Super Nerd

The kids took a test online, "What Kind of Nerd Are You?" Both kids came out with super nerd. At the end it describes what a super nerd is. It said you are a nerd and you are not afraid to show it. Isaac says, very seriously, "I'm not afraid to show that I'm a nerd, and people don't even make fun of me." I told him even if someone does make fun of him, just tell them that when you get older you will be their boss.  He says, "So, being a nerd is good?"  Love it!

 Isaac started back on his ADD meds this morning, and I could tell. He was talking without meltdowns, and was remembering things he needed for school without me reminding him. But now it looks like we have a pharmacy in our house. Poor kid has a lot of medication to take now.

Also on another good note, we were almost to Isaac"s school this morning and he said, "Why is 7th grade perfect?" I told him that God always has a plan, and his plan was for us to move here." For those of you that don't know us, we moved this summer to a different city so that we could get better help for Isaac. It was a very tough decision because we loved where we were. But God brought us here and already I can see why. Thank you Father God for everything you have given us.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

Please share any stories you have where God has worked in your life.

Need More Sleep

I think kiddos needed more sleep last night. First, this morning Michael threw a fit because I gave him the wrong cup for his milk. It was the same cup he has had other days, and it was clean, but he threw a fit and dumped all his milk down the drain. WOW! Then later in the afternoon Isaac threw a fit because the computer wouldn't turn on properly. Hopefully this evening goes better. We are planning a popcorn and movie night.

2nd Week of School

I was very concerned about how this second week of school was going to play out. We were making so much progress by the end of the first week, and then we had to have a three day weekend. Well, turns out Isaac must love this school because Tuesday came and I only had to walk him into the office and then he went the rest of the way to his class. The even more shocking thing is that it was his decision, he told me what he was going to do. Wednesday and Thursday went even better. I didn't even have to get out of the car. I drove up and dropped him off just like all the other parents. WOW!!! He has never, ever, ever, got this comfortable with a new school, so quickly, and he's had to switch schools a few times. This has been so nice. Last year I fought with Isaac to go to school almost the entire year. He missed most of his last 3 weeks of school because of stomachaches and throwing up every morning. Now if I can just get him off his video games and all electronics at home long enough to just listen to what I say to him.

I've been talking so much about Isaac, which there is so much to talk about, but now a little about my 7 year old Michael. He is not as difficult as Isaac, but he is also definitely a challenge. Michael was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD. Michael's OCD is shown by a slight germ phobia(he won't even let Isaac pour his milk because he may touch the milk and get his germs in it), and the most difficult part is he HAS TO HAVE his clothing super tight. I really don't know how he breaths. I have to retie his shoes constantly because they are never tight enough. He will only wear a certain pair of socks that they don't sell anymore in the stores, and he pulls these socks up all the way up to his knees. He looks kinda silly when he wears shorts. According to him he has said in the past that he feels if his socks fall down the house will burn down. Classic OCD!  The only pants he will wear are Wranglers, and they have to be pretty much painted on, which is very hard to get because he has such long legs, the waist never fits him right with the length. His clothing issues have gotten slightly better since he was put on anxiety meds, but some days are worse than others. This summer we started him on ADHD meds, which are helping him in school a lot. We just found out yesterday that he is the highest reader in his class. He tested at the 3rd grade level, and in math he tested at the 2nd grade level 9th month, WOW! So proud of him.

Both my kiddos are so so smart. Both will be tested to get in the GT program this year. But I worry about Isaac more as he is getting older. Isaac just does not understand things as easy as the other kids do. Just the other day, he was throwing one of his fits at home because he didn't understand what to do with his math homework. Surprisingly he let me help him, normally the paper get crumbled and thrown on the floor or torn up. He told me he didn't listen to the instructions in class. Hey, at least he was honest. He said, "My brain tells me not to listen, it argues with me about listening." Oh, the things he says sometimes. I guess I will be talking to the DR. about putting him back on his ADD meds. When he was younger he couldn't pay attention in class because he couldn't get Pokemon out of his head. His psychologist at the time told him that in school he needed to pretend he had a remote and switch channels in his brain. Sounds great, but is not gonna work with Isaac, and it didn't. We got over that, and then he started counting in his head when he was supposed to be listening to the teacher. That was in third grade. Can we say OCD! Yep both kids are a little obsessive! Since Isaac really doesn't know how to explain things to me, he could be doing this again rather than just not listening, I'm not sure. He is not an easy read.

7th Grade First Week

So, the first day of school started off pretty rough, but ended up great. I talked to Isaac's first period teacher, and she is letting Isaac come into her classroom before school starts so that he doesn't have to go to the cafeteria with the rest of the school. Hopefully, this will help.

