More Rants about....

I didn't sent the letter to his teacher. Instead, I have made an appointment with is doctor to have him evaluated for any neurological disorders or ADD. I really don't want him medicated, because I don't believe he needs it, after all, I can sit with him and get him to work, I don't want to medicate him just to apease his teacher, know what I mean?
Socially he is great with his cousins, and his brother is his best friend, they are inseparable, even though is brother is 5 yrs older than he is. But, he doesn't seem to click with his classmates...he didn't last year, and didn't this year either. I remember being reclusive myself when I was in Elementary, middle and high school...I have to force myself to be sociable as an adult. I remember my mother used to force me into social groups and situations, I would get sick to my stomach before going to the skating rink, I was nervous, and I still get nervous being around people sometimes. But, as an adult in my early 30's, I think I am learning to get around my insecurities most of the time. Marie can clue ya in on my reclusiveness, she has dragged me out to lunch many times, and I wouldn't be a scrapbooker now if she didn't invite me to a scrapbooking thingy, I was a major recluse before meeting her. ((BIG HUGS))

My husband observed my sons class one day in October 2007, and he said it is very chaotic in there and he came home with a long list of things he saw was wrong that went on and worked against Elijah in regards to keeping him on task. She is an experienced teacher, she has grown kids I believe, and she actually told me in one of our meetings that she has never seen a kid as bad as Elijah as far as not being attentive in class...Well Really then! ...she has never had to deal with my older son when he was Elijahs age, lol. She said Elijah was well behaved, but he sat there and daydreamed all day long, or drew on his papers. Now she says he is hiding his work so he doesn't have to do it. I questioned him about it, and he says he is only hiding his reading books, but still, he shouldn't be doing that. His major complaint about school...he says it is boring. She even suggested to me that he is bored with school because he watches to much TV. Bologna! That boy colors and draws more than he watches tv. LOL.

As far as communication with the teacher goes...it is crap. He has a daily folder that comes home, and it either has a smilie face like this :-) or like this :-l She doesn't usually comment on what he does wrong, except for this month, I noticed she started writing...not doing work when he has the non smilie face. My complaint about the communication in the past....I usually didn't know anything was wrong until she scheduled a meeting. The first time I found out something was wrong was at Open house...and we were floored because he was getting smilie faces everyday! Tell me that doesn't send mixed messages.

We have gone through the whole sticker thing, she didn't stick to it, I bought the stickers, she gave them for a little while then stopped. It is really hard to find something that keeps him motivated, we tried retriction, didn't work. Tried no tv, didn't work. Because he sits and draws alot of the time. You should see the HUGE stack of papers he saves with his artwork on it, all done on my computer paper, lol.

Anyhow, thanks for listening, I Just needed to get all this out. I have an appt for him next wens with his doc, then I am gonna try to get an appt with his teacher the same day. I really do appreciate all the advice and encouragement...sometimes I feel all alone in this, but knowing I can post here and have my friends give me advice really helps alot.

Luff ya all




UPDATED: Should I send this to Elijah’s teacher???


Here is my reply to the comments:



Thanks for the advice everyone. We have been having 'meetings' all year long. I am constantly telling them how he acts at home, she is constantly telling me how he doesn't do his work. She actually said to me that she could let him sit there and not notice him all day he was that quite, and he wasn't disruptive. He sits and draws or daydreams she says. They gave him all sorts of tests, still no conclusion. This school is in it's 3rd year, this year it failed to meet the no child left behind criteria, and to me it is overcrowded. I just really feel like the school has dropped the ball. I mean I have had several meetings, signed papers to do testing. I feel like he is slipping through the cracks all because she has 22 kids to just her as a teacher. I offered to come help, they didn't take me up on it.
They always seem to focus on him being 'anti social' and stuff that I just don't see in him. When he is with other kids at home, ie cousins or other kids that may occasionally be around, he is fine. I did observe him last year on a field trip, and he did look at a couple of the kids funny like he didn't like them, but with his brother and cousins, he is fine.
It just seems like our meetings always end up being about his social behavior and him not talking to other kids and keeping to his self too much. Sheesh. I just don't know what to do. I have worked with his teacher in the past, and I really don't think she cares for him and is just washing her hands of him. I think I am going to talk to the principle or counselor.





