Posts Tagged ‘medication’
What’s the Biggest Change you’ve seen from Medication?
A lot of parents ask me about medications. Is our son on them? What specifically are you treating? Do they work? Side effects? What’s the biggest change you’ve see with them? They ask because they need help helping their child. It’s as simple as that. They aren’t lazy parents. They aren’t giving up. They’ve tried the therapies. They’ve researched. They’ve advocated. They’ve done more than they every thought possible. And their child still needs more. Maybe it’s with anxiety. Or with ADHD. Or even depression. And let me be clear…
Read MoreThe 4 Things that Helped our Son the Most
Many of you have been following our story for years. Some even since Cooper was three when I started this blog. You’ve seen the ups and downs. The highs and the lows. You watched me struggle. And Cooper too. Severe autism is a roller coaster. There is no doubt about that. Today, he is 8 and doing so great. He is potty trained, sleeping, walking in the community, acknowledging people and his brothers, and starting to communicate. Yes, his diagnosis is still severe, nonverbal autism with a side of Apraxia…
Read MoreEverything I Prayed For
I’ve been called negative. Depressing. Dark. I’ve been accused of not loving my child. Of being weak. Of being a bad mom. All for saying severe autism is hard. And scary at times. I’ve spoke up. Spoke out. And refused to give up. And I’m here to say it’s paying off. This kid. This amazing, funny, smart, kid. He’s thriving people. Anti-anxiety medication and an amazing ABA team have helped him more than I can even put into words. But I’ll try. Because that’s what I do. He’s so happy.…
Read MoreWhy I Medicated my Toddler
There is a stigma that comes with medication. An infamy that fills us with fear, guilt, and avoidance. I am the first to admit that I explored every possible avenue. Prescription drugs weren’t even up for discussion when it came to our daughter. The first person who offered my child medication was a neurologist. He told me she needed to calm down and offered a small dose of Clonidine. But I declined. Why would I medicate a 2-year-old? Then, an interim psychiatrist who did a full evaluation that we needed…
Read MorePlaying our First Game
Just checking in on this balmy 35 degree spring like afternoon (it’s 80 degrees warmer than it was two days ago) to tell you that I just played a game with my son for the first time ever. Candyland. For years Sawyer and I have played every game you can imagine, and invited Cooper to join us. We’ve begged, bribed, encouraged…you name it…we’ve tried. He’s never once joined. Games aren’t his thing. He also struggles to sit and understand the concept of playing. Well, today, I asked him if he…
Read MoreMy Son is Sitting
I snapped this picture after school today. Cooper sitting. A rare sight in our home. Some days we never see it. Not for weeks or even months. We’d joke that he was either awake and running or sleeping and not moving. There was no in between. Not ever. Wait, that’s not true. When he’s really sick. With a fever. Which thankfully has only happened a few times. Then, he sits. And we get really, really worried. Instead my boy runs, rolls, falls, and paces. We joke that he is going…
Read More