WOW!

Tonight was our phonecall night. 10 minutes some time between 6-8.

At first, phone calls with Sissy were tough. Until her placement, she staunchly refused to use the telephone. Lots of irrational phobia stuff going on there. But being away from us and in a strange environment for the first time ever, the phone became a must-conquer-this-fear issue.

Then they changed her meds last Monday.

OMG! You can HEAR her smile. Wow. She hasn't sounded this good in nearly a year. And that's talking to her on the phone! She asked me if I would please bring her two different lovvies to snuggle with and then told me she would have to miss her group outing tomorrow. The kids are going ice skating but they won't be back before our visit.

I expressed my regrets that I scheduled our therapy during an outing. I had to do that once before, keeping her from equine therapy. But Sissy said, "It's OK. I know that visiting with you is more important."

WHAT?!?! HOLD THE PHONE! DID SISSY JUST SAY THAT!?!?!?!

I wasn't sure if I should jump or cry or shout or WOW. Just wow. So I went for Nancy Thomas style pizazz with lots and lots and lots of very direct verbal positives and I tripped over my words because, WOW! HOLY CRAP! That was amazing.

Maybe it's the meds. Maybe it's time away and evaluating the choices she made that resulted in a placement, choices she can change. Maybe she's parrotting rhetoric (I don't think so.) I don't care. That was the most amazing thing she has ever said to me. Tomorrow she will be getting an enormous hug from me. I just might squeeze the stuffing out of her!

Absolutely best christmas present I'll be getting this year.
:) :) :) :)