Just One More Thing. . . . .

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" has become a burning question in my life as of late. I have a sister, Janet, for those of you who don't know, who has many issues--the first of which are developmental disabilities (borderline--she is very high functioning) and mental illness--bipolar, depression, anxiety, obsessive/compulsive, and dependent personality disorder. As if that is not enough, last May, the quiet little town in Kansas she lived in, was 90% destroyed by a tornado. She had no place to go since her apartment was also destroyed, so we (Sarah, two month old Tanner, and I) drove to Kansas to pick her up. We are her only relatives, with the exception of a few cousins and a 96 year old uncle. After the long drive out here, we settled her in a nice little apartment here in Rancho Santa Margarita. Now we have spent the last year struggling with Social Security, Medicare, CalOptima, etc, etc, until I can't see straight! (I did mention in my last blog that I am the worst at paperwork?)
Certainly moving to Southern California is not the worst of things that could happen to a person! There is more. I failed to mention, September 2006, Janet fell and shattered her left elbow, had to have three surgeries in 4 weeks, and spent a long period in a cast--during which time she was staying in a nursing facility which she hated, and some one there wasn't paying attention. As a result, her fingers became frozen around her cast and are now at least 75% useless. She is also being treated for osteoporosis, high cholesterol, and a thyroid condition. Amidst the hassle of finding doctors in our area who will take her insurance, we did see my internist who wants her to go to a neurologist to be evaluated for Parkinson's.
When she arrived here, she was a basket case, (who wouldn't be?) with surviving a class F5 tornado and losing not only most of your possessions, but your entire way of life. We began seeing my counselor to help her with the transition and the grief process. She recommended we look into College Hospital. We got her placed in their day program which involves group therapy. After 6 or 7 months, her case manager decided the program really wasn't what Janet needed. She suggested we apply for Regional Center. After hours of paperwork and a drive to Santa Ana for an intake interview, I'm sure you guessed it--she was denied services. So now Janet is attending a Senior Day Care Program 3 days a week--which she also hates. I continue to look for other options, one dead end after another.
The last straw came last Monday. About a month ago, Janet's glasses broke--they were several years old. Well, Monday, we finally went to the eye doctor. The bad news--she has lost most of the vision in her right eye due to a ruptured blood vein. There is nothing that can be done for it. Thankfully, CalOptima will pay for her new glasses--which will take at least three weeks! My heart just breaks for her--so many things seem to keep happening to her. We do what we can to provide a nice home and things to do--we include her in most of what we do. But seriously, God forgive me, I can't help but ask, why?

Too busy to Blog?

Is it possible I'm losing interest in blogging already? After all, it has been a month. Or is it just that my life is an absolute chaotic blur? But then I ask myself, "How can that be? I only work part time, I have no kids at home, I don't do lunch with friends, I don't even have many friends, I don't watch TV, I don't cook to speak of, I don't exercise. What the heck am I doing with my life?"
I have been doing some reading--I'm finally allowing myself to do that--now that I'm in Bible Study again. I used to tell myself, I won't read for pleasure if I can't even find time to read the Bible. So now I am free to read, and of course when that happens, two or three hours go by in the blink of an eye!
It is the end of the year at work--which means tons of paperwork--my least favorite part of teaching, report cards, meetings, cleaning up the classroom--and my fantastic partner (Sarah) helps with all that. So once again, what is my problem?
I did move my sister to a different apartment on Saturday and part of Sunday. I'm still recovering from that! And I had lots of help!
Could it be I'm not as young as I used to be? I have apparently been fooling myself. Just the other day, some woman (no friend of mine, mind you!) asked me if I was Janet's mother. (My sister is two years younger--granted she has NO gray hair, but please!) That is the second or third time that has happened in the past couple of months. And then my little first graders wrote me birthday cards and suggested in their little notes that my age might be anywhere from 45 (those are my favorite students!) to 100!! Crap! That's it--I'm old!! Dang--I was hoping that wouldn't hit till I was at least 75 or 80!! I'd best get off my duff and start exercising!! Thank goodness Tuesday is the last day of school--no more excuses!! Maybe I'll even take a Yoga class. I heard someone say it's the fountain of youth!! And maybe I'll get back on the wagon of eating healthy. I was going great guns for about a month--then things seemed to get too busy. How could eating right take so much time? Furthermore, I may even start blogging more--that seems to be a young person's pastime. You'll be hearing more from me right after I get back from spending the day at Disneyland tomorrow!!

Summer

June 1 is definitely summer to me!! It was my dad's birthday, and the beginning of several summer birthdays in our family!! Today, the sun was shining--Grandpa and Tanner even went into the icy cold spa--for a few minutes anyway! We sat on the patio, savoring the warmth of the sun. The day was topped off with yogurt at Yogurtland. Yes, I am really ready for summer!