Ok, I sat down to write a letter to her, should I send this to her?

Here goes:

February 27, 2008

Mrs. Kidwell,



Sorry for the delay in getting back with you. I have had health issues and been in a lot of pain lately.

But, about Elijah… I worked with him this weekend (as I have in the past as well), and Monday and Tuesday night and he works for me no problem. He zips through his first grade workbook (one I bought) and gets it done fast without complaining, and he does great at his math, he seems to like it. We have even heard him counting in his sleep as well. I wholeheartedly do not believe he needs to be held back. If anyone is at fault here, it is you and I, and the school. I include you, because you are in control of your class and should be able to get him to do his work. You are the one that allows him to sit there all day and do nothing but draw. And myself, because I haven't worked with him as much as I could have, but when I do, he does work for me.

I volunteered for room mom at the beginning of the year, not once have you asked me to come in and help…and I would have with bells on. I think maybe my presence in the room might have helped him. Why do you not have an aid to help you with the kids? I believe Elijah needs more direct attention to make sure he is doing what he needs to be doing.

He even gets to school early two days a week (for his brothers tutoring), times he could be sitting and getting extra help from you, his teacher. My older son gets the tutoring help he needs after and before school…why has anyone not offered to help in this matter? It seems to me like you are so quick and willing to throw him under the bus in this matter and just fail him because it is easier for you to do than getting him to do things your way…instead of figuring out how to teach him best for the way he needs to learn.

When I was talking to Elijah the other night, I was surprised when he told me that if he did good, that YOU would not be proud of him for it. Because I told him that if he did his work in class for you, that you would be proud of him…he flat out told me that you wouldn't be. And in the past told me he felt like you didn't like him. My husband and I personally feel this way as well. I have seen you roll your eyes while in a meeting with me about Elijah…I am sure Elijah probably picks up on your personal feelings as well, thus the reason he told me that you didn't like him. I sure hope he and I are wrong about this.

Instead of being so quick to judge him and fail him, why do you not give him the extra help I think he needs, the extra push and encouragement in class? If he isn't working why don't you sit him next to you to do his work? Don't let him draw on his work. I personally told him last night, he is not to do it anymore, and that he better not do it unless he is supposed to?

You need to be more sympathetic to his needs in the classroom. He is going through a tough time right now. His father is deployed, we almost never hear from him because of the ship he is on. I think they have only been in port to call three times…so, Elijah inwardly is stressed out I am sure, as well as myself.

I understand he can be hardheaded sometimes, and needs some encouragement to get him going. His problem I believe is that you don't have enough time to make sure he is doing what he needs to be doing. If you had, from the beginning of the school year, he might not be trying to hide his work. He has learned to do what you have let him away with in your class. I am not saying be cruel or mean to him, just make sure he has and understanding of what he is supposed to be doing, and watch to make sure he is doing it.

I am sorry if this comes across as harsh, I just don't know how to say it any other way at this point. I don't know what to do or say. I am almost tempted to home school him, and if he is failed, that is likely to be what I do, or to have him put in a private school if we can somehow afford it. But I would rather public school be a good experience for him.

It isn't that I just don't want him held back; I really don't think he needs to be. Now last year, I held back my older son, because I felt he needed it (his teacher would have passed him if I had wanted it). Elijah knows his work, he has lack of interest sometimes, but making him sit through another year of the same thing will make no difference, unless he has a teacher more attentive to his learning needs. But I would rather him not repeat…he doesn't need it.

I hope there is a way we can get this figured out and taken care of in the interest of what is best for Elijah. If you want him moved from your class, at this point, I am up for it. But something needs to be done. Either that, or more help for him in the classroom from you or an aide.


Hope we can get this taken care of,


Mrs. Collins

((end of letter))



Friends, please let me know what you think

My Liver and Gall Bladder Function Test Today.....

