We have had some tough stuff here recently. Perrin my oldest has been struggling with school since about 1st grade. He has had a hard time understanding what is being taught. In Utah the teachers were very patient and he was able to get extra help. He was often removed from the class to get the extra help he needed. Still I was positive that he was just a little slow and he would eventually get it. Things would click and everything would work out. That was the way it was for me. I needed extra help until one day I understood what they wanted and poof my education took off from there. When we moved from Utah to Texas three big things happened. First, Perrin was now in 3rd grade. This is a pivotal year, school goes from mostly fun and games to real work. Second, the Texas schools required so much more from there students than Utah. And third, Perrin was dealing with leaving all of his friends and everything he new and loved. He was dropped into a very different place, everything changed for him except his family. Naturally with all of this Casey and I expected things to not go well with school and we were right. He almost did not pass 3rd grade. We had high hopes for 4th grade. We were all settled in to our home and community. Perrin has loads of friends and we worked very hard to have a great relationship with his teachers. He got a father's blessing before school started and we felt ready to take on the year. Less than one month in to the new school year I was meeting with his teachers because Perrin was struggling already. We began working through his homework one on one at home. We talked with him about how important it is to be focused at school and how a good education will take you far. We tried everything we could think of. We really worked with him. Just before Christmas we filled out a Connor’s report. This is a paper that asks questions to determine is someone has or potentially has ADD or ADHD. People have hinted for years that Perrin "might" have ADD or ADHD. It really bothered me. I grew up hearing stories about children who had ADD and were medicated and how bad it was, how doctors and parents are looking for an easy way out. Children are over medicated because parents and doctors don't want to do the work that is required of a good parent. I was so determined to be a good parent. "NO WAY was I going to medicate my child. I just needed to be more patient and he will catch on, " or so I thought. Just before Christmas we also bought Perrin a DSi and told him if he could get an A in math, his weakest subject, than he could have the DSi. He took this very seriously and asked his teacher to tutor him after school. He was putting in all of his effort and it was easy to see just watching him. We let thing play out. We continued working with him at home and he worked so hard at school. Now he began experiencing so much disappointment. He would come home from school with a report card so excited to look at it, all the while saying, "I know my grades are going up. I can feel it. I am giving 100%. Open it I can't wait to see how good I am doing." When we opened it what did we see? Oh no, his grades were all going down. Then I would hold Perry while he cried. It was a heart breaking time.Finally Perrin took a practice TAKS test. It is the standised testing for Texas. He scored a 31% on it. His teachers were so concerned and they got a hold of me and we got together. At that meeting Casey and I decided we needed to consider the idea that he may need to see a doctor. After the meeting we prayed and got an immediate answer. We needed to take him to a doctor. So that next Monday which happened to be the first day of spring break Casey took Perrin in to our family doctor. The doctor looked at the Connor's report, notes the teachers had written and some of his school work. She talked to Perrin and did some blood test. Then she determined that he needed to be on some medication for ADD.Casey and I felt good about this so I went out and bought it and he started taking it on Tuesday. He was so emotional the first few day. He cried a lot and wanted to be close to me all the time. It was so nice! But I knew he couldn't function that way and I knew that if he didn't improve we would have to take him back to the doctor and try again. By Thursday he was happy again and things were starting to go better and by Friday things were better than they had ever been before. It was the last day of spring break and I was letting the kids have a veg-out day. In the morning I was cleaning the house and after lunch Perrin told me how grateful he was that I was taking care of him and his sisters. He also told me he wanted to help by cleaning the toy room. I knew this was something that was hard for him. When I ask him to clean his room for example I give him a paper that says thing like, "pick up all the blue things, or put away all the shoes." If I don't than he just can't do it. Well I decided to let him try on his own. I checked on him after he had been at it for a half hour or so and I was going to help him finish but to my surprise he was doing great. He was even organizing! I let him finish on his own. He vacuumed, rolled up the rug, and swept. It was amazing!School has also improved. He is one of the first five done and does not miss very many. In the last two weeks his math grade has come up 10% All of his grades have improved. He even scored the highest in the class on a math assignment! Did the medication change his personality? Yes, he is no longer a frustrated and angry little guy. He is happier and more loving than he has ever been. He is more confident and out going. Being his mom has been more fun these last four weeks. I am so glad that we did this. It happened at the right time and was the right decision for our family.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Here we are together
It was kind of a rush but I really wanted this to be all caught up so I could pick up where life is now and I have done it! I hope to fill in gaps as I reflect back on our life events but for now I am satisfied. I hope that future post will be fun and entertaining. I hope we can cry together and laugh together and grow together. Enjoy!
