Lesson learned, courtesy of the WSPD

(I started this post Monday night (well, actually Tues am, since it was like 1am), and despite what the date at the top says, it's now Wednesday.. so you can tell it's been a long, busy week)

Shiyt. Is it really only Monday? Do I really have 2 more days to work this week?! Aw, HELL.

Sunday night one of the lovely girls threw a tantrum, yet again. (She did it last Sunday night too) She started with throwing anything and everything she could get her hands on in the cottage.. wet dish rags, the stove eyes, newspaper, magazines, cups, bowls, etc. Then she decided to attempt to flood the kitchen with the squirty hose from the sink. Oh that was fun. None of us got in her range, or she would have soaked us as well. It was pretty much what a 2 year old would do.. right down to the fact that she kept saying "no" over and over to everything we told her/asked her to do. It was funny and not at the same time. We had reason to restrain her, but didn't, because she just wanted attention. And, she eventually calmed down and went to bed, thanks to her meds she'd taken before this all started.

Well, then Monday came and she was hyper (almost more like manic) in day treatment (on campus school), and she started right in as soon as we got back to the cottage. She wandered off the porch to try to talk to a boy, so Tina & I began following her all around campus. That pissed her off. Then, she got tired of it and decided she wanted inside. But, we wouldn't let her, cuz she was throwing plants, sticks, etc. So, Tina & I sat and enjoyed the weather. Hurray for it being a nice day! So, we finally let her in, after we agreed that we weren't going to get off her case, we were going to punch buttons to see if she really did need to go to the hospital or be restrained. So, she wanted to wash clothes. Ok, fine. We let her, but stood at the door to the room to monitor her. That pissed her off and she began to kick the washer and dryer, throw laundry detergent and water at Tina. She finally got out of the laundry room and began again with the throwing stuff, cursing, yelling, getting in our faces. SO, we followed her around more, had one of the supervisors come down and talk to her to calm her down. It worked while the RTS was here, and as soon as she pretended to leave, the client was back at it. She went over to the "pit" (a recessed area where we have little 'couches' and the TV, etc) and tried to turn on the TV and block us from removing the cable cords. We got one and she found another one. So, we fought that one away from her, and called the cops in the mean time. She then started throwing all the books off the bookshelves (encyclopedias, movies, dictionaries, etc), ripping stuff off the wall, writing on the wall, etc. It was crazy. She then went after the power cords on the TV and dvd player. So, at that point she wouldn't let go and was wrapping it around her arm so we tried to restrain, but couldn't ever get her to the ground. I had her in a bear hug/basket hold for about 5 mins, which is where you grab them from behind and pretty much 'hug' to keep their arms restrained. We finally had to let her go cuz she started kicking and we couldn't get ahold of her feet. It was crazy. We were able to get the TV and dvd player into a locked room, and then she began climbing up the bookshelves trying to kick more stuff off the higher shelves. Then she just sat up there, on the very top shelf until the cop came. And damn, was that funny. He came in all calm trying to talk to her, asking her what was wrong. Of course she ignored him. THen he just totally flips on her and screams at her "Have some respect for the law and these people trying to work with you and answer me when I'm talking to you. Act like an adult." ANd he pretty much lept across the pit and brought her crashing to the floor. I know my mouth was just wide open in shock! It was quite a sight. Then she just curled up into a ball and whimpered while he kept talking to her very loud and army like. It was great. Lesson learned, don't ever ignore a police officer!! He talked to her for a bit while we called clinician on call to get authorization to take her to be assessed at the hospital. They actually committed her, for 5 days minimum, for med evals and further psych assessment. Good job. =) Lord, what a crazy few days. My arms were so sore after that restraint! She's a freakin' strong little snot, I really am surprised that I was able to hold her with as much as she was fighting. Guess all that workin' out helped!! =) Now my back and shoulder muscles are really sore, I assume from that too. I got a nice massage last night though, so it's a bit better. =)

Goodness. Tuesday was chill after all that mess. And today was ok. I was all alone, no other staff except Tina, who floats everywhere. But, it was just the one girl, and while she has a lot of attitude and mouth, she's not much trouble at all. =) We went out and bought stuff to tie-dye shirts next week, YAY!

I know there was more to post about, but I'm going on 2.5 hours of sleep last night so my brain is fried!! I was up till 5:30, and then had to get up at 8am for team. It always happens that way on Tuesday nights, you'd think I'd have learned by now. Thank goodness I have a day of nothingness tomorrow. I need it. THis has been a very long week, both at work and out of work.. mom was in NY all week, so I was shuttling the dogs around before work and during work, so they could spend time outside and get fed and walked and stuff. They did ok SUnday without me coming to let them out, but I felt bad. And, since it's been calm since then, it hasn't been a big deal to sneak out for 45 mins. Rah.

More later