So much going on here!

Where to start?

1. We took Ethan to a new doctor who is a DAN! doctor. He uses non-traditional treatments (vitamins, minerals, HBOT, and many other things) before trying psychiatric meds or things like ritalin or risperdal. He had Ethan go for some blood work to test for numerous food allergies, celiac disease, and all his vitamin and mineral levels and zinc and copper levels.
Dr L. believes E leans more towards Asperger's syndrome, although PDD-NOS is also a "suitable diagnosis" so to speak. He also believes E has ADHD. He recommends a gluten-free, casien-free diet. Dr L. also started E on a really good daily vitamin/mineral, a calcium/d3 supplement and 5-HTP. I have seen a decrease in reactions (less tantrums and when he does have a tantrum, for the most part they are much less over the top).

2. We had actually already started E on a gluten-free diet a couple of weeks before his appointment and saw a huge improvement in eye contact, and social skills at least at home. Although he did seem to be more hyperactive and just constantly on the go. At school however, his behavior escalated and at one point he got suspended for 2 days for an incident involving biting. It was absolutely not intentional in that he didn't mean to bite his teacher, but had been trying to bite his own hand out of frustration. Thank goodness she was ok and so was he. His academics also took a little of a turn for the worse as he was having a hard time sitting still at school and was unable to finish assignments and stay on task. Again, very hyper. They implemented a morning "gym" session for him with the resource room teacher where he would run for 10-20 minutes and do an obstacle course type of thing and he seemed to respond well to this. It will be added to his IEP next year.

3. E is going into 4th grade next year and finished the year on a high note with all A's and B's in his primary classes (specials were not so good though). Since he made honor roll all four quarters, he recieved a special certificate. E also got his scantron results back and his test scores in math went up 667 pts and he is at a 9.0 grade level in math, and his reading scores went up 440 and he is at 8.2 grade level in reading. This was even with not concentrating, having a hard time finishing the tests, not staying on tasks, etc. Wow. I'm amazed. I can only imagine if he had been doing better with all of that! I'm seriously thinking the kid is still getting bored with stuff. But emotionally and chronologically he's not even 8, so I don't want to push him too hard.

4. Alex is going into kindergarten in the fall and is so excited. He'll be going full day. He's already reading very well and doing simple math addition. I have a feeling he is going to be ahead also. We just celebrated his 5th birthday a few weeks ago.

5. We have an offer on a house. It's really nice. 3 bed 1.5 bath, 1900+ sq ft ranch, nice size yard, living and family room on main floor, plus formal dining. Wood-burning fireplace in living room. 2 enclosed porches, and a patio. Big garage and big shed. Plus a finished basement same size as the house, with a huge family/rec room, large laundry room with a buffet area and second stove, another room that is sectioned in two, a storage room and a workshop! Talk about tons of space! Holidays are going to be at our place. Well, at least some of them, LOL.

6. We refinanced our truck and bought a 2005 Harley Davidson. Our payment for both? Exactly the same as what we were originally paying on the truck!

7. My awesome in-laws are taking the boys all of next week! We are actually heading down to see them tomorrow night or Friday morning and visiting through Saturday. Jas has to work Sunday but I'm staying for my little sis-in-law's fashion show that night. Then the boys are staying for a visit through Sunday the 27th! I've got plans for the 26th and 27th so they are keeping them through the weekend since Jas has to work.

8. Jas is on a different schedule. Not sure if I mentioned that. He's working 4 days a week 10 hours a day (plus lunch plus driving so it ends up being 11 1/2 hr days, poor guy.) Sunday-Wednesday.

9. Jas and I are taking a mini-vacation ourselves this next week when the boys are gone. It's been, well, pretty much since never, LOL. Not 100% sure where we are going yet but he's taking a vacation day Wednesday, we are heading out (probably on the Harley) and not coming back till sometime Friday!

10. Saturday I'm driving to T-town and spending time with some very special people Saturday afternoon/night and Sunday morning for a GNO. Can't give details, just in case. Definitely share later though.

11. This whole buying a house and getting a mortage thing is getting very stressful!!! You would think after going through this twice before we would be better at it, right? Um yeah. NO! It's just been a lot of paperwork we never needed before and blah blah blah. On a good note, we got a good price, great house, they put new carpet in, they are willing to pay for most of a brand new furnace, pay all of our closing costs (we may actually get money back!) and put money in escrow for the septic to be pumped and reinspected after we move in.

12. That's all. For now. Time for me to go rangle my boys so we can return some movies to Blockbuster and then get them home and in bed.

Have a good weekend, everybody!