A Giraffe’s Tongue
I actually got to feed a giraffe! How cool is that? On the kids fall break a couple of weeks ago we went to the Wildlife World Zoo. Although it’s 22 years old the Wildlife Zoo seems to be overshadowed by the Phoenix Zoo. If you live on the west side of Phoenix I’m sure you’ve heard of it, but many have probably not. And though I’ve lived here for 23 years this was my first visit. It won’t be my last.
This zoo is way cool. The giraffe feeding station was definitely the highlight. You climb a set of stairs to get up on this platform that is level with the giraffe’s heads. Their bodies are probably 4-6 feet away from the platform but they stretch their necks right over. You get a handful of food for 25 cents and they stick out their giant tongues. We just sprinkled the food right on though I suppose they’d lick it out of your hands too. I had no idea a giraffe tongue was this huge – 18-20 inches.
The best thing about the zoo was being so close to the animals. I got to stand about 3 feet away from 3 zebras. I think they have got to be one of the most beautiful creatures ever. And the lions. Literally 3-4 feet away. Very cool!
The one negative was the petting zoo filled with crazy animals. I know goats can be kind of wild and tend to try and eat everything but they completely freaked the kids out. My son got kicked by one (well really he was jumping up but his hoof landed on his side). One of the other little boys with us was literally trying to climb the gate to get out he was so freaked out. We got out of there quick. Maybe the Phoenix Zoo sedates their goats but they are certainly better behaved over there. We will just avoid the petting zoo next time.
The Joys of Boys
My 7 year old son has discovered how to make "armpit farts" – you know stick one hand in your armpit and squeeze the arm down. But wait, it gets better. He can also make the noise with his ears (by cupping a hand to the ear) and with his leg (in his knee). Could a mother BE any prouder?
Facing the Giants
Friday night is usually date night around here, and that usually means dinner and a movie…IF there’s anything good showing. And these days, that is more an IF than ever. I’d seen a few emails about the movie "Facing the Giants" which was made, basically, by a church. It’s actually not a true story (which I thought it was until researching for this post) but based on a cummulation of different stories. But it is the most overtly Christian film probably ever to play in the major movie theatres. It’s been out a few weeks so it wasn’t playing too many places anymore but we did find it.
I will admit that the first 15-25 minutes of the film were, well, hm, not the best acting in the world. There were a few times I kind of groaned, it was kind of like watching my performance in the school play. But the characters were likable still and once the story line had been set up (coach having sixth losing season, car won’t start, infertility problems, parents trying to get him fired, etc) and the Biblical story line (the Coach relying on God and changing the whole way he coached his team) it got really good.
In the end the film’s basic message, "With God all things are possible" was so well developed and played out that both hubby and I were overwhelmed. If you have a chance, I would definitely recommend taking the family to go see "Facing the Giants".
My next movie pick "One Night with the King" – based on the story of Esther, my all time favorite Bible story. Not sure when I’ll get to the theatre, but I’ll definitely report back.
Photo Hunt – Lost
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This Week’s Theme: Lost
We took this picture inside Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. This soldier figure is holding a map and we were all being goofy so hubby "asked for directions" 
My Little Evangelist
If there was ever a doubt about having our son in the public school system, it was put to rest once again this week when he told us that he led another one of his little friends in a prayer to ask Jesus into his heart. This makes two boys since school started, plus one last year.
Noah inspires me with is openness in talking about Jesus with his friends. It’s just a part of his life and that’s the way it is. He has a very clear grasp of Jesus and heaven and sin. At first I wondered if he coule possibly be explaining it in a way that included "all the important parts". But then I realized that he’s not explaining it to an adult, he’s explaining it to other children and who better to communicate with them on their level?
I see God using this little boy in such mighty ways. It is an awesome responsibility to raise him (as it is all our kids) to use this special gift.
The Windows are Open
The weather is nice and my windows are flung wide open! For many of you this may not seem like much of a revelation but here in Phoenix our nice weather is a LONG time coming. They weather people say that we will see no more 100 degree days. Yeah!
It’s not quite nice enough to leave the windows open all day but in the morning it is absolutely beautiful. There is something about fresh cool air and sunshine that gives my mood an immediate boost. It is a lot easier to feel inspired by God’s creation when sweat isn’t pouring down your face (not that we shouldn’t appreciate it then).
Word Association
So Stacey tagged me for this Meme (and one other one that I have yet to get to but it involves wrangling my 7 year old long enough for him to help me).
I’m supposed to say the first thing that comes to my mind with these words.
Pizza: DiGorno’s. My husband is a frozen pizza snob. This is the only kind he likes and so I shell out the big bucks. When it is occassionally on sale for $2.50 each I will go and buy 10. Luckily my kids are happy with any old frozen pizza.
Friendship: Starbucks, Wildflower Cafe, movies with Stacey, trips to CT to see Kristen. Many tears, much laughter and lots of prayer. I wouldn’t be who I am today without my friends.
Daisy: Duke – as in Daisy Duke and I don’t know why because I never really watched the show and I surely did not watch the movie. But I don’t really like the flower that much. Unless it’s a gerber daisy.
Grace: First thing that comes to me is, of course, God’s amazing grace. It astounds me at the things I do, and the things he knows I will do in the future and that he forgives me and loves me still. I also can’t forget my beautiful, fun niece Grace either
So if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged.
You Want Me to What?
We all have our embarrassing moments, right? Well I ALMOST added one to my list (which includes two other doozies) this afternoon.
I went in to see the orthopedic doc last week because my left knee has been bothering me for several weeks and is swollen in the back. One of the great things about this office is they have an on-site x-ray machine and radiologist.
