Sparkle checkup

Continuing sleep aids, upping dose.  Clonadine from one to one and a half, may up melatonin from four to as high as seven if needed, but that four was a good dose if it actually was getting her to sleep.  The clonadine is supposed to keep her asleep better.

Putting AC in room at much lower temperature, high fan to increase white noise and encourage deeper sleep.  Removing clock, because many autistic kids find a fascination with watching the time pass on a digital clock.  When I expressed doubt that this was an issue, Sparkle actually piped in with the comment "I like the red numbers," which rather proved the pediatrician's point, I guess!

Confirmed that the Risperadol was not the best meds for Sparkle, not only due to the weight gain, but because it was a bit of overkill for her behavioral needs.  A bit of spunk is expected.  If Sparkle should start to have more behavioral issues than can be addressed by getting her better sleep, then we have a note in her file to look at Abilify.  (Must look that up, although I know students of mine at work have been on it with great success.)

He wants to see us taking her to the pool on a near daily basis to help tire her out, get her back fit from the Risperadol weight gain.  He agreed with me when I said that Sparkle had enough trouble socially because she was odd, and that she didn't need to add being a target for being fat to her issues.

He was pleased that Sparkle has been doing a bit of reading and writing (Yay!  Benchmark!)  Sparkle spun on the exam chair, and spent a lot of our conversation time holding my hand, and the doctor's hand, and pulling the chair she was sitting on back and forth between us.

Getting Sparkle back to class, there was a team of teachers taking training in autism to maintain their certification, including Sparkle's special teacher from the end of last year, and her new teacher for this year.  They were pleased that Sparkle had arrived, because they will be doing observations, and the old teacher is giving the new one tips on how Sparkle operates.  Yay!  I asked Sparkle's teacher from last year to write me a quick note as to whether Sparkle has changed a lot in the classroom since we've discontinued the Risperadol, so we'll have that as good feedback, too when we start considering whether Abilify is needed or not for the school year.

New Music!

 peteralway ventured south from Michigan in the hopes of getting together with filkers in the past two days.  While Peter's adventures were not all pleasant, he firmly put aside all of his own woes to immerse himself in music.

pondside, Heather, Peter and I played a bit last night, and this afternoon.  It was so lovely!  It was like a piece of a con, wrapped up during a weekday.  We got to play several of Peter's compositions together, including a difficult round, entitled "Which Witch?" which seemed appropo.

I think I love summer break.