The Normal Beaty Bunch: Pray4Beatys

Showing posts with label Pray4Beatys. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

The Devil made me do it!

Posted in adopted,confused,death,Father's love,Pray4Beatys,special needs | 1:21 PM | by SuperMomma

N seems to be doing 'ok' then his face gets cloudy, and he gets an angry/mean/confused look on his face. Sometimes he goes to sleep, sometimes he goes outside, or walks to the street - refusing to 'hear and obey' when we ask him to put the rock down, or come to the porch.

Today - we cleaned up lunch and he sat back beside me to work on schoolwork. He stopped, and got that strange look on his face. I drew a '?' on his paper - and he filled it up with details. Let me explain the picture (in the order he drew it - and as he shook his head yes to me guessing what he drew. He used no words through all of this)

He wants to run out the front door, and get hit by a car in the street. (in the middle of the page)

That would make him "RIP" . Here he is in a coffin in the ground with a "RIP" headstone. (above the middle)
I asked him how he got the idea to go into the street, and he drew the train on the right middle, with the evil laugh ("mewhaha"). He sees the nightmare trains when he is in bed at night (moon) and it scares him. (He's talked about these trains for a few days)

I asked if the trains are something he thinks about...his eyes panicked and he shook his head NO! I said do you see them on the ceiling? He shook his head YES YES YES!!

He drew that would make Mom and Sarah cry - and the Devil so happy. (on the bottom)

At the top - it would make God sad, and would break God's heart.

I took a second piece of paper - and drew a very strong God with 3 muscles on each arm (don't laugh!) and then the nightmare train - 'WEAK'. (Noah filled in the smoke!)

I drew the devil confused - with one weak muscle in each arm.

Noah drew the Adam and Even - in the garden - that made God sad. He drew the heart- that God loved Adam and Eve anyway.

Then, he went back to the first piece of paper and beside the question mark that I drew - he drew the Devil again. The devil is making him scared. He said he can hear the Devil.

I asked how I could help him. He wrote 'text Sarah'. Poor kiddo!

Monday, July 10, 2023

Such a short honeymoon

Posted in adopted,confused,Father's love,pray,Pray4Beatys,special needs,struggles,weary,Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee | 11:25 AM | by SuperMomma

S has been home just over a week. He was dropped on our doorstep at 1am Saturday morning (July 1). He was excited, scared, happy, sad, frightened, relieved, anxious, etc. Probably every feeling possible was in his little heart!

Saturday was a 'get to know you again' day and a Cornbelter's game. Sunday - CHURCH! We were all excited to have him back and to go to church together.

The first week was busy. S needed to get back into the routine of school. We do homeschooling all year around - so it was 'back to the grind'!

Also, B helped S do his job charts. I'm not sure either boy was excited about this partnership!! It did make the rest of us smile a LOT!

When the jobs were done, and the school (mostly) finished for the week, next was the traditional weekend movie night. S requested to watch 'The Chosen", so we did that plus a Disney movie!

THEN, the honeymoon ended! First, a couple of yelling fits (followed by a quick apology!)

Next, 'mr.sticky.fingers' came back. Silly stuff: a comb, some D-rings, soap, spray paint. He started going off on his own - (against his safety plan)...but always followed with 'I'm sorry. I'm trying, it's just hard."

THEN: I find a tablet in his room, hidden under his towel. "It didn't matter, no one was using it!" So, as we start to talk through his safety plan - and how there are rules to follow, I find another very disturbing situation!

We find the trim from the window in his bedroom. It was laying on the window sill. He pulled it off Saturday night - and we found out Sunday night.

The glass on the left side is now exposed. Andrew most likely will try to caulk it, just to keep the glass in and keep Samuel safe from getting cut (or cutting himself). Again "I'm sorry Mom & Dad. I wasn't in my right mind. I'm so sorry. I messed up. I goofed."

FRUSTRATING - the window is a special order size (it was clearance years ago when we bought it) so of course - between seeing RED and being so upset, we are seeing $$$$$$

Of course - true to form, he apologizes. And, I wonder how in the WORLD does God forgive me - when I sin, and apologize, and sin, and apologize, and sin, and.... over and over and over.

