Obvious Sign It's Summer:

 The Summer Buzz Cut!

After

Before

Energy Energy... + an Explanation

Whenever people would ask me what it is like to have sons, I always replied instantly that it was fun but high energy! My oldest was a joyful handful of movement and motion, and though it was a lot of fun to experience, it sure was exhausting!

Well, apparently that energy wasn't coming from the simple fact that he was a boy. We learned this week that we get to learn more about ADHD, as Trent has both types - hyperactivity and inattention. It sure does explain a lot looking back on his seven years!

So what exactly is ADHD? The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for attention and impulse control. In people with ADHD, brain scans show that the frontal lobe does not get as much blood flow as it does with people without the disorder. With less blood flow, it makes it hard to pay attention and control impulses.

Interestingly enough, negative consequences (such as time out) have no affect on blood flow in the brain. However, positive reinforcement has a very noticeable impact on the brain, visibly increasing blood flow to the frontal lobe. For this reason, we're being told to change our style of parenting to primarily positive reinforcement, as this will register with Trent as opposed to negative consequences, which wouldn't have an effect on him at all. We're seeing a huge difference when we follow this advice.

The other interesting thing we learned from talking to the psychologist who evaluated Trent was that  he stops paying attention when things are easy and simple, but pays more attention and performs way above age level when he is challenged. This explained to me how Trent pays the most attention and sits the most still for his grandfather, who loves to talk about very in-depth and complicated topics (science, math) for long periods of time and do challenging projects with him. (Love you, Dad!)

We've got a lot of learning to do - about academic tips, parenting tips, and even medications. But having a diagnosis for Trent makes it so much easier to understand the sweet child and to be able to parent him in a way that really helps him grow into the young man that God has in mind for him!

Happy Mother's {and Sons} Day!

Such a sweet video - Thanks Chris for sharing this!

Great Gatsby!

No better place for a Great Gatsby Party than the historic Jekyll Island Club, built in the 1890's!

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Siblings

Little Hikers!

Chase started an OT based social skills class which meets once a week, so I get an hour with just Trent and Caroline all to myself. Today we went hiking by the Chattahoochee and it was the sweetest thing ever watching the two of them holding hands down the path! Love these kids!

We're Out Lounging!

I need to hang a sign on our front door - if we don't answer the doorbell, we must be out back lounging away!

Huge thanks to my in-laws, who gave us their former patio furniture to fill the big gaping whole that has been our patio the past year and a half! We've been enjoying the place to sit and enjoy the gorgeous Georgia spring and eating our dinners outside! 

We've done a bit of sprucing up since the photos, including removing the plastic covering you see on the table - these pictures were taken as soon as the furniture arrived, we just couldn't wait for the glass to be un-crated for us to use the furniture! We have even moved the regular Weber grill down into the basement garage so that our Big Green Egg can take center stage. Yes, we have officially turned into a 100% Green Egg grilling family! 

And we took grilling seriously this past week, cooking up some tasty (and colorful) kabobs in a honey soy sauce - YUM!

The other significant addition to the backyard is the little birdhouse Baby Caroline made at her playschool. I was told that the kids were very intense in their painting! Hopefully this will bring some pretty spring birds by to say hello!