Eye C U

My son's OT mentioned today that she thinks he has a visual processing disorder. Apparently he can't look track between two objects without moving his head. She said it could be his inattentiveness or it might be a eye motor delay. For now she will work on it with him but if it doesn't improve, he will see a developmental ophthalmologist. Just another to add to the list.

We are at a crossroads with Jake right now. His pediatrician wants him to start a trial of an ADHD medicine called Focalin. Part of me wants to try it to see if it helps. The other part of me is concerned about the side effects: loss of appetite, sleeplessness and (the big one for us) increased anxiety. He has generalized anxiety disorder. The last thing we need to do is turn the anxiety level up. His play therapist said she would monitor him (as we would at home). Still ... its such a gamble. It could really well or it could go horribly.

Hate is not a nice word

I hate some things in my life right now.

Whine. Whine. Whine.

Specifically I hate dealing with my son's school regarding his behavior.

I hate feeling like they expect some action from me when there is nothing left for me to do.

I hate that I dread Mondays because its another school week.

I hate that a bad morning most likely means a bad day for him.

I hate that I can't fix things for him.

I hate feeling inadequate.

I hate that I bear the brunt of it all.

I hate that I feel sorry for myself.

New therapy

It's a good thing Jake LOVES his therapies 'cause we are adding a new one. His play therapist (like a regular therapist but uses play to help kids) said he has no problem solving skills (or at least not age-appropriate). This becomes evident in school when he can't figure out how to properly interact with his peers especially in conflict. So his OT center offers a social skills class that works on exactly that -- social skills from dealing with emotions to playing with friends. Hopefully he will start in two week. :thumb

I really need to come up with a class that Molly can take -- something that is her own. At this point, she is spending too much time in waiting rooms. She doesn't see it as Jake working, just him having fun.

On another front, Jake is adapting well to almond milk and the non-dairy diet. He still wants to know when he can have dairy again but hopefully the desire subsides. Or we see no changes and he goes back to dairy. Though the latter choice means we will have to see if there is a different allergen.

Snow

YAY!

I need a nap

Molly has not consistently taken a nap in about a year. She very obviously still needs one but refuses to take one. Part of the issue she stopped napping is that her previous nap coincided with when we needed to be in the carpool line. I'd just get her to sleep and it would be time to get in the car. However, without the nap she is a bear by dinnertime. If I am lucky, she will get in some shut eye while we wait for Jake to get out of school. I can't see her taking an early nap (say noon or so). And when she falls asleep late in the afternoon (around 4 or 5 p.m.) it throws off her bedtime. Its a lost cause, I suppose. As I type this she has just fallen asleep on the couch next to me and its 4 p.m.

Don't Got Milk!

Our doctor wants us to take Jacob off of dairy. He feels he is presenting physical and behavioral reactions to dairy. We are trying it for six weeks at least to see if there are improvements. The kid lives off of chocolate milk -- which apparently is common with a food allergy. You crave the food that is making you sick. Who knew? I never realized how many things have milk in them until I went shopping last night. Fortunately the kid eats so few things that outside of the milk we should be able to substitute.

By the way, he's not impressed with chocolate almond milk. Hopefully the $5 non-dairy organic chocolate syrup helps.

Prayers answered ...

I wanted to update on my nephew since I had asked for prayers for him last week. He had both a barium study and a CAT scan done -- both which showed no issues. So THANK GOD he is ok. It was a just a virus that didn't want to let go. Thanks to those who prayed for him.

Slap the stupid outta ya!

What do you do when someone you know is doing something so utterly stupid -- but they can't see it? I know that they have to come to the realization on their own. But sometimes I wish I could slap the stupid right out of them.

Jake

We met with the principal at Jake's school as well as Jake's teacher. I think the meeting went fairly well. We all seem to be on the same page with the same goal -- to help Jake. As Dave put it, the proof is in the pudding. So now we sit back and wait to see if they actually put some action behind their words.

Miss Molly is getting on my very last nerve lately. Our breakfast conversation went like this ...

