Christian is doing great! Medication working!

For the past month, Xtian has been doing wonderful, Risperdal really seems to help him stay calm and compliant. He is so much happier all the time. However, he has gained 20 lbs, since it makes him hungry!!! Things are much, much better - hope they continue. He has been communicating more and is trying to socialize with other kids his age.

It's been awhile - latest update on Xtian!

Hello!

Sorry I haven't written in awhile; however, things have gotten alot better with Christian. He has been on Risperdal since June of this year, and in the past 3 weeks his behavior has significantly improved. We now have a nurse for VNA of Spring Grove, who comes to the house twice a week to help us with Christian. He is more compliant, calm and affectionate, however; the medication has caused him to gain 20 lbs. His appetite has just decreased this past week, so we will wait and see if his weight goes back down. If it doesn't we may have to switch him to Abilify, which means the transition period may be another challenge. Will keep you posted.

Today is Xtian's B-day.

Today is Xtian's 9th birthday and we are only have my parents over. We decided not to invite anyone because the last time we had people at the house Xtian had a terrible, terrible meltdown and we had to ask people to leave. He was running around screaming, hitting and being mean to everyone. It was terrible.
Good news is that past couple of days Xtian has been doing extremely well, no violent outbursts and he has been doing extremely well at school also. Hopefully this trend continues. Will post pics later of xtian's b-day party!

Have a great labor day weekend!

Got some help!!!

Yes! Finally, we are getting some help, at home, with Xtian. Our health insurance company approved 25 hours for us to have a nurse from Bayada Nurses to come to our home. She will be able to help us complete Xtian's potty training (he will only pee on potty, not do the other - which forces us to rely on pull-ups for that) and help with dealing with his violent outbursts. Wonderful, to hear that someone can gives the help that we have been asking for - for 2 years. We requested additional TSS services, but they only approved 5 extra hours - but will only be used in school. We spent months talking to all the psychiatrists, agency staff, etc., told by these people "well get you the help you need" and was turned down by someone who wasn't even part of this process, someone who had never talked to me or even met my son. I really shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. Have to love insurance companies!!! It is never about helping anyone, it is all about the $$$.
But, as usual, because I speak up and am very vocal about my opinions, I am the one with the problem - I have an "attitude problem". Whatever. Anyway - am very, very happy that we got approved for a home health care aide. Hopefully it will work out for the best.

Past couple of days have been wonderful!!

Since we have increased his meds; the past couple of days have been wonderful with Xtian. He has been so pleasant, compliant and happy. His appetite has calmed down a bit and his more affectionate than ever. He also has been communicating more - let's hope this trend continues!!!!

8/15/09 - Saturday great!/Sunday no-so-great

Xtian was wonderful on Saturday, was very happy and in a good mood all day Saturday, took him to the store, we got in the pool, great behavior!

Sunday, Xtian woke up in great mood, very happy, so I decided to take him to Cascade Lake in Manchester, MD, for some reason he decided he did not want to go when we got there and started to "freak out", whine/scream, in the truck just as we turned into the place....I had called my mom right before we got there; because I couldn't find it; since she takes him there all the time. I had went past it and when I got there - he started acting up. My mom could hear him on the phone so she said "Just bring him over our house" - so I took Xtian over my parents - which of course - made him happy - and he will be home later....feel bad having to turn to my parents so much......

Good day 2day - Pine Valley Farms

Xtian has been very good day, Kids club took him to Pine Vally Farms in Littlestown, PA - he loved it!!! Apparently he was jumping in front of the goat and the goat would jump back everytime, Xtian was laughing - having fun!!! Wish I could have seen that - have to take him there soon!!!

Another good day..

Xtian was very good 2day, got a little grumpy right before bed, but didn't last long - I think the increase medication may be working - for now....We will see!!!!

Another bad episode today

My mother was was Xtian and he had a terrible episode today, got very angry, agitated, banging, screaming, eyes started to roll back as if he was about to have a seizure, thank goodness he didn't, mom said he finally calmed down. Yesterday was a very good day - he was so calm and compliant, and very happy, but tired. We are really hoping this medication will help him.

Today was a good day....

Today is Xtian's 2nd day on his increased meds and was much more compliant and calm today. Great mood and did not have temper tantrums when he didn't get his way - Why can't everyday be like this?????

