Robin's Nest

 After bringing SIL home for the night and the next morning, I realized just how much time I spend focused on keeping her safe. She was in the same room with me all. day. long. Except for sleeping, I had her with me. Why might you ask? Partly, for safety, when I went outside, she would follow, tripping every few steps on her own feet and the unlevel ground. Yet if she was left inside there were dangers there also. She has poor safety awareness. A watermelon on the counter was a game of hide and seek. Okay that sounds weird, let me explain.  When SIL first came to live here she was pretty immobile. She could not make her legs work so she stayed mainly in her room. As she became a little more adventurous, she also became more delusional. Most of my good knives and scissors lived on magnetic strips in the kitchen. I had DH hang another strip in the laundry area so that all really dangerous sharps could be kept out of reach. I also insisted that he install a locking handle on the ...

 Yesterday, we made up our minds to have a sleep-over, for the adults. DH is out of town, and it is a lot to go across town and drag two kiddos out 6pm and be out until after 9pm. The solution for last night was to bring SIL to the house. Monday night, as I headed out with the youngest to go help her to bed, the youngest tripped and was in pain. The majority of the pain was a result of being overtired and not willing to stay with her cousin while I did the bedtime routine. I thought it best to let the staff handle bedtime. The end result was a phone call between 3am and 4am from a staff member that could not find a solution to the behavior that was occurring. With me on the phone for the better part of an hour we talked through the frustration that was plaguing both SIL and the staff. That is what prompted the sleep-over. I did honestly believe I could just put her into DH's empty bed, and all would be well. Nope. Solution? The couch. I remembered to bring out extra blankets, and P...

 It is Sunday morning, there is a Fall-like chill in the air. The dogs were up at 0400, one of them had been gagging as if they were about to throw up for some time. Having cleaned up their vomit just yesterday I elected to get up and let them out of the house. Usually, they are out by 5 am but sometimes it is as late as 0630. On those days I have regret as they most certainly have done something naughty. When I put them out on a normal day, I close the doggie door and make them remain out for at least an hour. Today I did not lock their door. I went back to bed and tried to go back to sleep. Sleep did not want me. When I went to the bedroom, the bigger dogs were at the baby gate. There barking outside that was annoying me, it was a little dog. He was sitting outside the house on the back step. He seemed to "assume" the doggie door was locked. I pushed the plastic door several times and then a big dog went out it. Then the little dog came in, the barking did not stop. Usually...

 There are only 3 days left to the final hearing for the adoption of the girls. It has been a long journey and as far as we know this is really it. Although we also thought that in May, and it wasn't. June has been such a busy month and yet it seems to be dragging along at the slowest pace ever. Even our plans for the summer have been moving, well really, they have been at a stand still waiting for this day. I am amazed at how much it affects my whole life. We cannot go on vacation, I cannot send DH to clean the rest of the stuff out of the Montana house, I cannot make permanent plans for SIL. all because I cannot make a thoughtful decision because I am pre-occupied with the distractions of the "final" hearing. The stress level this month has been off the charts. SIL having challenges in the facility, tweaking my knee, kids out of school, incessant texting from an absent parent, waiting for the closing, finding out someone has cancer, kids moving home after a home sale, a...

 Yesterday when I went to put SIL into bed for the night, I had the chance to talk with the nurse that was on duty when the incident occurred. Her nonchalant attitude really hit me the wrong way. She admitted that she never bothered to look at the "bruise" that was reported to her. It was more than that to me though. She did not seem to care that SIL sat with a broken bone all day when she could have been seen at an urgent care. This week I will weigh the pros and cons of the environment that SIL is in. Yes, I understand that falls are going to happen, but neglect doesn't have too. I have had some time to think of the needs of both my kiddos and those of SIL. She certainly needs more than the facility is able or willing to provide. There was a poll a few years back that surveyed people about who was trusted more, a nurse or a doctor. Nurses won hands down. They obviously didn't poll people involved with the nurses of this facility! One day when I was entering the faci...

