What the Hey???

Well, just a while ago I was running laundry and working round the house, when there was a knock at the door. You'll never guess who it was!! ANTHONY showed up at our door, walked right in like he'd never been gone. Got drink from the fridge, sat down in the den and started talking to his dad. I kept on cleaning in the kitchen. Wasn't quite sure how I'd react to him or if I'd blow up at him for his behavior.
He just said "Happy Mother's Day" to me and that was all that he said to me. He and his dasd talked but I wasn't listening. OMGosh !! What is going on here?? Still don't know quite what to think??

Family happenings update

Well, here it is April 29th and I've not heard from Anthony since January. Matt and I have seen him several times in traffic around town but not to speak. A friend said he contacted her business and said he was trying to make good on all his debts so I hope that's true. His bill collectors are still calling us here at the house.

But now to update on the rest of us. Chuck continues to regress into a hermit. He no longer wants to leave the house-much less do anything. He spends his days and nights connected to the computer-online gaming! We did make a trip to VA today to find out Voc. Rehab sent a request to OT (Occupational Therapy) to help provide necessary items for ADL (activities of daily living). We came home with several boxes with several more things to be delivered directly to our house.

Matt got to attend Prom-even though it wasn't his. He and Kristin, his gf, went to her prom. They were so cute!! He is so happy with her, and they are matched well. Both are tall-he is 6'5-1/2" and she is 5'11". She DOES tend to yak your ears off (LOL) but I think its just her nerves. See them here.

Big-time family upheaval

Well I guess you've wondered why there have been no blog entries for a while. It's really simple-our family is in a major upheaval mode.
I wrote last time about the turmoil with the boys and shakeup in their apartment. Well, it got worse!! Seems we found out by way of MySpace that Tony and the girl, Noelle, got married right after the 1st of January. I was against it to begin with-he'd not known her long enough and he was just reacting from his return from Iraq in October, among other things.
Found out the other day that he had skipped out on the rent at the apt. for 2 months, and written a bogus check for the 3rd month. How did I find out, you ask? Simple-the landlady called Matt here and told him as his name is also on the lease that he is responsible for his brother's actions. Anyway, he and Noelle have moved in with her family.
My hubby's actions are a different story though. He stays on the computer, playing online poker from the time he gets out of bed til the time he returns to it-sometimes going days w/o sleep or meds. I think it's a phase of his severe PTSD but I can't force him into treatment-not even with medical POA. The drs. and his therapists say he has to decide he needs help and be ready to follow through with it.So far, he's not at that point.

Big Changes here for 2008!!

As you can see I'm finally back and using the computer again some. Still having some residual problems from the surgery but hope they will improve with time.
We had a fairly quiet Christmas around here. Just us-Chuck, myself and the two boys. I cooked Christmas Eve (hence some of the post-surgery problems, I think) and we snacked on Christmas Day . The boys opened gifts and Chuck had a few, but mine is a Craft Robo I've got on a layaway plan with a friend. So it will be here soon.
All the excitement started between Christmas and New Years. You see, the boys moved into an apartment together November 1 and all was fine til Tony met a girl. Of course, you can already figure this one out. She began overstepping boundaries in the apartment, and intruding deeply into Matt's life and the routines in the apt. Matt ended up getting the short end of the deal and had asked us to allow him to stay at the house for a while til things calmed down. This was Christmas Eve. So, after Christmas he returned to the apartment long enough to gather up some clothes. This was the beginning of the end!!
Tony, just back in October from Iraq, has PTSD and is receiving treatment at VA. But just the simple act of Matt leaving the apartment triggered his anger and resentment. Any other time I'd have stayed out of the situation but not this time. He became violent and I just grabbed Matt, stuck him in my car and drove away, thinking separation might cool the fuse.
NOPE!!! Got a message on the answering machine at the house-Tony-telling Matt all his belongings were on the street (in the rain) and if he wanted them, he'd better get them. Now this was at 4:30 pm on Friday before New Years. So we rushed to the U-Haul rental place, got a small truck and went to gather up Matt's things. (another reason my recovery hasn't gone well).I helped him load it all into the truck and get it back to my house, unloaded the truck, took it back and got him settled here.
So Matt's back home again!!So far, so good. Things have quieted down between him and Tony but the girl has been moved into the apartment with her best friend and Tony. I don't know what all is going on but he is 24 and old enough to behave properly.