Terrific Tuesday What's Happening?

 Good Morning Family,
Well, I hope this finds everyone having a decent morning.  I'm still praying for Judy and all of those who either have cancer, or aren't feeling well for whatever reason.  God is in control.  He, and the rest of us, love each and every one of you.

I had a very busy day yesterday.  After three hours at the agency volunteering, I went and did some campaign work at a Congressional candidate's office.  Today, I'm going back to work for a couple more hours.  

Tonight, I'm heading back to the agency for a volunteers' meeting.  Busy week for me.

Well, I hope everyone has a blessed day.

Tons of hugs and love,
Trish

Good mornin' ya'll.
Well, our son and DIL dropped our grandson at UNCPembroke yesterday. They are going back today! He forgot his calculator. Math class starts tomorrow! He wanted snacks and some of the trail mix I make. I used to make it and send to our son on his trips to Iraq. Basically it is: every kind of nut you can think of, every kind of chip you can think of (chocolate chips, etc), every kind of dried fruit you can think of (blueberries, raisins, mango, etc), some store bought granola, some chocolate covered fruits, m&m's, skittles. I think that is about it. I have to use my HUGE canning pot to mix it in. I seal them in food saver bags. Then when he opens one he can put it in a zip lock bag. Of course I made WAY more than he needs at the moment. As our son and DIL left with quite a few bags, my son whispers to me "Don't give the rest of that away". I was thinking of sending some to other friends' kids at other schools. I guess a 2 hour drive to deliver a calculator isn't so bad. Our friends got a call from their daughter at 11 last night. She is in a school 8 hours away in IL (maybe IN, not sure) on a field hockey scholorship. She forgot her mouth guard, shin guards and something else she needed at 9 this morning for practice. Good old Dad drove all night to get them to her! I guess that's just what parents do. He just got back from Afghanistan 2 weeks ago and only had a week to see his daughter before they took her to her University, so he was happy to see her again!
Now I am dividing up 90 day supplies of our pills in our pill containers. I'm not fond of that job. That's why I do 3 months at a time. Plus I have to be sure my DH has enough for while I am gone.
Better get a wiggle on. I have a huge cup full of iced tea and some DVR'ed Food Network shows on TV to keep me happy will I 'do drugs' as my grandson calls it!
Everyone have a fantabulous day!

Hi Trish and my OFF family:

I got up early this morning to meet with someone who was going to clean my house ... then she called and said she wasn't coming because she picked up another house. How rude! This pissed me off. I guess my little apartment wasn't going to bring in enough money for her.

Then one of the items I sold on Yardsellr arrived damaged ... don't know why this keeps happening when I wrap them in bubble wrap and put them in packing peanuts. Now I have to refund the money. Crap. So my day has not started out well.

Plus, my coworker who fell on Sunday is going to be out until Thursday, so my days off are switched to Thursday and Friday ... this is good in a way, because I have a friend coming down from Chicago Thursday, Friday, Saturday, so at least I'll be able to spend time with her. But this is the second week in a row this guy has fallen and been out of work for most of the week, come back on Thursday and then had Friday and Saturday off ... that's a good gig.

Anyway, that's how my day has started. Hope yours is better. Have a good one.

Hello sistas,

I need some support today.  Oh, my goodness.  Chris and I got into it this morning.  Well, she got into it.  I just kept trying to walk away, and finally, that's just what I had to do.  I just got in the car and left.  Even then, she called me 3 or 4 times and then she started texting me and texting me and texting me.  I finally had to turn my phone off.  She just can NOT let anything go.  Drives me insane.

So, I won't bore you all with the details except to say that I feel she is taking advantage of me at times.  Most of the time I just go along with whatever she says because it's easier than having a fight.  Maybe that's wrong of me, but after 14 years of non-stop bi-polar craziness from her, I have my own defense mechanisms in place.  But every now and then I have to speak up and when I do, bam!  there's a big fuss, every damn time.

So I left the house this morning.  I offered to take Benny with me so that she could have some space and time to calm down, but she refused to let me.  Typical of her.  And while I was gone, CPS came to call.  We've been expecting a visit from them for months (going back to the abuse charges filed against John last spring), and they picked today to show up when she's half out of her mind and I'm gone.  Also, because I was gone, the house was an absolute wreck (because it never occurs to Christie to pick anything up or wash a dish).  I don't know what all was said because Chris refused to talk to me when I got home.  All I know is that CPS is supposed to call me this afternoon to interview me since I am the other adult living in the house.  Great.

