Up, down, up, down....

I couldn't resist !!

Thank you all sincerely for your kind comments on my last post.
Both boys are o.k. - B18 (Z17's friend) came over again Thursday, and ended up staying for tea. His Mum was having her second lot of chemo - and in a typical teenage boys way of handling things preferred to 'get out of the way'.
He had a small meltdown moment, just a bit of frustration and fear I think.
He was fine after though.

B14's Mum is home again from hospital.
He is still keen to come up and stay, and the plan is for him to come up on Thursday - Monday.
I don't like to ask too many questions, from what SM has told me his Mum took her medication twice by accident. I really don't know the details - I think it must have been a bit more than that but........


My word, no two weeks are ever the same around here!

A big week for Small Man - he had 1/3 of his toenail cut out on Tuesday - eek!
He was his usual incredibly brave self and barely flinched.
I was o.k. until the doc decided to 'lift' the remaining toenail by shoving something under it.
We went back to have it re-dressed on Friday......it looks pretty erky (is that a word? is now!) but hopefully it worked.

On the work front - the order was delivered 24 hours late again this week, this always sparks major hassle for us *sigh* - so Thursday was full on.

Friday Mum and I went shopping for all necessary items to make invitations for Z17's 18th birthday (yes, Mum + Me....on our own!!).
Only a month away now!
I will post a pic of the finished product when they are all done.
I have never attempted to make invitations before (I have done many cakes, made costumes, made my own wedding headpiece thing...just not invitations!)....so hopefully they'll look o.k.
There is a fine line between simple and elegant and tacky/gaudy I think......

SM had his therapist appointment Saturday.
I almost didn't take him as he was tired and a bit grumpy when I woke him up.
He decided he wanted to go.
He had a bit of a meltdown at the appointment.
In hindsight it was exactly what she needed to see.

She had prepared a food 'session' for him.
He was to chop up, or even just handle carrots and broccoli.
He freaked.
Not in an aggressive way, I could see him withdraw into himself.
He went pale.
He pulled his hat down to cover his eyes.
He was fidgety.
He looked very close to tears.

We ended up talking instead.
He told her he doesn't understand why he has to go there.
He told her he doesn't think ANYTHING is going to help him (can you blame him after all he's been through).
He told her he'd much rather give up and not go to any appointments (exercise physiologist, doctor, therapist).

She was great.
She handled it all quite well.
She has handed it back to him, to decided if he's ready to keep going, if he is what he wants to focus on at each session (the food issue or thinking and feelings).
I didn't say much.
When he is in 'one of those moods' I find it best to listen to him, make gentle suggestions, but let the mood dissipate before discussing it with him too much.

So there was no handling of carrots or broccoli and we left on a note of 'SM will think it over and give her a call'.
When we got into the car he asked to put his 'angry music' on.
That was fine with me - I don't always like it playing in the car when I'm driving - it shatters the nerves!

On the way home we needed to pick up a computer part for Big A - then call in and get groceries.

We were talking a little about how the appointment went.
I explained to him that he would have a lot of anger and resentment built up over the past three years and that is what his therapist is for...to help him get it out and be ready when he is well enough to go back to school etc.....

I also explained that I don't want to be 'that parent' that looks back and says "Oh maybe I should have taken SM to see someone about this".
Now is the best time for him to try and tackle this.
(For anyone that isn't aware he has Selective Eating Disorder and Food Neophobia).

I then casually asked him 'What if you get a girlfriend that eats a lot of salad and wants to sit next to you and eat it'.


At the supermarket I needed to get some pumpkin.
SM followed me.

He decided maybe he could touch a lemon.
Then an orange.
Then a capsicum.
Then a zucchini.
Then a carrot.
Then an avocado.
Then a pear.
Then an apple.......

Then BROCCOLI!

I was so proud of him!!!!

We came home and he rang his therapist immediately to tell her (and he made another appointment!).
He also explained to her that he 'gets like this' (as he was in the appointment) sometimes.
Thankfully it has always passed quite quickly.

We are getting somewhere at least.....

Next step is to get him to help me cut something up.......

So, that was my week!

G
xxx