Sunday, January 22, 2012

update

On January 10, Matthew was released from Healy House. It is now the 22 of January, and I can't believe I am writing this, but all in all things have been ok. I have made many changes to our lives, and I am thankful to the people who have supported my family in our recent success.

I decided that my goal upon Matthew's discharge was to keep him home until at least February 10. We had not spent a full month together as a family since October, and I felt like the month was an important committment to make to my family. I also knew that I could only reach this goal if I put some things in place. The easiest and most likely way for us to succeed was for me to have help at home. Matthew had struggled at the hospital, which often had a ratio of 7 kids to 3 adults. He had struggled at Healy House, which had a ratio of 8 kids to 3 adults, so it made little sense for me to think that I could handle him at home with a ratio of 3 kids to 1 adult.

I hired a babysitter to be at the house with us every night, and if I did not have access to a sitter, I asked my parents if they could help on Friday nights a few times each month so that there was always another adult to help us out. The babysitter and I would be here with the children together, but when my parents came, they would either take David and Jacob, and I would have 1:1 time with Matthew, or they would take Matthew and I would have a quiet night with David and Jacob.

At first it was very hard for me to get used to having a sitter in the house with me. I had to communicate with the sitter, and the children had to figure out who to listen to. I had to be comfortable asking for help and trusting the babysitter to follow our routine. However, the first time Matthew tantrummed, and the babysitter was here, I knew I had made a great decision. After matthew was done tantrumming and I came downstairs, I realized that the little boys had reacted completely differently to Matthew's tantrum because they had an adult who they trusted to care for them while Matthew was upset. They looked busy and happy, even though matthew had just been upset. They were playing and laughing and seemed much less impacted by the tantrum. To me this was very important. Matthew, being matthew, is going to tantrum, it would be unrealistic for me not to expect that, however, I needed to limit the effect these tantrums were having on the little boys, and by having a sitter in the house, I was able to do
that.

In addition to the sitter, I have promised myself that if I am alone with the boys and there is a problem, I will call for help. The other night we were out to dinner and Matthew got upset and after trying to keep him calm, and starting to drive home, I realized that it had just gotten to be too much. The little boys now needed time from an adult, and Matthew was not settling quickly. In the past I would have hemmed and hawed and hoped that the tantrum would end, but this time I called my friend. Worst case scenario, I would bother her and she would not be needed. Best case scenario, she would come over, help deescalate the situation and then could head for home. What ended up happening was even better than I thought. She came and got the little guys ready for bed. I stayed with Matthew who after having some medicine was settling down, and then as soon as the upset started, Matthew stopped the tantrumming. Meg and I tucked the kids into bed, and then chatted for a while. Not only did Meg help the boys feel better, but I had an adult who had seen what happened and could talk it through with me. I was able to end the night feeling positive rather than beating myself up, and I was fresh enough to start over the next morning after some chat time!

I have asked my folks for help, a few times since Matthew came home and each time asking gets easier- I don't ever want to be dependent on anyone else, but I feel my family coming together better than we have since October. The boys are more comfortable and Matthew is getting a chance to be home. That said, I know that reality of life with Matthew is ups and downs. I am excited that we have a new respite worker who is starting next week who will be with us 2 days per week in the evenings through bedtime. I am continuing to hire sitters when the respite worker is not here so that we can build on success.

My theory is we can build upon our success, or we could continue down the path we were on. Everyday of success is a step in the right direction! I know that parenting these 3 boys at times means we need more help than other parents need, but I am feeling better about my parenting abilities than I had been in a while, and I feel like I can stop treading water and maybe, just maybe enjoy life in in the lifejacket!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

the balancing act

Today we had a visit planned with Matthew and the plan was to pick him up at 12:30 and bring him home for a while. His respite worker was going to meet us at the house, and I was happy to know that should there be a problem, we would have an extra pair of hands.