And bringing up the tail end........
It took 5 months to try to have another baby. But we finally felt we could try again. And of course we were pregnant right away. Casey and I use to joke about not using one another's towles , washing undies together, or even standing down wind, for fear of getting pregnant unexpectedly. An old cowboy once told us he new the best birth control. It was orange juice.... before, after, and instead of.
This pregnancy was different because Perry was in school and every one had so many needs. Life was hard. I didn't have time to sleep next to the toilet so I could barf easy. I needed to be up and doing and being a mom. With every day I took comfort that this was the last, Heavenly Father told me so and I was thankful. I felt that Perry was doing worse in school and I could not help him like he needed. Penny needed me to read to her and play with her and I just could not do it. Minnie on the other had was still young enough to demand the attention she needed by getting in to things and making messes. But I still felt that if I could just do more than it would be so much better. I was trying it just was not working. It was a trickie pregnancy but we survived.
I felt like I was going in to labor every day for about two weeks before we actually had the baby. I was induced Friday Sept. 21 and I knew well before hand that she would be born that day. I was a more relaxed mom and was able to sleep pretty good the night before. We were seasoned professionals by this time. Once we were all settled in the hospital things really moved fast. I warned my nurse that once I am past 4 centimeters things move really fast and the baby will be out a half hour after that. She was wonderful and listened. I had a mild epidural so I could feel the contraction but got to relax and laugh and talk to Casey. Before long I found myself in those horrible stirrups all propped up ready to push. Eight pushes later and we had another screaming girl. We just savored every moment know that this was the last time we would be handed a new baby fresh from mommy.
She was a healthy little girl weighting 7 lbs and 11ozs and she was 19 inches long. The first thing we learned about her was that she is a screamer! I never had a baby so loud. I thought I had this parenting thing all figured out but to my surprise I felt like I was having to learn how to do just about everything all over again. She was the hardest baby I had ever had. She was so sensitive to everything. Did I mention that she was a screamer. All the noise, NoIsE, NOISE. Casey would always ask what is wrong with her and I just did not know. I think she just liked the sound of her voice or maybe the sound of her voice scared her and made her cry.
She established right away that mommy belonged to her! She hated being held by others witch was ok with me. I had always wanted a clingy baby. Some time it was ridiculous. We were visiting Casey's parents and I had to go potty so I passed her off to Casey, at which point she started crying. I went potty as fast as I could. Washed my hands and came running out of the bathroom. Then Casey then told me I forgot to zip my pants and button them. I just had everything hanging out. I am so awesome.
Our family was not complete!!!!
We enjoyed the rest of our time in Utah and then moved to Texas. Which is where we are now. Perrin just turned 10 and I have some wonderful things to share about him. Penny just turned 7 and she is growing so fast and becoming such a lady. Minnie is 5 and so beautiful. Rue is 2 1/2 and it is a miracle that my house survives another day with her around. I love my kids. I am a lucky mom.
This pregnancy was different because Perry was in school and every one had so many needs. Life was hard. I didn't have time to sleep next to the toilet so I could barf easy. I needed to be up and doing and being a mom. With every day I took comfort that this was the last, Heavenly Father told me so and I was thankful. I felt that Perry was doing worse in school and I could not help him like he needed. Penny needed me to read to her and play with her and I just could not do it. Minnie on the other had was still young enough to demand the attention she needed by getting in to things and making messes. But I still felt that if I could just do more than it would be so much better. I was trying it just was not working. It was a trickie pregnancy but we survived.
