Progress

I mentioned in a previous post that we were having Isabelle evaluated for ADHD.  We have been engrossed in this process for the last two weeks and today is the first time that I feel ready to come up for air.  After much prayer, patience, and faith, we have come to a point of peace and are ready to move forward.

The first step was to have her hearing rechecked.  She failed her hearing test at school last month and the doctor felt it necessary to send her to an audiologist to rule out hearing loss.  We went to see the referred audiologist and they did several different exams on her.  They were extremely thorough and explained each test to us in detail before administering.  She passed with flying colors!  Step One: CHECK.

The second step was to complete “homework” given to us by the behavioral specialist referred to us by our pediatrician.  I did some research on her before our appointment and was pleased with the testimonials I heard from her patients.  We were given detailed surveys to fill out before our first appointment: one for Shawn, one for me, and one for Isabelle’s teacher.  The surveys covered a variety of topics centered around attention span, social skills, and over all attitude.  We completed them as honestly as possible.  Step Two: CHECK.

The third step was an exam performed by the behavioral specialist.  She did a complete head to toe physical assessment on Isabelle.  She then asked her a ton of questions regarding her home life and school habits.  She asked us a lot of questions as well, some of them even asking about how she was as a toddler.  What I liked the most about this doctor was her overall vibe.  She was so kind, so respectful.  She spoke to Isabelle in the most warm and loving way.  There was NOTHING intimidating about this doctor’s visit.  It was just a nice conversation.  Step Three: CHECK.

After some deliberation, the behavioral specialist informed us that she does NOT think that Isabelle has ADHD.  However, she feels that she is borderline ADD.  And by borderline she means that it is very difficult to diagnose a girl of her age.  In fact, most girls her age with ADD go undiagnosed because their symptoms are harder to read than little boys.  She also thinks that Isabelle has some anxiety issues that need to be addressed and are probably the root of some of her problems in school.  Diagnosis: CHECK.

Now, what are we going to do about it?  First off, we have a tutor coming once a week to our house to help her in her weaker areas.  Her teacher is working directly with the tutor and sends her work that needs to be reviewed, advices her on topics Belle is having trouble with, and gives her a lesson plan of what they are covering in class.  This is so exciting to me!  Not only is she getting extra attention from an educator, but these two influential people are working together to make the program that much more effective!  Isabelle LOVES her tutor so far and really seems to enjoy their time together.

Second, the doctor put her on a non-stimulant medication called Stratterra.  Of all the ADD drugs out there, I feel pretty good about this one.  Since it’s a non-stimulant, it won’t make her sedated or zombie-like.  We don’t want her to lose her spirit, we just want her to learn to use it more productively!  This particular med is also very effective with people who suffer from anxiety and thus a good choice for her.  Shawn has taken ADD meds for the last few years so we were pretty aware of what side effects to look for.  She was a bit tired the first three days and didn’t have her usual hearty appetite, but those symptoms have subsided as the first week has passed.  She seems to have gotten her natural energy back and is eating normal again.  This medication takes a while to really get into the system, so I’ll report back as we start to see results.

And third, the behavioral specialist gave us lots of behavioral modification techniques to try at home.  Reward charts, goal setting, time limits, etc.  We have already been implementing some of these and she enjoys them immensely.  She is a goal oriented person and accomplishing tasks makes her thrive.

So, here we are.  My emotions are still on edge about all of this.  You give birth to these perfect little creatures and you have no idea what life will bring.  You just want your children to be happy and healthy, to have everything in life they could dream of.  And that’s what we want for her.  We want her to have every opportunity to be everything she can be.  And so we will move ahead with this new plan, this new outlook, and we will give her every tool she needs to succeed.  Because she can do anything, be anyone.  Because she is loved.

 

Stats

Brees Elizabeth is four months old!!!

Here are her stats:

14 pounds 4 ounces, 25 1/2 inches long

1.  We are still exclusively breast feeding.  Brees nurses every 3-4 1/2 hours during the day.  This month, she has occasionally  started waking up in the middle of the night around 2 for an extra feeding.  The whole sleeping through the night thing was nice while it lasted!  The night time feedings aren’t too bad because I sleep lightly while she nurses, though.  I pump every three hours at work as recommended by my lactation consultant.  As daunting as this first seemed when I went back to work, it is actually super easy and has become part of my routine.  My coworkers are so supportive and that helps, too!

