Some things they just don't tell you.

I've come to the conclusion that there are some things doctors neglect to tell you when your child is on meds. for ADHD. I've learned the hard way that when the dose is decreased or your child is taken off the meds. that the side affects are not so much fun.

Em has been on her regular dose of the extended release med. as usual with a supplemental smaller dose to be given as needed later in the day if she has a dance class or something else going on that night. Well, she has been taking the supplemental dose everyday for most of the summer due to her theatre class. Yesterday and the day before were the first time for 2 days in a row that she hasn't had that 2nd dose. Needless to say, last night was the night from hell. She was so out of control that she couldn't calm herself down. She was moody, shaky, impulsive beyond her normal impulsive self, and downright crazy. This happened one other time over a year ago when her doctor wanted to see what would happen if we took her off her meds. for awhile too. The same thing happened only it was about 3 times worse. Thank goodness I had some of her meds. left over. She was off of them for a total of 3 days and was having panic attacks and was completely out of control. She cried for hours and begged to go back on her meds. She almost became violent which is NOT Emma. With the doctors consent I started her back on them. At least this time it was only her supplemental med. that I had her stop taking.

Today she is nice and calm so I know the "withdrawal" phase is over. I hate having her on meds. I really do. But, I know that if she doesn't take them she feels overwhelmed and can't get things done. She can't concentrate on one thing for more than a few minutes and is constantly on the move.

I can't even imagine how it feels to have your mind so out of control that nothing makes sense and you can't stop yourself from moving, moving, moving. She's tried to describe it to me but there really aren't words to describe it.

Em's level of ADHD is very significant. Put it this way--there are yes and no questions that you have to mark off about your child when they are first diagnosed. I had to answer yes to all of them but one. Yup. That's my girl. Her doctor has only seen a few other kids with this degree of ADHD.

No one really knows why ADHD has so many levels or what even causes it. They do know that it runs in families.

Em is going to have quite a few challenges ahead of her for a lot of years yet. Will it get better? Maybe. Will she eventually be able to go off of her meds. when she is older? Possibly. One can only hope. At least she doesn't see it as a disability. She sees it as a gift. It makes her more creative and intuitive which is cool.

She starts a new school in a few weeks. I hope they are as attune to her needs as her elementary school was. They had a sound system for her severe hearing loss which Holmes doesn't have so hopefully they will provide one so she can continue to do well.

I hope she continues to have her "can do" attitude. I truly believe that is why she does so well and doesn't let anything stand in her way. :)

Friends

Emma really has great friends. Today she and her friend Ariella sold lemonade outside of Arie's house. What fun! With Em's siblings being quite a bit older than she is sometimes it is hard for her to relate to them so she needs the interaction with kids her own age. We've had fun hanging around and doing things together this summer but a mom is not a friend or a sibling. I can't do some of the things that someone more her age can do. I am hoping that once she is in junior high this fall that she will get involved in school groups or clubs. Do they have a chess club at Holmes? That was her idea. Maybe she could start one. That would be cool. I know she'll be in all the plays and vocal music things. She has her sport which is dance but isn't interested in the sports they have at school. That's OK. I wasn't exactly looking forward to going to volleyball games at 7:00 in the morning. :)

I just found out today that one of her best friends will be going to Price Lab/NU High in the fall and not Holmes. It made me really sad but Em seems OK with it. I guess she has known for over a week but forgot to tell me. Another one of her good friends is going to be home schooled for most of his classes but will be at Holmes for advanced math so Em will get to see him for a little while everyday.

That has got to be hard for her to think about. These 2 friends are such nice young people and are good for Em. Both of them seem to be pretty level headed and keep Em grounded. I think Em will be fine though. She is so happy go lucky that she makes friends easily and even the "bullies" seem to respond to her and soften up. At least the ones that are boys. It's the girl's that are tough as nails and think making fun of kids is cool that I am worried about. I won't name any names. That wouldn't be right. I know she still has a few friends that are going to Holmes. Hannah N. and Charly W. to name 2 of them. Oh! Tiffany and Billie Ann too. They are sweeties. Always smiling.

Of course there will be the typical junior high drama. I've been through it 3 times already and my older 3 survived so I know Em will too!

My baby is 12!

It's July and the rain just keeps on coming! That hasn't stopped the craziness that is the Meier home.

Emma turned 12 on July 1st. Yup. My baby is 12. Scares me to death! It also makes me feel really, really OLD. That makes my kids 27, 24, 19 1/2, and 12. OK. I guess I am old. :)

I got a Zune for Em for her birthday. That's like an IPOD for those of you who wonder what the heck a Zune is. She really wanted one badly yet she hasn't gotten around to putting any music on it yet. She has been pretty busy though with trying to outdo both her sister and me on my new Wii, practicing piano, getting her reading in every day, and going to play practice every afternoon and evening. OH! I forgot to mention that she is in James and the Giant Peach at the end of July through the Sturgis Youth Theatre. This is the 4th summer that she has done this but she has been going to acting camps since she was 3. LOVES IT!

Em has had her eye on a chess set at World's Window for over a year now. It is absolutely beautiful with a marble playing surface. Needless to say it is not cheap. Pretty much every penny she gets or earns has been put aside for this chess set. Yesterday I took all of the money she received for her birthday plus some she had saved and added the gift certificate that one of her sisters and her brother gave her for downtown Cedar Falls businesses and purchased that chess set. She thinks I put it on hold for her at the store. I'm saving it for just the perfect moment to give it to her. I think I'll milk the helpfulness around the house for just a wee bit longer. :)