Chatterbox Hyena Thread (Everyone is Welcome)

[eatmypixiedust]

Last night I went to bed around 11. As I was flossing and brushing my teeth, DH woke and stumbled out of bed. He muttered something and I said, "What?"

He said, "Where's DS4?"

I said, "What do you mean where is he? Isn't he in bed with you?"

"Nope." So he wandered down the hall, then came back with a smirk on his face. "Ohhhhh, that is just the cutest thing! He's sleeping with his big brother!"

Naturally I had to go look. DS7 was mashed up against the wall, DS4 curled up in a ball on the other side closest to me. Sometimes they are just so darn cute...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Hi Alex! How was your day? My bf and I bought Be Kind Rewind and are watching it. We saw it when it was in the theatres and it was funny.

Well, I thought we'd had a pretty good day!

My mom and sister came up today and we went to Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate my mom's birthday (last weekend.) Then we came back to my house, I put DS4 down for nap, and we chatted all afternoon. It had been awhile (early May, I think) since I'd seen them, so it was nice to catch up.

DS4 had a bad potty accident. Both DH and I had nagged him to change his pull-up, but neither of us kept on him to make sure it got done. So he didnt' do it; then all of a sudden DS7 yells, "Mamaaaa! DS4 is leaking!" I went running out the family room and dragged DS into the kitchen (off the carpet onto wood), then shoved him toward the bathroom. He leaked the whole way, so I grabbed paper towels and cleaned up the floor. It was then that I realized the water on the floor was slightly brown!

So he'd apparently pooped, then filled his pull-up so full that it leaked. UGH!

So I threw paper towels at DS7 and told him to mop up the spots on the carpet as best he could, then changed DS4, wiped him down, mopped up the floor of the bathroom, then clorox-wiped the bathroom floor and the path to the family room. UGH!

On a positive note, DS4 decided to go potty all by himself after that. Three different times! Big High Fives and hugs all around for each one!!!

My mom and sis left around 10, I think, and DH and I were chatting just now. All of a sudden he says, "Oh, you know what we missed today?" No, what?

"Baseball team pictures." CRAP!!! Team pictures were this afternoon, and DS7 should have been in them, and DH is the coach, so he should have, too. I have no idea what the heck they did without a coach there for the team. to us for forgetting! I feel so stupid!

We already knew of 2 or 3 kids who wouldn't be there for pictures, but there are like 10 - 12 kids on the team, so still should have been a good turnout. One of the moms we know well (she was one of DS7's daycare teachers way back when) had forgotten pictures last year and said for SURE she would be there this time. ARRRGGGGHHH!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Would have been a pretty good night's sleep except DH left the blinds partially up and the windows open. So around 6 AM it was too light to sleep and cars were starting to come through the neighborhood and construction workers doing their thing by 7...

I hope the boy goes to his brother's bed again tonight!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I need to get to bed, pix. Tomorrow morning we're visiting with the ILs and celebrating FIL's birthday (also last weekend.)

I hope you and your BF enjoy the movie.

Good night!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Well, I thought we'd had a pretty good day!

My mom and sister came up today and we went to Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate my mom's birthday (last weekend.) Then we came back to my house, I put DS4 down for nap, and we chatted all afternoon. It had been awhile (early May, I think) since I'd seen them, so it was nice to catch up.

DS4 had a bad potty accident. Both DH and I had nagged him to change his pull-up, but neither of us kept on him to make sure it got done. So he didnt' do it; then all of a sudden DS7 yells, "Mamaaaa! DS4 is leaking!" I went running out the family room and dragged DS into the kitchen (off the carpet onto wood), then shoved him toward the bathroom. He leaked the whole way, so I grabbed paper towels and cleaned up the floor. It was then that I realized the water on the floor was slightly brown!

So he'd apparently pooped, then filled his pull-up so full that it leaked. UGH!

So I threw paper towels at DS7 and told him to mop up the spots on the carpet as best he could, then changed DS4, wiped him down, mopped up the floor of the bathroom, then clorox-wiped the bathroom floor and the path to the family room. UGH!

