Summer time is here

Counting down the days till the end of the school year. Next Wednesday is the kids' last day, and Thursday is my last day. Braden's done on Thursday too, and is having his annual "last day of school swim party". We're expecting about 35 kids. It better not rain!

JJ's punishment, from the Children's Home, for what he did the other week is that we're not allowed to have any contact with him for 30 days. That makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Also, they moved him back up to the Acopian Center for 30 days. At this rate, we're not going to be able to foster him until freakin August! But, on a lighter note, the other boy we've been trying to sponsor and get to come up was finally able to come for a visit. He came last Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Keith fell immediately in love with him. He's a real sweety. He's only 13, and has a bit of a hyper personality...so, he and Braden got along fabulously and ran around and swam all weekend. Keith was going on and on about him. Don't be surprised if we end up with two foster kids.

The glass tops of both my patio tables got smashed by umbrellas in the wind last fall, so I have my pool all open, and the tables/chairs set up, but no table tops. I can't believe the prices glass places want to charge to make new tops. We actually might be better off buying new tables. I bought plants last weekend for my pots and got them planted.

I saw a new kitchen table that I love, and now I just have to have sex with Keith until he agrees to buy it for me.
Isn't life grand?

They made me proud!

I had Braden's annual IEP meeting yesterday afternoon. Usually, this meeting leaves me with a feeling of "oh no, my son is going to still be living with me when he's 30!" But, not this year.
He met all of the original goals on his IEP (and, while the goals weren't lofty, he still did it). He mastered everything he was taught in his learning support math class, he improved in writing...definitely his weakness. And, in Reading, he scored 97% accuracy at a 7th grade level...and, he's only 6th grade.
So, they're moving him out of learning support reading. He'll still get help with Language Arts and Math. He's moving up a level in science. Social Studies is already completely mixed. His teacher also added that if he has another good year in math like he had this year, he'll be in a regular math class by the following year.
I was practically in shock! Good shock though! And, in conclusion, his special ed teacher told me that she conferred with the whole 6th grade team and their overwhelming conclusion is that Braden is an easy student, because he wants to learn and is so bright and has such a vast background knowledge, that they'll really miss him next year! Isn't that wonderful? (and, don't worry, I did check to make sure they were talking about Braden). Braden was so excited. He actually said to me, "Mom, I'm so proud of myself!" But, I doubt he could possibly be prouder than I am and I told him so.
On the other front, JJ came into school today with his caseworker to discuss what happened last week. He admitted what he said was wrong, admitted to being disrespectufl to the principal because he was mad about being accused of trying to start a riot. He apologized to the principal and agreed that they'd try to work on getting along better. The meeting ended with JJ and the principal shaking hands. I was so proud of him. I told him that he acted like a man and I knew it was hard for him, but he did it and did it well. I told him I was proud of him. He smiled from ear to ear.

Oh woe is me!

I have the house all to myself today. That's normally a good thing. In this case, it's not such a good thing.
Braden's on a scout camping trip to NY to go spelunking and won't be back until mid-afternoon tomorrow. That's a good thing. He'll have a blast, and I'll get a break from feeding him. Keith's working, which is also a good thing because he's taking me out to dinner tonight...he doesn't know it yet, but he is.
JJ was supposed to be here this weekend, but now he's not allowed to come. This is the bad thing. And, the worst part is it's all his fault. On Thursday, him and another boy jokingly, albeit wrongly, made a remark about having a riot at school. They had no intention of actually having one. They had no reason to have one. They didn't tell any other students. JJ is definitely no Norma Rae. Anyway, a staff member overheard them, and reported it to the office (as he should have done). When they questioned JJ about it, he became indignant that they'd think he was really going to start a riot. He refused to explain himself. He would not talk to the principal...who only wanted an explanation. When the day was nearly over, the principal tried to talk to him again and JJ's only response was, "How was your riot?" I tried to talk to him, but he would only say, "I don't have to explain myself to anyone. There was no riot." Then he just completely ignored me. Closed his eyes and wouldn't respond to a thing I said to him. That night he called to say he was sorry for ignoring me, which he added, was a big thing, because he hates to apologize. (And, I know it was a big step for him to do that.) The next morning, the principal gave him one more shot at explaining himself, which the other boy had done and got in no trouble at all. But, JJ dug his heels in and wouldn't say anything. So, now the school is threatening to press charges and he wasn't allowed to come on Friday. He has to go on Monday with his caseworker. Needless to say, he got moved back to the Acopian Center at the home and is allowed to have no contact with me. None. That's the part that makes no sense to me.
If the school goes through with pressing charges, there goes any shot of him coming to live with us. Even if they don't press charges, lord only knows how long they'll postpone the fostering. Now, I know he's definitely wrong here. I don't think he should get off scott free. But, if one of your kids did something stupid like this, I'm sure he would be grounded, at least. But, no matter what the punishment, he'd still be with his family. Feeling loved. Punished, but loved.
One of our favorite staff workers at the Acopian called last night. "Guess who I've got back again?" he asked. "He's not allowed to talk to you, but I thought I'd sneak him a quick phone call," and he put JJ on the phone. Keith told him he was disappointed in him and asked how he was doing. I told him we loved him and he'd better think long and hard about what he was going to say to the principal on Monday. And that there's a lot riding on this so he'd better do what's right. Then I told him that we loved him again.
So, that's how I got a day to myself.