I felt like I was going in to labor every day for about two weeks before we actually had the baby. I was induced Friday Sept. 21 and I knew well before hand that she would be born that day. I was a more relaxed mom and was able to sleep pretty good the night before. We were seasoned professionals by this time. Once we were all settled in the hospital things really moved fast. I warned my nurse that once I am past 4 centimeters things move really fast and the baby will be out a half hour after that. She was wonderful and listened. I had a mild epidural so I could feel the contraction but got to relax and laugh and talk to Casey. Before long I found myself in those horrible stirrups all propped up ready to push. Eight pushes later and we had another screaming girl. We just savored every moment know that this was the last time we would be handed a new baby fresh from mommy.
She was a healthy little girl weighting 7 lbs and 11ozs and she was 19 inches long. The first thing we learned about her was that she is a screamer! I never had a baby so loud. I thought I had this parenting thing all figured out but to my surprise I felt like I was having to learn how to do just about everything all over again. She was the hardest baby I had ever had. She was so sensitive to everything. Did I mention that she was a screamer. All the noise, NoIsE, NOISE. Casey would always ask what is wrong with her and I just did not know. I think she just liked the sound of her voice or maybe the sound of her voice scared her and made her cry.
She established right away that mommy belonged to her! She hated being held by others witch was ok with me. I had always wanted a clingy baby. Some time it was ridiculous. We were visiting Casey's parents and I had to go potty so I passed her off to Casey, at which point she started crying. I went potty as fast as I could. Washed my hands and came running out of the bathroom. Then Casey then told me I forgot to zip my pants and button them. I just had everything hanging out. I am so awesome.
Our family was not complete!!!!
We enjoyed the rest of our time in Utah and then moved to Texas. Which is where we are now. Perrin just turned 10 and I have some wonderful things to share about him. Penny just turned 7 and she is growing so fast and becoming such a lady. Minnie is 5 and so beautiful. Rue is 2 1/2 and it is a miracle that my house survives another day with her around. I love my kids. I am a lucky mom.
Life
Some of the happiest times of my life were while we were living in Arizona. We lived close to family, Aunt Debbi and Uncle Kevin. We had a home that was the perfect size for our family and I really loved it. Casey had a great job that was always exciting. We had three beautiful children and everything we needed and so much more. It was a charmed time in my life.
We knew that the military was in control of where we lived and where we would go. We had been stationed there for 3 1/2 years and we thought we would only be there for 2 years. We began to feel so scared of where they would send us. They could send us over seas, which would have been so fun. They could have sent Casey to Korea, not so fun. We felt very vulnerable. Casey began looking at placed where the military needed people and then found a military job in Utah that looked like a to of fun so he applied. Crazy.... much to his surprise he got it. We moved at the beginning of October, one month before Minnie turned one.
The job really was all that! Casey was a computer programmer for the military. He created simulations to help train Air-men. This was an amazing opportunity for us. Casey had been going to school while working on the flight line and had wanted to become a gaming programmer. Now he could finish school while getting experience in the field! How did we get to be so lucky? Heavenly Father was truly looking out for us. I am so amazed that he would do this for us when he has so many people all over the world who need so much.
Once moved and settled in to a house we decided to wait for a while before having another baby. I really enjoyed just being a mom and taking care of my three little sweet hearts. But when Minnie was two I began to get really baby hungry.
We began trying to have a baby and it didn't take long and we were prego! But it was short lived and we lost that baby. We cried and longed for our baby and it was not long and we were ready to try again. I get pregnant so easy, it was only two months and we were pregnant again. This time things were going better.
I was really excited but very apprehensive. I was not getting sick. When I don't get sick I always loose the baby. People kept telling me not to worry maybe I was just getting a nice pregnancy! I tried to relax but I knew in the back of my mind that this would be short lived. Then it happened. Casey was leaving and would be gone on a military assignment for two weeks. The morning he was leaving I began loosing the baby. We cried and prayed together. I knew that Heavenly Father would be there for me and all would be well.
