Saturday, October 11, 2008
Oops
Hmmm...Irony...
So it's been about 8 months since I last wrote, and I'm 8 months pregnant!
Oops. A baby girl due 11/13, scheduled c-section 11/6, but this will likely be an October baby.
I'm on modified bed rest. 2x/week NST, 1x/week ultrasound to check growth, blood flow and to be sure the placenta is still functioning. She could come any time, we are trying to keep her in there until at least 37 weeks, which is the 23rd.
MJ is doing great. Excited to be a big brother, but really would have preferred to have a little brother.
The dad is around. We fight all the time. He drives me nuts, and I don't think it's just the hormones.
I'll have to try and type more later. Right now I'm supposed to be sleeping, and I'm not even laying down, which is rather helpful to sleep, and kind of necessary when on bed rest.
So it's been about 8 months since I last wrote, and I'm 8 months pregnant!
Oops. A baby girl due 11/13, scheduled c-section 11/6, but this will likely be an October baby.
I'm on modified bed rest. 2x/week NST, 1x/week ultrasound to check growth, blood flow and to be sure the placenta is still functioning. She could come any time, we are trying to keep her in there until at least 37 weeks, which is the 23rd.
MJ is doing great. Excited to be a big brother, but really would have preferred to have a little brother.
The dad is around. We fight all the time. He drives me nuts, and I don't think it's just the hormones.
I'll have to try and type more later. Right now I'm supposed to be sleeping, and I'm not even laying down, which is rather helpful to sleep, and kind of necessary when on bed rest.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
She's alive!
Believe it or not, I do exist!
I can't believe it's been almost a year...9 months in fact - I could have had a baby...but no.
Heartache, heartbreak, looking for a job while employed became looking for a job while unemployed, became not working for near two months, became a job that paid less than I made 6 years ago, became a seeminglyneverending temp job, became a permanent position wherein if I work 4 hours OT everyweek mught pay me what I made in my last year at my last job.
The wee one isn't so wee, has begun the process of losing teeth, but isn't really fond of it, and is for the most part fabulous. We've struggled with his medication, but an experiment while out of school (and unemployed and unisured) with taking no medicine only served to prove he needed it. In fact, he might need more than just medication. It breaks my heart, but no amount of love, patience, teaching, martial arts, anything seems to help.
We had a wonderful road trip to South Dakota last August, and this year plan on a Southern CO/Utah road trip.
OH! We started hiking 14ers this year (that would be mountains that are 14,000 feet at least in elevation). I'm proud to say that the one and only time I have stood atop Pikes Peak I got there on foot - an 11 mile trek that started pre-sunrise and ended at dinner time I will never forget. I managed to get 7 summits in in 5 or so weeksweeks...plus a failed attempt and an overnight backpacking trip that didn't include a summit but did include snow. I didn't even figure out I could hike a 14er until August and hiking stopped at the end of September because I have no winter gear, so this summer I plan on getting 20 more summits. Wee one did 3 with me, plus a 13er.
The whole year was pretty rough - between MJ and his ADHD let alone just being a kid with a single mom, losing my job and struggling to find a new one, the related financial difficulties, etc... but all in all, I can't complain. We survived.
I'd love to sell this house and move to a cheaper place, but even after 5 years I owe more on it then I could possibly get...and without the school day care while he's not in shool, what would I do?
Anyway - I'm back. Anyone out there?
I can't believe it's been almost a year...9 months in fact - I could have had a baby...but no.
Heartache, heartbreak, looking for a job while employed became looking for a job while unemployed, became not working for near two months, became a job that paid less than I made 6 years ago, became a seeminglyneverending temp job, became a permanent position wherein if I work 4 hours OT everyweek mught pay me what I made in my last year at my last job.
The wee one isn't so wee, has begun the process of losing teeth, but isn't really fond of it, and is for the most part fabulous. We've struggled with his medication, but an experiment while out of school (and unemployed and unisured) with taking no medicine only served to prove he needed it. In fact, he might need more than just medication. It breaks my heart, but no amount of love, patience, teaching, martial arts, anything seems to help.
