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, March 12, 2010

My First Day Off in a LONG time

I dropped off my homeschooled 12 year old at my younger sister's house today and had a day off, to myself. It wasn't everything I had hoped (rainy, dark, depressing day and then my 16 year old came home from school early because she was sick) but it was a start. I spent three hours this morning shredding papers, and throwing away piles of paper trash. I've been doing this on and off for two weeks. Yes, I have a LOT of catching up to do after years of being in crisis. I am trying to take advantage of this "lull" and organize my out-of-control clutter. Then I can do the taxes, oh joy. The next day "off" I want to go to the spa and get a pedicure, and maybe do some spring shopping for myself. Maybe coffee with a friend. Truthfully I don't like the sound of a completely empty house, after having children at home continually with me for almost 16 1/2 years, but to just focus on my projects is healing. I would LOVE to have about two weeks by myself in my house alone to just go through all of the girls' rooms, the attic, my own room, and get rid of about half of our belongings! I moved every three years or so while growing up as a military brat, so my parents could never accumulate what we have accumulated in the last 17 years of marriage and kids!
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