Brookly had a good day. It was another busy day but things seem to be smoothing out and her teacher is giving her time to adjust. I heard she has the sweetest teacher at Legacy. Perfect!
Wes, Dallin and Josh went to the Be Smart fireside and Dallin came away wanting to go to BYU Idaho next year. We'll see how this pans out but it got him to register for the ACT in Oct so that's a good thing.
Thursday was a crazy day of another football game right after school for Brennen. Brooky and the girls cheered and it was fun. Brennen got his first penalty. He insists he didn't tackle the quarterback but when he went to get the boy's flag the quarterback literally ran over him and he has the bruises to prove it. The quarterback tripped and it looked like a tackle. He was very upset over this bad call by the ref. We won 26-12. The quarterback later in the game did a crazy dive into a group of our boys and ended up hurt and had to leave the game.
Brookly had a good day and is getting the hang of homework at Legacy and phonograms.
We are running all day today - Friday- with shopping, I teach art for the 4th grade, then home, meet with Brookly's teacher, get present for birthday party for Shelbie that Jarom, Brookly and her 2 friends, and Brennen are attending to make duck tape flowers and wallets. Then we have the 4 Hargrave children all night for their anniversary weekend we gave them with our hotel points. Bekah, their Down Syndrome daughter whom we love, has quite a list of things we have to do to take care of her but I can do anything for one day:) Wes is not thrilled with another weekend of not really any down time. He's a great sport though and is willing to help me babysit the crew. We hope to listen to conference and gain some peace in the chaos that will be our home. MMMM....can't wait for my Conference Cinnamon Rolls on Sunday. I use the overnight Rhodes rolls from our families Christmas recipe. YUM! I may have to hide some.
Gardner's Garden
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Brookly Change Schools
Sunday: Brookly had a good day and came with me to choir. Fireside for mormon.org so kids in bed late.
Monday was Brookly's last day at Combs and I went and withdrew her at lunch since she forgot lunch money. I bought uniforms after 3 stores and little luck finding them. She seemed happy but also sad to leave her friends and they cried to see her go. She's invited them over this weekend to hang out with us for conference and stay Fri night. We spent the evening out with Mom and Dad and when we got home the house was chaos but what's new?
Tuesday she was nervous but excited to go to Legacy. Miss Resendez is very soft spoken and sweet and was wonderful with her. Brookly had to take some assesment tests and seemed to do fine. She had modified homework. Brookly saw the counselor Nicole LoRe and it went well. We even cancelled her appointment with Dr. Kingsley since he only takes appointments before 2pm and she stresses to miss school. When I picked her up at 9:15am for the counselor she was a little stressed out about phonograms and that she didn't know them but seemed upbeat. After school we had another football game for Brennen and Grandma and Grandpa are here so she seemed to have fun. She was cheering and leading cheers at the game. We came home and then she began to melt down. After 2 hours of trying to finish math she didn't know how to do and cursive writing she is rusty on she just couldn't handle anything else. At 10pm we sent her to bed and emailed Miss Resendez. The boys had mutual and so were gone a few hours and I couldn't get the others in bed on time.
Wednesday 28th: Tired kids. What a nightmare morning again. She missed carpool and was upset so I took her but when I dropped her off she was still crying and worried that she'll never understand all the things they do at Legacy. We didn't have all the school supply list and that upset her. She didn't have her homework done and she doesn't know the 70 phonograms. AARGH! Then she began telling me that she had a hard day yesterday and saw the answer on one of the phonograms and told the teacher and the teacher said thank you for being honest but then she felt bad for other things she'd seen. I''m not sure I should have sent her right then but I want her to be at school on time when possible. There isn't a daily counselor at Legacy to run to. The psychologist is only there on Mondays. We'll see how today goes...the kids have another churchwide fireside called Be Smart about education.
Monday was Brookly's last day at Combs and I went and withdrew her at lunch since she forgot lunch money. I bought uniforms after 3 stores and little luck finding them. She seemed happy but also sad to leave her friends and they cried to see her go. She's invited them over this weekend to hang out with us for conference and stay Fri night. We spent the evening out with Mom and Dad and when we got home the house was chaos but what's new?
Tuesday she was nervous but excited to go to Legacy. Miss Resendez is very soft spoken and sweet and was wonderful with her. Brookly had to take some assesment tests and seemed to do fine. She had modified homework. Brookly saw the counselor Nicole LoRe and it went well. We even cancelled her appointment with Dr. Kingsley since he only takes appointments before 2pm and she stresses to miss school. When I picked her up at 9:15am for the counselor she was a little stressed out about phonograms and that she didn't know them but seemed upbeat. After school we had another football game for Brennen and Grandma and Grandpa are here so she seemed to have fun. She was cheering and leading cheers at the game. We came home and then she began to melt down. After 2 hours of trying to finish math she didn't know how to do and cursive writing she is rusty on she just couldn't handle anything else. At 10pm we sent her to bed and emailed Miss Resendez. The boys had mutual and so were gone a few hours and I couldn't get the others in bed on time.
