How Do You Know If Your Child Has ADHD?

This question has been occupying our minds for some time now.  One thing we love about Anna is her boundless enthusiasm and energy. But at some point, we've noticed that she seems to have a LOT of energy, and restlessness as well. Like way more than that of an average preschooler.

One reason we've probably seen this increase is that, at our pediatrician's recommendation, we've started giving her melatonin at bedtime to help her relax. It's been a true godsend to have drastically shortened the bedtime routine and made it way easier. But the flip side is that, now that Anna's getting a full night's sleep on a consistent basis, we are seeing her at maximum energy capacity during the day. And it's simply astounding.

But we're not just talking about energy. It's also the ease with which she becomes distracted, the length of time it takes her to finish a meal because she's constantly up and down from the table, her rapid movement from activity to activity without finishing prior activities, her incredible restlessness even when she IS focused on a task....you get the picture.

Beyond the Rainbow

Once upon a time, once when you were mine,

I remember skies reflected in your eyes.

I wonder where you are, I wonder if you think about me

Once upon a time… in your wildest dreams.

“Your Wildest Dreams” – The Moody Blues

I heard the song the other day as I was driving on the highway. As I’ve mentioned, I spend a lot of time in my car these days going on what I have unfortunately dubbed the foreclosure tour of my state. I travel to do trials and I log a lot of time behind the wheel.

That means I listen to a lot of music.

Now, that's usually a good thing, because I love music and I often find it to be energizing and inspiring when I need it to be, but also relaxing and calming when I need it to be.

Yet still, there are those days were the specter of grief pops into my mind out of nowhere and I think about my best friend and how much I miss him. It's amazing how powerful those emotions are. He's been gone for almost three years now, which I can hardly believe, and still in a random moment when I least expect it, I feel his presence – or, rather, the lack of his presence – and it overwhelms me. 

Snapshots: Catching Up!

Now that I'm getting back into this, I thought that before tackling some of the topics I want to discuss - fun stuff like ADHD, crazy sports parents, and gun control - I'd at least fill you in on what we've been up to these last few months while I've been out of commission in the blogging world.

Earlier last year, I already wrote about some of the great things that happened to us in 2012:  Anna's adoption being finalized, her first braids, my job change, etc. But we've had a lot of fun since then too!

And because it's more fun this way, I thought we'd catch up in snapshots, so here goes.

Friday Fun: My Little Gymnast!

Happy Friday!

Does your child leap recklessly off of furniture? Attempt somersaults in the living room?

I Heart My iPhone

Greetings. I am back from the "undead." Which is translation for, I have felt like a total zombie for months and am finally starting to reenter the land of the living. I hope!

I feel as though I have missed so much these last few months as I have adjusted to the routine of waking early, traveling all over the state for trials, coming home to take care of my baby and our house, and then settling down for a long winter's nap before I do it all again. Rinse, lather, repeat. But now I think I have gotten the hang of it, at least to the largest degree possible, so I am going to make a valiant effort to reclaim some time and space in my life for things I enjoy, this blog being near the top of that list.

To that end, today I am pausing to reflect on and enjoy a moment of gratitude for my iPhone.

Photo from www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi