My last post was in 2011. 4 years of my life undocumented. I guess I could go back through facebook - four years of facebook - and pick out the "funnies". That tends to be what most of this blog was I guess. I don't know. I haven't reread it in awhile. However, I do want to document somethings off the top of my head and then maybe continue blogging from this point forward,
The name the 4th shoe came from the chaos that was our life after the twins were born. I thought I was an inadequate mother (and I still do) that could not handle what a normal mother of twins could handle. However, we've come to learn that our twins are gifted individuals. Sam was diagnosed with ADHD and for awhile I though he had ASD. Seemed textbook for awhile. social issues, fears, high intelligence etc. formerly known as Asperger's..... however, something I read lead me down a different path to childhood anxiety and he is now in therapy. I mean, does it really make a difference what it's called. I'm trying to raise him to be a happy productive member of society. He tells me I should have to make him happy. that makes me cringe. as his mother I WANT him to be happy.
Other things have happened over the last few years as well. I lost both my father and my mother. My mother died on feb 1, 2014 at Geisinger. it was a torturous time for me. I still have nightmares about it. I should write about it sometime. or maybe it would be better to let all that negativity go...
anyway, before she died, she looked at me and told me to write her life down in a book. If you had any idea of this woman's life. I wish I knew someone I could give the main points to and have them write. I just don't think it's in me. Sam's latest is that he wants to be a writer. I don't know....
Noah is still into music and drama. He is playing trumpet in the band and takes piano lessons. He has been in many many plays and this weekend will play his largerst part as the emperor in Little Red Robin Hood. It's a hysterical play.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Taking a break from FB
I can't stand it anymore. I'm not much of a personable person anyway, but lately I've been getting a lot of feeling attacked or trapped on facebook... not a feeling I enjoy in real life and so I'm clicking the x....
So at lunch today I'm sharing a few twin stories and my friend Carrie said "Betty, really you should write a book!" I said "I started one..." then came facebook. blah. I went back through facebook to find twin stories missed in the blog, but really there hasn't been too much. It was a nice relaxing summer. Mom got an apartment so we spent A LOT of time cleaning out the house and moving her in. We are still trying to sell the house.
Matt is in his senior year. and as much as this blog is the framework for my book about the twins, it is also a journal I enjoy going back to read once in awhile, so I must include my first baby. He has really grown into a man. I'm really enjoying him. I keep commenting to people that you finally get them where you want them and then they leave you. He is dating a girl named Shelby. He is trying to get accepted at Penn State Erie Behrend Campus. what ahoot. love it in Erie. Lately as stressed as I've been, I find myself going to Erie in my brain just to cope. I even love thunderstorms there and that's saying a lot.
So, Noah has been quite the troublemaker this school year. not necessarily at school, but really a pain at home. We're not quite sure why. I looked up a quiz online to determine if your child had Asbergers. I've always said he's on the spectrum. Anyway, I was wrong- according to this quiz anyway. So I thought well SOMETHING is up with him what is it? So I was googling things like "what mental disorder does my kid have" and came across an article on problem gifted children. It was A to Z Noah Michael. So now I can look into that- in my free time.
So yesterday was an inservice day and Matt watched the kids. He had football so he dropped the truck and twins off. The twins were behaving while I was finishing up some lesson planning. I took them to make photocopies and Cheryl was there. Cheryl is a lady I teach with who has an "angel" daughter the same age as the twins. She always seems to see them at their worst too- just to make me feel like a real winner. So the twins walk into the photocopier room and Sammers says "Hello Mrs. M___" and Noah also says hello. I was like "who are these kids?" so Cheryl was finishing up and leaving and chit chatting with the twins and on her way out the door and Sam says "So, where is kaitlyn today?" Cheryl said "kaitlyn spent the day at daycare."
Here's an aside. My kids grew up in daycare with Kaitlyn but haven't gone in a year and a half.
Sam makes an ugly face and mummbles "Daycare all day- that's hell" Cheryl looks at me and says "WHAT did he say?" So I dumbly look at Sam and say "What did you say?" He ennunciates: "All day at daycare- that is hell"
So after reprimanding him for his language, I've spent the last two days sharing the story and secretly laughing. He's right. Daycare is Hell.
SO today, Mr. Noah's teacher calls. Someone at Noah's math table pulled his pants down and told everyone to look under the table. It WASN'T Noah, she assures me.... It's not like this makes me feel at ease- I mean, she is calling me- She called the child up to talk to him and he admits that Noah told him to do it. Even after the principal, Mike and I "discuss" this with Noah, he is very nonchalent. like Yeah, so? The one I feel sorry for is his teacher. She ADORES him. She's beginning to see the real him.
So this is what I hope to do for awhile while watching my nighttime tv - instead of you know what.
So at lunch today I'm sharing a few twin stories and my friend Carrie said "Betty, really you should write a book!" I said "I started one..." then came facebook. blah. I went back through facebook to find twin stories missed in the blog, but really there hasn't been too much. It was a nice relaxing summer. Mom got an apartment so we spent A LOT of time cleaning out the house and moving her in. We are still trying to sell the house.
Matt is in his senior year. and as much as this blog is the framework for my book about the twins, it is also a journal I enjoy going back to read once in awhile, so I must include my first baby. He has really grown into a man. I'm really enjoying him. I keep commenting to people that you finally get them where you want them and then they leave you. He is dating a girl named Shelby. He is trying to get accepted at Penn State Erie Behrend Campus. what ahoot. love it in Erie. Lately as stressed as I've been, I find myself going to Erie in my brain just to cope. I even love thunderstorms there and that's saying a lot.
So, Noah has been quite the troublemaker this school year. not necessarily at school, but really a pain at home. We're not quite sure why. I looked up a quiz online to determine if your child had Asbergers. I've always said he's on the spectrum. Anyway, I was wrong- according to this quiz anyway. So I thought well SOMETHING is up with him what is it? So I was googling things like "what mental disorder does my kid have" and came across an article on problem gifted children. It was A to Z Noah Michael. So now I can look into that- in my free time.
So yesterday was an inservice day and Matt watched the kids. He had football so he dropped the truck and twins off. The twins were behaving while I was finishing up some lesson planning. I took them to make photocopies and Cheryl was there. Cheryl is a lady I teach with who has an "angel" daughter the same age as the twins. She always seems to see them at their worst too- just to make me feel like a real winner. So the twins walk into the photocopier room and Sammers says "Hello Mrs. M___" and Noah also says hello. I was like "who are these kids?" so Cheryl was finishing up and leaving and chit chatting with the twins and on her way out the door and Sam says "So, where is kaitlyn today?" Cheryl said "kaitlyn spent the day at daycare."
Here's an aside. My kids grew up in daycare with Kaitlyn but haven't gone in a year and a half.
Sam makes an ugly face and mummbles "Daycare all day- that's hell" Cheryl looks at me and says "WHAT did he say?" So I dumbly look at Sam and say "What did you say?" He ennunciates: "All day at daycare- that is hell"
So after reprimanding him for his language, I've spent the last two days sharing the story and secretly laughing. He's right. Daycare is Hell.
SO today, Mr. Noah's teacher calls. Someone at Noah's math table pulled his pants down and told everyone to look under the table. It WASN'T Noah, she assures me.... It's not like this makes me feel at ease- I mean, she is calling me- She called the child up to talk to him and he admits that Noah told him to do it. Even after the principal, Mike and I "discuss" this with Noah, he is very nonchalent. like Yeah, so? The one I feel sorry for is his teacher. She ADORES him. She's beginning to see the real him.
So this is what I hope to do for awhile while watching my nighttime tv - instead of you know what.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Drama Never ends - ADHD
Honestly, I think I need to delete facebook from my computer. People tell me how witty my twin stories are: "Oh Betty you're hilarious!" yet, they don't make my blog.
I feel it's important to update the blog now for a very big change has happened in our lives at the Fry House. We got a therapist and put Sam on adderall for his ADHD.
I even feel like a bad mom typing that last sentence. We knew he had it. We're both educators and deal with it every day. I remember crying while very pregnant one night laying in bed. Mike said oh honey, are you cramping, does it hurt somewhere? I said no, he just won't stop. he never stops moving.....
we thought it was funny to watch him sleep as a baby because he moved so much.
at three, we nicknamed him 3 second sammy because you couldn't count to three before he moved- awake or asleep. it was astounding (is that a word) really because it was like a science experiment. and we grew as a family and learned to deal with the quirks of each other.
Don't get me wrong. Noah had his quirks too. I thought he was autistic as an infant. He wouldn't focus on us at all. Like he had no time for people. As he grew older, he started having attachments to things like CDS. He would even sleep with them. And the meltdowns.... wow. He has improved over the years, but he still has them. The worst was as a toddler, he'd throw his milk bottle over the gate and into the kitchen and then cry and cry and sob like he was going to die. We did different things. (this happened all the time). We tried repeatedly giving it back to him and he would get angry and throw in back into the kitchen. We tried saying too bad you shouldn't have thrown it and let him have his fit. but man they were bad. really bad. now that I'm typing this, maybe he just wanted into the kitchen....
back to Sam. They started kindergarten and he couldn't take it. Daycare was bad (except his last year. that teacher was a doll and loved him and had no problems with him). Pre-K Counts was even worse. So we knew kindergarten was going to be rough.
