Where, oh where, did the last few months go? We are already in the fall season, with the holidays approaching this coming week!
It’s been a warmer than usual season thus far, therefore, the holidays just kind of crept their way in. I am having to quickly scramble to make my Christmas shopping list, the holiday meal list, planning for family time, and relaxation. YES, I do have to plan the relaxation, because as we all know, life is busier than ever before.
Kids are still alive, but my oh my, what a ride it has been since school started back up.
Allie – graduated high school in May, so we had to have a sit down meeting in August, to figure out what their life was going to look like, since they decided to take a year off, before starting college. They now work for their grandpa’s business, managing TWO 3D printers. He just started this department, so they get to have experience with the programming, and the daily tasks involved with products that he’s developed for his business. They seem to enjoy the work, getting out of the house, getting to go to lunch with their grandpa almost everyday, and it’s good for the mental health side too. Since the last update in my blog, Allie has had to change medical professionals for the medication management. We were taking 4 medications per day, and are down to 2. It’s been GREAT to relieve them from the control of the medications, and they are thriving more than ever. I know we have to celebrate the small wins, because there is still some anxiety, but it’s not nearly as much. They don’t have panic attacks anymore. They are able to function and socialize a little bit, and even make jokes. It’s been a nice transformation to see.
Autumn – started high school this year, so here we go on this journey. They are struggling in a painting class, as they don’t like to get their hands dirty, they don’t like the way the gloves feel on their hands either, and they don’t like working in groups. This is a huge obstacle for this particular class, and the teacher has been going above and beyond in finding alternate ways for them to still get credit in the class. not sure what all this fear of getting their hands dirty is about, but hopefully they can see past that, and just do it for this class to pass. She’s an artist, and don’t artists get their hands dirty in the stuff? not this one.. She likes to draw, with pencils, pens, and graphically, but nothing beyond that.. oh, how I hope this teacher can pull her out of her comfort zone, because she is so talented. She will do well in whatever she decides to create, with whatever tools she’s given.
Austin – he’s at the big kid campus now, and in 8th grade. He’s developed so much over the summer, and even into this school year so far. He’s learned to ride a bike, he likes to go out to eat, shopping, exploring the world around him, socializing with people a lot more, getting creative on his computer, exceling in the areas of interest to HIM. He has had detention a few times so far this year, and he tries telling me that he didn’t deserve the detentions, and doesn’t even know why the teacher has it out for him.. There’s always two sides to the story, so I do reach out to the teacher to find out more, and she assures me that he’s a bright kid, and doesn’t like having to give it to him. But, he did disrupt the class by being loud, or whatever it is, so he gets it, as well as some other kids.
Adam – He’s still having issues with falling asleep in class, so we are now journaling his sleep, putting him to bed 1/2 hr to an 1 hr earlier than usual, and monitoring the sleep in class. We are taking steps to make sure he knows he can rest in the nurse’s office if necessary. He can have snacks whenever he wants, to ensure that he has the energy to stay awake and do the tasks in class. We will have a follow up in about 2 months with the children’s hospital to see if improvement has been made with these steps. If not, then we are going to have to have the sleep study done in Little Rock.. hopefully it won’t come to that. He’s a bright boy, but, struggles with being social with his peers, active at P.E., staying awake in classes, and participating. He started seeing a counselor, who does at school based counseling, which hopefully helps him with these struggles.
Overall, we are hanging in there, making it through. Life throws us curve balls every now and then, and we just have to figure out our next move.
Goals for the remainder of 2023, is to set out time for each other more, relax at home more, find delight in the little things that truly matter, and press pause on the hard stuff when we can.
Life is what you make it, and you have to live life with intent.
Don’t stress over the uncontrollables.
All in a Day 