NewLife25's Journal

It's been a really long day so far, and it's not even 2 o'clock yet!  Let's see...

Took my son for his 6 month early intervention evaluation.  This is where we say that yes, he still needs services for speech and EI (mostly for attention span, learning to interact with others, etc) but I found myself getting defensive, probably cause I was running late and didn't get a chance for breakfast and/or my morning Bible and cigarette time.  But he will keep getting services, and when he turns 3 in September, he'll start a school program which will offer FREE childcare from like 8-2, and they'll bus him both ways for me, and if I need them to, drop him off at daycare afterwards.  He'll be in a class of other speech-delayed kids with a preschool teacher specializing in speech delays, so that should be really great.  I'm requesting a less-structured program.  He is incredibly intelligent (can take apart "childproof" locks, do puzzles for much older kids, problem solve, get into things, etc etc) just not yet talking. I'm not worried, because I know how smart he is, and I know I didn't talk till 3 (I'm in Honors program at university and taking dual majors and two minors) and my mom didn't talk till 3.5 (she's got a PhD) so I know speech-delay does not necessarily equal retarded.  Sadly, many many many many many people with no medical degree love to "diagnose" my kid as autistic - at least once a month.  When he mention how smart he is, they make some Rainman comment.  Heartless, inconsiderate, rude.  Maybe they're just concerned, but still they should trust me and the experts (I have him tested for it every 6 months after all) and keep their home-grown diagnosis to themselves.

Then we went to the Womens' Center for an employability orientation.  This meant having my by now thoroughly bored and tired 2-year-old strapped in his stroller for two and a half hours in a room full of jobless women.  Not ideal at all.  

Called about twenty places for help with emergency rent assistance, food, clothes (for interviews, also my son is outgrowing his shoes and only has about 4 shirts and the washer is broken where we are staying and I don't have laundromat money), dental, etc. etc. etc. Then I get in and the landlord has decided I have to be out by Wednesday (the 14th) even though he originally said I could stay through May as long as I paid rent by the 15th.  I've paid part of it and only owe him an additional $210.  Nothing till Monday and I can't go then because....

Monday I have court for my marijuana possession charge.  I spoke to the detective I've been working with (buying drugs for the police - scary) and I'm going to be getting something called Pre-Trial Intervention, which means I have to complete a drug program, pee in a cup a lot (I'm clean, haven't smoked since arrest) and after that the conviction will be dropped.  I'll still need to hire (read: pay for) an attorney to get the arrest taken off my record, and this isn't exactly helping the job search.

Tuesday we meet with my son's early interventionist (I like her) at 9 and then our case manager at 11.  He'll take me to Wal-Mart to buy diapers, and as long as the evil landlord is willing to sign something saying he won't kick me out till the end of May, they'll give him the remainder of this month's rent money.   Somehow I doubt he'll be willing but since we're working with child services they will find SOMEWHERE for me to live.  It just sucks trying to raise a child in such an unstable environment.

Wednesday I meet my Women's Center counselor in the morning and she'll try to get me a job, look over my resumes, etc. because on....

Thursday I'm going to a job fair, after I meet with someone from the drug program I'm completing to get the charges dealt with 

Friday I get to drag my kid along with me to a 2+ hours mental health assessment and (hopefully) I'll get medications which I haven't had since my medicaid randomly shut off.  I've been out of alllllll my scripts for over a month now, and quit smoking weed, so this is a very not good state of mind I'm in at the moment.  Had one b/p earlier this week the day I broke up with boyfriend for being an absentee-asshole while I was going through all of this. 

This has all been since my mom kicked me and son out April 3rd because I told her I wanted to get treatment for my eating disorder.  Then I got arrested on April 11th for having marijuana in the car (we were living in) with my son.  Can anyone say "self-medicating"?????

STRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!