Well it just so happened the school implement a new PBIS system of positive behavior. Don't even get me started. Poor Kess. didn't clean her art supplies up quick enough. level 2. couldn't watch movies. couldn't go bowling. couldn't play kickball...... and sam. he racked up the red cards and the infractions. finally they gave him detention. in kindergarten. for making a face behind his teacher's back to get the kids to laugh. He was terrified. I sat in detention right next to him. Mike and I called and emailed separately and together many times the principal. I met with the superintendent. He is awesome. Used to live across from Aunt Leta and Uncle Ken. We wrote to the school board. and Mike even got scheduled to talk to the board, but I made him back out because I thought the principal was going to roll on the teacher and I can't be a teacher who beats up another teacher.
So the therpist at the first meeting suggested meds. Her kid is on them. If we don't like them, we take him off them no harm to foul. (she didn't even meet sam just went on our records)
So we called the peditrician (Sherri) and got some adderall. We started it on a Saturday. It was hard for us to see a difference except the 3 second sam (which kinda has been a six second sam now that he's older) thing was better. the next day we went to church and were impressed with the children's sermon, youth choir practice and sunday school. the next day was school and he came home with all green cards.l and the next day as well.
He eventually started backsliding a little and at the next appt the therapist said it's all good. just need to adjust some dosage and times, etc.... It's really a miricle what is happening. He's creativity is still there in full force. He just has the ability to be calm in his head.
He had some kind of stomache thing this past thursday and I had to take him home from school. so friday we were off anyway, I was worried he would throw up his pill so I didn't give him any. whew baby! the difference. I told matt, if I ever forget how powerful this is, tell me to take a day with no pill! we could hardly control him. after just a couple of weeks, I was getting spoiled.
I think this is going to help my stress as well.
I feel it's important to update the blog now for a very big change has happened in our lives at the Fry House. We got a therapist and put Sam on adderall for his ADHD.
I even feel like a bad mom typing that last sentence. We knew he had it. We're both educators and deal with it every day. I remember crying while very pregnant one night laying in bed. Mike said oh honey, are you cramping, does it hurt somewhere? I said no, he just won't stop. he never stops moving.....
we thought it was funny to watch him sleep as a baby because he moved so much.
at three, we nicknamed him 3 second sammy because you couldn't count to three before he moved- awake or asleep. it was astounding (is that a word) really because it was like a science experiment. and we grew as a family and learned to deal with the quirks of each other.
Don't get me wrong. Noah had his quirks too. I thought he was autistic as an infant. He wouldn't focus on us at all. Like he had no time for people. As he grew older, he started having attachments to things like CDS. He would even sleep with them. And the meltdowns.... wow. He has improved over the years, but he still has them. The worst was as a toddler, he'd throw his milk bottle over the gate and into the kitchen and then cry and cry and sob like he was going to die. We did different things. (this happened all the time). We tried repeatedly giving it back to him and he would get angry and throw in back into the kitchen. We tried saying too bad you shouldn't have thrown it and let him have his fit. but man they were bad. really bad. now that I'm typing this, maybe he just wanted into the kitchen....
back to Sam. They started kindergarten and he couldn't take it. Daycare was bad (except his last year. that teacher was a doll and loved him and had no problems with him). Pre-K Counts was even worse. So we knew kindergarten was going to be rough.
Well it just so happened the school implement a new PBIS system of positive behavior. Don't even get me started. Poor Kess. didn't clean her art supplies up quick enough. level 2. couldn't watch movies. couldn't go bowling. couldn't play kickball...... and sam. he racked up the red cards and the infractions. finally they gave him detention. in kindergarten. for making a face behind his teacher's back to get the kids to laugh. He was terrified. I sat in detention right next to him. Mike and I called and emailed separately and together many times the principal. I met with the superintendent. He is awesome. Used to live across from Aunt Leta and Uncle Ken. We wrote to the school board. and Mike even got scheduled to talk to the board, but I made him back out because I thought the principal was going to roll on the teacher and I can't be a teacher who beats up another teacher.
