Finished another library book. 40. "Look Me in the Eye: my life with asperger's" by John Elder Robison. Mr. Robison was 40 when he was first diagnosed, so this is his journey as a misfit. Very enjoyable read. I read the paperback version, which is important, apparently. He says he edited for language between the hardcover and paperback versions, as the book was being used in classrooms and some parents were complaining. Using his descriptions, I think I can pick out several people from the past who probably had undiagnosed Asperger's. But he says something in the postscript I really like, as I've begun to see that in my kids. "When I wrote Look Me in the Eye, I wanted to show readers what it was like to grow up feeling like a freak or a misfit. I thought my book would show how people with Asperger's are different from everyone else. To my great surprise, my book actually shows the opposite: Deep down, people are very much the same." 39. "The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History" by Thomas E. Woods. 38. "A Buffet of Sensory Interventions: Solutions for Middle and High School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders" by Susan Culp. 37. "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin. 36. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by Jack Thorne, et al 35. "The Wizard of Oz" by Frank Baum. 34. "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. (We listened as we traveled in Missouri!) 33. "Blue Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang. 32. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. 31. "Greenwich" by Susan Cooper. 30. "Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper. 29. "Clash of Cultures" by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier. 28. "The Story of US: First Americans" by Joy Hakim. 27. "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick. 26. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. 25."Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol Ryrie Brink. 24. "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 23. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. 22. "My side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

I have a whole stack of library books to get through before I can indulge in TWTM 4, which just arrived. And some of them I had to wait on the hold list for, so I don't want to return them unread. 39. "The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History" by Thomas E. Woods. Interesting. A different perspective on history than I've read before, and I like the writing style. 38. "A Buffet of Sensory Interventions: Solutiona for Middle and High School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders" by Susan Culp. Really directed at classroom teachers, but there's one good chapter I can apply to my kids, I think. 37. "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin. 36. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by Jack Thorne, et al 35. "The Wizard of Oz" by Frank Baum. 34. "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. (We listened as we traveled in Missouri!) 33. "Blue Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang. 32. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. 31. "Greenwich" by Susan Cooper. 30. "Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper. 29. "Clash of Cultures" by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier. 28. "The Story of US: First Americans" by Joy Hakim. 27. "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick. 26. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. 25."Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol Ryrie Brink. 24. "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 23. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. 22. "My side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

We've never been able to go full-time, financially, so I'm really, really jealous. We have taken extended trips in our 38' bunk model RV. It gives you stability that can travel, because the kids go to bed in the same bed every night, no matter where you are. You cook familiar meals, stuff is in the same place. Once you are inside for the night, you are home. Living quarters are a little cozy, but you can expand outside so easily. We often eat ate on the picnic table provided at most sites. We did a lot of school work out there, too. We've had our rig since before our youngest was born, so we've dealt with diapers and potty training on the road. Not really an issue. You are towing a toilet back there, just a few feet away. She grew up "helping" to set up. At two, she loved cranking the handle to lower the rear stabilizer jacks. That became her "job," and she'd get upset if someone else took it over. Younger kids are adaptable. They play easily with kids they just met at the campground, or at local parks. You are going to have so much fun!

It sounds to me like he DID initiate divorce; he just chose to do it passively-aggressively (by driving her to do it) for some reason. Maybe to control her, knowing her beliefs about biblical divorce, thinking he can keep her from being happy by preventing her from marrying again.

Mine shows as "out for delivery." It only promises to be here by 8:00 pm... I'm looking forward to the new material on special needs students.

