I haven't done a run down of the boys in while so here it goes.

CD has mild out a bit since last year. Stays in his seat at school mostly. When he raged he now cries or yells out a few choice words at us. If all goes well he'll be leaving us for a foster family soon.

PM is has been isolating himself lately. Sending more time in his room then in the past. I can't complain. Because he has his habit of when a another resident is raging going turning to me and saying “hit me”. Then he'll start slapping and if you don't get a hold of him soon enough he'll either pull at your clothes or strip. Obviously reliving past abuse.

SB stole 300 dollars from his grandparents last Christmas and went on a shopping spree. His punishment was no weekend home visits for a month and he has to hand over his allowance to his grandparents for awhile. Very manic recently as he was the one who got so upset over that book.

CH still can't help himself around cell phones. Stole another one recently, called 911, then handled the phone to EG to do all the talking. He likes this yogurt that I've been buying and if he is good I'll give him one. He had the nerve last night to ask me for one. Yeah he had a fairly good day but he just got caught stealing. Told him not to expect any yogurt from me for awhile. He stuck his lip out and told EG was the one who stole the cell. Still won't own up to his poor choices. Residential treatment is what is keeping him alive now. If tries to leave at 18 like he's talking he'll get eaten alive out there.

JJ is the newest resident. He's a bit loud and tells PM at to say inappropriate things. Plus he appears to be grooming TS for future sexual activity. They both have histories of abuse. We just have there rooms on separate hallways. Try to keep a close watch on them.

TS is new also. Suffers from several head injuries due to the constant abuse of his birth mother. It was reported that she'd beat him when he made a sound and kept in the closest. His foster mom wouldn't say no to be. So now TS has a bit of a problem when hearing that word. He'll bit and pull at his skin. Even bang his head against a wall when is full crisis mode. We're trying but those first few years of life are hard to erase.

EG will be moving back to Southern Missouri in May not because he's doing well. He got frustrated just last week and broke an alarm at school costing 1,200 dollars. But because they haven't the funds in the small town he's from to keep him at ECH. So he's going back to his parents were there is suspected sexual abuse. He'll write letters to his mother that sound like ones you would give a girlfriend. For Christmas he gave me this large white bear holding a heart. EG has some mother issues. Also is easily lend into doing this like walking into a convenience store with a gun. He's not going to stabilize by May and he is not far from turning 18. I just don't see a pleasant future for him at the moment.

JB is will soon be diagnosed with schizophrenia when he reaches 18. Loves animals and can be very sweet at times. But his thoughts can be twisted in his head and the whole world can be mad at him. This then causes some aggression of which my back has just now recovered from.

As for the one I'm living with Alan. At the moment he is taking the lay off well. Started baking bread while I'm at work. Says he's going to start painting more. In between he has applied for jobs. Monday night I opened the door to the car to have a snowball thrown at me. Last night after we park the car in our apartment's basement garage. He called he over to listen to how quiet it was outside with all the snow absorbing the sound. I looked at him and again thought we're going to make it through this. We have to. I love him too much to be separated by like money.