ADHD.....the beginning

My 5 year old son was diagnosed ADHD late last week.   Not the "hey, your kid doesn't sit still and listen" kind of ADHD....that kind would be better.   No, he has the impulsive/aggressive type....the "I'll punch every teacher in the room" kind.   I have no idea how I ended up here.  My oldest is the opposite of aggressive.   My husband is about as non confrontational as you get, but somehow I wound up with a child with a very difficult form of behavior that I have no idea how to parent through.  

I'm very isolated.....no real friends to meet for coffee....my closest friend is a 3 hour plane ride away.   My mom died 5 years ago, my dad is helpful and my son adores him, but the behaviors never happen around him.   My in laws are divorced and are more interested in their own lives or their other grandchildren so there is very little support there.   I rarely see my brother and we only see my husband's siblings on holidays.

I'm going to write about my journey because no amount of googling is helping me find answers on how to help my son.   I hope that someone might come upon this and have gone through or are going through the same as we are going through right now.  

Let me tell you this before we get started, my youngest is the most loving, helpful, kind kids you will ever meet.  He wants to tell you everything he knows about fire trucks, tornadoes and growing tomatoes in his garden.  He gives the best hugs and loves to sit on your lap.   His smile is infectious and his laugh is the best.   This is him almost all of the time.....it's just 30ish minutes a week we lose him and he changes, but when he's mad, he's MAD!

So, he is where we stand:   We are 2 full time working parents.  We have seen developmental pediatrician, our own pediatrician, counselors and now psychiatry.   My son has been prescribed Adderall 5mg every morning and every noon.  We are on day 4 of this medication.  He is overall more calm (so much so that I didn't realize how much he did run around), but 30 minutes after dropping him off at daycare, I got the call that once again he was "being unsafe".   He was scratching and biting teachers and overall just trying to strong arm them.   He was somewhat calm just before I got there, but when he saw me he got angry again.  However, by the time we got home, he said he wanted to go back to school and try again.  He also volunteered an "I'm sorry" to me.  Unfortunately, he was not welcome to come back to school today.  We'll try again tomorrow.

So, what do I do from here, I have no idea.   The Psychiatrist said no change in medication after his incident today.   I guess we try again tomorrow.....and pray I don't get called.

Sunsets make me happy

It may be blazing hot outside, but Arizona sunsets are the best.  The blend of blue, red, purple, orange and yellow make me feel like I'm standing in front of a painter's masterpiece.  

"Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under."

– C. JoyBell C.

Step 2 DONE!!!

We are DEBT FREE!.  Well, ok we still owe the mortgage, but that is an assets right now, not a liability,  Now is the time to save for the future and stop neglecting those things that I just could afford.  

I want to get routine haircuts, eyebrow waxings and pedicures.  I want to look and feel like a professional who makes good money.   

I want to completely finish at least room in thus house already! I want my house to look like a model home.  

I want to get there and try new restaurants, see some broadway shows and cheer on the local teams!  I want to take more vacations.  I want to spend money on experiences and remember them for the rest if my life.  

Lastly, I want to retire before I'm 55 just in case I might haveis nasty pancreatic cancer gene within me. I want to know the lifestyle where I have hobbies, can sleep until 7am everyday and can catch up on the last 10 years of movies that I was too busy to see.

I'm so happy to be moving forward!  Next financial goal:  get 6 months worth of expenses in a savings account, but not until I get my haircut!!

Cheesy Ham Biscuit Pull Aparts

 1 (16.3 oz) Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Biscuits 

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

3/4 cup diced ham 

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 11 x 7 or 12 x 8 glass baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat egg and milk with a wire whisk until smooth.

Separate dough into individual biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters. Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly. Fold in ham, cheese, onions and granulated garlic. Spoon mixture into prepared dish, arrange biscuit pieces in a single layer.

Baked at 350 for 23 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. You can either cut into squares or just pull apart and serve.

