New Normal

A week ago this last Monday, Alec asked Aubrey for a divorce. She and the girls came down here that day as she didn't want to stay up there. The next day Alec said no couples therapy and that he had found some one else to help him through this. We moved Aubrey and the girls and Freya home the next day. Alec had changed the locks on the house before we got there. Illegal! He cut off Aubrey totally financially. Illegal! We hired an attorney. Filed in Le Sueur County and hopefully this gets over soon. Aubrey and the girls will be with us indefinitely. She needs to find a job and then a place to live.

Andy and Christine lost their baby last week end. She was about 12 weeks along. Last night she was admitted to Methodist hospital in Rochester. Not everything had come out and she was getting very sick. Now waiting for an update.

Some times life just doesn't seem fair. We go on with faith that there is a reason for all of this and we will be fine.

getting old

I know I'm not really that old, but the process of getting there stinks! I looked up symptoms of menopause and found out I have most of them. Everyone knows about hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings which I have, but no one tells you about itching, confusion, crashing fatigue and others. I start out the day with lots of ambition and energy. By 11:00am I'm ready for a nap and basically done for the day. I've read that this can last for 3 to 10 years. Great!!!

Aubrey started counseling yesterday. She found a Christian counselor who is not impressed with how the VA handles PTSD. I have thought some of the things myself, but figured they knew what they were talking about. Hmmmm. I hope it goes well for her. This just wasn't supposed to happen.

Fog today, but warm later. I think I also have SAD. I really am in great shape.

Now down to clean in the basement. It's only 8:30. Should get something done?!

Responsibility

I have realized in the past few days what a responsibility it is to give advise to people. Aubrey is in a place where she doesn't know what to do next, so she asks me. I don't know either as we have never been in this position before. She and Alec both like Alec's therapist. I asked her if she was a christian therapist and Aubrey didn't know. My thinking was a christian therapist would be more likely to encourage Alec to work on the marriage eventually. Right now he needs to just work on himself. Aubrey found a therapist for herself that is a christian therapist and specializes in ptsd. She said she hadn't thought about that until I brought it up. I have to be really careful about what I say.

Emily started her new job yesterday. She can work 15 hours at the church and 15 hours at home. That will really help with day care.

We're supposed to get more snow today. We really need that!

"Happy New Year?"

I probably will not enter the holiday season with the same enthusiasm in future years. At least not for some. In a totally unforeseen act; Alec left Aubrey on New Year's Day. With his diagnosis of PTSD, it's hard to be angry with him. I am frustrated that he left her with two little girls, four dogs and no wood in the house for heat, though. Kim, Alair and I went up on Saturday and helped throw in wood. He has an appointment with his counselor today so hopefully we know more today.

Christmas other than that was great. very quiet. Most of the kids made it home at some time. Louise and Al left for Arizona on the 29th. They will be gone about three months.
Alair lost her first tooth yesterday. She let me pull it out. The tooth fairy came and she was upset that she didn't get to see her.

Today I hope to get Christmas stuff put away and the house back to normal.We'll see what happens.