The world we live in....

So most everyone already knows, but in case you didn't, Alan had a bit of a meltdown and spiral into a really awful place on friday, when he left the house and family. He had a terrible bipolar episode, and ended up admitting himself into the hopsital sunday morning. It was a really hard time for all of us. It was heartbreaking and stressful and just chaotic. I had no idea how long he would be there or what would happen next. I have the most amazing friends though who swooped in and made sure we were taken care of in the dinner department, and I am so thankful for them and their generosity. I was just really sad and lost for several days, and not having to take care of dinner was a blessing.

Thankfully Alan got the help he needed, was started on a few new meds that did a great job at getting him balanced, and was released Wed. night. He came home a much happier and well balanced man, and we were so thankful and happy to have the daddy we know and love back.

Of course there's never just a quick fix, there's still a long road ahead of us, he has to stick to these meds, and get into treatment once a week with a counselor, and we have lots to do for us and our family as well. One thing we are going to work on is him not having the job he has right now, which the Doctors have agreed is much too stressful for him and his disorder. We are hoping he can move up into a manager position at his current job, which would be the only way the company will buy back his route for what it is worth. So prayers are always appreciated for that!!

Alan also has some insecurity issues about the stigma that is attached to mental illness and biploar disorder. He worries that now that he has been admitted into a pysch ward and everyone knows that he went "crazy", that they will look at him differently, or treat him differently, and he will just become "the bipolar guy" when he is so much more than this disease. Which are valid fears, people are scared of what they don't understand. People don't like to talk about mental illnesses. But they are real, they are a part of some people's lives, and they aren't something to be ashamed of or swept under the rug. Alan is a charming, creative, amazingly intelligent man who just happens to have Biploar disorder that causes him to be someone he is not. He's been in a bad place for quite some time, and now with these new medications it's like he is a whole different person, all of the good qualities that he possesses and not the bad that come with his disorder. We are glad to have him back.

He had a bit of a stessful evening Wed. getting his prescriptions filled at 9pm wednesday night, but after that things went much smoother for him.

My little hippie girl.





Starla was so glad to have her daddy back, she made him play dollies and color for most of the morning, and wouldn't let him out of her sight....




Alan said he wanted to get his hair cut, so I called The Velvet Monkey and amazingly Estrella had a 10:30 appointment, so after we took the kids to school, off we went.

Before...




After...






After his haircut we got to go enjoy a nice lunch, just the two of us. It was a good afternoon.

taking time to smell the flowers. :)




Thursday was Bourbon's first middle school dance. He took his girlfiend of 3 weeks, Lori. He bought her 2 long stemmed roses. :) I didn't get any pics of him or the dance, sigh. Alan dropped him off and picked him up, and gave him the speech of how to be a gentleman and open doors and impress her. :) I guess I'm going to have to get Bourbon a camera so I can get pics of his middle school events, I don't suppose he would be very appreciative if momma followed him around to dances and such, snapping pictures, lol.


Thursday evening was Roman's school play. He has had the lead in the play for the last 4 years. Tonight it was a play called "Bones" and he played Sam, the custodian who accidentally knocked over a skeleton in a museum and had to figure out what bone was what and how they all went back together.





Yep, that's my son picking his seat on stage while speaking his part and everyone's eyes are on him.....



Grannie & Poppie came from Duncan to see the play, and Nanny & Aunt Jamie came to watch too. After the play we went to Steak & Shake to celebrate Roman's upcoming birthday!





Nanny got Roman an awesome MP4 player with games and lots of things to do on it!




The steak & shake crew sang happy birthday to Roman





Friday morning Daddy & Starla made breakfast......






we had a fun family evening as well. We picked up Roman just a bit early from school, picked Bourbon up then headed to the mall. We did a bit of shopping, then went to go see the brand new movie MegaMind (which was HILARIOUS!) with Lori & her daughter Mariah, in 3D and IMAX (and the price for a 3D IMAX movie for a family of 5 is highway robbery I tell you!!). After the movie we parted ways with Lori and went to Red Robin for dinner. It was a fun evening for all of us. :)

This morning Daddy had the great idea of going to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, of course the kids were all thrilled.....







Roman turns 10, double digits, on tuesday!! Where has the time gone?!?! Sigh. He wanted to have his birthday party at Andy Alligators this year, which meant he is having a VERY small party, lol. He was limited to 8 kids, including him & Bourbon, so he didn't get to invite everyone he would have liked to, but he was willing to make that sacrifice in order to have it there. We have never been there, so we are looking forward to it tonight. Starla is going to stay at Nanny's while we go there this evening. :)