Kieran

Thanks Jenny!
These pictures are all, except for one, from the old camera.

Big Kid Toys

I've wanted a new camera for a long time. We've had an HP digital point and shoot since the kids were about 4. I have an old Nikon 2000 that hasn't seen the light of day in years. I really doubt there are any memory cells left for a 35mm slr. Anyway, thanks to the taxes coming back quickly, I have a new Nikon digital slr.

I've only been able to play with it for a little while but it's an amazing camera.

Thanks JenJenqld for the advice.

Is it possible for a not quite 8 year old to have PMS?

Mommy Thoughts

Sand..............It's everywhere. I understand the little piles next to kicked off shoes after school, I understand it being in the washer and dryer and I understand sand in the bath tub. What I don't understand is sand in my bed. I wouldn't mind if the sand had come from my feet because that would mean I had been to the beach. But I haven't been to the beach lately. I don't think we even went once last Summer-due to the new pool. Where does it come from? Just how long can sand stay in the cracks and crevices of a child?

The Third Times A Charm

HE DID IT!!!

Finally, finally on his 3rd try at a dance competition, Kyle didn't chicken out. He danced all 3 of his dances and brought home a 3rd place medal in his single jig. I was so proud that he did it, even while shaking with fright, that I almost cried. After the last two failed competitions, he cried and said, "I'm so stupid". He said the same thing this morning only with the added, "that I missed the last two feissana (plural of "feis" or festival). I just knew once he made it through even one dance, he'd be fine. He gripped my Mom's tiny Rosary in his hand for good luck. Thanks mom.

Kendra and Kieran did a good job at their dances but didn't place.

Help! My hair is too heavy.

Mommy Thoughts

Just my random thoughts. Sort of like the old Arsenio Hall Show. Remember "things that make you go Hmmmm".

Why, why is there more pee on the the floor than in the toilet? I know boys.
But why, WHY is there toothpaste on the bathroom ceiling?
Hmmmmm....

Kieran-isms: Random thoughts and sayings from the Old Soul

Kendra had been in the bathroom awhile so Paul asked her if she was constipated. She said, "I don't know. I don't even know what that means". And from across the loft Kieran tells her with all of his worldly knowledge, "He (Daddy) means do you have a headache".

Once in awhile Kyle pulls out a random goofy thought. He was somersaulting around the house. "Somersaulting is so awesome!".

Ahhh the simple things are the most entertaining.

Anti-Paparazzi

The only way I can get a picture of Kieran these days is when he doesn't know I'm taking one.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

We went to the Zoo with the Kamahis on Monday. Everyone had the day off for President's Day. I think this is the first time we've met the Kamahi kids. They are so sweet. You think with 7 kids total, one of them would've looked at the camera.

The Amazing Mind of a (ADHD) Child

Kieran was finally diagnosed ADHD. I've known for years. Because he is the predominnantly hyperactive/impulsive type rather than the inatentive type his teachers always said, "no way he doesn't have ADHD". I think he was ADHD in utero. He'd push eveyone out of his way in my belly. He was the first to be moved out of the crib the three of them shared because he'd shove Kendra and Kyle to the corners of the crib. He did everything (and more) first. Holding his head up, crawling, walking, talking, every thing first. He also learned to use the kitchen drawers as a ladder to get on top of the counter so he could traverse the kitchen and get to the top of the fridge. The "safe" place where the kitchen matches were. So he could light matches and burn holes in the floor. He was the kid that no gate could confine, no child protective latch could stop and no doorknob cover could keep behind a closed door. He's been on the go since birth. Not since around the time they were born but since the second he shoved his own head out of me. The doctors were pulling Kendra out and Kieran popped his head out as if to say, "hey I'm here and I have things to do". Some of the wrist bands from birth have Kendra and Kieran born at the same time. The official times have them born a minute apart even though he was out (on his own) at the same time.
The ADHD has really taken over this year. I guess it's reached some type of peak. I'm not sure why but we got to a place where Kieran was only getting negative attention because he was always on the go in some bad direction. He also got to a point where I felt like he was a 2-year old again as far as crossing streets, parking lots and crowded areas. I was not letting go of his hand anymore. He was diagnosed by a psychiatrist and put on medication about 3 months ago. We so didn't want to go there but the results were amazing. We're still tweaking the dosage. The major problems now are sleeping and eating. He was already having sleep issues but the meds compound that. Kieran can't fall asleep until 10:00 or 11:00 and then it's a huge struggle to drag him out of bed in the morning. He also has a loss of appetite. He's not really hungry until long after dinner when all the medication is out of his sysytem. This is an exhausting struggle. I'm so worried that he will have to be on medication for his whole life.
Now that said, the way his mind works is astounding. He used to write songs when he was really little. Now he writes jokes; that actually make sense. "What did the baby do when he stepped on his grapes?" "Whined" He can focus (also part of ADHD) for hours on a project. We have many creations around the house and in the yard. He's happy to be set free in Daddy's tool box with some scrap wood. His favorite things are tape (duct, scotch, masking), a stapler, envelopes, popcicle sticks, pipe cleaners, etc. Lego projects go on for hours.

This is just one example below. He had no help. This "creation" is for popping balloons. I don't know why you'd need to pop balloons but there it is.