I am very proud of Lanie. She has made it clear through school for 7 days in a row! Today will be 8. She does have to leave school a little early to make it to her Group Therapy but she made it until Grandma picked her up! So incredibly proud of my little girl!
This weekend Lanie had a good time. On Saturday pappa took her for a 4 hour bike ride! Incredible! He said she was really good and that they played in the park for part of that time. She also was invited to a sleep over at a friends house on Saturday. This is her first friend sleepover! They went to Monkey Joe's and had a sleep over and she didn't come home until almost noon on Sunday. Needless to say I had a very relaxing weekend and after therapy 3 days a week last week I needed it!
We did more painting this weekend. We painted the top part of the hallway on the main floor and then kept that color going up the stairs to the second floor. We are not quite done with that but almost. This next weekend will be the living room. Very excited about that. One area a weekend is about all we can handle. Next comes the kitchen, then the downstairs bathroom, Nonnie and Johns room and then my room and Lanie's room are down the list. Lanie needs to go at least 4 weeks with no poop incidents before we paint her room. She had one last week after a particularly bad group session. It was not her that acted up but another child but she needs to learn to control that impulse.
This weekend Lanie gets to go to Lowe's Build and Grow and make a dragon car. We are very excited about that.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
Lanie's Birthday!
Tomorrow is Lanie's sixth birthday and we celebrated it this weekend. Hannah came over on Sunday, we went out to Lunch and the girls went with Papa to go sledding. They had a good time but got cold very quickly. Lanie wanted a pink cake with purple icing. Yes, she got it, unfortunately I forgot to take a picture.
Nonnie and I painted this weekend. I painted most of the bathroom but have to wait for John to fix one of the walls before I can finish. I did not take a picture because I want to wait for the finished project to take a photo. We also painted the dining room. I took a picture of that, but he dining room is still a mess...so ignore that!!
I really like the color. At first I didn't think I would because it looked too pink but this is nice. Nonnie also painted the lower part of the hallway (under the chair rail) with this color and we will use a lighter color for the top. It feels so good to be doing some changes to the house, even if it is only painting.
So Lanie had a good weekend. She had no meltdowns and no poop paintings! This was really a step forward for us. She does not have school today because of Presidents Day but she goes back tomorrow and is bringing cupcakes for her birthday. I hope she stays in school all day long because they don't do cupcakes until 2:30! I am hoping for a full day. She has now had two in a row and I cannot remember the last time she had 2 good days in a row at school...maybe never??
Nonnie and I painted this weekend. I painted most of the bathroom but have to wait for John to fix one of the walls before I can finish. I did not take a picture because I want to wait for the finished project to take a photo. We also painted the dining room. I took a picture of that, but he dining room is still a mess...so ignore that!!
I really like the color. At first I didn't think I would because it looked too pink but this is nice. Nonnie also painted the lower part of the hallway (under the chair rail) with this color and we will use a lighter color for the top. It feels so good to be doing some changes to the house, even if it is only painting.
So Lanie had a good weekend. She had no meltdowns and no poop paintings! This was really a step forward for us. She does not have school today because of Presidents Day but she goes back tomorrow and is bringing cupcakes for her birthday. I hope she stays in school all day long because they don't do cupcakes until 2:30! I am hoping for a full day. She has now had two in a row and I cannot remember the last time she had 2 good days in a row at school...maybe never??
Thursday, February 11, 2016
ADHD Medicine...
Another episode in the never ending saga that is my life...
Lanie saw the doctor on Monday and he put her on a very low dose of Tenex. We actually started it on Tuesday evening. Tuesday during school Lanie got in trouble yet again for hitting and kicking. They even got a portion of it on video. It amazed me because Lanie is never that way at home! She has never even tried to hit or kick one of us. And has never acted that way to her sister or her cousins. After that we thought that maybe we should just take her out of school for the year and start her back next year, but after starting her on the Tenex for a full day yesterday, we rethought the decision. She was so mellow and good that she went back to school today. We will see how it goes on the medication before we make such a huge decision.
Last night we were on our way to group therapy and got stuck in traffic just before the bridge into St. Charles. We sat on highway 70 until 5:00 (I left the office at 3 and picked her up before 3:15). We decided to just get on 270 and go home. It then took us another hour and 45 minutes to get home! So Lanie was trapped in the car with me for 3 1/2 hours and was amazing! She did not argue with me or whine. She ate all her snacks we had for group and even when she had to go potty she did not whine about it. She fell asleep about the last 45 minutes and when we got home she was very cooperative about taking a shower, eating and getting ready for bed. The best evening we have had in a very, very long time! I am so hoping that she does well at school today. I really want her to finish out the year.
We have another group therapy session tonight. I am really hoping the traffic is better tonight than it was last night.
Lanie saw the doctor on Monday and he put her on a very low dose of Tenex. We actually started it on Tuesday evening. Tuesday during school Lanie got in trouble yet again for hitting and kicking. They even got a portion of it on video. It amazed me because Lanie is never that way at home! She has never even tried to hit or kick one of us. And has never acted that way to her sister or her cousins. After that we thought that maybe we should just take her out of school for the year and start her back next year, but after starting her on the Tenex for a full day yesterday, we rethought the decision. She was so mellow and good that she went back to school today. We will see how it goes on the medication before we make such a huge decision.
