Schools diagnosis but no direction

 Here is my handsome son in Grade 3. 

 He loves swimming, and smiling for mommy.  He loves video games, action cartoons, and legos.

In kindergarten he was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Integration Disorder.  He got some  therapy at school with time in sensory room; swinging in a cocoon swing, getting squished through a pressure contraption.  I was quite impressed with the room and the resources there.  Well, after kindergarten it was a fight for him to get any time in this therapy room.  In grade 1 I was told by the special needs coordinator at his school that he needs to just deal with it.  That as he gets into the older grades he just needs to learn how to cope on his own. 

I was upset with that response when it was the school who did the testing and diagnosis then simply says he will need to just deal with it as he grows up.  He is expected to function and learn like any other child in class that hasn't got any sensory issues.  And his report card shows that he is struggling. 

Last year we sought some answers from our pediatrician.  We had his teachers at school fill out some questionnaires from a neuro pediatrician, and they all came back that he was in the hyperactive category.  We filled out our questionnaires and sent them away.  The lady in charge of the special needs aids, and therapy was very opposed to us doing this testing, stating that he was fine and didn't need this.  I wasn't quite sure her qualification for making such an uneducated diagnosis and am still wondering if she stopped any further testing. 

Now we are here in Grade 4.  He is a very smart kid and is doing well academically.  All his issues are with behavior; with listening, focus and working well with others.   He is our oldest and is great with his younger siblings.  He has responsibilities like his chores that he does efficiently.  He is a very friendly outgoing kid.  So, school is a very negative place for him. An environment that demands he sit at a table with 5 other kids and still focus to do his work.  A place where he is  bullied for wearing glasses, but when I talk to his teacher she refuses to admit he is being bullied.  Public school system that makes diagnosis but fail to provide any help past kindergarten.  And with people who are there to help our kids standing against further testing when he is having a hard time focusing. 

My husband has severe ADD and is still needs medication to function productively.  He sees a lot of himself in our Meatball.  He understands the difficulties that he is having in the classroom.  I have been seriously considering home schooling. 

Well, parent teacher interviews are next week and we will be taking a team effort to get through to his teacher about our concerns. 

The fall months

I haven't blogged in a long time and I think of so many things to write.  I missed a blog about our trip to Ontario.  Maybe because I miss my family so much and maybe, just a little, I wish we lived there.  But I've been out west now for nearly as long as I lived in Ontario. 

Things are busy these days with three growing kids.  I looked at my youngest today and thought where has the last three years gone!... 

We are in the blows of winter already and so I'm going to reminisce on our beautiful we had.

The kids were back to school in September.   Meatball in grade 4 (Wow!!!) and sweat pea in grade 2.

We grew a vegetable garden this year and it was a great joy planting and harvesting with the kids.  We grew broccoli (big hit), kale, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, lettuce and strawberries. It  was a good learning curve for me.  I really enjoyed it.  The fall came the end of it.

Along the way I gave away lots of tomatoes.  I bought some tomatoes from a local farmer and made a really really big batch of spaghetti sauce(or 3 large ziplocs full)!

While the big kids are gone to school all day I get to (entertain) I mean play with bubby.  He is really into doing puzzles, and building his big legos.  I think lego may be on the list this Christmas for all kids. 

Halloween was fun.  We did pumpkins and roasted seeds to eat and of course went out for 1hr and a half in the rain to get candy.  Bubby loved getting candy this year.  We were all tired at the end.

Now winter is blowing outside and I am trying and I'm trying to make some plans for myself to keep the crazies away.  I foresee more painting, scrapbooking and sewing in the near future.  

Today we all went and got our flu vaccines since Grandma and Grandpa are coming for Christmas.  The kids got a simple nose spray but daddy and I got the needle.  Not so bad after all.  Hoping the kids are not to whiny and achy this weekend from it.  But we want to make sure we don't get Grandpa sick while he is here. 

Painting such joy

My latest painting I finished in August.  My daughter asked me years ago, when I picked up a paint brush again, if I would paint her a fairy painting.  So, I've been thinking what I would paint, grand schemes of a fairy filled jungle with intricate flowers and vines came to mind.  These seemed unreachable as I am not that talented.  So I decided to draw one day and this is what I came up with. Several months later I was taking care of a friends house for them and got 5 hours away from the house/kids to paint at her empty quiet house.  It was pure joy, a refilling of me time I needed.  I am happy with the painting and my daughter loved it! 

I know I need more time for me away being creative, being something other then a mother.  Even if it is painting for my daughter...

I love being a mommy and a wife but lately I have been thinking I need just me doing what I want time alone!!!

It is Fall

I love fall, the change, the colour, the crisp air.  However this year to me it prelude to misery, cold, isolation, winter.  I haven't dreaded winter so much before that I can't enjoy fall.  I know that through exercise, healthy eating and prayer I have been certainly finding my way out of depression.