Wednesday 28th: Tired kids. What a nightmare morning again. She missed carpool and was upset so I took her but when I dropped her off she was still crying and worried that she'll never understand all the things they do at Legacy. We didn't have all the school supply list and that upset her. She didn't have her homework done and she doesn't know the 70 phonograms. AARGH! Then she began telling me that she had a hard day yesterday and saw the answer on one of the phonograms and told the teacher and the teacher said thank you for being honest but then she felt bad for other things she'd seen. I''m not sure I should have sent her right then but I want her to be at school on time when possible. There isn't a daily counselor at Legacy to run to. The psychologist is only there on Mondays. We'll see how today goes...the kids have another churchwide fireside called Be Smart about education.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Fri and Sat
Friday Brookly had a hard day while we were at the funeral. She went to the counselor at school twice and the second time the counselor seemed annoyed and told her that she just needs to stop feeling guilty about the same thing. She told Brookly that it's hard to have sympathy for her when it's the same thing she came in earlier for. WHAT!?! She's the counselor Brookly is supposed to feel safe with. I don't understand this at all. Since Brookly got in to Legacy I asked her if she wants to change but she's not sure she wants to leave her Orchestra and Choir and friends. I don't know the answer yet.
Sat. 24th: Incredibly busy day. Wes and I had another funeral. This one for a lady at work's Mom. They aren't LDS but it was a beautiful tribute and they do believe in eternity. Orbital even dedicated the rocket launch this week to her with a plaque on the rocket. So by 6am Wes, Josh and Dallin had gone to help move rock for a family in our ward and I started housework before we had to leave at 8:30am for the funeral. The boys got home and left for a MB clinic. Dallin then took Josh to airsoft war and Brookly to a birthday party at the lake. Wes and I went to the funeral and then decided to slip away to the temple for some peace and comfort in all this. It closed early for the RS Broadcast but we felt blessed it was open. We did some sealings and then went to the Celestial room. We discussed our family and concerns and then whispered a prayer together as we have for 19 1/2 years. The worker came and told us that you aren't allowed to pray in a group in the Celestial room and that includes couples. Well, that ruined the experience for me and by the time we were back from changing I was sobbing and asked the coordinator how long this has been a rule. She said quite a while and that you can't kneel or pray in groups. I couldn't wait for Wes to get out and just leave the temple quickly. It was an awful experience. So...that wasn't the peace I needed or any answer at all. Then I got home and turned around to run to the RS Women's Broadcast because I was going with a friend or I probably wouldn't have gone. I enjoyed it but when President Uchdorf spoke I finally really felt the spirit tell me we'll get through this somehow. When he said, "God has not forgotten you" I knew it was true and that somehow things will work out. Maybe not in our time or the way we think but it will be OK. That was what I needed. Then Wendy and I ran to JoAnn's to get fabric for the flowers we are making next week while the men are at Priesthood. I was completely exhausted and fell into bed when I got home. Brookly had a great time a the lake with the friends she doesn't want to leave from her middle school.
Sunday 25th: Fast Sunday- hopefully some answers today.
Sat. 24th: Incredibly busy day. Wes and I had another funeral. This one for a lady at work's Mom. They aren't LDS but it was a beautiful tribute and they do believe in eternity. Orbital even dedicated the rocket launch this week to her with a plaque on the rocket. So by 6am Wes, Josh and Dallin had gone to help move rock for a family in our ward and I started housework before we had to leave at 8:30am for the funeral. The boys got home and left for a MB clinic. Dallin then took Josh to airsoft war and Brookly to a birthday party at the lake. Wes and I went to the funeral and then decided to slip away to the temple for some peace and comfort in all this. It closed early for the RS Broadcast but we felt blessed it was open. We did some sealings and then went to the Celestial room. We discussed our family and concerns and then whispered a prayer together as we have for 19 1/2 years. The worker came and told us that you aren't allowed to pray in a group in the Celestial room and that includes couples. Well, that ruined the experience for me and by the time we were back from changing I was sobbing and asked the coordinator how long this has been a rule. She said quite a while and that you can't kneel or pray in groups. I couldn't wait for Wes to get out and just leave the temple quickly. It was an awful experience. So...that wasn't the peace I needed or any answer at all. Then I got home and turned around to run to the RS Women's Broadcast because I was going with a friend or I probably wouldn't have gone. I enjoyed it but when President Uchdorf spoke I finally really felt the spirit tell me we'll get through this somehow. When he said, "God has not forgotten you" I knew it was true and that somehow things will work out. Maybe not in our time or the way we think but it will be OK. That was what I needed. Then Wendy and I ran to JoAnn's to get fabric for the flowers we are making next week while the men are at Priesthood. I was completely exhausted and fell into bed when I got home. Brookly had a great time a the lake with the friends she doesn't want to leave from her middle school.
