Today was my last day of work for ten days. This is the longest Easter break we've ever had. I plan to do some spring cleaning...walls and woodwork, maybe some painting, and sleep. That's all. Not much to ask. Sadly, Braden and JJ have the same long break, so I won't have any time to myself.
We had a meeting at the Children's Home last night, just our monthly sponsor/foster parent meeting, and the vice president asked Keith and I to stay behind after the meeting. During the meeting they mentioned that they have a 14 year old boy who never gets to leave the home, he has no family except a step-dad that calls him once in a while, and they're looking for a sponsor for him. Of course, my immediate reaction is, he can come and visit us, but I was a good girl and kept my mouth shut. But, what I didn't even consider is that my husband would say, "We'll do it." I've never even met this kid, but I'm told he's a real sweetie. Anyway, after the meeting, the vp said to us, off the record, "this whole thing with JJ and your vacation is bullshit. I'm going to do whatever I can to see that he can go with you. If it means I have to have our director call the DHS director, or the governor, we'll do it. Don't give up just yet." SO, that was encouraging.
Tonight we're going out to dinner, then to the home show with some friends. It should be a nice evening. Then after that, I'm doing nothing. NOTHING. Until next weekend when I have to have Easter dinner for about 20. But in between, N O T H I N G.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin
Sorry I haven't posted in a while...I'll bet you're all devastated.
A week ago Friday, I was making dinner, and I got up from the kitchen stool and something felt a little tingly in my back. No big deal, I thought. I'll put the heating pad on after dinner. Well, by the time we were done eating, I was in terrible pain. I wasn't able to get off the sofa until Monday, when the doctor called in script for pain pills and a muscle relaxer. Tuesday I went back to work, and it's much better now, but certain ways I move it still kills me. Sitting up is the hardest thing. I get this burning feeling in my hips, and down my thighs...and not in a good way. So, sitting at the computer hasn't exactly been tops on my list.
I took Braden for his EEG. I was so worried about having to get him up that early, and keeping him up. JJ offered to get up with him too, and thank goodness I agreed. They were playing video games at 4:30 in the morning. Around 6 we went out for breakfast, then walked around Walmart...even though my back was still killing me - but, it was better than the alternative. We went for the test, and I'm still waiting for the results.
We booked the trip for Jamaica. Two days later, the Children's Home calls to say that JJ is not allowed to leave the country. We've been telling them for months that we needed his birth certificate to get a passport. They don't have it, and even gave us the paperwork to apply for another one. It seems that the Home doesn't have a problem with him going, but DHS says that foster kids can't go outside the US, for fear that they'll be kidnapped by their foster parents. The Children's Home is trying to fight this for us, but I don't know what will happen. It's really a shame. Of course, we could go somewhere else, inside the US, but now we'll lose over $2300 if we cancel that trip. Talk about a quagmire. And, JJ's reaction: "Miss, you can't lose all that money because of me. Just go without me." We told him that the whole idea of this is a family vacation, and if he wasn't there, it wouldn't be our whole family.
Braden's been mostly under control. A few small outbursts here and there, but way better than he was. Soon we'll be starting that in-home-family therapy, so hopefully then things will be even better.
That's about all I have for now. I can't believe it's been this long since I posted. Time flies when you're flat on your back. Shut up Emma.
A week ago Friday, I was making dinner, and I got up from the kitchen stool and something felt a little tingly in my back. No big deal, I thought. I'll put the heating pad on after dinner. Well, by the time we were done eating, I was in terrible pain. I wasn't able to get off the sofa until Monday, when the doctor called in script for pain pills and a muscle relaxer. Tuesday I went back to work, and it's much better now, but certain ways I move it still kills me. Sitting up is the hardest thing. I get this burning feeling in my hips, and down my thighs...and not in a good way. So, sitting at the computer hasn't exactly been tops on my list.
I took Braden for his EEG. I was so worried about having to get him up that early, and keeping him up. JJ offered to get up with him too, and thank goodness I agreed. They were playing video games at 4:30 in the morning. Around 6 we went out for breakfast, then walked around Walmart...even though my back was still killing me - but, it was better than the alternative. We went for the test, and I'm still waiting for the results.
