Every time I take Logan to the doctor, they ask if he has any allergies to medication. Every time I answer Adderall.
Today he asked why.
"Mom, why am I allergic to Adderall?"
"Allergies can mean many things - it basically means you have a not normal reaction to something you put in or on your body."
"What happens if I take Adderall?"
That was a question I really didn't want to answer. I don't want to go back to that experience. It happened when he was four. The answer is "A complete psychotic break", but I didn't want to tell him that.
"It makes you not sleep."
"How long did I not sleep for?"
"Three days."
"Wow, I bet I was tired after that."
What really happened was this: Our pediatrician decided to switch him from Ritilan to Adderall. He didn't sleep for 48 hours. He had a complete meltdown and attacked me. I had scratches and bruises all over my body from a four-year-old beating the crap out of me. After a full day of being beaten, I knew it wasn't going to stop and that we had to go see a doctor. I knew it was related to the switch in his medication. I had to sit on him just to get him into his car seat. While we were driving, he continuously yanked my head back by my pony tail in the car. It took everything I had not to break down myself. I was on auto-pilot. When I got to the office, I was restraining him with both my arms and my legs and he was flailing with all of his might and screaming at the top of his lungs. The woman at the front desk told me to have a seat in the waiting room. Um, how about you put me in a room? Do you see what I'm dealing with? My eyes were glazed over and I was shaking. They brought us to a room.
He continued to flail, bite, scratch, kick and scream in the room as I restrained him. This had been going on for hours at this point and I was bleeding and bruised. When our pediatrician finally walked in the room, the tears came down. I had nothing left. She called an ambulance and he was transferred to Children's. They kept us until the medication wore off and he fell asleep.
Not many people can understand this. Not many people can understand the pain, endurance and patience needed with a child with ASD. Luckily we have moved beyond his aggressive behavior thanks to medication, therapy and some excellent teachers and psychologists. He hasn't had aggressive behavior in several years - but many families aren't so lucky. I thank God every time I recall this experience that we no longer have to deal with situations like this.
A designer Mama. An organic toddler. An Aspie tween.
Showing posts with label aspergers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aspergers. Show all posts
1.25.2011
1.20.2011
Struggles with Aspergers
Yesterday seemed to never end.
It started pretty normal - I went to the grocery store to satisfy my new coupon obsession (it was double coupon day), picked up the new b&b wholesale packets and stopped to pick up a couple prescriptions at Target. Butters slept in a little yesterday morning, so my intentions were to only put him down for one nap as opposed to his normal two.
This idea didn't work out in my favor.
After two bouts of screaming, I realized that neither of us was going to be getting our much needed afternoon siesta. Crabby baby, crabby Mama.
Then Logan got home, and this already touchy situation was exasperated by his math test (53%) and a language arts project (C). THEN, I had the pleasure of reading the evaluations for his upcoming IEP meeting next week. This was the last piece that our already slightly off-balance house needed to tip.
Now this little tidbit needs a little background info. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "IEP", this is an Individualized Education Plan. It lays out a plan for all of the extra things Logan needs to get through his day, any services (speech, etc), and basically discusses his progress and shortfalls. The IEPs done every three years (which is the one that needs to be done) include several tests, psychological and educational, issued by his teachers and the school psychologist.
Back to the story, I read through pages of other people's evaluation of where my child was at. His teachers had comments such as "makes actions or comments that hinder peer acceptance", and "gets distracted during transitions", and "has a difficult time focusing in class".
I've seen the homework Logan hands in, and its not so good. I will help him, but I will absolutely not do it FOR him. I will only help him within a realm he is able to understand. He has a very difficult time writing papers. His paragraphs are limited to three sentences - he does the very minimum required to get by. It is far below the work of his peers. He struggles with both math and science concepts and often fails his tests. However, his grades are B's and C's...I really feel like he gets pushed through because teachers often don't want to deal with him.
He doesn't have the peer relationships that most children his age have. This is typical of children with Asperger's. Although he is 11, he has the social maturity of probably a six or seven year old. I have a very hard time going to school events with him and watching him attempt to interact with other kids his age, and seeing them react with distaste and annoyance. He is often ignored.