We had a wonderful road trip to South Dakota last August, and this year plan on a Southern CO/Utah road trip.
OH! We started hiking 14ers this year (that would be mountains that are 14,000 feet at least in elevation). I'm proud to say that the one and only time I have stood atop Pikes Peak I got there on foot - an 11 mile trek that started pre-sunrise and ended at dinner time I will never forget. I managed to get 7 summits in in 5 or so weeksweeks...plus a failed attempt and an overnight backpacking trip that didn't include a summit but did include snow. I didn't even figure out I could hike a 14er until August and hiking stopped at the end of September because I have no winter gear, so this summer I plan on getting 20 more summits. Wee one did 3 with me, plus a 13er.
The whole year was pretty rough - between MJ and his ADHD let alone just being a kid with a single mom, losing my job and struggling to find a new one, the related financial difficulties, etc... but all in all, I can't complain. We survived.
I'd love to sell this house and move to a cheaper place, but even after 5 years I owe more on it then I could possibly get...and without the school day care while he's not in shool, what would I do?
Anyway - I'm back. Anyone out there?
Sunday, May 20, 2007
We have a diagnosis af AD-HD.
This week we will discuss medications.
I'm relieved, because I was getting really worried that if medication can't help him, he's going to have a very rough life.
Last night I put him to bed at 8:30, his usual time. He even talked about getting a star for going to bed on time. but he was out of bed at 9, and 9:30, and at 10:30 I found him playing on the floor in his room. At 11 he was still up. And at some point after midnight, he snuck into my bed.
Of course, he had just spent a few day s with his dad, and that means a few days with no rules and no bed time and chaos for me when he gets home.
This morning we rode our bikes to breakfast. At first he said he'd share a breakfast burrito with me. Then he decided he wanted French toast. He ate a piece of bacon, put syrup on his french roast, and then started singing and playing and doing anything but eating. I cut the french toast, but he still wouldn't eat it. He did have two small glasses of tomato juice. I finally got him to eat a half of a half of a piece of french toast. And another piece of bacon. He insisted he didn't feel good and wasn't hungry.
We then rode to the farmer's market, where he proceeded to ask for ice cream, and shaved ice, and honey sticks and cookies...
And the attitude I get from him...it's killing me. I don't even want to talk to him most days after the attitude I get.
I hope the medication helps. It's hard for me to realize that I've been yelling at him his whole life for things he doesn't really have control over.
Perhaps focusing and listening and slowing down will help us both.
This week we will discuss medications.
I'm relieved, because I was getting really worried that if medication can't help him, he's going to have a very rough life.
Last night I put him to bed at 8:30, his usual time. He even talked about getting a star for going to bed on time. but he was out of bed at 9, and 9:30, and at 10:30 I found him playing on the floor in his room. At 11 he was still up. And at some point after midnight, he snuck into my bed.
Of course, he had just spent a few day s with his dad, and that means a few days with no rules and no bed time and chaos for me when he gets home.
This morning we rode our bikes to breakfast. At first he said he'd share a breakfast burrito with me. Then he decided he wanted French toast. He ate a piece of bacon, put syrup on his french roast, and then started singing and playing and doing anything but eating. I cut the french toast, but he still wouldn't eat it. He did have two small glasses of tomato juice. I finally got him to eat a half of a half of a piece of french toast. And another piece of bacon. He insisted he didn't feel good and wasn't hungry.
We then rode to the farmer's market, where he proceeded to ask for ice cream, and shaved ice, and honey sticks and cookies...
And the attitude I get from him...it's killing me. I don't even want to talk to him most days after the attitude I get.
I hope the medication helps. It's hard for me to realize that I've been yelling at him his whole life for things he doesn't really have control over.
Perhaps focusing and listening and slowing down will help us both.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Seriously stressing
I am so stressed out about this whole ADD/ADHD evaluation.
I can't help but think it's not ADD/ADHD - it's just that I suck as a Mom.
Thinking I should make a daily log.