We booked the trip for Jamaica. Two days later, the Children's Home calls to say that JJ is not allowed to leave the country. We've been telling them for months that we needed his birth certificate to get a passport. They don't have it, and even gave us the paperwork to apply for another one. It seems that the Home doesn't have a problem with him going, but DHS says that foster kids can't go outside the US, for fear that they'll be kidnapped by their foster parents. The Children's Home is trying to fight this for us, but I don't know what will happen. It's really a shame. Of course, we could go somewhere else, inside the US, but now we'll lose over $2300 if we cancel that trip. Talk about a quagmire. And, JJ's reaction: "Miss, you can't lose all that money because of me. Just go without me." We told him that the whole idea of this is a family vacation, and if he wasn't there, it wouldn't be our whole family.
Braden's been mostly under control. A few small outbursts here and there, but way better than he was. Soon we'll be starting that in-home-family therapy, so hopefully then things will be even better.
That's about all I have for now. I can't believe it's been this long since I posted. Time flies when you're flat on your back. Shut up Emma.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
"All by myself..."
JJ went to his aunt's for the weekend, and Braden is on a camping trip to West Point with the Scouts until tomorrow, so I have the afternoon to myself. I'm forcing myself not to do any cleaning, to just kind of relax. Later, Keith and I have a wedding to go to, so that should be fun. You know what he'll want later, though, don't you?
I feel badly for JJ. He wanted to go to his aunt's this weekend, because it's his mom's birthday, and they were having a party for her. He was going to get to see her, and some of his siblings that he hasn't seen for over a year. She called him on Thursday to say that he didn't have to go because she was going out of town for the weekend, and wouldn't be there anyway. He told me that it only made him a little mad, but I know better. Apparently this is par for the course with her.
We've gone a whole week without a major meltdown here. Everyone's on edge, because we're expecting it, and have a feeling that it's going to be a duzy. However, it's nice to be able to relax just a bit. Braden's still no ray of sunshine, but at least his little episodes are only lasting about 5 minutes and there's no hitting/punching/kicking.
I have to take him for an EEG on the 22nd. Here are the pre-EEG steps: Keep Braden up until midnight the night before. Wake him up at 4:am and keep him awake until the 12:30 test. WHAT THE??? Oh, but I can give him his meds. I asked the receptionist if she had any meds for me, but she just laughed as if I were joking. That's going to be a really fun day.
I feel badly for JJ. He wanted to go to his aunt's this weekend, because it's his mom's birthday, and they were having a party for her. He was going to get to see her, and some of his siblings that he hasn't seen for over a year. She called him on Thursday to say that he didn't have to go because she was going out of town for the weekend, and wouldn't be there anyway. He told me that it only made him a little mad, but I know better. Apparently this is par for the course with her.
We've gone a whole week without a major meltdown here. Everyone's on edge, because we're expecting it, and have a feeling that it's going to be a duzy. However, it's nice to be able to relax just a bit. Braden's still no ray of sunshine, but at least his little episodes are only lasting about 5 minutes and there's no hitting/punching/kicking.
I have to take him for an EEG on the 22nd. Here are the pre-EEG steps: Keep Braden up until midnight the night before. Wake him up at 4:am and keep him awake until the 12:30 test. WHAT THE??? Oh, but I can give him his meds. I asked the receptionist if she had any meds for me, but she just laughed as if I were joking. That's going to be a really fun day.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
"put the lime in the coconut, drink it all up"
What a couple of weeks!
Three weeks ago, I took Braden for his blood work, and his medicine level was non-therapuetic, so the doctor upped it one level...still a very low dose for this particular medicine and Braden's symptoms. After a few days, I noticed Braden talking a little strangely. Not exactly slurring, but speaking slowly and repeating himself. Braden's always been a bit strange, and as sad as it sounds, I just chalked it up to "braden-ness". The next day one of his teachers called me, and said that she noticed that for a few days he seems to be really out of it. Just sitting at his desk, not doing any work. Kind of staring into space. She talked to his other teachers, and they confirmed it. He flunked a social studies test by only getting 10 out of 50 correct...and it was all multiple choice!