Last night I struggled for probably the zillionth time with what to do. Putting him in a private school isn't the answer - they are more academically demanding and do not have the extra services necessary for him to succeed. Holding him back a year would be difficult at his age (I brought this up last night and he freaked out).
So, this morning I had to work on finding answers. I'm not sure if the answer is pushing the school district, but I contacted the State of Minnesota's Autism Specialist to see if I can push for him to have a para with him all day (which I've asked for on several occasions but the school has denied). I contacted the one private school in Minnesota that specializes in special needs children - that comes with a tuition of over $21,000 per year. I'm Googling any possible school in our area that may have an Autism program. I've contacted the doctor that did his Asperger's diagnosis to see if he can give further recommendations to the school staff in writing to back up everything I'm asking for.
Where this will go from here, I don't know yet, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes.
It started pretty normal - I went to the grocery store to satisfy my new coupon obsession (it was double coupon day), picked up the new b&b wholesale packets and stopped to pick up a couple prescriptions at Target. Butters slept in a little yesterday morning, so my intentions were to only put him down for one nap as opposed to his normal two.
This idea didn't work out in my favor.
After two bouts of screaming, I realized that neither of us was going to be getting our much needed afternoon siesta. Crabby baby, crabby Mama.
Then Logan got home, and this already touchy situation was exasperated by his math test (53%) and a language arts project (C). THEN, I had the pleasure of reading the evaluations for his upcoming IEP meeting next week. This was the last piece that our already slightly off-balance house needed to tip.
Now this little tidbit needs a little background info. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "IEP", this is an Individualized Education Plan. It lays out a plan for all of the extra things Logan needs to get through his day, any services (speech, etc), and basically discusses his progress and shortfalls. The IEPs done every three years (which is the one that needs to be done) include several tests, psychological and educational, issued by his teachers and the school psychologist.
Back to the story, I read through pages of other people's evaluation of where my child was at. His teachers had comments such as "makes actions or comments that hinder peer acceptance", and "gets distracted during transitions", and "has a difficult time focusing in class".
I've seen the homework Logan hands in, and its not so good. I will help him, but I will absolutely not do it FOR him. I will only help him within a realm he is able to understand. He has a very difficult time writing papers. His paragraphs are limited to three sentences - he does the very minimum required to get by. It is far below the work of his peers. He struggles with both math and science concepts and often fails his tests. However, his grades are B's and C's...I really feel like he gets pushed through because teachers often don't want to deal with him.
He doesn't have the peer relationships that most children his age have. This is typical of children with Asperger's. Although he is 11, he has the social maturity of probably a six or seven year old. I have a very hard time going to school events with him and watching him attempt to interact with other kids his age, and seeing them react with distaste and annoyance. He is often ignored.
Last night I struggled for probably the zillionth time with what to do. Putting him in a private school isn't the answer - they are more academically demanding and do not have the extra services necessary for him to succeed. Holding him back a year would be difficult at his age (I brought this up last night and he freaked out).
So, this morning I had to work on finding answers. I'm not sure if the answer is pushing the school district, but I contacted the State of Minnesota's Autism Specialist to see if I can push for him to have a para with him all day (which I've asked for on several occasions but the school has denied). I contacted the one private school in Minnesota that specializes in special needs children - that comes with a tuition of over $21,000 per year. I'm Googling any possible school in our area that may have an Autism program. I've contacted the doctor that did his Asperger's diagnosis to see if he can give further recommendations to the school staff in writing to back up everything I'm asking for.
Where this will go from here, I don't know yet, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes.
1.14.2011
Taxidermy and Avent Bottles
One of Logan's Aspie obsessions is reading Calvin and Hobbes.
Logan - "Mom, do you think Jax will be like Calvin when he gets older?"
Me - "I'm not sure..."
Logan - "Well, if he is, I'm going to go to the toy store and get him a tiger. And not a stuffed one, but taxidermy."
Outstanding idea, Logs.
Moving on, and switching gears completely, I despise Avent bottles. Don't buy them. Ever. They leak profusely. They leak from both the ring and the nipple. There is nothing more enraging then attempting to make a screaming, hungry baby a bottle, shaking it to mix the formula and having the mixture fly all over the kitchen. Re-adjust, still leaking. Re-adjust again. More screaming. Nerves twitching.