 Last night was a rough one getting SIL to bed and getting back home. All this came after a busy day and a trip to the surgeon for a follow-up on my knee. SIL kept getting back out of bed and that wasn't all that helpful. On Thursday I spent 5 hours at Fort Carson's EACH. shorts and winter boots wondering what all this costs to replace WHAT?! I can't touch?!?! By the time I returned home in the heat with no air conditioning I was exhausted! I attempted a short nap and twisted my knee, of course it was the surgical site. I ended up not going to help Kim get into bed that night. On top of that I cancelled her lab appointment this morning. Just wasn't feeling the fun of all of it. It is now Saturday, and a little progress has been made. The living room is rearranged, again, eventually I will find the right set-up and it will stay that way for more than a month. Tonight, I go to put SIL into bed and start my 7 day a week support of her. With the granddaughter testing positi...

 It is a long week already and it is only Wednesday. I have been encouraged by others to cut my ties with toxic relationships. It is hard to do. I am working on it though. In fact, I have received texts messages that imply that it is becoming effective. Also, I am working a new situation for SIL. DH recently found some property that really checked all the boxes for what we need in a long-term living situation. This resulted in more stress for me as I started researching the "what-ifs". Not necessarily bad stress. Tomorrow is the deadline for the bids to be placed. At this moment we will not be bidding on the property. If the deadline were 10 days later, we absolutely would. However, it did get the ball rolling for dreams to happen. So, he can keep looking and maybe something similar will appear. Quick intense update. I cannot just rip the band-aid off of the care situation. I have made progress. My granddaughter is going to go over every Saturday and Sunday night to get SIL m...

 Paperwork. Simple as that. I loathe it. I will do it, because I need too. Just so it is ready. I have not convinced DH that it is okay to only bid 500,000 on a property. I still contend that it is safer even though a gamble, he doesn't want to waste the energy for only that "knowing" it will be too low. I may waste it anyway. Regardless, after my panic of too many things thrown at me this afternoon, I feel resolved to take care of all the little things that are in the way. Even though they spell stress. On a lighter note, last night I was planning on going to SIL's apartment to show my older granddaughter how to help get SIL to bed and the pill routine. I loaded the car with the essentials and started looking for the key. I had planned to leave about 15 minutes early so I could get gas. The key was nowhere to be found. I looked in every conceivable place, DH looked and reminded me of the importance of putting it in the same place. He suggested that I use the hook, th...

 Good morning! Today is the day that we must finalize the party location for the youngest kiddo's celebration. She seems to have settled on the same park that we did the older child's party at. It is quite far away but it has plenty of room and playground equipment for the young ones. Three friends from school have given an RSVP. There is also family and my friend with her daughter and four more kiddos. She does not want a Piñata. That means we will have party bags and then games. I am not sure kite flying will work; it might as it is usually windy at that time of day.  Pinata's are easier as then each child is responsible for collecting their own "goody" bag. Not always fair as some kids are quicker to react to the falling candy than others are. This birthday child asked for a tissue paper cake filled with candy and treats but not hanging from a tree like a pinata. Same difference so we will just make goody bags to thank them for coming.  Today my phone revolted,...

 It seems that this week the theme is go to town at least twice and then spend all kinds of time on the phone trying to settle SIL at the care center. Last night was no different and I fully expect today to be the same. It is chilly this morning at 53 degrees outside and only 68 degrees inside.  The storm that cooled the area didn't even produce much rain. It is still pretty cool outside, so I am going to enjoy it for now. When the heat starts here in the summer it doesn't let up.  The above are notes from the day before yesterday. My day yesterday was a lazy one as far as getting things done around the house. I spent most of it figuring out if we could really afford to move and if so, do we really want too. During these hours there were therapy visits for SIL, I attended remotely. Also, I had a virtual appointment that I actually thought was supposed to be weeks ago on a Wednesday. My bad, it was yesterday. Luckily, I was available sort of.  Later I checked my phone...

  Today was weird. I started out with a mission that was diverted to a "give the meds to SIL" mission. I could handle that. So, in an effort consolidate trips I went to drop the youngest off to my daughter for playtime and I realized the needle was on "E". Just so you know it was the alarming ding, ding, ding, of the angry gas is low light that caught my attention. I headed to the gas station and then took the little to get a drink from Dutch Bros. Then we headed to the drop off house and I left by myself to give SIL her meds... 3 hours after they were due. On arrival, I asked for the meds from the nurse, and the person arrived and handed them to me. I did make a statement about the fact that someone else called me. She stated, "because was in her room for two hours trying to give the meds and I asked her to come and help me". Okay I replied but I do not for one minute believe you were in her room for two hours. She corrected herself and said she had been ...

