About our Daughter

I am mother to four wonderful daughters, ages 17, 19, 21, and 23, and wife to the greatest husband on earth. God has given us a special child to raise one who was diagnosed with early-onset bipolar disorder at the age of seven, though she showed signs of it from the age of fifteen months. She also has ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder (sensory seeking), Dyslexia, and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder-NOS, all typical comorbidities for a bipolar child. In spite of the trials, she enjoys lacrosse, running (finished her first marathon in October of 2014!), and reading and writing her own books. I will share with you the many joys and sorrows we have faced and will face in the future with the hope that you may find better understanding about this mental illness caused by both chemical and structural abnormalities in the brain. I desire that you will be encouraged by this blog if you are also dealing with a bipolar child. Thank you for reading and sharing in our journey.

How Did You Know She Was Bipolar So Young?

I wrote a long explanation of how we came to this bipolar diagnosis in a child so young under my post of March 19th of 2009. If your child or a child you know bears similarities, please seek out a good psychiatrist and don't wait for "things to get better." Often they will simply get worse, and the longer a child is unmedicated, the more damage their brain can accrue. Early diagnoses and treatment are key to providing these children with a chance at a successful life later as a teen and an adult.
Never change, start or stop a medication without the approval of your child's physician!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Off Topic: Middle Age Weight Gain and Women to Women

I'm there. Trying not to be, but I must need to try harder. Seems like ever since I hit 42 I have had a MUCH more difficult time keeping slender. Ok, not being fat, I said it. I can tell my metabolism has ground to a screeching halt because I eat so little all day. And most of what I eat is Greek yogurt, blueberries, flax, and a tablespoon of walnuts, for breakfast and often for lunch. Time to get the thyroid checked but I have a feeling it is the change before the change. I looked up www.womentowomen.com, a program designed by ob/gyns addressing these sorts of things and touting their all natural remedies. I think I may try them. And I need to step up the exercise. Or restart it actually. I used to run regularly but the heat made me a wimp. And sitting for more than an hour in front of the computer is now a no-no. Secretarial spread can affect stay at home moms too!

3 comments:

CC said...

At 43 I can commiserate! Just wish I had the time to eat right and exercise regularly.

Donna said...

As a 42 year old mother of six this is my mantra. "Why would a fruiting tree want to look like a sapling" With a daughter that lives on the edge, your just happy to get through the day.

Megan said...

Well said Donna!