Those of you who seem to find more to say when things aren't going as well as may be expected will enjoy this post.
As I said in my last post, we do our big Thanksgiving dinner on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. So, I had 22 people coming to eat at my house. I spent all day Friday decorating and cleaning. Saturday I cooked and cleaned some more. Sunday, I was up at the crack of dawn doing yet more cooking and cleaning.
You may recall that we have two cats. Ed and Fat Joe. We got them at the same time from some rescue agency. Ed is very personable and a people person. Fat Joe...not so much. He basically hides in the basement, eats and shits. Every once in a while Braden was able to get Fat Joe to sit with him for ten minutes and be petted. As long as Braden went to the basement.
Sunday morning I went down to feed the cats, and Fat Joe didn't come running. Very unusual. I looked around, and he was just laying there. I didn't think too much of it. But a short time later, I heard him making this very strange meow. I went down, and he was still laying in the same spot, but it looked like he was trying to move, but couldn't. Well, to make a long story short, I had to prepare a dinner for 22 while a cat was in my basement dying, and Braden was a wreck. He kept going down and checking on him, crying.
Fat Joe passed away around 8:00 that night. Braden was inconsolable. He tried to give him mouth to mouth and cpr. He was holding him saying, "Come back Fat Joe." He cried and cried and cried. Then he said, "I'll have to get a new cat now." Through his tears, I told him that we'd go to the SPCA and see what they had. This made Braden feel a little better, and he soon cried himself to sleep.
Monday, we went and walked into the "cat room". We wound up getting this beautiful, black maine coon-type cat. He has the softest fur. He loves to be held and rubbed. It was a miracle we didn't leave with more, because they all looked so needy.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
"He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of company D"
Well, the Christmas season is officially here.
We did absolutely nothing for Thanksgiving. We do our big family dinner on Sunday. We used to do Thanksgiving Day with Keith's mom, but since she passed away, we just stay home. Keith, Braden and I went to see Casino Royale. JJ was at his aunt's for the holiday. That night, I drove to Harrisburg to pick up Renee to come and stay for a few days. What's up with her, you might be thinking. Well, I'll tell you. She wants to join the Army. Yes, Renee in the army. She's met with the recruiter twice, taken a couple of tests, and says she's serious about this. When I told my parents her plans, my dad said, "Whose army?"
JJ made the basketball team, so he had to cut his Thanksgiving vacation short. Instead of staying in Philly until Monday, he came home last night. He's doing very well in school, and has moved up several levels and if things keep going this well, he'll be going to regular school just after Christmas.
Braden had a decent week. No real outbursts. Lots of moodiness, though. But, we were able to talk through near-meltdowns and avoid calamity. I've tried to get him to commit to a Christmas list, but it changes daily.
I had planned to do cooking and grocery shopping yesterday, in preperation for feeding the 20 or so people here tomorrow, but it was so nice out, that I decorated for Christmas. All but my tree. I don't remember ever decorating for Christmas without a jacket on. I was actually sweating. I hung all white lights outside, but Keith and the kids are complaining that it needs some color, so I might have to pick up something colorful to put out there.
Well, I'm off to get a shower and go grocery shopping. Then I have to make the make-ahead things for tomorrow.
We did absolutely nothing for Thanksgiving. We do our big family dinner on Sunday. We used to do Thanksgiving Day with Keith's mom, but since she passed away, we just stay home. Keith, Braden and I went to see Casino Royale. JJ was at his aunt's for the holiday. That night, I drove to Harrisburg to pick up Renee to come and stay for a few days. What's up with her, you might be thinking. Well, I'll tell you. She wants to join the Army. Yes, Renee in the army. She's met with the recruiter twice, taken a couple of tests, and says she's serious about this. When I told my parents her plans, my dad said, "Whose army?"
JJ made the basketball team, so he had to cut his Thanksgiving vacation short. Instead of staying in Philly until Monday, he came home last night. He's doing very well in school, and has moved up several levels and if things keep going this well, he'll be going to regular school just after Christmas.
Braden had a decent week. No real outbursts. Lots of moodiness, though. But, we were able to talk through near-meltdowns and avoid calamity. I've tried to get him to commit to a Christmas list, but it changes daily.
