Derek said he had a good day in school yesterday. Their class had a sub teacher...usually that is NOT a good day. I had no note or email to say how it went...but Derek ALWAYS said it went well and that he got all his work done. He and I played a game of checkers...in which he whipped my ass..damn, he is good at that game lol...and I was tired, which didn't help the odds lol! He read to me very well and I think he went right to sleep. I always check his lunch bag everyday and he just doesn't eat the good things I pack for him. He WILL eat the little fruit/candyish snack of course. They are the most nutritous ones I can buy. He won't eat the sandwich sometimes (his protein) and yesterday he didn't eat the cheese which I put in place of a sandwich..fuck. So he basically exists on shit for the day. We do make sure he eats a good breakfast at home. At lunch he basically plays..and plays...and plays....until its time to go to recess. They even have him in a separate room with other kids so MAYBE he might eat more instead of play. I don't think this is working on most days...because he PLAYS PLAYS PLAYS and fucks around..that is his MO when he isn't being monitored. Well, we can't do much more other than make sure he eats when we see him and has a vitamin everyday.

Well, that just pissed me off. Just wrote a blog and my finger hit a key and knocked me out of the link....UG!!!!!!! I WAS saying that this past weekend has been drama-free with Derek. We are getting ready for xmas and did some shopping yesterday. Uncle EJ is here for overnight and Derek loves that. I don't love the BO though...ug. Happy week ahead we hope!

TGIF and a good week

Derek had a great day Thursday..although he got very frustrated with doing origami at daycare...don't blame him there! He will be going to a babysitter tonight and with them to their church xmas party. I got him a cute suit and new shoes. I will post a pic this weekend. He wanted to wear it to school today..not.

Counseling went well today. Derek is at work with me now and has been really good all day! We are waiting for Steve to come get him from my office. We went for a walk in Tryon State Park, which is right outside our building. What a gift it is to have such a beautiful park so close. Counseling was again focusing on the reward token system and tweaking it a bit. I love our counselor so much. He is funny and so smart. We will keep working on our current techniques with Derek.

Elephant Balls: That what Derek had last night...sneaking the DS (small computer game) out of Steves office and into his bed to play with for over an hour...I busted him at 9:05pm. I wanted to smash the game with a hammer. So...the consequence was his forfeited ALL his earned pirate coins. He earns the coins for a few desired behaviors we choose. He can cash them in for rewards/activities. Bye bye coins....kill me. He didn't even act like he cared the coins were removed. Jesus...I am glad we have therapy tomorrow.

So through yesterday, Sunday December 9th, the increase in meds for Derek have been working really really good. We also implemented the coin reward system. He gets coins for good behavior and can cash them in for various rewards. They are cute pirate coins lol We went to Gerald and Renia's yesterday to visit. Derek got to go for a walk to get their tree. He brought back this scraggly "tree" to take home. We decorated it and put it in his room. You would have thought he won the lottery lol Sad little branch with scrawny twigs. Lets hope this week is great too. We have speech and regular therapy this Wednesday.

wow..can this really be for real? I am speaking about how great a day Derek had yesterday on his first day of increaded ADHD meds. He was great all day and all evening. His "ears" were working at home in the evening and that is usually a chore. He wasn't as hyper and seemed more focused and compliant. He was still his cheery self and gave us no "trouble". We will see how today unfolds....will update later tomorrow! Lord...let it be true.

Yesterday was our three month meds review for Derek's ADHD meds, Concerta. He has been on 18mg, 27mg and 36mg. We are starting the 54mg today to see if it helps with his constant lack of impulse control and hoping it helps him focus on school better. He was seeming calmer than usual this morning. I wish I could be a fly on the wall at school today to see if there is a huge change in behavor...for the better we hope. We all walked to his school to take an art project in, speak to his teacher Mrs. Hansen about the increase in meds and give her our xmas/thank you for being so awesome gift xmas card. She has the best attitude and as far as that goes, McBride Elementary staff are so great. They all are so dedicated, funny and commited to helping children. Keep your fingers crossed!!