On a side note - big brother Joseph was AMAZING in talking to Samuel. My favorite part of all that - Joseph said "Samuel. You and I are a LOT alike. We are both very stubborn." (I'd like to end there - but I'll respect Joseph and continue) "We can use that stubborn spirit for bad stuff, or we can choose to use it for good! Being determined can be a blessing - so make good choices."

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Pet Therapy

Posted in adopted,anxiety,Beatys,hope,Pray4Beatys | 9:54 AM | by SuperMomma

This just made me laugh!! Oh how I needed to laugh today.

6:45 am - T is out of his room before he supposed to be -sets off the siren alarm. I think when he realized that I was SERIOUS about staying in his room - he tried to change his attitude. Let's hope it lasts all day!

9:30 am - N is awake (finally) and takes Cam outside - turns hose on and attempts to run away with Cam. He grabs a softball sized rock. Dad goes out the front door to the street, turns and sees Noah at the side of the house, pants around his kneed, peeing! Finally, Dad gets him back inside. and we struggle/wrestle to get a safety harness on him. (So glad no one watched that show!) I guess I'll have a sidekick attached to my hip all day!

FUN POSITIVES today - I got a text from an Eastview Pastor - saying they had set up some adults to talk a boy for a few hours thoughout the summer - to give us some respite! WOW! That's amazing.

A gal from the 'funding source' that is making Residential a possibility for S - called today to help figure out what other RTC would take Samuel. It felt like a small breath of fresh air!

Monday, June 5, 2023

Is it bedtime yet?

Posted in adopt,anxiety,Beatys,boys,confused,Father's love,Pray4Beatys,service dog,special needs | 8:33 PM | by SuperMomma

What a day it has been!

Started with finding out that J had been up most of the night in his room. (Good Job! on not coming out and waking everyone up!) He was up and down, lights on, lights off basically all night. He had to be exhausted. He had taken his bathrobe belt and made a noose with it. Don't ask why - that question never gets answered!

Today was the first day of our new school year. Overall, the kids listened well and seemed excited to start school.

N struggled in the afternoon. He left the house with his dog and no one knew! He was 'off' over 5 hours before we got him in bed.

A got to enjoy the dentist this afternoon, I think he may be rethinking his choice of avoiding brushing his teeth!!

B is hearing voices again, and they are getting louder. He is struggling, but our psychiatrist is out of the office!

J lost his mind tonight. He ON PURPOSE broke some wheels off of special light up cars. He did this just for fun and doesn't understand why he should get in trouble or pay to have them replaced. He also doesn't understand why he has consequences for telling Dad to 'SHUT UP', shoving the table across the room, or throwing books around!

T had a GREAT day! OH WAIT - CORRECTION!! Titus 'spray painted' the cameras in his room early in the morning - thinking I wouldn't notice. BUMMER - I did. GRRR. He is now supposed to be cleaning his room (it's 9:35 pm) But he's not~!

UPDATE: 10:40 T finally laid down. I don't know about him - but I AM EXHAUSTED!

Friday, June 2, 2023

If I want it - I take it

Posted in adopt,anxiety,cross,Father's love,Pray4Beatys,special needs | 9:41 AM | by SuperMomma

S is currently in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC). He is struggling, and is being transferred to a different placement, due to him not responding to the treatment in the RTC. Even though he KNOWS that he might be 'kicked out' - he just canNOT stop doing wrong things.

Last night I called S (as we talk almost every night).

The first gal answered and I asked for him. She stuttered and said "let me check."

The second gal ... sweet, quiet, innocent voice ... "See, we do med pass about 6:15 and then we have them sit quietly for 15 minutes. and we do room checks and It's nothing bad, and not supposed to have in his room it's all laid out so I want to talk to him about it before he walks in there..... 'WHAT? OH SAMUEL... What did he have?" ((again - sweet innocent voice)) Let me get the list.... Insert me SMACKING MY HEAD ON THE WALL Well... pens, a pencil, a screw - well, that's not a safe thing, toiletries I asked - did he have a comb? She said yes - ((He uses that to break the tines off and scratch himself)) So - I told her - No worries, I'll call back. You'll be much nicer to him than I want to be. Thanks!!

