Day Eight: Finally Weaned

Over the weekend Katie did two consecutive sleepovers at Aunt Bea's house and was weened off the Abilify. Meanwhile, I slept and slept and slept... and practically stayed in my pajamas when awake... just in case I wasn't done sleeping yet.

Katie got to go to a "High School Musical" play at a nearby theater... and when she came home, she was so excited to show me the autographs she had gotten. I had to grin remembering the many autographs I had gotten as a kid. What did I ever do with those things?? Such a fun, silly fad.

Bea said Katie had a pretty good weekend with only a couple disturbing incidents. One night as she was coloring in her color book, Bea says she suddenly started struggling to breathe. Her eyes became glassy and her face got very red... and she began to hyperventilate and gasp for air. Bea called me to ask what to do, and I suggested she have Katie breathe in some steam from boiling water in a pan... or steam from the shower. It's good for the bronchials, can be calming... and if this was mental, it could derail her from the spiral down. If the steam didn't help, I was ready to call 911.

As a note... this wasn't the first episode like this.... Katie has had several incidents where she couldn't breathe and struggled for air... and each time there was no apparent reason for it.

Bea said she had Katie breathe in steam from a pot in the kitchen, and as Katie was struggling for air, her eye caught sight of a small can of mandarin oranges on the shelf.... and through gasps said, "Aunt Bea... I think oranges would help". Despite the oddity of the request, Bea fed her some canned oranges... and in a few minutes Katie relaxed and her breathing returned to normal. Katie called me to say she was doing fine and not to worry.

So OOOOOOKAY. Just another every-day drama in the life of the Conner family.

Bea also said Katie accidentally wet the bed that same night... (she hasn't done that in YEARS). Katie was very apologetic and helpful in cleaning it up.. and said she had been dreaming about going to the bathroom and suddenly woke up when she had started going. (Don't nobody tell anybody... but I've done that too). I tried not to laugh too loud when Bea arrived at our house with Katie and an armful of bed sheets in tow for the laundry room.

Katie had another difficult night last night in trying to fall asleep... she was very unsettled and restless... and wasn't able to get to sleep until after 10:30.

And then we were up at 5:30 this morning. Woohoohoo... and we get to do another rainy drive into Westwood. Oh joys.... Actually... it wasn't SO bad as Friday's drive home. Thank God for the diamond lane.

The end of day report was that Katie did well and had a good day... and despite the weather, we made it home in record time. At dinner she had a few moments of whineyness and anger,,, but it soon broke and she became delightfully... almost unusually pleasant. I can tell she is trying... working hard at what she has learned so far. We have a long journey ahead and much still to be accomplished... but it's a great start. I can tell Katie is beginning to "get it"... and there is hope in her heart too.

I can hear Mark and Katie laughing very hard downstairs... I love hearing that.... mmmmm.....

Tomorrow Mark will accompany Katie to UCLA... just the two of them... a first. I get to have a fun day getting my nails done and other beautifying things done to me. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to be pampered for a few hours...

Uh-oh... now I hear Katie angry and crying... good grief.... now she is storming upstairs... gotta run.

Chow 4 Now.

Susan