A big long update post…& new photos of my kids…

It’s been so long since I’ve felt like I had a guilt free moment to myself!!  It’s 9 pm & 3 of my kids are asleep & 3 of my kids are gone for the next 24 hours or more!

The 3 sleeping ones…

James, the worker, (& no new photos) in the blazing August heat & humidity all day, went right to bed when he got home with a “I didn’t get near enough sleep this weekend” comment. (YA THINK!?!)

3 weeks from last Saturday we will move him up to college.  I am actually excited & ready for it.  I wonder at myself sometimes, have a processed this?  Am I going to be okay?  When am I going to lose it?

His car was parked (as usual) behind mine in front of the garage, I told him “One of the things I WONT miss about you going to college!!  You car always being in my way!”  In the next moment I also knew, it would be one of the things I will miss.

Sounds like I need to start writing “YOUR Gonna Miss this Moments” again.  Would anyone join me?  Do I have any readers left after my scattered blogging??  Hello???

Zach is also asleep, after his first day of 2-a-day football practice, he turned in early.

It’s been a long summer with him.  He’s had too much time on his hands & had quite a few moments when I wished he had more of a job.

His work ethic stinks.  He has worked a little, but complained every time. Since the law changed on July 1, he now has to wait until January 7, 2011 to get his drivers license.  (It would have been August 7 (5 days from now, thank You Jesus for the law changing!!)

This one is so not responsible enough to be set free behind the wheel of a car… don’t trust him.  Nope.    By January, I hope it will be better, but it will also be icy here… uhg.

Miss Leah is not home tonight.  I dropped her off for cheerleading practice at the school & she went home with a friend.  They are going to Ceda*r Poin*t tomorrow with their 4H club. 

She’s hit the teen years like a mack truck.  Spending lots of time in front of the mirror, worrying about her hair… she’s a ball of fun with her friends &  a ball of grumps when she’s with us.

Are we having fun yet???

Three teenagers in the house… not so much fun.

At least they are cute.

Lucas is up at the lake with Grandma & Grandpa.  G & G rented a lake cottage for the week.  They are taking groups of grandkids to spend some days with them.

No new photos of him yet, since he’s been gone a few days.

He will start middle school in 2 weeks.  School is hard for him.  It’s not going to be fun.  He’s not playing any sports this fall, (THANK GOD!!!)  So, he will be working hard at school & We will only go to 2 or 3 football games a week, rather than 3 or 4!!!

Jadon… Jadon, Jadon, Jadon…

Read a whole post about my photo session with him over on my HERE on my photo-blog.

He has had a good summer though.  He has his moments, all kids do.  His A*D*H*D is under control with medication, supplements, counseling…  He’s doing pretty well.

He’s up at the lake with Grandma & Grandpa too.

First grade should be a whole lot of fun! 

Miss Kiahna is asleep in my bed right now… (I HOPE!)  Or messing with things in my room.

Life is still pretty complicated for Kiahna.  She isn’t responding very well to the A*D*H*D meds we’ve tried.  She’s pretty zoned out & has no appetite for lunch.

I tried some weeks this summer of no meds.  It was hard.  I took her to her counselor.  That was hard. 

Counseling hasn’t felt helpful.  Not sure if we should continue.

We are still waiting for the testing that was ordered last May.  Apparently, the specialists who do the neurological testing we are waiting to get, only take a few medi*cade patients a month. 

We’ve been told it could be the first of the year.

In the waiting… we… well… wait.  We wonder.  We question.  We don’t parent as effectively as we could if we knew. 

The counselor asked if I had heard of Asper*gers Syndrome, she thinks Kiahna should be tested for that.

I guess I’ve heard the word, but I really had no clue what it is.  Checking online for anything is scary.  But, I have to wait until the first of the year for testing.

This is all just a whole lot frustrating.

When I finally did look it up online, I found the following on the list of traits to describe children with this syndrome… (there were more but these describe her to a t)

• * Not pick up on social cues and may lack inborn social skills, such as being able to read others' body language, start or maintain a conversation, and take turns talking.
• *  Be unable to recognize subtle differences in speech tone, pitch, and accent that alter the meaning of others’ speech. Thus, your child may not understand a joke or may take a sarcastic comment literally. Likewise, his or her speech may be flat and difficult to understand because it lacks tone, pitch, and accent.
• *  stare at others.
• *  Talk a lot, usually about a favorite subject. One-sided conversations are common. Internal thoughts are often verbalized
• *  Have heightened sensitivity and become over stimulated by loud noises, lights, or strong tastes or textures.

There were just as many symptoms on the list that she doesn’t show, but it is some clue to what we may be dealing with. 

How exactly does one learn to parent a child like this?  And how does one teach others to deal with a child like this.  I have no idea.  I bet I learn.

So… I am still juggling a lot of plates.  Still needing a lot of prayer.  I’ve been neglecting myself & feeling very tense. 

I am loving my work with photography.

I have booked 2 more weddings & some other things already for the fall. 

See my next wedding couple's engagement photos here (a few of them at least, I am not done with them all yet)

I did the summer cards, you are probably sick of hearing about them.   I am holding a give away on my photo blog, so go sign up.

I took a leap & ordered  quite a few different designs & styles & I need to sell them!!  I am offering them for a discount right now.  You can buy them on Esty.

Thanks for the prayers, for reading.  I’d love to hear from you if you read this!

Pam