Me: What do you want for breakfast -- a banana or cereal bar?
Moo: I just can't say. I am hungry.
Me: What do you want for breakfast -- a banana or cereal bar?
Moo: I just can't say. I am hungry.
Me: Seriously last time I will ask and then I am going to sit down. What do you want for breakfast -- a banana or cereal bar?
Moo: I just can't say. I am hungry.



I go to sit down and she dissolves into hysterics on the floor. Seriously? What the heck is wrong with the girl? Everything is a battle with her. If this is her at 3, I fear the future.

BTW, she eventually settled for a banana. Which had to be broken apart because some parts of it were not up to her standards. She'd make a good inspector at Ford.

Prayers

Please pray for ...

Nathan, Tricia and their new little baby girl Gwyneth over at http://cfhusband.blogspot.com

My brother, SIL and little nephew. The little guy has not been feeling well. We aren't sure if its a virus or if he has reflux.

And for Jake. We are expecting t-storms tonight and it makes him very nervous. I have go out for about two hours and our neighbor will be watching him. Hopefully the storms hold off.

Sick car

After picking up Jake from school, I noticed the "check engine" light was on. I also then noticed the coolant gauge was firmly buried in the H zone. It then occurred to me that the maple syrup smell coming from the engine vicinity was not good. I am not all inclined to know about cars so I drove it home (I've since learned it would have been better to pull over for a quick cool down). Of course, Dave is out of town and our other car is parked somewhere in airport land. I did have a friend check the car to see if I could at least drive Jake to school in it. As long as it doesn't start overheating again, we should be good. For now.

School

Jake starts school again tomorrow. I am not looking forward to him going back. Its been such a relief not to deal with all of the school issues for two weeks. No phone calls, no notes, no nothing. I should have done more to prepare him for going back tomorrow but I don't know that anything would make a difference. Sigh. Hopefully the transition is easy for him. He's started some new supplements earlier this week to help him focus and to calm him. We will see if it makes a difference in his behavior at school. I have no idea what the time frame is for actually seeing a difference. Speaking of school, we are supposed to meet with his principal on Wednesday -- sort of a pre-IEP assessment meeting. We need to decide if they are willing to work with him/us or if we should look elsewhere. Another sigh.

Score!

For the most part, I sat on my butt today. Its warmer but rainy which makes me just want to veg. We did go out for a late lunch/early dinner (is that linner or dunch) and then to Home Depot. We also got tickets to see Third Day in May at our church. Score! The tickets were only $12 which is even better.

Jake is watching an infomercial and trying to convince me we need to buy Green Bags. Last week, he wanted me to buy Mighty Putty. No, he doesn't watch too much TV at all.

Please ...

Please do me a favor and check out this blog: http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

Pearls of Wisdom

If you read my Myspace blog, this is repeat information. Sorry.

Why is it that my MIL thinks I want her pearls of wisdom?

While we were at my in-laws for Christmas I was having yet another heartwarming and wonderful conversation (read with sarcasm, please) with my MIL when she laid this gem on me: "I think Molly is delayed because she was a preemie." Then she went on to glorify the virtues of my niece who is ONE YEAR OLDER than Molly. Herein lies the issue though ... now I am looking at Molly and thinking "well what if she's right?" I have nothing to compare Molly to because Jacob in terms of verbal and reading skills, he was light years ahead of her at the same age. But that's not fair to compare them because 1.) its just not good to compare kids and 2.) Jake has underlying issues that make him unique.

Molly has no color, letter or number recognition. She sings the ABC song but she has no clue what it means. Her motor skills are fine and she is verbal (though quieter when she is around strangers). Adding to this is that I am knee deep in reading about autism because of Jake which is probably making me more sensitive. But I would hate to miss something and not get Moo help if she needed.

When I read online, she meets some of the intellectual criteria minus the above mentioned color, letter and number recognition. Her ped had no concerns at her three-year appointment. My instinct says nothing is wrong. So why do I let my MIL and her constant verbal diarrhea bother me?

Long time, no see

Well since diet and exercise are not resolutions I plan to make (or keep), I will try to be a better blogger. Try being the operative term, of course. Keep your expectations low and you might be pleasantly surprised.

To bring you up to speed: the kids are older and cuter, their mother is fatter and we live in house not an apartment.