Done For Now

Here's me at the sleep study last night, flossing like a good girl. :o) Obviously, I was not aware of what was to come! Usually when we get in a doctor's office, I know right away and I don't waste any time expressing my displeasure. But this place is deceiving because it has a fun big girl bed. I was so tired that my balloon kept me entertained for a little while, but then I just tried to use it as a pillow.

Same old routine, all the wires were put on me and then I went to sleep. When the sensors told the techs that I was in a deep sleep, she came back in to put the CPAP mask on me. So much for a deep sleep! As soon as she turned on the air, I woke up, freaked out, yanked off the mask, and then before anyone could stop me, I grabbed a handful of wires and pulled as fast and as hard as I could. Success! I got five wires off in one yank! So they had to wait until I went back to sleep again. This time I did not wake up when they put the mask on, so that was good.

Mommy couldn't believe how strong the air was coming out of the mask. She said she doesn't think she could even blow in someone's face that hard, so how on earth I was able to breathe with that thing on, who knows. And the mask was huge! It covered by mouth and nose, and then had a forehead piece to help it stay in place (it didn't). There were two straps that went around the back of my head. I actually slept from 9:45 until 12:20. Then I woke up, scared and really upset! I kept pulling off the mask and screaming, and Mommy kept trying to hold my hands. But I can be pretty strong when I'm mad, so the tech had to come in three times in about 10 minutes to fix the mask. Mommy had to continue to hold my arms while I cried and kicked her as hard as I could. I would settle down for a few seconds or so, then start all over again.

After an HOUR of this, Mommy got up and told the tech a sleep study does no good if I can't sleep. They said, "Hang in there, I know it's frustrating, but she'll wear herself out and fall back asleep." Mommy wanted to yank the wires off and take me home right then, but it really did seem like I was going to fall asleep any minute. Then I would scream again. This went on for ANOTHER 90 MINUTES until I finally fell asleep enough for Mommy to be able to let go of me. Mommy was crying because she was so tired of all of this, so she cheered herself up by thinking "I wonder if this is how Grandma Candy has to make Grandpa Chuck sleep with his CPAP mask?" :o)

I slept from 3:00 until 5:15 when they came in to send us home. When they took the mask off, Mommy could see how dry the inside of my nose looked. And my mouth was dry too. A few more nights of this, and nosebleeds are inevitable. Mommy asked the tech how she was supposed to know at home when the mask needed readjusted if it had shifted during the night. "Oh, the air sound gets a little louder," she said. Right--when Mommy is sleeping on the other side of the house, she's supposed to be able to detect a change in the sound of air. Sure.

This time the tape from the wires left red marks on my face. It normally does, but last time it didn't, so we were hoping for a repeat. No such luck--should've known since there are school pictures this week! Hopefully it will be cleared up by then, but it usually takes several days. I didn't want to wear the silly hat home this time, so I just wore my crazy hair instead! Fortunately, Mommy braided it the night before, so only the top part was a mess.

We came home and got straight in the bath, so I was all cleaned up and fed by 7:30. I felt much better. Now I can just play all day, and maybe nap...maybe. You know the drill--no results for about a week or so!

UPDATE: Emily fell asleep playing in her room at 10:00 this morning!