Finally getting warm!

My dad purchased us one of these:

Guilt gift? Maybe, but its still AWESOME! Amish made fireplace, its called a heat surge, compact so it fits nicely in our apartment. LOVE IT!

Some improvements...

OK, so I had a parent/teacher conference and the news was not good...they think something more may be going on with Maddie, as in maybe my friends husband did something more. I got Maddie in to talk to someone last week and it went very well. Took her out to the Olive Garden first, which she said was "lovely" then to the book store and finally to Hobby Lobby to pick up some crafts for her to do. The appointment went well, she didn't really open up, but she liked the lady and has asked to go back...this is good news.

Last week at the laundry mat, there was a little boy there that had been giving Maddie problems at school. When I mentioned something to the school they said "we don't like to approach him because he's very emotional, just ask Maddie to stay away from him"....great, thanks a-holes. So she walked up to this kid in the laundry mat and said "you're mean" and walked away. This little boys father then started yelling at Maddie (a man, and a stranger!). Needless to say, I went ape shit, and that's putting it mildly. I don't consider myself tall really, 5'9", but I towered over this guy by almost a foot. I had some harsh words for him for yelling at my child and then he started yelling at me. I offered to step outside with him (not one of my finer, more mature moments...and afterward I apologized to everyone in the laundry mat for having to witness it). Then I said the magic words...I said we recognized his son from school and that he's been picking on Maddie. He backed off immediately, I'm sure this wasn't the first time he's dealt with his sons behavior at school. Crisis averted, he was gone by the time we returned from the store. The following Wednesday his son went up to Maddie out of the blue and apologized to her. That's the same day she started telling me she loved me again and hugging and kissing me...I guess she needed to see me stand up for her. I'm quite lucky I didn't end up in jail actually, that would have pushed her over the edge.

I'm at the end of my rope...

The Doctor is calling back hopefully today with a recommendation for a counselor. I have been walking on eggshells with my daughter and I still have to deal with her telling me she hates me. I cant hug her, kiss her or tell her I love her. She has been throwing king size tantrums and actually got in my face today screaming at me...wow.