It's only Monday

but I'm exhausted!

I think it's because I barely had any sleep this weekend. It's always hard on my son when he's not able to sleep in his own bed.

He woke up around 2AM on Sunday morning and spent close to 3 hours crying (well screaming!) on and off. I then had to drive over three hours home later that night after we left my parent's house.

I really wanted to go to my fave Monday night yoga class, but I think tonight I will need to pass for my bed instead. I think I am even going to have to miss the reunion special for RHWNJ (not like it won't be repeated every day coming up anyway).

My husband and son are both already sleeping and it's barely 7PM.

Hope everyone had a good Monday back to work :). And that you also were able to catch up on some rest and relaxation (not like me LOL).

Relaxing weekend ahead

Today we are going to a christening for close friends. They are having the reception at one of my fave Italian restaurants so I am looking forward to some good eats. Then we are headed Upstate to my parents. We are staying overnight. Tommorrow they are hosting a huge family BBQ.

I am planning to make my new summer staple, grilled eggplant with peanut sauce.

(Let me know if you want the recipe, it's super easy!).

Anyways, I am looking forward to a little time away with just family and good friends because I have a feeling that the week ahead is going to be another crazy one. I am planning to bring a client into the community from a nursing home/behavioral placement. Discharge planning is always a nutty, stressful time for all involved, however, probably even moreso for me!!!

I went to identify the body

of my former client today with my colleague who had recently taken over the case. He felt a little uncomfortable going by himself. Neither one of us had ever done this before, so we really did not know what to expect.

When we arrived at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, we found that it was a pretty large, bright, airy building---not some dark basement of a hospital like we assumed. We were greeted warmly and asked to fill out some paperwork with some brief background information about our client, including some of his history, medical providers and our suspected cause of death.

After that, we sat in a nice waiting room and the worker came out to meet with us. We did not actually have to go "look" at a body. She brought out a digital photo of his face.

It was definitely our client, although like when many people die, it did not really look like our client.

After we stated that it was him, we sat and chatted for a little bit with the worker. She told us that she was impressed that we had come, and as social workers, did we have any suggestions of how to go about helping their office identify more of the people who are brought in.

I suggested that she gather up a list of local homeless shelters, mental health providers, and in particular ACT/ICM/SCM teams. She felt that this information was very helpful because there are so many bodies brought in each year that no one comes to claim, and she feels sad that they are eventually buried without a name, or a notification to anyone.

Anyway, I am really glad I went today. It brought me some closure, and I also learned what the process is to get a death certificate, as well as autopsy report (two items most social service agencies will often need as part of their own internal investigation when a client dies unexpectedly).

My co-worker and I are also thinking of doing a service to honor our former client's memory. Sadly, he really didn't have family or natural supports in his life, however, many of his helping providers remember him fondly so we would like to do a little something.

Sad

I learned today that one of my former clients, who was recently transferred to another social worker in our agency, lost their battle with schizophrenia.

I have not been able to get my former client out of my mind all day.

I remember them always trying to give me candy when I visited, and sending me nice little cards to thank for me for my efforts in working with them. (I still have them in my desk).

It's so sad. I believe that this is what they wanted though.

And I can only hope that they have finally found the peace they were looking for.

Finally

got back to yoga last night. I had an AMAZING class. It felt so nice to work out again, and let a whole bunch of stress just go. Then I came home and watched the season finale of Real Housewives of NJ. For some reason the "meeting" between Caroline and Danielle reminded me of some of my meetings with my most difficult clients. You know the ones where absolutely nothing gets accomplished? Even though your intentions are good? Where you leave there thinking "Could I have done anything differently?". "What can I do or say to help this person?".

Anyways, this mornning I am absolutely exhausted. I so wish I had a day I could just go back to sleep until I am actually ready to wake up on my own and not with an alarm. I don't think that's going to happen for awhile though.

So I am going to hop in the shower instead before DS wakes up. That always makes me feel better. Have a good one all!

Good one for a rainy Monday morning..........

I AM THANKFUL:



FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


~Author Unknown

Rainy day

It's raining here finally. We really need it too.

I got up around 7AM (DS actually slept pretty late for once!), and made sauce from a whole bunch of tomatoes from our garden.

DS went back in for a nap around 9:15AM so I've just been doing laundry and watching old 90210 re-runs (guilty pleasure).

I had to work this past Friday so it's been a shorter weekend for me. This coming week at work I already know is going to be crazy. We will be starting the bed bug prep on Monday and hopefully the exterminator will come on Tuesday. It's been nuts because both clients are blaming me and the agency for bringing in the bugs.

I seriously think it's an apartment complex issue though because some of the aides have told me that other tenants have them.

Not only that but has anyone seen the NEWS lately? They are all over the place. They had to close down a huge movie theatre in Manhattan due to an infestation.

The icing on the cake is that on Long Island, landlords are not responsible for bed bugs, so I am going to have to figure out how to get my clients money for the treatment, and possibly new furniture.

If it's an apartment complex issue.............I am sure this will not be the end that we hear of this..........and even if it is for awhile I can be sure that at least one of these clients is never going to let me forget that "her staff" is responsible for this mess.