Happy Mother F-er's Day

Last night I went to see the comedian Rich Vos. He was very funny. I laughed so hard at times that the sides of my mouth hurt. In the crowd was a table of some of the people I work with...about four of them and their spouses/girlfriends. They were sitting pretty close to the stage, and one of them yelled something to Rich. Well, that was all it took. He picked on them for the entire night, unmercilessly. I was so glad I didn't sit with them. Plus, I got lots of great ammunition for work on Monday.
Keith and I had a discussion about his, how should I say this nicely, suckiness in the gift buying department. I brought up Christmas and the tickets he got me that he was told specifically not to buy. I brought up my birthday when I was just handed some cash. You know, he constantly teases me about wanting so many things. We'll see something in a magazine, "I would love that," I'll say. We'll be at the mall, "OOoh, now I'd like to have that." Etc. So, buying me a gift should be the easiest thing in the world, but NOOOOOOO! So, last night while I was at the show, he took Braden out shopping. When I came home I saw a Bath and Body Works bag on the table. WTF? He forgot my "NO LOTION NO PJ'S NO APPLIANCE" rule? How imaginative is fucking lotion? But, lest I be thought of as a bitch, I'll say thank you and smile. At least I'll get to go out, because we're taking my mom out for brunch.
Braden has a sleepover tonight, and Keith's working night shift as a favor to a friend, so I have the night alone. Pure bliss. JJ went to Philly to visit his aunt this weekend, as he promised he'd do. I gave him a little cash to pick her up a card. I've worked out an arrangement with his caseworker (the one who never, ever returns my calls). If we want to visit JJ, or have him come here....I call and leave a message. If I dont' hear back from the caseworker, I'm to assume that what ever I requested has been approved. That will definitely work in my favor. I still don't know when the fostering thing will come through, and I haven't heard a word from his Philly caseworker in weeks, and neither has JJ. SHe was so supportive in the beginning. I wonder what's going on there.

::cough cough::

I'm taking the day off tomorrow. I'm feeling a little sick ::wink wink::. It's supposed to be 77 degrees and sunny. I'm going to wipe down my downstairs walls, do some laundry and read in the sun. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Good news! JJ is allowed to come and visit this weekend, all day Saturday and all day Sunday. He can't sleep over yet though. His case worker finally called me back today...after leaving him two messages a day for the last three days. Also, he promised to look into when the fostering will come into effect. They did make JJ promise that he'd go on a home visit next weekend, if he came here this weekend. But, the way it's been going, I'll take what I can get.
Keith and I are bowling tomorrow night in a charity bowling thing. We do it every year and usually it's a fun night out.
Braden has to get up early tomorrow and meet the boy scouts...they're doing community service and cleaning up the road near the ball field. It's sure going to be fun waking him up ~~0~~0~~
Other than that, it's going to be a slow weekend...which is nothing to complain about!

Anticipation

JJ has his meeting today...it's probably going on right now. It's driving me crazy not to be there. I hope it goes well. Shit, I hope it goes a hundred times better than well. His DHS worker is supposed to be there, hopefully to kick some Children's Home butt.