I'm still trying to figure all this out!! I can get to my google profile easily enough, but finding my way to "new post" has been trial and error. I will eventually figure it out.

So for Jacob, he has been staying with family for most of summer break so far... my first break since summer '10. He was supposed to stay with family until mid Aug, but nothing is ever cut and dry. So he is on his way back home as soon as this weekend. He is currently hanging out with his twin!

When he comes home, we are going to have some significant trials getting him placed into a day program while we work. That's the main reason why he was with family for the summer, it was free care! Trial number one, is going to be cost. I don't know how anyone is expected to pay for day to day living expenses, AND the care of a loved one and not starve to death in the process.

Trial number two is going to be hours... so far the centers I have found have 6a-6p as the hours they are open. I work some CRAZY hours that are often unpredictable. My love works part time, and goes to school part time, leaving more flexibility technically, but in reality, Jacob is very difficult to study with. He's not exactly quiet, will interrupt to literally say "hi", and has no concept of time. While my love is fully prepared to deal with this in theory.. what happens when reality hits?

I used to work 12 hour night shifts, and switched jobs in Jan. This was supposed to help all the "care" issues. So far, it hasn't helped much, but my psyche isn't so strained, so it IS better in the long run.

Trial number three is going to be having Jacob feel like he is part of the group once we find a day program that will assist him to keep using his brain, will keep him safe, and is close. He has been in a college program during the school year, and the summer has been more of a trial than we anticipated. We want him to maintain his skills, yet not sit in a day program with a bunch of 70 year olds staring at the wall. But he cannot be at home alone anymore... he almost burned down the house last summer. More on that next time...