We are trying to find our new normal. Knowing that Grace will be gone for a year means we have to keep living too. In order to be fair for Brother and Sister there has to be structure and routine. I can tell you this has all taken a very big toll on them emotionally and mentally. They have seem things that has affected them tremendously. We are working to find our groove as a family of four. It is such a balance because we know Grace is still a part of our family but not our day t day lives. It is really weird. I am grateful that Brother and Sister always remember her in their prays. It is very sweet. Sister yesterday had a little break down at school. She really misses Grace. She was her playmate and friend. Sister is a little lost right now. We are working really hard to help both kids find their way through all of this. The best thing I think we are doing is continuing to work with our therapist. It seems to be helping all of us.
As for how Grace is doing at the SH, overall she seems to be adjusting well. She still loves school as she always has. Her teacher has called and told me how much Grace loves math and how focused she is on her studies. I love to hear that. Grace has had several outbursts. She gets very emotional when this happens. She usually calls me and tells me how it is everyone else that is causing her problems. The last time she had a blow up she called and said that I needed to come and get her. She said if I didn't then that meant I didn't love her and she would hate me forever. She tends to have a flair for the dramatics!!! I reassured her that me not coming to get her in no way meant that I didn't love her. I was keeping her there because I loved her enough to see her get the help she needed. She did not like that answer at all. She was only made for a day. The next day she started over and started working towards gaining her levels and privileges back. There are five levels on her behavior system. Red, Green 1-4. Red there are no privileges. It takes 24 hours and she can gain one level up every 24 hours after that. She seems to thrive on these systems. We actually had a behavior system in our home but it never worked as affectively. It is great to see her working hard to keep her level up.
October is also when Grace has her birthday, she turned 12. Dad, Brother, and Sister went to have a birthday dinner with Grace. Mom had to be out of town for a family emergency. I was so sad to miss seeing her on her Birthday. It is the first time that I have ever missed any of my kids birthdays. Sad day. Thank goodness for modern technology. Dad and I were able to Facetime while Grace opened her birthday gifts. Gifts were very hard to get for her. She is very limited in what she can have. She is allowed posters so we made several posters for her room. She loved them. Yay!! She did forgive me for missing her birthday thankfully. I had to promise a Mother daughter only visit.
Our visit was so wonderful!! It is visits like these that give me hope for coming home. We had so much fun. I brought her make-up since she can now wear make up as long as her level allows it. She is actually understanding on good days that she needs to be at the SH. Its visits like these that I live for.
Grace is working hard to overcome her problems. We are very happy with the help that Grace is getting. I am going to try to update the blog more. However I will be commuting back and for to help with my Grandma who is having some health problems. Right now there is not too much happening with her. I'll keep you posted!! Thanks for reading!
