It is difficult to watch for changes in a person, especially when you are expecting them. You tend to see what you want to see. That is how we were when Ian was taking so many supplements - we saw improvements because we wanted them to be there.
Today I tried not to look for much of anything. Instead, I hoped for a good day. Period. And that is what we had.
It is important to acknowledge that on Friday we increased Ian's Concerta dosage from 18mg to 27mg. That in itself called for close monitoring of his behavior. Taking away the supplements the next day, I believe, will help us determine more accurately if this was the right course of action.
He didn't eat much for most of the day. We spent 3 hours at the pool. There is no telling where he got the energy to swim that long. AND he interacted well with some other children. When we were getting ready to leave, he very slyly tried to sneak out with another kid's remote control air boat, contending that the other kid must not want it if he wasn't playing with it. This is one of Ian's favorite theories of toy possession. He was persuaded to give the boat back to its rightful owner, and we left without having to carry any screaming children to the car. It was a lovely exit.
As soon as we walked in the door, the kids wanted to bake a cake. Oi! It was 94 degrees outside! I know helping out in the kitchen is good for them, but they do not cooperate well when it comes to measuring ingredients. They both become extremely competitive over 2 things: salt and eggs. For the life of me, I can't figure out why those ingredients spark furious arguments, but they do. Add to that my own freakish need to maintain control of my kitchen, and you can see how the 3 of us do not blend well in the food preparation arena.
Before the cake mixing was complete, they found a Kool-Aid packet and began to tear it open. Ian assumed that because it was "invisible" Kool-Aid, it wouldn't make a mess. In case you are not a Kool-Aid aficionado, I shall explain. Invisible Kool-Aid is clear, so the flavor is a mystery until you taste it. The beauty of it is that it doesn't stain clothing and carpet when it is spilled. All I can say is, "IT'S ABOUT FRIGGIN' TIME!!!"
Steve came to the kitchen to supervise the drink mix preparation while I finished putting the cake in the oven. He quickly learned that 2 children and one measuring cup are a bad combination, especially when they are next to an open and very full container of Splenda. I tried not to watch. Sometimes it's better if I just don't see what is happening.
The rest of the evening went extremely well. Ian ate most of his dinner, cleared his plate from the table, took a bath, read a story with Steve, and went to bed. About 30 minutes later, we realized he had not called us back to his room to chase away monsters. Wow!
Thirty-one minutes after going to bed, I heard him call "Hello...Mom? Anybody?"
I ascended the stairs expecting the usual. When I got to his room, Ian simply asked for a glass of water and some snuggle buddies. I held my breath and walked quietly down the stairs. He remained quiet until 11:15, when my presence was again softly requested. Another drink of water was all he needed. No mention of monsters. Unbelievable.
Although I am not ready to make any assumptions about this sudden and dramatic change in his bedtime routine, I am willing to say this is a positive FIRST step in the right direction.
Now, it is almost midnight. The house is quiet, and everyone else is asleep. It doesn't matter how tired I'll be tomorrow. I am just glad to have some time to savor the contentment I feel at the end of a good day.
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