Just a small update,  I had my test...the whole experience was ok, not as bad as I feared it would be.  I waited for two hours, then when I got back there and got my iv (after two failed attempts to find a vein, and blood getting all over the place...the nurse had to wipe the floor and chair clean from my blood that spurted and dripped all over the place, ugh), I laid down for nearly two hours under the picture taker thingy. 

The test was two parts, the first part they injected meds to test the liver function, I dont' think I felt anything for that part, except for my normal back pain.  The pain started on the last part of the test, when they added the gallbladder meds to the iv, now I definately know that it is my gallbladder hurting when I am in pain, cause the test caused the same pain I have when I have what I have been thinking are gallbladder attacks.  So, now I am sure it is my gallbladder. 

The guy that explained the test to me told me that the gallbladder meds in the last part of the test will make my gallbladder contract, which is what it does when it pushes out bile to break down fatty foods.  This part of the test didn't hurt nearly as bad as my usual 'gallbladder attacks'.

Now I just need to wait til the doctor reads my results and calls me.  I hope they take out my gallbladder...cause I hate the pain it causes me.  But if they have to remove it, it will delay my lap band surgery a bit.

Here is a medical description of the scan I had:

 

About HIDA (Hepatobiliary) scans

A very useful tool for evaluating the liver, gallbladder, and biliary system is called the Hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan. This scan demonstrates not only liver function, but also the function of the gallbladder. It is commonly used to diagnose abnormal function of the gallbladder. It also examines the gallbladder and the ducts leading into and out of the gallbladder. Many people have gallstones without ever having symptoms. However, these stones can cause acute abdominal pain by obstructing the gallbladder and the flow of bile. This is a very simple test to determine if gallbladder is obstructed. In this test the patient receives an intravenous injection of a radioactive material called hydroxy iminodiacetic acid (HIDA). This material is taken up by the liver and excreted into the biliary tract. In a healthy person, this material will pass through the bile ducts and into the cystic duct to enter the gallbladder. It will also pass into the common bile duct and enter the small intestine, from which it eventually passes out of the body in the stool. 

You will receive an injection in your arm of a radioactive compound that will be filtered by your liver, collected in your gallbladder, and excreted into the bowel. The radioactive material is of a very low level and is considered by physicians to be safe. Patients usually have no side effects from the injection. For this test, you will lie on an imaging table under a nuclear scanner, which takes pictures of the patient's biliary tract over the course of about two hours.  Multiple images are obtained of your abdominal area. The images are then examined by a radiologist, who interprets the results. It is generally a very safe test and is well-tolerated by most patients.

This procedure usually takes 1-2 hours (sometimes longer) because it is a functional procedure and it is not possible to predict how quickly your liver will uptake the material or when your gallbladder will become visible to the nuclear scanner. Once the gallbladder is seen, either a second injection of the material, or injection of a different substance, is sometimes given to spur the gallbladder to begin excreting the bile. This second procedure will take an additional 20 minutes and may cause symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

Different findings on the test can mean different things. If the gallbladder is not seen by the scanner, often blockage of the cystic (gallbladder) duct is present.  This can accompany acute or chronic gallbladder infection (cholecystitis) and is often a reason to surgically remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).  In cholecystitis the radioactive HIDA substance will appear in the bile ducts, but it will not enter the cystic duct or the gallbladder,  a finding that indicates obstruction. If the substance enters the bile ducts but does not enter the small intestine, then an obstruction of the bile duct (usually due to stones or cancer) is suspected.

Sometimes the test is also used to determine the contractile function of the gallbladder; that is, how well does the gallbladder squeeze out the bile.  In this fractional excretion variant of the HIDA scan, not unlike a "gallbladder stress test," people who have chronic gallbladder malfunction and symptoms without the presence of gallstones are identified. Many of these people will get symptom relief from gallbladder removal. Your doctor or other healthcare provider is the best person to help sort out the right time to consider a HIDA scan.

