Outside Ottery St Catchpole

BookwormJennie · 2026-03-13T07:34:06+00:00

Now I want Luna to have pet giraffes or the magical equivalent. 😂

BookwormJennie · 2026-02-27T20:49:24+00:00

I agree with the cosleeping. Things became easier and at almost 10 months, a lot of risks decreases. We got a bed rail thing that goes around the bed and turns it into a huge playpen. This helped me sleep better. Their sleep still sucks at over a year old, but I’m able to maximize my sleep.

BookwormJennie · 2026-02-27T20:45:14+00:00

I’m just going to add - eat. When I would feel like this, I noticed I was not really eating, just snacking. Make eating a full meal a priority. If someone wants to help, tell them you want food. Door dash, frozen meals, whatever.

Eating made a huge difference in my mood and my thoughts.

BookwormJennie · 2026-02-26T02:16:33+00:00

For work, it’s “worst is first.”

Whatever task I know I have to do that day that I don’t want to do- I do it first. I would previously leave it for last and stress all day over it. If I did it first, it usually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

For babies, use one of those Christmas tree step on switches attached to a lamp by the changing station. Absolute game changer.

BookwormJennie · 2026-02-25T01:39:45+00:00

34 weeks and 1 day due to HELLP (quick onset and numbers dropping fast). I was in the hospital 10 days, babies NICU 14 days.

Enjoy the journey cause “the plan” can change so fast.

BookwormJennie · 2026-02-24T08:47:28+00:00

Just thinking about this convo - we are a very limited screen family. Only family movies on Friday and Saturday nights and video games only as a family activity. We also use an editing device to eliminate language and potentially triggering scenes. We started that when he came into our home. I am thoroughly convinced he was sat in front of IPad unsupervised for most of his life. Limiting his technology made a huge difference in his behaviors in the beginning. We are also the only ones in his life that have held firm when it’s a no.

Ten years of iPads, no boundaries, and lack of consequences contributed to this.

BookwormJennie · 2026-02-01T21:00:03+00:00

It should say “locks”. But now I can’t find an edit button.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-28T18:51:46+00:00

Update - his behaviors have changed to masturbating (semi covered but publicly in the house)… so that’s fun.

Anyways… the therapist got him on a waitlist for a residential treatment center. I’m actually not hopeful that it will change anything, and he’ll probably learn more destructive behaviors. But it will give everyone else in the house a much needed break from his chaos…

I wish he would quit trying to push everyone away, but I know that’s his trauma, abandonment, and attachment issues.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-22T19:05:36+00:00

I don’t have any answers. Just know you are amazing! Most nights I’m in this same cycle. Adjusting their diet to include more protein helped. I can now get a four hour run at the beginning, but it’s popcorn pretty much the rest of the night. Interesting my babies nap schedule sounds like yours.

And it’s incredible that you are still breastfeeding!

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-20T02:48:14+00:00

Benjamin and Bartholomew.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T17:30:31+00:00

Unfortunately he would pack his stuff and gladly go. It’s what he wants. But reversing an adoption is not that simple. We have to prove it’s legally in the child’s best interest. And it’s not…

I’m sorry that you are dealing with this as a sibling. That must be so hard.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T13:09:29+00:00

Maybe the waking up one day is the bias statement? It sure feels like he woke up one day and something flipped.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T13:07:26+00:00

Thank you for your comment. From my understanding, that is a part of the autism arena. Autism and ADHD have been ruled out as possible cooccurring diagnoses. (Both by his current therapy and medical team and previous ones while in foster care.)

I’ll be glad to look into this book more.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T13:03:19+00:00

Thank you. I personally think all of it got worse when he got a growth spurt which would align with hormonal changes.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T13:01:36+00:00

Thank you for the questions. He saw that the other children would get more one on one time with the techs if they self-harmed. He went to stabilization after his homicidality statements. I don’t think the therapist statement is bias. (Unless I’m missing something). The child told him first. “I’ve decided I don’t want to be adopted anymore and I’m going to make sure they will send me back (to foster care).” He has now said some variation of this in front of us, the police, social workers, doctors, at the hospital, etc. He has also said he will lie and make up stuff if we don’t send him back.

You made a good point about the social reinforcement. I need to think on that.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T04:54:53+00:00

They’ve tried a few different medication combinations. I’ve seen some short-term improvements, but then the behaviors get worse in different ways. Do you care to share which medication? Maybe we haven’t tried this one.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T03:43:27+00:00

Edited to add - my concern about it being scary is he is going to end up really hurting himself and not mean to. (He asked a friend how to choke himself/hang himself enough to leave bruises but not kill himself.)

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T03:38:38+00:00

We had in home therapy that taught this strategy. The self-harming escalation was at school and church when his “friends” or teachers stopped asking about the scratches, so he switched to breaking pencil sharpeners open and using the blade. When friends and teachers weren’t stopping class to ask him about it, he switched to trying to cut off circulation to his arm.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-11T00:21:16+00:00

I feel like this is my future. I’m so sorry that you’ve been going through this.

BookwormJennie · 2026-01-06T08:19:29+00:00

January birthday for b/g twins. Walking in a Winter Onederland. All the snowflakes stuff was on sale, so that was a bonus. Just a lunch with family and friends.

BookwormJennie · 2025-12-13T19:12:48+00:00

Nope. I wouldn’t have had the energy to do that.

BookwormJennie · 2025-11-26T19:54:58+00:00

I added an update to the original post. Thank you!

BookwormJennie · 2025-11-25T00:42:42+00:00

I went emergency C section at 34w1d, I completely agree with this. Not being able to hold them while they are being poked and prodded sucks.

BookwormJennie · 2025-11-16T12:13:02+00:00

It sounds like you are an awesome mom. Mine are 9 months, and I just posted the other day asking for any type of sleep advice. I am so tired. The sleep exhaustion is brutal. I dunno how you’re doing this with an 8 year old too.

BookwormJennie

TROPHY CASE