Medication...can be a beautiful thing!

I never thought I would medicate my child....until I became a mother of an out of control child with brain damage.  My son that has fetal alcohol syndrome is such a sweet blessing.  He does have an extreme difficulty controlling himself though.  About 2 1/2 yrs was when it really became extreme, and noticeable different from other children.   And yes, most people told me that it was just b/c he was 2.  And, I know that being 2, but developmentally only 1, but physically age 3 (energy level, motor skills) can make for a wild, tantrum throwing little boy, but this is to the extreme times 10.  It is something that we have all learned to cope with, and have gotten as used to as we can, but when I see other children his age, I am surprised at how calm they are....b/c I do forget what a typical developing child acts like.  As he has gotten older, things have just gotten wilder and harder. We were at the point that every day was just survival, and we couldn't even safely leave the house with him.   About 6  months ago, I was just as overwhelmed as I could possibly be, and finally sought out help.  We began seeing a developmental pediatrician and he prescribed adhd medication.  Now, leading up to that, we had tried everything we possibly could to help him with natural things and therapies, but they just barely scratched the surface.  It took some playing room with the proper medication to find something that works, but now that we have, the difference is night and day.   Truly, this morning when his meds wore off, I was thinking the difference in him is like Jeckle and Hyde. 

I have hesitated to talk about medication b/c he is so young, and there is such a stigma with children being on medication.  I have been thinking alot lately though, and I have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.  Medication for my son, is still doing the very best I can for him.  His kind doctor said some things last time I was there that I think is so important for the world to hear.  He asked me, "If you child was having seizures, or diabetic, would you give them the medication they needed to be better?"  Well of course I would!  He told me it is the very same thing with him.  He has something truly wrong with is brain, and this medicine helps correct that so that he is able to learn and function to the best of his ability.  You would not believe the progress he has made with his learning since being on medicine.  He went from 1 word prases, with limited vocabulary...to a huge expanded vocabulary, and saying sentences.  He is learning to share, and be kind.  He is learning his colors, learning to cut with scissors.  He plays with his siblings now instead of being mean and fighting.  He is SO gentle and sweet with our foster baby....6 months ago I wouldn't have even been able to take her in, for fear of him being too rough.  He loves her SO much, and it makes me want to cry tears of joy when I see him interacting so sweetly with her. 

His doctor also told me something interesting. He said that studies have shown that when children are medicated with the right, appropriate medicine, they are less likely to grow up with addictions.  They learn people and coping skills growing up, that children that aren't medicated with the same issues aren't able to learn, so as adults, they don't know how to interact or cope, and they turn to drugs or alcohol.  That made so much sense to me!  He said the beauty of medicine for Z is that he may not be able to learn well when he isn't on medicine, but what he learns when he IS on medicine, he never forgets, and he still has those skills and knowledge when the meds wear off. 

Here he is reading to HIS "Pate"  he calls our baby...and below his a picture he cut out without any help at all!

I am SO thankful that we have found something that works.  Z is a beautiful, sweet, smart, funny little boy that brings us so much joy.  I feel like we are falling in love with him all over again as we are watching him learn and mature, and develop relationships.  Thank you God for our precious son!

Here I let him stay up late to go to the circus with the big kids.  He was SO good, and loved it!!  It was good for all of us to enjoy that outing with him!