Splat Goes Life.

We are now on day 4, having given 3 doses of the Abilify. Saturday morning I gave it to Jack around 8:15 (I would have given it to him earlier, since I would have to on week days, however I slept in). I don't know if he had a difficult night's sleep, but he was tired almost right away. At 10:30, he became extremely angry with his sister about asking me where the cookies were. (I think he wanted to sneak them, so he didn't appreciate her meddling). I sent Jack to his room, where he took an hour-long nap. His attitude did improve after that, but there were a total of 3 incidents of that nature throughout the day. They didn't last for very long, but they were there. I can't say they were related to his medication, either. Though I do think him being so tired was. On Sunday, Jack woke up at 5:30am, and went back to sleep around 7. I think he got up early, knowing that we had some new cable channels on the TV (Nick 2 and Teen Nick), and he wanted to check them out. ...

The trouble with meds.. I go back to that post and remind myself (and anyone who may immediately shake their heads in disgust over the fact that my child is currently being medicated) that sometimes, there just are no other options. Yesterday Jack had a med check. I brought with me some emails from both the regular teacher as well as the IS (intervention specialist), specific to ADHD behaviors. Then I provided my own list of symptoms as provided by this website , checking off everything that applies with regard to inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. (Almost every single thing was checked off- I didn't even need to ask the teacher and IS about the list for impulsiveness. LOL). I also brought a rough draft copy of Jack's current IEP (put together for yesterday's appointment, but minus a page from the Speech Therapist), highlighting the pages referring to behaviors. Then I included a note about how Jack was suspended from the school bus for (supposedly) spittin...

Yesterday the family sat down to watch episodes of a show called Weird or What? , hosted by William Shatner. In one particular episode about pets and animals, there was a story about a man who was attacked by a Great White, and saved by several dolphins . This led to a discussion about dolphins and self-awareness, and empathy. According to an article written and published in "Psychology Today" , "Self-awareness in humans is an important developmental milestone. It is the point at which an individual, usually at about age 2, develops the ability to identify him/herself objectively. Studies have shown that certain other mammals - chimpanzees, gorillas, bottle-nosed dolphins, and elephants - also have the capacity for self-awareness". In the clip, humans learn self-awareness around 18-24 months of age. This is about the time they can look into a mirror and realize they're seeing themselves. (They showed dolphins in front of a mirror, seeing themselves and being...

We're still in a waiting pattern to hear from the NeuroDev Psych clinic. Jack's service coordinator emailed me to find out if I'd heard from them, so that she could get the ball rolling on her end (since the County will fund the services). Nothing yet. In the meantime, Jack is in one of his downward slumps.. if you want to call it that. The Intervention Specialist called me the other day to let me know how things are going. In other words, not that great. While Jack's vocalizations (verbal abuse) has gone down, his physical "abuse" has gone up. I get weekly reports every Friday on his behavior, and just about every day consists of some episode of hitting a staff member. Usually, it's his Intervention Specialist, because she's the one stepping in when there's a problem, and sending him to her room. He used to stop before he made actual contact, looking all the while for a reaction. Or, he would look like he was going to punch, but then slow dow...

Sometimes I just want to slap people silly. I am so beyond irritated by people who seem - whether by choice or by nature - to want to slow down the process of me getting help for my son. I have been pushing for quite some time now for a real psychiatrist to help him. Not a psychologist, not a pediatrician- an honest to God psychiatrist who knows what the hell they're doing, knows what questions to ask, bothers to sit and talk with my son and see what makes him tick. I have yet to find one damn person capable of doing just that. My push to get Jack a continuation of services through the County.. for what, at this point? THIS is what I could use them for. I thought my getting Jack referred to the Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry clinic would be the right thing to do. Get him in to real doctors, who (based on various methods of testing) would be able to point us in the right direction. Yet again, my efforts are being hampered. I don't get it. Why the hell is it so damn hard?...

I think I've been a fog lately.. more like a funk, I guess. Even when I'm not in a "bad" mood, sometimes it's hard to say to myself "You've got this!" I've been gathering paperwork for the County, so they can refer Jack to the Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry clinic. I had gotten in everything pretty much right away, except for a signature from the regular pediatrician, who is currently treating the ADHD with meds. All I needed was for him to look over the meds being dx'd for ADHD, the sleep issues, asthma, etc.. and sign off on it. Then, if he was feeling helpful, include a note that might be of use to the clinic regarding Jack's many behavior issues. I guess, to make the case that even a regular doctor has had concerns- it's not just an over imaginative mother who thinks her son is on his way to a straight jacket. I did get the basic information required, as well as a signature, but as for a helpful note? I just got a copy of e...