We have actually been struggling with this since Jax switched to the bottle when he was around 2 months old, so for about the last EIGHT months. Why I waited 8 months to switch brands is absolutely beyond me. I can't even TELL you how many times I've had to go downstairs in the middle of the night to make a bottle (half asleep) and cursed Avent out under my breath because it takes me a full ten minutes to re-adjust and re-adjust the ring and nipple so it doesn't leak.
So today we finally made the switch and I bought a new set. I switched to the Playtex Wide Bottles. About an hour ago I put Butters down with his first one, and haven't heard a peep. I'm hesitant after the Avent fiasco, so we'll see how it goes. I'll update about whether or not they leak.
Another product that sucks - Safety 1st cabinet locks are terrible. They still open wide enough for Butters to get out an average sized bottle of spray cleaner.
AND...Butters has also learned how to move one large thing to climb on top of another thing. Charming.
Lastly, make SURE you have gotten to b&b to check out the bib and burpie sale!
Logan - "Mom, do you think Jax will be like Calvin when he gets older?"
Me - "I'm not sure..."
Logan - "Well, if he is, I'm going to go to the toy store and get him a tiger. And not a stuffed one, but taxidermy."
Outstanding idea, Logs.
Moving on, and switching gears completely, I despise Avent bottles. Don't buy them. Ever. They leak profusely. They leak from both the ring and the nipple. There is nothing more enraging then attempting to make a screaming, hungry baby a bottle, shaking it to mix the formula and having the mixture fly all over the kitchen. Re-adjust, still leaking. Re-adjust again. More screaming. Nerves twitching.
We have actually been struggling with this since Jax switched to the bottle when he was around 2 months old, so for about the last EIGHT months. Why I waited 8 months to switch brands is absolutely beyond me. I can't even TELL you how many times I've had to go downstairs in the middle of the night to make a bottle (half asleep) and cursed Avent out under my breath because it takes me a full ten minutes to re-adjust and re-adjust the ring and nipple so it doesn't leak.
So today we finally made the switch and I bought a new set. I switched to the Playtex Wide Bottles. About an hour ago I put Butters down with his first one, and haven't heard a peep. I'm hesitant after the Avent fiasco, so we'll see how it goes. I'll update about whether or not they leak.
Another product that sucks - Safety 1st cabinet locks are terrible. They still open wide enough for Butters to get out an average sized bottle of spray cleaner.
AND...Butters has also learned how to move one large thing to climb on top of another thing. Charming.
Lastly, make SURE you have gotten to b&b to check out the bib and burpie sale!
12.28.2010
Aspies ask the most interesting questions...
"Mom, how do they get toothpaste in the tubes? The holes at the top are awfully small..."
Most of the questions Logan asks me, I just can't answer. We love Google at our house. Aspies think differently than the rest of us...they have their own little world. They change topics on the drop of a dime. They also have no filters. Whatever comes into their brains tends to come right out of their mouths...it's often funny, but it's often embarrassing and leads me to have to make apologies. Logan talks incessantly. Unless you have an Aspie, you probably can't understand how going through your day NOT listening to your child is a very valued skill. It's either that, or go crazy. Aspie's tend to have one or two things that they are very interested in, and that's normally all they want to talk about. They do not know how to have a two-way conversation. Logan receives speech therapy at school to work on this. He is unable to tell when somebody is uninterested in what he is saying as he cannot read facial expressions or social cues. He assumes that if HE is interested, you must be interested as well. Logan's interests are video games and Yu-Gi-Oh. Listening to him discuss these two things in detail all day long is both tiring and irritating. Yes, my child is irritating. I am not afraid to say it. I play the "Uh-huh" and "Yes" game often. I have learned to tune him out, but appease him enough to make him think I am listening. I really don't think he cares that I am listening most of the time - he just wants to talk, and get out of his system whatever it is he has to say. Again, not something most people can understand unless they deal with an Aspie.
Butters slept through the night. I, however, did not. When I crawled into bed around 11, I heard him moving around and was convinced he was going to wake up. Therefore, I couldn't sleep because I laid in bed just waiting for him to stand up in his crib and start crying. He never did...but because I have been so accustomed to getting up with him, I just waited...awake.
I have a b&b list a mile long...sewing, photography, sketching for spring, samples, wholesale packets...this will keep me busy all week. My goal is to cross everything off of this list by Friday.
b&b on Kare 11 - woo-hoo!
