5.23.2013

May 23, 2013

White Dog stopped me by putting her paw on my knee and then jumped into my lap. "Don't wake them," she said referring to Steve asleep on the floor by the dog door with his arms wrapped tightly around the soundly sleeping Quinn. "Quinn had a very rough early morning and just now both fell back asleep."

Quinn's manic-ness is greatly affected by our environment. Changes in weather or noise levels (like road construction sounds) or tension or even new things can be triggers that set our boy off. We have learned to be cautious when we notice such times, and are usually prepared to compensate with medication or extra attention to help The Other White Dog through his episode.

Last night was very stressful in the household. Michael in his continuing attempt to master cooking, poured too much oil into his pan and then spilled it all over the hot oven. There were billows of stinky greasy smoke as we threw open windows and turned on fans trying to rid the house of the fumes. Michael had a complete meltdown and it took all of Steve's efforts to calibrate his autistic outburst. In an attempt to keep the White Dog Army from over-reacting and to get them out of the smoke, we put them out in the yard with orders to "Stay."  None of the Army is used to being verbally locked out of the house which caused a herd to gather pushing and jockeying for position to see into the door. Quinn somehow got knocked over and managed to skin his chin.

When the kitchen catastrophe was averted and pretty well aired out we tended to the scrape and spent time giving all of the White Ones some extra attention. Quinn was medicated but was already jumpy and restless. After bedtime walks I held TOWD in my arms on the bed as I do every night before he sleeps. I could feel him start to relax and then feel his muscles clench in manic mode as his nervous system went haywire and then relax again.

And so it was for our boy all night. He slept at the foot of the bed and I could hear him (I am a light sleeper) settle down and rest for about 45 minutes then twitch to awareness and get up and wander in circles for a bit before returning to settle again and repeat the cycle. When Steve got up at six to study, he took Quinn out and then asked the Q-man to supervise as he did schoolwork. He circled while Steve worked for more than an hour.

By then, according to Steve later, TOWD was so sleep deprived and tired from the pacing that he began to stumble. That is is when Steve sat on the floor holding his special boy and gently massaging him. Each time he would stop, Quinn would jerk awake and look at Steve begging him to continue. And that is where I found them both, curled together and sleeping peacefully. Quinn's posture of total trust and Steve's protectiveness made me kiss the head of White Dog, sitting in my lap. She looked up, "It IS beautiful, isn't it, momma?"

9 comments:

24 Paws of Love said...

What a couple of special boys, Quinn and Steve. Hope they got some well deserved rest.

I know Quinn has his seizures but sometimes Chance and Blaze are like that, they just get antsy and have a hard time settling down for the night until someone is there to tuck in with them.

Love is so cool, isn't it? :)

Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

Poor Quinn. Sounds like a very hard day for everyone. We wish you a very quiet and relaxing weekend.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Oh dear, not a good day at the WDA headquarters. But we know that Quinn will find all the love and support he needs and that Michael will never make that mistake again - these things happen. Glad there was a good ending to this tale.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Jacqueline said...

So sorry to hear about Michael's meltdown and Quinn's fearful evening...There is no doubt they were both in the best of hands (and hearts), so we are sure they were both comforted and felt secure again as quickly as possible...We hope you all enjoy a wonderful Holiday weekend together, precious friends...hugs...J, Calle, Halle, Sukki, Mommy Cat, Daddy Cat

Random Felines said...

Steve sounds like a very special guy...both for Michael and for Quinn!!

asta said...

Yoow family's love and stwength and togethewness aways wawms ouw heawts. It must be so hawd to juggle all the needs and weathew and othew unpwedictabulls, but you aways do it wif gwace and love and in the end the family sticks togethew and finds a way to fix evewything. We love you and wish we coold twanspawt you hewe..the whole WDA and you fow west and peace..but then I wealize..that peace is in yoow heawts and wif you whewevew you awe
Smoochie kisses
Asta

Brian's Home Blog said...

Rough days are no fun, but snoozing and love is wonderful!

meowmeowmans said...

That surely does sound like quite a stressful night. Poor Quinn and Michael. We are so thankful for you all, and for the love and care you have for each other.

KB said...

What a pair of wonderful boys. I'm so sorry that Michael and then Quinn had such tough nights but I'm glad that Quinn trusts Steve so much that he can be comforted.

Real life can be complicated, can't it? It sounds as if you handled it as well as possible.