My Cup Runneth Over

Today I had an interview with a member of our Stake presidency. While we were talking he asked me about my testimony and as I answered I was overcome with emotion and started to cry. I am so so blessed. The experiences in my life have given me such strength and solidified my testimony that it overwhelms me at times like today when the reality of it is spoken.

These past few years have, at times, been very hard for me as I tried to figure out how to best parent my ADHD son. Repeatedly I have prayed and prayed for the right path to the right services to help us and repeatedly my prayers have been answered.

Our pediatrician noticed the ADHD symptoms first when Mr. B was quite young. He didn't panic me but just said to "keep and eye on it" since he was only 18 months old at the time. I didn't think much of Mr. B's high activity level, thinking he was "just being a boy." I am blessed to have such a wonderfully understanding pediatrician who listens, takes my concerns seriously and refers us to only the very best experts when necessary. Mr. B was diagnosed with ADHD after 4 months of study by Children's Hospital at the age of 3.

As Mr. B grew and our patience was tried repeatedly my SIL guided me to our school district which ultimately led me to Encompass NW and their PCIT program. Mr. B and I worked closely with Michelle and after 14 weeks were successful graduates of the program. Because of our success I knew Mr. B's ADHD could be managed mostly through behavior modification vs. ADHD medications, which at the time I strongly opposed.

As Mr. B got older and presented some new challenges for us in preschool and at home I looked for more answers as I knew this was an ongoing issue and we needed ongoing support, indefinitely. I joined several ADHD support organizations and regularly attended meetings. It was at one such meeting that we (AH and I) heard a national ADHD expert and MD (who also has ADHD himself) talk about medications as a important step in helping a person with ADHD. He was able to answer many of my personal questions and concerns regarding medications, though I still did not like some of the side effects. It's a very hard and personal decision when a parent looks at medicating their child. To be put into a position of having to weigh side effects (such as stunted growth) with overall life success is exceedingly difficult.

At the time we were not coping well at home and decided maybe it was time to give the meds a try (though deep down I still did not want to go that route). We tried 4 different ADHD medications with no success. Each one made AH manic, altered his fun personality and ultimately we decided was not a viable option for us.

It was right around this time that I found Brain Health NW. I took AH in to meet with Dr. Pomeroy to discuss what his clinic might offer us. Due to Mr. B's young age there wasn't much Dr. Pomeroy could offer that we hadn't already tried. It was near the end of our appointment when the doctor brought up medications. He knew our history with them and in no way pushed me into pursuing more medications but he did bring up another medication that had success with certain ADHD patients without the harmful side effects. Guanfacine is a blood pressure medication that has had success in clinical trials for the treatment of ADHD and is currently being investigated by the FDA for approval as an ADHD medication.

"It has been shown that guanfacine, the active ingredient in INTUNIV, binds selectively to alpha 2A adrenergic cell receptors located in the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is an area of the brain associated with executive functioning, i.e., working memory, behavioral inhibition, regulation of attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and frustration tolerance. The selective alpha-2A agonist strengthens working memory and prefrontal cortex neuronal firing. This research supports the use of guanfacine for the treatment of ADHD."

Because of its known history and the non-side effects (though it can cause nuisances like drowsiness if too much is taken) we decided to give it a try. It took a few days to get the right dosage but ultimately we have had tremendous success. The medication has the exact effect I was looking for without the guilt. It helps Mr. B to have a calmer body that allows him to have better impulse control and judgement. It does not alter his personality or change the great kid we know into child we don't recognize.

At this same time, through a friend, we found out about a study being offered through the UW Parenting Clinic for "children who are difficult to parent" (I love how they put it!). After a quick phone interview it was determined that we definitely qualified and would be apart of the study. The Incredible Years program was a true answer to my prayers. During our weekly session (we met for 20 weeks - 2 hours per session) Mr. B went off to "dinosaur school" and AH and I went to our own class. While we parents learned, practiced, encouraged and studied better parenting skills our children learned, practiced, encouraged and studied to be self aware, verbalize their feelings, self sooth, and coping techniques. I can honestly say it was a life changing experience for our family (in the very best way).

So in moments like today, when I think of my answered prayers that have helped to build and shape my testimony, how could I not be overcome with emotion. I KNOW my Heavenly Father lives. I KNOW He knows ME personally and that He loves me without end. I am truly blessed and lately, as I count my many blessings, I can't help but feel as though My Cup Runneth Over (Psalms 23:5) and sometimes right out of my eyes.

