tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55503592011-11-17T11:44:22.092-06:00Bipolar SupportThe struggles and accomplishments of our young adult bipolar son, Kyle.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-75359378043843998632008-08-18T23:08:00.001-05:002008-08-18T23:08:31.200-05:00Final ThoughtsMy wife used to say that our kids were a stable of thoroughbreds. We had 4 magnificent stallions and a unicorn. The unicorn was beautiful, magical, and enhanced the lives of anyone crossing his path. He was creative and brilliant. He taught us about true forgiveness. He taught us to love unconditionally and not to judge. He taught us to laugh and have fun under any circumstance. Over the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-59098620460809059662008-08-14T22:56:00.001-05:002008-08-14T23:53:08.760-05:00We'll Miss You KyleOur son Kyle has left us, he was killed today in an accident in our home. He was 24 years old.While Kyle suffered terribly at times, he also lived life to the fullest, and loved more deeply than words could describe. My wife used to say, "he was a unicorn in a stable of thoroughbreds." I'm going to miss you, kid.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-38351410993680901162008-01-27T20:37:00.000-06:002008-01-27T20:45:38.879-06:00CorrectionI was pretty negative on my recent post. Kyle is trying, he really is. He's just fighting demons stronger than any I've known. I don't want to give the impression he's not trying. He'll get a handle on those demons long enough to make some positive changes, I know he will.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-86376437791784110882008-01-14T00:17:00.000-06:002008-01-14T01:19:34.152-06:00Another Year Has PassedJon (GJ) here with a yearly update.Accomplishments:We got Kyle assistance. Got his hospital bills paid. Got him food stamps (which he's trading for drugs). Got him medical and psychiatric care including prescription care. He is taking Lamictal, Risperdal, and another I'm not familiar with for anxiety. We got his first Disability rejection (which was expected, nobody makes it on the first Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1165677993619725982006-12-09T08:50:00.000-06:002006-12-09T09:26:33.650-06:00Checking InIt's been almost a year since the last update, but things have been fairly quiet.Kyle has just gotten a job, and we're very proud of him. He's working for a major retailer, seasonal help, but he's hoping they'll keep him on after the holidays. He passed his drug test and his background test, and that made him feel good. That made Karen and I feel good, also. He says he's not drinking or usingJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1140964388909330282006-02-26T08:00:00.000-06:002007-07-12T05:25:24.688-05:00ParentingAny parent of a child with personality challenges such as bipolar disorder has heard it a million times: "Be tough with him", or "show him who's boss", or "if he doesn't follow the rules, throw him out". It's so frustrating because we're not dealing with an average child. Our son Kyle is not trying to make our life difficult, he's trying to merely get by in his life. Karen and I went to a Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1139413374242441262006-02-08T09:30:00.000-06:002006-02-08T09:42:54.346-06:00Kyle Is WorkingKyle has a job again, and the change in him is remarkable. This happens whenever he gets a job, his confidence returns, he gets more productive in his day to day life, and he is just a different person. This shows me that disability is most likely a huge mistake for him. In fact, I can see how disability could be a huge mistake for most people in his situation. Please don’t misunderstand thisJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1137731375603838752006-01-19T22:29:00.000-06:002006-02-01T22:44:59.103-06:00Kyle came home yesterday, he was gone 6 days. He was home when Karen got home from work, acting like nothing had happened. We sat him down that evening, and told him he was an adult, and could do what he wanted to do, but he needs to consider the people who love him when he disappears. He seemed genuinely surprised that we cared, and that he had us worried. So, it's life as normal. I never Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1137609863739259262006-01-18T12:44:00.000-06:002006-02-01T22:49:06.436-06:00Heard From KyleThanks to all for leaving comments, and sending emails to us. It means a lot to Karen and myself. I have a hard time responding to comments, as blogger is blocked by my employer, and I have so little time at home between both jobs. But I get your emails, and your comments also come by email, so it's much appreciated. At least I'm able to post using Gmail.Evidently Kyle has been staying withJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1137517724863827702006-01-17T11:08:00.000-06:002006-03-09T23:49:54.120-06:00Kyle UpdateOur 21 year old bipolar son, Kyle, has been gone now since Thursday night - Friday morning. This isn't unusual, when things get too stressful for him, he disappears. We assume he goes on a bender, and usually comes back after 2 or 3 days. But he's not usually gone this long. We're a little concerned.His girlfriend has been calling several times a day, she is very worried. She got some very mean Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1136577609617392262006-01-06T13:59:00.000-06:002006-02-01T22:53:42.650-06:00OK folks, I'm looking for answers here, and I have a feeling there's some experts out there. So if you could leave comments after this post, it would be MUCH appreciated.We want to get Kyle (now 21) started on Social Security disability. He refuses to go along with it, for several reasons. So, I'm addressing his concerns.First, if (when) he's approved, what if he decides to try to work again?Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1136398084849595612006-01-04T11:51:00.000-06:002006-02-01T22:57:39.226-06:00Just a quick update. Things aren't good, but they're not bad, either. Kyle's not taking his meds, and not going for counseling. He's not looking for work. He doesn't seem depressed, however. He stays up all night, and sleeps all day, and spends all his time in his bedroom. His girlfriend is over whenever she's not working. This is the same girlfriend we got a court order against a while Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1135435784979625922005-12-24T08:48:00.000-06:002006-02-27T17:03:27.376-06:00It's Christmas, how's everyone doing? Attitudes good?In our house Kyle has NOT been doing well. He is not working, so has no money for Christmas. He has no transportation to get anywhere, and I doubt his girlfriend will take him to sell plasma for gifts (it's rumored he's done this before). And he is SUCH a generous person it really hurts him when he can't give the way he'd like to give. No Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1134882515384222472005-12-17T23:07:00.000-06:002005-12-17T23:08:35.396-06:00I don't know whether to be embarassed or amused.In addition to my career, I work a part time job as a front-end supervisor for a major national retailer. I was training a new kid the other day. He graduated last year from the same high school my kids attend(ed). When we had a break in the action, I chatted with him. I asked if he knew my youngest boy, a senior this year. He was a year older Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1134833047642441572005-12-17T09:22:00.000-06:002005-12-17T09:24:07.660-06:00Had a chance to sit down with Kyle last night. He tried to justify missing his counseling appointment by saying the counselor is an idiot. We've heard this about every professional we've ever taken him to. He gave an example of saying he can't sleep. The counselor says, in an excruciatingly slow voice, "Many people with your condition suffer from this. You might try, um, say, reading a book?Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1134712653361462002005-12-15T23:56:00.000-06:002005-12-15T23:58:54.750-06:00Well, it's been how long? Three weeks since we've had an issue with my 21 year old son Kyle? That's as much as we can expect.Today he had a counselling appointment. His grandmother was coming over to pick him up at 2:30 PM. Late enough for him to be a typical bipolar and stay up all night, and still get some sleep. But this morning he's not here. Grandma comes over, he's not here. Throughout the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1133243156555557282005-11-28T23:43:00.000-06:002005-12-26T13:42:20.520-06:00I couldn't give many details earlier today about Kyle's day, so I'll try to catch up.First of all, he was able to sleep last night. Kyle really doesn't sleep much, if at all. I suspect it was the Seroquel, it did the same thing to me. But today he got so manic he had to leave. His heart was racing, he couldn't concentrate, he felt caged. He witnessed an epileptic seizure. He then saw a Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1133204961090920262005-11-28T12:34:00.000-06:002005-11-28T13:09:21.153-06:00Kyle walked out of treatment today. They gave him Seroquel and Depakote, and one of them made him so manic he had to leave. He said his heart was racing, he couldn't sit still or concentrate, and he had to get out of there. So he walked out. I can't get him to go back. This isn't good, because he now feels depressed, and like a failure.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1133157241196741492005-11-27T23:28:00.000-06:002005-12-26T13:43:14.010-06:00Kyle called today and talked to Karen, as I was at work. He had his first psych consult, and guess what? Manic Depression. Finally a diagnosis that makes sense. I don't know if he's BP 1 or 2, Karen didn't think to ask him. They prescribed 2 things, Seroquel and one other. I think that's great for him, I didn't feel like drinking at ALL when I was on Seroquel. They impressed on him how Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1133107229838697432005-11-27T09:53:00.000-06:002005-11-27T10:00:29.856-06:00Yesterday I was outside trying to get Christmas lights up, and the trash collectors came. Someone else had taken the cans to the curb, and when they dumped them I heard the unmistakable sound of numerous bottles being dumped. I knew immediately that my 21 year old bipolar son, Kyle, was drinking again. I don't know how many beer bottles were in the trash, but I'd guess 20 or so. It made a lotJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1132002011193943392005-11-14T14:59:00.000-06:002007-07-12T05:24:49.772-05:00Better news? At least we hope so.Kyle (my 21 year old bipolar son) called my wife yesterday, and asked to come home. He said he stopped drinking, and would follow our rules. We of course, welcomed him home. He is job hunting, and asked not to do inpatient treatment. He said he'd do outpatient, or AA, or whatever else we asked, including psych treatment. We were excited to hear this.But lastJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1131741625955245132005-11-11T14:36:00.000-06:002005-11-11T14:45:55.613-06:00After a couple weeks of relative normalcy, things are sliding quickly with Kyle. Not his health, he's almost fully recovered from his attack. I don't want anyone to think badly of him, he's a wonderful kid, fun to be around, brilliant, witty, creative. But with ALL the baggage of a young person with serious bipolar disorder. He has always drank to excess. Well, he's taken it to a new level.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1130347489772571632005-10-26T12:19:00.000-05:002005-12-26T13:43:38.760-06:00I don't have time for a full update but I've gotten some emails concerned about Kyle, and we really appreciate that.Kyle is OK, his recent injuries are not life threatening. He is looking 90% normal. He just got his hair cut and you now see the stitches on his head where they opened him up to put in his plates, and it's a grim reminder of how lucky he was.He has moved all his stuff out of his Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1128704059368170402005-10-07T11:35:00.000-05:002005-12-26T13:44:15.093-06:00Karen and I went to a NAMI meeting last night. After hearing some of the issues parents are having with schizophrenic kids, I walked away feeling pretty lucky. But we walked away with a fundamental disagreement about Kyle's future. We learned about medicaid, SSI, and disability. Karen wants to immediately start the public assistance process for Kyle. I disagree, I feel once he's on the booksJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1128484055128379682005-10-04T22:39:00.000-05:002005-10-04T22:47:35.133-05:00Kyle isn't spending much time around here any more. He's going crazy, and wants to be back in his apartment. We know he's still drinking, we found evidence around here. That, combined with his pain meds is NOT a good idea, but we haven't seen him in a few days now. He stays at his apartment at night, and we think comes home (our home) during the day to eat and use the computer. I don't mind Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1128084073876957612005-09-30T07:37:00.000-05:002005-09-30T13:50:52.966-05:00(You may not be able to see the above picture - blogger images don't pass through some firewalls)I'm not trying to offend ayone, and I hope this isn't too graphic. But I want to show that this isn't just a schoolyard whipping.No charges will be filed, the prosecuter doesn't think there's enough evidence to build a case, given the witnesses on both sides.So, another lesson learned, and we move on.