I registered for my spring classes this morning.

I registered for my spring classes this morning.  I picked 5, but I'm not sure that I will keep them all.  Two seem easy-ish.  I don't want to overload myself, but at the same time I feel that I need to catch up because I dropped a class this semester.  In the long run, that won't add or erase a semester from my time at JSU, so maybe (as usual) I need to calm down... but I do want to get done, so it's hard not to rush.

I really need to look into summer classes, as well.  I heard that year-round Pell Grant might be a thing now, so that would be great if so.  I had planned to work / intern over the summer, but it is clear to me that life doesn't care about my plans, so I've gotta just keep on keeping on the best I can.  LOL

Happy Friday, friends!  ❤

Garrett Counseling seems really great.

Garrett Counseling seems really great. Kira feels comfortable and like she can make some progress with her new counselor.  Instead of this mad-dash, once-a-month at the school crap that Highland was doing, they are going to see her weekly for now after school.  I think we are all breathing a sigh of relief in that regard.

As for her family, that has been and will probably remain to be a volatile presence in her life (especially with the upcoming funerals and all of that), but we have been and will continue to try to protect her the best we can.  Since we don't have legal custody, it's stressful because we worry that not enough interaction with her relatives will result in someone trying to take her from us.  But when she turns 18 in March it will no longer be an issue, so we've just gotta get through the first of the year.

Thank you to everyone who offered advice and help during this situation.  Having her here has been great, but transitions are tough (even good ones) and she was already having a hard time before we got her.  She was going to Highland before she came here and had already had a bad experience with the counselor at Anniston Pediatrics.  We asked her pediatrician 3 weeks ago (and reminded her 2 weeks ago) to refer her elsewhere, but they didn't for whatever reason until I left upset messages this morning with a specific place we wanted her to go.

Unless I post another upset, private-ish post, assume all is well.  If you want to check on her, feel free to message us.  Since I'm friends with some of her relatives on social media I don't want to talk about anything too deep publicly.  Like I said, we are kind of walking on eggshells to keep the peace.  It's a tenuous situation and we're just doing the best we can.

Much love to you all, and thanks again.  ❤❤❤

They got her in at Garrett today at 2.

They got her in at Garrett today at 2.  Thank you so much to everyone for your help and suggestions.  It means the world to  us!  ❤❤❤  I am so thankful for you all!

This is not a public post. I would appreciate your discretion if you can see this.

This is not a public post.  I would appreciate your discretion if you can see this.

As we all know, the mental health care in this state sucks ass.  Kira has been seeing the therapist at Highland Health, but she doesn't feel like the woman listens to her or gets very deep.  She has also seen an in-house therapist at Anniston Pediatrics who isn't helping her, either.  Since she is not legally our child I don't know what our options are regarding insurance, so all she has right now is Medicaid.

So this has been a shit day for her.  Shaun took her to her appointment at Highland, and she came out crying because once again she wasn't helped.  Now, as of a few hours ago, she has lost an aunt and a brother all in the same day.  She seems to be in shock, which is totally understandable.  See the link below.

We've only had her for a couple of months, but I can tell you that she has been shuffled around and neglected for a lot of her life.  How she is as awesome as she is I'll never know.  But she needs help.  She has said as much, and we believe her.  I imagine that I'd have issues, too.  We are always here for her, of course, but having an objective 3rd party hear you out can really help.

So, do you  know of anywhere she can get ACTUAL counseling?  I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know of a real therapist out there who would accept Medicaid, or see her for a reduced fee?  We're scraping by on one income while I'm in school, but we'll find a way to pay if there is someone out there worth paying for.

https://abc3340.com/news/local/suspect-dead-officer-shot-in-shooting-during-homicide-investigation

Planning my spring schedule and...

I think the kids had an alright Halloween. 🙂

I think the kids had an alright Halloween. 🙂 Shadow went off to do things with his guy friends and just informed us that he had a lot of fun.  Shaun and I took Kira and two of her friends Trick-or-Treating. She got to meet a couple of my friends (briefly), but it was still nice. 🙂

I think the highlight of my night was when I gave a kid dressed as a clown $1 to chase one of Kira's friends (who kept saying repeatedly that she was scared of clowns). I don't usually do stuff like that, but she sure was able to dish out messing with people, so it was only fair. LOL I ended up getting a BOGO deal on the clowns because another kid dressed as a clown saw her running and joined in, for free! 😂😂😂

After that we visited my mom and had Halloween dinner. Yes, that is a thing we do. Mom had cupcakes for dessert and Kira got all teary. She said it was so beautiful. 😂😂😂 I don't know what the deal is with that girl and cupcakes (this is not the first time that has happened), but her quirks endear her to us and we just love her to pieces.

Overall, it was a good night. I hope all of you guys have had fun and stayed safe, as well. Happy Halloween! 💀 🎃 🕸️

Edited to Add:  BREAKING NEWS!  I didn't get a BOGO on the clowns.  Shaun had asked the other clown to chase her, too, and they got there at the same time. So it was a team effort.  I wasn't aware before now.  His did it for free, though.  LOL

My mom today.

My mom today. Screen cap because it isn't public, but the world needs to see this. Doing Halloween right! 😃 I love this woman.