Today my Chickadee has been in residential treatment for 36 days. (Not that we’re counting.) She was in acute care for five days before that, so the total 41 days she’s been away is by far the longest we’ve ever been apart.
I keep waiting for it to get easier. Joke’s on me, because it doesn’t.
We have a treatment planning meeting today. Recent comments from her doctor are… not encouraging. I have to get over feeling sick and scared and get my game face on and keep advocating and forget that I only slept three hours last night and that I doubt my ability to keep doing this. We just keep doing what we have to do, I guess.
Oh look, it’s something shiny—I have a new post up over at Feel More Better about the dumbness that is youth, and you can look at that while I try not to barf in my shoes.
Advocate First, Throw Up Later.
Go Mama Bear, Go!
You can do this.
So many hugs,
Ky
Sending you strength today, Mir. I wish you could bottle up all the good thoughts we’re all sending your way and carry it in your purse for when you need it most. And sending your girl my best healing thoughts and prayers.
Thinking of you, your daughter, husband and son. Hoping something gets better, soon.
Praying for you right now.
I wish I could erase all the suckage, can’t even find words that sound appropriate.. .just redundant. Thinking of you every step of the way, Mir… hoping something turns around and starts to work to help your family get through this… to give you all the life you deserve.
When things were really bad here and I would sit on the edge of the bed or on the curb of the hospital entrance wing watching the NORMAL world go by, I remember thinking… How am I going to do this….HOW. I’ve got NOTHING. Well, the truth is as mothers we just keep going, one foot in front of the other… doing the best we can by everyone until we come to a better place. The trick is to also take care of you, and yeah, I know you heard it already more than once and you kinda want to SMACK that person for saying it… but it’s important to also heed that particular advice so that there is something left of you when Chick is in a better place and actually needs you even more.
I’ll shut up now, but this comes from being in that shitty place and surviving.
If you barf in your shoes, at least it’s a good excuse to buy new shoes, right?
Sending love and good wishes. Chickee’s lucky to have you, Mir.
Sending all manner of positive thoughts and prayers and things your way…
Hugs. You can do it. Chickadee has so many people rooting for her. I am sending lots of thoughts and prayers your way.
Thinking and hoping for all of you.
Strength and well wishes headed your way.
Sending you hugs and strength today. I hope the meeting goes as well as it can!
You are amazing. You are strong. You are vulnerable. You are loved.
These days suck, no other word for it. But you can do what needs to be done, one step, one meeting, one tear at a time. Lots of people, strangers even, are believing in you & holding your family in love.
I feel like there’s some kind of Mir’s Army out here pointing ourselves in your direction and doing the Care Bear Stare. (Am I the only one that remembers that?)
I am so so hoping that someday this is a part of your life that both you and Chickadee can look back at as that awful time, isn’t it great that things turned out so well after all. Maybe today will be the turning point. Or tomorrow. Hoping it’s soon.
Go ahead and barf in your shoes – you might feel better. I’d go with you to be your advocate and support system if I could. The situation is more than complete and utter suckage, but you’re not alone. We’re all here for whatever you need. (Including helping you pick out new shoes.)
You can do this, no matter how much it makes you want to barf in your shoes.
Holding you and Chickadee into the light today and everyday.
Even if she doesn’t know it now (maybe ESPECIALLY if she doesn’t know it now) it’s great that Chickadee has such a fierce and loving advocate fighting for her. So many positive thoughts are headed your way — I hope it goes well.
I have to say, this is all scary as hell and I’m rooting for you every step of the way, forwards, backward, sideways. You and your family will get through this.
As a nursing student with a psych minor, from what I’ve seen, nothing gets better over night. Or sometimes not in 41 days. I think your comparison to brain cancer is fitting, that doesn’t going away immediately either. It takes time for the body to heal. Just keep fighting the good fight. It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, you’re an amazing mom. Don’t ever forget that!
Prayers for strength in advocacy and following your gut.
Hey, do you have a PO Box or somewhere we could send cards to you and/or your people? I’m a sending cards kind of gal when I’ve got someone on my mind, and I’ve been thinking about y’all quite a bit.
Advocate, then sleep.
You can do it, Mir.
Here’s hoping something really, really good comes your way. For now, stick to shoes you are not that fond of.
Go ahead – Barf! Just try to miss the shoes. They get really sticky and very stinky.
If there is any calmness left in you – reach for it today. The hysterics you feel will not help during the meeting. Luck and Love!
