The hospital doctor just called to say that he’s releasing LuLu this afternoon. A part of me is relieved, a part of me is scared, a part of me is sad, a bigger part is resigned to get done what I need to get done today before she returns home.

But mostly, when faced with an absurd situation…and let’s face it, much about my life has been absurd for years, I just get the giggles. So it was hard to suppress the laughter when the doctor said,

“She has a baseline personality that is a little inappropriate, but as long as she isn’t aggressive... more

As quickly as she came home…she went back. Today’s blog was supposed to be an upbeat little ditty, complete with a picture of LuLu and Super Dad conducting a science experiment from our first science lesson in Georgia Virtual Academy on Saturday. It was a great day, and the two science lovers spent the afternoon exploring aquifers and how water pollution migrates.

But the bottom dropped out last night. I’m still not sure what happened or what could have happened differently (likely nothing). Since coming home on Tuesday LuLu has been... more

I’m really bugged by this Halloween thing and LuLu being in the hospital. I recognize that so far it is “my thing”, as LuLu hasn’t even realized that she will be missing our church’s “trunk or treat” event this Sunday.

Around here there is a definite pecking order of holidays, with Christmas being the most important, then Halloween, followed by Easter, Independence Day, then finally Thanksgiving. (Everyone but Super Dad thinks the actual Thanksgiving celebration is boring. But he loves cranberries, pumpkin pie and turkey, so there you go!)

Like most families, we have specific traditions... more

When the nurse called yesterday, I had to fight the incredible urge to drive over to that hospital and retrieve my child. Seems LuLu had had a major meltdown, attempting to hurt herself in various ways of increasing violence and they had to sedate her…and then restrain her. The sedation and restraint were her two big fears of going to the hospital – things that trigger her trauma.

I was heartbroken when the nurse called and told her so. Of course I understand totally about why these maneuvers were necessary. And unlike the school who wanted to experiment on... more

Like I said, emotionally I’m all over the place. The surprising thing is the emotions aren’t all negative. And as a good friend is fond of saying “your feelings are just your feelings”, meaning they are what they are and can’t be changed.

Fear. This is the obvious emotion that governed my steps in the days leading up to yesterday’s trip to hospitalize LuLu. We’re all afraid of the unknown. I’m no exception. I’ve counseled and supported enough parents of challenging children to know that psych hospitals aren’t always positive places for our children.... more

I’m definitely foggy today, not really knowing what to think and how to feel.

We hospitalized LuLu last night. While I could easily start questioning myself on whether or not this was a good idea, the truth is she needed it, I needed it, and we needed another group of people’s opinion on what to do next. With children who have complex issues, the only way that professionals can truly get the picture is to spend a great deal of time with them.

It wasn’t something I’d been thinking about doing – it sort of just happened. Since the hair incident, it has become increasingly apparent... more

I handled the whole hairless LuLu situation pretty well yesterday. Maybe it’s because I received the news over the phone and could prepare myself for the mental picture. Maybe it’s because she had done a much milder version in the spring. But yesterday was more about doing triage for Super Dad (who had been caught in the eye of Hurricane LuLu), and figuring out how to make lemonade out of her chopped up hair style.

Today, I’m mourning the loss of her hair. LuLu has beautiful black silken hair. We haven’t seen it for a while. Last spring’s incident forced a very short... more

Who needs it? At least that’s the new motto around here. I spent the weekend at my Partners in Policymaking class, and by all reports all was fine on the homefront for the vast majority of the weekend. Except…(isn’t there always an except?)

LuLu and Super Dad had a disagreement about where LuLu was going to sit at church. When you rewind the tape it sounds more like they had a misunderstanding (LuLu misunderstood and escalated), and the trouble began. This is not unusual at our house and is part and parcel of our complex daughter’s complex combination of disabilities.... more

Have I mentioned that I hate our insurance company (companies, as it is)? Super Dad is likely cringing as he reads this, since he works for an insurance company. (A wonderfully generous and pleasant place to work, I might add.) I mean, specifically as the customer of a medical insurance company…I truly hate the experience.

You have to understand something upfront about insurance companies…they are for-profit entities. And their profits increase when they don’t have to pay your claim. So, regardless of how an insurance company markets themselves to you or your employer, they are better off if they can find a way NOT to have to pay you money.

Keeping this reality in mind... more

My teenage daughter and I are at an impasse when it comes to homework. She will not turn in her schoolwork to be corrected. She is doing her assignments, but she will not have them graded. This stubbornness is a problem for several reasons.

She doesn’t always understand written directions until I explain them to her and show her several examples. Therefore, if she doesn’t have her work checked for a few weeks, she may complete several assignments incorrectly, by following the wrong procedures. By then, the incorrect methodology is ingrained in her mind,... more