I took Peter to see a new Neuologist yesterday. The other one didn't take our new insurance (Aetna), so we had to switch. What a blessing!! This guy was awesome!
The office is actually at the hospital, which kind of sucks, because you have to either pay to park, or find street parking, which sucks. He was really nice though. He chatted with Peter a bit, then asked me his history. He gave Peter a tennis ball to play with in the meantime. The appt. was at 11:30, so Peter hadn't had his 2nd dose of meds yet...usually gets them at 12:30.
He asked Peter to write his name, which he did well, even though he didn't hold the pen correctly.
Then he asked him to draw a boy. Probably figuring he'd draw a stick figure, or something like that. Peter started working on his boy...we're all watching (doc, me & student). Finally doc asks him if he's drawing a boy. Peter says, "Yes, this is his hand!" I'm sitting behind him with tears rolling down my cheeks hysterical. Doc says, "Oh, that's a lot of fingers he's got". Peter says, "Yeah, and here's his arm", as he draws a line up. So the doc says OK, and that's done.
Doc says to me, OK, so he doesn't have a problem with attention.
Uh, yeah, that's what I told him. He says he'll brb. Comes back with some papers. They have pics of shapes and line formations on them. Peter has to copy them, and does. Doc was impressed how he took the time to draw each one as well as he could to match.
Then he says it's time for an activity break. He opens the door and throws the tennis ball down the hall and tells Peter to fetch it.
Of course Peter was like an over active Lab chasing it down the hall. Doc was checking balance/coordination, I guess.
Back in the room, Peter & I play catch with the ball while doc & student go get more tests. This time it's a flip book with 4 pics on each page. The student says "tell me which is dancing", etc. for each page. Doc flips pages, Peter gets them all right. About 6-7 pages into it, Peter annouces, "I'm just too tired", and falls backwards onto the sofa and starts snoring!!
Doc sharply tells him to get up. He does, but won't answer him, "I just don't want to tell you". Um, OK, ODD boy... Finally Doc says, OK, real fast, Student talks fast, Doc flips pages fast, and Peter answers the rest of them fast.
Then Doc wants Peter to follow the flashlight with his eyes...Peter is being silly and follows with his head. So doc gives him the flashlight and tells him to shine it on the red dot on the wall. He turns the office lights off. Peter's still being silly, shining it in his eye and saying "I'm going to burn my eye". Meanwhile, Doc is looking at Peter from a side view through one of his little instruments. Doc tells Peter he's a real piece of work!!
So doc says we have a very, very bright child, he's just Hyper!!
No, really?? He was very impressed with how bright he was, which made me feel good, because I didn't realize how bright he was since he doesn't offer anything, or do things on demand at home.
He suggested we try
Daytrana. It's 10mg. of methylphenidate, the same med he's on now. His current dosage is 5mg 2x a day, but we have been giving him 2.5mg 2x a day. Sometimes on the weekend we give him the 5mg in the AM, and 2.5mg in the afternoon. So he'll really be at a higher dose, but I am hoping the patch works out OK.
Peter told the Doc that the pills were awesome, but he's OK with a patch too.
really it is the other way around abigail has been the hardest one yet. but she is the baby and the last. they sure do keep me on my going. 