 

 

Elijah

Ok, I just had to get this off my mind, it is driving me crazy.  Elijah has been doing terrible in school.  He hated kindergarten last year, but likes school this year, but his teacher says he won't do his work for her.   She put on his progress report that he might be held back.

Well, I have been working with him this weekend on his writing skills and in his first grade workbook.  He works for me no problem, no complaint, does it smiling and with bells on!   He zipped through addition and subtraction pages.   It is so cute to see him counting on his fingers for subtraction, I used to do that when I was little too...wait...I still do that, lol.

Anyhow, I am just frustrated.  Why does the florida school system have to suck so badly.  I mean, i think 22 kids (last time I heard of and can remember) is too many for 1 teacher  she doesn't even have an aide!  My dear husband spent a day in his class and said it was total chaos in Elijah's class. 

All I can say is...please pray this gets resolved, that he can do well in school, whether it be his teacher or him...something needs to happen and happen soon.

On another note, Christian is doing much better in school, his grades are up and he takes it way more seriously.

L8tr

Had a fabulous time

Just wanted to let everyone know what fabulous friends I have and what I great time I had last night (saturday) with my gal pals and scrapbooking.

Thanks Tina, Tammy and Candy.  The scrapbooking, chinese takout and chatting is just what I needed.  Can't believe I only got three pages done, lol.

Tina...can't wait til you can take Braylon to your friends house in OP instead of having to pay out all that mulah for babysitting.  Whew!

Tammy...I was thinking, you should put up a camcorder in baby D's room to catch what is going on with his eye...if you need to borrow mine, let me know.

Candy, so glad you know who got home and we got to hang with ya.  I luff ya.

Here's to next time.  Mwah!

Appt with weight loss surgeon

I had my appointment today....man my hand is hurting from filling out all those forms!!! LOL

Everything was routine, paperwork, weight, height.  I found out that I am 5'5' 1/2.  Where did I find that half inch in height?  Must be all that fat padding the bottoms of my feet, heehee.

I told the doctor about my gallbladder/liver pain, and he is sending me in on tuesday to the hospital for a gallbladder/liver function test.  He said that if something is wrong with my gallbladder, then they will need to remove that before I have the lap band surgery.

I also have to see a nutritionist and a crazy person doctor, lol.   I am sure they will find plently of emotional issues in my head.  :-(   I hold alot in, and I am sure that is why food has become one of my biggest comforters.   But, on the other hand, blogging has become an emotional outlet/release for me as well.  Wish I had started blogging years ago.  Sometimes it is good to get it all out in the open, and to get peoples opinions and love and support.  A little of all I suppose.

Ok, I am rambling now.  L8tr

Ok, that isnt' completely true....but funny nontheless

Living Proof Live with Beth Moore

Beth Moore is going to be in Jacksonville Florida on March 28-29.  I purchased a ticket for myself and another person...well, the other person didn't pay me and now I have an extra ticket I paid $55 for, so now I am trying to sell it.

Does anyone want to attend this weekend event with me?  Here is her website if you don't know much about her:  http://www.lproof.org/about_beth_moore.asp

Here are the event details:  http://www.lifeway.com/ev/events_detail_mainpage/0%2C2232%2CE%25253D39%252526M%25253D200979%2C00.html

I assure you after this weekend you will have a refreshed and new outlook on life, I always leave these conferences with renewed hope.  I know I need this weekend more than ever.

Giddy!

I am so happy that words cannot express right now. It has been almost a month since we adopted Ralphie, and I hadn't held her for about 3 weeks until last night.

My dad made me a T - Shaped step up perch to try and get Ralphie to step up on without me being in danger of getting bit. Well, last night, tried to get her on it, she locked onto it with her beak, was squawking and wouldn't let go. So, I dragged her out, all the while she is not letting go of the stick, once her feet leave her perch she pulls herself up onto the T stand that I am holding. Once she is on it and out of her cage, she started lifting her claw and reaching out for my arm, so I put the perch near my arm and she hopped right on.

I was able to hold her awhile and bond more with her, all the while she and I are both nervous, lol. Then shortly after, i walked back over to her cage and put her back on it.

