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 11, 2011

The Curse of Endless Appointments

Actually, having had great health insurance for a very long time and great doctors, I should be thankful that we can go to so many appointments each week.  But, honestly, between the four kids and I, and most of the appointments related to Caroline's bipolar disorder, I spend an inordinate amount of time driving, leaving the house several times a day.  Recently we have had physical therapy appointments for two of us, psychology, psychiatry, pediatric, ultrasound on Caroline's kidneys, and other appointments as well.  No wonder I get nothing done, ever!  I am never home for more than an hour at a time it seems.  I have decided to block off one week per month where I keep the calendar free of all appointments, even the regular counseling that Caroline and I go to.  I just need time at home in bigger chunks.  Thank goodness Jane is so faithful with her homeschooling assignments and does them even if I have to step away.  Caroline on the other hand needs constant supervision.   So all of these appointments definitely interfere with her day.  She does a lot at night to make up for it.  And 17 year old Elizabeth needs a car so I don't have to leave the house to take her to all of her activities!!  Ugh! I long for the simpler days of the past when I was home pretty much all day except for maybe a trip to the grocery store or Target.
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