I don't want to!

Last night was a little bit of a sappy night for little man. He went to bed on time for once, and upstairs in his room. I read him 2 books at his request. And he didn't want the TV on this time. Strange but ok. He had taken his pill already and was yawning. So after books, I kissed him good night and walked downstairs. For about 30 minutes, daddy and I could hear him pacing back and forth and stomping around. Finally he came down and said he was thirsty. So glass of water in hand he headed back upstairs. Then again we hear him pacing back and forth. And again he came downstairs.....crying. I asked him what was wrong and got the normal "I don't want to talk about it." Ok, now I'm out of bed. We sit on the stairs and he says "Promise not to tell." I said of course I won't (I know I'm breaking that promise right now and of course I told daddy.) He looked at me with these teary eyes that looked so sad and said "I just can't believe that I am growing up!" I was a little taken back by that. Quick think of something to say. "Honey, thats ok you are supposed to grow up so that you can learn to do new things,  and get more privileges in life." Then he said what every parent loves at this points (but would dread at 25 or more) "I just don't want to leave here. I want to stay with you and dad." "Oh baby, you aren't going anywhere for a long time. I promise you have at least 12 years before you I will want you to leave. AT least!" So he took my hand and brought me upstairs with him. I sat on the edge of his bed and got him to finally calm down. He finally fell asleep. As I was sitting there watching him, I STARTED TO CRY! My baby is growing up! And I only have 12 years before he will want to spread his wings and leave me......where is the time going? I love you so much little man. Sleep well.

Darn

ARGH! The sleeping in his own room is dying! He did so well last week. Unfortunately though, I think sleeping in the camper this weekend did it. So we keep trying. What I don't get is he's always telling us to treat him like a big kid! Why won't he stay put? Ok, I can understand it is hot, but that's why we have air and fans in his room. I understand that its upstairs, but we leave all the light son until he is asleep. Come on, Little Man, you wanted this! Ok, now that I am done whining, I digress. I want him to know that he is the bravest little man, that he is strong enough to conquer his fears, that he is smart enough to rule the world (although that would be a little scarey!) And how do I remind his dad to give him his pill EVERY morning? LOL

Night 2

Success again. Night 2 over with and even through the thunderstorms, Little Man slept through the night, in his OWN room! He and I had a date night last night. We took daddy to horseshoes and then rented a movie, and had pizza and popcorn. He was not able to sit through the whole movie, and the obsessive questioning through out the movie was a little annoying, but we still ahd a great time! The best part was that when the storms started, he crawled up on my lap. He hasn't done that in years.

He is so proud that he is staying upstairs. Every morning, when he comes down, he announces that he is awake and then stomps down the stairs. I think getting him set up again and giving him the option to rearrange the way HE wanted has helped in this. I'm sure the TV helps too BUT he doesn't sit in fromt of it all the time, like I was afraid he would do. He is doing great so far. The meds are working wonders. The aderall has refocused him and the sleeping meds are God's gift to us. And when he did wake up last night, he didn't come downstairs, he just turned the tv on for a bit and dozed back off (at least that's how he tells it). I believe him though, just because of how peaceful he looked this morning when I checked on him.

Sleep

Last night was a success. Against how I was brought up, but with the input from other people dealing with ADHD we tried something new. Let me start by saying that Little Man has been sleeping downstairs, on the couch for about a year and a half now. The upstairs was "spooky". We finnaly found a way to help him.

My parents always said that TV in a childs bedroom can be a bad thing. We never had them when we were little. My husband, on the other hand, did. We have tried fans in Little Man's room, leaving lights on, music and a ton of other things. Nothing would work. He would still end up on the couch at some point-usually right after putting him down for the night. I have asked a ton of people for ideas with this. Finally, I have relied on the anser that most ADHD suffers gave me. The TV stays in the room.

Last night, we gave little man his pill for sleeping (which may have also helped), did his bedtime routine, and set him up with cartoons. I told him that once the episode was over, he needed to roll over and go to sleep. I didn't say he needed to turn it off, just that he needed to go to sleep. He told me that was fine. We recently set up a bunk bed in his room and let him rearrange the way he wanted that room. I turned to fan on, which was just for air circulation (it's hot up there), turned off the light....wait..turned off the light? No crying? Ok this is good. We went to check on him about 15 minutes later, and we was OUT! ASLEEP!!! In the dark, with the TV on, in HIS bedroom, in HIS bed! OK. So we crept back downstairs and wondered what the night would hold. In fact we said to eachother "This out to be interesting." It hasn't been this easy since he was in his crib. He used to sleep all night from the day he was born! When the alarm went off this morning for me to get up, hubby and I looked at eachother in disbelief. I went up just to make sure he was breathing! He was still asleep. In fact, he didn't come down until just before I left for work! THANK GOODNESS!

Hopefully we have found the way to keep him in his room at night....so daddy and I can get back to what daddys and mommys do! LOL

Check this link!

This link pretty much sums up anyone who is dealing with ADHD and the struggle to get people to listen to the truth!


http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AMomsViewOfAdhd/~3/89o-xdohBls/how-do-you-handle-naysayers-i-know-adhd.html

In Tune

Today is day 3 of Little Mans return to meds. The first day was strange. I forgot that the first day was a druggie day. He was very lethargic and quiet. The second day, I saw a Little Man that I haven't seen since school got out. Yes, we still had little arguments, but he was much easier to talk to about things that weren't his way. I almost broke down at the end of yesterday because there was such a change. I have been depriving him of his meds. What mother could do that to there child. I thought I was doing the right thing all that time. But in hindsight, we were trying to help him. I can't look back now, just go forward. He is slowly morphing back into the little man he was, and its great. He even says he feels better already...on day 2! He spent most of the day in his room, organizing, before heading out to the pool. I am so glad that we finally bit the bullet and put him back on hi meds. Best thing yet!

Meds

It has been done. The Adderall will soon be pumping through Little Man again. We have decided that summer is WAY to unstructured. While some ADHD children benefit from having summer to just fly by the seat of their pants, Little Man does not. He must be just the opposite of almost every ADHD sufferer out there. He is usually great in school without his meds because of the structure. I have to figure out how to make him eat while he is on this medication. I think what I have decided is to buy some of those nutritional drinks that are out. He loves chocolate milk, so if I can get him his nutrition that way, I will. I am a little nervouse about putting him back on his meds, but I am more nervouse that if we don't, he will spiral out of control. Thanks Doc for getting us the prescription again and thanks pharmacy for filling it. Here's to you!