So today Ill take a deep breath, thank God for my blessings and live for today.   Here are some fun camping pictures from  our last summer hooray the week before school started!  We had lots of fun at the beach, going on a scavenger hunt, painting rocks, making a nature mobile and of course roasting marshmallows over the fire!

Meatball turned 9 in July

Our oldest turned 9 in July.  We had just gotten back from vacation the day before so daddy and him went out and picked a new video game and ice cream cake for his birthday! He keeps saying he is a preteen now... I disagree he is 9 now.  lol he wants to grow up way to fast. 

I love his smile, his sense of humor (maybe not so much of the sarcastic humor), and his sensitiveness.  He is a big helper and loves biking.  I can't believe the years have flown bye so fast. 

Sweet pea is 7 in March, and Bubby turned 3 in May

Sweet pea is 7

 She wanted a bunny cake!

 And a dance party

My monkey is 3!
 Hot dog supper!

 Loved his monkey cake, and dinos!

Into the spring of things!!!

We are certainly into spring now!  Sunny days, or rainy days I'm just happy its not winter.  The kids seem to be growing an inch every night.  I'm actually sitting here in peace and quiet because the kids are playing so nice downstairs (sweatpea and bubby are playing loud enough to hear, and meatball is probably creating something with lego or watching cartoons).  The years are flying bye.

 

Here they are posing for a picture so nice on our walk home from school.  My princess, knight in shining armor and baby prince.  I am so blessed beyond my understanding.  Being a stay at home mom can be so draining and even exhausting some days but most days are a blessing.  The smiles and giggles I experience are my pay.  I get the spontaneous hug or told they love me..

Here is bubby, he was so excited daddy bought him home a strider bike.  So fun!  Sigh...He thinks he can ride on the road like his big brother.  He is having a hard time realizing he can't do or is not allowed to do all the things big brother can. He loves being outside whenever he can.  I am looking forward to camping this summer with the kids. 

Another thing I love about the spring is gardening.  I picked up some basket stuffers (with the help of sweetpea which I loved that she wanted to pick) and some vegetable plants.  I'm excited to expand my front garden for some vegetable plants.  I'm going to grow tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, beans and garlic.  Now if the rain will just stop for an afternoon so I can get in the garden. 

Well better get these kids to bed.  What has God blessed you with today?

Spring time

 We roasted hotdogs over a campfire this weekend, and in this family that means SPRING!  Can't believe how big our meatball is.  He cooks his own hotdog, he wants to sit and enjoy the fire and chat with his parents.  He makes me smile, he has such a big heart, a caring sensitive little man.  My princess is certainly growing up way to fast.  She is still my cabbage patch baby doll, yet she is started to act a whole lot more mature these days.  Always a little mom she is to her little brother. 

 Bubby is such a big ham.  He is always trying to keep up with his sister and brother.  And he is changing everyday.  He is potty trained, he is a busy busy boy who loves cuddles with mama!

Strawberry shortcake is what finished off our turkey dinner for easter.  This is the only part bubby really ate, but hey he is 2. 
I am SOOOOOO happy spring is here.  I get joy from hanging laundry on the clothesline, going for walks, and sitting in the sun reading.  Its rainy and thats okay too.  My lovebug said to me the other day April showers bring May flowers!  Yes thats what I love about it.  My lovebug is so good for me!

Awesome potty training

Why do you ask was my potty training number 3 awesome?  Because he caught on super fast, was so proud of himself and now on day 8 I'm saying that wasn't so hard.

I'm looking at the 3 days over last weekend I took to teach my youngest to use the potty and it was so successful.  I remember thinking I really don't know if I can do this before and then finally just decided it was time.  Equipped with tons of juice, fruit snacks and patience we started out last Friday to get this potty party going.  And sure he had some accidents day 1, 2 but only pee!  He pooped like a big boy right away.  Day 3 when I started emphasizing keeping our underpants dry after reading more info on training he was dry the whole day!  And has been ever since.  He does wear a cloth pull-up overnight but that is my experience and past sleepless/ early early mornings has taught me to let that come when it comes.   I just commit those first 3 days to being right beside him playing with him  then when he starts peeing we run to the potty to finish.  It was rather fun playing all day long.  And when he finally starts in the potty with  dry pants he got a car fruit snack treat!  He loved the treats and was so proud.  Of course lots of ohhh and Hahn from big sis, and big bro helped I'm sure.

He keeps me on my toes this bubby.  But he certainly got the potty training really fast.  I remember my daughter caught in fast too, however she had more poop accidents.  Sure, I'm older and maybe a bit more relaxed but he is one big boy.

