its just a shower

H is home! I go to school and pick her up from the bus. All the 5th graders are so cute with their luggage, trash bags full of pillows and sleeping bags and unbrushed hair. The teachers are wearing jeans and look a little more tired than usual.

I get a huge hug from Hbug and we head home. I notice that she is wearing her pajama shirt and her hair is filthy. I let it go for now. I want to hear all about Sky Ranch and what she learned.

We get home and bring all her things in. Everyone is happy to see Hbug. We need to get ready to go to a brothers baseball game so I tell H to hop in the shower real quick so she doesn't have to take one later tonight. H's mood starts to change. She doesn't want to take a shower. I leave her alone for a few minutes. Later I tell her to take a shower, time is running out and we will have to leave. H said no, I am not going to take a shower. The fight ensues. H is refusing to shower, I am refusing to let her leave the house as dirty as she is and with that pajama shirt on!

H horrible mood lasts for about an hour. It includes yelling at me, slamming doors, throwing shoes, telling me she doesn't like me, me restraining her, crying, etc etc. I know H is tired from her trip so I'm trying to be patient. I tell her that I love her but she can not act like this. We can not throw things, slam doors, and disobey parents. H is calm enough for me to leave her.

I come back in 5 mins and give H a big hug. She starts crying and apologizing. She is very sad she had a break down. I give her hugs and more love and suggest she showers in my room. I pick out clothes for her to wear and take her to my shower. I run the water. I have to help H every step of the way as if she were a baby. She showers and gets dressed. H feels better and starts to become happy. She gets in a very silly mood. Fortunately the bad mood as passed. We pack the family up including newly happy H and head to the ball park.

I knew it was coming

H teacher called me and said that she made her cabin leader cry. The cabin leader asked H to put on her shoes to get ready for the day. H said no, she wanted to wear her slippers. The cabin leader tried to reason with H and tell her all the reasons she can't wear slippers outside at camp. H fired back that she was going to wear her slippers and she wished she had a different cabin leader.

Her teacher was very sweet and said that H has had a hard time but don't come pick her up. They were going to have one of the aids help H. She said she felt compassion for us having to go through school mornings. They had a small taste and didn't care for more.

First overnight school trip

HBug is off to Sky Ranch with her 5th grade class for a few days. She is super excited to go so I think she will do well.

I'm so thankful H has great teachers who will be able to help her have a great couple days away.

Lets see if this works...

Yesterday afternoon Hbug had counseling and an appointment with her psychiatrist.

I shared with the Dr. that I don't think H medicine has been working for about 2 weeks. H hasn't been sleeping well, she has been very emotional at school, and has even been defiant at home. We've also noticed more hyper activity than ever.

According to our Dr. it can take SEVERAL, even up to 20, times to get medicines correct for a bi polar person. Its a chemical balance that needs to be attained and unfortunately there is no "standard" formula that will work for everyone. Its a process of trial and error. Trying things and finding something that works for that particular person.

Yesterday we were given a brand new drug called intunive and the daytranna patch.

I always look up H meds when we get home. I immediately realized both of these meds are for ADHD. I believe the intunive will also help with mood stabilization but have a call in to the Dr. this morning just to double check. We have learned that medicines originally for other things work as mood stabilizers. Who knew?!

After another rough morning, although not as bad as yesterday we started the intunive. I'll wait for the Dr. return call before I fill the daytranna patch.

4 hours later she is finally at school.

I finally lost it

After a fun exhausting weekend Monday morning rolls around. Time to get up and go to school. All 3 boys are up and at em.

H didn't want to get up. I started waking her an hour earlier than she needed to get up. Even with that little bit of help she wasn't interested in getting up, getting dressed, or going to school today.

I tried the nice mommy approach...rubbed her back, tried to help her get dressed, I get little to no response. I give it a rest and check on the boys.

Backpacks check, breakfast check, snacks check, holler up the stairs at Hbug to come on, the bus is leaving. crickets

I load the boys in the car. Run upstairs to see if Hbug has gotten up. nope

I decide to push the issue this morning. H get dressed, we have to go. come on, now! She does manage to get up and get to the bathroom to brush her hair. I say lets go, lets do it in the car. She doesn't move. Continues to brush her hair and stare blankly in the mirror. I take the brush. She looses it. Throws herself on the closet floor and wont move. The fight ensues.

D hears the ruckus and takes the boys to school.

I struggle with H to get her to get ready. 30 minutes later, after tears, a broken vase (my fault for slamming the amour door and something falling on it) I give up.

D brings the shop vac and we clean up the glass. I leave Hbug in her closet crying and go downstairs. I call the school to let them know Hbug will be there later today. She is having a rough morning.