This past weekend and this week have been pretty good with Derek..I give it a solid B. He was the perfect child Saturday..then late afternoon, he and Oskar started getting restless...off we went to the McDonalds PlayPlace...thank effing God for that place Saturday. They burned off some energy and played well together all day/evening..and they both went to bed well. Oskar is getting so much easier to take care of. Crazy to think he will be 3 in mid-February! Derek is getting pretty jazzed for Chrismas this year. He told us that if we have the $20 bills, we could get him a Kindle ha ha ha ha!!! Well, we already did...how the eff? lol We have a paper xmas tree to decorate tonight...seems easy huh? It will take an hour of energy this evening I hope I have...weeknights suck..way sleepy.

November 30, 2012 Finally have a ton of clarity about Derek. Therapy and an intensive school meeting this past week really gave me some hope about his academic and social future. It is pretty grim right now. We all are focusing on the fact that Derek chooses his behavior based on emotional disturbances. That term is what was focused on and school staff and us agreed that after their evals and observations, placing him in the ED category gave the school and us the right to advance to more specified help within his school. He is so smart, but so out of touch with how he chooses to behave each day. The very hard part is, there is no way to tell how his day will go. It just unfolds each minute as Derek chooses. He knows how to act, but he "can't" at times. The school psychologist doesn't think Derek has Aspergers. Derek being ADHD isn't the main problem, but it is pretty much the severe neglect he experienced that paved the road he and us have been on. A lot should have happened during those first 3 years of life for him. Connections in the brain, social learning, emotional building blocks and emotional regulation are just a few main areas that needed stimulating and nurtured. He got robbed and it sucks. He will be getting more help each week with reading, math, spelling and social behaviors. This gave me hope. Therapy at OHSU is giving us hope. He also started his "speech" therapy this week. It was good to see him interact with the therapist. He will be working on social reciprosity and other things with her. I was very sad to read in the school eval that he has no friends. It about made me sick to my stomach. We kinda figured that, but to read it and to read more about how his day goes was pretty depressing. The flip side to that is, Derek is happy each day and has no idea he is not living his life as a "normal" child through his play or schoolwork time. He hates the idea of "work" in school. His perception is really messed up..and he is only in second grade..ug. So upward and onward with the task to help him enjoy school and make friends and hope we are on a path that guides him to join the reality that surrounds him.

Man, we are tired. Very informed, but so tired. My brain is full..too full. Finally got into OHSU therapy after months of fighting for it with idiots in the health care industry and then getting help from some great folks. Derek is so smart..so sweet..yet so challenging at times. Poor kid...he really got screwed early in life and we are so hoping his future isn't a mess. We are trying so hard to do our best. Trying to help Derek do his best. Teachers, daycare and family...all trying. I wish I had a crystal ball. On the upside,Derek has turned 8 this past end of September. He is a Lego addict. Play is 100% most important, 100% of the time. He is so funny with his humor...he gets our humor so well..poor kid lol Super smart in school, super unfocused..taking one day at a time. His is almost midway through 2nd grade...and yet another super great teacher. He has been back at Monkey Tree daycare for 16 months. It is going well. They are great. I am writing this quick and need to write here a couple of times a week. So...that's it for now!

Time flies

Well, first grade for Derek is almost done! 8 more school days. He has such a fantastic ability to put a twist on everyday thoughts and ideas. We hope to really channel his abilities and "control" his issues, even those have the potential to be strengths throughout his lifetime. Derek loves: His DS video player - Kinect/Xbox games - playing in dirt - mac n cheese - friends - hugs & kisses - LOVES TO BE TICKLED - funny animal or people videos - spaghetti lol - telling jokes he made up - CARS and the color yellow - mazes - RUNNING lol - TALKING lol - candy (duh) special ice cream treats we make at home - dipped cones at Dari Delish or Dairy Queen - his aunts and uncles and cousin Oskar (he is wonderful with Oskar) - helping Grandpa with ANYTHING - much more...so much I could list. Weekend has been mellow...I hav been way busy cleaning and purging crap for the last 4 weekends. Summer is coming soon and I want the house, inside and out, clean and tidy so I can play and relax. Work and school tomorrow...ciao

It's been a year since I have visited here....too long. Derek has had a pretty great year...about 75% of the time..real good. The other 25%...exhausting and very challenging. I think we are on a good track for daily structure at home and school. His personality and intellect have grown so much the last year. He is almost done with first grade..wow! Crazy! BTW...he LOVES dirt...duh lol