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1127837566811296192005-09-27T11:11:00.000-05:002005-09-27T11:12:46.816-05:00Kyle goes in for surgery this afternoon to put a metal plate in his forehead. While this is a routine surgery for the docs, it's pretty stressful for our family. Any prayers would be appreciated.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1127795183014959262005-09-26T23:01:00.000-05:002005-09-26T23:26:23.070-05:00Update on Kyle.He's still in the hospital. They are likely going to have to do surgery to fix the caved-in area in his forehead. He has some bloody drainage into his sinuses, no doubt from that fracture there. It appears he'll dodge the broken jaw surgery. He's still very sore, but he was able to eat some mashed potatos today, so they think they can spare him that surgery.The father of the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1127668931389013522005-09-25T11:49:00.000-05:002005-09-26T22:02:49.273-05:00When the phone rings at 3:00 AM, a parent loses a few years of their life. It's never good news, the best you can hope for is a wrong number. At 3:00 AM Sunday morning, our phone rang - it was Kyle's girlfriend. He had been severely beaten by some people they tried to kick out of their apartment. They were taking him to the hospital. We met them there, and after X-Rays and CAT scans, it was Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1126200878108746072005-09-08T12:14:00.000-05:002005-09-08T12:34:38.163-05:00Jon here, with an update. Really not much to report. Kyle is still living on his own. He's still not working, although he is making as much of an effort to apply for jobs as he can. He was over to the house about 2 weeks ago, and I pulled up a website for him to apply for a job. I know he wanted this job, it was customer service for a major cable TV and internet provider. I got him started, Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1119643208027817972005-06-24T14:59:00.000-05:002005-06-24T22:28:11.966-05:00Kyle is doing great, relatively speaking. He was over for father's day, and brought me a wonderful gift. 2 concert DVDs. An Austin City Limits performance by Stevie Ray Vaughan (which, by the way, is incredible!), and a country based gospel performance by many great performers. I haven't had time to watch the second one yet. He is absolutely the most thoughtful and considerate kid. To buy them heJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1115151503607443872005-05-03T14:08:00.000-05:002005-05-03T15:18:23.610-05:00Jon here.What can I say? It's been a year. In some ways it's been better, in other ways worse. I have tried walking away from blogging, and it's helped my wife and I keep a more positive attitude about Kyle. And issues have changed, he's changed, and we've changed. But issues remain.First the good news. Kyle got a job, and moved out of the house a few months ago. He moved in with a couple of goodJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1079993006232351442004-03-22T16:03:00.000-06:002004-03-22T16:05:54.700-06:00Jon here, for a long overdue update.
I apologize to the new friends we've made from this blog, but this has just become too much of an effort to update regularly. Too little return for the emotional energy expended to write this. It's not therapeutic, it's just painful. But that being said, we'll try to check in from time to time.
Kyle's feet are healing better than the doctors hoped they Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1075956848600177682004-02-04T22:54:00.000-06:002004-02-04T22:55:49.560-06:00Jon back for an update on Kyle.
His feet are not good. It's like he got a terrible burn. His toes blistered up, and are now turning into nasty looking sores. They look so painful, but Kyle says he's really not in much pain, as he still can't feel his feet. I really feel sorry for him. He will lose quite a bit of tissue, and maybe still a toe or two, and he does appear to have permanent Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1075416931347800442004-01-29T16:55:00.000-06:002004-01-29T16:57:06.076-06:00Jon here again. Thanks for the notes of encouragement. I have really been down lately, and I've realized that I'm stuck on myself. I sometimes have a hard time remembering that it's all about the family, not me, and Kyle is one of the family. I was expressing my frustrations, but the bottom line, a part of our family has been hurt. That affects us all.
While Kyle probably could have takenJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1075266088452019682004-01-27T23:01:00.000-06:002004-01-28T06:53:32.623-06:00Jon here.
I thought I was completely done with this stuff, just looking forward to the future. This all changed last week.
Kyle had been coming back off and on, and Karen let him stay one night. Then a few days later, she let him stay another night. The second time, she said he wanted to go to the Army recruiter's office the next day. I had my doubts that would happen, but told Karen to Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1071680015546880822003-12-17T10:53:00.000-06:002003-12-17T10:54:27.483-06:00Jon here today.
Karen and I talked last night, and we feel it’s time to wrap this up.
We talked about how we have 5 wonderful children, yet one of those children seems to take 75% of our time. This child dominates our thoughts, worries, and available time. Why have we allowed this child to consume so much of our lives, and so much of the time our other children deserve?
We have accomplished Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1071599226630819322003-12-16T12:27:00.000-06:002003-12-16T12:27:57.996-06:00Jon back today.
