Getting ready for a transition

I honestly despair that Niece will ever function independently. Ever. I've had to resort to washing her hair for her. Each time. I know she can't do it properly and since I don't shower with her I don't know what she does. But it generally results in very greasy hair; stiff and sticky to the point that one could just about shape it unaided. And yet I use the same shampoo she does when I do it for her. This time we had to go out so I have her instructions not to put it in a pony tail, just comb it and leave it loose. We get in the car to go out and I notice that she hasn't combed it at all. Just left it as it came out of the towel. How can she ever function independently when she can't grasp the basics of self care? Or is she just lazy and doesn't care? I don't think I shall ever figure that one out.

Just recently we were on a regular shopping trip for groceries. Niece was given the task of taking the empty trolley to the trolley bay, about 30 metres away two parking rows over. I drive a bright yellow car, parked two double rows over and slightly to the right. She came back along the dedicated walkway through the first double row, then suddenly turned right, paused, and kept going. MOTH and I were in the car and wondered what the heck she was doing. We waited a couple of minutes for her to realise she was mistaken and return. MOTH exited the car and bellowed her name. She didn't respond but he managed the scare the living daylights out of a driver in another car. We waited at the car for a while longer. What if she realised, came back, and we were not where she left us? We waited then drove slowly through the carpark trying to see her, around the corner where we normally go, then through the carpark at the back. I dropped MOTH off and went to fetch Jerome's food for the fortnight before returning. I found MOTH who hadn't located Niece, and we continued searching the shopping centre. I even checked toilets. Eventually we went to Police Beat to ask for assistance. They took information, suggested we head home, then search the neighbourhood while they did too. This we did. And as we drove up the driveway, Niece was knocking on our front door. SHE WALKED HOME!! This is a good 40 minute trot.

We couldn't believe it! She couldn't give me a straight answer, only stating she wanted some fresh air and exercise. This from one of the laziest girls I know. So I know that statement was what she thought I wanted to hear, not the actual truth. She probably doesn't even know herself. So now she is on the Police database, and has a record as absconding with her community access worker and Autism Queensland. Which means a whole new risk assessment. I always thought she absconded on an earlier access worker because she didn't like her. Possibly they may have been her brain farts. She gets them but usually they manifest as completely forgetting how to do a task she's done many times over previously. I really don't know.

I've finally bitten the bullet and attended my first NDIS information session. It was a dark and stormy night. I am hoping this was not an omen of how our transition will go!

It was actually easier to understand than I thought. Okay, ask me that again when it actually comes time for a pre-planning meeting with National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) next year. NIDS is due to be implemented mid 2018. I'm hoping that I am ready. They say it's better to ask for more than you need than find out you've not asked for enough funding. The organisation who did the presentation were kind enough to give us an information pack that also contained the slides of the presentation. I like this as I now have something to refer to when I get myself off my butt to add to my notes and follow up.

Teen is still working her butt off. Or should I say on? She's been going to gym once a week and working with a personal trainer. She is now noticing that her butt is growing, her thighs are getting stronger and the guns are showing. Squats! Lifts! Metabolic conditioning! When she and Elder begin talking it's like they are speaking a foreign language. Teen goes to a gym outside her area but I think her favourite bit, apart from complaining about the personal trainer, is checking out the puppies and kittens at the pet store in the shopping centre before she goes off to her session.

I don't know if I have mentioned it previously but Elder has settled into a relationship and employment. Her beau is JCH and we seem to get along fine. He's a rather personable young fellow who can take a good ribbing so I guess it can't be all bad. They met at Supanova where she and I both volunteer. I am hoping this one is a stayer as they seem to be producing spawn next April.

That's right. MOTH and I are going to be grandparents. I have christened the spawn Facehugger and am just waiting for it to burst forth in a bloody mess. She is boring and calls it Peanut. The last update suggested that Peanut was now the size of a gameboy. So there you go. About halfway through. We have debated various titles as grandparents. Elder cheekily suggested I should be called something to do with Dragon. Crazy child. We weren't sure about MOTH. I decided we should be Omah and BOF. BOF and Omah, mighty and powerful Gods! Boring Old Fart didn't like his name and insists on Poppy. Boo! So we ended up with Omah and Poppy. We shall see if that sticks, won't we.

MOTH has begun feeding the birds, much as Wilson next door does. We now have doves, pigeons, galahs, cockatoos, and rosellas come to visit. Mornings can be very noisy!

I've heard the peacocks! I had thought that the overabundance of new unit complexes flooding our suburb had driven them out but it seems not. I have yet to see them. One morning I heard loud noises, a weird honking, and found...



... the peahens!

So I can't decide if these next few months will transition slowly because of Facehugger and *ahem* possible excitement of becoming officially old, or too quickly because of NDIS and the absolute confusion this will bring. 2018 is going to be a year of change either way!