Medication

Well the Risperidal for Tyler did not work! It made him so emotional to where he was crying all the time not to mention he was not sleeping at night. UGH! They stopped the medicine just like that.

Well this past Friday we went to Cincinnati for our every three month trip. Tyler slept almost the whole way up which was nice. Tyler has gained the weight back that he had lost which was great! Not to mention he has grown about an inch and a quarter, he's going to pass me up before long! While at the neurologist appointment they have upped all three of his medications since he keeps having seizures, sleep issues, and anxiety! I really hope that everything starts to work soon. To top it off tonight Tyler tipped over a TV onto his foot--good thing its not broken just a little swollen. Will this kid ever catch a break!!!

Another medicine

After talking with Tyler's pediatrician and updating him about what was all happening with Tyler he has decided to put him on Risperdal. It is FDA approved for kids with Autism to help with their tantrums, mood swings, and just their overall irritability. He's been on it now for almost a week and I think he is worse! He just seems to be more emotional than ever. I know they say to give it time and let it work but the process is frustrating. I am hoping that it does work because he may be able to come off of two other medicines leaving him with only 2 instead of 4!

Pink Eye

Last Wednesday I picked Tyler up from school to see pink eye in both eyes...YUK! I hate pink eye. Some prescription eye drops were called him for him. He has been on them now a week and still NO better. So back to the doctor we went only to get another eye drop. To top it off Cameron now has it...ERR!! Needless to say they are both being treated. Tyler takes the drops with ease---Cameron on the other hand fights us tooth and nail. Troy has to hold him down with his leg and pry his eye open so I can put the drops in...shew it's a workout.

Seizures

Tyler has had two seizures within the past week, which if you know him that is on the increase. We usually only average about 1 or 2 a month. I don't know why he is having a sudden increase--I am guessing because of sleep. One was this morning--he woke up saying that his head hurt really bad. Tyler just doesn't sleep without taking the Clonidine. His pediatrician now wants him to do a sleep study to see what is going on and what is causing it. He also talked about putting him on Resperidal which is FDA approved for kids with Autism to help with his mood swings, his tantrums, his melt downs, aggression, and his "on the go" motor of a body. We have to have a call into the neurologist though because sometimes it can make his seizures worse or his tics worse (which I don't want). The tics have actually gotten better since being put on Lexapro. Seems like we take a step forward just to take one back.

Stress

What is causing Tyler to loose hair? They say it could be stress, it could be a nerve disorder, it could be from the seizures. No one knows for sure and it has been going on since January. I worry about it (mom says that I worry too much). I just don't want there to be some underlying issue that isn't being taken care of. We got to the doctor next Friday and he is going to have to address this issue!

Beautiful Fall Weather

Fall is just beautiful in Kentucky. All of the trees have turned into a beautiful orange, red, or yellow. Temperature's aren't as hot and atrocious now. Just love love Fall!! Since the weather was so nice we took the boys down to Woodland Park to play and just have fun. Well it didn't last long because there was little nats flying around everywhere...even into my eye. Here are a few pictures I did manage to get :)

Therapy at last...

Tyler went to a therapist for the first time last Monday for behavior intervention. He went willingly with her which is an accomplishment in itself! She did change his diagnosis a little from PDD-NOS to full on Asperger's Syndrome and Tourette's Syndrome. Tyler has had tics for a full year now and the behavior he shows at school points to this. With that being said we are going to develop a treatment plan for him. He has been having better days since he has been on Lexapro, not so many meltdowns and so much anxiety. I really just want him to be more comfortable in his own skin.

Mommy please make me feel better!

Cameron had a touch of a bug on Wednesday but was fine after that day. Well yesterday it started with Tyler having diarrhea and then throwing up even out of his nose. Oh yeah it was gross! It continued pretty much all day. He would eat anything at all until about 8 when I got him to eat some marshmellows. He would drink water but he didn't want to. He was just pitiful. He laied around all day.

This morning he got up at 4am! Oh yeah 4am--he did go back to sleep thank goodness. He seemed to be back to himself but then we got sick again about 30 minutes ago. I hate it when they are like this. Hopefully it will pass soon!

September 2010

What a month! Tyler made a visit back to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for an EEG since it has been 2 years from his previous one. The seizure activity is a little stronger on the left frontal lobe, with that being said they upped his medicine some more. I was a little worried at first because he hasn't gained any weight to justify upping the medicine--in fact he lost 2 lbs! Who am I to say no no you can't up it if it will help him! The neuro also kept him on Clonidine and added Lexapro for his anxiety. He has been on it now since September 11th and I haven't really noticed a difference. He has been doing okay in Kindergarten not great. He has his moments where it's hard for him to sit because his legs hurt or he just can't sit still. He has to constantly be moving in order to fill grounded (as his OT put it).

I am trying to get his appointment with the PESC at Cardinal Hill which is for picky eaters and food aversion. He is still eating the same items which is about 8 to 10. Probably why he has lost 2 lbs huh! Once we get his nutrition under control then we can start the hippotherapy (whoo hoo--he would love it). I also meet with his therapist (finally) to get him going on a behavior plan which he desperately needs. Some days he is just out of control and no matter what we do we can't seem to calm him down or help him.

Not to leave Chunky Monkey out--Cameron is doing well. Talks a lot--as Troy would say too much! I wonder who he gets that from :) He started Early Start with Dixie on his birthday for Speech. He loves going to school and making things. He has become more of a handful these days. If you tell him NO or don't let him do something that he wants to do he gets so upset and cries and cries. Some days it just drives us crazy!

Kindergarten here we come....