Yesterday’s story doesn’t end.
Yesterday, after finding Kyle in the house and removing him, I went back to work. He actually went BACK IN the house, and took my watch, took our youngest son’s bracelets, including several WWJD bracelets, and taped up his broken window. I don’t know how he got back in, I suspect he disassembled the broken window so he could remove the brace Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1071517681829023012003-12-15T13:48:00.000-06:002003-12-15T13:48:52.140-06:00Jon here today.
Well, this is pretty much the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Since the last time we kicked him out, I had really hoped and planned on Kyle repenting before Christmas, and we would all have a big happy Christmas with Kyle moving back in, and everything’s peachy.
Karen had told me she suspects Kyle has a key, and has been coming in the house during the day when we’re gone. IJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1070937165642089352003-12-08T20:32:00.000-06:002003-12-08T20:33:29.450-06:00Karen here. As you read from Jon, Kyle is out. I am frustrated by his actions but I am trying to understand this mental illness. It is frustrating because no matter what he does he doesn't seem to feel any remorse. He doesn't seem to have a conscience at all. He is loving and cares what people think but does what he wants to do anyway.
I know he is staying at his friend's house up the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1070915271674063772003-12-08T14:27:00.000-06:002003-12-08T14:35:59.403-06:00Jon here today.
Well, we had to kick Kyle out again today.
Why is it so difficult to follow a FEW SIMPLE RULES?
We told him NO DRUGS.
We told him NO SMOKING IN THE HOUSE.
We told him to pick up after himself.
Other than that, we really set no rules.
This morning the house was trashed. Papers all over, food and food wrappers all over the kitchen, dishes all over the kitchen and the rec room.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1070561813005202022003-12-04T12:16:00.000-06:002003-12-04T12:17:32.640-06:00Jon here today.
I'm home from work sick today, from both jobs. Actually, I feel very guilty for staying home, but the way I've been sniffling, coughing, and generally dragging around the boss kind of made it clear he didn't want me around this way. I understand, but I'll pay for it doubly when I go back. Nobody else can or will handle my issues, so it will all be waiting for me when I go backJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1070065188615624162003-11-28T18:19:00.000-06:002003-11-28T18:20:22.560-06:00Karen here. Kyle is at an n.a. meeting. One of his old friends who is going to a local college here has been calling and went out with him last night. Kyle told me yesterday was his favorite Thanksgiving. He said he really enjoyed the food and company. It was just our immediate family and my parents. Before they came he asked me who was coming. He really dislikes holidays where he has to Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1069859875308679692003-11-26T09:17:00.000-06:002003-11-26T09:19:18.076-06:00Jon here today.
As you can tell from Karen's post, Kyle is back living with us again. When I heard he was attending NA and AA meetings regularly, I immediately invited him back. I don't want him out of the house if he's willing to follow the rules. He adds so much to our family.
I am a little hurt that he is actively avoiding me. I don't know if he's embarassed, or afraid I'll give him a Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1069801753080229382003-11-25T17:09:00.000-06:002003-11-25T17:09:44.153-06:00Karen here. Kyle is back and his older brother is home from college. Kyle says he is going to Narcotics anonymous. He showed me a couple of cards he got. I hope he is. He is a lot of fun to have around. Jon went hunting for five days and I had to pick up our oldest from college. A storm was coming and I have an old car so I called and told him that I was coming early. Then I told Kyle weJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1068246136939567372003-11-07T17:02:00.000-06:002003-11-07T17:02:15.183-06:00Jon here today.
I'm worried things are spiraling out of control for Kyle. We find out bits and pieces of what he's been up to through our son who's 4 years younger than Kyle. Kids at school tell him they saw Kyle, who he's staying with, and so forth.
We found out he's been staying with his friend Brian - remember the Black Lexus from a few months ago? That's the kid. Brian's still a high Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1067997176411355622003-11-04T19:52:00.000-06:002003-11-04T19:52:55.120-06:00Karen here. Jon has been trying to get me to clean Kyle's room. I couldn't bring myself to do it before today. I went through his clothes and smelled them. It made me cry. He even smells sweet. I hung up his clothes and washed some. His box on the deck hasn't been touched. Then I started to go through the huge box of pictures and drawings that were plastered on his wall in our old house.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1067623947154918792003-10-31T12:12:00.000-06:002003-10-31T12:12:26.196-06:00Jon here. Sorry for the lack of updates, but we really don't have much to report.
Kyle hasn't been around. He still gets into the tub of clothes we leave on the deck, but has made no attempt to take the clothes anywhere, or get any more of his stuff. So he's not staying anyplace permanent.
All through his childhood, Kyle collected baseball cards. His first hero was Nolan Ryan, then Frank Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1067258603972317522003-10-27T06:43:00.000-06:002003-10-27T07:04:55.950-06:00Karen here. I am going to work soon but I just wanted to blog a couple of lines. Kyle wasn't around this weekend. The last day I saw him was Wednesday. We leave a tub of clothes on the deck for him, and he gets into them from time to time. Jon left him some money and a note on Tuesday in his clothes tub. We presume he took it. Then he showed up Wednesday and took a shower. Jon got angry Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1066795147302935322003-10-21T22:59:00.000-05:002003-10-21T23:06:43.893-05:00Jon here.
