It is Wednesday

My sister and her family left this morning. Organizing and cleaning are the order of the day. I loved having my sister here, even when we agree to disagree. My 19 year old autistic nephew did well. He only needed to be separated from everyone a couple of times. MK did well. My 14 year old nephew with ADHD and a mood disorder really struggled. He clashes with GB always, but this visit he had difficulty self-regulating most of the visit. Hope continued to struggle, no surprise, but GB spent the last four days at the edge of tears. Lots of little things, all out of her control. She just can't go with the flow. It might not have mattered what we did this year... I think this holiday was destined to be a struggle.

The guys' pajamas had pockets. I think we might all get guy pajamas next year.

Fun With Friends

We spent two nights taking a mini vacation with friends of ours, from mommyneedstherapy. We went to an all included dude ranch, which happened to be half price this week. There was an indoor water park, good food and great company. The Dads took GB and Noah horseback riding. They all enjoyed snow tubing and ice cream at every meal. My friend and I got mommy time (and a drink or two). 

Hope was too young to go horseback riding. We spent the time drinking Shirley Temples and at a Christmas Carol sing-a-long. It may be the best time Hope and ever spent together. Hope did OK, except for Sunday night. She poked from 8 pm until 2 am in the morning. Overall, it worked out really well and we have already booked a return trip just before Christmas 2012.

Hope

GB

 They are back in schools for two days. I pray Hope can hold it together.

October 26 1937- February 16 2008

Mom's 70th Birthday, her last

Today, my Mom would have been 74. Today, my brother would have been 48.

A lot of who I am came from my mother. I still miss her. If you still have your Mom, please give her a hug from me.

GB says Grandma at the Beach is walking the beaches in heaven, waiting for us.

Hope, GB, and Michigan

J and my lovely DIL

MK and Mali

X, GB and Mali dancing

GB and play dough ice cream

GB

 No Hope pictures today :(      I chose not to take any Hope pictures today. Read on.


It is snowing in Michigan. I look out the window and I see beautiful trees, naked except for the snow clinging to them. I would guess that this is the most peaceful part of my day as I am the only one up.

Hope continues her three week tirade. Yesterday, she spent the majority of her time screeching, telling people they were stupid, and shouting that nobody loved her because she wasn't being hugged. The biting returned, the punching continued, and The Dad and I spent the day trading her off  as each of us tired. As soon as she was done not eating her dinner, she was put to bed. She continued to carry on while the rest of the family cheered each other on with a M*chael J*ckson dance game. GB and X did great and J is a born ham. Even MK and one of my granddaughters took a turn. It was such a good family activity, I might even be persuaded to get a *WI* :)

GB's stability improves daily on the Invega. She is at 3 mg at night. We have her completely off the Geodon and are starting to wean her off the Lithium. We may be able to keep her stable on one dose of Invega at night. God is good.

Being a Family of Four

GB

This weekend, The Dad, the girls, and I went for an overnight at the water park. Just us- our sub-family of

four. The park was empty and the rooms were cheap (Thank you, Super Bowl Sunday). GB always relaxes in water. Hope has never seen anything like it. Last night she told me there was no fun in Texas. She thought a minute and added maybe New York just kept all the fun to its self. We went with the sole purpose of keeping the trip low key and enjoyable. Two of us, two girls- neither girl had to do any activity they didn't want to. Hope had a couple of rough hours this morning. She woke up growling, and was not cooperative with either of us. The Dad and I focused on GB and let Hope and her 'tude to themselves. After  a couple of hours, Hope came to me, with her 'tude, and announced I didn't like her. I told her I liked her fine, it was the attitude I was not dealing with. Several minutes later, Hope came back, apologized, and showed me her improved attitude. It lasted until we got home. Hope's attitude came back before gymnastics, but keeping her out of the start of the class reset her attitude. GB had the best gymnastic class of the year. GB lasted to bedtime, but needed some help settling in. All around, it worked out well. It may become a new family tradition.

Hope tries something new without a meltdown

Scooby Snacks

GB and her Dad

Almost Out of Here

The trailer is packed and the only thing left is the routine packing up after two weeks "vacation". So far this morning, Hope threw a hunk of wood at GB and missed, and the girls  sneaked into an empty room with a walk in closet and proceeded to nail polish themselves, the books they made and their sneakers. They are now confined to the great room with me and I am not getting anything done. I am waiting on clothes in the dryer. My sister's tonight for New Years Eve and home bound after lunch tomorrow. I depend on family and they depend on me, but it was a long two weeks and it will be REALLY good to get home again.

Season's Greetings

Tomorrow, we leave to join my family for Christmas. I still have my sister and for that I am very grateful. My son and his family are coming. I really hope the adult who visited in July is the son who comes for Christmas. The girls are wound tight and can't wait to leave. Hope opened her gifts from her ex family and liked them and left them. It has 5 hours since she opened them and there hasn't been any residual damage.

MK and I are coming to an understanding, of sorts. Every time she says something unkind or negative about GB, I simply remind her that GB is my child, just like Mali is hers. She has been much more careful about what she says.

Hope had a meltdown in the waiting room, when it was her time to come out and GB's turn to go in. Full blown, spitting, screaming, and trying to bite. I quickly got her into a level one hold and kept her there. A woman in the waiting room was very annoyed. She told me if he (Hope) couldn't behave any better in her waiting room, I would have to take him (Hope) outside. It was 17 degrees out there and the building is located on a three lane highway. I had lots of answers running through my head, but none of them were nice and I do try very hard to be a good role model. I said to the woman, "I don't think so" and put my attention back where it belonged, on Hope. The rage passed (they all eventually do) and Hope climbed on my lap for cuddles.

Blessings to all during this holiday season. Remember to be grateful for the family you have to celebrate with- they are a gift from God and don't come with a warranty. Treasure them while they are here.

Thankful November, Day 12

Today I am thankful for my sister. Today is her birthday and it hit me (again) that we were the only ones left of our original family. I love her unconditionally even though we are almost nothing alike. Maybe because we are nothing alike, her total support of my kids and my choices- ones she would never make- always stood out as a constant, comforting given. Our families spend all major holidays together and always have. We have traditions built up that not only are important to us, but are counted on by our children. She has three biological children, 2 of which are special needs. We currently live 700 miles apart, but our families share a closeness from the years when we lived in neighboring towns. Happy Birthday, Sis!

My sister, Lynn with GB