3:40 pm SD drops MJ off at my office. Lots of loves and hugs.
4:00 pm I decide that I have much work to do despite being at office since 7:00am. Go to another office to set up computer for MJ - suddenly he runs in telling me "I accidentally hit the power button" - turns out he pushed (no accident - had to purposefully push) the undock lever for my laptop. Computer screen reads "HARDWARE MALFUNCTION"....obviously I freaked out before I realized he had not turned it off but rather undocked it - and in the end all turned out well.
5:30 pm asks to go play at neighbors until dinner is ready - that is fine
6:00pm I go to pick him up - he continually tires to jump on me while I am talking to neighbor kids' mom. I ask him at least 10 times to stop. He does not stop until he accidetally hits me in the mouth and nose.
6:05-6:35 actually eats dinner - no interruptions, not requiring me to ask him at all, let alone over an over to eat.
8:30pm goes to bed.
9:00 out of bed
9:15 asleep.
I can't help but think it's not ADD/ADHD - it's just that I suck as a Mom.
Thinking I should make a daily log.
3:40 pm SD drops MJ off at my office. Lots of loves and hugs.
4:00 pm I decide that I have much work to do despite being at office since 7:00am. Go to another office to set up computer for MJ - suddenly he runs in telling me "I accidentally hit the power button" - turns out he pushed (no accident - had to purposefully push) the undock lever for my laptop. Computer screen reads "HARDWARE MALFUNCTION"....obviously I freaked out before I realized he had not turned it off but rather undocked it - and in the end all turned out well.
5:30 pm asks to go play at neighbors until dinner is ready - that is fine
6:00pm I go to pick him up - he continually tires to jump on me while I am talking to neighbor kids' mom. I ask him at least 10 times to stop. He does not stop until he accidetally hits me in the mouth and nose.
6:05-6:35 actually eats dinner - no interruptions, not requiring me to ask him at all, let alone over an over to eat.
8:30pm goes to bed.
9:00 out of bed
9:15 asleep.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
long time no post
Hi. Didja miss me?
WHEW! Can you believe we are almost done with February 2007 already? Life is just buzzing by.
Hey, Mr. thirtysixlame...drop me a line and tell me what happened! You should see the crap #2 is giving us for logos. UGH!
Life is plugging along - quite the roller coaster ride lately.
I took MJ to the first of at least 4 appointments to evaluate him for ADD/ADHD. This is very stressful.
I'm struggling with figuring how much SD should be involved in the process. I mean - there is no family history on my side, so we need his. MJ's teacher (who is certified in special ed and has an adult child with ADD) thinks SD has it as well as MJ. There is a lot SD might be able to offer to help with the evauation.
On the other hand, SD has, until the last 6 months or so, only spent a few hours a week with MJ. He is the fun parent, understandably. From what I know, there are few rules, very little discipline, no homework, etc. SD doesn't know what it is like to put MJ to bed at 8:30 and have the wee one be up for hours. He hasn't tried to do homework with him. He doesn't see that MJ can't focus for more than a few minutes. MJ is very smart - but one page of homework can take several hours. He won't sit still. He loses his pencil. He gets frustrated and wants to give up. The point being, I'm not sure SD sees what everyone else seems to.
I read so much literature before even agreeing to have him evaluated. Even the Doctor we saw in September, when I first inquired about the evaluation, asked today when we met with her again to start the process, asked why it took so long. I told her that I had read that the "symptoms had to be present for at least 6 months", and I was really hoping they would go away. But they haven't, and there has to be something that can help.
This brings us to either I am an incredibly bad parent, or MJ has an issue. Whether it is ADD/ADHD I don't know.
I just accidentally deleted a LONG post on this....and perhaps it is fate. I just don't know what to do. there is a whole group of people who believe that "everyone thinks all kids have ADD - they just want to medicate them so they don't have to deal with them." That makes me question myself. MJ needs something. This I know, down to the core of my very being, but I'm not too proud to admit it may just be that I suck as a Mom. I might, but I don't think I do.
Anyway....Anyone here had experience with this? any seeds of advice?