Sorry we haven't kept this updated as often as I'd like. I'm significantly busier at both jobs I work, and it's really busy at my primary job. And Karen's working more hours also.
Well, Kyle has been gone for over a week. He still hangs around, he still hasn't picked up his tub of clothes on the back deck. I know he comes around, as the clothes in the tub change from one day to Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1066161966897416672003-10-14T15:06:00.000-05:002003-10-14T15:06:06.980-05:00Jon writing today.
Kyle came back this morning, he thought everyone was gone. I don't know if he has a key, but he was cold. I showed him where Karen had put his clothes in a box on the deck, brought him a warmer jacket and a stocking hat. I gave him a letter Karen had written, and told him yesterday was the final straw. He needed to make some tough decisions before we would let him back, ifJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1066088845994764812003-10-13T18:47:00.000-05:002003-10-13T18:47:25.496-05:00Karen here. I am very upset. I came home from work today and Kyle was home. I asked when he worked and he said five. It was pouring rain outside so I offered to take him. I told him to work on his room and he gave me a smart aleck answer. We drove two blocks and he told me to let him out. I said that I would wait for him. He glanced at me and then ran to a house. He knocked at the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1065883137688285402003-10-11T09:38:00.000-05:002003-10-11T09:38:57.306-05:00Karen here. Yesterday was my only day off and it was crazy. Kyle gets paid every two weeks on Friday. He has spent every one of his checks in a matter of minutes. My plan was that if I caught him early enough he could get his check deposited in an account with my mom. Then he wouldn't accuse me of taking it, it would be at a bank that he couldn't walk to, and he could start saving for a car Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1065665752752259532003-10-08T21:15:00.000-05:002003-10-08T21:15:52.663-05:00Karen here. Things have been going pretty well this week with Kyle. He got another raise at work. I overheard him tell someone on the phone that he was going to try to get into the army and if he couldn't he would go to college. He also said that he could never imagine living in a different house than our old one but he really likes our new one.
He hasn't mentioned counseling. He has beenJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1065125479669723752003-10-02T14:48:00.000-05:002003-10-02T16:10:59.740-05:00Jon back today.
More problems. Kyle has really been all over the board with respect to his emotions. Mostly manic, moving from sheepish and quiet to a screaming maniac in minutes. It's quite disturbing.
Yesterday, Karen left our youngest, a 4 year old girl, alone with Kyle for a couple of hours while she was at work. Normally Karen's mom stays with her, but there was something going on and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1064919143950848442003-09-30T05:52:00.000-05:002003-09-30T16:17:36.023-05:00Jon back. Sorry, this isn't directly a post about Kyle.
In my last post, I mentioned getting off Zoloft. I said there were withdrawal symptoms, although I didn't really feel them. That was only part of the story.
I lost my temper the other night. It wasn't something that was a huge deal, but I screamed like a madman, ranted, raved - I completely lost it. My anger was uncontrollable. I Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1064856355773180092003-09-29T11:36:00.000-05:002003-09-29T12:25:55.650-05:00Jon writing today.
As many of you know, I started on a very light dose (50 mg) of Zoloft a couple of months ago. This was brought on by depression surrounding trying to "handle" Kyle, and also for anger issues in trying to deal with him. About a week and a half ago, I realized most of my meds were gone. A month's worth had disappeared. Kyle claims he doesn't know what happened to it, but Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1064692886612613092003-09-27T15:01:00.000-05:002003-09-27T15:01:26.766-05:00Karen back again. I wrote that I hadn't blogged because I have been busy but that wasn't entirely true. I have been so disappointed in Kyle, myself, and life in general. I felt that this blog which was suppose to help support people really wasn't helping at all. As a parent you try to help your children learn to solve their problems and assets. And with Kyle I felt that I had failed. I feltJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1064595388604461482003-09-26T11:56:00.000-05:002003-09-26T11:56:28.783-05:00Karen back today, finally. I am sorry I haven't blogged. I have really been expecting the best and ignoring the worst in Kyle and concentrating on our other children. I have been working 43 hours between work and church. Plus September is open house month for our schools. So I have been working all day and I am running around at night.
My mom just left with Kyle. She dropped by to bring Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1063772903574467122003-09-16T23:28:00.000-05:002003-09-16T23:28:23.456-05:00Jon back again today. Karen is somewhat depressed, especially after today.
Kyle went to the psychiatrist today. Because he's 19, Karen couldn't get any information. But when Kyle showed her the prescription he was given, Karen about fell over: Prozac.
For those who may not know, Prozac is potentially dangerous for many suffering from manic depression or bipolar disorder. It can induce Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1063596861655218932003-09-14T22:34:00.000-05:002003-09-14T22:34:21.610-05:00Jon back again tonight.
Well, it looks like Kyle's going to have to leave again. When he asked to come back last week, he promised a lot of things. Meds every day, curfew, church each week, no drugs, and so forth. He has followed through on none of it.
He got paid Friday, almost $400. He has spent it all. On payday, he was very manic, and really angry he couldn't withdraw more than $100 Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1063342757559925932003-09-11T23:59:00.000-05:002003-09-11T23:59:17.410-05:00Jon here, for a change this isn't a blog about Kyle.
I was going through our statistics for this blog. It lists search strings that bring people to your website or blog. Here are some examples of search engine strings that brought people to our blog:
Yahoo: completely uncontrollable 16 year who is breaking up the family. no hope
You can feel the frustration in this, can't you? And the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1063217162429439182003-09-10T13:06:00.000-05:002003-09-10T13:06:02.526-05:00Jon here again today.