Most of the questions Logan asks me, I just can't answer. We love Google at our house. Aspies think differently than the rest of us...they have their own little world. They change topics on the drop of a dime. They also have no filters. Whatever comes into their brains tends to come right out of their mouths...it's often funny, but it's often embarrassing and leads me to have to make apologies. Logan talks incessantly. Unless you have an Aspie, you probably can't understand how going through your day NOT listening to your child is a very valued skill. It's either that, or go crazy. Aspie's tend to have one or two things that they are very interested in, and that's normally all they want to talk about. They do not know how to have a two-way conversation. Logan receives speech therapy at school to work on this. He is unable to tell when somebody is uninterested in what he is saying as he cannot read facial expressions or social cues. He assumes that if HE is interested, you must be interested as well. Logan's interests are video games and Yu-Gi-Oh. Listening to him discuss these two things in detail all day long is both tiring and irritating. Yes, my child is irritating. I am not afraid to say it. I play the "Uh-huh" and "Yes" game often. I have learned to tune him out, but appease him enough to make him think I am listening. I really don't think he cares that I am listening most of the time - he just wants to talk, and get out of his system whatever it is he has to say. Again, not something most people can understand unless they deal with an Aspie.
Butters slept through the night. I, however, did not. When I crawled into bed around 11, I heard him moving around and was convinced he was going to wake up. Therefore, I couldn't sleep because I laid in bed just waiting for him to stand up in his crib and start crying. He never did...but because I have been so accustomed to getting up with him, I just waited...awake.
I have a b&b list a mile long...sewing, photography, sketching for spring, samples, wholesale packets...this will keep me busy all week. My goal is to cross everything off of this list by Friday.
b&b on Kare 11 - woo-hoo!
12.26.2010
And...it's over.
It seems I spend months preparing for the holidays, and then they are over in the blink of an eye. Seeking out and buying the perfect gifts, decorating (admittedly I didn't do much this year), sending out cards (also skipped this one this year), WORKING (I did a LOT of this), cooking...oye. I have to admit I'm glad it's over, and I already started putting all of the Christmas decor away.
Butters and Logan are enjoying their new toys. Logan immediately retreated to his room after opening his 360 and we haven't seen much of him since. I've coaxed him out to eat, but I've let him go for the most part. Today we are back to his time limit of two one-hour periods of electronics time per day, so everything should go back to normal. Butters is loving his dinosaur walker and his kitchen...
So, we are loving the Step 2 Lifestyle Traditions Kitchen - it has lots of stuff to open and close which Butters loves, comes with silverware and plates, a coffee pot and pans (bonus) and is JUST his height for standing up. The link provided is to Toys R Us, however we got ours at Target for $20 cheaper. We love the Fisher Price Dinosaur Walker (also cheaper at Target) as it converts from a walker to a ride-on toy. Butters loves the lights on the top of the head that also plays songs. Our deal of the season was the Xbox 360 Lego Bundle for $199.99 from Best Buy (normally that price for just the console) - no longer available online, but still available in some stores. It came with THREE games - Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones - perfect for an 11-year-old.
I hope you all had a WONDERFUL holiday season!
Butters and Logan are enjoying their new toys. Logan immediately retreated to his room after opening his 360 and we haven't seen much of him since. I've coaxed him out to eat, but I've let him go for the most part. Today we are back to his time limit of two one-hour periods of electronics time per day, so everything should go back to normal. Butters is loving his dinosaur walker and his kitchen...
So, we are loving the Step 2 Lifestyle Traditions Kitchen - it has lots of stuff to open and close which Butters loves, comes with silverware and plates, a coffee pot and pans (bonus) and is JUST his height for standing up. The link provided is to Toys R Us, however we got ours at Target for $20 cheaper. We love the Fisher Price Dinosaur Walker (also cheaper at Target) as it converts from a walker to a ride-on toy. Butters loves the lights on the top of the head that also plays songs. Our deal of the season was the Xbox 360 Lego Bundle for $199.99 from Best Buy (normally that price for just the console) - no longer available online, but still available in some stores. It came with THREE games - Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones - perfect for an 11-year-old.
I hope you all had a WONDERFUL holiday season!
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