Nothing helpful but to say love and good thoughts to you all.

It's been a banner week in bunnyland.
Breathe, especially now that you have the space to.

Many thanks. We're all holding up pretty well. It's hardest on her kids, of course. They know that they and their mom are loved by lots of folks, which helps.

I thought about joining Specklet's dry thread, as my friend is suffering through harsh DTs. But dammit, the friend is being comforted by ativan. I'm going to enjoy some moderate amounts of tequila while the kids are all away.

But have you ordered from the seed catalogs? Looks like you're in USDA hardiness zone 6b. Time to get started at the new place on the Arkansas Gardening Calendar.

If dealing with people in detox, i'd take a klonopin at least.
i'm going to lie under water for a while and then soak in a deep unconsciousness.
Whatever gives you the most restoration is next on your menu, so order.

lilywing, you have my good thoughts.

paulsc, WTF?

Specklet, paulsc is referring to where I'm going to be moving to in a few months and my future garden. And the fact that I won't be living in a completely insane apartment complex. It's ok. (I think that's what he means, anyway.)

ethylene, I'm dealing with the kids, but mostly staying clear of the hospital. Tequila and a handsome naked man are on my weekend agenda. Maybe some of that smokable stuff, too. Enjoy your soak and sleep.

Why are you people not in irc?

Oh! I gotcha! I was so confused! Sorry, paulsc.

Seeds are like good therapy. I am moving in with occhiblu and we are going to have a little garden! Although I think in San Francisco I will be lucky to grow a little basil and a tomato or two.

mmm... basil and tomatoes are yummy.
Thanks to all that peeked into IRC.
Happy garden thoughts to ikkyu2 and occhiblu!
(I'm going to include basil and tomatoes, for certain!)

It's just been a challenging week. I appreciate the encouragement. Seems to be my dharma to take on such scenarios, and I have some experience in helping the youngsters and knowing my own limits.

Thank you all again. It helps. Really.

p.s. If anyone has personally known someone who's gone through alcohol detox (as in the bad painful version), please email me (should be in the profile). I'd appreciate the advice, both positive and negative. There are a few folks who are happy to go to meetings with this gal, including me. She's a stubborn one.

Love to you all. Thank you yet again.

I have left out the fact that my guy has been so completely wonderful, too. I can't even explain how great he's been with all this, especially after having been busting his butt on our future home. I brought home a half dozen roses to him on V-day. A complete surprise, and he says no one has ever got him roses before. :-) I just wanted to surprise him. It worked.

Also, my friend's kids have been as looked after as well as we all can manage. Haven't been just fed, warm, clothed. These kids have earned more efforts than that. I'm happy to be their "aunt."

Please don't read any self-pity into it all. I miss my routine and my mecha folks. The call for advice is because I'm an only child with mostly healthy parents and relatively low drama. Any advice for helping my friend's kids is a prioriti.

Thanks again to the emails I've received.
Oh man, you MeChazens rule. I'd have been lost, really.
If there weren't kids involved, I certainly would have kept any drama to myself.

You are all fabulous aunts and uncles, whether you know it or not.

ps... teenaged boys are stinky. I know it's the testosterone thing, BUT... any advice for that is appreciated, too. :-)

Teenaged boys suck, true, and I have yet to find any basic way to deal with them too. Especially ones you didn't give birth to. They will have days when you actually like them, believe it or not. Plus he's going through a lot right now, and may not handle that so well. Teens often withdraw into themselves when faced with family drama. So I'd just suggest consistency, kindness, and a bit of space. You're a peach for doing this!

Lilywing, you're a good neighbor and friend for helping out. I haven't had a personal experience with detox, but I've had many a patient with DT's. It can be very rough, and I'm sure even a tougher battle to stay off the drink. You're a good person for supporting your friend and offering to go to meetings. The best of health to her, and a relaxing weekend for you.

Yeah, teenaged boys suck. Teenaged boys on psychoactive medications? Probably worse.

My mom told me that she wanted to bury me up to my neck in the backyard until I was 18 because I was such a pain. Stupid hormones, stupid ADD.

I would personally recommend the burying thing. But you probably won't be able to do that given that the ground is most like frozen. :/

Good luck with everything. I hope you know how awesome you are.

You're an awesome friend, lilywing. Definitely take some time out for yourself.

We haven't met, lilywing. I was gone quite a while.

I sincerely hope that your friend has other resources for help with her kids, because she's in for a long haul. You, as her "kid backup" need a backup.

What redvixen said: "consistency, kindness, and a bit of space", is spot on.

Also spot on is the observation that you're a peach. Dream of green, and look forward to a summer in the garden in bean-green shade.

Pizza delivery.

That's my advice for handling a teenager, psychotrophic drugs or not.

That, and let him tell fart jokes.

gosh, I thought boys were easier than girls in the teenage years. I have two boys, I can dream can't I?

Lots of kind words and thoughts here. :-)

Last night, I really needed to vent, but couldn't say anything where the kids could hear. I didn't intend to dump it all here.

Here's the latest update, for those keeping score at home. :-)

The older boy is going to stay with his dad for the duration (we aren't sure if the neighbor friend is going to be going to rehab or what once she gets out of the hospital). He's in an apartment across the street, so not far from his sister. He's lived there before, so it's not too strange for him.

His sister is spending the weekend with another family friend who has a ton of fun stuff planned, like going to the local Mardi Gras parade tomorrow. Our kids aren't having school on Monday, so she'll stay with the friend until Monday afternoon. Monday is when my two kids are coming back from their dad's, too. I do have backup, and as long as I can send the little gal out for a weekend here and there, I can look after her pretty indefinitely. Or until her grandparents or some government agency gets involved, which seems unlikely for the time being.

I wouldn't be at the computer now except that my guy is at work. We have definite plans to relax and play for the weekend.

I can't say thank you often enough. You're a wonderful bunch of people.