DazedandConfused
Well-Known Member
About 9 months ago I knew that something just wasn't right with my twelve year old daughter. Late in the game, I know. However, she nearly died at birth and then was diagnosed with Leukemia at 13 months.
She was a bit moody and difficult as an infant, but nothing that alarmed me. And she also slept through the night. She would cry for hours if she wasn't happy. I also wore out a baby swing with her, and it had a life time money back guarantee! It was the only time I could have some peace and get things done as she would cry if I didn't constantly pick her up and carry her. You should have seen the look on the lady's face when I took it back to the store, all worn out, to get my money back. Well, it WAS guaranteed! Not my fault their swing hadn't encountered anyone like my kid!
On the other hand, she could also be so loving and sweet and a joy to be with (kinda like she can be now).
When the luekemia diagnoses came, all I cared about is whether, or not, she was going to live. She would scream if I left her side in the hospital. I remember actually taking her still attached to her IV pump so I could use the restroom! Should have seen the looks at that one! And her mammoth trantrums were chalked up to the massive amounts of chemo and having to be held down all the time (It took four adults to hold her still during her spinal taps when she was two).
When she was three, she still babbled. I did notice that other kids talked and were even toilet trained (I remember one lady looking down her nose at me when she noticed my daughter was still in a diaper and obnoxously declared HER child toilet trained at 19 months! To which I sarcastically replied "Well, then, SHE must be a genius!). Still, most of the child books told me not to concern myself, every kid develops at their own pace. As far as the talking, the Onocologist became concerned by the speech delay and wanted her evaluated.
Most of the testing done, however, was to determine whether or not she had a brain injury due to the chemotherapy. All of that was ruled out, but she did have plenty of speech therapy both through the children's hospital and the SD at the age of 4. Plus, I was able to get her into HeadStart as a special needs child (If your child is labled "special needs" income is not a factor to get your child qualified for the program). It was very hard at first, she would scream everytime I would leave. Finally, though, she bonded with the teacher and began to really enjoy her time there. She learned to sit with the class and along with me working with her at home, she seem to be catching up with her peers.
She could still be very difficult at home. But, nothing that I couldn't handle. I suppose I got used to how she was. Academically, she was doing well, and even exelled in a few areas. She did have problems making, or keeping friends in school, but was invited to some parties and activities through elementary school. She would have meltdowns when I would refuse something she wanted, but I thought with age, she would outgrow it. Boy, was I ever mistaken with that one! I have written about some of the things she has done.
It all seems to explode when she started middle school. Her grades spiraled down.I remember thinking, after one of her meltdowns that our family just couldn't go on this way. I sought therapy, but because the core problems were not diagnosed, it was of little use. The therapist was in over his head, and I just knew that she, me, and we, needed something much more. We stopped after a couple of months.
In August we had to go for her yearly blood work to make sure she is cancerfree. Well, because she had experimental therapy (No radiation) she still being followed in her progress. The Dr. asked about school and I responded that it is going terrible. So, more evaluations again to detemine if she has a brain injury (even though that was ruled out when she was 4). Lots of testing by a neuropyscologist whose opinion was that she had ADD. Then a evaluation by a Neurologist.
So Strattera has been started but, still many other behavior problems. She sees a psychiatrist in February. We have a drive a long way because no psychiatrists are not seeing new patients in our area! However, if it means to might be able to get things under control, I would swim across the Pacific!
With my son, I started to notice the same problems that my daughter had at his age, so he is also going to be evaluated by the psychiatrist. He also is very sensitive and has meltdowns. He always wants to win and will freak if he doesn't. the neighborhood kids get fed up with him at times. Also, he has gross and fine motor skills delays and is not toilet trained through the night.
He and his sister do not get along very well. So, that causes more strife in our house.
Anyway, I'm here and how I wish I had found this place sooner.
She was a bit moody and difficult as an infant, but nothing that alarmed me. And she also slept through the night. She would cry for hours if she wasn't happy. I also wore out a baby swing with her, and it had a life time money back guarantee! It was the only time I could have some peace and get things done as she would cry if I didn't constantly pick her up and carry her. You should have seen the look on the lady's face when I took it back to the store, all worn out, to get my money back. Well, it WAS guaranteed! Not my fault their swing hadn't encountered anyone like my kid!
On the other hand, she could also be so loving and sweet and a joy to be with (kinda like she can be now).
When the luekemia diagnoses came, all I cared about is whether, or not, she was going to live. She would scream if I left her side in the hospital. I remember actually taking her still attached to her IV pump so I could use the restroom! Should have seen the looks at that one! And her mammoth trantrums were chalked up to the massive amounts of chemo and having to be held down all the time (It took four adults to hold her still during her spinal taps when she was two).
When she was three, she still babbled. I did notice that other kids talked and were even toilet trained (I remember one lady looking down her nose at me when she noticed my daughter was still in a diaper and obnoxously declared HER child toilet trained at 19 months! To which I sarcastically replied "Well, then, SHE must be a genius!). Still, most of the child books told me not to concern myself, every kid develops at their own pace. As far as the talking, the Onocologist became concerned by the speech delay and wanted her evaluated.
Most of the testing done, however, was to determine whether or not she had a brain injury due to the chemotherapy. All of that was ruled out, but she did have plenty of speech therapy both through the children's hospital and the SD at the age of 4. Plus, I was able to get her into HeadStart as a special needs child (If your child is labled "special needs" income is not a factor to get your child qualified for the program). It was very hard at first, she would scream everytime I would leave. Finally, though, she bonded with the teacher and began to really enjoy her time there. She learned to sit with the class and along with me working with her at home, she seem to be catching up with her peers.
She could still be very difficult at home. But, nothing that I couldn't handle. I suppose I got used to how she was. Academically, she was doing well, and even exelled in a few areas. She did have problems making, or keeping friends in school, but was invited to some parties and activities through elementary school. She would have meltdowns when I would refuse something she wanted, but I thought with age, she would outgrow it. Boy, was I ever mistaken with that one! I have written about some of the things she has done.
It all seems to explode when she started middle school. Her grades spiraled down.I remember thinking, after one of her meltdowns that our family just couldn't go on this way. I sought therapy, but because the core problems were not diagnosed, it was of little use. The therapist was in over his head, and I just knew that she, me, and we, needed something much more. We stopped after a couple of months.
In August we had to go for her yearly blood work to make sure she is cancerfree. Well, because she had experimental therapy (No radiation) she still being followed in her progress. The Dr. asked about school and I responded that it is going terrible. So, more evaluations again to detemine if she has a brain injury (even though that was ruled out when she was 4). Lots of testing by a neuropyscologist whose opinion was that she had ADD. Then a evaluation by a Neurologist.
So Strattera has been started but, still many other behavior problems. She sees a psychiatrist in February. We have a drive a long way because no psychiatrists are not seeing new patients in our area! However, if it means to might be able to get things under control, I would swim across the Pacific!
With my son, I started to notice the same problems that my daughter had at his age, so he is also going to be evaluated by the psychiatrist. He also is very sensitive and has meltdowns. He always wants to win and will freak if he doesn't. the neighborhood kids get fed up with him at times. Also, he has gross and fine motor skills delays and is not toilet trained through the night.
He and his sister do not get along very well. So, that causes more strife in our house.
Anyway, I'm here and how I wish I had found this place sooner.
