Nice Break

Basketball season officially ended about two weeks ago and it has been so nice to have some free evenings and weekends. We were able to have a nice quick two night trip to Minnesota where the boys were able to see a Timberwolves vs Golden State NBA game and had lots of fun swimming and hanging out at the Mall of America. It was such a nice little family break and then I was able to spend the rest of spring break home with them hanging out and doing little fun activities. Tonight we had baseball sign up and in the next few weeks Spring football starts. Back to crazy nights and weekends of two sport seasons and being on the run. It has been so much fun watching the boys grow this year and develop into wanting to do sports and team activities and work so hard at everything they are doing. They have both made tons of friends and sports have really given them more confidence I feel especially being new to the school this year. If there is ever a day they don't want do to sports I will be sad but until them we will support them in the things they want to try and to stay active. Payton had great conferences and we are really proud his reading has improved over this year and he is on track. Parker also had great conferences and with his IEP in place he has been doing really well. I keep waiting for the ball to drop and something happen but he amazes me with how far he has came socially this year adapting with the many changes this year has brought. I can't say enough how much I appreciate our school and the resources and positive support we have received. We have lots of fun planned for the summer and lots of chaos as well :). Until then I have learned over this past year to not dwell on the past, enjoy the present and be positive with whatever the future brings. On a side note we got notification that Presley got placed for 4 year preschool at the same school the boys are at which is great, one year where all three kids will be in one building!

Brighter Days

I realize its been awhile since an update but between work, school, and basketball things have been crazy! Payton has been averaging 3 games a weekend with basketball and Parker typically has a game as well each weekend. The boys have had such an awesome basketball season but I am so ready for it to slow down a bit. They both really developed a passion for basketball and each day their skill and knowledge of the sport amazes me! Next up is Spring Football and then baseball starts which leads right into Fall football which then turns in to basketball again. I think in my mind a lot I wish they weren't so involved then I quickly remember how I do not want idle kids and we have so much fun as a family watching them each play. Conferences are coming up and I am actually excited to see how they are doing. Payton has adjusted so well to his new school this year and its fun to see him experience different classes and people. He came home today so excited he got a perfect score on his Spanish test---to me I was surprised because I didn't get Spanish until high school and at their school its starts in Preschool! Parker has been doing really well overall. Every week he has some minor bumps but what we have all noticed is that they are not nearly to the degree they were this fall but much less intense and he can actually get back on track fairly quickly. We got his IEP plan in place and I have a whole new respect for public education. Prairie has been so supportive, compassionate, patient, and such an advocate for our family. By having an IEP-something we never knew much about- he is getting 30 minutes a day of one one one special instruction on challenging school work and personal social skills. He still meets weekly with his counselor which he looks forward to and we have noticed a whole new attitude towards his new school this year. Today he had a few bumps but then he came home and was in a great mood about how he turned it around and then did his homework without any trouble and even sat and did a puzzle with me. I know we have challenges ahead at some point I am sure but I am so thankful we have started to get our son back. We have many things to look forward to coming up, spring break we are taking the boys to a NBA basketball game and taking the three of them to the Mall of America, we have the summer to plan for and finally settling into a nice routine. Also, next month our Miss Presley turns 4...so hard to believe!

Update

So I have thought about writing an update for days now. The weird thing is that everything is actually going well for the kids -especially Parker, but yet I am scared to write that because...maybe it will jinx things? I know that seems silly. Since my last post things have been going really well. We have only gotten one call to pick Parker up after he got upset and didn't want to ride the bus, but we realized it was a late start day and Jeremy thought I have him his morning meds but I thought he was so he didn't get them..whoops! We officially had our IEP evaluation result meeting last week and it went well, he qualified and we go back in two weeks to sign the final drafts. It has been such a relief things have been going well at school because work and life is crazy without all that extra stress.
Report cards came for both boys and they both are actually doing pretty well. Payton and Parker have been been enjoying basketball and got signed up for spring and fall football leagues. We were able to get Presley registered for 4 year old preschool at Prairie which we are excited for, we will have one year (next year) where all three kids will be in one building! Life is good...busy....but good.

