1) I am grateful for suckers. No, seriously! Okay, so apparently I went hypoglycemic at mutual on Tuesday. It wasn't fun. Thankfully, our first counselor in YW and the bishopric member over YW figured out what was wrong pretty quickly (the bishopric member is currently in school to become an RN). We got enough sugar into me to get me home safely, but what really made all of the difference was the bright red sucker my husband handed me. That thing totally helped turn things around. I guess I'll be carrying them with me a lot from now on. Those things work wonders!
2) I am grateful for my amazing husband. There aren't enough words to describe how grateful I am for this wonderful man who stands beside me (and occasionally even carries me) through it all. All of me loves all of you, John.
3) I am grateful for a quick response from Telus this week about a concern about our wifi. They found John's tweet, had him contact them about the problem and within 24 hours they were here with a new modem getting our wifi to a much better speed. It may seem small, but it's so nice to see such a big company give good service these days :)
The goings on of our geeky little family and the musings and soapbox moments of the lone female in the group.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Caleb Update
So an update about goings on with Caleb. We met with the psychiatrist yesterday and also with the psychologist. Caleb, as I've mentioned before, has been officially diagnosed with ADHD. He also meets the criteria, and then some, for Oppositional Defiant Disorder, but doesn't have an official diagnosis at this point. We will continue to see the psychiatrist every couple of months to ensure that his current medication and dosage is still working well for him. However, we no longer need to make use of the psychologist unless we choose to. We are happy with the progress that Caleb has made (more like thrilled, actually). Things are getting so much better and I am SO grateful for that.
Things with Caleb have been a very big learning experience and eye opener for me. I am learning so much about ADHD and ODD. I am learning how to change how I parent to be more effective for him. I am learning how to be an advocate for him in school. I am (finally) learning how to have more patience. Some of the eye openers have been learning that ADHD doesn't always look the way you expect it to. Also, a big one for me was accepting that sometimes, kids require medication, even if it's not a road you wanted to travel. The way I look at it now is that when my kids have a bacterial infection, I make sure they get antibiotics. Because something is actually wrong that causes Caleb to not have control, I make sure he has what he needs for it. Sick is sick! I know that from my own experience, and now I'm learning it from yet another angle as a parent.
I love Caleb so much, and I'm so grateful he's been a trouper through this trial as we waited and waited to find an answer.
Things with Caleb have been a very big learning experience and eye opener for me. I am learning so much about ADHD and ODD. I am learning how to change how I parent to be more effective for him. I am learning how to be an advocate for him in school. I am (finally) learning how to have more patience. Some of the eye openers have been learning that ADHD doesn't always look the way you expect it to. Also, a big one for me was accepting that sometimes, kids require medication, even if it's not a road you wanted to travel. The way I look at it now is that when my kids have a bacterial infection, I make sure they get antibiotics. Because something is actually wrong that causes Caleb to not have control, I make sure he has what he needs for it. Sick is sick! I know that from my own experience, and now I'm learning it from yet another angle as a parent.
I love Caleb so much, and I'm so grateful he's been a trouper through this trial as we waited and waited to find an answer.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Thankful Thursday
1) I am incredibly grateful for the amazing son of mine who turned 6 today. Ty is the most hilarious little guy I know and he is so adorable. I am beyond blessed to be his mother.
2) I am grateful for our military personnel and first responders, especially on days like yesterday. They deserve far more thanks than they get.
3) I am grateful for the amazing group of Young Women that I work with. They are such a strength to me and I love them so much.
2) I am grateful for our military personnel and first responders, especially on days like yesterday. They deserve far more thanks than they get.
3) I am grateful for the amazing group of Young Women that I work with. They are such a strength to me and I love them so much.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Thankful Friday?
I'm a day late with this, oops!
1) I am incredibly grateful that Caleb made the choice to be baptized this last weekend. What an amazing experience it was to see him do that!
2) I am grateful for my amazing mum who made sure that the potluck after Caleb's baptism ran smoothly when I got a wicked bad headache. She is a rockstar!
3) I am grateful for my good friend who brought me back some Excedrin when she was in the US last time. That stuff is amazing and so is she.
1) I am incredibly grateful that Caleb made the choice to be baptized this last weekend. What an amazing experience it was to see him do that!
2) I am grateful for my amazing mum who made sure that the potluck after Caleb's baptism ran smoothly when I got a wicked bad headache. She is a rockstar!