Thank you to all the wonderful teachers in an exceptional school district, incredible friends, amazing primary teachers, in-laws who support support and support us (thanks for all the articles, babysitting, and especially love) and everyone else who has touched our lives during these past years.

Thank you to everyone - thank you so much, and don't mind me if on occasion I break into bouts of tears, I'm just counting my blessings.

1 Down 1 To Go

Mr. B, having great fishing success in Montana this summer, brought his fishing pole down to the river last night as we celebrated our last day of summer. His previous success was chalked up to fishing a high altitude lake that was over populated with our fine gilled friends (he caught 10 fish). This time we worried he would walk away upset since it was a fast moving river he was attempting to lure (pun intended) the fish from.

FIRST CAST and he caught a little Steelhead. I think the kid is a natural and we should start entering him into fishing tournaments. :-)





Today, I put Mr. B on the bus for his first day of school. He is now gone all day and I am feeling a little lost. It is similar to how I felt when I first left my full time job to be a full time mom. It is so strange to know that I don't have to rush to do my grocery shopping and other "mom" errands within a 2 hour window; I can take the entire day if I choose!

Though he claims to not be excited for the new school year, I know he is excited for 3 recesses and to eat lunch in the cafeteria (is there anything more fun than that?).





I am proud to say I didn't cry, but will add to that - yet. Next week it is Beeb's turn as she enters Kindergarten. She is super excited and I am so not. I imagine the confusion I feel today will be amplified next week - oh joy.

Poop . . . . . ed

Yesterday our church had a fun filled picnic activity for members and their friends. AH was on the crew that helped set up the bull ride (a metal barrel with ropes attached to 4 corners of it) and then he helped man it for the first hour which required he and 3 other men to pull on their individual ropes to get the bull bucking. After he was done with his assignment he spent the next hour chasing Mr. B around the grounds going from activity to activity. When I next met up with my boys I was given the "eye" from AH signaling that it was time to go home.

While we were driving away AH says to me, "I have been on my feet for 6 hours. I am P-O-O-P. (pause) E-D." (AH's feet are still recovering from his Mt. Rainier climb)

As I realize his mistake I laughingly said to him, "You're poop? Okay, we'll start calling you poop."

Not realizing little ears were paying attention to our conversation we hear from back seat Mr. B's words of logic, "You should have used to potty at the picnic."

The New School Year

Today was the big day that class assignments were announced. At 4pm we were among the crowd anxious to see the lists posted to the front doors of the school. Mr. B wasn't really interested in who his teacher would be and took off to play as soon as we arrived. However, I was very curious to see who his peers would be and was pleased that our neighbor boy will be in his class this year.

I called Mr. B and Beeb over to show them the list and my worst nightmare happened. . . I started to choke up. Beeb asked to see her name and I held her up so she could see her name on the kindergarten assessment list (she starts a week after Mr. B) and I could barely talk. My voice was thick and cracking as I held back the tears.

I hear so many moms say how much they look forward to having all their kids in school, and while to some degree I do look forward to having some more "me" time, I am overwhelmed by how quickly my kiddo's are growing up. I knew this would be hard for me since my minor breakdown this past spring when I registered Beeb for kindergarten. I did not expect it to be so hard today as I fought back the tears, just hoping to make it to the safety of my car before I totally lost it.

I know this time is going by so quickly to me (even when it has been really really hard) - I just don't want to miss any precious moments with my kiddo's; not a single nanosecond.

Educational Tickles

Each evening, as part of our bedtime routine I usually end of giving Beeb tickles on her bare back for a few minutes. Our usual tickle routine is for me to do the "Treasure Hunt" rhyme with my finger(s):

Going on a treasure hunt (walk two fingers up the center of the back)
X marks the spot (draw a big X across the back)
Big circle (draw a big circle across the back)
Little circle (draw a little circle in the center of the big circle on the back)
Dot, Dot, Dot (take your two index fingers and at each "dot" gently press your index fingers into her side, each time going a little higher than the last)
Spiders crawling up your back (use fingers to simulate spiders going up back)
Blood rushing down (use flat hand and wave it down the back)
Tight squeeze (gently squeeze neck)
Sirens breeze (gently blow across back)
Now you've got the chills (general light tickles all over back)

At the end Beeb always asks for more and about a year ago I decided to make tickles educational. It's very simple, I just draw a letter on her back and ask her to identify it. It has been very helpful in her learning the alphabet beyond site. The HUGE bonus for me is that inevitably she gets bored and then I get the educational tickles on my back as she tries to stump me with her letters.