Kindergarten Kickoff did not go so well...I pulled into Dixie's parking lot hoping and praying that it will go smoothly! We walk into the school which at this point he is already screaming and kicking. I JUST WANT TO GO HOME...PLEASE MOMMY TAKE ME HOME. It just breaks my heart!

I sign in and get his folder all the while he is glued to me. I am holding my purse, his folder, and him. Trying not to drop him--he really is getting hard for me to hold since he is so long. They direct us into the library where he is still screaming and crying. Did I mention he is still glued to me?? Oh yeah...now we are sitting in the chairs with him still glued to me trying to fill out a questionnaire about him. They see that he is very upset so a teacher comes over and takes us into a room by ourselves so he can try and calm down. At this point I am starting to get hot and wonder if he will be okay. We are in a room with his kindergarten teacher and his speech therapist trying to get him to relax. Thirty minutes passes and he is still upset and crying, will we be able to get him to calm down enough to answer the questions that they want to ask. They leave the room for a minute or two...during that time I finally got him off of me and calmed him down.

Only one teacher returned while I had him drawing and calming down. Finally after about 40 minutes he would start to answer questions and cooperate a little. I have to say his Kindergarten teacher was very patient and compassionate toward him. Everyone wanted to meet Tyler and wanted to comfort him. People that I don't even know and ones that won't be part of his team for Kindergarten.

Later in the afternoon we had a home visit from his Speech Therapist and the Resource room teacher since Dixie now has home visits for Kindergarterners. Went better at the house...maybe because it was a familiar environment for him.

Been quite a while....

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything on here so I felt compelled to do so. Let's see where to start...oh yeah the boys. Cameron has been a little stinker. Every time you tell him no or that he can't do something he has a complete melt down in the floor and pouts. OH to be a 2 year old. On another note for Cameron--he may be attending head start at Dixie in the fall due to his speech therapy. We won't know until closer to time but I think he would be so excited to go there and learn new and exciting things.

Now for Tyler...Tyler has been doing okay. He has had a couple of seizures in the past couple of weeks. He got bit on the head by something and got it infected. OH the life of Tyler. He did have a graduation from preschool a couple of weeks ago and he did such a great job. So hard to believe that he will be starting Kindergarten soon. Will post some pics soon.

PDD-NOS

After a long year of evaluations, testing, doctors appointments.....Tyler was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. For those of you that don't know what that is it is Pervasive Developmental Disorder-not otherwise specified which is on the Autism Spectrum. The psychologist that Tyler saw is recommending additional OT therapy, Speech therapy, and a behavior plan to be put into place. So I am in the process of getting all of this to happen. Tyler is already receiving OT and Speech but now we have additional therapy so that he can receive the services he needs.

I really don't know what PDD-NOS all entails but we will find our way through it!

Been a while...

It's been a while since I have posted anything lately. We have been so busy trying to get everything lined up for Kindergarten and make sure that Tyler receives all the services he should.

We made the trip to Danville for psychological testing which was from 9 until 12...yeah exhausting. The doctor took Tyler back by himself for about 2 hours to do some play activities and see how his behavior is with her and during these activities. I signed a consent form for her to video tape him to use further studies. He did really well considering he has a hard time with people he doesn't really know. He did have to come out once and give me a hug (I think he wanted to make sure I was still there). Once his part was done I had to go back along with him and discuss what she observed and any other questions she has. It takes a couple of weeks to get the results back--so we are still waiting.

Cameron has been a bare lately...I don't know if it is being a 2 year old or what but every little things makes him cry or pout or just be plain ole ugly. I just keep telling myself ONE DAY AT A TIME!!

Decisions, decisions

I have lots of decisions to make in the up and coming months. The one I am most concerned about is Tyler going to Kindergarten. We had our first ARC meeting a couple of weeks ago and they want to evaluate him in practically every area. They want to test his cognitive, his behavior, his social abilities (such as his interaction with peers, adults, withdrawal) we also are doing an autism assessment. Which they are doing because all of his behaviors fit the PDD diagnosis. I have been trying for almost a year now to get a diagnosis and still nothing. Tyler actually has to have all of these evaluations done by April 13th so we can see what needs to be done for school in August. Then the special education teacher and speech therapist that came from Dixie are wondering if Dixie isn't the best fit for him since they practically have 4 classrooms in one area. They are afraid that he will cross over into other areas that he doesn't need to. He really doesn't know his boundaries.

Now I have to go and visit Dixie and figure out if it will work. I am upset because it may not work...um shouldn't they make it work for him. Isn't that what an IEP is for!!

Now Cameron: he will have an ARC in April to see if he qualifies for Head Start because he receives speech therapy thru First Steps and they stop at 3 so we have to make decisions there.

Shew....I am exhausted thinking about it all!

Legs

Poor Tyler can't win...his legs are killing him and he has been crying with them hurting him for a week. I took him the pediatrician first and they did an x-ray of only the right leg showing he had inflammation in the knee. Told me to give him Motrin and it would get better. When he was still complaining this weekend I knew it was hurting him.

He already had an appointment scheduled with Shriner's today since he goes once a year to get his legs looked at due to over inward rotation and low muscle tone. So today was no exception...they did an x-ray of his hips since that's where he screamed when they were messing with his legs. Sure enough they did the x-ray and they saw bad blood circulation in the ball in his hip joint and a muscle strain in the same leg. So now we get to do some stretches and try to get him to take it easy. Have you ever tried to calm a jack rabbit?? Near to impossible!

Can we handle it??

So much is going on right now...

We are having to adjust to Troy being gone and out of the house and really don't know how to go about doing it. Tyler is stressing himself out so bad that he is getting physically sick and Cameron is acting out. I thought that we were going to try and work things out but Troy had different plans. I just have to be there for my boys and we will get through this!! Please pray for our family. :)