3) I am grateful for my good friend who brought me back some Excedrin when she was in the US last time. That stuff is amazing and so is she.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Thankful Thursday
First off, I cannot believe it's Thursday already. It seems like time just keeps going by faster and faster! Anyway, between the cleaning I have to get done to prepare for company, here is my blogging break for the day.
1) I am grateful for one of the young women coming and cleaning walls for me last week. Due to my permanent back injury, I can't wash my own walls anymore without causing myself extreme pain for weeks (still recovering from that mistake). As soon as she found out about this, she offered to come and do it for me, since 3 little boys obviously don't leave my walls clean (by any stretch of the imagination). She got most of my main floor walls cleaned that day and was super patient with the boys wanting to help her. What's more, is she plans to come back to do more. I love that girl!
2) I am grateful to finally have Caleb's diagnosis, after over a year of prayers upon prayers and searching so many avenues. We are learning so much about how to best help him!
3) I am grateful for music! I managed to acquire $90 in iTunes cards for my birthday and I am loving getting to pick new music to add to my phone. Music is such a huge part of my life and so helpful for stress, sadness, and whatever else might be going on at the time. It's almost got this magical quality to it. I love it!
1) I am grateful for one of the young women coming and cleaning walls for me last week. Due to my permanent back injury, I can't wash my own walls anymore without causing myself extreme pain for weeks (still recovering from that mistake). As soon as she found out about this, she offered to come and do it for me, since 3 little boys obviously don't leave my walls clean (by any stretch of the imagination). She got most of my main floor walls cleaned that day and was super patient with the boys wanting to help her. What's more, is she plans to come back to do more. I love that girl!
2) I am grateful to finally have Caleb's diagnosis, after over a year of prayers upon prayers and searching so many avenues. We are learning so much about how to best help him!
3) I am grateful for music! I managed to acquire $90 in iTunes cards for my birthday and I am loving getting to pick new music to add to my phone. Music is such a huge part of my life and so helpful for stress, sadness, and whatever else might be going on at the time. It's almost got this magical quality to it. I love it!
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Diagnosis!
So after I blogged on Thursday, I had a chance to talk to Caleb's psychologist on the phone. This was probably the best conversation she and I have ever had (I'm normally anything BUT a fan of her). It was a good conversation because I felt like she was actually listening to me for once, but also because she finally told me what diagnosis the psychiatrist has given Caleb. As I've mentioned before, I've spent over a year now knowing that something was wrong and have been working hard trying to get Caleb the help that he needs. I have sacrificed taking care of my own mind this past year in order to take care of him. Finally getting an official diagnosis was a HUGE deal! So here it is:
Caleb has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder with a tendency toward Oppositional Defiant Disorder as well. When his medication was changed a couple of weeks ago, it was changed to a non-stimulant ADHD medication meant for kids. He seems to be doing well with it so far.
Now that we know what we are working with, we are figuring out how to proceed. I am becoming WELL educated in ADHD and working on becoming very educated about ODD as well and sharing what I learn with John. We are happy keeping our current concessions for Caleb in the classroom, but finding a few others we want to add in as well. We still have a long road ahead of us, Caleb especially, but we finally feel like we've at least found the right path, and that is a huge relief.
We understand that we will have lots of people belittle Caleb's diagnosis and try to convince us that ADHD doesn't really exist and/or that we shouldn't be medicating him for it. To them I bluntly say: "You live in the past year of my life in my place and go through everything I went through as we waited for this answer and THEN say that to my face". We feel peace with this answer, and we know that it is Heavenly Father telling us that it's right and we are SO grateful for His help and guidance in all of this.
Caleb has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder with a tendency toward Oppositional Defiant Disorder as well. When his medication was changed a couple of weeks ago, it was changed to a non-stimulant ADHD medication meant for kids. He seems to be doing well with it so far.
Now that we know what we are working with, we are figuring out how to proceed. I am becoming WELL educated in ADHD and working on becoming very educated about ODD as well and sharing what I learn with John. We are happy keeping our current concessions for Caleb in the classroom, but finding a few others we want to add in as well. We still have a long road ahead of us, Caleb especially, but we finally feel like we've at least found the right path, and that is a huge relief.