On a positive note, DS4 decided to go potty all by himself after that. Three different times! Big High Fives and hugs all around for each one!!!

My mom and sis left around 10, I think, and DH and I were chatting just now. All of a sudden he says, "Oh, you know what we missed today?" No, what?

"Baseball team pictures." CRAP!!! Team pictures were this afternoon, and DS7 should have been in them, and DH is the coach, so he should have, too. I have no idea what the heck they did without a coach there for the team. to us for forgetting! I feel so stupid!

We already knew of 2 or 3 kids who wouldn't be there for pictures, but there are like 10 - 12 kids on the team, so still should have been a good turnout. One of the moms we know well (she was one of DS7's daycare teachers way back when) had forgotten pictures last year and said for SURE she would be there this time. ARRRGGGGHHH!

Oh not! I'm sorry about your DS4 but that's good that he went to the potty by himself!


That's a bummer about the pictures!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I need to get to bed, pix. Tomorrow morning we're visiting with the ILs and celebrating FIL's birthday (also last weekend.)

I hope you and your BF enjoy the movie.

Good night!

Goodnight! I hope you have fun tomorrow!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Good morning, hyenas!
Sunny!

Busy day today! We're going to brunch with FIL in a bit, then grocery shopping, then DH will pack for his trip this week. I'm going to miss him.

Thank goodness we have stuff to to do this week so we're not all sitting around moping and missing Daddy! Might be a good time to break out some fun craft projects, too!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

DS4 went potty all by himself TWICE this morning!!!
Seriously hoping this trend continues!

Now if we could just get the poop in the potty...

 

[dizzyami]

Good morning hyena's!!!


Thanks for all the backpack talk, I have now been scouring online for the bestest backpacks/lunch totes for the kids. I will definitely be packing all lunches this year (i don't want Alec to have to deal with buying a lunch). And I guess the part of me won't buy WalMart or Kmart, while it would be helping the mountain businesses, I just don't want my kiddos having the same backpacks as everyone else . I don't know, I am sure I am strange, but oh well. The crazy thing though is if I lived in the valley still I wouldn't care (because there are so many stores). I guess just call me weird. I found cute ones at Kohls. I saved my bag, because MVC's get 30% starting the 16th, and I am sure I can find another coupon code to go along with that The really sad thing is once all is said and done I can get Kohls for 1/2 the price of Walmart

Family left this morning (DH's sis and husband...who are DN's parents). It was nice having them here, and even better for them to see how good DN is doing. On a very tragic note, DH's Dsis clients son (wow, you still here) had a similar problem to DN's, was 2 years younger, and shot himself last week. Very tragic and I feel horrible for the family, but it kind of reiterated to them that DN should stay here for a long while until all are sure that his past his fully behind him.

On a brighter note, his sis watched the kiddos Saturday, both DH and I were off, and we actually got to spend 6 hours alone (get your mind out of the gutters, we weren't home, but DH did suggest driving to the woods )

 

[Albort]

hey hey,

just drop by to say whats up. Been working at Disneyland 5 days week. tis crazy crazy crazy.

 

[funnygarcia]

Just checking in again

Busily putting our apt together the way we want.

Had to wash all of our linens/towels and the curtains as they were used to pad out the breakables. Blankets were used to wrap furniture. Beats paying money on moving blankets, white paper, and bubble wrap... PLUS less boxes since all of it is packed with the rest of your belongings instead of in a box on their own. Keep that in mind if you ever do a cross country move

Hualed it all to laundromat and used the commercial washers, much faster than two loads at a time at our apt building

Did my regular laundry (clothes) at home today.Now everything we own is fresh and clean


Hubby hung our curtains yesterday, cuts down on the heat / AC and finally got a very good night's sleep with the darkened room. Blinds only shut out a fraction of the street lights-- bleeeeeeeeeeeh

Hubby hung up my shelf and clocks today-- need some small nails to do my other wall art stuff.

AND I unpacked my nick-nack, jewlery, hubby's coins, etc and have them nicely displayed on a shelf.. plus a few books off the floor... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh much better.