Sunday 25th: Fast Sunday- hopefully some answers today.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Unknown Territory
As I sit here I feel like a bad Mom. I know we all have moments we do better than others and I know we get stressed out but it was just too much yesterday. I truly need our Savior to rescue me. Let me back up... I'm trying to document what's going on with our Brookly.
For over a week now we have been trying to understand and help our sweet Brookly figure out what's happening to her. She began coming home from school very upset about a situation in Math, where the desks are right next to each other instead of spaced out, and she saw an answer on a test. She went and told the teacher but still didn't feel right about it. This escalated to every day obsessing about seeing other kids papers while working on homework and not writing down the answers she had worked out because she saw it on her neighbors paper while getting help on it or while helping someone else. The teacher was gone for a week at a funeral an in the meantime Brookly became overwhelmed with racing thoughts of every conceived thing she has EVER thought or done wrong in her entire life. She has an excessive guilt that made her unable to function. She also has extreme anxiety and is second guessing everything she says and saying she might have exaggerated what she just said. She said she feels crazy and sometimes she hears a voice tell her to hold her breath. She said she's done that when she was in her room and really angry at us for getting in trouble. Wes gave her a blessing and it seemed to get worse.
Wed Sept. 14, We took her to Bishop Hyde after missing school. She sits in my arms and shakes and cries as she perfectly recalls things she feels are awful that are really things we all have happen or think and just have to get rid of. Bishop assured her she is clean and talked about the Sacrament and how the Miracle of the Atonement is that we are forgiven and completely clean. He counseled her to say a prayer if she remembers something she feels she hasn't repented of but that she is clean. There is no comforting her when she's in this state.
Thursday 15th, I got her in to Gilbert Pediatrics. The Nurse, Melani, suggested a psychologist and told us to try the Bach Flower remedies. Melani was wonderful with Brookly and reassured her that she will feel in control again. Melani called the Dr Kingsley directly and he ordered prozac but we want to wait on that and avoid if possible. We got Rescue Remedy and Pine for nervous tension and emotional health. I'm also having her use essential oils. Balance and lavendar and Citrus Bliss seem to help. She didn't notice a difference on Wed night but after home again on Thursday and feeling guilt for being home and telling herself that she was making herself feel this way to stay home I made an appointment with her school counselor Ms. Ramirez. Ms. Ramirez saw us on Fri morning and was very helpful.
Friday 16th: Brookly saw Ms. Ramirez and learned about the bucket story and how to fill her bucket. She got a permanent pass to go in if ever she feels she needs rescued. We switched her out of 2 of her Honors classes-including the Math that was so overwhelming. She is still in 2 Honors classes, 2 regular classes and Advanced Orchestra and Adv Choir. She wanted to stay in those and so I began email with teachers. She went to counselor once during Language Arts and was able to gain control and go back to class.
She had a few mild episodes over the weekend but seemed happier and then school came again.
Monday 19th: She went to counselor again in Language Arts but he said he'd move her by a friend and she liked that. She was worried at home though that those desks by her are too close and the teacher fixed that. I left all afternoon to take Dallin for follow up and Dr felt he has activity induced asthma. Gave him an inhaler to try before he runs. I ran to Costco.