The second day of school surprisingly went well. I walked Isaac down to his first class and he went in, no problems. Whew!!! This is how the rest of the week went. Tuesday and Wednesday I walked him all the way to his classroom, and then I had to develop a plan to work me out of the picture so that I could just drop him off, and not go in with him. On Wednesday Isaac got his locker, so Thursday was his first day going to his locker before going into class. Isaac agreed to me walking him to his locker instead of his classroom. So, I walked with Isaac to his locker and then we said our goodbyes there. Friday was even better, I only had to walk him to the start of his hallway. But now we are doing so good, but we have a three day weekend. Hopefully, come next Tuesday we will continue to move forward. But, I'm not very hopeful. I know how this plays out.

Day 1 7th Grade Cont.

We are now at Isaac's school, and he refuses to get out of the car. Luckily he sees the campus police standing at the entrance of the school.  With a lot of coercing Isaac is out of the car. Here we go walking arm in arm up to the school. Once we get inside he starts to freeze up, the only way he is continuing to walk is because I am pulling him along. All of the teacher and staff are so friendly. They are all greeting us and trying their hardest to get Isaac to talk to them and go with them so that I can leave. If only the vice principal would've listened better at the meetings.

We had a few different meetings before school started to try and prevent this. I just needed someone to stay with Isaac and a room for him to go to in the morning. The quicker I can leave the school the better off he is. Why don't these people understand what I tell them. Now we are standing in the hallways waiting for the students to be dismissed to their classes, just standing, frozen. Finally, the staff is done handing out schedules and the students are dismissed to their classes.

We walk to the office in hopes that the counselor or someone can help take Isaac so that I do not have to walk down the hallway with him to his class. Still no help. The vice principal tries to talk Isaac into walking with him to the class and letting me leave. Yeah right, I guess he didn't listen to me during the meetings. Here we go walking down to Isaac's first class, Pre-Ap math.

What a long walk it is, all the way at the end of the hall. Why does this have to be such a fight? I tell the VP, " if you can just keep him in this empty classroom so that I can leave it will be better." So, he goes to Isaac's class and pulls out a student and introduces him to Isaac thinking that this will help get Isaac into class. Funny! Just as I knew,  this didn't work. VP gets a call and he leaves, guess his meeting is more important. Luckily a different teacher of Isaac's comes in and was helping get him in the room. Lots of talking, pushing, pulling, and trying to convince him to get inside.  After all this, the only thing that gets Isaac inside is telling him that I will stay with him all day. His English teacher took him in the class and sat with him at the back of the room while I went to talk to the VP to make sure it was O.K. Unfortunately this was a convincing story that I told him. I wish it was true, but it worked. He went in his classroom and I left crying, and feeling horrible about the story I just told.

I go home, drink lots of coffee, and wonder how he's doing. The counselor calls me a few hours later to tell me me he is doing great. He is switching classes with a smile on his face. Whew, I feel much better.
Isaac had a wonderful first day of school. He loves his teachers, his classes, and the school. Thank God!!! What a day!

Day 1 7th Grade

I'm getting ready to wake up the kids, and I think, "Here we go!" I first wake up Michael, my  7 year old, and then I wake up Isaac, my 12 year old.  Surprisingly both kids are excited and ready to get the day started. Now it's time for breakfast, and here it is, "I'm not going to school," Isaac shouts! This is what I've been waiting for.  "Lets make it through breakfast first," I tell him. "Well I'm not going to school," He shouts back. Hoping this works, I tell him, "I'm not telling you to go to school right now, I'm telling you to come eat breakfast." Oh my goodness it worked, he is actually coming to eat breakfast with no fit, for now.  The rest of breakfast goes well, and both kids actually get dressed on time. Could this be, are we actually going to make it through the morning with no fits, no running away, no arguing? Maybe in your dreams Mom, not today though. Everything is going good until it's time to leave the house.

Michael is heading out to the car while Isaac is in the house refusing to put on his shirt, refusing to pick up his back pack, refusing to get in the car,  and refusing to go to school. I try everything, more time on his DS after school, staying up later that night, going to get a shake after school, nothing works!!! What am I going to do? I finally get him in the car by pulling him to his feet and pushing him to the car, not easy, he's getting as big as me. Just as I shut his door to the car and turn my back he's gone back into the house, into his bedroom, and locking the door. I didn't even realize he had a lock on his bedroom door. Great!  Well nice mommy isn't working right now! So, now I have to try the threats. Well, this time mean mommy works. He comes out of his room and gets in the car. Thank goodness, made it this far.

First we drop Michael off at his new school, first day of second grade. Of course he does not want me to walk him into the school. I pull up to the school and he jumps out and runs inside. I hope he is able to control himself today. This is his first school year on his ADHD meds. Hopefully this works! Now off to see what Isaac has in store for me.

Check back later and I'll let you in on the fun we had at Isaac's school.