You Need to See This.

I watched a very impactful, very disturbing, very important documentary tonight. And you all need to see it for yourself too, especially if you are a parent or if you have children in your life. It is a documentary entitled "The Medicated Child" and it basically outlines the complex issue of medicating children for psychiatric disorders. Here is the link, and you can watch the entire documentary online: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_2_frontlinebrthemedicatedchild_2008-01-08.

This is such an important discussion to have. As a society and as a psychological profession, we have increased our diagnosis of disorder while decreasing the range of behaviors that we consider "normal." While this issue is far too complex to unpack here, I feel a strong responsibility to do my part in educating people and empowering people to educate themselves about all sides of this issue. While there is a lot of controversial information out there related to this trend, here are the facts:

1) We have seen a monumental increase in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders among children in the past decade, particularly in the areas of bipolar disorder, ADHD, and autism. There are many factors that contribute to this trend.

2) We have seen an increasing tendency to treat childhood psychiatric disorders with medication. Often, medication is seen as an end-all treatment itself, without any counseling or education to go along with it. AND, this is key.....WE DON'T HAVE RESEARCH about the side effects of these medications when used with developing brains.

3) Many of the research studies that have documented the efficacy of drug treatment for child psychiatric disorders are supported by various drug manufacturers. Who, obviously, in turn, benefit financially when doctors prescribe their medications to the children in their practices. Do you see the conflict of interest? This is wrong. It is unethical. And it needs to be stopped.

4) We need to be better educated as parents and as a society. Just because words come from medical experts, we should not accept them as truth. We need to use the critical thinking minds that God has given us. If something doesn't fit, ask questions. If you don't agree with your child's diagnosis or treatment, seek a second opinion....or a third or a fourth......follow your parental instinct. You know your child best.

Are there many children out there with legitimate psychiatric disorders who need medication treatment? A resounding YES. But has this issue been abused, leaving many families and children confused and, even worse, susceptible to side effects that may leave lasting neurological and emotional devastation? YES. The parents in this video are fighting a difficult fight, but it's one that needs to be fought. While I have never been in the shoes of a parent making medication decisions for their own children, I have worked with hundreds of families who have been in that position. I have witnessed their confusion and agony and resignation.....and, thank the Lord, I have been able to work with them toward hope and renewal and a regained sense of love and respect for their children.

Here is the bottom line: Find a psychological expert and a medical doctor who you can trust. To whom you can ask the hard questions. Who really listens to you. Who takes time to know--REALLY KNOW--your child. If you are the parent of a child needing psychological treatment, do not accept medication as the only treatment. Get involved with a skilled counselor who can help you with behavioral and cognitive strategies that may reduce or eliminate the need for medication.

This documentary is excellent. It left me sitting on the couch in tears. It is really why I am in child mental health services. To give children, parents and families hope that help is out there and that psychological challenges do not have to mean a lifetime of insurmountable pain. While shocking, the contents of the documentary give me hope that I am making a difference and that more skilled, competent, compassionate mental health service providers are desperately needed. I will show this to every one of my students this semester, for they are the next generation of child and family psychologists. Our children deserve the best, and deserve to be cared for by the best team of professionals.

Please.....watch this documentary. It will likely open your eyes and change your life.

Before.

Well, I am quite sleep deprived today. Child #2, my daughter, was up all night vomiting last night. It seems that she picked up whatever bug my son had last week, so she is home from school on the couch today. This is the first day she has ever missed of school--she was the only kindergarten student to be awarded the perfect attendance award last year--and she was really bummed about missing today. Our plan is to lay low today, rest, and hopefully to back at it tomorrow. It is WARM today--like in the upper 50's already--and all the snow is gone, so it will be tough to keep the kids in. I would like to get my library shelves in the front living room organized; it seems that they have become a "dumping ground" for lots of stuff over the past few months, so I would like to get those back in order. Pictures later, if that goal materializes!

2 + 12 = ..........

Dear Mr. Pet Store Owner:

Thank you for selling us such high-quality and friendly hamsters. We have now owned Midnight and Climber for 11 days, and our kids have had so much fun with them. We have only had one small incident where our 9-month-old lab puppy, Ruby, decided to carry one of them around in his mouth for a little bit, but it appears that in spite of being covered in puppy saliva, Climber survived that ordeal just fine.

