Well, Arley was sick with a cold all week. We didn't go to the trampoline place as planned, or tennis, or swimming. He says he feels fine, but he has been coughing and sneezing something terrible. He is definitely getting better though. I have felt off for three days too, like I was coming down with it but held it off with copious amounts of zinc. I think I have been successful, because I'm feeling much better today. Yesterday Jeffrey put his back out, so he's been out of commission. We're a family falling apart! Miraculously Carmie hasn't gotten sick, and she's even been sleeping!
Over the weekend we did get out of the house both days. We decided to explore Nana Glen, a small town near Coffs, thinking there was something to do there. While it was beautiful, there was nothing to do! We took a walk in a nature reserve, and then hightailed it over to Sapphire Beach so the kids could have a play in the park there. The kids had fun, and even I climbed the rope tower, which is quite high!
On Sunday we decided to have a picnic at the Botanic Gardens because Jeff hadn't been there before, and they are really beautiful. The kids weren't too thrilled about going, but amazingly both didn't complain too much and we got out the door. It was a bit of a different story while we were there. Arley was doing our heads in with his silliness and his noises and a little anger and his constant bugging. It was not the most relaxing time, but it is definitely lovely there. We had our picnic and then walked the longer way to the front gates, and then Arley wanted to visit the cemetery, so we sat on a bench while he visited the graves and looked up the names of the people on my phone. He is an unusual boy!
Since Arley has been off his Intuniv, we realise how much the med was working for him (even though it was making him too sleepy and not eat.) We have the old Arley back that we remember from Ulladulla. While we love him to bits, he is quite hard to live with at the moment. And now we know why. We have started seeing one of Australia's experts in child psychology and autism. We had two sessions this week, and she told us in her opinion Arley also has severe ADHD. This doesn't surprise me. I kept telling our old OT in Ulladulla that I thought he had ADHD, and she kept dismissing me, which now makes me really angry. This is why we have so much trouble parenting him. His attention span at the moment is about 15 minutes, with lots of coaxing and being brought back to task, and that is only if he is amenable to it. We are going to be starting a program called the Westmead Feelings Program with this psychologist, and it involves the whole family. I finally feel like I'm being heard. Tomorrow we have a paediatrician appointment for both kids, and we have a lot to cover!
I have spent a lot of time playing with the kids at home this week, and it's actually been quite nice to have some home time. It's definitely less stressful than going out. After we go out as a family, I feel like I have run a mental marathon, I am absolutely shattered and in burnout and it takes me a good hour to recover. Our new psychologist has suggested we only go out for family outings in short spurts and when we are mentally prepared, with recovery time for everyone afterwards, and I think this is a good idea. We will be splitting the kids up more often, because they are much easier one on one.
Anyway, I know all this sounds pessimistic, but I'm actually really optimistic, because we are finally getting the help we need. And thank goodness for that!
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