And if you are in CO, and work for a company that is hiring - I am looking.
till next time - L
WHEW! Can you believe we are almost done with February 2007 already? Life is just buzzing by.
Hey, Mr. thirtysixlame...drop me a line and tell me what happened! You should see the crap #2 is giving us for logos. UGH!
Life is plugging along - quite the roller coaster ride lately.
I took MJ to the first of at least 4 appointments to evaluate him for ADD/ADHD. This is very stressful.
I'm struggling with figuring how much SD should be involved in the process. I mean - there is no family history on my side, so we need his. MJ's teacher (who is certified in special ed and has an adult child with ADD) thinks SD has it as well as MJ. There is a lot SD might be able to offer to help with the evauation.
On the other hand, SD has, until the last 6 months or so, only spent a few hours a week with MJ. He is the fun parent, understandably. From what I know, there are few rules, very little discipline, no homework, etc. SD doesn't know what it is like to put MJ to bed at 8:30 and have the wee one be up for hours. He hasn't tried to do homework with him. He doesn't see that MJ can't focus for more than a few minutes. MJ is very smart - but one page of homework can take several hours. He won't sit still. He loses his pencil. He gets frustrated and wants to give up. The point being, I'm not sure SD sees what everyone else seems to.
I read so much literature before even agreeing to have him evaluated. Even the Doctor we saw in September, when I first inquired about the evaluation, asked today when we met with her again to start the process, asked why it took so long. I told her that I had read that the "symptoms had to be present for at least 6 months", and I was really hoping they would go away. But they haven't, and there has to be something that can help.
This brings us to either I am an incredibly bad parent, or MJ has an issue. Whether it is ADD/ADHD I don't know.
I just accidentally deleted a LONG post on this....and perhaps it is fate. I just don't know what to do. there is a whole group of people who believe that "everyone thinks all kids have ADD - they just want to medicate them so they don't have to deal with them." That makes me question myself. MJ needs something. This I know, down to the core of my very being, but I'm not too proud to admit it may just be that I suck as a Mom. I might, but I don't think I do.
Anyway....Anyone here had experience with this? any seeds of advice?
And if you are in CO, and work for a company that is hiring - I am looking.
till next time - L
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Plopping in the snow
My car at 10:30ish this morning
Blizzard
My car at 1:30ish yesterday Tuesday, November 07, 2006
ELection Day blues
I had every intention of voting before I went to work today - but my local polling place had a line out the door whenI drove by at about 8 this morning. Then, I was going to leave work at 3, but got pulled into a meeting, and finally left at 4. I got in line at 4:30. I did not cast my vote until 7:10. Unbelieveable.
The people in line were a very cheery and nice group. When the lady in front of me discovered that she had forgotten her ID, we held her place in line while she went home and got it. We only moved about a foot in the time it took her. At 5:30 I had to leave to get MJ from off-track care, and the people around me offered to hold my place. I almost didn't go back, but I did. A man in line with me left after waiting more than an hour, and I don't think he came back.
I should also mention that I was asked for my ID and signed my signature card in the first hour I waited. I left and came back, and my ID was not checked again. I could have given my signature card to anyone and let them vote for me.
It's a sad day for voters. Long lines, compouter malfunctions...
I suppose it was a good civics lesson for MJ, and I am glad I voted.
I'd much prefer a short line and hanging chads.
The people in line were a very cheery and nice group. When the lady in front of me discovered that she had forgotten her ID, we held her place in line while she went home and got it. We only moved about a foot in the time it took her. At 5:30 I had to leave to get MJ from off-track care, and the people around me offered to hold my place. I almost didn't go back, but I did. A man in line with me left after waiting more than an hour, and I don't think he came back.
I should also mention that I was asked for my ID and signed my signature card in the first hour I waited. I left and came back, and my ID was not checked again. I could have given my signature card to anyone and let them vote for me.
It's a sad day for voters. Long lines, compouter malfunctions...
I suppose it was a good civics lesson for MJ, and I am glad I voted.
I'd much prefer a short line and hanging chads.