37. "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin. Fascinating to read about autism from the inside out. The movie based on her autobiography helped my mom be a little more understanding of my kids. 36. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by Jack Thorne, et al 35. "The Wizard of Oz" by Frank Baum. 34. "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. (We listened as we traveled in Missouri!) 33. "Blue Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang. 32. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. 31. "Greenwich" by Susan Cooper. 30. "Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper. 29. "Clash of Cultures" by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier. 28. "The Story of US: First Americans" by Joy Hakim. 27. "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick. 26. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. 25."Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol Ryrie Brink. 24. "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 23. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. 22. "My side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

I need to put some audible books on my phone, since my daily walk is my most reliable alone time. My phone memory is pretty full, though. 36. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by Jack Thorne, et al. Not saying a word, except that it arrived yesterday afternoon, and I'd finished it and handed it over to DD11 by bedtime. She just finished. The format is less satisfying. 35. "The Wizard of Oz" by Frank Baum. 34. "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. (We listened as we traveled in Missouri!) 33. "Blue Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang. 32. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. 31. "Greenwich" by Susan Cooper. 30. "Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper. 29. "Clash of Cultures" by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier. 28. "The Story of US: First Americans" by Joy Hakim. 27. "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick. 26. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. 25."Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol Ryrie Brink. 24. "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 23. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. 22. "My side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

That combination of search terms is very helpful, thanks!

DH is out of town, but we plan to go as soon as he gets back!

I have a recommendation for a good local OT for my older two, who both have dysgraphia. I'll look into that, but we'll have to self-pay at this point. That 's one professional our insurance won't cover. (I am considering applying for SSI, even though we won't qualify income-wise, because I've heard that if your child otherwise qualifies and is turned down based on income, he or she can still get Medicaid, and that Medicaid might pay for OT. Anyone have personal experience with that?)

Hmm, come to think of it, I won't wear turtle necks or anything close fitting around my neck, and it does have some kind of weird connection to crowds and social anxiety. (A sort of feeling of being trapped.) Could well be what's going on with her.

Very interesting! I've heard about people who see sound as color, including some people with ASD. ASD seems to run in the family, so maybe that is what's going on with her.

She does mix up hot and cold, actually. Something I've wondered about, because it seems so basic, and she's at level or advanced in many other ways. (She can correctly count up pocket change, for instance. Something her same age cousin can't do; he still counts the bills, not the denominations, so he's convinced Grandma gave him three dollars for his birthday -- she gave him two twenties and a five.) And where my son avoids new sensations, she tends to be a thrill seeker, so that's probably sensory seeking. I don't mind if she strips down in the bathroom at home, but I'm trying to convince her not to do it elsewhere. It is startling for her teachers at church or karate or whatever when she walks out carrying all her clothes!

...or advice is welcome, too. I've noticed something in DD6 that I want to learn more about, to see what is developmentally appropriate. She's not been officially diagnosed with anything, but it is becoming apparent that she has some combination of the following: hypoglycemia, OCD, and some other anxiety and/or sensory issue involving crowds and loud noises. What I'm wanting to google is that she can't distinguish and/or verbalize what's wrong. She tends to have a meltdown and start crying that she's hot when it's obvious that it's the crowd and the noise that are really the issue, or that she's cold when it's becoming obvious that she's low blood sugar. (Her little hands do tend to get icy cold when she hasn't eaten enough.) She also gets cranky and denies she needs the bathroom, and then it turns out she does. And she tends to strip down completely to use the bathroom, because she's "too hot." It seems like she interprets everything she feels both physically and psychologically as body temperature.

:lol: Dang, that is so true! I can leave my 13 year old and my 6 year year old home together, but not my 11 year old with either of the other two :001_rolleyes:. Well, she's getting better. I can leave them to run the 13 year old to scouts -- gone 10 minutes, maybe. Our state law has no minimum age, but the rather vague clause that it's up to the responding officer to determine, should someone call the police. Same for babysitting, as long as it's siblings and not for pay. (You must be twelve to set yourself up as a babysitter as a business.) I think DS13 was 7 the first time I left him for about 10 minutes. He has never been afraid, and is generally a rule keeper and is overly cautious by nature. He is also a very responsible babysitter, and stepped up to help with his sisters when I needed it when DH first began behaving erratically with his mental health issues. DS was 10 at the time. Because he has proven himself, I'm pretty comfortable leaving him in charge for several hours at a time, in the daytime. DD11, on the other hand, tends to pick fights, especially when bored, and is simultaneously very adventurous and very shy. She wouldn't let me leave her alone until she was 9, I think. I haven't left DD6 home alone yet, and probably won't anytime soon. She's a thrill seeker, the only one of my kids I've ever caught swinging from the drapes or climbing the bookcases! Funny thing, though. I'm more relaxed leaving her with DS than DH, because DH can get intensely immersed in his own computer and fail to notice what she's up to, even though the computer is in the living room.