I had planned to do cooking and grocery shopping yesterday, in preperation for feeding the 20 or so people here tomorrow, but it was so nice out, that I decorated for Christmas. All but my tree. I don't remember ever decorating for Christmas without a jacket on. I was actually sweating. I hung all white lights outside, but Keith and the kids are complaining that it needs some color, so I might have to pick up something colorful to put out there.
Well, I'm off to get a shower and go grocery shopping. Then I have to make the make-ahead things for tomorrow.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
"Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down"
I have had the worst week imaginable. Maybe not the worst week imaginable, but a very bad week.
As most of you know, Braden is bi-polar. While there have been, I'll use the word explosions here, because that's what they're like, explosions before, they've been once a month, or every two months, or every three weeks. Good times in between. Calm times in between.
This week, we've had three nights of hell in a row. Tuesday night, he went off over something, and I can't even remember what it was. Something inconsequential. It usually is. Something most of us would be able to shrug off. He gets violent now during his episodes. Throwing things, tipping furniture over, saying he's going to hit Keith or I, threatening to kill himself or run away. Tuesday night's tirade lasted about an hour, but then subsided. The one good thing, as twisted as this sounds, about these episodes is that the days right after, Braden's overcome with this kind of peace. Partly to make up for what happened, and partly because his body feels good to have released it's posion. But that didn't happen this time.
Wednesday night it happened again. But this time it only lasted about twenty minutes, and wasn't nearly as bad as the night before. Just enough to unsettle everyone in the house.
Thursday night was the worst ever. All I did was tell him to call his aunt to ask her how to switch sim cards in a phone before he did it wrong and screwed them up. He went ballistic. And, not spoiled brat ballistic. Just crazy people ballistic. He took a knife and tried to cut himself. He told me I better watch my back because he was going to get me. He kept swinging at me, close enough that I could feel the air swoosh by my face, but not close enough to make contact. With Keith it was a different story. He was punching him and hitting him. We restrained him three times in a 2 1/2 period. The whole time he's crying, "I can't stop. I need to calm down. Make it stop." I thought I was going to have to call the police or an ambulance. And, it's very hard for Keith to stay calm during this. He yells and threatens, adding fuel to the fire. When all was said and done, he was unconsolable.
I talked to his doctor, who thinks it might be a medicine thing, and we've upped the dose of one of them. We've tried to talk to Braden to find out what's going on. He's getting very frustrated with school again this year, and thinks one of his teachers hates him. I know this woman, she had him last year. I think he's imagining it. Also, he's a peanut of a kid. Probably a good six inches shorter, and fifty pounds lighter than his friends/classmates. They're all going through puberty, he isn't yet. He hates that he gets pulled out for learning support english and math, yet he'd flounder in reg ed classes for those subjects. I think that all these frustrations add up all day long, and he holds it in all day. He wouldn't want to have an episode at school in front of his peers or teachers, so he comes home and then the slightest little thing happens, and the floodgates open.
Needless to say, I haven't gotten anything done around the house this week. Dinners have been rushed and thrown together, laundry is stacked up and my part time job has been ignored. We're walking on eggshells. It's really like a battle ground.
As most of you know, Braden is bi-polar. While there have been, I'll use the word explosions here, because that's what they're like, explosions before, they've been once a month, or every two months, or every three weeks. Good times in between. Calm times in between.
This week, we've had three nights of hell in a row. Tuesday night, he went off over something, and I can't even remember what it was. Something inconsequential. It usually is. Something most of us would be able to shrug off. He gets violent now during his episodes. Throwing things, tipping furniture over, saying he's going to hit Keith or I, threatening to kill himself or run away. Tuesday night's tirade lasted about an hour, but then subsided. The one good thing, as twisted as this sounds, about these episodes is that the days right after, Braden's overcome with this kind of peace. Partly to make up for what happened, and partly because his body feels good to have released it's posion. But that didn't happen this time.
Wednesday night it happened again. But this time it only lasted about twenty minutes, and wasn't nearly as bad as the night before. Just enough to unsettle everyone in the house.
