Since the last post, things quickly improved at my house--big time. Penny wrote me a note (about 50% of our communication is through notes) that said "Let's have a Magnificent Return of the Christmas Spirit Day (MRCSD)!"

That night, we baked a batch of cookies (peanut butter w/ Dove dark chocolates) and watched Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol.

Christmas Eve was lovely - Penny singing at church, coming home to a Polish meal, watching more Christmas movies.  Christmas Day we spent with friends.

Now, I am in my usual End of  Year Coma, satisfied to be at home doing mostly nothing, my phone turned off, thinking about the past, planning for the future--the usual.

2011 started off with a steep decline in Penny's mental health--by February she was on medication, and in October we switched to a new prescription.  She continued with her usual therapist, but added a Psychiatrist, then a different Psychiatrist, and a Therapeutic Massage/Reiki Practitioner, and a Nurse who does Biofeedback.  All of this healing work led to some positive changes - the most noticeable being that she has not had any rage episodes since October.  

Penny began 2011 still doing well in school, but now is in danger of flunking out of the 7th grade. She has halted her sports activities -- mostly due to her grades-- and is having trouble with friends. She still often talks of wanting to be a doctor some day.  All in all, 2011 has been a mixed bag for Penny with plenty of questions about how 2012 will turn out.

My professional life took some unexpected positive turns this year.  After many years of working with adolescent girls, I now supervise 8 staff who do the work that I did for so long.  I feel more like a grown up with this change in authority - it really does make me feel different.  I hope to continue trying new roles, challenging myself to stretch and grow. It feels good to move out of a rut.

A spontaneous decision to go back to school, AGAIN, has had some unexpected consequences.  Most significantly, it was the connections that I made in my very first course that lead to my finding Penny's new therapists. My second course lead to some personal revelations about my life's journey, and now I am faced with the big decision of whether or not to continue.  I want to, but it's a very expensive University.  I want to, but I already have a Master's Degree.  I want to, but sometimes my home life is not conducive to studying and concentration.  Not sure what 2012 will bring in this area of my life.

I started a new writing project in 2011, and attended a phenomenal writer's conference that was inspiring, informative, etc.  But as usual, it was just when I was hitting my stride that Penny started demanding more attention from me. (Although I am probably just using that as an excuse.) I would love for 2012 to be the year that I complete one of my books.  I would have to make a schedule, stick to it, and possibly forgo continuing my graduate program.  Hmmmm.

This year I completed my third Life Review Video for a family that I know.  I wonder if I will find another client and keep that strand of my creative life going in 2012?

We made a 2nd Annual cross-country road trip this year to New England. Loved the time spent on the beach and Penny took a surfing lesson.  I am sure we did some other fun things this year too, but nothing really is coming to mind.  I want 2012 to be more FUN!

So those are the highlights of 2011.  Oh yeah, the geriatric dog is still alive - so that's another good thing that happened.

2012, what are your plans for us?