A bad reaction in Arbuckle, CA on 12/23/08

We were driving down Interstate 5 heading to see family. We had lunch at Applebee's in Redding. Chase had a steak burger with cheese & bacon & fries for lunch. He fell asleep in the back seat (late night), and then woke up. Then he started freaking out saying he needed some air and some space. We stopped at a Chevron Station in Arbuckle. He tore his shirt off and we walked around looking at things (I gave him a locational). Then he went to the restroom, and then walked the dog. We wound up buying some Benadryl and having to give it to him after we got back on the road, because he still wasn't doing well.

We're in the middle of the clonopin wean, but it's been over a week since we dropped a pill. He was on 2 pills and I dropped 1 so cut his dose in half. So I don't know if this was from the clonopin wean. Or it could've been a seizure, because he had this reaction right after he woke up. Or it could've been an allergic reaction to something he ate at Applebees.

I was scared to death he would try and run out in the middle of the road, because he really was going nuts. I talked to a family doctor (yes, we have a doctor in the family), and she thinks the next pill drop should maybe be just 1/2 pill or 1/4 pill. I'd just like to get the wean over with though and see what happens.

He has had a couple of behavior incidents while here on vacation - once at IHOP. But he's also been off schedule alot since we headed out - so maybe when we get home things will settle down. The next pill drop was originally scheduled for 12/30/08 - after we get back home

We dropped 1 more pill 1 week ago!

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted since December 3rd!

I took a gamble and dropped 1 pill on December 14th - hoping we wouldn't have school all week! My gamble paid off and school was called off every single day due to bad weather. Luck us! Chase was SO happy he gets another week off for winter break.

The wean has gone pretty well - although this last drop was by half and there were more seizures this time. The improvement we saw the drop of pill #2 was an interest in improving his reading skills. This last pill (#3) has seen him getting himself fed in the morning and taking his meds on his own. Plus - drum roll please - he's starting to learn how to do his laundry! Wowser! He did most of his own laundry this weekend - from loading the machines to hanging up & putting away his clothes. Also - last night he started cleaning up his room without being asked.

What did we do with no school this week? Mostly watch TV - Chase browsed Flair on Facebook, and played World of Warcraft - I renewed his subscription and he's paying for it with his allowance.

Oh - he also shoveled the snow - the front sidewalk & part of the driveway. He says he wants that to be his new chore.

I'm posting pictures of the snow shoveling & the snow we got - just since Thursday we've gotten about 18".

So far so good!

It's now been a week and 1 day since I dropped the last pill. The seizures haven't been any worse than usual, although he did have a hair raising scream in his sleep. There have been other changes as well - he decided to cut his hair when we went for haircuts on Saturday, and he had his beard, mustache & sideburns trimmed. He looks really good, but wouldn't let me take a picture.

Our next pill drop is scheduled for December 19th.

Signed - glad to be getting sleep at night.