia year before last. We didn't use the membership as much as we should have, but the few times we were able to, Apollo seemed to really get into it and he had fun. When it came time to renew, I struggled with the decision for 2 months before the boys made it for me. They decided to break into their piggy banks and renew their membership themselves. Something I am now thankful for as there is currently a dinosaur exhibit and a space exhibit is coming this summer. Along with anytime access to the Exploreum, as members we are able to attend the special events for free. This year, they hid 10,000 eggs throughout their exhibit halls and let the kids run loose and gather them up. I took all three boys, fully expecting Apollo to become overwhelmed. However, Apollo shone this day. He gathered up enough eggs to fill his own bucket and halfway fill his brother's. I wasn't able to see him hunt much because Phoenix decided he was going to dial in a tantrum when he was told he couldn't pick up the eggs before "go." But Apollo... I was so proud of my little boy in that moment when he emerged from the ball pit with his bucket overflowing. He got it. He understood what I had told him - and he had gone for it.
E is for Exclamation. We left shortly after the egg hunt because Phoenix was still screaming. (His tantrum ended up lasting 58 minutes exactly. Fortunately, I have a strong resolve because of how long some of Apollo's tantrums can last. My oldest, Orion, is also essentially immune to tantrums and can tune them out.) I have a tradition to always snap pictures of the boys outside the Exploreum in different places. In fact, this day is where the current profile picture of Apollo came from - but it was a challenge getting any pictures at all as Apollo believed he was being attacked by a mosquito hawk. If you're from the South, you know we call these 'Gallonippers' and Apollo is utterly terrified of them. I have no clue why, but if one comes remotely near him, it's over His resolve melts into a puddle and he absolutely freaks out. I got a couple of pictures before 6 "attacked" him and all I heard from then until we got to the car was "I don't like the 'Nippers!" His entire body went rigid, he closed his eyes and he clung to me. He has never literally been attacked by any kind of bug, but I found that lately, he has begun exhibiting some pretty exotic "fears." Below is a picture of Apollo before the "attack."
E is for Explorer. In a break from tradition this year, we canceled our participation in 3 different egg hunts. Right now, Apollo is in too fragile a state to really attempt a full day of activities. Too much stimulation, the wrong sound, too strong a smell... anything could set him off. I had originally planned to drive over to Pensacola to meet up with old friends to do a small egg hunt with their children. Also planned that day was a trip to see the Easter Bunny, lunch at Chick Fil A and attending a HUGE egg hunt with a specially designated special needs area. However, thunderstorms threatened and it's an hour drive over a busy interstate and two 3 mile long bridges to get to the location of the smaller egg hunt. With Apollo's mood proving as unpredictable and possibly as tumultuous as a thunderstorm, we cancelled. It saddened me to let my oldest down because he knew about the plans and the look on his face broke my heart. It ended up being the right decision, though, because Apollo did not have a good day after all. He got into 3 separate fights with his brothers, he broke into his closet twice and his ears were turned off while he couldn't seem to do the same to his mouth. He back-talked and spat out defiance all afternoon until I finally forced him to take a nap. I don't usually force him into a nap, but on some days, I can only take so much before enough is enough. Once he (and his brothers - everybody had a mouth by naptime so everybody took a nap) got up, the family went out to eat at Sonny's BBQ where he was very well behaved. He spoke clearly and made decisions about his meal. He colored quietly and didn't spill his drink. He did have to get up to go to the bathroom, but it was only once and not a ritual thing like it often becomes. Unbeknownst to the boys, I had already hidden 60 translucent eggs filled with glow sticks. By the time we got home, it was twilight and it was such a proud moment for me as my little loves hunted TOGETHER. They helped each other, they shared, they laughed and they had fun.
E is for Endurance. Following the glow egg hunt, things went downhill quickly. Everyone was tired, everyone was grumpy, and everyone decided they were not going to bed. By 11 o'clock, Orion and Phoenix had given up and finally fallen asleep, but the Easter Bunny was getting tired of waiting. Apollo had been up for this or that a half dozen times - to potty or get water or he was scared. It is always something and bedtime is always a battle. Usually, Apollo takes a 5mg dose of Melatonin and falls asleep while watching a movie. This night, he had already watched two and was showing no signs of slowing down. I hate to give him the Melatonin in the first place, but without it, he would stay awake for days. Without sleep, his episodes happen more frequently, so it is a give and take. I choose to give my boy a chance to have good days. I take the fact that I have to medicate him to an extent to give him a good quality of life. I have thus far fought prescription medication, but we are quickly approaching the end of those days. It breaks my heart to know that I am going to have to medicate Apollo, but what kind of parent would I be if I didn't give him his best chance? I have come to the conclusion that something needs to be done for him. He has an appointment April 16 and we will see at that time what is recommended. The Easter Bunny finally visited around 12:30 AM and Apollo was STILL up, but he only went on one more potty break and by 1 AM, the Easter Bunny was able to go to bed. Apollo's is the green one in the middle. His favorite Ninja Turtle is Raphael.
E is for Egg Hunt. After tearing into their baskets and cinnamon raisin french toast casserole, we headed over to my grandmother's house for the annual Easter egg hunt. I do it every year and every year, it has a shtick. Last year, the kids had to hunt certain color eggs to gather their clues to their prize eggs. The year before, they put together puzzles that were hidden in the eggs and had a clue on the back to a prize egg. This year, there were more than our standard 6 kids planned, so I did a BIG hunt. As in 450+ eggs in all colors with 6 prize eggs. Apollo held his own yet again and had to dump his bucket twice into plastic bags. There were moments... getting dressed is always hard for Apollo. Today, the boys wore suspenders. He apparently couldn't get them down and peed his pants. I am fairly certain he did it in defiance because when I left him in the bathroom, he had his shorts pushed down and his shirt pulled up. But neither here nor there, there was no time to change and nothing else to coordinate his brothers, so he went in wet pants. They dried fairly quickly, but hopefully it made an impact on him. The whole Easter experience is over now as the boys are all snuggled in bed asleep, but there were numerous other incidents indicating to me that Apollo's meltdown meter is nearly full and we all need a break - us from him, and him from the world. I have thus cancelled all plans for Monday and we are going to hang around the house to give him the chance to regroup. It's a big, mean, scary world out there and Apollo doesn't process it the same way we do and sometimes, I have to be reminded that he is doing the best he can, as am I.
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