Hi All!

Well, I guess it's about time I give you all an update on our new life... :)

I sent out a brief email a few days ago with information about a bunch of free construction magazines because it was too great a deal to not pass on to you all. Many of you responded asking how we're doing in our new home. This may be "sappy" but, I love you guys, the fact that you care so much just makes me feel so good. :)

I apologize for taking so long to update you, it's been a bit of a rough ride even though we absolutely love it here and couldn't be happier to be here.

If you ever have a chance to visit Whidbey Island Washington I can't recommend strongly enough that you do it. But beware, once you've been here you'll want to come back again and again. :)

And now for that update...

Our drive up was full of adventure. Four days on the road with two kids, two big dogs, a packed-to-the-gills truck with mechanical problems that put us in a Ford repair shop for several hours on Thursday morning, and hotel rooms that didn't turn out to be as promised, but we made it! :)

Unfortunately Cameron ended up in a psychiatric ward for 11 days in January. It was tough but he's home with us now and doing a bit better than he was.

The emotional support we're receiving out here is phenomenal. We have a parent support group, a father's support group, a sibling's support group, a state provided counselor that comes to our house once per week and now a state funded respite provider that takes Cameron out for two hours each week.

It's still a day-to-day, or even 15 minutes-to-15 minutes, struggle but there's hope on the horizon where there wasn't just 3 months ago.

We're hoping to be able to get Cameron enrolled in a long-term in-patient program out here but it'll be several months as the waiting list is quite long. Turns out there are many, many children in Washington with various mental disabilities that need help, and nowhere near enough beds for all of them. :(

Shelby is doing wonderfully, making new friends, turning the boys' heads, improving daily on her artistic abilities, earning terrific grades, etc. She's in 10th grade and already colleges are courting her. :)

I'm keeping the business going (some days it's my only connection to sanity) although I've had to give up telephone support and just communicate via email. I've explained more about that here: A note to my customers and readers...

Thank you for hanging with us and for your incredible support. Remember that I still have all of my contacts so any time you have a question be sure to let me know and I'll get an answer for you. :)

Thank you again and have a terrific day!
Diane

Update June 28 2013: Unfortunately Curtis decided to go his own way in October 2010 so now it's just Cameron, Shelby, and I. But we're still loving it here. :)