Help for GB

GB had her last appointment with the new psychiatrist last night. The Dad and I meet with the new shrink on Monday, without GB, to makes medication changes.

Medication changes are not the only thing that was done to help GB. The shrink spent 45 minutes with GB and unlike the play therapist, listened to what GB was saying. When the Dad joined them. the shrink asked GB to share with her Dad what she had shared with the shrink. GB refused. The shrink told the Dad that the top priorities are 1) getting GB stable on medication and 2) the effect of Hope. The shrink said we will talk about it Monday. I will be there.

After the appointment was done, the Dad took GB to the Olive Garden, her favorite place to eat. They had a long, leisurely dinner, and GB had her Dad's undivided attention. She came home more regulated than I have seen her in weeks. It took less than 45 minutes to settle her down last night and she woke up in a reasonable space, even with a two hour snow delay.

Hope, on the other hand, gave MK a ride for her money... tears, screaming, arms crossed; and neither GB nor I were involved  :)

We can do ANYTHING until Monday.

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

No Snow or Ice Today!

There is NO snow or ice today and there is not suppose to be tomorrow! Saturday is suppose to be more snow and ice, but I am not going there yet. All of these snow days have taught me a couple of things. First, the girls need scheduled breaks away from each other. Second, I thought I did a good job organizing the house for the girls. NOT! There is still way too much for them to play with, and since I am spending the morning in with the plumber (Yeah! The kids will have their toilet back, I will have my garbage disposal back and the house will be temporarily leak free), I am going on a purging binge. Four weeks to Orlando, less then five to surgery. I HAVE to purge or I can't imagine the mess that will be here after I am up and around again. The Dad keeps on top of them to clean up, but they are sneaky little buggers- they have hidey holes and out of the way corners that they can just pile stuff without having to actually think about where stuff goes. And the room looks SO much better...

The girls didn't want to go back to school today. I sidetracked GB by telling her she could go outside after school and climb the snow mountains. As for Hope, well, my Texas girl was excited the first 4 or 5 times she saw snow and went out in it. Now she is done with it. She doesn't like snow clothes, she doesn't like the cold and she definitely doesn't like cold hands. Nobody has been able to convince her that if she kept her gloves on, her hands wouldn't be wet or cold. 

Snow Mountains Await!