However, we do have a small bone to pick with you. You see, today, as I was finishing up my bath, my 6-year-old daughter ran into the bathroom, so excited. "Mom", she exclaimed. " My hamster just had babies!!!!" Silence. "What?" "Midnight just had a bunch of little babies, come and see them!" Swallow. Swallow again. Blink repeatedly in disbelief.

Now, we are all for a bargain. If I paid for one car and suddenly was awarded 12 more, I would be ecstatic! However, the same does not apply to pets. Sure enough, in Midnight's cage, were 12 bare-naked pink baby hamsters, each about the size of my pinkie finger. 12 little noses, 48 tiny legs.........lots and lots of babies.

So, you will likely be receiving a call from us very soon. Until then, you should know that you have once again made my daughter very happy. My son, on the other hand, cries because he wants Climber to have babies, too.....thank God, he is a male. This ordeal has launched some interesting discussions about marriage and babies. Kennedy decided that Midnight must have gotten married to another hamster at the pet store before we bought her, for her to have babies this soon. After all, you HAVE to be married to have babies (Good Girl, you know the RIGHT way to view marriage and babies!! So proud!). So, she is a bit sad that Midnight is separated from her hamster hubby.........and, hey, why don't we go ahead and go back to the store and get him and bring him home....what's one more??

Will the adventures of parenting ever end???????

Wondering how we're going to feed 14 hamsters,
Nicole M.

The Simple Things.

Today was all about getting back into routine. While it is so nice to be on break and out of routine for a time, it always feels good to get some structure and regularity back to our days. Today, my daughter headed back to first grade. After she left, my son and I crawled back into bed for some cuddle time and we both ended up falling asleep for another 2 hours. It felt SO GOOD to get some additional rest.....last night, we were kept up by 2 very noisy hamsters, who have now earned their way into sleeping in the bathroom with the door closed for the rest of their little lives! Those little critters can chew like you wouldn't believe....and they seem to be at least partially nocturnal. So, we'll set their cages in the bathtub for the night and see how it goes.

Tonight, I made my daughter's favorite porcupine meatballs for dinner (basically meatballs and rice). After dinner, we played a rousing make-believe game of "Littled Red Riding Hood", where Kennedy was Littled Red Riding Hood and I was the grandma/Big Bad Wolf....."the better to eat you with, my pretty!"......and we would run around the house, with them shrieking with laughter the whole way. I love that sound! We as parents have such power in our hands to make our kids' lives magical.....we just need to grasp those opportunities more often!

Tuck-in time tonight consisted of a rousing game of WAR followed by stories. I am now trying to get the last of the Christmas decor rounded up and packed back into my Christmas closet until next year. It never fails....just when I think I have it all, something else pops up and throws my organization scheme all to pieces. It's always a bit sad to pack everything away......but I know how quickly Christmas comes around again, so I certainly don't want to wish time away any faster than it goes all by itself.

Tomorrow brings a meeting and some family photos in the afternoon. Saturday brings an all-day crop, followed by a restful Sunday (hopefully). Coming on MOnday, I will introduce you to the "Anniversary Challenge" that my husband and I are doing.....should be good!

Girls' Day Out.

My daughter and I enjoyed a fun girls' day out to celebrate a last "hurrah" before she heads back to school tomorrow. We saw the movie "Enchanted" which was such a fun and magical film--definitely worth seeing. We then shopped a bit, and she picked out a new outfit at the GAP (and 50% off, to boot!). Shopping was followed by lunch at Red Lobster--her favorite--and make-your-own-flavor cones at Coldstone Creamery. My choice--cake batter ice cream with Butterfinger sprinkles. Her choice--blue cotton candy with gummy bears (!). But, in usual fashion, she took one bite of mine and decided that mine was much better......so she ate half of mine and we ended up throwing the blue stuff out (minus the gummy bears, of course!). I love days like this where it is just she and I, hanging out and talking and laughing and just having fun together. As we were finishing up lunch, Kennedy turned to me with her big dimples and said, "Mom, can we have Mommy-daughter dates even when I'm big?" Yes, Sweet, Girl. You Bet. I hope you always want to have dates with me, no matter how old you get.

