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Family Loss Update

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Sun, 09/03/2023 - 7:53pm

My grandma passed away last Saturday. She was surrounded by family and friends and passed as we said prayers, shared laughs, and shared what she meant to us. It could not have been a more perfect send off if we had planned it ourselves. It was very peaceful. Within minutes of her passing, I went outside to get some air. My grandparents live on a lake and the moon was pointing directly toward their house, the reflection illuminating the lake, creating almost a "stairway to Heaven." It was beautiful.

Family Loss & StepLife

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 5:02pm

It has been a rough week for the CastleJJ Family. My grandma has been suffering from several health conditions for several years and was diagnosed with cancer about 5 years ago. She was hospitalized last week and it has become clear after scans and testing that she is losing her battle. She has signed onto hospice and doctors don't believe she will last beyond 3 weeks. 

Email From BM

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Mon, 08/07/2023 - 7:15pm

SS returned to BM at the beginning of July, so it has been about 6 weeks since we have seen him. DH has been face timing SS twice per week, but SS has been mostly quiet, forcing DH to hold the conversation. SS is reluctant to share any part of his life at BM's with us, which I'm sure is part of his PAS programming. DH, DD18months, and I have been working hard to get back to "life as normal" without SS. We were considering going to BM land to visit SS over Labor Day weekend, but financially there is no way we could swing it.

UPDATE: SS11 and Pet Loss (Vent)

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Fri, 07/07/2023 - 9:46am

Sorry for the vent, but I am just baffled and a little pissed off. If you read my previous blog, you'll know that BM had to put down SS11's rabbit this week due to old age. SS is with us this week so it has been difficult to navigate that situation with the distance and allowing him to grieve and have proper closure. I think we have done a good job allowing SS to process his grief. We bought SS a memorial brick and mailed it to BMs. He got to pick it out and personalize it, which we feel gave him a sense of control in a powerless situation.

SS11 & Pet Loss

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Wed, 07/05/2023 - 10:54am

So I posted a blog at the end of May. SS11 is a proud pet owner to a rabbit. He has had this rabbit since he was 3 and it has lived a very long and happy life. SS has done a wonderful job taking care of his rabbit. At the end of May, BM warned DH that pick up would possibly be delayed for our first visit, as BM was at the emergency vet with the rabbit and things "didn't look good." Luckily, the rabbit had an abscess and DH's pickup occurred on time. SS was fine. 

A Shockingly Wonderful Week w/ SS11

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Fri, 06/23/2023 - 5:12pm

SS11 left today after a week with us. It was actually very pleasant and he wasn't an entitled, cocky asshole for any portion of the visit. I have no idea what happened or what was different. 

SS11 arrived last Saturday, ran through the door, and immediately ran to DD16months and started swinging her around and playing with her. He then ran up and gave me a huge hug. He was talkative and excited to be back, despite only being gone a week. 

What Do We Do?

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Thu, 06/08/2023 - 8:18pm

After we called SS11 out yesterday about his hypochondriac behavior and the Google search history about mosquito bites, SS improved significantly. He had an open and honest conversation about several different topics with DH and I and his behavior was polite and respectful. He was like a totally different kid. This morning, he woke up in a good mood, helped clean without being asked, and spent tons of time playing with and looking after DD. He was literally the perfect child... until BM and GF called tonight.

So Over Dealing with SS11 (VENT)

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Submitted by CastleJJ on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 12:01pm

SS11's behavior took a turn at the end of last week/beginning of this week. DH thinks SS got comfortable and now he is showing his true colors. He has been entitled, extremely cocky, challenging to authority, and views himself as an equal to adults. I was having a conversation with my Mom and SS felt inclined to interject and start poking fun at my Mom... No sir. DH has corrected him multiple times this week about butting out of other people's business, staying out of adult conversations, being respectful, etc.

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