It has been a very long time since I have added anything of substance to our blog.  Ya know, when so many things are hard and overwhelming it is difficult to share those times even with the people you trust and love.  You don't want to burden anyone with your issues and all that.  Well?  I have decided that I need to find a healthy outlet for my good times, my bad times and my so-so times. 

In September we went to court with Vosco.  It was decided that he would be transferred to another facility down in Cedar City, UT.  According to his judge this is his "last chance" or he will be ordered to secure confinement until he is 21.  He turned 17 on 25 September.  Four years.  Loooong time. 

We weren't happy with his old placement and felt that he was stagnating at best and digressing at worst.  We all were ready for a change.  We weren't thrilled with him being 4 hours away but if it was going to help we decided it would  be GRAND! 

Today we went to visit him for the first time since his placement.  Wow.  What a difference!  The facility is amazing.  The staff is very professional and they seem to really care for the boys in their care.  We met with his therapist for about an hour.  I really appreciate the way this therapist works.  He is blunt.  He is tuned into Vosco and his strengths and his weaknesses.  He is able to help Vosco see areas that need improvement in a way that doesn't belittle or berate him.

I think it was really good for the therapist to see us and get a feel for how we view our son.  He seemed truly impressed that we have no delusions where Vosco is concerned.  We want the best for him, we love him absolutely, we support him but we do not make excuses for his choices or behaviour.  We have always called him on his crap and called a spade a spade.  We were able to discuss his treatment goals and a realistic approach to helping him achieve those goals.  It felt SO good to work with a therapist that is GOOD at his job!

Vosco has court on January 9th and for the first time in months I feel confident that the judge will allow him to stay in the program because of his progress.  (Big cheer here is totally acceptable!!!!!)

After our therapy session we spent about three hours with Vos just playing games, hanging out and laughing!  It was wonderful.  I didn't realize the horrible stress I have been carrying until we were on our way home and I felt the release of that stress.  It is so nice to have hope again.

We know that the road ahead for Vos is a difficult one but it doesn't seem insurmountable anymore.  Our expectation is that Vosco will graduate from this program and transition into a community placement where he can  have some practical life experiences that his current placement won't allow.  We have accepted the fact that he will very likely never go to college and will need to find employment in a highly supervised environment.  He may be able to go through a trade school and that is wonderful.  He has always wanted to be a "Car Guy" and find a job that would fit that bill.  Of course, we will do whatever we can to help him get whatever education and training he needs to find success - it is just a different definition of success than we had as new, naive and idealistic parents.  Sometimes reality bites!

I am grateful for a loving family that stands beside me through thick and thin.  I have the best brothers and sisters in the universe.  Even amidst their own worries they find time to check in and do whatever they can to help us.  I don't know what I would do without them. 

That's all for now.  I will write more about things like Choir Tour last summer at a later date. 

Chicken Pesto Pizza

by Edye A. Isaacson-Wagstaff on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12:07pm

2 Chicken breasts, cut in 1-1/2" cubes

2 Cloves Garlic, Chopped.

2 Sweet White onions, Chopped

2 T Olive Oil

2/3 Cup Sour Cream (I use Fat Free)

2/3 Cup Basil Pesto

1 Cup Mexican Blend Grated Cheese

2 Pizza crusts (refrigerated - but I prefer to make my own when time permits)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Press crusts into ONE 1/2 Sheet Pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Meanwhile, Brown meat. At end of browning, add garlic and cook till fragrant. In separate pan, add olive oil and cook onions over med-lo heat until caramelized. (About 10-15 minutes)

Combine Sour Cream and Pesto. Spread over top of pizza crust. Spread Chicken and onions evenly over the sauce. Sprinkle with Cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 additional minutes or until edges of crust are golden.

Marching into Spring. I hope.

I have entered the world of the iPhone. I LOVE THAT WORLD! I have an LDS Scripture application that has all the scriptures, General Conference talks for the last two years, manuals, hymnals and a bunch of other stuff that make me smile. The best part is that I can LISTEN to my scriptures instead of just reading them! LOVE IT!

We just finished a wonderful recording session with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Recording session week is long, tiring and wonderful all at the same time. The CD that will be released next year is going to be wonderful. Some gorgeous, uplifting and thought provoking pieces.

We are going to Nauvoo again in just over a week. My topic is difficult for me this year. "Standing for Truth and Righteousness while Maintaining and Building Tolerance and Love for ALL Men." There is a plethora of information out there. It is just finding the best way to present it all that seems to be a daunting task. One thing is certain, I have read, pondered and prayed SOOO much that there MUST be some worthwhile information absorbed into that thing I call a brain. It has always been in my heart. Getting it out with crystal clear clarity is the challenge I am facing.

We are driving out to Nauvoo instead of flying. If any of you wonderful people out there have any suggestions of good places to go or stay, please enlighten me! It is kind of a long drive. 21 hours or so. We would like to make it in two and a half or three day on the way out and then two days to come home. ANY suggestions are welcome.

Wow, it has almost been a year!

There is just so much I haven't included in the blog, I am just going to start over! I have decided that this needs to be like a "journal" and actually KEEP it!

My son is still in a group home. Ruby is in 5th grade and on a Ballroom Dance Team. Reed is still working for the LDS Church. I am still in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I am teaching private voice lessons and that is my only job. Well, my only job besides that of Mom and Wife.

We are trying to figure out a way for the three of us to go to Nauvoo in March. Can't afford to fly - we are actually thinking of driving. I can't imagine how many DVD's we are going to have to bring! My topic for this year is "Standing for Truth and Righteousness while maintaining tolerance and love for ALL men." Should be a good talk!

Reed and I are very concerned about our son. He just isn't progressing as quickly as he should. We are concerned that if he doesn't get his act together they will put him in a Secure Unit. His next court appearance is in May. We are praying that he can progress sufficiently to keep him from being moved from his current placement.

We almost lost him in November. He didn't complain loud enough about pain he was experiencing so by the time he was taken to the hospital over 75% of his left kidney was involved in infection. He was just hours from losing the kidney and possibly going septic. He was in the hospital for 12 days, had to have a PICC line and looked like death. Gratefully, he is getting better. His kidney still isn't functioning at 100% but we are seeing improvement.

Ruby had her first team meet and she received a Silver Medal! It was so much fun to see her dancing like that! Her dance was the Cha Cha.... you should have seen her shake that Bootay! Reed and I actually got scared! In only 6 more years she will be old enough to date and I know how boys think. We may actually have to get a gun. :-)