Kyle has been wonderful to have around! He's been friendly, respectful, fun, exactly the kid we knew he could be. He came home from work last night, and actually sat down and talked to us. He told us about his day, and mentioned he was VERY tired in the morning, but then remembered he had started back on his meds. He wasn't complaining, just stating how it was.
I Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1063030300842863502003-09-08T09:11:00.000-05:002003-09-08T09:14:26.760-05:00Kyle's dad here today. Such big news, I hope Karen posts today also.
We had Karen's folks over for a cookout last night in honor of her mom's 83rd birthday. Kyle showed up, and we welcomed him in and asked him to stay for the party. The girls were really enjoying him, and he was playing with them, and we all were enjoying him. We always do. I hugged him a couple of times and told him I was Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1062634862782402872003-09-03T19:21:00.000-05:002003-09-03T19:21:02.840-05:00Kyle's mom here. I feel very good about Kyle today. He showed up Tuesday and I was leaving for work. I stopped by the sandwich shop and asked if he would mow our old lawn. I picked him up an hour later and we spent three hours together working on it. I gave him a little bit of money. I asked if he had any and he said not much. He said he had loaned John a lot of his check. That is the boyJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1062422430991251062003-09-01T08:20:00.000-05:002003-09-01T08:20:31.050-05:00Kyle's mom here. After I wrote the blog yesterday I felt so sad. l went into Kyle's room looking for clues about him. His clothes were laying on the floor and I held them and smelled them. I prayed for him. I found a list of goals he had made. Quit using marijuana and cigarettes. Join the service. Put money into savings. I wondered if because he couldn't join the service if he wouldn't Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1062373632904405892003-08-31T18:47:00.000-05:002003-08-31T18:47:12.836-05:00Kyle's mom here. It has been next to impossible for me to write anything. My heart is broken with Kyle gone. His work called today because he hadn't shown up. I imagined the worst. Then when I was about to take our girls to the park with a friend he showed up. I turned him away and asked him about work. He said he just got there late. I am frustrated. He was very manic when he came homeJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1062076689678596042003-08-28T08:18:00.000-05:002003-08-28T08:18:09.696-05:00Kyle's been gone for two nights now. He came back yesterday twice, and this morning at 8:00 for work clothes. At least he's still concerned about getting to work. I have no idea where he's staying, but I know that in the past when he's left he has slept under the steps inside apartment buildings. Karen is telling him he will need to make arrangements to get his belongings - he can't use our Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061870476131774942003-08-25T23:01:00.000-05:002003-08-25T23:01:16.160-05:00Kyle's dad here.
It's been a stressful day around our house. Kyle heard back from the Navy, and while he didn't tell us exactly what they said, he said he's not eligible for Navy service. I asked him to wait for me to get home from work so we could talk about his future, where he would live, and so forth. He hung up on me, and was gone when I got home. I had left a signed check on the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061702705791029962003-08-24T00:25:00.000-05:002003-08-24T00:25:05.833-05:00Kyle's dad back again. I had a rare day off today. Working 2 jobs, I rarely get a complete day off. I wrote for a while this morning, and let Kyle sleep late. Finally I woke him and told him this was the day we were going to get his room in order. Since we moved 3 weeks ago he's been sleeping on the couch. He just couldn't bring himself to get his room organized and unpacked. I think it Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061650447536244842003-08-23T09:54:00.000-05:002003-08-23T09:54:07.520-05:00A glimmer of hope...
I took Kyle to talk to the Navy recruiter the other night. After the disappointing meetings with the Army and Air Force, we didn't expect much. Kyle had never considered the Navy, but wanted to talk to them after realizing the others wouldn't work out.
I wonder if the Navy would accept a slightly overweight, gray-haired, 40 something man with many kids...
They really Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061474777271119952003-08-21T09:06:00.000-05:002003-08-21T09:07:51.470-05:00Kyle's dad back again.
Yesterday was an eye-opener for both Kyle and myself. All along Kyle had planned on going into the military. No matter what happened, he thought the military would take him. We sat down with both Army and Air Force recruiters last night. The Air Force is pretty much out. The guy was ready for us, having pulled court records showing every offense from the first trafficJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061405765086753452003-08-20T13:56:00.000-05:002003-08-20T14:09:17.993-05:00Kyle's dad here:
Kyle's final court date was yesterday for his "spring fling" last May. They dropped the possession of marijuana charge, and the disturbing the peace charge if he pled guilty to theft and assault. He got credit for time served, and is done. So, overall, I think he has one shoplifting, one theft, and two assaults. He doesn't have the drug charges which would pretty much Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061013472097393552003-08-16T00:57:00.000-05:002003-08-16T01:01:39.286-05:00Sitting here on the deck of our new home with the laptop waiting for Kyle to come home. I just read my wife's post about Kyle's junior high school days, and it brought back a memory.
