If you missed the start of this series, you can find it here. A lot of things will be the same or very similar.
Ben went to bed at the usual time last night, between 6:30-7:00. He got up at 8:15pm to use the bathroom, then I tucked him back in bed. He got up again at 8:40 to “go potty”, I tucked him back in, again. A little after 9:00 I heard something hit the floor (his bedroom floor is hollow underneath like mine) so I went to investigate. He and Zeus were both on the bed, so I didn’t find the source of the noise (pretty sure it was Ben “jumping in muddy puddles”), but I did discover that he had unplugged his tablet and it was dead. I took his, and got mine to give him. I told him that was enough, it was time to sleep, kissed him again and went back to my room.
Daughter left for work about 15 minutes later. I was awake until after midnight. I’m not sure what time my sleeping pill kicked in, but I believe it was right before I pressed “post” on a comment I was leaving. So if there’s a huge gap of time between when I hit “like” and when I left the comment, blame it on Restoril.
I was awake just before 5:00am. Just me and Sophie Cat. Zeus heard me and started making that choked whiney bark sound. I really should have left him, but I wasn’t quite ready to deal with Ben, I wanted coffee first.
Ben got up at 6:00. There was a Bounce and bedquakes, (child does NOT know how to just sit on a bed) but I was prepared, so the impact wasn’t as extreme as usual. He got under the blankets to cuddle for about 5 minutes and then I was grabbing my stuff to begin my Couch Sittin’.
All the regular 6:30 things occurred at 6:23. I don’t wanna be predictable, do I?! At 6:45 when Daughter didn’t text, I figured she’d had another bad shift. Yep!
She’s had another new grad trainee the past few nights. She (with trainee in tow) and another nurse were supposed to work “West” (44 patients) and 3 other people were supposed to work “East”(78 patients & long term residents). Only 2 people showed up for East, so the person that was going to do West with Daughter was sent to help on East.
Daughter was by herself, with a trainee in tow. Since she’s training this new person, she has to do everything “by the book”, when normally when it’s short-staffed she’d cut a few corners. Not in patient care or infection control, I don’t want to give the wrong idea. Things like changing the entire bed linen if there is a spot of food or drink on the sheet. That is the “by the book” thing to do, but short staffed, Daughter would rather use the 5 minutes it takes her to change a bed to change another patient’s brief… a corner cut.
This is Medicine For Profit. This is how “Heroes” are treated.
She got home around 7:30. Ben had been in the bathroom. Poor little guy was constipated. GI issues are very common in autistic kiddos. It’s why I keep track of his BMs. Just another fun fact. We like to offer a little education here at Casa Cuckoo. Ben was unsuccessful at 7:30. He went to lay down with Daughter in her room.
He was ultimately successful around 9:00, after he’d come to my room and commanded me to the living room. I guess he wanted company? Anyway, he definitely felt better. He was up and pacing and pinball banging into stuff for the next hour. I feel bad for him because he can’t settle down, but I also feel bad for me because it is extremely aggravating to have someone pacing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth in front of you for over an hour. Plus the banging into the couch, the fridge, the side door, the bathroom door… zero chill!
I gave him his meds at 10:15 and put Sven in the shower at 10:25. Ben continued to pace and bang, with occasional cries of “Gramma, look!” to make my blood pressure creep up another few points. By 10:45 I have to admit, my voice was getting loud and a little shrill. The last “Gramma, look!” was answered with “Look at what? Look at what? That? (a toy he was holding) I see it. I see it. I SEE IT!!”
I am not a Saint and my reserve of patience is big, but not endless. I told him that I was losing my cool. That if he could settle down for a little while that would be great.
He did sit next to me on the couch then. He was sticky sweaty…eeewwwww, but he was calming down.