He seemed a little slurry after school, so I called his doctor who said to not give him his meds that night, or the next morning and then call his office. The next morning I got him up for school and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary...he's always miserable in the morning, and hardly says a word other than to bitch about having to go to stupid gay school. I got a call at work at lunchtime..it seems that Braden was wandering around the cafeteria with his tray and didn't have any idea where his seat was. They called the nurse, who called me. I went to pick him up. He was really out of it, and very embarrassed.
I called the doctor again who wanted him to go without any meds for the rest of the day, and the next day and to bring him in.
I took Friday off, because no one wants to be around an unmedicated Braden, so I couldn't send him to school. We took him to the doctor in the afternoon. He switched his meds again. Of course it would be days before we know if it's working. He had to go have an EKG for this new medicine, which Braden thought was pretty cool. The doctor also wants him to go for an EEG. He said that lithium sensitivity to the extreme that Braden had it, is not very common, except in seizure patients. He said that there's a slight chance that while Braden doesn't seizure, something in his brain could be just on the edge of seizure, causing his brain to be "on edge" all the time. Then when something a little frustrating happens, he competely over-reacts because his brain was half-way there to begin with. We'll see if that's the case.
Since Sunday, he hasn't been too bad. He's exploded a couple of times, but the result has been a little swearing, maybe a throwing of a shirt or something like that, but within five minutes he's back to himself...for what that's worth. If it keeps going like this, I'm going to start working on some of the things that we've let slip lately (to keep a little bit of peace in the house). He's a little upset, because kids keep asking him if he's on drugs now, because that's the rumor going around school.
Last night, he came in my bedroom at 10:30 to tell me that he picked out his clothes for school, and loaded his bookbag and had his ipod sitting with his hoodie so his morning would go easier. Then he actually kissed me (on the cheek) goodnight.
We had so much running around this weekend....birthday parties, basketball games, a basketball banquet...that I didn't get anything done. My house is a mess. There's a pile of mail/papers stacked on the island that's a foot tall. The floors need to be vacuumed, laundry is half-done...and there's more piling up upstairs. I hate it like this, but I just haven't had time.
On other fronts, as silly as this sounds compared to all this drama, the basement remodel has begun. It's studded out, and the plumbing/heating/electrical is done. As soon as it's wired for surround sound, the insulation will go up, then it will be dry walled. I can't believe how expensive flooring is. We've been pricing carpet for down there, and tile/laminate/who-the-hell-knows for the kitchen, and I'm aghast at the prices.
Also, the people we were going to go on vacation with to Virginia with this summer had to cancel because their son is going to football camp, so we're looking into doing something else. So far our options are: going to the Jersey Shore with other friends, going to Florida to go to Universal Studios, and going to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. The shore would be fun, but after paying for a yucky room for a week, then all the spending money to eat all week, do the boardwalk, etc, it would wind up costing about $3000 to be two hours away from home. And the Jersey shore isn't even that nice of a beach...I hate the ocean there. We could do a week in Florida, hit the parks and stay at a decent hotel for $4000 (including food and spending money). The resort in Jamaica is all-inclusive and loaded with teen activities...snorkeling, jet skiing, arcade, teen disco, pool tables in the pool, etc and would cost a total of $5000. It would be tight to do that trip, but the upside is, it would cost virtually nothing once we got there, and the kids would have a blast. Not that I'd mind sitting on the white sand beaches with my feet dangling in the clear water, reading a book and sipping cocktails!
Oh, and I had an eye doctor appointment yesterday and got to pick out new glasses. I love getting new glasses.