Psychiatrist Appt Today - another disaster

Xtian was terrible today at our meeting, he kept screaming and trying to run out of the room; I was so stressed and am so tired of going through these outbursts with him in public. The Psych recommend that I have take him to the hospital right away and have him hospitalized for a couple of days, but Bill was not with me and I didn't want to make that decision without him. We are going to increase his meds and they are going to try and get me a healthcare aide at home - since we really need more help with him - dealing with him at home. Taking him out in public has become extremely stressful...- however our trip to the library this evening was successful he loves
books and DVDs. Did very well on the way there, at the library and on the way home.

August 3, 2009

Came home today, xtian was good until my mom walked in the house, he then started screaming and banging, wouldn't stop. Mom had to stay longer for him to calm down; medicine does not seem to be helping his anger/temper in transition periods. He is calm now; hopefully it will stay that way. Got him interested in watching a DVD on my husband's computer.

A change in schedule

Today Christian goes back to kids club - an autistic therapy play group at the Hanover-Adams Counseling Agency. For the month of July he was in ESY - basically summer school for a month - so as not to lose the skills he acquired for the past school year. He did very well in ESY this year, hopefully today at kids club he will have a good day. We will see!

Prisoners in our own home

After reading a couple of my blog posts, some of you may start to understand why my husband and I feel like prisoners in our own home. We can't go to the beach, can't go to a restaurant, can rarely have friends over, difficult for us to have parties and forget taking him to the movies. He is 8-years-old and most parents with kids xtian's age can successfully do those things with their children.
This is what some of us parents actually go through, this is what it is really like. Even now as I am typing this, my son is coming over to me and asking me for his Poppy and he just got him 2 hours ago from there. He has asked me 15 times since he's been home, xtian will ask something a hundred times until he gets his way, alot of autistic kids are like that. It is very frustrating and stressful. It is hard for me to even eat, take the dog out and forget about cleaning the house - I have to literally keep him occupied the whole time he is here, hard for him to keep himself busy. Sometimes he can, he will get on the computer or watch a DVD, but not always - especially inthe summer, since we are in the pool and outside most of the time. Stay tuned for more true experiences....

4th of July Disaster

Christian had begun his medication, Risperdal, two weeks before 4th of July. 2 days before the 4th, he was staying with my parents - they were giving him the medication but not paying attention to the fact that he was spitting it out. Therefore, 2 days later, at my 4th of July party, xtian had a complete meltdown/negative reaction - to not having taking all of his medication. He literally screamed and ran around the pool for 45 minutes and was getting angrier by the minute. Behavior was so bad, had to send my guests home. Xtian's behavior improved once we got him back on track, but we are still having some problems.

Dutch Wonderland - a hit!

Took xtian to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA in June 09. He had been on Risperdal for only 9 days and he actually did very well there. He loved the water park and got on the slides; waited in line and had fun! We actually felt a little normal that day! For more info on Dutch Wonderland, click here.

Down the Ocean!

Took xtian to Ocean City for a day - and it was a disaster. He would not get on the beach; didn't want to get on the boardwalk - he only wanted to stay in the hotel and walk around the hallways. Thank goodness it was only for one day. Very depressing; all the other kids there, of course were out on the beach having a great time and we had the only 8-year-old who wouldn't even walk on the sand! Only got in the hotel pool, which was a waste, since we have a pool at home. Therefore, beach trips will not be on our agenda anytime soon. When I was a kids I LOVED going to the beach, loved being in the water, on the boardwalk and getting on the rides, xtian likes none of that. You parents out there that have non-autistic children, have no idea how lucky you are; the things you get to experience; my husband and I never will.

Sunday - the hardest day with Xtian

Well, today didn't start out well, took xtian to Walmart, he had a meltdown in the store, then calmed down; got worse when we got him, wouldn't stop asking for his "poppy" and started screaming and crying and banging - had to take him to my fathers', came back @ 8:00 pm in a much better mood, but still asking for him, he'd rather be there! Risperdal is working; but still not being able to handle his temper when things don't go his way....very stressful to deal with.

Sundays always seems to be our hardest day. This is because he is home all day and it is a chore to try and keep xtian busy. He gets easily bored and does not like being at home, he likes to get up in the moring and go somewhere, whether to the mall, the library or TumbleTown - which is basically like Gymboree - located in our local malls here, where I can drop him off and he plays - he actually does well at Tumbletown. Sundays is always a struggle, as with summer - xtian does better during the school year, he needs more of a structured schedule.