The first days...

So, we're more than a week into Ritalin (Thursday marks 2 weeks).  Jake has gone off to school today on his full 10mg, which we started over the weekend.  On both Saturday and Sunday, he suffered with a sore tummy in the late afternoon, so I'm hoping that it's not a long-lasting side effect of the meds.  It's all about getting the dosages right!

Jake had a really good week at school last week and seems a whole lot happier at home because of it.  They do tests on a Friday and bring books home on Mondays for parents to sign.  I was totally blown away by the visible change in Jake's work from one week to the next.  Previously, his handwriting was dark, untidy and squashed together, so that a sentence looked more like one long word; however in his book this last week, his words were beautifully spaced with capital and small letters shown correctly.  It's still not tidy and he still makes silly mistakes, but it wasn't the hard, dark writing I've become so used to.  It was so much easier on the eye.  The test book comes home again today and I will try remember to take some pictures to share with you.

In other school related news, Jake was awarded the "I try hard" badge last Monday too.  It's only his second this year (he was class captain during the first term for a week).  He was super excited about it and I think, by Monday, he was starting to feel better about himself and about school in general.

On Friday, Jake also received the "dragonfly" award in class and are allowed to wear a special cap in class.  This is given out once a week to the boy who is most deserving for hard work and good behaviour.  The girls get the butterfly wings to wear.  Jake was beyond proud of himself!  And you can't even begin to imagine how overly-proud I am of my special boy!!

The last 2 weekends seem to have been so much more relaxed, with much more listening and less shouting happening.  It's FANTASTIC to be able to talk once or twice (he's still a kid), instead of 8 or 9 times before getting a reaction.  Jake seems to be gaining confidence again quickly and seems happy in a crowd again.  I'm more relieved than I can tell you to see him enjoying life again; to see him cracking a joke and having a laugh at his own expense without getting flustered and losing his cool!  The change has been amazing.  Life-changing for us!

So, all in all, life is good for Jake and I right now.  We have a very good, very strict routine running at home now and I'm still being farily strict with regards to what he eats.  He is allowed some treats, he's a child for Pete's sakes, but it's far more controlled.  And there's no junk in the cupboards at home - I finished the last chocolate last night ;o)

Anyway, I'll try post pictures again soon.  Thank you all so much for your love and concern - we feel it!!

Sue X