 With my daughter and her family moving back home after selling their home, it has been a bit more chaotic. The grandkids are teens now, not toddlers. I have always said that each age of growth and development had something to enjoy. Now these two teens are having a time processing that they are without their home. Our house is half the size it was when they lived here before, and that makes it even cozier. My own kids grew up moving every year or so, these two kids have moved a total of 3 times counting moving here now. They are visibly traumatized.  The oldest trying to walk the dog and the cat Mom and Dad took 14 days to tour some states, mainly Alabama for their next home, they found nothing and came back with an idea to buy an RV and travel a bit while they look. Talk about drama, if you could see how the 17-year-old was coping you would think the toddler had moved back home. She is terrified they are going to live in a camper for the rest of their lives! I did explain th...

 It started out just like any Sunday, get up get the dogs out, have a cup of coffee. Unload the dishwasher, feed the kids, work on the blog and then get ready for church. After church, the oldest informs me she has a birthday party to go to. I vaguely remember being told of this party around the first of May. Something along the lines of "my friend is going to have her birthday in the summer can I go?" Not once was a date disclosed nor was it mentioned again, until today. So, as I scrambled to figure out logistics for the party, care for the youngest and lunch meds and bedtime meds at the care center, this kiddo texted to make sure they knew she was coming. Apparently, no one did the RSVP thing, so the parents did not plan a party for other kids. I felt even more awful, as we did not either but in my defense, I was never even shown an invitation. All that said, we now needed a gift. I quickly thought well I will just go get some cash and put it in a card. Nothing says "I...

 The morning started early enough, and things piled on after that. The long-lost parents are back from house hunting and the orphan teens are uplifted. My daughter is pretty sure her daughter is never leaving home after their flight from parenthood for 14 days. The grandson is ready to quit having parent time. I am exhausted after a trip to Dairy Queen, Walmart and Taco Bell with SIL in tow. I could not get her to focus, and she was in the bathroom, and I had to leave. Not sure she will even remember our day. I think when this happens, I just am not sure what I can do for her.  My plan was to go back at 8pm and do meds, but that is what time it is now, and I cannot go. I have obligations at home at this time of night and that was why I enlisted a caregiver. She is willing to go but I have misgivings about taking up so much of her time too. We agreed to Monday through Friday for her, and I would do Saturday and Sunday. Now I am falling down on my end of the bargain. I did spend...

  What a crazy week! Several scheduled appointments never made the calendar which made the day "rushed". Skating was fun, Bowling did not happen this week. The kids are already bored, too funny! Well, not really as that makes cooperation for anything else less likely. Today is the orthodontist in about an hour. Yesterday was an appointment with the stucco guy for an estimate on the Leotie Street house. We had one done when we bought it but that one is expired. Today is foggy and cold. Yesterday, I had planned to go get SIL's meds from the pharmacy right after the stucco estimate, spend some time visiting and return home by noon. Meds were not ready. No store had milk. I debated on my options and decided to go visit anyway and see what she was low on. It turned into a 3.5 hour visit with me discovering things going on that I'd rather not know about. That said she is remaining in care until a better option can be located. We are back from the orthodontist and all report...

 Good morning! It is Wednesday and, I am sure you are wondering what happened with bowling yesterday. Bowling did not happen. It turned out the alley was closed for repairs. Not to be thwarted from fun we set out to find roller skates for the kiddos. Finding in this case means used ones. If they take to the adventure, then when they outgrow what we have found perhaps new ones will be purchased. It took some searching, mostly on the computer for some gently used skates, but we found two pair. In fact, the pair I found for the oldest were brand new in the box never even laced up. Definitely fell into the "gently" used category. The second pair were not as new but still in great shape. Compared to the price of new skates and skate rental prices per session, these were each worth the $20/pair. Of course, when I add the cost of replacing the kitchen floor and trips to the ER, I may feel differently about the newfound skill. Funny enough the youngest was sad that her skates were bl...