As I sit quietly on this Saturday morning, I reflect back on the past week.  It was quite hectic for my son.  Not to mention the stress it put on me to try and resolve the issues. 

About 3 or 4 months ago, Isaac was placed at a different school.  This school is the end of the line for him.  If all goes well, he will be here for many years.  So far, it hasn't gone well. 

About a month ago, they had parent night.  I went after work and was shocked and amazed at what I saw.  Isaac had been with the school prior to this one for about 3 years.  In all that time, he did very little writing.  Of course, he can't read or write but he can sign his name, and with help, can do his last name, address and phone number.  Anyway, at parent night, I was given his folder of work and he had done more writing in the first 2 months of this new school than in the last 3 years at the prior school.  I was grinning from ear to ear.  I was just so very pleased that he had accomplished so much. 

It was after that, that things started to go downhill.  He has been out of control, using foul language and just plain disruptive.  It is said that while FAS kids are going through puberty, medications should be increased.  So, we go to the doctor and the meds are increased.  Isaac takes Tegretol and with that come the lab tests to check his levels.  His levels have always been within range and there have never been any problems until  a little over a week ago.  He had a cardiology appointment  and collapsed right at the doctors feet.  He was taken home and did not go back to school for the remainder of the day.  On Sunday, I took him to baseball.  He plays Challenger Baseball with other kids that have disabilities.  Upon arriving, he seemed very disoriented and to put it bluntly, drunk.  After getting home, he vomited and then slept for about 2 hours.  When he woke, he was fine and it was as if the incident had never happened.   

The next day, I called the doctor and went over the meds with him.  He wanted immediate blood levels done again.  In the mean time, I had reduced the amount of Tegretol that Isaac was taking.  The blood levels came back within range but only because I had decreased the dosage. 

What I saw happen with Isaac was very scary.  When adjusting meds on a child going through puberty, please monitor them very closely as you can't tell by mere appearances what is actually happening.  We are very fortunate that we have a wonderful doctor and nurses that will respond  to our calls immediately.  I am so grateful to have them.  If you don't have that, again I say use the utmost caution in increasing your child's meds.  FAS kids are so very tough but at the same time they are so very sensitive.  What may work for one, may not work for another. 

As for school, I can only hope and pray that things will work out for him.  I am an active participant in what goes on there and have the ability to leave work and go there at a moments notice.  I don't have the ability to homeschool Isaac, as I must work.  Being a single parent is hard but I couldn't live off the system forever.  Just as Isaac must learn to strive and be a better person, so must I. 

© 2003 Traci