Do you think they violated any of these guidelines in having your son deal with it? (1, 2, and 16 look potentially relevant.) http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Sweet16.aspx

Just got back from our epic, 15 state road-trip. Listened to a lot of audio books with the kids. Here goes (and this doesn't count the six Magic School Bus books we also had with us): 35. "The Wizard of Oz" by Frank Baum. 34. "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. (We listened as we traveled in Missouri!) 33. "Blue Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang. 32. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. 31. "Greenwich" by Susan Cooper. 30. "Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper. 29. "Clash of Cultures" by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier. 28. "The Story of US: First Americans" by Joy Hakim. 27. "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick. 26. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. Such a hit with my six year old that we had to listen to it twice. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. Not going to number it, since I just read it and counted it last month, but my 11 year old especially liked it. (We listened as we traveled in Southern Utah and New Mexico.) 25."Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol Ryrie Brink. Another hit, that a board member reminded me of. 24. "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. We liked it, though the years between writing the two books led to some odd moments, where they were talking about cell phones... 23. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. 22. "My side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

I used to be a lot more diligent about reading to my children from the scriptures every evening. When she was about four or five, DD11 once said sweetly, "Mommy, I love it when you read scriptures to us." I was about to congratulate myself when she went on, "They are so boring, they always help me fall asleep."

Just joined audible and I don't know how one exercises any restraint when shopping there! We'll be listening to books on CD for some 70 hours on our upcoming road trip. 23. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown. From Audible. I don't think this one is available as an actual print book, but I listened while walking all week, and loved it. 22. "My side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George. Oldie, but goodie. Listened with my kids in the car, AND still had it in the car when I drove my cub scouts to day camp this week. I've never had a batch that stayed so quiet on that 45 minute drive before! 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

I research in spurts, but did lots before I had kids. Most of my paternal lines were done by my late father, who was a professional genealogist, but I did tons of research on my mom's German-Russian line. They were "Volga Germans," who lived in a village south of Saratov called Messer. Sometimes I attempt my husband's Cherokee line, but I just get frustrated. I was able to get it back far enough to verify he is a direct-line descendant of a Trail of Tears survivor, as verified on the Dawes Role, which let his family officially be recognized as Cherokee Nation members. Can't get it past that guy, though.

I had to turn in several books half read to the library recently. I hate when that happens! But here's one I finished. 21. "Cheaper By the Dozen" by Frank Butler Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Listened in the car while driving my kids places. 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.

At our local Psych hosptials, at least, a week is a minimum stay. If you check in, you will be there for five business days. (That's why at subsequent ER visits, DH chose to make a commitment to see his own therapist, rather than check in.) I think that policy is there because it takes 48 hours for psych meds to really show up in your system. Some of the other men in the ward when DH was there had been there for three or four weeks.

