Re: Re: Just heard from :)!!!!

March 12, 2012

Thanks so much, , Kari, and everyone on the list. I can not begin to

express my gratitude and appreciation to you all! You have helped me through

what has probably been the most difficult months of my life, and from the bottom

of my heart I can not thank you enough. I honestly do not know how I would have

survived to this point without you all!

I will keep thinking of you all and remembering your words of wisdom and

encouragement as I endure the next few days, it will surely be a lifesaver for

me!

Big group hug!

> ,

>

> Keep in mind tomorrow that there are lots and lots of us all around the

country keeping our fingers crossed for a smooth trip and thinking of you.

>

> > Thanks SO much Judy for all the great info! How funny about the Goodwill

store, I will definitely be hitting that up! I took your suggestion and reserved

a room at the Staybridge Suites, what a great deal!

> > That's good to know about the phone hours, I tried finding a Tracfone with

no camera, but no luck, so I got a " go phone " by AT & T, which seems fine.

> >

> > These next few days are going to be so scary and stressful, I just pray that

we all come out of it in one piece!

> >

> > I have a funny feeling that my son knows he is going. A few months ago, his

psychiatrist slipped up during a session with him and mentioned that he was on

the 's wait list. I found this out on the ride home when my son brought it

up, so I just sloughed it off and didn't say much about it and he didn't

question any further and never brought it up again. This is VERY unusual for

him, even in the state he is in now.

> >

> > The other day from 's called while I was driving in the car with

my son. I didn't say much back to her because he was there, but I said " okay,

, thanks, I hope it all goes smoothly. " Now, my son would normally have

given me the 3rd degree... who's , what does she want, what were you

talking about, etc., He did not say one word at all.

> >

> > So we'll see how it all goes tomorrow. I'll try to post to the list as soon

as I'm able with an update.

> >

> >> My daughter is at now. The actual telephone times (they have a

written schedule that lists more times, but we have never been able to talk to

her during the other times listed) are from 7:30 - 9:00 pm, and you can purchase

a cell phone (recommended) for your son from Wallmart (a tracfone) that is

inexpensive and DOES NOT have access to the internet. They will give him the

telephone if he requests it during the phoning hours. I have found the evening

calls useful because my daughter will share things with me about her disease

that she will not share with her therapy team, and I will pass it on. This is

not the best: it would be better if she trusted her team more, but it is the way

it is. On a good night we will talk for 30 seconds because she wants to go to

watch American Idol with the other teens! I think it is a comfort to know that

she CAN call, even if she doesn't want to talk long.

> >>

> >> They will limit visits for the first couple of weeks, and many of the teens

come from far away so if you are unable to visit frequently, your son will not

be alone.

> >>

> >> Things to do:

> >> The Goodwill in Oconomowoc is the BEST.

> >>

> >> The Kmart is convenient for buying shampoo and other things he might like.

> >> Milwaukee has the best art museum.

> >> Madison has an awesome street from the Capitol to the University of

Wisconsin where there are little stores and coffee shops.

> >> Downtown Oconomowoc is adorable and there is a great comic book shop that

your son might like. Really great ice cream store, too, that sells gelato.

> >>

> >> Yes, take some time to spoil yourself. You'll need the energy for when he

returns home!

> >>

> >> Take care!

> >>

> >> Judy

> >>

> >> Judy Hawkinson

> >> judyhawkinson@...

> >>

> >> cell:

> >>

March 12, 2012