We still had our store, and I was 45 minutes away on the outskirts of town driving in. My cell phone rang, and it was Karen, and she was frantic. She was tending the store by herself. I was on the fringe of the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1061011710731663952003-08-16T00:28:00.000-05:002003-08-16T00:37:27.160-05:00Kyle's mom here. I am sorry that I have not been coming on as often. This move has been a little overwhelming. We lived in our old house for 21 years. I am terribly sentimental. I can't stand throwing anything away. Even letters that Kyle wrote from jail and that his sisters wrote him. The first day when he came home they painted him at least 30 pictures. Each one had a message to him. IJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1060918281952640382003-08-14T22:31:00.000-05:002003-08-14T22:36:31.130-05:00Kyle's dad here. Checking in to say there's nothing to report. Things have been fairly quiet the last few days. Probably because Kyle has been staying out of my way. He could be getting in lots of trouble, but as long as he doesn't create a disturbance around home, I won't know it. He's 19 years old, I can't do much other than attempt to enforce rules here at home.
He still hasn't unpackedJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1060486214659891092003-08-09T22:30:00.000-05:002003-08-10T07:54:34.766-05:00It is late and I have just had a fight with Kyle. And he has taken off. This is the very worst part of having a bipolar son. I have been thinking about what to compare it to. It is like having five horses. Then you find out that one is not a horse but a unicorn. A unicorn with wonderful magical powers. But you can't take out the wildness and he can't be handled like a horse. Sometimes theJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1060436607804252592003-08-09T08:43:00.000-05:002003-08-09T23:58:49.960-05:00Kyle's mom here. I rented a carpet cleaning machine yesterday. Kyle got up pretty easily. We got over to our old house at around 10:30 a.m. He started cleaning and I could tell he was feeling overwhelmed. The cord kept falling out of the machine. I went to our new house to get some duct tape. I stopped and bought him some munchies. I cleaned out some rooms and vents so I could make sure Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1060354893127679572003-08-08T10:01:00.000-05:002003-08-08T10:01:33.000-05:00Hello from Kyle's mom. I feel great because Kyle finally took all his pictures down at our old house. He will need to paint but that won't be a problem. My mom had him paint their two story house and a lot of their rooms. He always does a wonderful job. My parents say that his painting looks like a work of art. I was going to put off cleaning the carpets in the old house but Kyle said he Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1060262047467669382003-08-07T08:14:00.000-05:002003-08-07T09:28:03.936-05:00Kyle's mom here. Kyle has been doing fairly well with the move. He chose the bedroom downstairs, but he has been sleeping on the couch. My husband Jon said it is because he hasn't started unpacking. It reminds me of when he would try to get started on his homework. It was too overwhelming for him to even start. But once he started he would do a better job than anyone else.
Last night I Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059805935771532372003-08-02T01:32:00.000-05:002003-08-02T01:32:15.803-05:00We're two thirds moved in, and spending the first night in our new (to us) house. I worked myself hard today, and every muscle in my body aches, but I'm wired. I love this house...
Kyle was an incredible amount of help today. The kid can work like no other. But the funny thing, when we had made our last run, he wanted to leave. He couldn't stay in the new house. I was puzzled by this, but Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059710284056715922003-07-31T22:58:00.000-05:002003-07-31T22:58:04.073-05:00What a roller coaster the last few days have been. The bank really stuck it to us at the last second, and because we had missed a requirement in the committment letter they gave us, we had no leg to stand on. We had to take what terms they wanted to put together. We had to come up with an additional $7500 we didn't have. We scraped it together, but are really hurting now. Deposits, moving Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059451858829054182003-07-28T23:10:00.000-05:002003-07-28T23:12:34.876-05:00To all our friends and readers:
After 20 years in our current house, we close tomorrow on our new house. Not new, actually, just bigger. It's a wonderful 5 bedroom house in a wonderful neighborhood. And God has taken our hand throughout this entire process and led us along. I never thought we could swing a bigger house, but it has come together. The idea actually started just after Kyle was Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059427654204168412003-07-28T16:27:00.000-05:002003-07-28T16:29:56.486-05:00Since we've started blogging, my wife and I have become acquainted with the most extraordinary people.
I stumbled across a blog called Eyesicle and have been checking in from time to time. It's written by a lady named Trinity who is a recovering drug user. It is so well done, and she is so good at putting her feelings down I feel a connection between her thoughts and feelings and Kyle's. I Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059364821359940512003-07-27T23:00:00.000-05:002003-07-29T07:44:08.090-05:00Kyle's mom here.....
I just took Kyle back to my parent's house. He asked to come over, and he seemed pretty good tonight. He put on our daughter's green pom pom on his head with a hat on top. He was dancing around with the girls. He was so much fun to watch. He also got some cds back from his friend and he said that he isn't much of a friend. I was glad to hear that because I know this Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059276922141688572003-07-26T22:35:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:56:12.890-05:00Kyle's mom here.....
I took Kyle to the public defender yesterday. I really like her. Kyle didn't care too much for her. He has never had much love for anyone in authority. I went in with him for the meeting. She went over his case. His record even showed all the times he ran away as a teen and we reported him missing. She asked if he knew what went wrong and he just sat there. I was gladJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059176509540094752003-07-25T18:41:00.000-05:002003-07-25T18:48:49.750-05:00Kyles Dad here...
Today I spent some time looking over some other blogs, and listed some of my favorites in the section to the right. We became acquainted with Margaret and her son Dan, and their blogs Journey Inside My Mind and Me, Myself, and I . Excellent sites, and worth adding to your daily list.
