We met with Andy's therapist and pdoc on Monday morning. We heard how his behavior has been toward staff and other children over the weekend. It seems like the med changes haven't effected him at all. He is still aggressive and disobedient. However, now he is not oriented to place or time. He seems "out of it". The pdoc is hoping it is because he was being weaned off of the seroquel at the same time the risperdal was introduced and that by today or tomorrow we will see a true baseline as Monday a.m. was his last dose of the seroquel. His drooling has become a constant also. Again the pdoc is hoping this is the two meds of the same family being in his system and hopefully it will go away with time. He spoke nothing of his adderall at the meeting other than it was reduced and nothing of the depakote. So I think they are just trying to get the baseline of the risperdal prior to changing these more than they already have. There was no mention of a discharge date and with school starting in a week I was told to notify the school that he will not be there and to have his school work sent up there for Andy to do during the "school day". April said that since the pdoc didn't mention a discharge date it will be at least another week if not two prior to him being discharged and we will have another meeting with both of them prior to make sure we are "satisfied" with the med changes. On a good note, we have Andy on a day pass for Sunday. From 1:00 - 7:00. We plan on picking him up and going school clothes shopping for him and Haley. Just the 4 of us (Brian, me, Andy, & Haley). He is looking forward to that time with us outside of the "hospital". I am not happy that things are taking this long however I have spoken with numerous other people who said that because I am very vocal about Andy's med issues and that I want something that works for him, that is the reason why they are taking their time. In the past they have been known to strip the meds, add new ones and discharge within 10 days. I have told both April and the pdoc that I don't care how long this takes but I don't just want him to just be sitting in the system. As long as something is being done I am happy. Waiting isn't going to change anything and we waiting long enough. Andy isn't going to "get better" on his own.

On the bad side of all of this. Patti and Mikie went for visitation over the past weekend and "dad" was told he needed to call Andy because Andy was asking about him. "dad" then relied to Patti over the weekend "it's your mother's fault he is there, why should I bother to call him. He shouldn't be on any meds and he would be just fine." Can someone please explain to me his mentality of all of this. How many doctors does it take before this "dad" realizes that there is a problem and he does need meds - for probably all of his life.

At home: The girls spent the night at a friend's house last night so it was only Mikie and me for dinner. At one point he started picking up the house. He does this when there is something on his mind. He just asked "mom, when is Andy coming home." I told him that I didn't know and we began to cry together. I told him they said probably at least another 2 weeks and he said he wanted him home now. He missed him. Of all the kids I did not expect this from Mikie. He said the house is too empty without him and it just doesn't feel like home the way it is now. I take that as a good thing! I told him that he could call Andy because at that time it was too late he was probably getting ready for bed and he sniffed and said okay, but I still miss him. I know, I know... so do I.

Visits: My brother and SIL is going to visit him tonight. She is in that "field" and will ask all the questions of the staff and RNs that I can't think of when I am there. We are going tomorrow night. It is hard when we go because it is usually a lot of us and we just go and "hang out" in his bedroom. Not much to really do but the time there is good. More than most of the other kids get. This time there will be 8 of us going. I will bring a new puzzle and probably a coloring book or something else. I am running out of things to bring him. He has most of his clothes there already. I just keep saying to myself "it is for Andy's best interest." "Andy is getting the help he needs".

I really miss my trouble maker though.