Finally....some answers!!!!!

We have some answers for Diva!  She has mild Ataxic Cerebral Palsy.  And CP is most likely the cause of her cronic constipation.  As for the feeling of food getting stuck in her throat?  Well, according to her orthopedic doctor, the form of CP she has is mild so it's not likely...but anything is possible.

Her treatment plan (Geek and I are so freaking happy we finally have one!!!!) is as follows:
-PT is increased from once a week to twice
-lower leg braces to be worn part-time (so basically for school and walking trips, like the zoo)

We left her appointment feeling so much lighter.  This massive weight has been lifted off our shoulders. 

We have treatment plans for both kids.  We feel we have the best diagnoses for both of them.

Things are starting to fall into place!

Tummy Troubles

Diva is still having tummy troubles, and they really don't know why.

She had an endoscopy with biopsy just over a week ago.  We got the results back and they are normal, totally freaking normal.  Geek and I are at the point where we just want them to find something, any thing!  Once we know what's going on, we can treat it.  Right now, we are just grabbing at straws in the dark.

We don't get the results of her gait analysis until the end of the month, but they did tell us she is coming down harder on one foot compared to the other.

Geek and I really hope we get some answers soon, it sucks not being able to help our kids simply because we don't know what's going on with them.

I keep telling myself...

I have to keep reminding myself that Bubba's brain doesn't work the way mine does.  Between the Asperger's and ADHD, his wiring is just so different from mine that I have to keep telling myself he has his own way of doing things.

This has good and bad parts.

The bad is that it can take him a lot longer to do what I consider a simple task.  He can't focus because he hears everything.  For example, the sound of my super quiet (to me at least) dishwasher is so loud to him.

The good?  He sees things and thinks things that amaze me.  He has such an active imagination.  The way he solves problems blow my mind.  There have been a few times he has come up with a solution that Geek and I never considered.

I need to keep telling myself that we will eventually get from Point A to Point B, we just may take the scenic route.

Even Easier Headwrap!

I love Pinterest.  Where else can you get a recipe for dinner and a great winter ear warmer pattern?  LOL

Anyway, I came across a pattern titled "Easiest Headwrap EVER!!!" from Frayed Knot.

I learned to crochet at 8.  Over the years I've taught myself so much thanks to the internet.  I'm still working on reading a pattern chart, but I'm really good with written patterns.  So after about 2 hours of trying this pattern (which is really easy!) I still couldn't get the ear warmer to come out straight.

Honestly, I still have no idea why it crocheted up in a diagonal but I'm guessing it had something to do with the half-double crochet stitch.  I hate that stitch :0)

So, using the pattern, some trial and error, and a lot of cussing...I came up with the following:

Even Easier Headwrap

Hook:  H/8 - 5.00MM
Yarn:  Any Worsted Weight will do, I used Bernat because I picked up a skein on sale

*unless otherwise noted you will end each row with "CH 2, turn"*

CH 5, starting in the second chain from the hook make 4 SC (4)

Row 1:   DC, CH 2, DC (this is your button hole)
Row 2:  2 DC in same stitch, 2 DC in the CH 2 space, 2 DC in same stitch (6)
Row 3:  6 DC
Row 4:  2 DC in same stitch, 4 DC, 2 DC in same stitch (8)
Row 5:  8 DC
Row 6:  2 DC in same stitch, 6 DC, 2 DC in same stitch (10)
Row 7:  10 DC
Row 8:  2 DC in same stitch, 8 DC, 2 DC in same stitch (12)
Row 9:  12 DC

Rows 10 - 47:  12 DC

Row 48:  skip the first and last DC spots, DC 10 times in between (10)
Row 49:  10 DC
Row 50: skip the first and last DC spots, DC 8 times in between (8)
Row 51: 8 DC
Row 52:  skip the first and last DC spots, DC 6 times in between (6)
Row 53: 6 DC

SC around the entire headband, fasten off, weave in ends, and add a button.

I used this flower pattern.

If you want to make this without a button, start with a CH 7 then follow from Row 3 and attach to Row 53 before SC around the headband.

This is my first "pattern", be kind!

NOTE:  If you make something from this pattern to sell, link back here.  Don't claim it as your own and don't sell the pattern.  As you can see, I linked back to the original pattern and I'm freely sharing my changes.

I did it!

I opened my very own Etsy store!

Go check it out at candcboutique.etsy.com

When you place your order, let me know you came from my blog and I'll give you something special.  Haven't decided what it will be, but it will either be free goodies or a discount.

In a bit of a daze...

We got back from Bubba's behavioural health appointment a few hours ago.  Why is this blog-worthy?  Because his doctor not only agrees with us that there is something more than ADHD going on with him but has diagnosed with with Asperger's as well as Tourette's Syndrome.

Let's tackle the Tourette's first.  We stopped all ADHD meds on the last day of school back in June.  If the medication was causing his tics, they would have stopped after we stopped the medication.  He is not only still having them but they are worse and he is having more.  As of now, the plan is to treat the ADHD with medication and the tics with fish oil and hope that the combination helps control the tics.  There are medications to control the tics, but the side effects aren't worth starting him on them right away.  And we really don't want to put him on yet another medication.

While the Tourette's is a shock, I actually think I'm more shocked about the Asperger's diagnosis.

I'm really not sure why, seeing as how I have had the suspicion this is what was going on for a few months now.  I guess I was hoping the doctor would tell me I was reading too much into Bubba's quirks.

From what I understand, there is no cure or medication for the treatment of Aspergers, you just kinda manage the symptoms.

We walked into the doctors office with one diagnosis and left with three.

He is still my Bubba.  He is still the funny, loving kid who is obsessed with history...and reading...and playing video/board/card games...and cheeseburgers, he loves cheeseburgers :0)

I really hope this isn't rambling, I really don't have my thoughts organized, I just knew I had to get them on paper.

Well, Diva has her gait test tomorrow, her behavioral health appointment next week, and her endoscopy next Friday.  I'm sure there will be a lot to write in the coming days!

Why is it so hard to speak properly?

I live in a highly diverse area, which I love!  But one of the downfalls is the butchering of the English language.  I'm not talking about those who learned English as a second language, nope, I mean the ones who grew up speaking it.

To borrow some phrases from Bill Cosby: "where he be" "what he drive?"  And I will add a few of my own : "diz be how..." "how cum she..."

Look, I have no problem with text-speak...in text messages!  I abbreviate all the time in my text messages.  But when you write or post like this in or on things like Facebook or e-mail (or even worse you actually SPEAK like this!) you just sound uneducated.

Please, please, please don't allow your children to speak this way. 

Would you want your surgeon to say, "Yo, diz what we gonna do.  We cut 'cho head open, den we gonna cut dat bitch outta dere and stitch yo head back up."