Rather impressed.

Well, the doctor has taken Dominic off of Methylin and prescribed him Risperidone. He has run out of the Methylin and we are waiting for Medicaid to approve the Risperidone... UGH! He has NO medication except the Mirtazapine that he uses for sleep and appetite. I was impressed with his behavior yesterday. He did have a few moments of spazzing but for the most part he was a good kid. I love my babies so much! :)



Methylphenidate is used as part of a treatment program to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age) in adults and children. Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Methylin, Methylin ER) is also used to treat narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep). Methylphenidate is in a class of medications called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.


Risperidone is also used to treat behavior problems such as aggression, self-injury, and sudden mood changes in teenagers and children 5-16 years of age who have autism (a condition that causes repetitive behavior, difficulty interacting with others, and problems with communication). Risperidone is in a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. It works by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain)

Update!

Having friends in the right places definitely proved to be beneficial. We managed to get an appointment at the Dan Marino Outpatient Center for Dominic's evaluation next week instead of 3 months from now. Since we have to be there at 8:00 am, I've decided that he and I will go down the night before and stay, where else? Courtyard by Marriott. Working for a hotel chain also has its benefits! :)

Stronger than yesterday...

Part 1 - I ask why...

I think a lot of what I'm thinking and feeling are starting to all bubble to the surface again. Like many others, I keep telling myself "God only gives you what you can handle". Well I'm 27 years old. How much more am I going to get? I pray and all that. I believe, maybe not fully, but I believe. I know I have people who care about us and are praying for us and are willing to lend an ear if I need it. I'm fully grateful. I hope some don't take offense when I don't talk to them about things in detail. I need people who UNDERSTAND what I'm dealing with. People who have been there and done that. I know of only two other moms who have been dealing with these types of issues and apparently one that I had no idea until yesterday. I am thankful for these women (and all the others) who speak words of strength, courage, compassion, love and understanding. It truly makes things easier to swallow.

Part 2 - What's my song?

I was trying to find a song with the lyrics that expressed how I felt. Of course, I can't find the "best" one. I figure if I take a line from one and a piece from another and a snippet from another, I'd have the best song that describes me. Well, thanks to the help of Gloria Gaynor, Britney Spears, Sara Evans and Kanye West, I think I have put the lines together nicely.

At first I was afraid, I was petrified.
Now that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger.
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay, even on my weakest days. I get a little bit stronger.
Stronger than yesterday, not it's nothing but my way.
I will survive.

Funny how most of them discuss failing relationships... but I put them together like this and make them work just for me.

Uncertainty

Today just hasn't been my day... well, not completely anyway. I got approximately 45 minutes of sleep before I had to get the kids up for school. When I'm over tired, I can be highly emotion and irritable. I had a meeting with our therapist to discuss the kids' progress. Allyson's was good and Dominic's, not so much. There was still a lot of work to be done. She informed me that she and the psychiatrist had talked extensively about Dominic and that they were concerned. Fast forward to appointment with the psychiatrist later this afternoon - I find out that the therapist has been observing behaviors that are symptoms of autism and that they want to have him evaluated by a neurologist, 2 and 1/2 hours away from where we live. Good times. They want me to take him to the Dan Marino Children's Center  in Weston (part of Miami Children's Hospital)  for the evaluation. Lucky for me, I find out that my friend's mother works in the exact place we need to contact. Swapped some information with her and can we say "appointment coming soon"? 

The beginning of the WTH!! moments.

These first couple of posts may be a little hard to follow as I am trying to cram as much information I can into the fewest amount of words... I have a lot to type. 


Here is a little background information to catch everyone up to where we (the kids and I) are today. 


January 2009 - The father of my children died suddenly, and most definitely unexpectedly, from a brain aneurysm. At the time, my daughter, Allyson was almost 4 and my son, Dominic, had just turned 2. The kids and I moved in with my parents.


Fast forward to 2010 - Allyson starts kindergarten, Dominic is in preschool. The negative behaviors start. Allyson is having trouble focusing and listening in class and Dominic has the same but with aggression and violence thrown in the mix. Nice for a 3 year old, huh? Dominic was asked to leave one preschool and was on the verge of it happening again. I did research on ADHD, ADD, Autism, ODD, etc. and was convinced that there was something there. I made the decision to enlist some help. The pediatrician didn't see anything wrong with them and that the behavior was "normal". I'm sorry, but for a 3 year old to just walk up to another child and punch them in the nose, isn't normal. After getting no where with the pediatrician, I was referred to a psychiatrist from a teacher at the preschool. We began seeing the doctor. Allyson and Dominic were both initially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and put on medication to control the impulses. Allyson's medication worked great and Dominic's was hit or miss. Some days would be fine and others would be a little off. They began working with a therapist regularly. 


Home life: The three of us moved in with my boyfriend in April of 2010. They began to see him as a father figure, which I felt was important for both of them, especially Dominic. Life is good, but trying due to the behavior issues we are experiencing.


Now, in 2011 - Allyson is almost finished with kindergarten and doing very good. Dominic is still having trouble every now and then. When he gets mad at his teacher or doesn't get his way, he will just sit there and poop in his pants. We've changed medication type, dose and frequency and have seen little to no progress. They are both still seeing a therapist weekly.