Love the New CNP at the New Psychiatrist's Office

I am so relieved to have found a sharp, compassionate, up-to-date CNP at the new psychiatrist's office that Caroline and I will be going to now.  Probably Mae would see her too for her ADHD. The right person makes ALL the difference, doesn't it?

If we end up moving because of Bill's job search, we will have to start all over finding a good psychiatrist, psychologist, homeschool co-op, lacrosse league or whatever.  But I feel very confident that I know what I to look for now and I think interviewing several docs is a good idea before settling on one practice, or one school situation.

Professional Nutrients

Just found a company that carries the NeuroScience supplements and will give you free shipping if you order $50 or more.  I ordered Calm PRT, AdreCor and TravaCor which were originally prescribed for Caroline by her previous psychiatrist.  They are supposed to help with adrenal fatigue and cortisol levels.  Great for overstressed people!!  www.professionalnutrients.com

Back to No Job

My husband found out today that the Navy is not going to allow him to stay in the service for a med hold.  So we are suddenly thrust back into the world of looking for a civilian job.  We have to pay a large sum of money ($2000!) up front for three months of COBRA.  I am really down about this.  We thought it was going to work out, but I guess God has other plans.  Now I am wondering if we need to withdraw Caroline and Mae from the private school there were going to go to.  And to also withdraw Jane from her homeschool classes.  I don't know what to do.  Pray for us.

Countdown to School and College Drop Off

Now that August is here, I suddenly feel ready to do some school supply shopping, including getting my oldest ready for her first year of college.  We still haven't figured out who is going to watch Caroline while we are gone dropping off Elizabeth 10 hours away over a weekend.  My college sitter essentially cancelled on me last week so now I am back to square one.  Hopefully something will materialize soon as I ask various people.  I am really nervous about this.  It bums me out that the great set up I had planned months ago got pulled out from under me.  Oh well, I will just keep looking. We did not want to take her with us because we wanted this to be a special time just for my husband and Elizabeth and I, and Caroline is always a bit of a wild card in the mix.  This is why we don't get away much, just the two of us, because we always struggle with who will watch Caroline, who do we trust to watch her.  She doesn't do well with just anyone, so it has to be someone who can handle her quirkiness and make sure she takes all her meds, and she doesn't do well with a lot of noise and chaos so I can't just drop her off into any kind of family situation.  Sigh.  Nothing is easy when you have a bp kid!

Letter from Her Camp Counselor

I had to post this letter because years ago I never thought that praise like this for my daughter could ever be possible.  So I am printing this to give you hope, that with the right medications, the right psychiatrist, the right psychologist, the right school environment, the right therapies, a supportive family, and lots of prayer, your child can be, for the most part, the kid you always knew they were, apart from a disorder that isn't their fault.  Never give up finding answers for your child!  Stability is possible, a "normal" is possible.  Here is the note we received this week:

"To the Parents of Caroline,

Hello, my name is 'Emily' (I changed her name) and I had the pleasure of being Caroline's camp counselor this week....(we) thoroughly enjoyed having Caroline in cabin 11 this week!

Caroline was a great asset to our cabin this week.  She is very respectful and knows wrong from right.  Caroline was never rude to anyone at camp, she is truly a polite, nice and caring girl.  Caroline always had great insight during our devotions.  Whether we were discussing friendship, honesty, unity, respect, faith, etc., Caroline always shared what it meant to her and every so often we would get a story or two from Caroline.  This is just part of what Caroline added to our cabin.  She brought everyone together and made sure never to exclude anyone....We thoroughly enjoyed Caroline's company this week in Cabin 11, she was such a pleasure to be around.  We would like to wish her the best of luck for the future and hope to see her next summer!

Yours truly,

'"Emily'"

You can only imagine how proud we were to get this kind of report and how humbled we are by God's faithfulness to our family in spite of all we have been through together trying to help Caroline have a "normal" life in spite of early onset bipolar disorder.  I pray that one day you too can receive this kind of report about your child, that others can see what you see in your precious child beneath the veil of the disorder.

Do You Have "Soft" Bipolar?

If you are ever wondering whether or not your symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability and impulsiveness, seasonal affective disorder, and severe PMS are more than just regular depression, SAD, PMS or ADHD, you need to read this book:  Why am I Still Depressed? Recognizing and Managing the Ups and Downs of Bipolar II and Soft Bipolar Disorder, by Dr. Jim Phelps.  This is a must read if you have gone from antidepressant to antidepressant and never feel that great anyway.

Post Camp Letdown

Camp was amazing for Caroline.  She came home with a million stories and had a blast at this highly structured YMCA camp.  Now the letdown has happened and we are all experiencing it along with her.  She wishes she could have stayed for two or three weeks, and I wish she could have too, but the end of camp will come anyway, and then you are back in your regular environment after what likely felt like heaven.  Yeah, she has been in a perpetually bad mood ever since.  Great.  Now I want to school to get here fast, even though I know it will be back to homework nightmares again with her and Mae.

But we do want her to go to this same camp for an extended period of time next summer so we will start planning now, provided she is stable of course.

My husband's temporary job with the Navy is supposed to end this Friday, but he may be getting a medical hold to extend his orders another six months to a year.  We won't know until the end of this week or the beginning of the next.  Lots of paperwork and people in authority to make decisions.  If he isn't extended, then we are back to finding a job in the civilian world, oh joy.  If he is, then we have more time to figure out the next step after he is done with the Navy.  This whole process has been so draining for both of us.  I know my husband is really stressed out that we don't know even what the very near future holds.  God is leading the way, we are trusting in His good plan.