So the therpist at the first meeting suggested meds. Her kid is on them. If we don't like them, we take him off them no harm to foul. (she didn't even meet sam just went on our records)
So we called the peditrician (Sherri) and got some adderall. We started it on a Saturday. It was hard for us to see a difference except the 3 second sam (which kinda has been a six second sam now that he's older) thing was better. the next day we went to church and were impressed with the children's sermon, youth choir practice and sunday school. the next day was school and he came home with all green cards.l and the next day as well.
He eventually started backsliding a little and at the next appt the therapist said it's all good. just need to adjust some dosage and times, etc.... It's really a miricle what is happening. He's creativity is still there in full force. He just has the ability to be calm in his head.
He had some kind of stomache thing this past thursday and I had to take him home from school. so friday we were off anyway, I was worried he would throw up his pill so I didn't give him any. whew baby! the difference. I told matt, if I ever forget how powerful this is, tell me to take a day with no pill! we could hardly control him. after just a couple of weeks, I was getting spoiled.
I think this is going to help my stress as well.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Facebook Stole my Blog!
It's funny. but this really isn't meant to be a blog. more like a journal. although I would love the ability to compile stories into the book I threaten all the time. This school year has started out fantastic. I am working really hard to stay positive. It helps that I had the absolute best summer ever. We got a new camper and camped all summer. That followed a pretty stressful and tough school year which I guess explains why my last entry was October of last year.
The title is true. everytime I have a cute story, I've been putting it on facebook. so if you are a FB friend no need to read any further. I just didn't want to lose these stories. I am going to try to keep up the entries though. Kindergarten is fun and the boys are doing great so far these first two weeks!
Statuses unfortunately in reverse order....
Betty Merritt Fry had a wonderful time in Erie last night!!! Saw my husband and son accosted my "Wench Zelda" and my mother hit on by "Knave Toby" (in between her agitating Knave Duncan) We also took my mom gambling for the first time. Spent vouchers only -not our own money- and half an hour later, mom was walking out with $50!!!September 5 at 8:04pm Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (5)Hide Feedback (5)
Betty Merritt Fry survived opening night of Kindergarten. Both twins well behaved.... hmmmm is that like having a good dress rehearsal? haha!!!!
Betty Merritt Fry so, if you know us, you know we have twins- one I say that is "spirited" and the other we say is "filled with the Spirit"... both are wonderful, but they do tend to be good twin bad twin a lot.... Well "filled with the Spirit" has swore twice this summer... make it 3 now...August 25 at 9:13pm Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (10)Hide Feedback (10)
Amelia Resig and Samantha Ward like this.
Betty Merritt Fry
He was standing by our car (NOT truck) and said is Gramma going out to eat with us. I replied yes. He threw his hands in the air and said with that sweet angelic voice "Where the hell is she going to sit?"Baby Maryn born 8/16/10
Betty Merritt Fry So, my eldest says to my youngest (the sweet one) "I'm going to call you Poopy..."
To which Noah replies "I'm going to call you dumb ass. hey dumb ass. come here dumb ass..." WHERE does he get this?!?!August 17 at 9:00pm Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (42)Hide Feedback (42)
Betty Merritt Fry Just got home from the best vacation EVER! If you said anything I need to know in the last week, please repeat it. I'm not reading a week's worth of facebook!
Betty Merritt Fry went to see my neice Kessie in Annie tonight. She was Pepper. Her and the rest of the cast was fantastic! Three more shows left if you haven't seen it! Oh, and Sam and Noah sat like good boys thru the whole thing! and Matt split his lip open (really bad) at football... that's all for now....
Betty Merritt Fry Going to the Curve today!!!!!!! Sam asked us the other day: What field trip is next? Love have summers off!!!!!!!!
Betty Merritt Fry The truck we spent 400 on last week broke down a few miles from the campground Monday. We were going up a huge hill and hauling the camper and the truck just quit. Mike could start it, but when he put it in gear, it stalled out. we were stuck with the twins and the dog and it was hot. what to do? I prayed. LOUD AND HAR...D. Mike started the truck and it got us to the campground. just saying.how can you NOT believe?june 16Betty Merritt Fry Matt: "Sammy let's go. We're going to be late..."Sam: "Right now's not the perfect time for me..."Mom: LMAOjune 14-10 Betty Merritt Fry So we're in the dollar store fighting with Noah over flip flops. he wants the girliest pinkest flip flops in the store... Daddy is having issues with this.... I don't mind him loving pink, but they WERE really girly... Up comes big tough former student Nick Coble... i say "Hey Nick, what do YOU think of these pink flip... flops?" He says "Go for it Buddy".... sigh
6-7-10Betty Merritt Fry question posed by my 5 year old (Sammy): Why do they say "going off" when things GO ON? Like "The alarm goes off"?