2.  She takes 3-4 naps a day and goes to bed for the night around 6:30 pm.  She wakes up, eats, plays for about an hour and a half to two hours, and then goes back to sleep.  She repeats this cycle all day until bed time.  She can now fall asleep on her own, which breaks my heart.  I still rock her to sleep at least twice a day because we both love the cuddle time so much.  But it’s also nice that she can drift off on her own, especially when Isabelle needs me or I have to go to work.  When she wakes up, she plays quietly in her bed for a while before beckoning us to come and rescue her.  She loves her glo-worm and aquarium musical crib toy.

3.  She can now roll from her tummy to her back and vice versa.  She is a rolling machine and travels all over the living room floor!  We have put her bouncy chair away for good as she somehow always manages to scoot completely out of it, even with the seatbelt on.  She has found her feet and likes to give them kisses.  She almost always has at least one sock off and even managed to take her diaper off last week.  We are quickly realizing that she is the quiet, sneaky type:)

4.  She is very, very vocal.  She talks and sings and coos constantly.  She squeals and giggles loudly while we are all talking, actively participating in our family conversations.  She doesn’t cry much and is very easily pacified.  She is a very happy, content baby and is so adaptable.  She can nap anywhere, doesn’t mind running 20 errands, and will let anyone hold her.  She smiles all the time now and will let out a deep belly laugh is you tickle her neck.

5.  She has not been sick at all this month.  She is cutting a tooth and is drooling a lot.  She puts everything in her mouth and loves to suck her thumb.  Her reflux seems to have hit its peak this month and she spit up A LOT.  Our pediatrician said this is totally normal: most babies with reflux tend to spit up the most around 4 months.  As long as they are still gaining weight and are not experiencing any other symptoms (such as coughing, crying when spitting up, or losing weight), then we are on the right track.  She is still taking Prevacid every night and it is so effective in preventing any of the acid reflux symptoms she was having.   Her weight is right on track and she eats like a champ.  We’ve just had to do more laundry!

It’s amazing to see her sweet little personality forming.  She and Isabelle have a lot of similarities, but we can already see so many differences in them as well.  The dynamics of a family are so amazing to me.  God placed us all together for a reason, for that I am sure.  Our personalties compliment one another, our strengths and weaknesses come together and we are able to use them to make our family better.  I am so, so thankful for all that is ours.

How Does Your Garden Grow

With Spring in full swing, we have decided to begin our much anticipated garden.  We have spent the last few weeks planning what we wanted to grow, where we would plant, etc.  We decided to start with a flower bed behind our house that was completely overgrown and unutilized.  Together, we dug up the old weeds and bushes and tilled the soil.  It was the most lovely afternoon, Shawn, Isabelle, and I getting our hands dirty.  Soaking up the sun and feeling the dirt between our toes.

So far, we have planted tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, cilantro, sweet peppers, and lavender.  We also planted some irises, a lovely plum delight bush, and a sago palm.  Quite an eclectic blend!

Every morning and every evening, Isabelle announces to the whole household, “Time to water our garden!!”.  And together we tromp outside in our rubber boots, replenishing these beautiful, living beings.  We ooh and aah over their progress, relish in how beautiful the flowers look as the setting sun casts its rays on their petals.  And it is the most wonderful feeling to have between all of us, a shared interest, a common goal, an intertwined desire for success.  A garden for our family.  Food for our bellies, flowers for our hearts, and peace for our souls.

Love

This past weekend, Shawn and I went out for our first post-baby date!  Oh, what a lovely evening it was!  After four and a half months of hibernating away and filling our hearts with the love of these little girls, it was time for a night to ourselves.

We went to our favorite sushi restaurant and took our sweet time eating plate after plate of delicious fare (breast-feeding friendly options for Mama).  We got to eat with TWO hands, while the food was still hot, and have uninterrupted conversation.  How long it has been!!  We only stayed out for two hours, but it was the most wonderful two hours we have spent together as a couple in a long time.

How I love you, my darling husband.  We have walked hand in hand for almost twelve years now and I can honestly say that I am more in love with you now than I could have ever imagined.  You are my best friend, my most trusted confidant.  I love you, I respect you, I admire you.  Thank you for giving me two of the most beautiful little girls.  Thank you for committing to make this life the best it can be.  I look forward to more sushi dates, more nights on the couch, dancing in the kitchen, little girl bath time, sitting on the front porch, being free.  Together.

