Meds & Bad Behavior Including Mine! 23 Jan 2007

January 23, 2007

This past week I have felt out of control. A lot of yelling on my part & no listening on theirs. I know this doesn't work. I felt I had no punishment that worked. My kids, like me, are so adaptable, that they deal with the lack of whatever it is so darn well it is aggravating to a mother!


I ordered the Voucher System on line this weekend. It was created for kids like mine by a mom like me with her own issues with sticking with things. I hope it is worth the price!


This week has been better. Connor is on a new medication that is more like the patch & is helping him both at school & home. We went from a week of refusing to partake & do his work to a week of working hard & doing well! I had issues with his teacher, & after a couple of notes & suggestions & a talk with the principal that seemed to work. I still have not heard about his IEP & I still do not thing he is getting as good an education as he did with me, but I plan on schooling them through the summer in reading, spelling & math.


Ian has been having more problems than before. His lying is driving me nuts. Everything has to be a tall tale, but I am not putting a lot of emphasis on it. I think it is an attention issue. These are lies of a creative nature not of getting out of trouble. With Connor on his new meds this weekend, it was the best weekend we've had in a long time. I like it because Connor plays more with Faith rather than terrorizing her; although I cannot figure out the bullying issue with Connor.


Back to Ian. He wasn't happy about two marks on his report card. One was ability to work on his own. The teacher & I don't think it is so much that as when she is working with other class members that his wants to know what is going on & help. He is nosey. Caring, but nosey. He does the same at home.


I am having a BIG issue with him not letting something go. Two weeks ago he wanted to go bowling (we already had for the month) & I didn't get paid for 2 more weeks. I explained this, but he still repeatedly came back saying he wanted to go until I was mad & he upset himself so bad he was in tears. He actually kept on about it the entire day.


Ian has had medication adjustments that I do not believe are working.


When he was home I tried talking to him about being argumentative to his teacher. He got upset & said she was bad mouthing him & me, which I don't believe. I had talked to her yesterday. He got mad & walked out of the house. When I called Dr. Fiszbein as I do not think the medication adjustments are doing a thing, Ian got very upset. He is upset as he doesn't want put in the hospital. I explained that Dr. F & I work together over the phone so that doesn't have to happen. I explained we need to work together to get his medications right so there isn't a problem in school. I feel that he feels like he is always being picked on. Connor says it, but Ian doesn't. He felt better after that.


We did his homework. He was upset I made him read his own instructions at first, but finished everything with no problem.


This morning everything was going well.


Connor AM                                                         Ian AM

40 mg Methylin ER (Ritalin)                                  5 mg Risperdal
100 mg Diphenhydramine                                     25 mg Sertraline
30 mg Abilify                                                       50-100 mg Diphenhydramine
5 mg Dextroamphetamine
PM
5 mg Melatonin                                                     AFTERNOON
                                                                            250 mg Depokote
                                                                            5 mg Dextroamphetamine
                                                                            5 mg Risperdal


                                                                            PM
                                                                            3 mg Melatonin
                                                                            750 mg Depokote
                                                                            1 mg Risperdal

After Christmas Connor was refusing to do his school work & the teacher had no control. After talks with him & the teacher we made some adjustments. The insurance would no longer pay for the Focalin so we changed to the Ritalin extended release & they are working better & exactly like the patch. The teacher sent a note home yesterday saying how hard he worked & how well he did I was really happy! January 23, 2007

Note to C's teacher - 11 Jan 2007

11 Jan 2007

Mrs. Fitzgerald,



I am sorry about the issues with Connor, however, I think I should have been notified the first time it occurred so that I could address that with him then.


You must TELL Connor he has to do it. I just say, lets go, what is 6+4 & it may help. He most likely won’t tell you he needs help, but if he is refusing the work it is because he DOES need help. He is stubborn. Can’t guess where he gets that from!



I have talked to him, however his temper has been high, even at home. Cycling week. If he does not complete work at school, he will be punished at home. I made this clear today. I really need to know what topics he covers each day so I can go over it with him. His memory is so lousy on things like that & can not tell me unless something peeks his interest ie., Martin Luther King, Library or P.E. Imagine that.


After talking to Connor I found out he is being picked on by two students in the reading group (Christin? & Cory). My other son, Ian, confirmed this as one child from the class has also been making fun of him at the breakfast (Cory) table. That could also be why he isn’t wanting to eat breakfast this week.


I do understand the attitude issue, but this is more than an attitude problem. It is anxiety & it is very real. Connor works best in strict structure & I am not sure if he is getting that in a public situation.


Does he get spelling words every week? Could I suggest he write them down in a notebook that I will provide. He can bring it home every night like his brother & write them at home each night as well.


Let me know if this is something we could try.


Thank you.

Boys Meds Apt. - 6 Jan 2007

6 Jan 2007

Ian Dewey


Medications:


AM AFTERNOON BEDTIME

Benedryl 100 mg Risperdal .5 mg Depokote ER 750 mg
Risperdal .5 mg Sertraline 50 mg Risperdal 1 mg
Dextroamphetamine 10mg Melatonin 3mg


Medication changes due to increasing mood swings ie., slamming door, starting fights with brother, yelling, crying, hitting things. Also, depression & mention of someone wanting to kill him. Paranoia perhaps brought on by problems at school. Ie., girls in chess club, and a boy outside calling him a geek. Older child.


I am having trouble disciplining Ian & Connor. I seem to have lost the “currency” for punishment. Sending to room doesn’t work. No TV doesn’t work. I am having trouble with mouthing off and outright disobedience once they are told to or not to do something.


Connor Dewey


Medications:


AM AFTERNOON BEDTIME

Abilify 40mg None Melatonin 10mg
Benedryl 100 mg
Focalin XR


School is going well academically except Ian has a hard time with the reading still.


Ian has been taking Depokote for over a month now. I am not sure what, if anything, it is doing. I also do not think the Dextroamphetamine is doing anything for his focus at school. Dr. Fiszbein increased his Depokote another 250 to be taken when he gets home, but frankly I don't think it does a thing. And he changed 5mg of the Dextroamphetamine to the afternoon which is making it worse at school. I called Dr. Fiszbein yesterday & am waiting for a call today.