2007 Highlights.

As I think about 2008, I find myself naturally reflecting on some of the highlights of 2007. In no particular order, here are some of the major blessings that God granted to us in 2007:
















1. Kennedy graduated from kindergarten in June. The ceremony was attended by both sets of grandparents and was a really fun time to honor our little girl. She has amazed us since then with her academic progress, particularly in reading and spelling. It has been a pure joy to see her learn and grow and excel using the gifts that God has created her with.
















2. In early July, we enjoyed a wonderful "Rags to Riches" vacation into Michigan's gorgeous Upper Peninsula. The trip started with a week of camping on Muaskallonge Lake, including lots of fishing, combing the Lake Superior shoreline for pretty rocks, and day trips to Pictured Rocks and Taquamenon Falls. We were truly awed by God's natural creations.

3. After the week of camping, we spent 3 days at the Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island. We swam, rode bike around the island, walked a lot, toured the butterfly gardens and the Fort, and just simply enjoyed the nostalgia of the island.
















4. In June on the morning of Father's Day, sweet little Samantha Jay joined our family. She is our first niece on my side of the family. It has been so much fun to have a baby in the family again and to see her little personality begin to shine.
















5. In March, I was able to travel to New York City for a conference. While there, I experienced my first Broadway musical "Mary Poppins" which was fabulously magical. I also enjoyed sightseeing around the city, experiencing Ground Zero, seeing the Statue of Liberty, and just living in the "scurry" of the city for a short time.























6. In January, Hayden started preschool {with his beloved school bus backpack} and has grown so much in his school experience. He has met new friends, developed solid skills in letter and number recognition, and improved in so many ways. He is a joy to have in our family, and it has been a true joy to watch him grow and be excited about learning and the entire school experience.























7. In May, Matt and I celebrated our 7th anniversary with a trip to McGuire's Resort in Cadillac. We stayed in the same room where we spent our wedding night, enjoying a nice dinner and some time of relaxing together. It was fun to reminisce on our wedding and the 7 years that God has blessed us with.
















8. In September, on Matt's 44th birthday, we celebrated his parents' 50th anniversary with a community open house and dinner. What fun it was to honor them, hear stories about their early married days, and view photos of their wedding day. It was a day enjoyed by the whole family.
















9. In May, on Mother's Day, a little ball of brown fur joined our family in the form of our chocolate lab, Ruby. While there have certainly been "puppy" challenges along the way, we love Ruby and have come to view her as a true part of our family. She is such a gentle and loving dog, she has been pretty easy to train, and she just loves to cuddle and give puppy kisses. It is amazing to watch the kids interact with her and to watch Ruby love and protect them.























10. Seeing God's hand at work.....2007 has been filled with so many glimpses of God's faithfulness to us. We are so thankful to Him for His love and grace, and we anticipate more of His blessing and guidance in 2008. Thank You, Lord, for calling us your own and for blessing each day we live so richly.

Jan. 1, 2008 in with a {Bang}.

Our 2008 came in with a bit more of a "bang" than we expected. We were all so tired, and doubted whether we could even stay awake to usher in the new year. So, we donned these cool 2008 spectacles for some photos; as you can see from the bottom photo, Hayden didn't even make it that far, he was THAT tired. This was the scene at around 10:30 pm. Then, Kennedy and I headed upstairs to watch the rest of a "Growing up Zebra" show on Discovery channel. We both dozed off, and I woke up just before midnight to "that noise" that every parent of little ones knows all too well.......yes, it wasn't confetti that was flying at our house at midnight. Hayden basically woke up throwing up everything he had consumed all day long. That ushered in 5 hours of me laying with him, holding the trash can for him to vomit into, and stroking his back from 12 until 5:30 am. And the worst part of it was....I then asked Matt to take a shift so that I could get a few hours' sleep.....and Hayden proceeded to sleep soundly for the next 6 hours without vomiting or waking up once. So, today was all about laying low and drinking lots of fluids and, thankfully, no more throwing up. We are happy for a victory for our Wolverines and were quite emotional to watch Lloyd Carr run onto the field with the Wolverines for the last time. We will hope for a full night's sleep and no throwing up tonight. Happy New Year to you and yours!