This morning I decided I was going to get her out using the T stand as well, well, she wasn't gonna have it, she decided she would fly smack into me. So, she was perched on my boobs for awhile and I talked to her, rubbed her head (she protested a bit), and rubbed under her wings. Then I could tell she wanted to go back to her cage, and I put her back on the door.

Once she was back on her cage, she let me pet her under her wings again. I am so thrilled to report we have made huge leaps and bounds in the past 24 hours. :-)

My Bird Blog

Burned Bridges and Broken Hearts

I finally sat down to write a letter to someone I haven't spoken to in over a month 1/2, because I still felt I could not speak to them yet.  I am just not ready...baby steps.

Well, getting my feelings/pain out on paper has showed me just how hurt I still am.  I wonder how long it will take me to get over all the hurt feelings.  I mean, this person laid it all out about how they felt about me and how they see me...and it hurt.  Although now they say they didn't mean it...it still hurts, and I still feel like they meant it.  I mean, after all, you don't say stuff like that unless you really feel that way.

Anyhow, please pray for me to get over this hurt...my heart tells me it is going to be a long time trying to rebuild this burnt bridge and mend my broken heart.

 

 

Updates on The Past Couple of Weeks

On The first Tuesday of this month, I joined a Stampin Up Hostess Club in Eagle harbor.  I loved it, the ladies are great, the demonstrator is so sweet...and of course the products can't be beat!  It is the first Tuesday morning of every month...I am very looking forward to the next one.

 

 

 

Somewhere around the time shortly after hostess club I pulled out my back, but didn't realize I had.  First I thought it was my fibroids hurting and went to the doctor, he gave me some pain meds and an order for a pelvic sonogram.  But, the pills didn't seem to help...So, I was worried it was my kidneys.  After tons of cranberry juice and a cranberry supplement and being still in pain, I went to the doctor again.  They told me it was not my kidney's, but I had pulled out my back.  Ugh.  so, now I am a nice selection of pain pills and muscle relaxers...whew!  (I still haven't scheduled my pelvic yet)

 

 

During the time that my back was hurting, I chaperoned a field trip to to the Kennedy space center, we had a great time. 

 

 

 

Dad took Elijah in the SUV and followed behind us in the buses.   It took a couple hours to get there, during that time, I learned something neat about Christians Nintendo DS...it has a chat feature on it called picto chat.  He and all the other kids that had DS's on the bus where chatting and playing games against each other.  Very cool. 

 

We didn't get to see everything, because we were on a tight schedule, but Christian loved it, not so sure Elijah did, he kept saying he was bored...dad was very bored as well.  Me?  Well, I enjoyed it, but at the time I was in pain.  (I will upload the pictures soon)

 

I found out a couple days ago that my dear husband might be home around April 1, give or take a week.  I am so excited.  Once my back eases up a bit more, I am gonna get started painting, and getting stuff done and ready for him to come home.  There is so much I want to do before he comes home.

 

I got the results from Ralphies DNA sexing test, he is a she!  Yep, my poor baby's previous owners have been calling her a 'he' for 5 yrs.   I am still trying to decide whether or not to change her name to a girlie type name.  So far, everyone is saying that Ralphie is good for a girl.  Her blood test for some disease came back negative too.  Good news all around.

 

 

 

I was kinda depressed this morning about Valentines day, but I got a delivery today from FTD flowers.  Huck sent me some pretty roses.  :-)  That cheered me up, but I would rather have him home wrapped in a big bow :-)

 

Anyhow, that is enough for now.  ((BIG HUGS))

 

 

ECSTATIC!!!

Ok, this may not be 100% for sure, but my dh is 99.9% sure that he will be home near April 1!    So that will be about two months early!  Which sadly, means he will likely be sent out again in October for the full 7 month deployment, we will see...please pray that this will not be the case.

I will update as soon as I know more.  Luv and Hugs to all my supportive friends and family.  I luv ya all!

Kennedy Space Center

This is Cody, Christian, Elijah and Me. Nathan and Vincent didnt' want to take their picture. I will upload more pictures later.