Tuesday 20th: Brookly had a great day and didn't go to the counselor. Seemed happy and more in control today until I got stressed out in the evening. I had been run ragged all day and had not sat down or been home due to all afternoon with Josh because he had a half day and I gave up a birthday lunch with friends to spend time with him when I realized he'd be home alone, we had a great time at Panda and ice cream:) lost mouthguard so quick run to Walmart on the way to away game, Fball game for Brennen away, Wes had mutual, I ran to Walmart for the stuff for hair bows we are making, barely got kids dinner at 7pm and then said let's play a game after they got ready for bed. Sounds harmless but the kids didn't tell me they weren't done with homework and the house was a wreck. I spent an hour doing dishes and working on the kitchen and barely scratched the surface. I realize now I just tried to fit too much in and shouldn't have tried the game as well. Anyway, at scriptures with Brennen upstairs doing homework, Brookly, Jarom and Ben and I finished and I told them to go to bed. IT was about 8:30pm. Instantly I heard that Ben needed 15 minutes reading, Brookly hadn't practiced violin yet, Jarom needed pictures that were due Monday because he's Star Student this week (mind you this is Tues night) Dallin was at a Cross Country dinner, Josh and Wes at Scouts, Brennen upstairs, and I told Brookly to practice in her room and she brought out her violin to the living room. It was too much noise and stress and I just yelled at them all to go to bed. Well, Brookly was the one in the same room as me at the time and she began crying and sobbing on her bed. Wes got home and I tried to explain the situation and then went in to Brookly to apologize and hold her. She had come out for me to hear her practice and I felt like dirt. Some days I just can't be everything for everyone. Dallin also handed me his important iorder info for graduation announcements/ cap/gown.etc with 5 minutes notice as I was taking Brookly to school this morning. Did I mention that I now take Brookly because she hates the cussing and ba stuff on the bus? She does ride home. So Dallin had to do it online this evening becaus of his lack of planning and he announced that all we do is criticize him and that's why he doesn't like to come home. He has kept himself completely unattached to our new life and made sure we know it.
Wed 21st: It's a new day. Brookly was a little out of sorts before school with nervousness of more tests and did go to the counselor during Language Arts. The counselor, Ms. Ramirez , told her she needs more help than Ms. Ramirez knows how to give. We do have an appointment Tues with a counselor close to home and Wed with a psychologist in Mesa, Dr. Kingsley. It is all new territory and as we go some days are just harder than others.
Thurs. 22nd: Had to email teachers and didn't think she'd make it to school. Had a meltdown over test in 1st hour. She was late but went and didn't need the counselor at school. She came home and swam and did her homework before I left for volleyball.
Fri 23rd: Wes and I needed to go to a funeral this morning for Brother Shupe and had to get the kids off. Brookly needed to "confess" a few things to me but seemed generally in good spirits since I told her I'd be home before she got home. 1/2 day for Legacy so 3 boys are already home. I'm researching Child Psychiatrists. She seems to like the herbs and oils and uses them at school and home. They don't stop the racing thoughts. I got a call while at the funeral that a spot opened up for her at Legacy. Not sure what to do there now. I'll let her choose. It's day by day.
For over a week now we have been trying to understand and help our sweet Brookly figure out what's happening to her. She began coming home from school very upset about a situation in Math, where the desks are right next to each other instead of spaced out, and she saw an answer on a test. She went and told the teacher but still didn't feel right about it. This escalated to every day obsessing about seeing other kids papers while working on homework and not writing down the answers she had worked out because she saw it on her neighbors paper while getting help on it or while helping someone else. The teacher was gone for a week at a funeral an in the meantime Brookly became overwhelmed with racing thoughts of every conceived thing she has EVER thought or done wrong in her entire life. She has an excessive guilt that made her unable to function. She also has extreme anxiety and is second guessing everything she says and saying she might have exaggerated what she just said. She said she feels crazy and sometimes she hears a voice tell her to hold her breath. She said she's done that when she was in her room and really angry at us for getting in trouble. Wes gave her a blessing and it seemed to get worse.
Wed Sept. 14, We took her to Bishop Hyde after missing school. She sits in my arms and shakes and cries as she perfectly recalls things she feels are awful that are really things we all have happen or think and just have to get rid of. Bishop assured her she is clean and talked about the Sacrament and how the Miracle of the Atonement is that we are forgiven and completely clean. He counseled her to say a prayer if she remembers something she feels she hasn't repented of but that she is clean. There is no comforting her when she's in this state.
Thursday 15th, I got her in to Gilbert Pediatrics. The Nurse, Melani, suggested a psychologist and told us to try the Bach Flower remedies. Melani was wonderful with Brookly and reassured her that she will feel in control again. Melani called the Dr Kingsley directly and he ordered prozac but we want to wait on that and avoid if possible. We got Rescue Remedy and Pine for nervous tension and emotional health. I'm also having her use essential oils. Balance and lavendar and Citrus Bliss seem to help. She didn't notice a difference on Wed night but after home again on Thursday and feeling guilt for being home and telling herself that she was making herself feel this way to stay home I made an appointment with her school counselor Ms. Ramirez. Ms. Ramirez saw us on Fri morning and was very helpful.