Prayers and love.
I cannot imagine the pit in your stomach. Praying for strength and grace – plus a kindly friend with a Xanax to get you through this day.
Nothing new or exciting to add, but want you to know how many people are constantly thinking of you all and praying/hoping/sending good thoughts your way. If I had a magic lamp, I’d use my wishes for you two right now.
Pulling for you and Chickie and the whole family…
Maybe barf first, so you don’t get any on the doctor in the meeting. :-(
Keep pedaling. As Glennon over at Momastery says, we can do hard things.
(((Love)))
I have no doubt that you will be just the advocate she needs.
You can do this, Mir! {{{{hugs}}}} Now, chin up! Go get em’!
Wow. I cannot even begin to imagine what you’re going through. I have nothing to offer that will make any of this better. I just want to say that I’m reading and sending hopeful vibes to you and your family.
This momma bear has an 11 year old son with a brain tumor and I was just released from the psych unit (after having a complete breakdown with harmful tendencies). I understand how hard this is. I am so sorry that you are going through this and I pray for the best outcome for your family. What really prompted me to comment though was to say thank you. Your post about Radical Acceptance hit home and really helped me on my road to recovery. Thank you for continuing to share with us… even the really, really hard bits.
Just offering more of the same–hugs, love, strength, prayers and whatever else is needed. I have been keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers, even if I don’t comment on every post.
I have a friend who’s teen daughter spent time in a residential facility for psychiatric care, triggered by an extended illness, loss of school, etc. It was a long road (months, not years) to get her back home, and then another long road (months, not years) to get her feeling healthy and back into the community. I saw her out and about the other day, laughing and smiling with her friends.
I hope for the same for Chickadee. And in the meantime, send lots of stranger-hugs your way.
xoxo
Also offering strength and prayers…….
Hugs and strength for you all today!
Praying for you and your family.
Praying for you.
Facing reality is important – but so is having a therapist with a positive attitude. Be sure that what you are hearing matches what, deep in your heart, you know about your own child.
More hugs coming to you from your friends in the internets. You can do this, Mir. You are the best momma, and you will do what Chickie needs you to, even if she can’t thank you for it now. Barf if you need to, but don’t doubt that you’re doing what should be done.
I keep hoping that things are looking up for your family and that Chickie is making great breakthroughs. I’m sending virtual hugs and wishing that there was something we could all do to help.
((hugs))
and I second the request for a P.O. Box – for cards and for donations so all the girls at the residential facility can have the toiletries they need and want. (And if we all send you Amazon gift cards and you “SHOP PRETTY”, do you get a commission? Because that would rock.)
we love you guys.
Just wanted to say…I’ve barfed in shoes once before, but it’s not that bad and you feel better after. Of course, they were my dad’s shoes after he took them off, on a boat…and all the contents went right in…because I was resting my head on his lap.
Barf if you need to, even if you make a mess. :)
Much love to you and your family, as always. Hugs!
Please know that prayers continue for Chickie and your entire family. And please continue to keep us updated on her progress. Hugs and blessings.
I started reading your blog right before everything seemed to change for your family. I find myself sick for you. Mad for you. My Mamas heart swells with pride in the steps you take even when you feel that you cannot. My eyes overflow when I read your posts. There are prayers ascending for your little Chickadee in Littleton Colorado and for you as well. I pray for you to one day soon have a boring day with nothing more to worry about than the laundry. Keep your head up and when you can’t, well, that’s fine too.
You can do it, because you have to do it, so you will do it. Just keep swimming…
Hang in there…lots of good thoughts coming your way.
Thinking of you today and sending positive thoughts your way.
Sending love and good thoughts. May you find peace, and may C find peace as well. Praying for strength and comfort for you.
Wish I was close enough to be of some practical help as well.
“I have to get over feeling sick and scared and get my game face on and keep advocating and forget that I only slept three hours last night and that I doubt my ability to keep doing this. We just keep doing what we have to do, I guess.” Oh boy: This. So much this.
I’ve been caught up in my own reasons for game face lately, but I’m keeping you, Chickadee and the rest of your clan in my thoughts. xo
Keep swimming, darling.
I sit many miles away from my own Chickie for very different reasons and can’t imagine your mama bear angst. This is clearly a one foot in front of the other, game face on situation and is why the universe has mama bears in the first place. Not because it is easy but because the mama bear is fierce and is in it until the end.
