Drug Study--Update

Boo

We got the news on Friday that we had received a placebo for the past 4 weeks.  This was no surprise to anyone, including TsukiMoon.  Dr. Harden who's running the trial asked, "what do you think you got?"  Mr. TsukiMoon, TsukiMoon, me, and Robin, the study liaison, where all in the room with the doctor.  The doctor immediately followed up with another question, "any less anxiety?"  To which Tsuki answered, "No."  Robin made a small frown of sadness when he said that. 

These issues are real.  Our son is sad and knows that he is sad.  He knows that he has a hard time leaving us, just to go to school.  It would be nice to have some solutions.  We do a lot of interventions that are paying off making him a happier, better integrated person but TsukiMoon has a ways to go to overcome fear.

TsukiMoon found out that he gets paid $20 each visit, shortly before our meeting with Dr. Harden.  Robin ask our son if he what would he think if he found out he was using the placebo.  (We have had the placebo we have the option of continuing with the real medicine.)  To which TsukiMoon answered, "yes!  Because then I get $80 more dollars!"  (Visit Robin once a week for the next 4 weeks, just like we did on the placebo.  I can see visions of Legos dancing in his head.)  When Dr. Harden asked if we would like to continue with the real thing after finding out about the placebo, Mr. TsukiMoon and I looked at our son and let him answer the question.  He answered, "Yes"

No small thing to say yes.  He has an hour and half of testing, a weekly blood draw, a weekly physical check-up, and blasting himself up the nose twice a day with meds.  But he is better and better at the blood draw, the trickiest thing for him (understandably).

So here we go.

Drug Study-- Last Week

We are in the last week of a short 4 week drug trail.  Tomorrow afternoon we will know if we recieved a placebo or the real thing.

My personal belief is that we got the placebo, if we got the actual drug it must be the most mild intervention.  TsukiMoon was a little more social but how much is that from all the interventions that we do; social class, and overcoming so much at school to where he now feels confidence?

If we did have the saline spray that will mean that we get to try the real medicine for the next 4 weeks.  I'm excited for the opportunity.

Napkin Notes-- Bad Kitty India Series

TsukiMoon is home sick today so, no standard napkin note. Instead here is a series I did on cloth today for a friend. She really liked the Bad Kitty Series I did before spring break and wanted some for herself.  I had to design 2 more to fill the 6 napkins that come in a pack from Sur la Table. The 2 on the end are new. On the back of the Egypt napkin it says, " NOT Cows!"

Here are how the napkins came from the store.

Update:

At the urging of a friend I sent the picture at the top to Nick Bruel, the creator of "Bad Kitty," and he WROTE BACK!

This is what he wrote:

"I don't like these.  I LOVE them.  You've done a terrific job of capturing
Kitty's expressions, which is not so easy to do.

Thank you very much for sharing these with me.  You're quite talented.

Be well,

Nick"

How cool is that? Definitely made my day!

Napkin Notes-- Space Marine, 4/13

I made this by request-- and by the way, get ready for a lot of Warhammer 40K pictues over the next few days.  TsukiMoon has filled up the queue with creatures and machines that he wants from the game.  

These pictures will be a challenge for me.  My drawing hand has a free flowing characteristic, these critters seem very precise to me.  I'm not proficent at the art in cartoons and graphic novels.  It will be a best effort but probably be a few napkins that will get scrapped for the final version.  :-P

We will learn together.  ;-)

Napkin notes-- Bad Kitty celebrates Holi 4/2

Bad Kitty is having a hard time feeling the joy of Holi. 

Drug Study--Observations 4/14

This might be a slow working drug (or it could be no drug at all 😉).

TsukiMoon seems happier, more energetic, but he has very little understanding the impact of his behavior on others. Then again that is not what this medicine addresses. It supposedly reduces anxiety and anger. 

I don't know how much of TsukiMoon's behavior is caused by anxiety its a fair bit though. He generally doesn't express much anger; no temper tantrums, very little hitting (maybe every 6-8 weeks, oriented at his dad and not me).

There has been a subtle change in confidence but how much of this is because he feels capable in school recently. All the extra classes with the speech and langage pathologist have paid off. His teacher asked TsukiMoon to read his "persuasive writing" assignment in front of the class on Monday because he did such a great job.  He felt a lot of pride to be selected. 

He is challenged by going up to other kids though. He is usually on the side or if he is particapating in a game and wanders away, no one goes and gets him, it's more like the other kids are playing beside him instead of being attached in any way.  It would be nice if this could change

Napkin Notes-- Bad Kitty at the Taj Mahal 4/1

Bad Kitty is not feeling the love.