Today we got a gym membership.  We need to do something for exercise.  I decided to get a month to month membership, because I'm sure this will be a novelty to the boys and they will be interested in it for a week or so and then we will be on to something else.

Middle Boy and I worked out for about an hour.  What I found is that he doesn't like to do ANYTHING by himself.  He also doesn't want to do what I am doing SO that results in either him lurking around what I am doing and complaining OR me just doing the exercise equipment he wants to do.  I compromised, but I explained that he is going to need to start doing things on his own.

I am praying this works out.  I need the exercise to remove some of the stress from my life!

We got off to a really rough start this morning.

I needed to meet with my students for the class I teach at the local university since I missed class on Friday.  It was scheduled for 9am.  Both boys got up at 8am, but weren't ready at 8:50am.

My patience for this is wearing thin.  All they needed to do this morning was get dressed, take their meds, and brush their teeth.  I was meeting my students at a restaurant so they were going to be getting breakfast there.

I was late to the appointment.  I was not happy.  Of course it is all my fault I was late, because I didn't get the boys up in time to do what they needed to do so we could get there on time. 

Prayers for a better rest of the day.

We were able to get on an earlier flight home today.

I ended up being able to pick up Middle Boy right when he got to the center after school.  He was pretty excited about being picked up earlier, but was disappointed that it was me instead of C.

Younger Boy was incredibly disappointed about me picking him up.  He quickly backed up his disappointment and started laying it on thick about how glad he was to have me home. 

Praises for getting home early!!

Today I am out of town. 

I got a text from C telling me everyone made it to school on time and without too much problem.  The boys did have trouble getting out of bed, but a threat to post a photo of them sleeping on Facebook perked them right up.

The trip is a whirlwind for me.  We are flying to Milwaukee, driving to Chicago, I'm doing a one hour presentation, driving back to Milwaukee, and flying home.

Inclement weather is expected in Chicago and Milwaukee today so we are trying to get an earlier flight home making it an even bigger whirlwind.  We have NO DESIRE to spend the night in either Chicago or Milwaukee.  I'm sure C has no desire to entertain the boys all weekend.

Prayers for safe travel and getting home on time...if not early.

I am traveling tomorrow for work and I need to be at the airport at 5am.  C was kind enough to come over tonight and spend the night at our house.  She is going to take the boys to school, pick them up after school and hang out with them until my flight gets in late tomorrow night.

The boys did a great job of entertaining her once she got to our house.

Now it is time for bed and they got right in bed.  Not our normal routine!

Praises for C.  She is a lifesaver!!

If the pattern we are currently going with holds true then we are going to have trouble at the store every other week.

Tonight Younger Boy didn't have as much trouble as he did two weeks ago, but he spent a lot of time stomping around the store and running into people.  One man actually had to ask him to get out of his personal space.

He seemed shocked when I requested that he stay where I could see him at all times and also when he didn't get a treat at the end of our shopping trip.

Prayers for understanding of appropriate behaviors.

Today is the day we no longer have a foster care agency.

The news is reporting all cases will be turned over to the other privitized agency for foster care in the state, but nothing has been communicated to any of the foster parents at this time.

So...as of today we do not know who are permanency specialists are.  We also don't know who is providing authorizations for doctor appointments, therapy, transportation services, or child care.

It has also been reported that there is a possibility all former specialists will transfer with their cases. 

It seems odd to me that the caregivers of the kiddos are not in the loop on this topic.

I asked yesterday how Younger Boy is supposed to get his medications, because they have to be authorized every month and have a handwritten prescription.  We will run out at the beginning of next week so we couldn't refill this week or get the prescription.  No one has an answer for me.

I'm guessing we will have trouble with authorizations for transportation and child care before we are able to get them.

Prayers for the changes to occur with limited disruption to the kids.