Keeping a big area clear in our bedroom for dialysis
Couldn't decide on a cart at Ikea.. still haven't found exactly what we need.. must have wheels, drawers, space on top to set his needles for set up... prefer something that doesn't cost over $100

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Yo, Albort! Long time no see, man!

Dizzy, how did your DN react to the sad story about your SIL's client's son?

We're just about to get dinner preparations under way here (bbq'd burgers tonight, YUM!) DH is packing for his trip, and I'm trying to get used to the idea of not seeing him until Thursday...

We have an early run to the airport tomorrow morning, so will turn in early tonight. May or may not be DISing, depending on how cooperative the kids are about showers and such post-dinner.

Hope to catch you later!

 

[sameyeyam]

Hi Guys!

 

[sameyeyam]

What a weird freakin day here! Hang on for a wild, sorta long, story.

My sister is here to pick up her 17yo DS. He is the one that is autistic. She placed him voluntarily with the state of Oregon about 10 years ago, not that she couldn't take care of him, but because he would qualify for many services that he couldn't get if he lived with his natural parent. He lived with one family at first that didn't work out, then finally was placed with his skills trainer at school. She applied to become his foster mom. She is a young, single woman and took wonderful of him. Now that he is going to turn 18 next month, my sister has decided it is time for him to come home. He loses many services, etc. when he turns 18. Her 3 other children are grown and she is in a position to be able to devote much time to him. During the past 8 years that he has been with this foster mom, my sister sees him several times a year, he comes to visit her at Christmas, spring break and summer time. She even got him a cell phone so she can call him every night.

The foster mom has become extremely attached to him and my sister was trying to make this a peaceful transition, but the foster mom has become increasingly difficult to deal with. Finally my sister just called the social workers and they set up a time (this Monday) to turn him over. Yesterday the foster mom called and wanted to meet with my sister, they could tell him together what is happening, etc...

We met them this afternoon at a restaurant, where she told her she has filed for legal guardianship! A few words were exhanged, we left the restaurant and she had her mother (who is a legal process server) chasing my car thru the parking lot trying to serve legal papers! We ended up in a crazy loop around Portland trying to ditch a couple of cars that were following us!

Anyway, my sister was able to get ahold of the social worker, who says that the lady is just a foster mother, has no legal rights and has been ordered to turn him over Monday. We have a feeling that she will try to run with him. She has lots of family that will help her. She is a generally nice lady, but she truly believes that this child is her's and I think she is now willing to do anything to keep him. Anyway, the social worker (thank God my sister had her cell phone number) told her to not stay at my home tonight to avoid getting served with legal papers. They will go to her home tomorrow morning with police presence to remove him. This is so not the way my sister wanted to do this, she wanted to have them maintain their close relationship.

Needless to say, we were both freaking out and I just want you guys to know that if you ever have anyone chasing you I do really well at eluding process servers and cars that are following us.

 

[sameyeyam]

Yeah, I know nobody's here, but I just need to say this. I swear I am still running on adrenaline!!

I was peacefully driving out of the parking lot when the foster mom's mother comes running towards us with papers. My sister yells, OMG! She's a process server, she has papers, get the heck out of here! I actually pulled out in front of a car, can't believe I didn't get hit. The light was red to head Northbound on the freeway, so I headed into Portland, took all sorts of crazy turns, this maroon colored PT Cruiser was following us. I finally ditched it. We got on another freeway, which eventually merges into Interstate 5 to get to my town. We believe it was her red van parked on the side of the freeway that was waiting for us to go by. It got behind us, we took the next exit, waited for the light to turn yellow, the floored it and lost them as I know the back way onto the freeway. We then took the back roads to my house. I tell you it's just totally crazy.

The foster mom does know where I live, she was here once about 5 years ago. I watched my nephew for them when they went on vacation. Luckily we live in the country so Mapquest only gets you within 2 miles of our house. I just keep waiting for them to come up here and start something or try to serve papers.

 

[funnygarcia]

A totally unecessary double post.. oops!

 

[funnygarcia]

Holy Cow Alison!

