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!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Heartache

You know that feeling when you are just so sad for your child because they can't function in  the "normal" world?  Or when the stresses of taking care of them combined with all the other stresses of life just get to you and feel so heavy?  Today is one of those days.

The special glasses we got her made the scrolling vision worse, not better.  She had to leave school early again.  I don't think she has spent one full day at school since school started back up after break.  She needs an education.  She needs consistency.  She needs to go through a day without a migraine.  I need days without the dreaded phone call.  Just sad today.  And frustrated.  And worried.  And discouraged.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lifting you up... it is hard and you are a wonderful mother.

Megan said...

Thank you! Sometimes we get weary...

Fighting for my Children said...

hugs. I hope things get better soon. Keep on keeping on.

mamatufour said...

A big hug to you! The physical exhaustion and exhaustion from worry are sometimes so big. But I can tell that you are an awesome mom. Praying peace for you tonight.

My Daughter's Mother said...

It's rare that we celebrate good 'days' here, but the 'moments' add up. I hope yours do too.

katie said...

oh i am so sorry to hear about your latest rounds of heartache. know that you and your family are loved by the God who created you, and He is right there with you through every peak and valley. may you be encouraged today, and know that you are not alone in your struggles. i feel your pain, and i know there are so many more out there that do! :)

Megan said...

You are all so sweet! Thank you for the encouraging words and prayers! We need them, as do you!

katie said...

i just noticed at the bottom of your page that caroline is a jill phillips fan - we all LOVE her!!! her hymns cd is freqently played at nighttime by our bipolar daughter - it always soothes her when she's overspent and can't settle down. :) just wanted to let you know that!

Megan said...

That's really cool!!