Our triple-booked day

I apparently developed vacation brain before we even left for the beach because I managed to schedule THREE appointments for Ike on our first day back. Not just three, but three in one hour. The nutritionist was expecting him at 4:20 for an evaluation, the family doctor was expecting him for a football physical at 4:30 and the psychologist was planning to talk IEPs at 5:15. I remembered the football conflict and took care of it from the beach but the nutritionist only became an issue on Friday when they called to remind me about the appointment. I canceled as the IEP was the most time-critical. *whew*

It completely destroyed any leftover vacation mood but it was worth it. I don't remember what results I've shared, so here is the scoop.

• His IQ scored at 109, which means his achievement would need to be 99 or lower to have the 10 point disparity needed for a learning disability
• He was not medicated during the IQ portion of testing but was medicated (ADHD) for the achievement portion. Unfortunately, his IQ test included three subsets of focus, attention and concentration type tests and he scored very low on them. Think 2-4 out of 18. The remainder of his subtests were 11-18. When he did the achievement tests, though, the medicine was helping and it likely impacted his score positively. So...the lows showed in IQ but not achievement. 
• Because of this issue, he score at 100. Which is a 9 point disparity. To think we are one point from school accommodation and I could have delayed the meds a week and prevented it..
• She believes his IQ score is over 123, as that was his highest achievement score and you can't score above your IQ. If this is true, we have at least a 23 point disparity and we could get him extra help..but not with the 109 he have as the final scoring.

Since we met last, I did even more research. The Wright's Law books are fabulous (this is my favorite) and one gave me several suggestions for parents stuck in a 'kid needs help but testing doesn't definitively show it' state. When we met with the doctor tonight, she didn't have a plan in place but agreed that the ADHD complicated his testing. I suggested an option from the book that says a score can be given based on incomplete data - remove the affected subsets and re-score the remainder. She thought about it, pulled out her manuals and scoring guidelines and confirmed the ability to do so. It's considered a pro-rated score and she's recalculating his results then making similar adjustments to the achievement tests. We talked about the accommodations I have decided to request and she is going to include them as her recommendations in her report for the school.

I am so happy that we will be able to push for the type of support he needs to catch up. And you know what else made me happy? She complimented me on my research and commented that she would not have thought to do pro-rating as she has never used that option. I am the researcher in the family - I read sites, find the most helpful books, read everything I can get my hands on, talk to experts, etc. It's one of those jobs that can be depressing and draining. But in that moment, it was so worth it. I did it. My goal was to have this ADHD and learning disability question resolved before school started. I was determined to have a report in the principal's hands by the first day. And I did it. Completely and 100% on my own and based on my own observations and research. It happened. Ike is going to get the help he needs.

I may not be homeschooling anymore but I am still able to help him learn. I am his advocate. When he starts 4th grade, he'll have plans in place to help him succeed. I am so happy.

Ike's comments

Today, Ike and I were chatting about food rules in our house after he took a tube of M&Ms from my baking cupboard. I have been saving these limited edition black, gray and white candies for Survivor party foods and I'll never find anything that perfect again. After we chatted, I reminded him that he may not like the rules in this house but he does have to follow them. He sighed, then brightened and commented, "When I have my own house, I'll make my own rules!"  I started to assure him that he would be able to do that when he interrupted me with, "Oh, wait. Nevermind. I guess my wife will get to make them and I'll just have to follow hers." I laughed and said, "I'm sure you'll get much more say as a husband than as a kid so I think you're good."  He looked at me quizzically and said, "Really? I thought it would be like you and Dad. You make the rules and he just does it. It's okay, though. She'll be my wife so I won't mind."

He was so at peace with his future wife's rules. He's accepted it and moved on and he doesn't even like girls yet! That kid cracks me up :)

Trying something new

My aunt has a doctor she swears by. Not a naturopath, not homeopathic, but also not mainstream. My aunt hasn't been in hospitalized since she started on the supplements recommended by this doctor. She's referred several people and all have had similar, fantastic results.

I look at Ike and feel like there is something at the root of so many of his issues. I've researched so many things, debated special diets, tested some basic eliminations like milk, and read so many books. I can't find a cause that explains everything...or even most things. Unsure where to go to find this answer, I decided to call my aunt's doctor and made an appointment.

Ike's first visit was today and I was fascinated. It's nutrition response testing. She started with a questionnaire that included tons of topics and a history that started before his birth. Then, she did an analysis. Here's an section of the explanation: The analysis is done through testing the body's own neurological reflexes and acupuncture points. Ike was instructed to lift his arm to the side and try to keep it straight. She would tap the points while pressing on his arm. These points on the body are related to a flow of energy in the organs and function of the body. Once she determined the problem areas through this checking of active energy, she figured out the nutrition needed to counterattack the active reflexes. It was crazy, weird and cool, all at the same time.

Three systems were identified as week. First was adrenal. Third was gallbladder. Second was something else in that area but for the life of me I have no idea what it was. *laugh*  No idea. Anyhow, it all sounded like a great match for Ike's needs. The doctor thinks she can get his body back in balance and it will address his stomach issues, leg pains, migraines, asthma and allergies. Seriously.

We left with 2 supplements - A-F Betafood and Drenamin. He takes 6 of each a day, 2 at each meal. He is less than thrilled about 12 pills a day, especially since he just learned to swallow pills last week when he started his ADHD med! However...I feel really good about this. I think that we need to try to find out what is causing him to have so many issues. We need to try and fix whatever we can. Sp...here we are :)

Shock and awe

This afternoon, I told Ike it was time for chores. He stopped what he was doing, came into the living room and said, "Okay."

This morning, I came downstairs and Ike had everything on his morning list done. Everything.  Before I had said a single word.

Yesterday, Ike sat at the dinner table. Not perched, not hovered, not tipping, not fidgeting. He sat. For the entire meal. And he didn't complain. Not once.

Over the weekend, he didn't dawdle and make me late. He brought things to keep him occupied in the car, without me reminding him. He laughed and chatted with Ana for hours. He happily played with friends.

Oh, and he has been caught reading. For fun. Completely unprompted, just hanging out with a book, reading.

He's still fun. He still cracks us up with his wit. He still sings and dances. He says he doesn't feel any different.

He's been on an ADHD med for almost a week. I feel like he can finally show off his positives without people being distracted by his behavior. He's happy, he's calmer, he's still just as amazing as ever.

I feel like this is the best thing I have ever done for him. I've given him focus and in less than a week it's already impacting him in such a positive way.