Peace after the storm

Last night I came home to find Dylan at the kitchen table, having eaten partially 4-5 pieces of fried chicken, and running off his high chair, and going off to grab another 2 (the last) from another plate. We subsequently moved his plate to the dining table to join me, and for a short while, it's really nice, as he also feeds himself using the spoon to shovel his rice. He likes the organic brown rice mixed with Nordic Natural Cod liver oil, and potassium salt (he'd be happy with regular salt too). Only issue is after sitting for a while, he likes to stand up and eat from the standing position, which is not only unsafe, and keep us on our guard to protect him from falling over, he also drops more food due to the longer distance for the food to reach his mouth. Then he really doesn't want to sit down due to the messy chair. Attempts to keep him seated results in struggles and he may even rather just jump off the chair & run off.

Anyway, as it seemed like he had enough, I turned on his previously favourite video, Richard Scary's Counting video but he decided to stay on to eat some more. After dinner, he went over with Mel to sit at the sofa to watch the rest of the video and became very interested, looking keenly, recalling and swaying to the music. He hasn't appeared the least interested in videos for a long time. And Mel's recent attempts to calm him using videos didn't work. After I'm done, I played with him, letting him do his favourite puzzles and later letting him swing - his preference is to lie on the swing on his tummy and kick very hard and swing really high. But last night when obstructed from swinging on the tummy (and told he can swing seated/ standing up), he cooperated quite readily and sat down, and looked at me very keenly as I pulled the swing seat towards me, and let go.

Anyway, as he woke early yesterday, and only slept on the bus journey home (waking upon reaching home), he got tired when it was past 8.30 pm. I tried to interested him to help me pump air in the bicycle tires so that we could ride it a while. But he started crying and calling for "Arty", wanting me to open the kitchen door which was locked. Then the crying escalated, as I firmly told him first he has to stop crying, and Aunty was doing housework in the kitchen. Now is time with mommy.

I tried to bring him to climb stairs to regulate him, and he did monitor me sometimes, but he continued crying. I told him I'll bring you home but first you have to calm down and stop crying, otherwise we cannot go home. Anyway, we ended up downstairs at the exercise corner -where he usually enjoys the monkey bar with my help, but he cried so loud and hard for an hour. In between when he's only sobbing & seems to be calming down, he actually wanted to do the monkey bar with my help. I'm not sure if he thought that's what I wanted him to do so let's get it out of the way so we can go home.

At various points I really felt at my wits' end - I could see some lower floor neighbours looking out the window & I think the whole 2 adjacent blocks can hear - we stay on the 21st floor & Mel could hear it loud and clear too. Anyway, at one point when I was trying to relax at the bench & he was standing on the bench facing me (so we were about eye-level), I could see he was frantic, with eyes looking all over, and I used my palms as blinders so he'll look at me. He still tried to look left & right upwards, but eventually looked into my eyes, I managed to get his attention to pray together. I asked him to pray after me: "Dear Jesus" & he said "dee jiser" and even though he didn't continue to imitate what I say afterwards asking Jesus to protect him & keep him safe and secure, he stopped his crying completely and was calm and at peace. After the prayer, I hugged him and assured him that I truly love him and I carried him upstairs. He rested his head very peacefully over my shoulder. There wasn't even sobbing vs earlier on when he continued to cry & scream even when I carried him. (When I told Jürgen about this amazing miracle, he called it Dylan's spiritual experience.)

Even when we reached home, he cooperated in letting me help him wash up and brush teeth and that night he was peaceful. After I washed up & came to join him to say a goodnite prayer, he let me huddle him, and wanted me to stay. It was kinda cute, when I or Mel raised our heads to talk to each other (as we were on two sides of Dylan), he wanted us both to lie down. At least I know he's not angry with me but accepts me and know that I love him. Thank God!

He slept well and woke without crying this morning, and he got a bonus, riding the cab to school (at least part of the jorney) with Daddy. Praying that this peace remains with him.