Thursday night was the worst ever. All I did was tell him to call his aunt to ask her how to switch sim cards in a phone before he did it wrong and screwed them up. He went ballistic. And, not spoiled brat ballistic. Just crazy people ballistic. He took a knife and tried to cut himself. He told me I better watch my back because he was going to get me. He kept swinging at me, close enough that I could feel the air swoosh by my face, but not close enough to make contact. With Keith it was a different story. He was punching him and hitting him. We restrained him three times in a 2 1/2 period. The whole time he's crying, "I can't stop. I need to calm down. Make it stop." I thought I was going to have to call the police or an ambulance. And, it's very hard for Keith to stay calm during this. He yells and threatens, adding fuel to the fire. When all was said and done, he was unconsolable.
I talked to his doctor, who thinks it might be a medicine thing, and we've upped the dose of one of them. We've tried to talk to Braden to find out what's going on. He's getting very frustrated with school again this year, and thinks one of his teachers hates him. I know this woman, she had him last year. I think he's imagining it. Also, he's a peanut of a kid. Probably a good six inches shorter, and fifty pounds lighter than his friends/classmates. They're all going through puberty, he isn't yet. He hates that he gets pulled out for learning support english and math, yet he'd flounder in reg ed classes for those subjects. I think that all these frustrations add up all day long, and he holds it in all day. He wouldn't want to have an episode at school in front of his peers or teachers, so he comes home and then the slightest little thing happens, and the floodgates open.
Needless to say, I haven't gotten anything done around the house this week. Dinners have been rushed and thrown together, laundry is stacked up and my part time job has been ignored. We're walking on eggshells. It's really like a battle ground.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
"The wheels on the bus go round and round"
Keith was away on a work trip all week, so my week was kind of hectic. Not that I missed him or anything, but I was the one that had to do all the running, picking up of kids, etc. Most nights, we didn't eat dinner until 8:00.
JJ went on a home visit to his aunt's this weekend. We took him to the bus station at 5:30 Friday night, and he didn't get to Philly until after 10:00. Philly is only an hour and a half away. Poor kid. Sitting on a bus with a bunch of strangers all that time. At least he got a seat this time. Last time he went, he had to stand the whole way.
A few weeks ago we bought a used go-kart for the kids. It's a two seater, so Braden and JJ can both ride. We were having a problem getting it started, so we took it to a dealer to be fixed. Finally, we got it back this week. The kids are really enjoying it. They took me for a ride the other night, and they really enjoyed scaring the crap out of me by taking quick corners and dodging trees at the last minute. Then, they drove it right through this huge mud puddle. I was wet up to my waist, mud splattered all over my face, leaves stuck in my hair...I was screaming and laughing at the same time. I probably haven't been muddy in over 30 years. Braden and JJ thought it was hysterical that they got me all wet and dirty.
I went to a surprise 40th birthday party last night, and met a woman who is quite an accomplished seamstress. An accomplished seamstress that's retired, looking for projects to do and has a basement full of fabric. I'm going to have her make me an ottoman cover and some dining chair slip covers. And, maybe I won't stop there.
I'm having a Tastefully Simple party here this afternoon. If you've never been to one, it's all things you'd use to cook/entertain. All food products. Dip mixes, marinades, drinks, etc. I love the stuff. Hopefully a lot of people will order and I'll earn tons of free stuff.
JJ has basketball tryouts this week, and Braden doesn't have anything going. I have a Jewelry party to go to on Thursday night. Other than that, we have a week that should be pretty calm.
JJ went on a home visit to his aunt's this weekend. We took him to the bus station at 5:30 Friday night, and he didn't get to Philly until after 10:00. Philly is only an hour and a half away. Poor kid. Sitting on a bus with a bunch of strangers all that time. At least he got a seat this time. Last time he went, he had to stand the whole way.
A few weeks ago we bought a used go-kart for the kids. It's a two seater, so Braden and JJ can both ride. We were having a problem getting it started, so we took it to a dealer to be fixed. Finally, we got it back this week. The kids are really enjoying it. They took me for a ride the other night, and they really enjoyed scaring the crap out of me by taking quick corners and dodging trees at the last minute. Then, they drove it right through this huge mud puddle. I was wet up to my waist, mud splattered all over my face, leaves stuck in my hair...I was screaming and laughing at the same time. I probably haven't been muddy in over 30 years. Braden and JJ thought it was hysterical that they got me all wet and dirty.
I went to a surprise 40th birthday party last night, and met a woman who is quite an accomplished seamstress. An accomplished seamstress that's retired, looking for projects to do and has a basement full of fabric. I'm going to have her make me an ottoman cover and some dining chair slip covers. And, maybe I won't stop there.
