Baby Steps

So its been about a month since I have updated everyone. It's difficult at times to keep up day to day because the changes in Joey are so subtle that its seems a waste. December was a difficult month for Joey but we knew it would be going into it. He always has a hard time around the holidays but we enter the new year with high hopes for him. Its been said that the anticipated return home for Joey will be in June. I have many feels about the situation. I know that statistically Joey will soon not be benefiting from long term treatment, he still has a way to go. I know that Joeys disease will forever be a process and it will be a long time in the future if ever we have it fully under control. I also know that Joey has shifted from out of control behavior caused from his bi polar to behavior within his control caused from his conduct disorder. I have a harder time with later simply because he can control himself he just chooses not to. With that being said we have made big changes to his treatment plan. Joseph has a set list of expectations to meet in order to have privileges especially home visits. Joey must attend school through the week and not have any restraints. He has had two weeks of learn the hard way by having home visits canceled because of his behavior. It is disappointing but we as a team feel it is how to shape his current problem. We have also expressed this through the court. Joey is still being monitored and now the court has shifted thee view from a mentally ill child who has no ability to control his actions to a child with mental illness who has some stability on his disease but is making choices to still have behaviors. How this helps us and him in the future is its setting up another governor in place that can help curve the behavioral choices he is making. Not that anyone wants to see their child in trouble with the law but Joseph will need to realize sooner than later that there is real life consciences to his poor choices. He seems to be slowly getting the picture with all this in place but only time will tell. All I can do is hope that the closer we get to him coming home the more support we have in place for him and the more he develops the ability to make better choices in life. I will keep everyone posted and I again can not begin to express the gratitude I feel for the support received.