I had fully intended to change from my capri pants into shorts to make the exam easier but trying to get my ever-more-whiny almost-4 year old out of the house took longer than expected and I forgot. While in the room with the doctor I realized that the capri’s wouldn’t even roll up very high. I could barely shove them up above my knee. She didn’t seem to be bothered by it and said they had some shorts if they need to have me change.
So after waiting another 45 minutes the radiologist, a nice gentlemen that’s always reminded me a little bit of the professor in Back to the Future, came and took me to the x-ray room. As I sat and waited for him to get everything set up, I tried my best to get my capri pant leg shoved up as far as I could, almost cutting off the circulation in my thigh.
As he got the films in the right place and I walked up to the first board that I needed to stand in front of I asked him "Are my pants out of the way enough? They won’t really go any higher."
He says to me, "Just pull them down all the way."
Um… ‘cuse me?
An image briefly flashed of me standing in front of the xray panel with my pants down around my ankles. And let me tell you, it was not a pretty image. A doctor, okay, but I am NOT dropping my drawers for the radiologist.
"Do you have a pair of shorts or something?" I asked meekly.
"Just pull it down, it will be fine."
Luckily, and not a moment too soon to save me from wanting the earth to swallow me, I realize that he is telling me to just pull the pant leg back down (instead of bunching it up) and that the xray machine won’t have a problem going through it.
WHEW! That was a close one! For me AND him!
Photo Hunt – Sleeping
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This Week’s Theme: Sleeping
Everyone is sleeping except for mom. I was probably doing dishes, laundry and cleaning the house
Our Journey to ADHD
I don’t remember exactly how old Noah was when it started to become obvious that he was different than some of his friends. Mostly it was his activity level. He was impulsive, he was aggressive, he had trouble sitting still, he would freak out at loud noises. I think he was 3 when one of our friends who is an OT asked if we had ever had him tested for Sensory Integration Disorder. I looked it up briefly online but brushed it off because I didn’t see that he met the science mumbo-jumbo definition that I had found.
In preschool his behavior started to cause some problems. Mostly getting him to finish the work, not distract the other kids. But it’s preschool right. We pushed through, did our best. We tried everything to motivate him, rewards, consequences, bribery. You name it and we gave it a shot.
By then (at 5) as I had done more reading about Sensory Integration Disorder or SID (specifically the book "The Out of Synch Child") I became keenly aware that he DID, in fact, meet many of these criteria. We tried to implement some things at home to help with is activity level and to give him more sensory input. They helped, a little, but not enough.
Kindergarten was a roller coaster. Suddenly it was 7 hours of school every day. He had the most wonderful teacher who was great about working with him and making accomodations, but she also had a class full of kids. We finally got him "officially" evaluated and diagnosed with SID. We thought that perhaps we could get him OT services through the school district. Well, because he does not have a learning disability (quite the opposite, he is VERY bright) we weren’t eligible. The OT who did the evaulation also recommended that we have him evaluated for an auditory processing disorder and by a child psychologist and gave us 2 names. The APD eval turned out negative, he was good.
The appt with the child psychologist was a 6 month wait, it was just the end of August when we finally had that appointment. By this time we had become keenly aware that Noah was way more "emotionally reactive" than his peers who were the same age. He gets easily frustrated, cries easily, can have full blown kick, scream, pound the floor temper tantrums. The psych had us fill out lengthy questionairre, as well as having his kindergarten teacher fill one out. She then spent an hour with Noah talking with him, giving him an IQ test, etc.
The diagnosis: ADHD
Recommendation: See a child psychiatrist to talk about meds, get some counseling for him and the family
So in the 6 weeks since that appt. we have done a lot of research on ADHD, the meds, the other alternatives all of it. I think that ADHD has gotten somewhat of a bad rap and I, like many others, tend to think that it’s over-diagnosed. When the reality is that most of it is that it just gets a lot of media attention. True there are some on meds who don’t need to be but it doesn’t discount the kids who truly need them. But it also wasn’t something we wanted to rush into.
Yesterday we met with the child psychiatrist who was a really nice woman. She talked with my husband and I and Noah together. She ran through a list of questions and asked if it happens "never, sometimes, often, very often".
Her conclusion agreed with the other doctor on the ADHD diagnosis. She said that kids who score a 25 or above on the "test" met the criteria. Noah scored a 46. After talking about various drugs with her we decided on Adderall for a couple of reasons – 1) it’s long lasting, 10-12 hours so he’ll only have to take it in the morning at home 2) it comes in the lowest dosage so we can start there and evaluate 3) it comes in a couple of different forms including the patch (very new) and a capsule with micro-beads in it which can be sprinkled on applesauce or something.
We left with a prescription for the capsule and had it filled last night. This morning the micro-beads got sprinkled on chocolate pudding – I know, not great breakfast food but what can I say, I need to go to the grocery store.
And I breathlessly waited until 3:30 to hear how his day went. We are thrilled beyond words at the difference. He was the first to finish his math homework and got his name put on the trustworthy chart (a first for the year). His teacher called tonight to give us a report (she knew about the meds) and said he had an incredible day. He didn’t fidget. He did all his work. They were writing letters to the governor (he hates to write) and he wrote a great letter without the usual many prompts. When she called him aside at the end of the day to tell him how proud she was he stood quietly, listened and made eye contact with her the whole time (nearly unheard of).
I know it’s not a cure-all and it won’t be the end of our struggles but I am so proud and so elated for HIM. Because I know how incredible smart and sensitive he is and I know how discouraging it was for him to struggle so. He has amazing potential and I know that God has an incredible plan for his life. There have been many times when I have cried out to Him when I didn’t think I could handle another 60 minute homework session (for 10 minutes of work). But as always, he is faithful to walk alongside us in this journey and help guide us.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13
