I thought about it so long, if I should even POST this post.  I realize I have nothing to be ashamed of though.  This is a blog that I turn into a book for our family.  Often times I kinda forget this is on the web and others read.  Oh well, maybe it will help someone.  If anything I’ve learned so much and realized that not everything can be as easy as just 1, 2, 3.  Everyone chooses different ways to parent, ways to calm a crying baby, homeschool/public school, bottle or breast feed, etc.. etc… 

To medicate or not medicate.…… that has been the question a few times around here…….I think we have been on a long road of prayer, study and lots of trials trying to figure out how to help our sweet Adam James.  Adam is the most huggable loving guy on this planet.  He truly is.  He does love the Lord too.  We see glimpses of this so often.  We know Adam.  We know how he is, because we are his parents.  Yes, no one KNOWS his heart.  He can say he’s a believer and we take that at what he says.  Yes, we’ve seen fruits.  Yes, we’ve seen “bad fruits” or rather fruits on the “bad tree” too.  We all sin. We all struggle with different sin issues in the life.  No one is perfect and Adam isn’t either.  

Adam developed (or it came on more suddenly) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder the Summer of 2013. It was a ROUGH ROUGH few months! We did everything we could to keep from giving him medication. Finally did in the Fall that year.  Praise the Lord for the things that are out there to help.  We couldn’t even “reason” with him.  It was so hard.  Hard on poor Adam and hard on anyone around him.  It was bad and very sad for him. The medication helped amazingly.  Then we started seeing A LOT of ADD issues at school with him.   He’s always had these tendencies, but they just seemed more apparent to us.  Even with the change in a new school with a much smaller class size, during the spring of 2014.  We looked into and tried some other medication to help with the ADD.  However, it either made him a lot different (sad, down, moody, not himself), or not hungry at all).  I got tired of playing science experiment with my son.  Figured we could just work it out.  Thought we would just keep on him (0h man, that can be stressful), be more consistent with discipline, help guide him in the Word, direct him, give him schedules, and really keep up on his school work.  

We did make many positive changes in our parenting.  Mostly being more consistent with discipline and set up guidelines with our family (family rules).  It has been very helpful in raising out kids.  I’m so grateful for all we learned in our Biblical Counseling with Jeff.  He was awesome in leading us and worked great with Adam.  Loved all we learned and are VERY thankful for all his help with us.  Hoping we can still go to him if we have questions.  Hoping Adam can get together with him again too before they move back home (CO).

Adam’s ADD continued.  I didn’t realize how hard it was.  I didn’t realize it was so bad at school.  I would get texts from teacher when things were tough and good.  So I was thinking it was hit and miss and he would have some good days and a few not great.  It was told to me and I am so grateful to get this information so we could know that we needed to further look into this issue for Adam’s sake.

“……..I am not diagnosing because that isn’t my job. I’m suggesting more evaluation from a professional. I see these signs and feel it may be worth checking again. I see Adam struggle with himself and he can’t help it. I have watched him each day struggle to even find a pencil when I have given him four the day prior. Never has a pen, can’t remember what he is doing at the moment and is easily distracted by anything in the room. He is  distracted when he leaves it to go to the other room to work in quiet. every thing disturbs him. He fidgets, (I have a son, and I know boys are naturally that way, but he is extreme.) He is a good person who has a heart for God, it is clear. He can so sweet and thoughtful. He demonstrates deep thoughts about God. I know he really gets HOW to live the Christian life, but it is something beyond maturity or his heart, I believe”.

I went to see the Dr. and decided to try the next medication on the list.  We got a 15 mg tab and have been giving him 1/2 that dose.  I’m opening it up and putting in yogurt.  It’s a time release medication.  She wanted him on it slow at first.  Oh my goodness…. that first day was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  He was the sweetest little boy.  He was gun-ho.  Helping with his brothers (not getting irritated when they would cry or get upset either).  Truly showed love.  He cleaned out his back pack on his own?!?!?! If you have ever seen the back pack!! He was excited getting set up for school.  Cleaned his desk in his room.  Organized his pencil box.  All smiles.  He woke during the mornings and read his Bible, got up, dressed and bed made!  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  He did have some tired times though but not bad.  That week at school.  I can’t even write all the awesome reports we got from the teacher.  All wonderful.  Adam was “the man” as it was reported to me, as he was the one all the kids called on for help for the memorizing of 44 president test.  He got an A+  and His tests improved.  His grades bumped up.  Take a look at that spelling test.  The yucky one was BEFORE and the nice one AFTER medication.  I was in AWE! He is happy with himself, not confused! He’s taking his time and working hard.  My mom said “It’s like the real Adam all the time”!

Now I have to admit I’m tired of playing pharmacy and “guessing” at the dose every morning.  We found out that that 5mg is generic so we can afford it.  We are still working out the dose. Hoping this new 5mg will be the “right” dose for Adam so he can continue. There was a couple days I gave him a tad too much and it sent him down the sad/moody road for a few hours, and a couple days two low dose.  While he was better it wasn’t enough because he started to go back to not paying attention etc… So I think its all about the right dose for the brain.  This is tough! 

We struggled a lot with this decision.  We prayed a lot about this.  We pray he does out-grow this and in time won’t have to be on medication.  However, we can see now that in SOME cases with SOME people they do need it.    We are grateful to the Lord for Adam and so glad that we were able to help him in this way.

Adam even went to spend the night at Granma’s house.  This has not happened in years! He had a lot of fun and enjoyed it.  He is super excited about the possibility of a South Dakota Trip this Summer.  He may fly back with Auntie Faith and then fly home alone.  He might be gone for a full week.  Praying about this trip!