In May, my 8 year old daughter was diagnosed with A.D.D (she is also dyslexic). I have known since she was 4 that she had A.D.D (or at least suspected), but getting a teacher to believe you is insane.  That is actually how we found out she is dyslexic.

Finally, we were able to get all of her teachers on board.  They had noticed the problem, and I requested she be evaluated by the staff.  We had to fill out a "questionnaire" as well.  They were identical scores.  Usually parents don't score the children a low as the teachers do. I guess we just want to think the best. A doctors appointment ensued.  With more forms and tests.

So, by the middle of May, she was finally on her way to help.  The Doctor (who is just great) put her on Focalin XR ($154 a month w/o insurance).  He said she would lose her appetite at lunch time, she would be more emotional, and to call if we had any problems.  She was to take it for 4 weeks and then we would reevaluate her.  She had 3 failing grades that came up to 2 Bs and 1 C in 3 weeks time.  Something was different though. My Dear daughter, who is a momma bird, started to become violent.  By the end of the 2nd week on Focalin XR, she had thrown a board across the living room, an shoe at my face, and she was becoming very angry.  3 days into the 3rd week, I got on to her for not brushing her teeth the 6th time I told her.  She held her tooth brush up to my eye, and you could tell by the look on her face she wanted to shove it into my eye.  That was the last day she took Focalin XR.

The Doctor suggested a therapist to make sure she doesn't have any behavioral problems (bipolar).  We haven't had a stitch of trouble since she quit the focalin XR in early June.  Read the Focalin XR side effects here.  After the therapist is done evaluating her, we will be going back to the doctor.  Do I try another medicine, or let her suffer through school?   The medicine helped her focus dramatically.  Her grades skyrocketed in less than a month.  I know that it might take some time to find the right medicine, and not everyone will affect her that way...  but still.. it is so scary.  I don't want her growing up hating school, and failing because I didn't help her, but I don't want to give her a med that makes her crazy.

What do I do?  Should I medicate or not?  What would you do?

For almost a year now, overtime at **** has haulted. While the kids were in school, I got to spend every Friday with my hubby. He works 10 hour shifts everyday and has his 40 in by Thursday. We would go to town to a book store, or grab a bite to eat. We went to petstores, and parks. We would just go and relax and spend time together (over SUSHI). It has been so good for us.

Now, with North Korea threatening war (Job Security), Some depts. are picking up overtime, and I mean lots of it. Weekend before last he worked everyday including Sunday. This weekend and next he's working Friday and Saturday..

I miss him. I got use to him being here on the weekend. I love that overtime money, but is it worth my hubby working so hard and coming home just to fall asleep by 7 p.m?

He has done so wwell at work. He was just rewarded again by being given his own line of base. Actually, some of the guys he looked up too there are now being rude to him, because they wanted the line and it went to Chris. He didn't even know about it! They just drove him over and said, "Hey, your our new line man. We've noticed how hard you have worked, so this is yours."

Isn't it crazy that 40and 50 year old men would act so childish. It really hurts him because he just thought they were some of the greatest guys in the world. He thought they were his friends. It hurts me to see him hurt.

Back on topic,

According to rumor, mandatory overtime will be kicking at the beginning of the fiscal year. October. Yay! Money! Boo missing hubby!