Whoa we're halway there . . .

Whoa. . .we're living on a prayer ~Bon Jovi

Did I just quote Jon Bon Jovi? Why yes I did because we are HALF way through the 12 weeks at Brain Balance and praying is what keeps us going.

The past 6 weeks have been tough!!! Not going to lie! I met the task at hand with a full blown exercise chart and new planned out schedule. At the end of the first week in my best George Lopez voice (George Lopez "I got this!" Compilation )  I said to myself "I got this!" Hahahahaha It's funny . . . .NOW!

You see I'm a "WM". . .working mom. So my kids have always been in daycare. Our daycare is AWESOME. Ethan went there since he was 2 and Nora started there when she was born. The teachers and staff are the BEST! Could drop off my precious arrows and not worry because I knew they were being well taken care of and most importantly loved. At the end of the first week at Brain Balance we were notified the daycare would be CLOSING! What?? That wasn't in MY plan . . . or on my chart.

Thankfully Sam is working 2nd shift. At the time he was switched we weren't happy but God knew what was ahead. So new daily routine charts were created with the help of foam pieces and Velcro. We did get Nora in a summer camp 2 days a week and when school starts she will go 5 days a week 1/2 a day at the new pre-school. She LOVES her "new school" and tells everyone she meets about it. She gets to do gymnastics there one day a week too and is soaking it up! Next Mary Lou Retton?? Maybe!

We all are still adjusting to this new schedule and bracing ourselves for more changes when school starts back in a week. The crazy thing is amidst the chaos we are actually spending more time together as a family. Who knew?? God did!

Progress Report: Ethan has been a real trooper. The exercises 3 times a day are coming along. Some of the things he does: "Finger Kisses" where he touches each finger to his thumb and then back which helps with fine motor skills. We play the old school Memory Game which he loves! "Silly Steps" where I give him instructions like "Go to the bathroom, get your toothpaste, put it on your head and walk backwards back into the kitchen." You start out simple and then you build on the instructions. Eye exercises, diaphragmatic breathing and listening to music.

One of the biggest adjustments has been "screen time". Screen time is TV, Computer, phone, etc. He only gets ONE hour a day (2 hours on Sat/Sun). That was hard at first but he's learning to just go PLAY! I think ALL kids would benefit from that. Also, screen time is a privilege. Don't follow the house rules then you loose your screen time. Screen time has become a precious commodity at the Isenhours.

He has already come up one level in most areas but still has a long way to go. The director at BB said something very interesting to me during his progress report meeting. She said its hard to distinguish what is the ADHD and what are habits he's formed to help him cope because of the ADHD deficits. To me that was eye opening! We've already seen definite changes in his behavior. For example, he used to get up first thing in the morning and just repeat a word over and over and over again going about his morning routine. Or even when playing in him room by himself. Just a constant non-sense jabbering. Now I hear him actually playing. . . you know car crash and helicopter sounds. I know it seems like a small thing but to me HUGE! He also, like most kids, would ask the same question over knowing the answer was "no". So instead of obliging him with a "no" the 2nd time I now say, "Didn't I already answer that?" Just to put on the brakes and make him think. We've been doing this for awhile and the other day the 2nd time he asked before I could even speak he said "wait you already said no so the answer is no." WHAT?? I was SHOCKED!! HUGE I tell you HUGE! I can say Brain Balance has not only been good for Ethan but for all of us.

6 more weeks to go at BB and school starts in a week. Thank you to those that have been praying for us. Please continue to pray. More schedule adjustments ahead. Starting the school year with NO medication and we don't plan to put him back on it. Pray for Ethan to have a calm body at school and to be attentive. Pray for understanding and love from his teacher. Ethan is a strong-willed child and you can't demand much and get results but you can love that boy into anything.  We covet your prayers.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.