Last night we were on our way to group therapy and got stuck in traffic just before the bridge into St. Charles. We sat on highway 70 until 5:00 (I left the office at 3 and picked her up before 3:15). We decided to just get on 270 and go home. It then took us another hour and 45 minutes to get home! So Lanie was trapped in the car with me for 3 1/2 hours and was amazing! She did not argue with me or whine. She ate all her snacks we had for group and even when she had to go potty she did not whine about it. She fell asleep about the last 45 minutes and when we got home she was very cooperative about taking a shower, eating and getting ready for bed. The best evening we have had in a very, very long time! I am so hoping that she does well at school today. I really want her to finish out the year.
We have another group therapy session tonight. I am really hoping the traffic is better tonight than it was last night.
Monday, February 8, 2016
No, I cannot spell!!
I just read over my last post and realized that I misspelled Relief and Relieve!! My apologies to all my literate friends out there who actually know how to spell better than I do!
Last week on Thursday, we actually got Lanie into a group counseling session and she will be in the same session Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 3 hours each and then on Tuesdays she has her normal counseling session with Dana. Tonight she will actually get to meet with the Doctor who will, over the next 2-4 weeks, assess her and give us a diagnosis. After we get the diagnosis, we will know where to go from there. I cannot beleive this is happening so fast!
Last week in the assessment the intake person gave us some Mandala's - I did not even know what they were. Nonnie and I spent the entire 3 hour session that we waited in the lobby, doing Mandala's. If you do not know what they are, they are designs to color. It is a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism and it is suppose to relieve stress-I think-by giving a person something to focus on other than what is causing them stress. It works! I have now printed out about 2 dozen of them.
This weekend was a good weekend for Lanie. She was relatively calm and mostly listened to what she was told. We are using the 1,2,3 magic method and we were able to get some good practice in this weekend but Lanie only had to go to her room 3 times. That is a record! Today she is still in school and it is 2:03 p.m. I have talked to the counselor and her teacher today and they both say she is doing very well today. Her teacher, Ms. Dierker, said she came in very happy today and has remained so. I am so glad!
Last week on Thursday, we actually got Lanie into a group counseling session and she will be in the same session Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 3 hours each and then on Tuesdays she has her normal counseling session with Dana. Tonight she will actually get to meet with the Doctor who will, over the next 2-4 weeks, assess her and give us a diagnosis. After we get the diagnosis, we will know where to go from there. I cannot beleive this is happening so fast!
Last week in the assessment the intake person gave us some Mandala's - I did not even know what they were. Nonnie and I spent the entire 3 hour session that we waited in the lobby, doing Mandala's. If you do not know what they are, they are designs to color. It is a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism and it is suppose to relieve stress-I think-by giving a person something to focus on other than what is causing them stress. It works! I have now printed out about 2 dozen of them.
This weekend was a good weekend for Lanie. She was relatively calm and mostly listened to what she was told. We are using the 1,2,3 magic method and we were able to get some good practice in this weekend but Lanie only had to go to her room 3 times. That is a record! Today she is still in school and it is 2:03 p.m. I have talked to the counselor and her teacher today and they both say she is doing very well today. Her teacher, Ms. Dierker, said she came in very happy today and has remained so. I am so glad!
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Oppositional Defiant Disorder...
For the past few months we have been struggling with Lanie's behavior both at school and at home. In the past 2 months it has gotten so much worse that I even took her to the Emergency Room trying to get someone to listen to me. My child needs HELP!! and I need help to help her!! I finally posted a plea on Facebook. I contacted the Family Resource Cener, a Psychiatrist that was recommended, Washington University, DePaul Hospital, Our Little Haven, SLU, UMSL, St. Louis Behavioral Medicine. All to no avail. They either could not help us because we live in the city and not the county or they do not accept her insurance. I had a lot of support that finally lead me to the Behavioral Health Response team. I am so grateful to have found this group. They sent a team out this morning to our house and met with us to assess Lanie. They think it is ODD with a bit of ADHD mixed in. They are going to be our advocate from now forward until we are through this and can handle it on our own. They have access to phychologists, phychiatrist and therapist that will give all of us the support we need to be able to raise Lanie and guide her appropriately through this. I am so relieved! I don't even know how to express my relief-just knowing that there is a name for this and that help is available is just so helpful. I know that we have a long way to go but we now have someone to guide us! They also told us that most people let it go on way too long, don't catch it until 4th or 5th grade and then it is very hard to turn around. By catching it this early we are way ahead of the game.
I was told by multiple people to take her into the ER and let them know that her behavior has escalated to the point of hitting and kicking teachers and kids in her class. I was in Childrens ER for 6 hours for them to tell me that "unfortunately since she is not homicidal or suicidal, we cannot help her." I neglected to tell them that I was the one that was suicidal, not her!! I have basically been on the phone and/or crying for the last 6 days! Lanie has now been suspended from school for the 4th time -- IN KINDERGARTEN!!! Let me tell you, that is humiliating in itself! but then you add all the other stuff that has been going on and I am a total basket case. I am so grateful to my boss for working with me on all these issues. My coworkers and my boss have been great and so understanding! I do love my job. That makes me smile, just typing it!
I was told by multiple people to take her into the ER and let them know that her behavior has escalated to the point of hitting and kicking teachers and kids in her class. I was in Childrens ER for 6 hours for them to tell me that "unfortunately since she is not homicidal or suicidal, we cannot help her." I neglected to tell them that I was the one that was suicidal, not her!! I have basically been on the phone and/or crying for the last 6 days! Lanie has now been suspended from school for the 4th time -- IN KINDERGARTEN!!! Let me tell you, that is humiliating in itself! but then you add all the other stuff that has been going on and I am a total basket case. I am so grateful to my boss for working with me on all these issues. My coworkers and my boss have been great and so understanding! I do love my job. That makes me smile, just typing it!
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