I hope for some improvement and some peace for you all.
Hugs and well wishes from the middle of the country. Hope today went well. Maybe that’s not the right way to say that– hope today held no new bad news, and was vomit-free.
Hang in there!!
(((Hugs)))
With each new development I keep hoping and praying that this is the last hurdle for you and that from her on out it’s just downhill coasting to happily ever after. I’lll keep praying and maybe someday soon everything will be all better and you can take a few deep breaths and recover.
Hoping there were some bits of light that came out of the meeting yesterday, to help you keep going. More thoughts and prayers coming your way from the west coast.
(and add in one more person who’d love to send something for you guys to a P.O. Box if one becomes available…..)
oh, Mir. my heart aches.
I fourth the PO box, sending amazon gift cards and/or toiletries… I want to do something. Not doing is hard.
Sending love and hugs and prayers.
still lighting candles, for you, mir. every night. sending vibes vibes vibes, a cool breeze and a deep breath – you are not alone. xo
I spent 3 months hospitalized. It was tough on me. It was tough on those who cared about me. It seemed like that time would never end and I’d always be in the hospital (yet next month it will be 18 years since I was discharged for the last time). I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t tell you how things will be for Chickadee, but your family is in my thoughts in prayers. For me, I made no progress until a psychiatrist said something that caused me to get stubborn, mad, and determined to prove him wrong – and within 3 weeks things went from hopeless to hopeful. I hope they can find a similar trigger for her.
I found in high school that when I was nervous (I had a “nervous stomach,” mainly in the mornings) that sometimes just harfing and getting it over with made me feel better.
Not that I advocate harfing randomly when you are anxious about things, because I did generally outgrow that. I mean, I don’t do it anymore. Ever. Really.
Keeping you guys in our prayers up here. Too bad that baking & taking cinnamon rolls along with you probably wouldn’t make these people more inclined to help — or at least keep Chickie’s belongings and self more safe while she has to be there.
Oh, Mir, can I fourth the PO box thing? I mean, I think about you guys all the time, and I say a prayer every time you cross my mind, but I’m with Holly way up there: I’m a “send a card” or “send some chocolate” kind of person. (I think it’s because my love language is “gifts” so, therefore, I LOVE giving gifts. Even if they’re just “hoo ha’s”, which translates into “just a little something”!)
Anyway, think it over. I know that you said that you didn’t want to set up a PayPal button or anything, but might this be another way for us to show you our support?
Regardless, please know that my heart aches for you and Chickie and Monkey and Otto as you go through this hell and I will continue to pray for all four of you.
Maybe watching pandas on a slide will help…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yxkU2LecM8o
Sending continued prayers for endurance you and the family and love… lots of love! And continued cheers for all you are doing. Kind of reminds me of the Churchill quote about “if you’re going through hell, keep going.” We’re here on the interwebs with you, cheering you on as you keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I don’t know if you have seen “Finding Nemo” The character Dory resonates with me and her Mantra of “Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming” has become my own, Feel free to use it at will :)
Thinking of you (and your family) today & every day! I don’t really know what to say, but I wanted you to know that you’ve got so many people here sending all their positive energy your direction! And Andrea up there at #34 is one important reason it’s so wonderful that you’re writing–so thank you, on ALL of our behalfs!
But was the melon good? (lame attempt at humor)
I am going to pray for your daughter’s health, peace for you and your family, and add a prayer for your daughter’s team that they find a way to help her–that they can find that light at the end of the tunnel that is out there for her.
Love you. Always.
Thinking about you and your wonderful daughter.
For anyone else who gets here as late as I, the link has changed to http://www.feelmorebetter.com/consequences-schmonsequences/
Just wanted to stop by and encourage you. I have a family member that struggles with mental illness and it hurts our heart to say those two words because while we love him and see the good in him it is painful to think that others will be judgemental. However, nothing hurts more than when it is your child. Hang in there. It is sometimes all you can do. Good days will come again.
Love you, Mir.
Have you heard of a supplement called truehope? It has helped my friend with severe manic depression. I have heard such good things about it. If you google True Hope it will come up. It was developed by two people here in Alberta, not big pharma. I wonder if it could help your daughter? My dad is bipolar and mental health is always foremost in my mind. I just ordered some of the supplements from the website to try with my 14 yr old daughter who is very anxious at times. I am so hoping that it helps.
I’m feeling barfy on your behalf. Can’t imagine how barfy you feel. Prayers.