How we got here

Many of you have asked how little man was diagnosed. This was the diagnostic criterion used by his pediatrician in aiding in the diagnosis. We (the Dr, my husband, my parents, my husband’s parents, teachers, aunts, and uncles) had all seen these symptoms manifesting in my man since an early age. Approximately 3 years ago, his doctor started paying attention and commenting on his behavior. I have to say that we are blessed, we have a pediatrician that we know, love, and trust. Not only is he a family friend, he was our doctor (my brother, sister, and I) when we were little.
Little man’s teacher mentioned something when we had our first conference (of many) in regards to little man’s lack of attention and focus in the classroom. She said it was something to keep in the back of our minds.
The school counselor had gone into the classroom as asked by our pediatrician to monitor his behavior in the classroom for one day to see what she saw.
So little man’s teachers, school counselor, hubbie, his doctor and myself all completed evaluation forms. The questionnaire had questions about home, school, and social interactions in addition to interactions with his siblings.
And without further ado the diagnostic tool (I was actually familiar with the DSM from my rotation in psych nursing during nursing school):

Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) – information from ADHD Help.org
AD/HD - Predominantly Inattentive Type

Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
Has difficulty sustaining attention.
Does not appear to listen.
Struggles to follow through on instructions.
Has difficulty with organization.
Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.
Loses things.
Is easily distracted.
Is forgetful in daily activities.

AD/HD - Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type

Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.
Has difficulty remaining seated.
Runs about or climbs excessively.
Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
Acts as if driven by a motor.
Talks excessively.
Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
Difficulty waiting or taking turns.
Interrupts or intrudes upon others.

AD/HD - Combined Type

Individual meets both sets of inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.


In order to meet the criteria – individuals must meet these symptoms for greater than 6 months and display at minimum 6 of these characteristics. The symptoms must also be present in at least 2 areas of the child’s life at home, school, or social settings.


AD/HD medication is supposed to be used in conjunction with behavior modification and diet control (reducing refined sugars is a major component). When little man’s teacher had first mentioned we might have issue, I read the research and reduced what little refined sugar we (I mean the kids) were eating. Little man never (okay never might be a little strong rarely might be more appropriate) got a pop tart for breakfast. Typically breakfast is oatmeal or toast and egg, perhaps a banana and yogurt. He never eats sugary cereal. I actually didn’t have to do much to change diet. Thank goodness I love to cook!

Behavior modifications. We had read several books in the last few months about managing stubborn children, raising difficult children. We had changed several things around the house to assist us in dealing with little man’s “stubborn” behavior. We also have met with his teacher, the school counselor, and his assistant teacher in working on various different approaches to him in the classroom. I also volunteered as often as I could in the classroom on my days off, so I could spend more time with him trying to catch him up on the class work. So many of AD/HD behavior modifications, we were already trying. So we weren’t going to be able to do much there either.

So, I just called the doctor’s office….against what hubbie and I had initially felt, we feel that we must put our prejudices aside and for our little man’s success in school – we have to put him on some type of medication.

Our Concerns:

1. AD/HD medications can cause drug use later in life. Thankfully the above referenced website contained many studies which indicate that AD/HD medications are not necessarily gateway drugs. Thank goodness. These studies also state that children who are not treated for AD/HD and suffer from lack of success in school and low self-esteem are more likely to use drugs than their peers.
2. Little man would become a zombie and lose his awesome personality. Never fear, the dr understood our concern on this front. He initially doses the boy at half-strength to see how his behavior reacts. He will be seeing us every 3 months to determine whether or not the medication is effective and if so adjusts will be made. He will also be monitoring his overall health: blood pressure, weight gain, sleeping habits, etc.
3. This would stifle the person that he is meant to become. Would Picasso have been the painter that he was if his ADD had been treated? Our ped seems to think so, he didn’t create his wonderful works until adulthood. Our ped kept referring to the medicine as a crutch that our boy needs to get thru school successfully.


Our hearts were so torn…but we remembered a promise. We made his biological mother a promise. We would help little man to become the best man that he could be. Part of that is recognizing that he may help getting through school. We have to keep in mind his genetics. We don’t know all of his biological makeup. We always hoped that we could nurture past any nature things. But, nope we can’t make neuro receptors respond to dopamine or norepinephrine. Sad but true.

We (husband and I) have to recognize that like depression or any other mental illness that there is a chemical imbalance in our little man’s brain. I wouldn’t ask someone who maintained a healthy lifestyle but continued to struggle with high blood pressure or diabetes not to treat their illness with medication.

More on this to come – baby duty and housecleaning calls….

It's true

1. I am in the middle of my work week! ACK! WHERE ARE ALL THESE BABIES COMING FROM?!?! haha - I know how babies are made!?!! But why are we so busy!!!!

2. Trey was diagnosed with ADD/HD - I am going to gather resources for myself and my husband so we can decide how we want to proceed (quickly). I think that I have found a new passion.

3. I AM A SCRUBBING BUBBLES CLEANING CAPTN! YEA! So excited - just got my TOTAL bath & bowl - just in time for cleaning day!!! WHOOT! More on this to come.