I got Sven out of the shower and gave him his nom noms 
He got mad at the picture taking and went and hid in his “house”
A little while later I heard him scratching at the inside of his “house”. I thought he might be stuck, it is on the small side, he needs a bigger one. I went and took the house out so he could move. He wasn’t happy
I moved him to his hammock and set the house back up. It braces the wood and he likes to climb them sometimes. He left his hammock for the Judgey Corner. I guess I made him pretty mad. At least his beard wasn’t black any more.
Daughter got up a little after 2:00 to take over. Zeus and Ben ran to my room as soon as I got up so she could have THE spot on the couch. It’s a sectional and we both prefer the “chaise” part. I went to get more coffee and had to make a pot. D’oh!
Ben came out of my room to see what was taking me so long. I told him “I’m comin’, I’m comin’…sheesh!” Both of my Eeyores were on the floor when I came in. Why does he think that’s funny? I picked them up and put them back where they go, giving him the look as I did it.
For the next hour or so he watched his tablet and I did stuff on my phone. Daughter came in around 3:00 to tell me she just got a voicemail from the hospital she interviewed with. She went to her room to call them back. They offered her the job! She asked to have a day to think about it because it’s working 3 twelve hour shifts vs working 4 eight hour shifts then having 2 days off. Also, the pay is $0.45 more per hour, not much… she’s also worried about the cost of transportation to and from the hospital. It’s too far to walk, but only 5 or 6 miles away, not so far that an Uber will be a ridiculous amount. I told her if she wants it, and she keeps saying she wants to work at a hospital, then take it! We’ll figure the money part out. I told her to call her BFF.
Her BFF basically told her to “Nut up or shut up!”. Good! If I had said that, she’d have taken it the wrong way somehow. She called the Hiring Manager back, but had to leave a voicemail. She will call again in the morning if she doesn’t hear back tonight.
Meanwhile, Ben was doing his chalk thing in front of the bathroom door, creating an obstacle course. At least he was calm and not in my face. Zeus was a little upset that he couldn’t sit in front of the bathroom door while I was in there. The poor mistreated animals of our house… it’s really so very sad, isn’t it?!
Ben has his chicken (not McDonald’s, he didn’t ask again) and Younger is on her way over. Time to end today’s adventures. Oh, but the song… Hey, it just now popped into my head
Thanks for hanging out with us, we’ll see ya tomorrow.
Hugs!
King Ben's Grandma 
Super congratulations on daughter’s new hospital job!! That’s Awesome! 😊💕✨ Now I can see why they’re called bearded dragons 🐉 🤗. Here’s to a chill evening. You’ve earned it 💃🏼🎶🍃🌱🌿🌴
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Thank you… when Younger called it was chill so I told her to come by…of course, Murphy’s Law, both Ben & Zeus went into hyper spazoid mode🤦♀️
Some days are just like that🤷🏼♀️ 🤗🥰💌
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Hectic day for you. Keep the morale up. You are managing so well. Hugs.
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Thanks, Sadje! I almost lost it a couple of times, but no tears or screaming, so we made it! I hope tomorrow goes back to boring chill🤞🤣🤣🤣🤗🥰
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I hope so too. 😻
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Yayyy on the job!!! 🌟
Great Sven pics!
Love REO ❤️🎶
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Thanks, Paula!😻 I really made Sven mad today. 🙊🤣🤣🤣 He fell asleep, pouting.😂
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That’s great that daughter got offered the job!
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IKR?! She’s worried that since she asked for a day to think about, even though she called back and accepted in voicemail, that she blew it🙄 I may be wrong, but I think they would’ve pressed her if they were seriously interested in someone else. 🤞
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I agree.
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Congratulations to your daughter on her new job! That is really cool. Good for her! That is interesting about Sven’s beard too – I kept scrolling back and forth between the photos and wow! it really gets black under there! Well, you are probably into today already and hoping it is going well for you guys!