If you all have any other suggestions of other blogs we should be reading regularly, Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059089088259817672003-07-24T18:24:00.000-05:002003-07-25T10:58:53.190-05:00This is Kyle's mom. I have one more day left in art school. Tomorrow I am leaving early and taking Kyle to the public defender. Then I go to work and he works also. I would like to have him go to another narcotics anonymous meeting. He stopped by today looking for his billfold. My mom brought him around 4:30 before I picked up Brett. Kyle seemed a little manic. I had a chance to hug him Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1059021843175388812003-07-23T23:44:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:25:55.580-05:00This is Kyle's mom. This is a real crazy week. I volunteered for a two week art school at our church. It is from 7:15 A.M. TO 5:30 p.m., so I have not been able to update this blog like before. I leave early to go to work at my regular job and feel extremely guilty doing so. So I am not home all day.
I talked to my parents tonight. They are switching bedrooms because Kyle is up all nightJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058985157875821322003-07-23T13:32:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:24:19.770-05:00Kyle's dad back today. Kyle's mom works at church all day today, then works her part time job immediately after. She is overdue for a post, and I apologize to all the readers that she isn't here. I'll see if she can't jump on tonight for an update.
I thought I'd write today about my relationship with Kyle. I've said before, my one-on-one times with Kyle were probably my most enjoyable of allJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058882500912783352003-07-22T09:01:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:22:35.190-05:00Kyles's dad back again today.
I'm going to leave the last 2 posts - it effectively illustrates some of the strain and challenges a family faces when something like this comes up. It doesn't just affect the bipolar family member, the entire family changes, and everyone's lives are affected.
It has been a real challenge for me to accept this diagnosis of Kyle's bipolar, and understand the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058838887808350092003-07-21T20:54:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:20:06.433-05:00This is Kyle's mom. Kyle's dad is understandably having a very difficult time right now. I am fine with having Kyle live with my parents right now. My husband wasn't getting any sleep at night worrying about him coming home. It was affecting his work and he was becoming depressed. I don't feel we should forbid Kyle to visit altogether. I think he needs our support. He is not capable of Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058809380277894972003-07-21T12:43:00.000-05:002003-07-22T07:53:41.090-05:00Kyle's dad back.
There has been an unexpected ramification of everything that has happened - the family itself has really taken a hit.
My wife and I agreed completely on this last scenario, if Kyle left that night, he would be forced to move out. But now, in the eyes of my wife and at least one of our children, it's all been my idea, and my fault he's gone. I have a wife who holds me Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058626062008804572003-07-19T09:47:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:16:24.726-05:00Kyle's mom back again. Kyle's dad took him to a narcotics anonymous meeting last night. We are going to keep bringing him to various meetings. He didn't seemed displeased with the meeting but I don't know if he was touched either. He called me twice late last night. He sounded manic. He wants to come home and it is hard for me to say no. I am so torn because it is hard on my husband and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058544331024826842003-07-18T11:05:00.000-05:002003-07-18T11:08:26.440-05:00Kyle's mother back again. I have had a hard time writing about Kyle lately because living with him (although he is staying with his grandparent's ) seems to be enough. Yesterday was horrible. After he cleaned out my account and came home he starred at me and it was like looking straight at the devil himself. He denied taking the money. It was like he was pure evil. And yet sometimes he doesJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058507725148529732003-07-18T00:55:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:12:13.626-05:00Kyle's dad back again. My poor wife is just wiped out, and I don't blame her.
A nice day turned bad. Kyle has a way of taking special days and occasions, and turning them into disasters. Mother's day was the first time he was arrested, and today, on his mother's birthday, he managed to make it memorable in a different way.
Grandma brought Kyle over so he could tell his mother happy Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058468147168926712003-07-17T13:55:00.000-05:002003-07-17T13:55:47.300-05:00Kyle's dad again today. It's my wife's birthday, and she's taking a welcome break from Kyle, and trying to put the worry behind her for a single day.
Kyle is still at his grandparents house, spending most of his time sleeping. He is obviously in his "down" or depressed phase. He'll spend his time there in that phase, he won't hit a manic phase again until he gets somewhere else. That being Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058378901563436212003-07-16T13:08:00.000-05:002003-07-17T11:02:27.140-05:00A lot has happened since my last post late Monday night.
When Kyle left Monday night, he knew what he was doing. We drew a line in the sand, he chose to cross that line. They say when a bipolar person is in their manic phase, the pursuit of pleasure will override everything, including the logical. My wife thinks it wasn't even an option for him, his disorder precluded all but this option. Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058246031169063702003-07-15T00:13:00.000-05:002003-07-15T00:15:49.480-05:00Kyle's dad with an update.
What a terrible night. I feel like bursting into tears. The terms of Kyle's contract we mentioned in the last post called for him to be home no later than 10:00 PM, to do the reasonable jobs around the house he is assigned, to not leave home without permision, and so forth. We made it clear that once he gains our trust again, we could quickly relax the terms of the Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550359.post-1058193468208797212003-07-14T09:37:00.000-05:002003-07-26T22:07:30.456-05:00Kyle's dad again, we have major decisions to make today.
Kyle came home last night at 1:00 in the morning looking for our cell phone. He said a friend needed to make a call. We told him to let him use our home phone, and didn't give him the cell phone. So for the next 30 minutes we had people coming in and out of our home. This morning, we found a pot pipe in his pocket. So, chances are, Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00692070748414865417noreply@blogger.com0