Try My Best Triathalon

AB got his new AFO's this morning. I forgot to bring the camera. He's funny about these things. When I woke him up this morning, I reminded him he was getting his new AFO's and he jumped out of bed in a hurry. He gabbed the whole ride to the facility and then didn't say two words the whole time we were there. Completely clammed up. He's a hard one to read sometimes. WG came with us and did the talking for both of them. *roll eyes* She gets that gift of gab from me! Nature vs. nurture, in this case, nurture won. Not sure if that's a good thing.

Our local family Y is doing a "try my best" triathalon for impaired youths and adolescents. Since AB has gotten so good at swimming in the adaptive pool, they strongly encouraged us to join, as did his developmental delay specialist and the orthotic facility. He is officially registered. I'm so excited! I'll definitely remember the camera for this event. His adapted bicycle alone is worth a few photos - 12 inch training wheels on a bike with 18 inch tires is a sight to see.

I've been sleeping and taking naps on Sissy's bed. I gutted it, literally packed up all of her things. I know she's not gone forever but there was something very therapeutic about putting her things away for the interim. There's also something therapeutic about sleeping in her room. Last week on our phone call night she sounded fairly depressed and then in phone session last Wednesday she was evasive, defiant and argumentative. I alerted her therapist to my concern that she was in a depressive swing. True to form, by this past Sunday, she was in full blaze. Rapid cycling... fun. Last night I wasn't surprised when the hospital called and asked for approval to up her lithium. I've still got the magic touch. I might be 140 miles away and only talking to her briefly each week but I still know my kid. It makes me feel good that even though I don't feel like I am what she needs, that I am insufficient to support her in her challenges, I'm not so bad off that I can't recognize her cycling.

WG has been asking a lot of questions about her siblings lately. Natural tendency for an almost seven year old to start to think for herself and evaluate her world. She wants to understand her siblings' issues and I'm doing everything I can to explain it on a seven year old level. Gaps. Still, there are gaps in mental health. Where are the books and therapy sessions for the NT siblings to help THEM understand?

Trying my best - seems like the theme for our family presently. An aptly named triathalon for impaired persons and their families. All we can do is try our best.