Awesome potty training makes up for those really trying days... Like the night bubby shoved an arm off play glasses into his ear and screamed and blood poured out!  That's another post

Winter MAY allow spring to come

So it was actually warm enough to play at the park this week.  Really a balmy -12 and we were excited.  I have to say how impressed I was that the bubby lasted for an hour out in the cold, even keeping his mitts on.  The big kids played grounders(form of tag) with some friends and bubby was happy to roll down the hill, slide, climb, spin, and do snow angels.  He was determined to get mommy to do a snow angel but I didn't have snow pants so I said no my bum would get wet. 

I was happy to slide and follow bubby around.  So blown away this week by how fast my littlest is growing up. Thinking it is going to be a fun spring/summer with him now that he is more boy then baby. Yet as I say that a part of me cries that he is my last. 

I am potty training bubby this weekend, when we do not HAVE to go out of the house.  He is doing well and I am actually a little surprised.  Mommy however did need some chocolate tonight because other the general fighting with all kids around.  Sweet pea thinks she is a little mommy and tells bubby what to do far to often.  And she is not the most patient person, she may have learned that from me.  Meatball is my little man who mostly just wants to play video games all day long!!! Which the asking and talking about them drives me a little crazy. (He is like his father)

Spring IS around the corner.  So, I will look on!

2 year olds

As I try to type this the 2 year old is trying to put the little dog we are taking care of in its kennel.  I tell him that puppy doesn't need to go in there and that he is scaring her.  So he cries and screams.  Now he is trying to put his Cookie Monster toy on her like she is a horse for it.   He seems to be constant motion!  Now doing his favourite game mom counts 1,2,3 Go and he runs through the house.  Somedays a jet, today a spit machine obviously.

I love my boy, he is certainly noise with dirt on it.  Roar, scream, spit spraying!  He just thought it a good idea to stand on the little people house and jump onto the coffee table only to fall and hurt his foot.  Quick cuddle and kiss from mommy then he is taking me hand and leading me to the fridge.  He is not very verbal yet so through grunts, few words and pulling mommy along he asks for some orange juice by opening fridge and getting it out.

He enjoys animals, cars, balls, painting, piggy back rides from sis and wrestling with his brother.  He loves to play with his food and sometimes eats it.  As I clean up the floor I remind myself this season will be over faster then believable as I see with my 8 year old.  He loves cuddles with mom after sleeping which I love too.  My hubby let me sleep in 2 days these days off and Bubby was a little whiney and out of sorts both days, we figured he missed his mommy cuddles.

If while I'm doing laundry and some of my piled laundry goes missing I know a little bubby probably helped and am sure to find it in his dresser.  He knows where his granola bar wrapper goes, and is helpful with cleaning up when he feels like it.  He has pooped and peed in the potty but I haven't done the full potty training yet. (After the puppy we are taking care of goes home I'm starting). He is growing up so fast yet still just my baby.  His sister and brother both at school full time reminds me of how soon enough I will have to let go.

So at the end of the day I'm tired and maybe a little frazzled by this 2year old.  So happy and blessed by my little bubby as I know he was a gift to me.  And to soon this season of crazy toddler adventure will be over, and I will be wondering where the years have gone.

Learning to live in the moment and know the season is sure to change, maybe to fast after all.

Starting anew

Starting anew this year in many areas of my life. I am exercising regularly, trying to stop pleasing everyone, and looking out for myself more. 

After coming through a rough season of depression I am relearning how to look on the positive.  Thus the name Awesome Northern Living.  I am seeing how blessed living in the beautiful north with God's amazing creations all around.  One of our  favorite after school on the way home adventures is to drive by the woods up the hill where the deer frequent.  I'm always in awe simply watching these animals.  We have seen coyotes, and foxes on our street.  One day my middle, a baby then was at the front window saying cow very very excitedly, when I came into the living room there was a large buck walking down the street, hoove prints visible in the snow cover yard right in front of big window.  We went out for cross country sking, and a bonfire last week.  It is such a reminder of such blessing to be in nature.  Now the youngest isn't the biggest fan of the walking through deep snow, or getting cold hands but the older two had a blast.  I was very impressed that my oldest went cross country skiing for quite sometime while out. 

Now living in the north is not always awesome especially when it is really really cold like over Christmas.  But we still had fun being together.

This week the kids have off school and it is cold again.  -18 that feels like -32 is just to cold to be outside.  Yet with playdates, and baking we will keep ourselves busy.  We are dog sitting a tiny weiner dog for some friends and the kids are enjoying her.   She slept with our oldest last night which is both good and bad.  So glad she has warmed up to the kids, but now thinking my oldest is going to want a dog sooooo much more now.  He is so good, and gentle and soft spoken to it.

This is the best picture I have of all three in a long time.  Of course laundry piled on the couch, story of my life.  Symbolizes to me how nothing ever seems accomplished as a stay at home mom, yet my blessings are abundant!