Surprise!

I’ve taken a little blog break this past week to focus on family and the chaos we fondly call life.  I return to this sweet little space re energized and full of random ideas to share with this big vast blogging world.  First, I am currently in the process of moving Soul Singing Liv to Blogger.  For several reasons of which I will touch upon later.  More updates as the move is complete…

Second, The Paper Mama, one of my favorite daily reads, hosts these great photo challenges, inspiring all of us to release some creative energy through our camera lenses.  This week’s challenge is “Surprise”.

This photo of Isabelle came to mind as soon as I read about the contest:

Christmas morning this past year.  Our first Christmas as a family of four.  Isabelle asked for one thing and one thing only: an American Girl doll.  She carried the catalogue around with her for months.  She brought it to school to show her friends, cut out a picture of the exact doll she wanted and hung it up in her room.  Shawn and I debated buying such an expensive doll, we figured she would lose interest before Christmas morning even arrived.

But she was relentless.  She wanted that doll and she wanted it BAD.

So, on Christmas morning, as we all sat around the tree in our pajamas, snacking on cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate, soft carols playing in the background, we began opening presents.  With each gift she opened, she couldn’t hide the disappointment she felt that in her box was a sweater, or a book, or a game.  Not an American Girl doll.

We saved it for the very last gift of the whole bunch (a bit cruel, but SO worth it).  By that point I think she had really given up hope.  And then, WOOHOO!!!!!!!  She got the doll of her dreams!!!  And we were rewarded with a million kisses and thank yous and I love yous!!  And she was so genuinely happy.  Not because she was being materialistic, but because she had been a “good girl”, she had done her chores and minded her parents and Santa saw her and she earned her doll!  It was the most priceless moment, seeing her so happy.

These days, Isabelle and her doll, Ellie, are inseparable.   And the genuine look of surprise on her face in this pictures warms my heart every time I look at it…

Wordless Wednesday

Spring

Friday afternoon and preparing to head to work for the weekend.  House is cleaned, fridge stocked, babies happy, Daddy prepared.  Spring is in full swing here in Louisiana, what little bit of spring we get (Louisiana’s seasons are a bit different than the rest of the country, didn’t you know?  We have Summer, Unimaginable Heat End of Summer, 2 weeks of Fall or, as my grandmother called it, the “Cold Snap”, Winter, and 2 weeks of Spring).  We have been spending our days playing outside as much as possible as this gorgeous weather is just too perfect to miss.  The tire swing has been swaying back and forth under the pecan tree, filling the air with little girl giggles.  And the azaleas, nothing feels like home to me more than the blooming of the azaleas.  The vibrant color of the bushes brings new life to our yard after a cold, dreary winter.

In other news, Brees has developed a yucky case of pink eye:(  Poor little lamb, she has been cutting a tooth, got her 4 month shots on Wednesday, and then woke up this morning with swollen eyelids and copious amounts of drainage.  It’s not surprising that because of all this, she has not been sleeping well and howls any time we try to put her down.  So, I have basically thrown all of my sleep training guidelines out the window and put her in the big bed with Mama and Daddy the last two nights.  She slept much more soundly surrounded by all that comfort and love…Hopefully, with a little more Tylenol, the eye ointment prescribed for her infection, and lots of extra cuddling, she’ll be back in business in no time.

Here’s the little lamb and her oh so watery eyes:

Have a wonderful weekend!!!  I will be racing around the hospital, spreading good springtime cheer!

Worries

Shawn and I have been grappling with some hard realities lately concerning Isabelle.  She is in the first grade this year and, though she excels in her social skills and extracurricular activities, she has really been struggling with her academics.  And by struggling I mean failing.  We have watched her grades steadily decline since the beginning of the school year.  Her behavior has also changed, causing her to get in trouble at school more often and subsequently affecting her school work.  She has trouble sitting still and fidgets constantly, she loses her train of thought and has difficulty finishing a list of tasks.  She loses interest in whatever she is doing very quickly and has begun to lose confidence in trying new things.  This is such a change compared to last school year, when she made honor roll and earned several academic awards.

