prayer for Micah

We've been having a really difficult time with Micah for several weeks now and we are asking for prayer for him. We thought that it was just that he needed routine, having been out of school for several weeks but he has now been in school for a month and should have adjusted by now. We have had lots of days of him just not being happy anywhere...home, school, or church. He has been aggressive at times, hitting and kicking his teacher and aides in the classroom and us at home as well. Sometimes he is just ornery; he will knock things off any surface, throw toys, or pull on our dining room chairs, etc. Sometimes when he does these things he just looks at you and laughs.

We have been trying to get his behavior medication worked out. One that he started in April seemed to really help but then perhaps lost its effectiveness in the summer. He has been on it but it seemed to really make him sleepy in the mornings and was not able to function at school so we took that away. We started a new med on Monday and it has not gone well. He has been even more hyper, constantly pacing, and not cooperative in the least, especially at school. His teacher cried yesterday and she has never done that. She just does not know what to do anymore. She said it seems like he is not the same Micah as last year. He is not willing to work on any goals or willing to be worked with one on one. She has been teaching for 35 years and she knows what she is doing. He has the same teacher and classroom as last year. They are having a hard time working with the other students because one of them (teacher and 2 aides) is having to be with Micah so much. They are fearful that he will hurt himself or someone else because he has been so rowdy.


We have also been doing a nutrition therapy with Micah and so far it's just that he's getting some supplements of protein, Omega 3s, and a high quality multivitamin. We have been doing this for about 6 weeks and haven't seen much improvement and his eating habits are not much better.


Probably the next step is for him to have a MRI of his brain to make sure there is nothing different going on with the growths there, etc. We were supposed to do that in December, but I think it may need to be sooner. I don't know that it will provide any answers, but it's worth a try.


I went to a seminar on Mon and Tues in Little Rock for the Picture Exchange Communication System. I know Micah's speech therapists both at school and the other clinic he goes to have been doing this some and we want to pursue it at home. I'm sure he is frustrated a lot about not being able to communicate much and we are desperate to try and communicate more with him.


I woke up a couple of times in the night thinking of my conversation with his teacher and just anxious, wishing we could find some solutions. I know Philippians 4:6-7 says "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." I know I'm not supposed to worry, but these days it is hard when we feel like we are trying so many things and not much is improving. All I know to do is to continue to trust and pray. I would be honored if you would join me.

One last thing, I am going to Alaska on a mission trip with my church, leaving this Saturday and coming back the following Saturday.  I'm so excited about it.  I must admit, I'm a little conflicted with everything going on with Micah, yet we have been planning this for months and have made arrangements for family to be here with him and Gabriel and to help Wayne.  I would appreciate your prayers for this trip as well.  I'm looking forward to seeing what God is up to in Alaska!

A couple of snippets

I am loving Gabriel's mealtime prayer these days (it's been the same for several days) : "Thank you God for the food and we can have a good night's sweep and pway outside."  The poor child doesn't get to play outside much because it's still so hot so I guess he feels the need to pray about it!

I took Micah to his dermagologist the other day because of a perpetual rash on his arms.  She suggested we put vaseline on it and wrap it with saran wrap to see if that helps since what we've tried hasn't worked well.  I sort of stared blankly at her all the while thinking that I might have a timer ready if and when we do it to see how long it stays on his arms.

She also commented on the bumps on his face (that sort of look like acne) that are characteristic of TSC and asked if he was about to go through puberty.  I said "I sure hope not!  He's only six!"  She said "Oh my gosh, he looks so much older!" 
He could pass for 8 or 9, but probably not 12 or 13!