Sparks and Butterflies… — Page 59 — But aside from that, she's still completely normal

Don’t Rattle a Mama Bear’s Cage

June 11, 2009 By Michele Leave a Comment

Rather than go through the whole spiel, I’m going to copy an email with identifiers edited. Suffice it to say that we have been dealing with this issue for MONTHS. In those months, poor Joseph has been going downhill. And it might not have been necessary.

from: Michele {email}
to Dr. Therapist {email}
cc Poe {email}, Dr. District
date Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM
subject Regarding Joseph {last name}

Hi Dr. Therapist,

Please feel free to forward this email to any administrative personnel who handle such things. I’ve also CC’d my husband and Dr. District with our school district.

I write, in all honesty, with some frustration. Skipping details, the point is that everyone involved in Joseph’s case felt that consulting with a psychiatrist, and investigating if medication for anxiety (or anything else) might be appropriate at this stage for Joseph. When the subject was broached, in was basically shut down by {Big Therapy Center}, because it wasn’t part of his plan. So Dr. District went ahead and requested that his {State Treatment Plan} be officially evaluated to add this to his program.

Today, we met with Dr. Big State. She was his initial evaluator in 2007. We went through his case updating it from 2007. She was confused as to why she called upon to do this. Why? Because psychiatric care and medication prescription is already a part of his plan.

{Big Therapy Center} has his {State Treatment Plan} plan. Twice actually, once when he initially started treatment there, and I sent another copy when it was somehow lost. You’ll see his recommendations on pages 7 and 8.

“The Department of Mental Health finds that Joseph {last name} qualifies for mental health services under {State Treatment Plan}. {Various treatment recommendations redacted.} , medication evaluation and follow-up by a psychiatrist if medications are prescribed.”

Dr. Big State is going to write an addendum and say the exact same thing. “Yep, you’re qualified… and already were.” She went further on to say that this is the standard wording, and is ALWAYS included, unless the individual does not qualify for {State Treatment Plan} in the first place.

So. When can we make an appointment with the psychiatrist?

–Michele
Mother of Joseph {last name}

My anger is frothing.

Hot Cross Buns

June 9, 2009 By Michele 2 Comments

I just got home from a concert of Joseph’s 3rd grade class. Three classes, playing their recorders. I suppose less is more in describing that one. Heh.

I’ll be uploading videos onto my YouTube account today maybe. We’ll see. Or maybe Vimeo. Last time I tried YouTube, it hated me. I won’t post it here though – I just want the final product in the clouds as well as on my hard drive. Got a ton of photos to go through as well – need to picnic and flickr those.

We still haven’t heard from Poe’s job prospect. They did call and tell him that they haven’t forgotten him, they’re just still thinking about it (they would be adding a whole department just for him.) Understandable. But itchy.

El Dinero es nunca. No Money. Going to use a credit card for groceries this week. We don’t use credit anymore, so you know we’re desperate. But, God provides. Faith. I’m trying to. I keep trying to refocus my thoughts on God and His promises. I won’t pretend that it’s not a struggle.

But, on a lighter note – here’s a couple of pictures of what we’ve been up to.

Beach in March

Joseph Turned 9

Logan Turned 7

Joseph's Team Won the Championships

Joseph's Class had a Concert

Quotables

June 2, 2009 By Michele Leave a Comment

“Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.”
—Epictetus

“Easier said than done.”
—Me

Pins and Needles

June 1, 2009 By Michele 2 Comments

Oy. Poe is up for a job. This is GOOD. He had a pre-interview over the phone. Went well. Went in for an actual interview. Went great. Now they’ve asked for a portfolio – anything that can be sent at all? You see Poe had his portfolio of personal drawings stolen. And all his work for companies has been company intellectual property. So, we cobbled some stuff together and sent it (along with the explanation.) In addition we found some online galleries with the locations clearly labeled so Poe knew what was HIS previous work, and we were able to pass that on as well.

I think they really want him. But they’ve never gone into this computer thing before, they’ve only done hand drawn. And the software as well as other components are about $10,000. That does not include the cost of Poe himself. So, I think they’re trying to justify the cost of going this route in the first place, not to mention Poe himself.

ARG!

Worst is, we still don’t know any details of salary or benefits yet – both of which are important points for us. You think?

And so we wait. One thing I have to say, though, is they move very fast. None of this terrible waiting on HR. The guy who owns the company emailed Wednesday night. Poe called Thursday morning. Owner called back Thursday night. Interview in person Friday, with a promise to call on Monday. However, we sent some software pricing information on Friday night. And they called Monday morning (today) at 8am. Sheesh. Cobbled the portfolio together, condensed the files and as of 10 am knew they were in the right hands.

In case you haven’t been in the world of job hunting or Human Resources, lately – that’s FAST. Which in my opinion is a good thing – it means they want to make a decision, and won’t hem and haw about it. It also means they’re communicative, and they also follow through. So – while he may not get the job – I think we’ll know about it, they won’t leave us hanging, and we’ll know why. Conversely, if he does get the job, it’ll be soon.

I don’t have much else to say. Basically the job hunt is sucking up all the brain cells in my head lately. That and the kids are in their final two weeks of school, and this is scaring me.

My husband should be sainted

May 27, 2009 By Michele 5 Comments

Today we got one of those phone calls. The kind that usually come in the middle of the night scaring you half to death.

Apparently my dad fell, and was asking for Poe to come help him. OK, fine. So, Poe went to help. Apparently he had fallen outside while working. Badly. Seriously hit his head (blood,) arm (more blood,) knees (even more blood,) – oh and his arm hurt. Like too much. Poe decided he was going to the hospital.

And my father said yes.

Coming from a man who treats cuts that absolutely should be sutured with crazy glue, this meant it was serious.

Poe called me to let me know what was going on. Of course, I gave him the litany – ID, medical card, medications and dosages – and then made sure my mother didn’t need me there. My dad takes care of her – from food to meds to testing her blood glucose. She said she was fine and would call me if necessary. I was on kid duty, with another pickup coming and the homework. While that sounds banal while my father was on the way to the hospital, and my mother was holed up in her house, trust me when I say that disrupting the homework routine would mean that everything was NOT OK to the kids – and I didn’t want to scare them. Which was confirmed, when I explained why dad wasn’t there to Joseph. He was silent, and when I looked, big fat tears were coming down his big 9 year old face.

So. Dad had X-rays, EKG, and Cat scan. Yeah, he hit his head that hard. Knees will scab and be sore. Arm didn’t need stitches, but has a huge bandage. Head CT is all clear… Except he dislocated his shoulder. Which prompted morphine for the serious pain. of the dislocation, plus the – er – relocation? of his arm.

So, why is my husband a saint?

The man got him up, cleaned up, dressed (my dad thought he would shower first but was in too much pain), and fly zipped. Then took him to the hospital and spent the next 5 hours with him while they put him through pain, and then watched his 74-year-old father in law flirt with nurses and tell war stories on morphine.

Oh, and caught my father flipping him off on the camera phone. Which I should so post.

He then came home and told ME how grateful he is that I care about my parents so much.

Knighthood. Sir Poe. That might be his new name here.

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