I'm having a Tastefully Simple party here this afternoon. If you've never been to one, it's all things you'd use to cook/entertain. All food products. Dip mixes, marinades, drinks, etc. I love the stuff. Hopefully a lot of people will order and I'll earn tons of free stuff.
JJ has basketball tryouts this week, and Braden doesn't have anything going. I have a Jewelry party to go to on Thursday night. Other than that, we have a week that should be pretty calm.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
"Play that funky music white boy"
I've really got nothing exciting to report, so you can skip this post if you want.
Trick or Treat was Tuesday night. Braden dressed up as a pimp - I wanted to post some pictures, but none of my batteries are charged enough to download from my camera. JJ said he was too old to go (which I agreed with), so he hid on the porch and scared the crap out of kids when they reached for the candy. Also, he inadvertantly scared some of the parents - even though they didn't say anything - I could see the look on their faces, "Oh my God, a black person!"
The first marking period is over, and I'm not sure what JJ's grades are going to be, but Braden is winding up with an A, a C and the rest B's. Not too bad considering he missed a few homework assigments because I refuse to fight with him over them anymore.
JJ has his last football game on Monday, then he gets a week off, then there's basketball tryouts. He's made quite a few friends on the football team and hopefully he'll make even more playing basketball. He said to me the other week, "Miss, I never thought I'd have so many white friends." At one of his football games, he was on the line of scrimmage, and on the other team, right across from him, was a Puerto Rican kid that went to Second Chance with JJ. The kid said, "What are you doing playing ball with all these white boys?" JJ said Nazareth's whole line of scrimmage was lauging so hard, the almost got a flag for moving before they were supposed to (I'm sure there's a football term for that, but I don't have any idea what it would be). Behaviorally, he's doing really well at school, and has moved up to the silver level-if he does good for the next marking period, they'll send him to our regular high school.
Braden's still sticking with scouts, although it's getting harder and harder to keep him interested. There's only a couple of kids his age still in it, and he's always looking for excuses not to go. Last week, he wanted to stay home and study for a test - so you know it's bad.
I have a training for school to go to this week. I'll be out of the building Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It couldn't come at a worse time, as all the grades and such have to be in this week. I'm on the school's SAP team, and it's an official SAP training, so I have to go. At least I get to sleep a half an hour later.
That's about all I have to offer. Pretty slim pickings.
Trick or Treat was Tuesday night. Braden dressed up as a pimp - I wanted to post some pictures, but none of my batteries are charged enough to download from my camera. JJ said he was too old to go (which I agreed with), so he hid on the porch and scared the crap out of kids when they reached for the candy. Also, he inadvertantly scared some of the parents - even though they didn't say anything - I could see the look on their faces, "Oh my God, a black person!"
The first marking period is over, and I'm not sure what JJ's grades are going to be, but Braden is winding up with an A, a C and the rest B's. Not too bad considering he missed a few homework assigments because I refuse to fight with him over them anymore.
JJ has his last football game on Monday, then he gets a week off, then there's basketball tryouts. He's made quite a few friends on the football team and hopefully he'll make even more playing basketball. He said to me the other week, "Miss, I never thought I'd have so many white friends." At one of his football games, he was on the line of scrimmage, and on the other team, right across from him, was a Puerto Rican kid that went to Second Chance with JJ. The kid said, "What are you doing playing ball with all these white boys?" JJ said Nazareth's whole line of scrimmage was lauging so hard, the almost got a flag for moving before they were supposed to (I'm sure there's a football term for that, but I don't have any idea what it would be). Behaviorally, he's doing really well at school, and has moved up to the silver level-if he does good for the next marking period, they'll send him to our regular high school.
Braden's still sticking with scouts, although it's getting harder and harder to keep him interested. There's only a couple of kids his age still in it, and he's always looking for excuses not to go. Last week, he wanted to stay home and study for a test - so you know it's bad.
I have a training for school to go to this week. I'll be out of the building Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It couldn't come at a worse time, as all the grades and such have to be in this week. I'm on the school's SAP team, and it's an official SAP training, so I have to go. At least I get to sleep a half an hour later.
That's about all I have to offer. Pretty slim pickings.
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