Three weeks ago, I took Braden for his blood work, and his medicine level was non-therapuetic, so the doctor upped it one level...still a very low dose for this particular medicine and Braden's symptoms. After a few days, I noticed Braden talking a little strangely. Not exactly slurring, but speaking slowly and repeating himself. Braden's always been a bit strange, and as sad as it sounds, I just chalked it up to "braden-ness". The next day one of his teachers called me, and said that she noticed that for a few days he seems to be really out of it. Just sitting at his desk, not doing any work. Kind of staring into space. She talked to his other teachers, and they confirmed it. He flunked a social studies test by only getting 10 out of 50 correct...and it was all multiple choice!
He seemed a little slurry after school, so I called his doctor who said to not give him his meds that night, or the next morning and then call his office. The next morning I got him up for school and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary...he's always miserable in the morning, and hardly says a word other than to bitch about having to go to stupid gay school. I got a call at work at lunchtime..it seems that Braden was wandering around the cafeteria with his tray and didn't have any idea where his seat was. They called the nurse, who called me. I went to pick him up. He was really out of it, and very embarrassed.
I called the doctor again who wanted him to go without any meds for the rest of the day, and the next day and to bring him in.
I took Friday off, because no one wants to be around an unmedicated Braden, so I couldn't send him to school. We took him to the doctor in the afternoon. He switched his meds again. Of course it would be days before we know if it's working. He had to go have an EKG for this new medicine, which Braden thought was pretty cool. The doctor also wants him to go for an EEG. He said that lithium sensitivity to the extreme that Braden had it, is not very common, except in seizure patients. He said that there's a slight chance that while Braden doesn't seizure, something in his brain could be just on the edge of seizure, causing his brain to be "on edge" all the time. Then when something a little frustrating happens, he competely over-reacts because his brain was half-way there to begin with. We'll see if that's the case.
Since Sunday, he hasn't been too bad. He's exploded a couple of times, but the result has been a little swearing, maybe a throwing of a shirt or something like that, but within five minutes he's back to himself...for what that's worth. If it keeps going like this, I'm going to start working on some of the things that we've let slip lately (to keep a little bit of peace in the house). He's a little upset, because kids keep asking him if he's on drugs now, because that's the rumor going around school.
Last night, he came in my bedroom at 10:30 to tell me that he picked out his clothes for school, and loaded his bookbag and had his ipod sitting with his hoodie so his morning would go easier. Then he actually kissed me (on the cheek) goodnight.
We had so much running around this weekend....birthday parties, basketball games, a basketball banquet...that I didn't get anything done. My house is a mess. There's a pile of mail/papers stacked on the island that's a foot tall. The floors need to be vacuumed, laundry is half-done...and there's more piling up upstairs. I hate it like this, but I just haven't had time.
On other fronts, as silly as this sounds compared to all this drama, the basement remodel has begun. It's studded out, and the plumbing/heating/electrical is done. As soon as it's wired for surround sound, the insulation will go up, then it will be dry walled. I can't believe how expensive flooring is. We've been pricing carpet for down there, and tile/laminate/who-the-hell-knows for the kitchen, and I'm aghast at the prices.
Also, the people we were going to go on vacation with to Virginia with this summer had to cancel because their son is going to football camp, so we're looking into doing something else. So far our options are: going to the Jersey Shore with other friends, going to Florida to go to Universal Studios, and going to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. The shore would be fun, but after paying for a yucky room for a week, then all the spending money to eat all week, do the boardwalk, etc, it would wind up costing about $3000 to be two hours away from home. And the Jersey shore isn't even that nice of a beach...I hate the ocean there. We could do a week in Florida, hit the parks and stay at a decent hotel for $4000 (including food and spending money). The resort in Jamaica is all-inclusive and loaded with teen activities...snorkeling, jet skiing, arcade, teen disco, pool tables in the pool, etc and would cost a total of $5000. It would be tight to do that trip, but the upside is, it would cost virtually nothing once we got there, and the kids would have a blast. Not that I'd mind sitting on the white sand beaches with my feet dangling in the clear water, reading a book and sipping cocktails!
Oh, and I had an eye doctor appointment yesterday and got to pick out new glasses. I love getting new glasses.
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