diagnoses...

Today was the big day. We traveled up to Salt Lake to have a psychiatric evaluation for Zane. He has been struggling (as have we) for awhile, and we finally decided we had to go this route. We filled out mounds of papers/behavioral questionnaires, and his teacher did one as well. The Dr. met with Zane first and then we all met with him. He asked us a few questions, and then announced that he fits the criteria for ADHD and probably Oppositional Defiant Disorder but it could possibly be a mood disorder (i.e. depression) given family genetics. He also said that the regular behavioral things are not going to work, and he figured we had probably already tried it all anyways. (so true!). He told us to really focus on the positive reward techniques like the marble jar we started recently. You earn a marble for positive things and those can be turned in for privelages - instead of focusing on taking away privelages. Then, the rest of the hour was spent talking about medication. I started out feeling really good, like ok, I have some validation that it's not "normal". But, it's really still sinking in, and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by it all. Of course, my personality is to research and read everything I can about it. I've already been to the library and checked out every book they had. We don't have to make a decision about medication today, tomorrow, or next week. I am not against medication if that is what is best, but I also don't want to start throwing pills at him. Our course of action right now is to read, research, and lots and lots of praying. I welcome those with experience in this to offer support and wisdom.

good deals...

This week I have had fun doing some bargain shopping. And I do mean BARGAIN. I've been to the DI twice, and to Kid-to-Kid twice. We are "financially challenged" right now, and I've needed to get some clothes for my little ones for fall. I have fallen in love with these stores! It feels REALLY good to be frugal. Next stop: yard sales or dare I say, coupon clipping! Here is what my little model will be wearing this fall:

labor day and the little stinker...

Labor Day weekend was a little rough, but we made it through. On Monday we headed to a park nearby to have some fun in the water. It's actually a pretty neat park with some different kinds of equipment than most parks have. It's great for toddler kids too. Lily actually got in the water at the splash pad - usually she is too scared. Very fun!

This little stinker.....

(love this face!)

will not eat cereal. We have been trying for a few weeks now. Almost every night. We've tried it with breastmilk, formula, and water. He sure doesn't seem interested.

This is the face he makes, and he won't really even open his mouth. I'm going to start trying during the day to see if that makes a difference. No worries. He is a cute cute little stinker though!

oh, to REALLY have a day off...

Well, I've been meaning to blog - so this is going to be a long one. My sisters, my mom, and I all got together this past weekend in Phoenix. It was so much fun to just hang out and shop (sorta). Little Evan got to come too of course. So I didn't get to do much sleeping in, but other than that - it was relaxing. We got a pedicure (my first real one ever!) and our nails done. We went to a fun movie, played jewelry/beads, and of course, lots of eating out. What we girls do best! I brought my camera, but managed to not take pictures, duh. Oh yeah and I turned 29 again last Sunday too! John made me a great cake - that yummy toffee chocolate one - when I got back. What a great guy!

This week was parent teacher conference and of course Zane is crazy ahead. Of course she talked about how smart he is, and that he makes her laugh every day. She also said he is having trouble finishing his work - staying on task, is inattentive quite a bit, talks a lot, and easily distracted. Yup. That would sum up Zane! He scored a 64 on a spelling test they gave him. She said that by the end of last year, she had a few of her students score as high as a 74. So - yeah that is WAY up there. There is one other kid in first grade that scored super high too, so they will most likely make up their own spelling group. He is also reading at an end of 2nd-beg. of 3rd grade level. She is pretty sure he can read at an even higher level - just isn't sure about the comprehension. (Zane really doesn't like to answer questions about his reading - who knows why).

We are having an evaluation done in a couple of weeks up in Salt Lake - so we are hoping to find out if there is any underlying condition that we need to know about concerning his behavior at school (not staying on task) or home (the aggression and anger as well as the poor attention). I'm extremely nervous about it. I guess mostly because I'm afraid I won't be taken seriously, or that I will over or under play the situation. Also - I just don't know what to expect.

Today was a day off of school - so things quickly got out of hand at our house, from the get go. Unfortunate. So - I decided I have to get the kids out of the house for a bit, and we headed to the library. Zane picked up quite a few books about Hurricanes, and one about Taiwan (?) and a couple of stories. We came home and put up the play tent with some blankets and pillows and had a reading tent. The kids enjoyed that (even if it was for only 20 minutes). I'm already tired, and we still have Labor Day too. Ugh.