I had so much to do that day so I just kept busy and trusted that Heavenly Father would help me with everything else. I was loosing a lot of blood and I knew that the second day of a miscarriage is usually so much worse for me so at the end of the day I called a friend and asked her if she could watch my kids the next day just in case I had to go in to the hospital. Of course she said she would. She called the Bishop and he called me to see if I needed a blessing or if they could do anything for me. I told him I was fine and not to worry.
That night after the kids were in bed and I was getting ready to go to sleep.....kinda weird but I had the baby. I held this tiny person in my had. I was about 9 or 10 weeks into the pregnancy and I was so surprised what Heavenly Father could do with my body in such a short time. This baby was about 2 inches long. The front of the baby was all mess up but the back was amazing. There was a thin layer of transparent skin. I could see every single vertebra going down its back. I could see the beginnings of a spinal cord. They say that the babys spin extends beyond the body like a tail and it does. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I feel that because I had endured my trials well I was blessed. "After the trial of you faith you will be blessed" -some where in the scriptures.
It took more time to recover from this. Casey did not want to have another child. We both prayed and asked Heavenly Father if he was trying to tell us something. After some fasting and prayer we both felt that we should have "just one more."
We knew that the military was in control of where we lived and where we would go. We had been stationed there for 3 1/2 years and we thought we would only be there for 2 years. We began to feel so scared of where they would send us. They could send us over seas, which would have been so fun. They could have sent Casey to Korea, not so fun. We felt very vulnerable. Casey began looking at placed where the military needed people and then found a military job in Utah that looked like a to of fun so he applied. Crazy.... much to his surprise he got it. We moved at the beginning of October, one month before Minnie turned one.
The job really was all that! Casey was a computer programmer for the military. He created simulations to help train Air-men. This was an amazing opportunity for us. Casey had been going to school while working on the flight line and had wanted to become a gaming programmer. Now he could finish school while getting experience in the field! How did we get to be so lucky? Heavenly Father was truly looking out for us. I am so amazed that he would do this for us when he has so many people all over the world who need so much.
Once moved and settled in to a house we decided to wait for a while before having another baby. I really enjoyed just being a mom and taking care of my three little sweet hearts. But when Minnie was two I began to get really baby hungry.
We began trying to have a baby and it didn't take long and we were prego! But it was short lived and we lost that baby. We cried and longed for our baby and it was not long and we were ready to try again. I get pregnant so easy, it was only two months and we were pregnant again. This time things were going better.
I was really excited but very apprehensive. I was not getting sick. When I don't get sick I always loose the baby. People kept telling me not to worry maybe I was just getting a nice pregnancy! I tried to relax but I knew in the back of my mind that this would be short lived. Then it happened. Casey was leaving and would be gone on a military assignment for two weeks. The morning he was leaving I began loosing the baby. We cried and prayed together. I knew that Heavenly Father would be there for me and all would be well.
I had so much to do that day so I just kept busy and trusted that Heavenly Father would help me with everything else. I was loosing a lot of blood and I knew that the second day of a miscarriage is usually so much worse for me so at the end of the day I called a friend and asked her if she could watch my kids the next day just in case I had to go in to the hospital. Of course she said she would. She called the Bishop and he called me to see if I needed a blessing or if they could do anything for me. I told him I was fine and not to worry.
That night after the kids were in bed and I was getting ready to go to sleep.....kinda weird but I had the baby. I held this tiny person in my had. I was about 9 or 10 weeks into the pregnancy and I was so surprised what Heavenly Father could do with my body in such a short time. This baby was about 2 inches long. The front of the baby was all mess up but the back was amazing. There was a thin layer of transparent skin. I could see every single vertebra going down its back. I could see the beginnings of a spinal cord. They say that the babys spin extends beyond the body like a tail and it does. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I feel that because I had endured my trials well I was blessed. "After the trial of you faith you will be blessed" -some where in the scriptures.
It took more time to recover from this. Casey did not want to have another child. We both prayed and asked Heavenly Father if he was trying to tell us something. After some fasting and prayer we both felt that we should have "just one more."
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