Anyway, I'm feeling very blue and very defeated and just so damn sad right now.  I love my daughter, but I knew going into this that I wouldn't be able to live with her.  She and I have not been able to live together since she was 17 and ran away from home.  I am 100% committed to the baby, though, and I know I have to find some way to make this work for Benny's sake.  This is definitely NOT how I envisioned spending my life, but what else can I do?  I have to be here for Benny.  Without me (and Butch, too, of course), what chance does he have?  

Sorry to be such a downer today.  I'm thinking that we need to back into family counseling again.  I don't know if I can sell that idea to Christie or not.  Lord knows, she and I need help communicating with one another.  We have such a long, complicated, emotional history together.  I can't hear what she's saying and she can't hear what I'm saying.  All we can hear is years and years of anger and reproach and hurt feelings.  I recognize that no conflict is completely one-sided.  I'm sure I'm at fault, too.  But I DO think she needs to be on medication. If she could just calm down a little bit and not get so fired up and angry all the time!  It's like living beside a volcano with her.  You never know when she's going to erupt.

Okay, I'll stop now.  I could ramble on and on and on.  Suffice it to say, this has been a really crappy day so far.  If you could say a prayer for my relationship with my daughter and also for her mental health, I would appreciate it.  

Love you all!     

 

Hi Vickie,
My heart aches for you tonight.  Did you get to talk to CPS today?  Perhaps they could insist she get family, or individual therapy.  My Mom is bipolar, and I have a ton of childhood hurt that still isn't resolved, because she never had therapy, just medication.  She is only on an antidepressant, and really needs a mood stablizer too.  I just can't relate to her at all.  I keep getting hurt and upset when I interact with her.

I am also bipolar, and am very stable on my meds.  Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in the brain, that does not go away.  It must be corrected with medication, and negative behaviors can be diminished with the meds and psychotherapy.  Perhaps if Christie were given the ultimatum of getting meds and therapy, or being hospitalized, she might relent.  The CPS caseworker would be ideal to sit down with her and really let Christie know that she is in danger of being separated from Benny because of her illness.  You could be named Benny's guardian till she is stable for a while.  I've worked in a psych hospital as a social worker and know this happens to patients who are not compliant with their medications and psychotherapy.  

I'm just tossing out ideass from my experience.  

I am here if you ever need to talk.  Let me know if you want my phone number.  I'll be happy to listen as you cry and vent.  I totally empathize.

Hugs,
Trish

Vickie....this whole situation is breaking my heart. Chris needs more help then she is getting. She has a child to consider. YOU do not need to be abused!!  That is just so WRONG!! I can really relate!!

I understand the need to protect Benny but this constant fighting is not helping him. I wish I had some answers for you. What a horrible spot to be in. It is wearing you down!!

I keep you in my prayers and always add a few extras as well. I think about you every day!! God Bless my dear friend!!

Love to you and hugs too....connie d

Vickie, I am praying for you! And for your daughter and Benny.
My sister is bi-polar. It took quite awhile to get her meds tweeked, just right. Luckily she listens to her DH. When he tells her she needs a tweek, they go to the Dr. When someone with that condition won't stay properly medicated life can be a real crap shoot!!
I'm sure counselling would be helpful to all of you. Hang in there.

Hi all,

Been busy getting ready for my surgery, It's tomorrow morning. I have to be at the hospital at 6am. See you all on the losers bench.

Big Hugs,
Debbie

Good Luck...and when you feel up to it, post here in a separate post so we can all see immediately how you are doing...You are going to be pretty much out of it for the next 3 days, but let us now when you get back home! We will be here to answer any questions you may have!

The more you walk in hospital, the sooner the gas pains will get out of your system...and sip sip sip water, it's good for you....

 I was pulled out of bed four hours after post-op for my first walk.  In addition to helping the gas to get out of your system, the walking helps prevent clots and really promotes healing and an overall feeling of getting better faster.  Try to increase each walk a lttle at a time.  I tried to walk every four hours, just like my breathing treatments. 

See you on the Losers Bench.

Hugs and Prayers,
Trish