UPDATE

Thank you for all your suggestions as to how to "cope" with all that's been going on recently. The good news is that things are looking up. The job situation is in the process of getting resolved (but still say some prayers, please, that all works out well), and the teenager angst is seemingly better. DQ's first interim report from her new school was wonderful - and it is a joy to see her so motivated to doing well there. And TP's extreme moodiness lately can be attributed to, I think, the tapering off from the prednisone meds. Even though this weaning process has been very gradual, her body is still reacting to not having such massive doses being pumped into it. So, I am taking her to her general practitioner to have her evaluated for an antidpressant to take on a temporary basis to help her get through this process. When I explained to her that all of this is "normal" given what she's been through, she seemed so relieved. It was like a huge weight had been lifted from her - I could tell it really bothered her that she has been so negative and "witchy" lately. It's just not like her at all. And, when I put it in that framework, it helped me to not take all of this so personally as well.

Anyway, what I decided to do to help myself, is to go home to Michigan for a short vacation in the middle of the month. I will take the girls with me, and we'll stay at my in-laws, who have a place right on the shores of Lake Michigan. It will be beautiful there at this time of year! I will also be attending a service for the mother of my two best friends when I was growing up. They were my neighbors, and this mom was kind of like a second mother to me way back when. She died last week, and they have postponed the service until all the relatives can make it up there.

So, I am looking forward to getting away from here for awhile, back to my childhood home. We are all excited about it. My dog is, too. If I don't take her, she will have a major setback with her separation anxiety disorder!

Thanks, again, everybody! I feel so loved. . .