This recipe was found on Facebook with the following link:

JOIN www.facebook.com/groups/skinnywithkelly for recipes, tips and support!

FOLLOW www.facebook.com/KellySpears for awesome daily posts!

I would double the ham and double the cheese if I make this again!

Spanish Lesson 3

¡Buenos días!  ¿Qué tal?  Muy bien, gracias. Mi nombre es Kristen. ¿Cómo te llamas? Encantada!  Soy de los Estados Unidos.  ¿de dónde eres? ! ¡Adiós!

This week I worked on saying:

What is your name?

Where are you from?

I am from....

Also

United States (and a few other countries)

Goals Updated - Week 3

35 goals before I turn 36 


1. Read 12 new books
6/23: reading "Bowling Across America 50 States in Rented Shoes"

6/30: still reading

7/7: Almost 1/2 way done!


2. Exercise at least once per week


3. Run a 5k


4. Try 1 new recipe per week
6/23: Cheesy Pepperoni Twist Roll & Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

6/30: Shish Kabob Marinade

7/7: Cheesy Ham Biscuit Pull Aparts


5. Take 1 picture everyday
6/23: Took a picture everyday this week

6/30:  done!

7/7: completed!


6. Restart mommemos


7. Keep Meliska.net up to date
6/23: up to date as of today


8. Pay off backyard landscaping


9. Finish kitchen

7/7: kitchen is painted!  Just need new faucet, paper towel holder and toaster oven!


10. Finish Caden's room


11. Finish Connor's room


12. Finish master bathroom


13. Visit at least 2 states


14. Remember birthdays 
6/23: Posted to everyone on Facebook who was having a Birthday

6/30: Done!

7/7: completed!


15. Host a Halloween Party


16. Make 12 homemade cards


17. Celebrate every holiday with something special
7/7:  4th of July!

18. Get together with friends once per month


19. Learn to sew


20. Learn Spanish
6/23: Finished Lesson 1 of Coffee Break Spanish

6/30: finished Lesson 2 of Coffee Break Spanish

7/7: Finsihed Lesson 3 of Coffee Break Spanish


21. Watch 1 movie per month

6/30: We watched "The Sound of Music"

22. Finish season 1 of Revolution
6/30: GOAL COMPLETED!!!


23. Finish season 1 Chicago fire


24. Bake bread once a month


25. Go to a concert


26. Pay off 1 car


27. Visit eye doctor for check up

7/7:  Went to optometrist and received new prescription for contacts and glasses.  Everything looked great, however, I'm bordering on needing a bifocal!! GOAL COMPLETED!!


28. See dentist every 4 months for routine cleanings


29. See gyn for check up


30. See regular doctor for check up


31. Get a car in our garage


32. start a travel journal


33. go to a play or musical


34. Meet at least one parent for dinner once per month

  7/7:  we invited my husband's father and wife over for lunches they accepted, but declined lunch once they were here as they were "too full from breakfast"


35. Have a birthday free of illness

Revolution - Season 1 GOAL COMPLETED!

I just finished watching NBC's Revolution.  This show starts out telling us that somehow, no one is really sure why, but the earth has completely lost all power.  This means, no lights, no running water, no advanced medical care. It's back to basics: living by candlelight, hand washing clothes, cooking over an open fire.

The United States is no longer the United States.  It has divided into many different countries, the main country of this show is the Monroe Republic, a militant run country.  General Monroe and his best friend General Mathison founded this country and ran their country with fear from its people.  Then one day, Miles Mathison decided he had enough and walked away from being General and not into hiding.  

He is found one day by his niece who needs help finding her brother who has been arrested by the Monroe Republic after he shot and killed several Monroe military members.  The story continues into what happened between the 2 generals, why the power went out and can it be turned back on.  

I really love this show, although, it's sometimes a bit too intense as it has a lot of killing and fighting in it.

http://www.nbc.com/revolution/