FISH results

Today, the genetics doctor called to let us know that the FISH test results confirmed that Buddy has Williams Syndrome and that his calcium levels are in the normal range (meaning he doesn't have the hypercalcemia usually associated with WS).

I had read in various places that many WS parents use melatonin to help their child sleep better at night. With WS, it's not the normal child-wakes-up-once-in-awhile-at-night thing. It's that child can't settle down at night and continues to wake every few hours. For example, tonight, I put him down to bed at 8:30. At 10:30, he's still not fully asleep, although he's quieted down and isn't crying anymore. And he'll probably be awake and crying again sometime between 1 and 4 (if not several times). It's not that he can't fall asleep on his own -- he does fine during his naps. For some reason--which I haven't been able to pinpoint with all the reading I've done--WS kids just can't self-soothe very well and nighttime sleeping (or lack thereof) is a huge issue. It's difficult to explain the difference between WS sleep issues and a non-WS child who simply wakes during the night, but if you've been here during the evenings/night, you know what I'm talking about. And, quite frankly, the WS diagnosis was somewhat of a relief in this particular area because it means we haven't been doing anything wrong (at least in this area)--the issue isn't with how we've taught him to sleep (and believe me, I've tried everything to get him to sleep better at night--including seriously considering calling in a "sleep expert")--it's with him.

At any rate, I asked the doctor about giving Buddy melatonin to help him sleep better, and the doctor was fine with it. So tomorrow I go on the hunt for melatonin, hoping that it gives us all a better night's rest.