Friday 16th: Brookly saw Ms. Ramirez and learned about the bucket story and how to fill her bucket. She got a permanent pass to go in if ever she feels she needs rescued. We switched her out of 2 of her Honors classes-including the Math that was so overwhelming. She is still in 2 Honors classes, 2 regular classes and Advanced Orchestra and Adv Choir. She wanted to stay in those and so I began email with teachers. She went to counselor once during Language Arts and was able to gain control and go back to class.
She had a few mild episodes over the weekend but seemed happier and then school came again.
Monday 19th: She went to counselor again in Language Arts but he said he'd move her by a friend and she liked that. She was worried at home though that those desks by her are too close and the teacher fixed that. I left all afternoon to take Dallin for follow up and Dr felt he has activity induced asthma. Gave him an inhaler to try before he runs. I ran to Costco.
Tuesday 20th: Brookly had a great day and didn't go to the counselor. Seemed happy and more in control today until I got stressed out in the evening. I had been run ragged all day and had not sat down or been home due to all afternoon with Josh because he had a half day and I gave up a birthday lunch with friends to spend time with him when I realized he'd be home alone, we had a great time at Panda and ice cream:) lost mouthguard so quick run to Walmart on the way to away game, Fball game for Brennen away, Wes had mutual, I ran to Walmart for the stuff for hair bows we are making, barely got kids dinner at 7pm and then said let's play a game after they got ready for bed. Sounds harmless but the kids didn't tell me they weren't done with homework and the house was a wreck. I spent an hour doing dishes and working on the kitchen and barely scratched the surface. I realize now I just tried to fit too much in and shouldn't have tried the game as well. Anyway, at scriptures with Brennen upstairs doing homework, Brookly, Jarom and Ben and I finished and I told them to go to bed. IT was about 8:30pm. Instantly I heard that Ben needed 15 minutes reading, Brookly hadn't practiced violin yet, Jarom needed pictures that were due Monday because he's Star Student this week (mind you this is Tues night) Dallin was at a Cross Country dinner, Josh and Wes at Scouts, Brennen upstairs, and I told Brookly to practice in her room and she brought out her violin to the living room. It was too much noise and stress and I just yelled at them all to go to bed. Well, Brookly was the one in the same room as me at the time and she began crying and sobbing on her bed. Wes got home and I tried to explain the situation and then went in to Brookly to apologize and hold her. She had come out for me to hear her practice and I felt like dirt. Some days I just can't be everything for everyone. Dallin also handed me his important iorder info for graduation announcements/ cap/gown.etc with 5 minutes notice as I was taking Brookly to school this morning. Did I mention that I now take Brookly because she hates the cussing and ba stuff on the bus? She does ride home. So Dallin had to do it online this evening becaus of his lack of planning and he announced that all we do is criticize him and that's why he doesn't like to come home. He has kept himself completely unattached to our new life and made sure we know it.
Wed 21st: It's a new day. Brookly was a little out of sorts before school with nervousness of more tests and did go to the counselor during Language Arts. The counselor, Ms. Ramirez , told her she needs more help than Ms. Ramirez knows how to give. We do have an appointment Tues with a counselor close to home and Wed with a psychologist in Mesa, Dr. Kingsley. It is all new territory and as we go some days are just harder than others.
Thurs. 22nd: Had to email teachers and didn't think she'd make it to school. Had a meltdown over test in 1st hour. She was late but went and didn't need the counselor at school. She came home and swam and did her homework before I left for volleyball.
Fri 23rd: Wes and I needed to go to a funeral this morning for Brother Shupe and had to get the kids off. Brookly needed to "confess" a few things to me but seemed generally in good spirits since I told her I'd be home before she got home. 1/2 day for Legacy so 3 boys are already home. I'm researching Child Psychiatrists. She seems to like the herbs and oils and uses them at school and home. They don't stop the racing thoughts. I got a call while at the funeral that a spot opened up for her at Legacy. Not sure what to do there now. I'll let her choose. It's day by day.
And They're Off!
Here they go!! 1st Day of School!! Monday August 8, 2011
Josh's 1st Day of Early Morning Seminary at 5:50am and then bussed to JO Combs for 1st day as a Freshman! He had a great day and found a few friends from his old school that help ease the transition. He's got some cool teachers and he's not excited about his Spanish teacher.
Next I took Brennen and Jarom to school at Legacy.
Brennen's 1st Day in Junior High -7th Grade at Legacy.
With no set schedule because the school computer is down and his was one they couldn't fix in time for Meet Teacher night then he got one and it had Art instead of Band and they haven't fixed that yet, ripped and missing page planner, only time for quick bathroom and half of lunch, teacher who says he cannot move in class-literally can't bend down or forward to get a pencil because it distracts her...It wasn't the best first day he could have had. We are praying things go better Tuesday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)