Later I called S back. Of course - he claimed the screw was given to him by a peer - so not his fault. The pens were his roommate's, so again - not his fault. I reminded him that he could have given the screw straight to a staff person, and not kept it. He acted surprised.

He had contraband in his room? AGAIN? I just don't get it....

He KNOWS they staff do room checks.

(He knows we have cameras in the house)

He KNOWS they will find things hidden in his room.

(He KNOWS we will watch the cameras)

He KNOWS there will be consequences.

(He KNOWS there will be consequences.)

He is SO SURPRISED!!

There HAS to be a disconnect in his brain between BEHAVIORS and CONSEQUENCES.

How in the WORLD can he understand the GRACE and FORGIVENESS of Jesus if there is such a disconnect between what he does, and what happens afterwards?

How can he ask for FORGIVENESS and ACCEPT that - if he doesn't know the difference between right and wrong?

I'm so thankful that GOD is the judge - not me!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

* * * * SHATTERED * * * * *

Posted in 4 Paws,adopted,Father's love,orphan,patience,Pray4Beatys,Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee | 7:47 PM | by SuperMomma

After school is hard work. Anyone with kiddos knows that transitioning home from school can really mess with the best!! Today was no exception....

But let me back up first. Before 8 am I got a message from a friend:

Wow - TRUE religion - is caring for orphans ... (and even those orphans who've been adopted!!)

Today was a busy day for us... a couple of meetings and then paperwork on top of that... so I said:

(I'm learning to ask for help! This took me about 10 minutes to ask!)

and she said ...

WOW! What a servant's heart! Thank you Jesus! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

I went on about my day - showered, fixed hair (even looked cute!), wore a new shirt, got some paperwork done. I was feeling pretty good about myself!

Our afternoon meeting was .... interesting. Concerned friends, checking in on us to make sure we are doing OK. "Your kids are a handful, they are getting worse. They are struggling, and life is going to get harder and harder for you two. More than just surviving, we want you to thrive. What can we do to make sure you're thriving?" They didn't have the answers, because there are NOT any easy answers, but they care - and they showed that!

Hurry home - kids get off of bus soon - then CHAOS begins! Titus first, then Noah, then Samuel. It was rough. Titus was crabby, Noah was angry. Samuel ... just meltdown material!

Daddy did an EXCELLENT job of calming Samuel (for the time being) and Noah and Titus went outside to play.

Our supper arrived, and I talk with my friend... THANKS so much for making our day just a little bit easier.

Now - we have a LOT of windows in our front room - which is really good to be able to keep an eye on our boys in the back yard.

BANG! BANG! BANG! Noah has a rock and he's hitting the window.

I quickly say Good Bye to Jena, and Andrew and I corral Noah and try to figure out what's going on. Maybe it was a rough day at school. Maybe his clothes don't feel right. Who knows, but we have to stop the banging.

Noah stops, and runs inside. Andrew looks at me, I look at him. We sigh. Survive...We just need to survive.....

CRACK!!!

WHAT was that NOISE?
WHOA...the window SHATTERED!!

...survive....just survive...

forget trying to THRIVE

Noah had his meltdown. Cam came to help

(although the screaming was loud and he hid his head in the pillows!)

Eventually, Noah calmed down and went to sit on the picnic bench and look at the window.

Noah sat on the picnic bench...and tried to process what happened. He doesn't know why he hit the window, he doesn't want to talk about it....

And then, the moment God spoke ...

"Karen. His life is shattered. He's a mess. All of the kids ... they are all shattered. They are not getting better.

Karen. I love Noah more than you do. I love all the kids more than you do. More than you can ever dream or imagine.

Karen. I called you to this. Don't just survive. THRIVE!"

Monday, November 7, 2016

Praise God for TummyAches!

Posted in 4 Paws,Pray4Beatys,service dog,Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee | 7:52 PM | by SuperMomma

Poor little Noah had a tummy ache after school.

He wanted to lay down.

He didn't want to play,

or RUN!

WHEW!

So, we read books to big sister on the phone.

He practiced some commands with Rana, one of our Service Dogs.

One of the things that both Rana and Camelot do to help the boys calm down is apply pressure. The dogs will either lay their head on the boy's lap, or put their whole body over the child. It has a unique calming effect on the boys.

