Gone Daddy Gone

The Hubs and Big Sis went on a Kayak trip this weekend with another Dad and his son and the son's friend. They had a nice time and now I am so planning a weekend get away with Big Sis!

The little kids did very well this weekend. Mr. and Miss do better when Big Sis is not an option. It seems that they no longer view the other as competition but rather, all there is. Interesting how the dynamics affect how any given child may do with situations and issues at hand.

And ... the med dose increase is most definitely given the Fabulous Miss M her bounce back, back. We had really good progress from Oct. to Jan. with no rage outburst and then Jan. started to turn into Feb. which was heading toward March Madness and the rages made their return to the tune of once or twice a week. Still better than 2 and 3 times in a day but also still not much fun.

I was reading a post on another Mom's blog about kids with RAD who are also diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I really appreciated that post and it's info and it definitely supports what we have seen with Miss M.

We were kind of in this weird-o holding pattern regarding attachment progress until we were able to find the right meds to help the mood disorder. The issues themselves that have come from trauma and neglect and and and ... are still there but the things that we are doing to help her actually seem to help her when her brain is functioning at a more normal rate.

She handled Dad and Big Sis not being home this weekend. She was able to express that she didn't like that they were not there and that she missed them. Lil Bro is helping by acting as a tiny theaputic person. He does not like it when Mom leaves even to go to the store. He is smart and has amazing social skills and is able to initiate roll play that helps him work through those feelings. In play with dolls or sometimes a stuffed animal (this weekend it was bunnies) he says,

"Bunny baby sad because Mommy Bunny gone. It okay Baby Bunny, Mommy Bunny always come back.

But I want her and I cry and I miss her.

But Mommy always come back and Daddy Bunny and Nanny Bunny takes care of you. Everybody takes care of you.

Mommy always comes back."

I noticed the dialog coming from Miss M during play was more positive again this weekend. She definitely has picked up some of Lil Bro's self comforting message. I was able to go to the store and come back without her having a meltdown. Progress!