When last we saw our heroine she was awaiting the transfer of the Sproing from the mental hospital to the next-step care facility. He was supposed to be transfered Tuesday, but had another -what is it called? - emotional explosion where he was screaming and flailing and throwing himself against the walls. The hospital staff sedated him and that was that for Tuesday.
Wednesday morning Superman called the hospital to check on the boy. He was dressed and in his right mind. So Superman toodled on down there and retrieved the boy. I gotta tell ya', I was uneasy about the whole thing. That child is not stable. (understatement alert) Would he and his dad have a wonderful bonding experience, pleasantly passing the time chatting and laughing? Or would the boy have another emotional breakdown in the back seat, and attempt to throw himself from the speeding vehicle to his gnarly death? Either was a possibility. I was not able to accompany them on this trip, as I had a couple of very important classes to attend.
Thankfully, the fellows had a wonderful trip. Sproing was gleeful about leaving the hospital, and was not terribly upset about having to go to another facility instead of coming home. (He'd been through that upset phase when I told him last week that he would not be coming right home after leaving the hospital.) They got him settled into the new place, and Sproing only expressed anxiety right before they arrived.
On Thursday I talked to the woman in charge of therapy on the children's ward. I asked how he was doing, and she told me he was sleeping. It is NOT like the boy to sleep during the day. Hell, it isn't like the boy to sleep much at all. Then I learned that he was on a couple of heavy-duty medications that he'd been given at the hospital. Ah, that explains it. The therapist (Julie) asked if it was OK to take him off the meds. Sure, honey. Do what you need to. Go ahead and find out what he's really like.
Julie talked to Superman on Thursday. Superman asked about the boy. Julie had a different tale to relate. Superman tells me; "She said he was being very very oppositional." YES!! I am vindicated! Show 'em what you got, boy!
I got the impression that Julie didn't really fully believe me when I told her about his behavior. I discussed this with my wonderful therapist Friday. These people don't know me. To them, I am just another overwhelmed parent the likes of which they see every day. Much of their experience with overwhelmed parents involves people who don't necessarily understand the ins and outs of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Whatever. So when Julie talked to Superman, she seemed surprised at Sproing's level of enthusiasm.
It's good, though, that they took him off all his medication. They really need to get a baseline of his behavior so they know what they're dealing with before they can make a good plan to treat him. I'm sure they will add medication again, probably soon. This is necessary, though, because he's had such deficient medication management for the past few years. (maybe ever)
The only visiting days at that place are Wednesday and Sunday. We can't even call to talk to him except Wednesday and Sunday. I do wish we had a chance to at least talk to him more often, though I understand the need for the restriction. In unhealthy family relationships, contact with the family triggers difficult behavior. Though I like to think we are "good parents," the fact remains that with the two younger kidlets we have, things have turned in an unhealthy direction. That's one of the reasons the boy is where he is. (The girl needs some kind of placement, too, though I don't think she necessarily needs an acute care hospital setting like he was in.)
Superman and I will attend a family counseling session there at the place on Monday evening. Since this place is an hour and a half north of here (whereas the hospital was 1.5 hours SE of here), we will only call the boy Sunday, since we'll be seeing him Monday.
That's about it for now. Midterm is next week, and I have three exams; one Monday, one Tuesday, and one Wednesday. Study time!!
Also, my "g" key is acting wonky again. Thank goodness for spell-check.