The little boys and I started off the morning wonderfully- we lazied around the house, cuddled on the couch, the boys played a little, and then I gave them lunch before we headed off to get Matthew. Needless to say,the mood for the little boys and I was upbeat. So as we left the house, I was even more comfortable with the fact that we were going to get matthew.

As we pulled up to Healy House, I could see Matthew bouncing around in the window and I got a pit in my stomach- he seemed to be really bonkers which did not bode well for a calm visit. I was met at the door by Tim, the head of healy house, who told me that Matthew had been having a rough morning. He was edgy, getting in everyone's space, and not respecting the adults. After talking more with Tim, I told Matthew that I expected better from him and that he would not be able to stay with us for the full 4 hours, since he had not had behavior that earned him a long pass, and that instead he would come home, go for a hike and then return to Healy House earlier than I had planned. Matthew was upset by this, but accepted it and understood that it was a consequence for his behavior.

Once we left Healy House, Jacob's entire mood changed. Even just as Matthew got in the car, Jacob became whiney, and whimpered. Matthew was too close to him, he touched him climbing into the car. Vague concerns, but it was the look on Jacob's face and his tone that had me worried. As we were driving, Jacob was complaining a lot- Matthew asked for his ball back, and Jacob refused to give it to him. Jacob wanted to see something and Matthew complained Jacob was looking at him. It had only been 3 minutes, we were hardly out of the parking lot for Healy House, and I knew I had to do something.

Jacob and Matthew had always been good brothers. Even as Matthew struggled and Jacob would be scared, the next day Jacob was always willing to give Matthew another chance. But here I could tell that Jacob was legitimately afraid. He was afraid that Matthew would get angry, and when Matthew gets angry, life for Jacob is too unpredictable and Jacob can't cope. Rather than living in the moment and enjoying the good times with Matthew, which as an adult I was able to do, Jacob was petrified from the first moment Matthew got in the car, and it was likely that Matthew would feed off of this negative energy and the day would end in an explosion.

When we got home I decided we would do a family project to build unity and ensure some family time, so we built a house out of lincoln logs. This lasted a little while, and then Jacob and Matthew each got involved in their own activities while David built the log cabin of the century. After more play time at home, we enjoyed a hike at 5 Rivers together and then it was time for Matthew to go back to Healy House. From the moment we got back in the car, I could sense that things were going downhill. Jacob kept talking about the fact that we were going to a friend's house for dinner, which only served to upset matthew, and Matthew was muttering that he hated healy House and that he was coming home in 9 days.

As we got out of the car to walk inside, Matthew was coming very, very slowly which meant that we were bound to have a hard time. When things are going to be ok, Matthew runs into Healy house and tells the staff about our visit. When he will not go inside easily, I know we are heading for a tantrum.

I agreed to go to Matthew's room with him to try to make separating from us easier. He struggled. I agreed to one more hug, one more kiss, he struggled. I agreed to call him later. He tantrummed. Finally I asked another staff member to take Jacob and David so that I could talk to matthew without them watching his tantrum. Unfortunately, no matter what I said or how I offered to touch base with matthew later, he could not be calmed down, and finally I just left as he screamed for me.

As I walked outside to meet Jacob and David, Jacob just looked at me with his eyes, and said, "see I knew he would get mad again", and walked towards the car. I don't know how to build a relationship between the boys, make sure everyone feels safe, and meet each of their needs all at the same time. I think it is truly an impossibility. Even when I planned and had another adult with us, it wasn't enough. Sure, I didnt have the extra pair of hands the entire visit, and yes, that would have helped. However, in 9 days matthew is coming home and there won't be an extra adult here all the time.

I am reading a book about teaching an Oppositional Child, and I am working hard to implement the ideas presented into my parenting. I am doing some extra hugging and snuggling with David and Jacob to ensure that they feel loved and safe as much as possible, and again I am "filling the boys buckets" with positive messages and love that will hopefully carry them through the challenging times.

For now, I have found that when we visit Matthew at Healy House he seems to do better, than when he comes home or out with us in the community, so between now and next Tuesday, that is what I will do with him.