Apparently Noah was feeling 'off' and he looked at Rana and said "Over!" She IMMEDIATELY put her head on his lap, and he handed her a treat!

Then, he'd move to a different position, and say "Rana! Over!" and she'd go right over to him and lay on him!!!

Samuel got jealous of all the affection Noah was getting from Rana - so he got some treats and did the same thing with Camelot. Cam was happy to practice- since he also got treats.

And poor Isabella ...
... She's so jealous
... that she isn't a service dog
... who gets treats
... all of the time.

And I'm thankful
for tummy aches
that keep little boys
from eloping!!

Guests for Sunday lunch?

Posted in 4 Paws,adopt,Pray4Beatys,Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee | 11:25 AM | by SuperMomma

You never know who will join us
for lunch
on any given Sunday
....
but really?

Bloomington Police?

Last Saturday, our Noah (almost 7 years old) eloped from our house and found that behind the houses at the end of our street there is a nifty little creek! I followed Noah - for almost 45 minutes - through leaves and fallen trees and actually, a very beautiful little forest. However, at the end of those 45 minutes, Noah fell in the deepest part of the water of this nifty little creek. Even thought it was only about 3 feet deep, and very cold - HE LOVED IT. (sigh)

Sunday morning, while I was getting ready for church, and Andrew was vacuuming, Noah sneaked over to the front door, moved the barricade, unlocked both locks, and RAN .... right back to the same spot he fell into the water the day before! I called 911 - but Andrew was able to grab him before he jumped in the water.

Noah came home - and we had Titus babysit Noah!

See the leash - Titus has the green end

and Noah has the yellow end on his arm!

Titus and Noah got tired of watching TV, and they ran outside to play in the back yard.

Right before lunch - while I was washing grapes & Titus was in the bathroom, Noah once again pushed the things away from the door - and RAN!!!! I was home alone at this point with Noah and Titus. So ... 911 has become my friend - and we talked again! Two officers came, and they, along with help of neighbors and family, were able to catch Noah!

YES - we have two locks on the front door, alarms on the door, and are even barricading the door when the boys are home.
YES - we are researching other options to keep that door locked.
YES - we are putting alarms on the windows.
YES - we are out of ideas.
YES - we are in contact with professionals to get more help and ideas!

Yes... We trust God to protect ... even in these situations ...

YES ... We still do all we can to STOP the eloping!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

My 5:15 AM view

Posted in Pray4Beatys,Too Early,Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee | 9:10 AM | by SuperMomma

Ah...the pitter patter of little feet

at 5 am in the morning

does NOT bring

warm fuzzy feelings.

3 half naked boys

2
(empty)
ice cream
cartons

1 VERY tired momma.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Sir Camelot is all OVER it!

Posted in 4 Paws,anxiety,Pray4Beatys,service dog | 7:29 PM | by SuperMomma

Meet 

Sir Camelot 

-

Service Dog 

Camelot has a lot of jobs in our family - but one of his main tasks is behavior disruption. When he 'senses' that one of the boys is about to have a meltdown, he is supposed to nuzzle them, lick them, snuggle them - to help them calm down.

Last week, Samuel (8 years old) was having a major meltdown/crying fit. Camelot RAN inside and started licking his face!!! Immediately, Samuel stopped crying and sat and started to hug Cam! Meltdown DISRUPTED!

Sometimes, we guide him to sit 'over' the boys - on their laps or over their whole body - when they are crying or anxious.

(Sometimes - we have a boy do an 'over' on Cam - like here with Noah and Cam)

Today, Elizabeth (our 16 year old) ran away again from her residential placement. Samuel is very distraught about this. He is scared, it's cold outside, and it's dark, and he is very worried about her. He has 'shut down' - not talking or responding much at all.

Samuel's job after supper is to feed Cam. Cam is VERY hungry - and wants to eat FAST. Tonight - he climbed onto Samuel's legs and laid his head down. A PERFECT example of the 'over' command. However, Cam seemed to be more worried about Samuel than he was about his food.

This is TWICE in one week that Cam 'did his job' without being guided to do it!! Thank you Jesus that the '4 Paws Magic' is starting to show itself in the Beaty house.

WAY TO GO CAMELOT!!!!!

fyi - we were in the MAY 2016 class.

The Normal Beaty Bunch