Lately we've take it a step further and are doing "live" pictures. I'll draw a scene on her back but the scene keeps changing. For example, I may draw our house on a sunny day, but then the clouds come in and it starts to rain - all the while my fingers keep drawing the changing scene. Beeb loves to draw these scene on my back as well.

Beeb + Tickles = Happy Beeb
Mommy + Tickles = Happy Mommy
Happy Mommy = Happy Family

Mr. B Logic

Today while driving Mr. B to be tutored he announced his displeasure with the reward system at the tutoring center. He's decided that he does not want any more tokens for working hard. (The tokens can be accumulated for shopping in the reward store and Mr. B is having a hard time waiting to accumulate enough tokens for the toy he wants.)

He explained to me that he doesn't have to work hard because he will not be going to college. He's decided that he is just going to buy a lot of fireworks instead.

"You need a job to make money so you can buy fireworks. You need a college education to get a good paying job." I reply. "Fireworks are very expensive."

"I'm not going to college." he assures me.

"How will you make money to buy fireworks?" I asked.

"I'll just start a lemonade stand." he replies.

Sandwich Cravings

Several times over the past few weeks AH has mentioned how he is craving a really good sandwich. Tonight when AH arrived home he spied the remaining half of the sandwich I ate for lunch. (It was called the "Pike Place" and can be purchased at Whole Foods.) I heard him gasp from the other room and he brought in the sandwich asking who it belonged to to which I replied that it was mine. His said that it looked like a really good sandwich (which it was) and that he was going to eat it (he was actually giddy!). I reminded him that I was cooking dinner but he assured me that he didn't want it, he only wanted the sandwich.

I made AH eat the sandwich by me so I could see him savor it. He really enjoyed it and I think it helped his craving. Now that he was full I decided not to bother with dinner and we all had sandwiches instead (though not nearly as good as the Pike Place).

A few hours later AH joined me in the living room. His mood was carefree and relaxed. Sitting next to me he commented, "I am still thinking about that sandwich. That was a really good sandwich." Honestly I am not sure if I should be concerned about some of his Homer Simpson-esque qualities or jealous of a sandwich that gets more complements in one evening than I get all month.

Beeb Falls Asleep

Not to be outdone by her brother this was how I found Beeb in the hallway the other night.

Beeb Logic

Tonight Mr. B kept asking is older cousin how to say words in Spanish. Beeb, not wanting to be left out of the conversation, asked me, "How do you say dog in English?"

She was totally and utterly serious.

Mr. B Falls Asleep

Friday night AH comes into my office and tells me that Mr. B has fallen alseep in THE funniest position EVER! I had AH grab his camera :-)

Big Ol' Raspberries

To say we had a strawberry season this year would be stretching the truth like a good salt taffy. Due to all the flooding in our valley as well as our unusual May heat wave most of the local farms either had their strawberry crops ruined or they were so tiny (and expensive) it was easier/cheaper just to go to Costco and buy a flat.

I was very disappointed with the local strawberries and reluctantly went raspberry picking this last week. Every few years the raspberries in our valley are beyond description. It doesn't happen often but luckily for us this was the year. My normal berry farm had been picked out and was closed for a few days for ripening so we headed to their nearest competitors farm and found the berries were the size of my big toe and falling off the vines. It took just under 1 hour to pick 4 flats of berries (that's just over 40 lbs). The raspberries are so big, juicy and plentiful that when we weighed the berries in we didn't bring enough money and had to go to an ATM because we just couldn't stop picking.

It was truly amazing. There are still about two weeks left of the season. It's worth it to head on out and pick some raspberries - just remember to bring lots of cash (they don't take checks!).

My neice and Beeb - Beeb *hearts* Miss J. I am starting to feel left out. :-(

Unprecidented 4th

We have been having unseasonably warm weather in the PNW. So much so that we've had two major holiday weekends that we spent at the beach because it was so HOT.

We had a fantastic 4th of July with family and friends. Mr. B mastered kayaking and was itching to be old enough to light the fireworks. Beeb kept her fingers in her ears during most of the firework displays and really enjoyed floating around the lake with her life vest and fish floaty.











(hey look, a rare image of me and AH!)


In the end we stayed for the big fireworks and the kiddo's got home and into bed around 11:30pm. They had a blast (no pun intended) the entire day. I think it will a memorable one for them.