Testing Results Are In.

A few weeks ago I took Parker back to his doctor to meet a psychologist who was going to do some psychological testing to help us get further answers. Today I went to meet with him to review the results. Some things I was surprised about and others not so much. His main diagnosis is Anxiety. I knew that, he does not do well with change, he worries about failing at things and has always been anxious especially when it comes to school. The next diagnoses is Depression. I was a little shocked and maybe its because on paper it seems real. I know that he is tearful easily and he reports that he gets sad and misses his old school and on days where his behaviors are challenging he cries that no one likes him. He has lots of friends, he excels in sports, its hard to see your second grader with a diagnosis of depression because it looks so different than what I think of as depression-which is more of an adult problem -or so it isn't. The last diagnosis was Oppositional Defiant Disorder-ODD. I figured. He has always been tempermental since he was little and does not do well when he feels he does not have control but once again, it is sad to see it actually documented. I fear that we won't get it under control and his future is in jeopardy as an adult. I was reassured that we are doing everything we can and children with ODD if caught early enough can learn to rewire his brain in regards to his way or the highway and the good news is he does fairly well at home with Jeremy and myself and school is mainly the issue. I will say since starting the Risperdal along with the Buspar he has really been doing better. He still is having some oppositional or avoidance like behaviors with tasks at school and has only had a few melt downs but he has not been anywhere near the point he was prior. Before we were going out every other day to get him or calm him down and now we have been out once only because he was crying and upset and it was time to get on the bus and he wouldn't. He hasn't tried to hurt himself or others and has been much less destructive to property at school when he is upset. He is actually back in his main classroom the majority of time with built in breaks and continues to do counseling weekly. Thursday Jeremy and I go in to find out the results of his IEP evaluation and what services it would include if he qualifies. I never in a million years thought we would be dealing with any of this. It not only breaks my hurt but makes me worry daily how he is doing. It is almost some days to the point I just want him home all the time because I know he will be fine then, but, thats not the answer. Parker tested average to above average on intellect on his psychological testing and that we are thankful for, he is very bright, loving child and I do not ever want him to loose that. More to update later this week after our meeting with his doctor on Thursday and the school IEP meeting.

Giving Thanks and Birthdays!

After celebrating a wonderful Thanksgiving with our friends and family today we had the blessing to celebrate our boys' birthdays with their friends. We were able to rent out Bender Pool and had friends from their classes and basketball teams. We were even able to invite some family friends and family to the party. The kids all played so well can made out pretty good!

Throughout the break we have kept a close eye on Parker and notice off the zoloft he has still been quick to become upset and overly emotional, nothing to the extreme of what has happened at school but enough we are somewhat worried about how next week will go after break. We decided tonight to start the Risperidal so we can observe him ourself on this new medication rather than having to start mid week and not knowing exactly how he acts on it during the day. So, he had his first dose tonight. More to come on that I guess over the next week.

Tomorrow is going to be a day of relaxing together and working on the endless boxes still needing unpacked and a house that still needs decorated. Its amazing how when you add in school, work, day to day stress, basketball tournaments and practices and the basic weekly needs of running a house hold that even a Type A person like myself looses the motivation to truely unpack. I am not sure if I am just tired from everything, I am starting to relax when possible and do not want to do anything but that when I finally have a second, or if I am not mentally prepared to claim our new normal-even if I am happy about our new home.

It was also nice this weekend that Jeremy and I even got a few nights to ourselves finally, something that never happens. My parents took the kids home Thanksgiving evening and we got them back this afternoon before their party. Jeremy and I were able to go shopping a bit, go out to eat, hang out and enjoy spending time together...something that we take for granted with everything we have going on in our lives. I am so thankful for everything we have in life and the people who are in it.  Things to remember, just breathe and be thankful.