Sensory Issues

Although he's come a long way, Ian still definitely has sensory issues. He often cries when I wash his face or hands. I have learned that if I let the water temperature warm up, that he tolerates it a bit better. Nadia and Ian are opposites in terms of their preference for the water temperature for their baths. Ian likes it nice and hot (takes after his Mommy), and Nadia likes it rather cool (takes after her Daddy). He doesn't like being wiped with toilet paper (says things like "ow"), and since he poops on average 2-3 times a day he gets wiped more than once a day. He does not like to have food on his face or hands. I am not very good about remembering to use the brush on him (that the OT gave us), but serving him a "pb and jelly" (doesn't actually have peanuts in it) sandwich for lunch each day is a bit of therapy for him because his face and hands get sticky. Hopefully there will come a time when it won't bother him quite as much as it does now. One upside of his sensory issues is that he keeps his clothes "just so." He always makes sure that his sleeves are pulled down, that his shirt is pulled down, etc. I wish Nadia cared a little more about this. She doesn't care if her belly is exposed because her shirt got hiked up or her skirt is pulled down farther than it's supposed to be. She almost never puts her socks on properly. Ian would have a fit if the seam wasn't exactly right on his toes and the heel wasn't exactly in the right spot. Neither one of them like having their hair combed, brushed, or shampooed. Neither one of them like having their fingernails or toenails clipped. Nadia actually fusses more over having her teeth brushed than Ian does. He has come a LONG way in that regard. I have wondered at times if his sensory issues are at all related to his allergies. He gets rashes so easily from things like walnuts, peanuts, cinnamon, ketchup, etc. I thought his bright red ears after his bath was a reaction to the shampoo or something, but the allergist said it's likely just from the warm water. Because of Paul's skin issues, I only use "sensitive" laundry detergents (free of any scent).

The realtor called me yesterday after she had done the market analysis to determine a listing price for our house. I was VERY pleased with the number she came up with as it was a tad bit higher than what I had told Paul was my "dream" number, and I had given her zero input regarding the price. I actually thought my dream number was likely way too high. It's very encouraging to me to think we might possibly be able to sell the house for an amount that would cover what we paid when we bought the house (plus closing costs), what we invested in the house the past 5 years (fence, garbage disposal, ceiling fans, new sump pump, etc.), and our closing costs for selling the house (1% tax plus 6% to the realtors). We plan to list the house in early April. I hope it goes under contract quickly because showing the house with three little ones will not be easy. I want to start packing this month so I can do it ever so gradually.

Paul had his first phone interview yesterday. Hopefully we won't be in suspense for too long as to whether they want him to come out for an interview in March. We're trying not to get our hopes up. I'm hoping Paul will write some cover letters this weekend so we can complete applications #22-28. The two latest ones are for a lecturer position in VA and a two year post doc in NY. It will be the first post doc he's applied for (not his first choice). I wanted him to apply for a faculty position in Hawaii, but he's not interested. I wouldn't want to live there long term, but if he doesn't get a tenure track position for this fall, I could live in Hawaii for 1-2 years!