......uh......uh..... That's what Mike and I came up with.... any ideas?June 7 at 6:26am Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (7)Hide Feedback (7)5-31-10Betty Merritt Fry camping trip in 50 words or less: forgot the dog, had to go back and get him... saw a bald eagle- watched with binoculars for long time. awesome. Sammy had asthma attack. ER at 1:30 in the morning. no cell service. drove behind a drunk. all's well now. my life is never boring....
The title is true. everytime I have a cute story, I've been putting it on facebook. so if you are a FB friend no need to read any further. I just didn't want to lose these stories. I am going to try to keep up the entries though. Kindergarten is fun and the boys are doing great so far these first two weeks!
Statuses unfortunately in reverse order....
Betty Merritt Fry had a wonderful time in Erie last night!!! Saw my husband and son accosted my "Wench Zelda" and my mother hit on by "Knave Toby" (in between her agitating Knave Duncan) We also took my mom gambling for the first time. Spent vouchers only -not our own money- and half an hour later, mom was walking out with $50!!!September 5 at 8:04pm Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (5)Hide Feedback (5)
Betty Merritt Fry survived opening night of Kindergarten. Both twins well behaved.... hmmmm is that like having a good dress rehearsal? haha!!!!
Betty Merritt Fry so, if you know us, you know we have twins- one I say that is "spirited" and the other we say is "filled with the Spirit"... both are wonderful, but they do tend to be good twin bad twin a lot.... Well "filled with the Spirit" has swore twice this summer... make it 3 now...August 25 at 9:13pm Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (10)Hide Feedback (10)
Amelia Resig and Samantha Ward like this.
Betty Merritt Fry
He was standing by our car (NOT truck) and said is Gramma going out to eat with us. I replied yes. He threw his hands in the air and said with that sweet angelic voice "Where the hell is she going to sit?"Baby Maryn born 8/16/10
Betty Merritt Fry So, my eldest says to my youngest (the sweet one) "I'm going to call you Poopy..."
To which Noah replies "I'm going to call you dumb ass. hey dumb ass. come here dumb ass..." WHERE does he get this?!?!August 17 at 9:00pm Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (42)Hide Feedback (42)
Betty Merritt Fry Just got home from the best vacation EVER! If you said anything I need to know in the last week, please repeat it. I'm not reading a week's worth of facebook!
Betty Merritt Fry went to see my neice Kessie in Annie tonight. She was Pepper. Her and the rest of the cast was fantastic! Three more shows left if you haven't seen it! Oh, and Sam and Noah sat like good boys thru the whole thing! and Matt split his lip open (really bad) at football... that's all for now....
Betty Merritt Fry Going to the Curve today!!!!!!! Sam asked us the other day: What field trip is next? Love have summers off!!!!!!!!
Betty Merritt Fry The truck we spent 400 on last week broke down a few miles from the campground Monday. We were going up a huge hill and hauling the camper and the truck just quit. Mike could start it, but when he put it in gear, it stalled out. we were stuck with the twins and the dog and it was hot. what to do? I prayed. LOUD AND HAR...D. Mike started the truck and it got us to the campground. just saying.how can you NOT believe?june 16Betty Merritt Fry Matt: "Sammy let's go. We're going to be late..."Sam: "Right now's not the perfect time for me..."Mom: LMAOjune 14-10 Betty Merritt Fry So we're in the dollar store fighting with Noah over flip flops. he wants the girliest pinkest flip flops in the store... Daddy is having issues with this.... I don't mind him loving pink, but they WERE really girly... Up comes big tough former student Nick Coble... i say "Hey Nick, what do YOU think of these pink flip... flops?" He says "Go for it Buddy".... sigh
6-7-10Betty Merritt Fry question posed by my 5 year old (Sammy): Why do they say "going off" when things GO ON? Like "The alarm goes off"?
......uh......uh..... That's what Mike and I came up with.... any ideas?June 7 at 6:26am Friends Only · Comment ·LikeUnlike · View Feedback (7)Hide Feedback (7)5-31-10Betty Merritt Fry camping trip in 50 words or less: forgot the dog, had to go back and get him... saw a bald eagle- watched with binoculars for long time. awesome. Sammy had asthma attack. ER at 1:30 in the morning. no cell service. drove behind a drunk. all's well now. my life is never boring....