We understand that we will have lots of people belittle Caleb's diagnosis and try to convince us that ADHD doesn't really exist and/or that we shouldn't be medicating him for it. To them I bluntly say: "You live in the past year of my life in my place and go through everything I went through as we waited for this answer and THEN say that to my face". We feel peace with this answer, and we know that it is Heavenly Father telling us that it's right and we are SO grateful for His help and guidance in all of this.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Thankful Thursday and 30 Things
1) I am grateful for my amazing friend, AJ. She has been there to listen to me a lot, especially this past year. She helps me escape when I need a few hours away from the house. Of all of the amazing blessings I've been given while serving in YW callings, she's my favourite!
2) I am grateful for everything I've gained and learned in the past decade. When I turned 20, I had just joined the church a few months ago, had place L a month and a half before and had no clue where my life was going to take me next. Over these 10 years I married a wonderful man in the temple, we had 3 wonderful boys together, we learned just how much we're able to get through with each other and the help of our Heavenly Father. It truly has been a very amazing decade for me and I'm looking forward to seeing what my 30's bring.
3) I am grateful to officially have all of the winter gear shopping for the year done. I bought Brett's lighter mitts and Caleb's second pair of warm mitts this morning and I am now done and ready for the next round of snow (which can wait until after Caleb's baptism, pretty please). It's a big relief knowing there won't be a big rush for all of that stuff for us in a few weeks!
So since I'm turning 30 on Sunday, I decided to post 30 random facts about myself for it. I won't do it that day since I'll be busy watching General Conference and enjoying my bacon breakfast, so I'll just do it now.
1) I have more noticeable OCDisms than John, and he is officially diagnosed with it.
2) I love to randomly start dancing to music, even if it's just the tune stuck in my head.
3) I spent most of my weekends in grade 12 hanging out at home with my brother and have no regrets about it.
4) In my (almost) 30 years, I still haven't found a fashion style to stick with that works for me.
5) I have never had a broken bone.
6) If I was deep cleaning my room and rearranging it as a teen, it was best to stay away. It meant I was probably upset about something.
7) I read The Book of Mormon in a month earlier this year. I have no plans to do it that quickly again.
8) I have read the entire standard works cover to cover, and would love to do that one again.
9) I craved McDonald's cheeseburgers during my pregnancies with all 3 boys.
10) I can't stand typos. If they're mine, I need to correct them as soon as I notice them. If they were made by other people, it annoys me a lot more than it should.
11) I absolutely adore the baked ravioli that John makes for me. Seriously, someone should write a song about that stuff.
12) I have a huge fear of talking on the phone to people I don't know really well. I will avoid it at almost any cost.
13) One of my favourite gifts I've ever received was a handmade knit Ravenclaw scarf from my friend. She made it for me during transit rides and breaks at work.
14) My favourite book, contrary to what people think, is actually To Kill a Mockingbird.
15) My favourite thing to get in my stocking each year is notepads. I love making lists!
16) I LOVE bacon, but I make John cook it for me because I got several grease burns when I worked at KFC and they hurt really bad.
17) I have a slight obsession with Scentsy. Okay, more than slight.
18) I have really bad insomnia. It's a big deal if I manage to fall asleep without taking a pill to help with it or spending over an hour trying to fall asleep.
19) I have spring, summer and fall allergies that get worse each year. However, I finally found a medication rotation this year that works for me.
20) I love wearing fuzzy socks on cold days. I don't wear them out of the house very often, but they are amazing for around the house.
21) I sweep my floors in they same systematic way every single time I sweep them (remember number 1?).
22) My principal in my first elementary school wanted me to skip grade 2. Had my mum agreed to it, I would have still been 16 when I graduated from high school.
23) One year, I had 3 different Halloween costumes. One for school, one for Sparks and one for Halloween night.
24) When my brother and I were young, we got to help build our log cabin fort at our grandparents' farm. We loved that thing so much!
25) I actually get super excited each time Brettley outgrows a clothing size and I get to donate them instead of putting them into storage again. It feels like progress for some reason.
26) One of my most favourite days of the year is the day that I get my new calendar in the mail. I'm a sad, strange individual like that...
27) I seldom get sad when my kids move on from parts of their childhood, but I will admit to almost shedding a tear when Caleb decided he no longer wanted to hold my hand in front of his friend at the park.
28) My favourite place to eat is at Firestone in Lethbridge. I've only been there twice, but both experiences were absolutely amazing. John even said that they have ruined him for all other baked potatoes. I heartily agree!
