One just horrible awful day

[transientChris]

It was yesterday but it has upset me so much I woke up two hours after going to sleep.

First my middle started on a new patch for ADHD and it wasn't working by the time we were supposed to leave to take youngest to homeschool camp and her to the pediatric orthopedist. Youngest was cranky mainly because her homeschool camp had a change of dates within a few days of the one day camp and it was changed to a two day camp, neither day on the original day and the second day on the day she has to go to a genetic specialist in Orlando and so she can't go. She is missing the funnest part of the camp. So we drop her off.

We go to the pediatric orthopedist with the still completely unmedicated ADHD girl who had had insomnia the previous night (hormonal related) and is bouncing off the car doors (almost literally). She gets examined and the doctor says her pain doesn't seem to be coming from the original injury (torn labrum). He proceeds to dislocate her shoulder about seven times in all kinds of ways (afterwards DD and I discussed it and both think he dislocated it in two different directions). He orders an MRI with dye injected into her shoulder and we should come back after that. He tells us it is a rare type of dislocation problem but lately he has seen several. I am thinking is this caused by hot, humid weather???? Basically we leave confused but even still unmedicated DD now understands that she will definetely need surgery.

We come home and DD cannot concentrate to do any work. However, lo and behold, about five hours after I put the patch on, it seems to work- like too much. DD complains that she is depressed and tired. I call Dr. who prescribed patch and tell nurse about problem with med. Dr. prescribes new pill and I have to drive to pick up prescription. Come back and take DD to praise band rehearsal. In the meantime DS who suffers from depression and ADHD and ODD, finally wakes up (after gentle urgings almost hourly) and gets belligerent about why I can't let him have the car now to go register at the CC. He finally decides to get ready and calm down. I pick up DD back from praise practice and she is now in major pain from the repeated dislocations. I give her ibuprofens and a heating pad, take DS to CC and go pick up youngest. I pick up DS from the CC and he has more attitude problems. At home, DH and youngest get ready for karate while older dd still has lots of pain in shoulder. Karate ends up cancelled so everybody eats together. Youngest is whining about dinner. I go to homeschool academy open house and get course selection forms. One of the main reasons for older DD to attend was to do Spanish II. It isn't even offered. Older DD who has had all effects of patch worn off (we took it off at 12:3o) goes into a rant about why does younger sister have to go to homeschool academy. I decide to take older DD to a bookstore to calm her down and get her away from her sister. That works and we even get some books for homeschooling. After picking up ingredients for a breakfast DH is cooking for his office tomorrow, we go home. I start making banana nut loaf. After getting it into the oven, I check my email and find out that homeschool sewing and rocketry camps have been cancelled. Older DD gets gloomy again while I try to reassure her I will do a sewing week for her and her sister here at home.


I feel completely overwhelmed. I am supposed to decide on tickets to performing arts programs for schools by this morning. I need to find a fun restaurant for youngest in Orlando near where her hospital is but so far all I am finding with mapquest is fast food and I don't know Orlando very well at all and don't won't to end up in Paramour or someother area where murders always are occuring. I need to order books and sign up for yonline classes for the girls in the things they won't be doing in Homeschool Academy (or in older dd's case, at CC also). My dh is telling me he wants me to decide where I want to live for the next 15 years or so while we don't even know yet if he is retiring. I have no idea now what type of surgery older DD will be facing and have a feeling it may not be as easy as the original proposed surgery.

[sdWTMer]

Wow. Just Wow! I'm so sorry that you've had to go through this. Here's a hug: http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/hugs.gif

Hang in there!

[Michelle in TX]

No advice, but I'll pray for you. And I hope you get some sleep tonight.

Michelle

:grouphug:

[Natalieclare]

I'm so sorry you've had a horrible awful day.