We have spent many nights analyzing and discussing possible causes of these changes.  Could it be the new baby?  Shawn being in school AND working and therefore being home less?  A way to get more attention?  These all seem like practical explanations, yet something in my gut is telling me that it is more than that.  Something in my mommy soul is screaming DO SOMETHING!!!!!  BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!!

Shawn has ADHD.  He was just evaluated and diagnosed two years ago.  Meaning he went his whole childhood and young adult life undiagnosed.  Meaning he has struggled his whole life with school and even with some social situations because he honestly was incapable of focusing his attention and organizing his thoughts.  He was labeled a “bad kid”, a “trouble maker”, when all he needed was some guidance and behavior modification.  He finally got that at the age of 31 and, in his own words, “my life has completely changed.  I can actually think clearly for the first time in my whole life.  It’s like putting on glasses for the first time.”

And so as hard as it is to face the fact that our daughter may be suffering from the same condition, we owe it to her to find out if something is really going on.  It is our job as parents to put our own phobias aside and do whatever we can to seek out a way to get her back on track, whatever that answer may be.  But of course there’s the social stigmas, the looks of judgement and tones of condescension you get from other parents when you tell them you are having your child evaluated for ADHD.  “Don’t you feel like maybe you are jumping to conclusions?”.  NO!!  Actually, I feel like I am covering all my bases and searching for any and every possible solution for my child.  Because I love her and I want a full and happy life for her.  I want her to be armed and ready for this life with all the tools she will need.  And I don’t want her to suffer or do without because of what society thinks.

That being said, we are not jumping on any band wagons or rushing into anything.  The straw that broke the camel’s back was two weeks ago when she failed her hearing test at school.  I questioned if she actually can’t hear or if she just didn’t understand the directions or lost interest during the test.  So, yesterday we went to the pediatrician.  She checked Isabelle’s ears and confirmed that there is no wax build up, no infection, no fluid, eardrums are intact.  Meaning: there is no structural reason why she can’t hear.  Next step: see an audiologist Tuesday to repeat the test to make sure she can indeed hear properly and rule out that that is not what is actually causing her troubles in school.  We were also given surveys to fill out: one for Shawn, one for me, one for her teacher.  I suppose this is to give a clear overview of her behavior from the point of view of those who spend the most time with her.  We will then meet with a behavioral specialist on Tuesday as well where we will review all this information and she will be evaluated and observed.

Who knows, it could all just be nothing.  But, it could be something serious that needs our attention as well.  I want the peace of mind in knowing that we tried everything, that we gave her all we could.  Doesn’t every child deserve that?  As much as it pains me to see her struggle, as much as it hurts me to think of her feeling sad and doubtful about her abilities, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that something is wrong and it’s time to do something about it.  This little girl is too smart and too talented to be struggling so much.  Her mind deserves to be free, her heart deserves to be full and strong and confident.  And we will stop at nothing to make sure that she is given every opportunity this life has to offer.

March 20, 2011

We had a very peaceful weekend.

The azaleas bloomed and filled our yard with bursts of color.

We did lots of cooking, a little cleaning, front porch sitting, warm weather loving.

Isabelle went to a birthday party for one of her friends, Brees and I went shopping, Daddy worked and then came home to three girls who desperately love him.

And, a sweet little milestone:

Brees rolled from her back to her tummy this morning!  She’s been working hard at it for days now but finally conquered this newest skill.  She has been rolling back and forth all day, wiggling all over the living room!!

And since I am so far behind, here’s a little Project 31:

Day 8.  Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)?  Share, please!

I must tell you about my favorite beauty product, Merle Norman Luxiva Foundation Primer.  I always thought of Merle Norman as a line for older women, probably because my grandmother wore it.  But I tried it after a good friend recommended it and have be in love for the last three years.  I wear the mineral makeup line and have noticed a dramatic difference in the texture of my skin as well an overall improvement in my complexion.  The foundation primer is an essential part of my skin care regime.  It makes my makeup last all day, withstanding even a 12 hour shift at the hospital.  It reduces oil and shine, gives your skin a beautiful glow, and reduces the appearance of fine lines.  It has a pretty shimmer in it that catches light and makes me feel pretty.  I never leave home without it!

 

Inspire

I found this ring today and have been dropping hints to the hubs at what a perfect Mother’s day gift it would be…What a beautiful piece of jewelry…