29) I have been doing my own laundry since I was 7. It started because I got tired of picking Kleenix bits off of my clean clothes that had been in other people's pockets, so I begged my mum to teach me how to wash my own clothes.
30) I absolutely love sour gummy candies, particularly Sour Patch Kids. Yum!
2) I am grateful for everything I've gained and learned in the past decade. When I turned 20, I had just joined the church a few months ago, had place L a month and a half before and had no clue where my life was going to take me next. Over these 10 years I married a wonderful man in the temple, we had 3 wonderful boys together, we learned just how much we're able to get through with each other and the help of our Heavenly Father. It truly has been a very amazing decade for me and I'm looking forward to seeing what my 30's bring.
3) I am grateful to officially have all of the winter gear shopping for the year done. I bought Brett's lighter mitts and Caleb's second pair of warm mitts this morning and I am now done and ready for the next round of snow (which can wait until after Caleb's baptism, pretty please). It's a big relief knowing there won't be a big rush for all of that stuff for us in a few weeks!
So since I'm turning 30 on Sunday, I decided to post 30 random facts about myself for it. I won't do it that day since I'll be busy watching General Conference and enjoying my bacon breakfast, so I'll just do it now.
1) I have more noticeable OCDisms than John, and he is officially diagnosed with it.
2) I love to randomly start dancing to music, even if it's just the tune stuck in my head.
3) I spent most of my weekends in grade 12 hanging out at home with my brother and have no regrets about it.
4) In my (almost) 30 years, I still haven't found a fashion style to stick with that works for me.
5) I have never had a broken bone.
6) If I was deep cleaning my room and rearranging it as a teen, it was best to stay away. It meant I was probably upset about something.
7) I read The Book of Mormon in a month earlier this year. I have no plans to do it that quickly again.
8) I have read the entire standard works cover to cover, and would love to do that one again.
9) I craved McDonald's cheeseburgers during my pregnancies with all 3 boys.
10) I can't stand typos. If they're mine, I need to correct them as soon as I notice them. If they were made by other people, it annoys me a lot more than it should.
11) I absolutely adore the baked ravioli that John makes for me. Seriously, someone should write a song about that stuff.
12) I have a huge fear of talking on the phone to people I don't know really well. I will avoid it at almost any cost.
13) One of my favourite gifts I've ever received was a handmade knit Ravenclaw scarf from my friend. She made it for me during transit rides and breaks at work.
14) My favourite book, contrary to what people think, is actually To Kill a Mockingbird.
15) My favourite thing to get in my stocking each year is notepads. I love making lists!
16) I LOVE bacon, but I make John cook it for me because I got several grease burns when I worked at KFC and they hurt really bad.
17) I have a slight obsession with Scentsy. Okay, more than slight.
18) I have really bad insomnia. It's a big deal if I manage to fall asleep without taking a pill to help with it or spending over an hour trying to fall asleep.
19) I have spring, summer and fall allergies that get worse each year. However, I finally found a medication rotation this year that works for me.
20) I love wearing fuzzy socks on cold days. I don't wear them out of the house very often, but they are amazing for around the house.
21) I sweep my floors in they same systematic way every single time I sweep them (remember number 1?).
22) My principal in my first elementary school wanted me to skip grade 2. Had my mum agreed to it, I would have still been 16 when I graduated from high school.
23) One year, I had 3 different Halloween costumes. One for school, one for Sparks and one for Halloween night.
24) When my brother and I were young, we got to help build our log cabin fort at our grandparents' farm. We loved that thing so much!
25) I actually get super excited each time Brettley outgrows a clothing size and I get to donate them instead of putting them into storage again. It feels like progress for some reason.
26) One of my most favourite days of the year is the day that I get my new calendar in the mail. I'm a sad, strange individual like that...
27) I seldom get sad when my kids move on from parts of their childhood, but I will admit to almost shedding a tear when Caleb decided he no longer wanted to hold my hand in front of his friend at the park.
28) My favourite place to eat is at Firestone in Lethbridge. I've only been there twice, but both experiences were absolutely amazing. John even said that they have ruined him for all other baked potatoes. I heartily agree!
29) I have been doing my own laundry since I was 7. It started because I got tired of picking Kleenix bits off of my clean clothes that had been in other people's pockets, so I begged my mum to teach me how to wash my own clothes.
30) I absolutely love sour gummy candies, particularly Sour Patch Kids. Yum!
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