B, Summer, Sparky, and Bike Fund

     Okay, wow it's been busy lately. I've been walking eight miles a day just to get B to her summer program, not including walking the dogs. I have to walk them separately, because the walks have been too long and too hot for Sparky. I've cut B back to just two days a week because it was too much for her as well. She became physical with me on Wednesday, which indicates stress. Her neurologist told me to keep her stress low to avoid seizures, but also, I have to choose my battles. A summer program was supposed to be something fun, not a chore for her.
     I also am not crazy about the woman running the program. I told her that B only manifested the behaviour issues last year, and she gave B a chastising look and asked her why she would do that. I was very taken aback. I told her to stop that and that B may have manifested bi-polar symptoms from meds, at least, that is what B's psychiatrist thinks. The woman said that it wasn't bi-polar, she knows bi-polar, and that the problem with doctors is that they think they're god. I was not impressed. She runs a summer program. I'm sure she has an expertise in that, but I can't imagine what kind of arrogance it takes, after only knowing people a couple of weeks, to completely dismiss their history, the opinion of the specialists that work with them, and substitute your own diagnosis without even being asked. I *like* B's psyche and counsellor, I have found them to be very conservative in their treatment and assessment, and they follow my lead on everything.
     I told her that I'm an atheist, I don't think anyone is god, and I'll thank her very much not to dismiss all the work we've done. This led into a discussion that her belief system makes her an optimist, and that miracles happen all the time, so B's brain injury could just, I don't know, spontaneously heal or something. Just like all those people that have regenerated missing limbs.
     It has been awhile since I've encountered this attitude so blantantly. But the importance of the program is for B to get out and do stuff and hang out with the kids in the program, so I haven't pulled B out. I will be looking for a different program next summer.
     We had a bit of a scare two weeks ago when we thought we might have to put Sparky down. He stopped pooping and was in obvious discomfort. I love that dog. We did everything to get him to poop, I even gave him two enemas. Seriously, I have never thought I would do that, but I did. We gave him laxatives, and olive oil, too. A visit to the vet, which was so stressful for him, he hates vets, revealed a mass under his spine. There's nothing to do about that, he's 14 years old. Even *if* he survived surgery, he'd never heal properly. But he finally had a poop on the day we had were going to take him in, and I almost did a happy dance of poop on the street. I'm sure he felt the same way. So we get some more time with him.
     And, on to the bike fund. I have to say, that I was really surprised at the response, and I am overwhelmed by people's generosity. As of today, there's almost $800 in the Paypal account, with more people planning to contribute. We discovered that if we have the bike shipped to Seattle instead of here, we can save $450, meaning the bike will cost about $1600, so it is firmly within our reach now. But I want to say a very sincere thank you to my friends and their friends for helping out, and a special thank you to Dot at Busted Button, who auctioned of a painting for B. That was unexpected and truly kind. Thank you.

The Positive From A Rough Morning

     B awoke in a rage this morning. Andrew had turned on SpongeBob Squarepants on her computer. The "Are you ready?" of the opening song compels B to get up. It is her weakness, and she does not appreciate that we know this. She got up and growled, then watched some and ate her breakfast. When it came time to get dressed, she grew very angry at Andrew and shut herself in her room, determined never to talk to either of us again.

      The positive things are that she didn't hit, and she actually told him why she felt so mad.

"I am pissed because you touched my personal belongings (computer) without asking! Wouldn't you be pissed if someone did that to you? Huh?"

     That represents a huge leap for B. Her anger usually has no explanations, she just has rage and she does not know why. Thinking about it and expressing herself like that makes a huge difference in trying to calm her down.

     We gave her a few minutes, and then I got her Anger Scale and went and climbed into bed with her. We talked about where she felt she registered on it at that moment, and where we needed to get to (baseline). Then I drew some pictures on her back, and put her bra on Sparky, and all the planets aligned for her again.

     I have to say, Sparky's bosoms look simply fantastic in a bra. He needs some depilatory cream, though.

New Puppy and IEP

Phew, the last few weeks have been hectic. We got a new puppy, just three months old, and he is a handful. Such a cutie, though, and he will end up being a very big dog. He's a Shepherd/Retriever mix, and we named him Crowbar. I'll post pictures later. B loves him.

Sparky tolerates him, but he lets the puppy sleep next to him, and he's pretty patient with him. The puppy adores Sparky.

In other news, we finally had an IEP at B's school. That is an Individualized Education Plan, and we should have two a year, but with the teacher's job action, we had to wait. B is doing well in class, even with her behaviour problems. Her teacher said that she is the only kid in class who gets their jokes.

Her counsellor, Behaviour Consultant, and Social Worker all went to the meeting. We will keep working on her social skills, peer interaction, and Life Skills development. She has had some hard times dealing with the kids in her class, because her social skills are very undeveloped.

We put her in a Life Skills class on Saturdays, run by CLBC, and for the summer I will enroll her in another Life Skills program, one that I hope she will continue in the fall.

Her neurologist is retiring. We have had him as her doctor for many years, and I quite like him. We don't have a new one yet.

May

     May has been VERY busy for me. I have been doing some web work stuff for my brother, finished a 2nd draft of a novel, and have been walking miles every day with the dog. I love it, B not so much though. :)
     My bed has been very crowded, and since B's having less seizures of late, I'm going to move her to her own bed. Andrew picked up a video baby monitor so that we can do that. I still want to be able to see her, but her and the dog can sleep  in her room.
     Part of the reason is that she frequently has trouble sleeping, but if she's in MY bed, she won't leave me alone so that I can sleep. She needs to learn to entertain herself if she can't sleep. I have very easily disrupted sleep. and develop insomnia at the drop of a hat. I am also very easy to wake up. Over the years, this has developed even more as I watched B for night time seizures. I feel better with the monitor though, and trust that I will wake up if she seizes.
     I feel good knowing that Sparky will stay with her all night. Yeah, yeah, he's a dog, but I swear he understands her.