Here's some hugs::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

I can commiserate with you over the medication frustration. Lately my ds has been feeling exceptionally gloomy once his meds kick in. He's on a very low dose, but it's still affecting him pretty negatively. I don't know which is worse: complete lack of focus with bursts of cheerfulness (when he's not frustrated that he can't move forward with anything) or gloom with bursts of concentration (when he's not frustrated that he doesn't feel perky.) Poor kid. The volume's down on the choir that went off when he first started the meds.

It just sends me through the wringer to watch him struggle. I want him to feel successful, to be successful soooo bad. (success defined as doing want you intend to do when you intend to do it.)

I sure hope your day is better tomorrow.

Here's more hugs::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Oh, wow. Days like that just wear you down. Here's hoping today is MUCH better. :grouphug:

[momof3gifts]

Sending prayers up for you. I hope that today is better. :grouphug:

[Tammy in Germany]

No advice, but loads of hugs and prayers coming your way. Hang in there.:grouphug:

[Jenny in Florida]

I'm so sorry. I've had a day or 12 like that in my life, and I know how they can just knock you out of whack.

The one thing I might be able to help with is the restaurant thing. We live in Orlando, and I'll be happy to try and help you find something that will work if you can give me some information about the kind of place you want. (And, for what it's worth, I drive through Parramore all the time on my way to and from downtown. It's not nearly as frightening as you might have heard, and there aren't any restaurants there, anyway, that might bait you into going there accidentally.)

So, you don't want fast food. And you need it to be near your daughter's hospital. Which hospital, and what kind of food and "fun" are desirable?

[HollyDay]

Wow! Or as Yosemite Sam said, "Woe!".

First off, dh is doing the same "maybe retire, where should we live" thing and it is driving me nuts! I can understand that part anyway.

Is there anywhere you can cut things out?? It sounds like you are running yourself ragged and if you dont get a break - you will need medical attention from the exhaustion.

For what it is worth, dear lady, you have my sympathies and verbal hugs!!!

[cin]

2 suggestions, do you HAVE to do the performing arts performances? We bought tickets last year and ended up not goign to any. It was just too much.

Second, it does sound like you have ALOT of activitities. Can any of those be cut out? Or is there just one per child?

And lastly, are there other medications available for children? Maybe they would work better than what your girls are taking right now?

I will say, this is coming from a mom who has a 7 & 4 yr old, only 2 girls, and the oldest MAY have ADD, w/o the 'H'. So I'm not in your shoes, completely.

Oh, and I would tell DH that even thinking about moving is out of the question until DD shoulder is 'done'. I would also supply DH with her personal heating pad or ice pack, whichever works best, and leave her to use it as needed. Depending on how trustworthy (and her age) I would also giver her her own bottle of ibuprofen to take PRN.

And I would take 2 Starbucks breaks a week. They don't need to be long ones, even sitting in silence for 30 minutes can make a BIG difference. They are cheaper and better for you than most medications and definitely better than illness or hospitalization (stress related illnesses) right??!?!?!?

:grouphug:

[Heather in the Kootenays]

:grouphug: So sorry.

[Martha]

Is there anywhere you can cut things out?? It sounds like you are running yourself ragged and if you dont get a break - you will need medical attention from the exhaustion.

I agree. My goodness that's a full schedule regardless of family difficulties. Once those are added in, it seems rather mind boggling to juggle all that!:willy_nilly:

Don't feel guilty cutting back if that's why you do it. EVERYONE goes through phases where they have to step back and take stock and just catch their breath for a bit.

:grouphug:

[Jean in Newcastle]

:grouphug:

I hope today goes better. My first impression reading about your day was that the Homeschool academy and camp sound more stressful than they are worth. There seem to be some organization problems with both (are they run by the same people?) if schedules are being changed so drastically at the last minute and if courses that (presumably) were offered are not being offered now.

[Amy in Orlando]

:grouphug:

I hope today goes better. My first impression reading about your day was that the Homeschool academy and camp sound more stressful than they are worth. There seem to be some organization problems with both (are they run by the same people?) if schedules are being changed so drastically at the last minute and if courses that (presumably) were offered are not being offered now.

:grouphug:
I agree.

I hope today is a better day for you.