What a week!

I hope you all had a great Christmas. Ours was......stressful. Our youngest daughter had one to many disappointments on Thursday last week and decided to take 24 sleeping pills. Thankfully, and we are VERY thankful, she told us what she did. This was 11:00 at night, so we jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and took off for the hospital. I had to pull over once for her to throw up, and then when we got to the er door, she threw up again. I wish I had taken her back home then, but as they say, hind sight is 20/20. They took her back and sent us out to the waiting room. I, of course, was on the verge of hysterics by then. I have decided that our oldest daughter, the future doctor, is the rock of our family. She was with us, and so strong, and loving. Anyway, they gave J, our youngest, the charcoal stuff to drink, did blood tests, and called in a social worker. He talked to me, to J, and than came back to us and said that he agreed with all of us that she really didn't intend to harm herself since she immediately told us about it. But he did think, and we totally agree, that she does need some counseling in dealing with stress and disappointments. We told him that we had a therapist that our family doctor had recommended and would set up an appointment the next day. The er doctor told us that they wanted to keep her for 24 hours and watch her heart, since that was the recommendation of poison control. She has had major problems with insomnia since going to college, and the pills were some pretty strong stuff. That was the reason our doctor wanted her to see a therapist anyway, was her issues with not being able to sleep at school. Anyway, we waited, and waited, and waited, and finally they told us they found a room for her. The nurse came to take her, and told us it was in ICU, but not to worry, that was the only empty bed they had. I know the flu season is here, and it has been really bad, so we didn't think much of it. We left around 5:oo am. I went on to work for a few hours, intending on working until noon, going home and sleeping for a few hours, then head on to the hospital and taking her home that evening. When I got home, mothers intuition kicked in, and I decided to take her some real clothes and check on her. When I got there, they were getting ready to take her to the stress center, by ambulance, and I wouldn't have known if I hadn't been there. I, of course, started crying. I wanted her home, she wanted to go home. She felt stupid enough for what she did. I was told there wasn't a choice, she signed a paper willing to go. She is 20 years old, but she would sign anything the doctors told her to. She had no idea what she was signing, and they woke her up to do that. So off she was to the center, with me driving there. Long story short, I had called my husband, very upset, and he came over. The people in the center, and I know they are trying to do what is best for the patients, couldn't have cared less how we felt. I felt like my baby was being taken away from us, and because she is over 18, too bad for us. I told them no one told us anything about this, and all they would say is, no one told you?? My husband has a pretty bad temper when pushed, and we had been pushed pretty far with this, plus we had zero sleep, and they ended up escorting us out of there. The worst feeling, having to leave her there. I have not cried so much, except when I lost my Dad. I couldn't drive my car home, had to leave it there. J called us a few hours later, said she was ok, but wanted to come home. She was meeting with the psychiatrist the next morning, and she was going to tell him she wanted out. We were there by 9:00, supposedly to meet the doctor. We never met him, and 2 hours later we took J home. She said she had to sign a paper saying she was leaving against dr's orders. I was soooo happy to have her home. She has gone back to work, (she works part time during Christmas at Blockbuster), and seems very happy. She is seeing the psychologist Tuesday, and I am looking forward to that. Her Dad is going with her, since he's still not working, he has the time. Oh, and to top off this great week, he has the flu! And our insurance has still not been fixed, even though they have cashed over $1300. in checks from us for insurance.
Here's to a better New Year! 2007 has got to be better, right??
Thanks for listening to me rant, but it feels good to let it out, as we haven't told many people about this.
Everyone have a Happy New Year, and please, please don't drink and drive!