Thank You Intuniv

Making the decision to medicate my toddler was one of the most difficult decisions of my life. It went against every parenting belief I held. But we had run out of options. I was desperate, Hulk was desperate. We were at a point where we couldn't keep moving on like we were. So medication it was.

 

I handed my 3 1/2 year old a little pill called Intuniv. Watched him swallow it and cheered for him being such a big boy. And I said a prayer that it would help him and not hurt him! And help him it has!!! The first few weeks he was pretty sleepy. It took him awhile to adjust to it. But now that he has adjusted it is amazing. Intuniv has given me my son back!

 

These pictures are proof that it has given us our lives back. These pictures are of a silly little boy munching on some crackers at the grocery store. Not a big deal to most people but HUGE for Hulk. He hadn't been able to go in public to a store or a restaurant in months! He would totally freak out and melt down. Now he can go and it's no big deal. I told him when we got done shopping this day how proud I was of him and he said "I proud of me too." He has also told me that his head isn't at loud and he isn't as wiggly. He can notice the change too.

 

Can Intuniv fix it all. Absolutly not! We still work very hard on learning ways to cope and self regulate. We still have behavior modification plans in place. Hulk and I are always learning and trying new things to help him be successful. But Intuniv has given him the chance to calm down enough that he can process and learn those other skills.

I'm not getting paid by Intuniv. I just know when I was considering meds I searched blog after blog and website after website looking for info. If this can help some other desperate parent I hope they find it.

A Confession

So I have a confession to make. I was really busy and that is a big part of why I didn't post for so long. But the main reason was because when I blog it forces me to be honest and real about the things going on in my life. And like most people when things aren't going great I would much rather pull the wool over my eyes and hide from it rather than admit there is a problem. But there was/is a big problem. You see I have an adorable amazing 3 year old boy that is in crisis.

Hulk has been struggling with lots of different things for quite some time. But for about the last 6 months things have been very rough. And for the last 6 weeks things have been downright difficult. I've tried doctors and behavior plans, therapists and prayers, and yet nothing was working. Wednesday night I found myself laying on my couch sobbing and seriously wondering if we could continue on like this. So I finally admitted it. To my sister, to my best friend, to myself. Something had to change immediately!

So Thursday and Friday was spent in much discussion with Hulk's therapist and doctor. And I finally allowed myself to really hear what they were saying and I'm allowing myself to accept the truth. My precious boy has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I stood in the doctors office with him and my Darbis and bawled as it sunk in. FAS isn't fixable and it is something I never wanted him to have! But he does and he will and luckily we are getting help. Admitting the problem is half the battle right????

So I let myself feel sorry for him and I yesterday. And this morning we started on a new positive plan. He began medication today to help with his impulsivity and constant movement. I'm still a little nervous about that but we actually ate dinner tonight and when we got done he said "wow mama no wiggles". I cried happy tears and he declared himself awesome. He is awesome! And we are going to to be awesome together.

That's the truth of it.