Have you taken a defensive driving class? I don't think hubby could lose a car tailing us. Good job, but gee whiz.. how scary for all of you and nerve wrecking to think someone else would interfere with your DN's and his family's life that way.

Will the hand off, with police present, be hard for your nephew?


It's sad that your sis had to choose to do a foster placement to get the services he needs.. I know some states are better at providing services than others.

My sis works VERY hard to get service for her kidlets.. it's a continual struggle.

Her youngest doesn't have a formal diagnosis of anything but "delayed" in development due to prematurity and now hearing loss. Funny thing is.. if he was diagnosed as Autism spectrum-- he would get all the services he would need.. like intensive speech therapy (he's 2 1/2 yrs old and does not talk, hearing loss is within limits of speech) paid thru the state. Instead she relies on school district (which sucks!).

Making choices as autism spectrum kids become adults is hard-- how much support does the person need? What is the best placement? Are the group homes safe and do they treat their clients with respect?

My sis worries over these things. And she feels terrible that her DS will have to help care for his lil brother in the future.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

HELLO HYENAS!

I hope you all had a good day. My bf and I donated some things to Goodwill this morning. Then it was off to the local mall where I returned the sneakers I bought yesterday (I found them much cheaper elsewhere). We went to Cycle Gear where he bought something for his bike.

We were both hungry and decided to try the food at UWink. Unfortunately, when we got there we saw a sign on the door saying it would open late due to an emergency. Ruby's Diner was next door so we ate lunch there. I used my phone to check movie times to see what movies were out. We watched Hellboy2. It wasn't bad and we both liked it.

It was scorching hot today....it was 98 degrees On the way home I stopped at Macy's (didn't buy anything) and then grabbed a lemonade from a pretzel stand in the mall. There was a mom in front of me with her 2 kids. Her husband was sitting at a table nearby. The son wanted a certain type of pretzel but the cashier said they ran out. The mom repeats this to the son and says: "Sorry, they are out of that one." The boy starts crying his eyes out and gets angry and starts stomping in place and starts wailing: "I want it! I want it! I want it!" The mom kneels down and says: "Aww...it's okay" and tries to hug him but he pushes her face away and walks off. The dad sees this, gets up and grabs the boy by the arm and yells at him for pushing the mom in the face. The mom sees this and goes: "Aww...he's so cute when he's upset!" as if her son's reaction was just the most "adorable" thing she's ever seen.

On the way home we stopped at Barnes & Noble and then Walmart to buy a few things. Then we grabbed some dinner at Panda Express and headed home.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Sunday night and no one is here???

 

[sameyeyam]

So far a quiet evening. Sister is hidden away, no process servers or any crazy foster mom's showing up at the door. So now we just wait.

The county social worker will contact the state social worker in the morning. My sister has a feeling that the foster mom will not show up with him at the Disability office like she is supposed to tomorrow at 11am. I'm hoping that maybe the social workers will decide to go to the home before then and pick him up. No it won't be easy for him, but it's not like he's going to a family of strangers. He knows everyone and normally he's very excited to go visit his mother.

My sister is so upset because she know's this didn't have to happen. My sister knows they love him and wanted to include them in his life forever. Now there is absolutely no way that will happen.

However, we have a feeling that she will try to hide him or run with him. We don't think she will try to harm him, but then again the worst thoughts start running through our minds. Will she try to hurt him because if she can't have him, then nobody can have him? We just don't know. I told my sister if she is in doubt about the foster mom's mental state, to let the social workers know. They can do things, maybe issue an Amber Alert, have police on the lookout. I just don't know, I know she loves him, but we just don't feel like she's thinking right at the moment.

Needless to say I don't think any of us are going to sleep well tonight. My sister quit smoking several years ago, now she's done nothing this afternoon but chain smoke. I feel so bad for her and just want to go over and grab my nephew and bring him home. My sister has done nothing her whole life but fight for that child. She fought to get him the care he needed, she had her heart ripped in half when she had to let him go so he could get the care he needed and now she has to fight again. It's really not fair,