happy birthday Joe!

today Joe is 3!  and has decided to recant his potty statement.  I figured as much.  he’s been having a pretty rough go of things lately.  still not sleeping very well.  all his other symptoms of anxiety are gone though so I’m not sure if this is more sensory based or if it’s still the drug.  either way, he is still very difficult.  he still says that things “hurt” him on a regular basis.  I’m not sure what to make of it all or what to do next.  I’m going to increase his brushing.  back to every 2 hours.  he is feeding himself fairly consistently though so that’s a step in the right direction.  he started “school” at his ECSE classroom and is thriving.  it’s not helping him at all academically but he’s right on par socially with the other kids.  maybe even more so behind 😦  he loves going and is asking to go more often.  we’re going to look into it.  we just don’t have the dynamic equipment that he needs here to thrive.  we’re trying.  we got him a mini trampoline for his birthday and we’re going to hang up his swing.  I think these things will help.  I’m also going to try magnesium to see if that helps.  I just have to figure out which one to buy.  he sees the psychiatrist again on Friday so we’ll go from there!

3

Joe has been saying to me every morning, while I’m changing him, “when I turn 3, I’ll use the potty so I can go to school with Isaak”.  “in 15 days, I’ll use the potty”  I wonder if he’s bluffing…

psyc. follow up

we went to see Dr.Jan yesterday for a follow up.  I am AMAZED at the difference the Zoloft is making.  he not only let them check his height, he voluntarily hopped on the scale, then demanded they weigh him on the other scale too.  he also let them measure his head and take his blood pressure.  all without issue.  he was happily chatting away with the psyc.  it was good.  until he started to get agitated and began chewing on the exam table and licking various stuff.  and throwing himself around.  *sigh*  we’re waiting til Wednesday to see if the effects of the audio therapy wear off otherwise we’re upping the Zoloft to 1/2 a tablet.  (he’s currently on a quarter).  she also encouraged us to apply for SSI to fund private therapy.  so I’m starting that process.  I should be able to do most of it online.  I just need to find a time to do it…

IEP

went well!  the guy wasn’t that bad.  Joe will be doing “school” every Friday.  it’s really just a play type thing.  he is WAY more academically advanced than any of those kids in the class.  I know it sounds terrible but seriously, Joe is on par with Isaak intellectually.  this will strictly be for him to get more OT time and for him to be able to interact with peers.  our new goal is for him to be able to attend school with Isaak in the fall if he can get potty trained over the summer.  he has expressed lots of interest in being able to go so I’d like for it to happen if that’s what he chooses.  we’ll see.  I’m still leery of public schooling but I know it’s not my choice.  if they are enjoying themselves, then it’s not wise to pull them out.  and really, it’s Montessori and NOTHING like the typical GRPS schools.  so, I can deal.  I think.  or I may just cry sending my babies off into the world…

not so YAY…

the past 3 days have been pretty rough.  I’m guessing because we started a new audio therapy CD and we’re trying to undo the damage done.  but he’s been crying over EVERY.LAST.LITTLE.THING.  very manic.  dysregulated.  a bloody nightmare.  the anxiety and lip picking is still gone, but the mania and aggression are huge right now.  everything pisses him off.  it’s very difficult to keep him under control.  I’m not sure what to do about it.  he hasn’t been sleeping well either.  just screaming uncontrollably.  he’s in timeout screaming at the top of his lungs right now.  there’s nothing I can do but let him scream and scream, sometimes as long as 20 minutes, and then he’s fine.  it’s been 5 minutes now and he’s still going strong.  I swear, this summer when we have to have the windows open, someone will think we’re stabbing him or something.  he also had an allergy reaction to something.  I’m thinking the soy yogurt.  he was eating a lot of it and he got another nasty yeast rash.  I’m tempted to try regular yogurt again to see if it makes a difference.  I don’t know though, even raw milk makes him break out.  as does cheese and that’s cultured.  I may have to switch to applesauce.  but then that will add to the loose stool issue he’s already got.  ugh.  maybe pudding?  I hate the thought of giving him pudding first thing in the morning but it’s only a baby spoonfull and I could do sugar free.  hmm….

still screaming…..

we have his IEP today at 2.  Its been rumored that the guy doing it is a total ass.  that’s ok.  J will be there.  he has a way of getting people to listen to him…

Yay Zoloft!

Friday, we went to the mall.  and Joe played.  just like an *almost* normal kid.  he sat with me the first 20-30 minutes but then I convinced him to come play while holding my hand.  after 5 minutes of that, he was gone chasing Isaak and his friend G.  it was awesome.  I cried.  it was SO good to see him having fun and enjoying himself.  his lip picking is also going down.  it’s still there, but considerably better.  I hope we’re on the right track.