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Their “beards” get SO black! They are very territorial too, so they will fight with another male… or their own reflection 😂😂
Yeah, today started at 4:00🙄 not too bad so far🤞
How was your picnic? Or is that the next post?😉
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Picnic was good! The best part was that we went to a new preserve that I love and can’t wait to go back to again. Thank goodness the weather was nice too! Now today, it is all about the catch up. Made it to the store this morning, gotta mow and somehow get these kids motivated to do some work. Poor Declan got started, had his meeting with his OT and then his teacher sent pictures of the classroom all taken a part and the kids belongings all bagged. Made Declan cry and when we started on English, he just said he couldn’t do work. Poor guy. Maybe he’ll do some work later.
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Awww… I imagine that was hard! A serious reality check. He won’t be in the same class when school starts again☹
I’m pretty sure Ben will stay with the same group of kids and the same teacher. To begin at least. They’re a lot more flexible at his school. Ben will be going into 7th grade😲 and turning 12 in September. It’s unreal! He doesn’t seem that old, but not super young either… he’s just “generic kid” age😂
I’m glad the picnic was good!! Yay! A nice Mother’s Day and Birthday. I’m glad your family did something for you! Now, if Bobby could go now, that’d be awesome! Or is that something you like to do?
They must be just about to end school pretty soon, aren’t they?
I’m glad you survived the store! It’s always a pain now😷😤
💌
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Yes, soon. The last school day is May 29th. We are just starting to get info about the hours we have to turn in the school issued iPads and when the kids can go get their stuff. I think the schools have all emptied their desks and lockers – the older kids need to go into their schools alone with a mask on and get their bagged belongings in the cafeteria. Of course, since this is the first time any of us have done something like this, I am sure there is going to be a huge learning curve. We also got an email today about a test program we are going to be doing for online attendance so they can get it ready for next year if it is necessary. Sounds like they are really considering online learning for longer than we thought!
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Girrrrl this is funny stuff! I don’t know how you do it, but you’re kickin’ it! Your resilience never ceases to amaze me. Or your sense of humor. Or your way with words (laughing). 😉
OK so does your phone have that cool text font on board, or is that a photoshop-type job? I’m digging that font! You really are my Cosmic Sista!!
Awesome song in that video, btw – it’s probably my favorite song by REO 😀
Big hugs to you! (imagine like 3 rows of assorted emojis, because I’m on a boring ol’ laptop keyboard 😉 ) ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
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I can always tell when you’re on the laptop from the absence of emojis🤣🤣
The font came with the phone. You know I HAVE to make everything silly and fun! I may be one of the few people that actually LIKES Comic Sans😲😂
Life happens… gotta laugh at it!! Lots of hugs back!💌💌💌💌💌💌
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😂😂 hehe yep! I do wish emojis were accessible from the laptop, but probably just as well that they’re not (lol!). I love your “silly/fun” font! It rules!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼. And there’s no shame in Comic Sans, either 😉
Also, big congrats to Daughter on her job offer! Crossing my fingers that she hears back from them soon! 🍀🍀🍀
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She was gonna call again at 9am, but I think she chickened out.🤷🏼♀️😂 She went to sleep instead. She did work last night, so I’m sure she’s tired, but… 🙄 Whatever, it’s her deal. I hope it all works out for her too, otherwise she’s gonna be kicking herself, then blaming it on me & Ben… not wanting to risk a possible loss in income…blah blah blah…
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That’s good news. Much needed.
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It is indeed! 💃🏼💌
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Glad your daughter got a job offer. Nurses work hard and I admire what they do for us.
Nice to hear Ben slept in till 6, even if he didn’t go right to sleep.
We saw our son Andrew tonight. He has been stressed about his job. They want to cut his salary 50%! He teaches coding classes to kids part time. We told him that he should talk this over with his boss and renegotiate a higher salary so he can pay his bills. He was so upset and didn’t know how to process the problem. Executive functioning isn’t his best asset.
We’ll see how this goes…
Take care my friend
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I hope everything works out for Andrew! Hugs!💌
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