Adopting - Help! | ADHD Information

I SUGGEST YOU GET THEM FULLY CHECKED OUT BY A NP IF YOU GO THRU WITH THE ADOPTION. SOUNDS LIKE THEY NEED A LOVEING FAMILY ALSO. I'd get a full workup for both kids after you adopt.  Don't let the school do it, as they may get mis-classified.  Ask a pediatrician for a referral to a neuropsychologist. I have no advice.  Just want to wish you the best of luck.  You are doing a wonderful, selfless thing for those kids.    Stick around and keep us posted!

I've been checking out this website, and really like it.  We're definitely going to be doing some version of the marble system.  I hope y'all can help me!

We're adopting 2 children, and don't have a lot of good information on them.  I know the girl has ADHD (she's been Dx since 4) and I think the boy does too (or ADD?).  When researching the meds I think they're on though I don't see any meds for ADHD.  These reports are HARD to read though.

The boy is very big for his age.  He just turned 13 and is almost 5'9" and 210lbs.  He takes Abilify and Lexapro.  His sister is 11 and average in size.  She takes Geoden, Trileptal and Zoloft.  Anyone know what a GAF is?

They'll be here in November and I need to be ready.  Does anyone have any advice?

Wow, sounds complicated.  You need more up to date info.  Do the meds help them manage their symptoms?  Have you met the kids and if so how did they act?

Mary I sent you a PM

here are two links that are charts of ADHD meds...because some kids cant tolerate stimulant medication ( either makes behavior worse or the side effects are too much) other meds such as anti-anxiety, blood pressure, and anti depressants are also used.

http://www.leeheymd.com/charts/adhd_1.html

http://www.addwarehouse.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/article3. htm

 

They definitely have other issues, but this is listed under Axis V and it says Current GAF 60-65 Highest GAF in past year 60-65.

The boy is listed as having Mood Disorder, NOS; Anxiety Disorder, NOS; Disruptive Behavior Disorder, PTSD symptoms, asthma and is in individual therapy.

The girl is listed as having emotional/conduct and attachment issues, ADHD, encopresis, enuresis, learning disabiliteis, asthma and is in individual therapy as well. 

These siblings were kicked out by their mother and parental rights have been terminated.  My problem is this information is 6 months out of date, and I've been told it's not very accurate.  For example, neither child has asthma, both children have made substantial improvements.  One of the meds says it's for bipolar disorder, but while the girl has some symptoms (mania) that is related more to the ADHD right?  Does this mean she doesn't get anything for the ADHD specifically or is this bipolar med helping with this?  I'm so lost!

Thanks Joemom for the quick response!

Wow Mary it sure looks like you have your hands full. Not sure what GAF  do you mean GAD ? this is general anxiety disorder....Some of the meds you listed are for anxiety.  I am sure someone else will have more advice

Mary,

I adopted an older child from foster care, so I definitely support your decision to do so.  When it's a good match between the parents and the child, it is a miracle and a true gift from God.  The children who come from foster care can have very serious issues, however, and as a foster parent it is important to understand the issues.  The two children you are adopting obviously have very serious issues.  I am confused by your posts as to whether or not you have met these children or had them spend any kind of extended time in your home?

They are placed with us straight from their current foster care placement.  Technically we are receiving foster care subsidies and they are still wards of the state.  Only after they have lived with us for 6 months can we legally adopt them.

They are currently under the care of a therapist they see weekly, and have a psychiatrist they see for meds.  Because they are moving here from out of state we will have to find all new care for them here.  We have an interview on Thursday with a new therapist.  Because of funky Medicaid issues we're going to have some issues.  We really lucked out that our health insurance covers them as soon as they are placed in our home rather than having to wait until we have legally adopted them.  We'll have everything but dental covered.

 

marythemom39006.6315277778Are you actually adopting these children before they have lived with you, or are you fostering them first?

We have met the children once.  We spent all of Labor Day weekend with them.  It was an unsupervised visit for Friday night, most of Saturday and Sunday.  They spent the nights elsewhere.  They live in Nebraska and we live in Texas so that is probably all the time we will spend with them before they are placed in our home.  

I talked to their foster parents when we were still trying to decide if this would work, and I asked a LOT of questions.  The girl especially had some real anger management issues, but both children are incredibly improved over how they came in to foster care.  Mom surrendered both of them (at different times) because she couldn't handle them.  She has a LOT of issues of her own and was a foster child too.  She has kept their 2 younger sisters (so far).  The girl hated school, but now is making Bs.  Both children are still at least partially in Special Ed classes, but I was told that was more for behavior issues and they would be integrating back into the classroom. 

We talk to the children about 1x a week.  The girl is most definitely hyper!  She couldn't sit still very long, but took redirection nicely.  She's slender and average height for her age.  She originally had problems with enuresis and encopresis, but they have used some behavior managment techniques (she can't go swimming if she has an "accident"), and these have virtually stopped.  The boy is very shy and quiet.  He likes sports, but we were told if he didn't have anything to do he sleeps.  He's a big kid.  Both children have definitely hit puberty.

They are both have some anger management problems and acting out now, but we have to expect that with all the stress they are under - the major life changes they are about to make!  They are about to move to a new city in a different state from small rural towns, with new parents (currently they live in different foster homes - he with a male foster parent only, she with an older female foster parent).  They will have new siblings (my 2 children), of course new schools (currently the girl is in a combined class of 5th and 6th graders - our school has 6 classes of 20+ 5th graders, and 6th, 7th and 8th are in a separate middle school), and a new counselor (they currently see the same one 1x a week).  We also can't officially tell them we're going to be their new parents until all the paperwork is completed.  I know I'm going crazy.  I assume they're under even more stress!

Thanks for the links Joemom!  I'm headed there now!