It's actually a good sign that she agree to go the hospital. That is cooperating. It would have been voluntary, as the only way for an adult to be admitted involuntarily is if they are harming themselves or others and the police intervene. No. It absolutely does not follow. Depression is very inward most of the time. It is so rare for a depressed person to hurt another person that it is newsworthy because of how unusual it is. Most depressed people or suicidal people never make the news. As someone else mentioned, there is a slight danger that the children could be accidentally harmed or that they could witness trauma, but it is slight. Most suicidal people, however irrational their behavior otherwise, want to spare their children and go to great lengths to make sure it won't be a child who finds them. The hospital will be working on getting her stabilized. That's what they do there. They will monitor and adjust her meds as needed, and she will meet daily with a therapist. Her own therapist likely recommended the hospital for that very reason. No, she probably isn't, but she was rational enough to realize she is irrational and to take the therapist's advice. That is a really good thing. My spouse is severely mentally ill. He struggles with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and severe OCD w/atypical symptoms. Here are some things we have learned. He checked himself into the Psych ward once, and came out more stable than he'd been in a long while. He's been in the ER several more times, but chose to commit to visit his regular therapist and to not act on his suicidal thoughts or to self-harm until he kept that appointment. My brother's now adult foster daughter checks herself in several times a year, because she senses she's becoming irrational. She comes out and is able to cope for four or five months, and then circles back through. If the therapist learns something that would indicate the children are in danger, that is the one circumstance in which the therapist is actually required to say something, so if s/he hasn't, there probably isn't. For added assurance, your nephew could ask his wife to sign a HIPPA that would allow the therapist to discuss her with him. Then he could meet with the therapist every so often himself, bring up his concerns, get the therapist's take, and learn some things to help. Even if she won't sign, the therapist can talk in general principles and can discuss anything the nephew reports. The two of them together can decide if she can handle the children. (So, without the HIPPA, the therapist couldn't say, "Well, she says....", but he can say, "What you observed is typical. Here's what you do..." Ours did this for me until DH eventually signed a HIPPA naming me as someone to whom his information could be released. For instance, I once reported, "He hit his head against the wall until he had a concussion." And the therapist was able to respond and say, "Hitting your head against the wall is a form of self-harm. It usually accompanies OCD. In DH's case, when he does this, you might try...." Which is actually quite a lot of information, all without breaking HIPPA.) If the family backs off because they are afraid of her, it will do a lot of harm. Mental illness thinks it wants to be isolated, but connection is one of the biggest tools used to fight it. (Sleep, meds, exercise, and a good therapist are other great tools.) DH has one circle of friends who are able to see him as a good and delightful person who just happens to have an illness. Hanging out with them does him so much good. On the other hand, hanging out with his own family does not. They choose to remain in denial and to treat him as fragile and different. Depression tends to come with really abysmal self-esteem. Chances are good she's also worried about her ability to take care of her kids. Tread carefully, because she probably is capable of being a great mom, but doubts on your part will reinforce any doubts on her part.

On my monitor, at least, both dresses look really close to this swatch, which is labeled regimental blue: http://www.nevamar.co.uk/large_euro_sample_pages/sample_s3016.html

A couple of these are youth books I wanted to preview for our trip, but I did read them, so.... 20. "Murder on the Ballarat Train" by Kerry Greenwood. Fun read, just for me. Read it on my Kindle and my smart phone Kindle app (love that I can do that!), mostly while waiting places for my kids to finish. 19. "Over See, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper. My brothers and I loved this set of books when we were young. My daughter and I used the audio version and listened as we traveled to and from her play rehearsals. 18. "Sing Down the Moon" by Scott O'Dell. This would work, and my library even has the audio version! 17. "Soft Rain" by Cornelia Cornelissen. A novel from a child's perspective of the Cherokee Trail of Tears. I think the kids would like the book, but I can't find an audioversion... 16. "The Collapse of Parenting" by Leonard Sax. 15. ""Flying Too High: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. 14. "Cocaine Blues: A Phyrne Fisher Mystery" by Kerry Greenwood. DH and I have been watching the TV series on Netflix, and I've read one of Ms. Greenwood's Corinna stories, so I thought I'd give it a go. Deep and meaningful it was not, but a nice diversion. 13. "Let It Go" by Chris Williams. True story of how Mr. Williams was able to forgive the drunk teenager who t-boned them in Salt Lake City, killing his pregnant wife and two of their children. This story was recently turned into a movie called "Just Let Go." but I haven't seen it yet. 12. "Writing From Personal Experience" by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 11. "Writing the Memoir" by Judith Barrington. 10. "Boys Adrift" by Leonard Sax. 9. "Girls on the Edge" by Leonard Sax. 8. "Christ and the Inner Life" by Truman G. Madsen. (LDS) 7. "Gaze into Heaven" by Marlene Bateman Sullivan. (LDS) 6. "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD. 5. "When Will the Heaven Begin?" by Ally Breedlove. 4. "Four" by Virginia Roth. 3. "Allegiant" by Virgina Roth. 2. " Insurgent" by Virginia Roth. 1. "Divergent" by Virginia Roth.