More challenges

The schizoaffective disorder, mood disorder, chemical dependency, or whatever we are dealing with, is posing questions about what to do next.  We have had monthly episodes to deal with and no recognition (no reality setting in) of just how disturbing this is to the calm, happy family life we have when he's not in a manic episode.

He's in the hospital now and we are looking for the next step.  He resist medicine but he needs something.  We need a mood stabilizer that will calm the outbursts, agression, and difficulties he poses.

Paranoia is a part.  He has paranoia about flouride in his toothpaste, products tested on animals, expressions someone might make...  It makes for a difficult challenge because the break from reality makes it impossible to rationalize with him.

The worst was getting kicked off of Carnival cruise line.  I understand, they didn't know whether he would throw himself overboard.  Paul is angry and felt you shouldn't send someone with a mental disorder off into Mexico-setting him up for more problems.  He got home safely.  Life is calm with him in the hospital.

We are praying diligently that this is not a lifelong experience.  I don't know how I could ever deal with this lasting forever.  Forever is a long time.

I ask about his future-driver's license, high school diploma or GED, could he ever work?

Psalm 94:18-When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me.

II Tim. 2:1-Be strong in the grace that is Christ Jesus.

Psalm 51:10-Renew a steadfast spirit within me.

In Christ I stand

Here in the love of Christ, I stand
Here in the death of Christ, I live

For I am His, and He is mine

bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

this is the power of Christ, in me

From life's first cry, to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

could ever pluck me from His hand

til He returns or calls me home

HERE IN THE POWER OF CHRIST I STAND  

The Collier household is excited with Christmas.  The house is decorated, presents bought and Christmas parties begin soon.  There have been many changes.  Jacob is stable.  I took him out of school to home school him.  This took the added stress away of him being truant over and over again.   Next week I begin homeschooling a 5th grader at my house during the day.  I still have the after school tutoring job with another 5th grader.   Life is good.  I have a powerful support system and I'm thankful everyday for what God has given me.

Potato Soup

We had this recipe along with brisket sandwiches last night and it was fantastic.

4-6 potatoes cubed and cooked in microwave for 8 minutes
1/4 cup butter
2 T flour
3 c. milk
1 t garlic
2 T salt
1 T pepper flakes
1/2 t celery salt
1/2 t basil
1/4 c. cheddar cheese
1/4 c. parmeson cheese
1 c. chicken broth

Soften potatoes in microwave.  Melt butter with flour in dutch oven adding milk slowly and the rest of the ingredients.  Mash potatoes before serving.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder may be the best diagnosis we have to date. We believe this is a temporary problem but when people say schizophrenia or paranoid schizophrenia it seems like a life long thing.

This year, there's been two incidents. Before the haldol injection there was an incident at school of rocking and crying believing that a friend had committed suicide (they hadn't). Later in the day we had the typical yelling at us, misunderstanding simple statements, talking incoherently really fast, and pacing (an inability to stay still.)

The haldol just wasn't a match for us. He slept 19 hours a day and on the day for a new injection there was a major breakdown. He could not sleep running into the night, returning, leaving, returning...until running in school traffic and laying down in the school parking lot. At this point he was very excited, seeing things that were not there, etc... I took him straight to the hospital where he was given an injection of invega. This episode took about 5 days to run its course.

Invega brought speech problems, involuntary movements, and cotton mouth. Cogentin was given to counteract the side effects. It's 3 weeks later and he's still taking the cogentin 3 times a day as well as buspirone for anxiety.

We don't have a good plan for anti-psychotic medicine. I would love to hear from anyone that can relate, or has encouraging words.

The days ahead-transition and wildflowers

It is so pretty this time of year. We've had weather in the 70's and 80's in the last week and enough rain that the wildflowers are abundant. I haven't seen many indian paintbrushes but the variety of yellow, and purple flowers along with the bluebonnets are georgeous.

We are in transition now and feel our feet are more on the ground than in past years. Jacob is in the hospital but should be discharged in the next couple of days. He will transition back to school, I will transition back to work and Paul will transition to a different work opportunity. It is transition time.

While this has me anxious, I now have a list of scriptures that have me grounded.

Psalm 139:13-18: You took care of me.

II Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Psalm 32:5: You forgave the guilt.

Psalm 20: May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.

Psalm 34:4: I sought the Lord and He answered me.

I Corinthians 8:6: One God through whom all things come.

Phil. 4:7: The peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Craft time

I have three more weeks before I go back to work full time and have been filling my time with Pinterest projects. This is a picture I modge podged onto a tile. Out of the three that I did, I only liked one. Now I remember how much I hate to modge podge. I can never get it to be smooth and not gluey or have smudged glue.

I am all caught up on the scrapbooking! I even took Jacob to get new photos taken at JC Penney. I feel really good about that!

This is a container I painted. I can't seem to turn the picture, but you get the point.

This picture was copied straight from Pinterest. I'm thinking it would look beautiful with different color flowers and green stems but on the blue wall it worked just fine in black.

Here is an example of catching up on the photos. I've worked some on genealogy. The Obenhaus family in particular.

I made these two pillows out of dad's ties. I really liked the one that I weaved the ties. The other pillow was made by taking the ties apart.

These are picture of my siblings and I as our kids were growing up. I made them into their own bulletin board for the guest room.

Justin took some of the ties for memory's sake and the rest I made into the wreath.

I have spent time with Scott in Corpus, Mom and Larry in San Antonio and plan to go to Georgetown. Now I will organize my school stuff. I am excited to get it organized in a way that when I start back to work, I can find what I need. Yay!

Vegan "diet"

It has been atleast a year since Jacob moved from being a vegetarian to becoming vegan. He has noodles, rice or cereal at every meal, lots of fruits and vegetables, protein smoothies, peanut butter, fried tofu, stir fry, pot stickers, veggie hamburgers, bean burritos, cheese-free pizza, and many other things. I am still surprised when I hear people argue that he should be eating meat. It's his ethical choice and I think for him, it would be wrong to do anything else.

He loves his kale smoothies. He's getting tired of strawberries so I have been using kiwi and mangos instead.

Green Mango Smoothie

1/2 cup kale
1 cup orange juice
1 cup mango
1 kiwi
1-2 tablespoons flaxseed

Blend in blender.