4. I have a leak in the upstairs bathtub - I can't find the water shutoff. UGH!

More later friends! Just a brief update! Time to get the boy off the bus!

I pray for all of those suffering around the world but especially right now in Haiti.

Monday, Monday can't trust that day....

We are huge, huge Packer Fans. My hubbie is the son of season ticket holders from WI. He went to so many games when he was a boy. Now we live in the land of far, far away from Lambeau. Not that being in Green Bay would matter now.

Instead, I had a husband who was screaming at the TV – the older kiddos were banished upstairs. Every time my hubbie screamed, the baby cried ( did I mention that he has tears now?). His poor little face had red spots on it from crying so much. Poor little fella. The baby not my husband.

Then the Packers lost. So sad. Maybe next year. They fought hard.

Which brings me to Monday……

Can’t trust Mondays.

Husband and I have a meeting with the pediatrician this morning. We are both worried. We don’t want to go to this meeting. Have you ever had a feeling of dread? We started the process to have the almost 6 yr tested for ADHD and other learning disabilities based on a teacher evaluation. We were sent home this checklist of “symptoms” and we could put a check by almost every single one of them. Sigh. We just don’t want the little guy to get behind (which he is).

I know we are blessed, all of our children are physically healthy. The little buckaroo is falling behind in his class. I tried to teach him myself, but he gets so frustrated and angry that it isn’t worth the torture for either of us. It stinks I go into class to volunteer and all the kids tell me that my sweet boy is a trouble maker.

So, needless to say, I am getting ready to pack him off on the school bus, get the baby and the 4 yr old up, fed, dressed, etc, etc. Then drop them off to my mom’s, go to the dreaded meeting (shudder), pick the younger two up. Sigh – home to get the dog, drop him off at the groomers (he smells), try to take a nap, and go to work tonight.

If I have time, I have some laundry that needs to be done.

My Excuses....

What a week!!!! The weather was cold – for Oklahoma. So cold in fact, that school officials cancelled school on Thursday and Friday. Friday, I could care less. BUT NOT THURSDAY!!! I have my whole work week planned around the kids being at school on Thursday. I have the older two off and the baby and I are at home. I work Wednesday nights, so it is imperative that I sleep with the baby. So, needless to say when hubbie came home from work, I was exhausted. (And Bi**hy. – Hubbie Ed.) This was awful, I was so tired I couldn’t sleep. Sigh. I slept maybe 8 hours between Wednesday day and Friday morning.

Move into Friday – we were busy. Dog had to go to the vet. Nothing like wrangling the kids, the dog, and the baby carrier – not to mention purse and diaper bag into the vet office. It was 10 steps but it felt like 10 miles. Then I had to bring the dog home, and drop the boys off at my mom’s house. The girl had a dr’s appointment. Lucky for me, mom wasn’t busy. Then it was off to the store. Cause why not?!?!

By the time we got home again, I was exhausted. My kiddos had spent more time outside the two days they were home then they would have if they had been to school. Friday night I was on call for work and sure enough I got called in. So I worked about 4 hours on Friday night. It was good – busy but good. I needed to go to Wal-mart on my way home for the girl’s birthday party the next day.

It was nuts – of all the weeks, the husband had signed up to take some class to help low-income folks do their taxes ( I’m not saying he shouldn’t help – but really, this was the last weekend and he waited until the last weekend to go). (Never do today what you can leave until tomorrow – H Ed.)

So, the husband was gone. The girl was dressed for ballet, princess dress in the backpack, and birthday gift in tow – she was gone. All I had left was the boys and an extremely messy house and a ton of laundry. By the time the missing links were home, I had almost everything done. The house was clean (relatively) and the laundry was done (sorta).

Now, all that I had neglected was you, my poor little blog. Have no fear! I’m back! The weather is supposed to be warmer next week (so the kiddos will be at school). I don’t have a call shift – I plan on getting sleep ( I’m considering some sort of sleep aide). So, I will hopefully be a happy mommy again…..

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A blog award - yippeee

I never thought I would acquire one of these. Pretty cool! I would like to thank Hale Mom for giving me this award. I haven't been doing this very long (I'm still surprised anyone wants to read what I have to say), so I was completely shocked....still a little floored. I'd almost say speechless.

SO THANK YOU HALE MOM!

Anyway, so in receiving this award, I have to follow the rules and keep it going. So here it goes.

Here are the rules for all the lovely ladies that are now receiving this award:

- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- Link to the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.


And the winners are (in no particular order):

1. Faithfully Frugal and Free
2. Miracle Momas
3. Polka Spot Farm
4. Geek Girl Reviews
5. My Cup to Yours
6. The Happy Little Wren
7. Luscious Deals
8. Confessions of An Over Worked Mom
9. Stretching the One Income Dollar
10. More than a Mommy

Drum Roll Please - Coleman Gift Card Winner

And the lucky winner of my first giveaway is -

">COLEMAN WINNER

Comment 6 belongs to:
">SHOP NANNIES


ShopNannies has been notified via email and has 24 hours to respond!

Congratulations on winning my first giveaway!