Sensory Overload

Henry and Miss R went to Costco with Jeff, Grammy, and Poppy. They road side-by-side in Grammy and Poppy's cart. Henry had a good time as usual. Jeff thought that Miss R was trying to take in the experience and figure out what was going on.

At Grammy and Poppy's house, the kids took a two hour nap.

We met up with Grammy, Poppy, and The Twins at the Tucson Music Hall around 4:15PM for Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. The seats were pretty good. We were about half way back on the main floor, but I suspect that even people in the very back row had a great view as the hall isn't particularly large. Grammy gave me some money to buy the kids souvenirs. Miss R went with me. We got Henry a spinning Elmo toy. Miss R got an Elmo stuffed animal.

Henry was ready to run around the music hall when we got back to our seats. The show was supposed to start at 4:30PM, but it didn't start until after 4:45PM. Henry sat in-between Jeff and Poppy. Miss R sat in-between Grammy and me. When the music began, it was a song that Henry recognized. He danced...just as he had during the Elmo show at Sea World. Jeff said that when the song was over, Henry said, "Again, again." When Daddy didn't make that happen, Henry asked for the "Remote!" After a couple minutes, I think that Henry had sensory overload. He laid down on the floor in front of the seats. The pathways between the rows are fairly wide for theater rows. He went into his "sleeping" position. But when he heard a song he liked, he'd pop up and dance again.

I've been concerned about Henry having some slight sensory integration issues. I don't think that his issues are particularly pronounced, but I think that he gets overwhelmed by new environments easily...hence the "sleeping" whenever he is stressed (see entry on Sea World and Henry laying down on the side walks back in April). I suspect that this is another reason why we should begin to move Henry into a daycare setting where he'll have some structure, have to adapt to that structure, and get used to a different environment from the comforts of his own, secure home.

Miss R had a fabulous time. Going into the show, we wondered how she would handle it. She rocked out to several of the songs. She doesn't really watch the TV when presented with the opportunity. She doesn't really pay attention to books. But she did watch the show. She bounced up and down on my lap throughout the show and also sang her own tunes during the show.

Henry spent the last half of the show outside with Jeff. He crawled around the steps and such.

The Twins were crazy in the car. Miss R was mad b/c I wasn't holding her and pitched a fit. Henry decided to yell because Miss R was yelling. It is official. We won't be driving to Oregon. The idea of spending 24 hours in a vehicle with two demanding toddlers doesn't sit well with me.

At dinner, we sat at the kids' table in the dining room/kids' play room. Henry knocked over a drink that knocked over the ranch dressing for his fries. He proclaimed it "A mess!" Miss R pretty much ate ranch dressing for dinner...a first for her. She used one fry to double dip, triple, and beyond. I don't know how the fry lasted through 15-20 minutes of dipping, but somehow it did.

I tried to take a nap on the couch as I'll be working all night on a manuscript to meet a deadline for tomorrow. Miss R and Henry bounced up and down on me while I tried to catch a few Zzzzs. Sigh. Jeff got them to bed though. Right now, the house is very quiet.