Blended Household

Even before we purchased a house, we were aware that it may end up being a
blended household.  I was hoping my daughter and grandson could remain in her
house until the end of summer, but it just wasn't possible.  Her soon to be ex-husband
refused to keep up the necessary maintenance of their house, so the pipe that takes
sewage from the house to septic tank broke the very  first week.  That was a 490.00
repair, which we initially paid.  It was followed the very next week the demise of the
pump that pumps clean water through the house.  Again we paid for this.  Every week,
there was either an auto or home repair that she could not  pay for alone.  Nothing was
minor; everything was a major repair.  We turned the receipts into our lawyer,
who shared them with his lawyer.  He never paid us anything for all the repairs
and for the first two months of separation, November and December, she received
not one dime of child support.  My grandson is a special needs child: thus far he has
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pervasive (or Global) Developmental Delay,
Hypotonia, and Attention Deficit Disorder.  Her soon to be ex-husband did not want
him "labeled" and refused to let him be treated as he should have been from age 3.

Just this week he was examined by an orthopedic pediatric specialist and we were
told that he "had never seen such a degree of spaspicity in any other children but those
with CP  (Cerebral Palsy)."   Both my partner and I thought he had CP and Autism
by age 1, but he was not teasted for genetic diseases until age 2.  I asked about CP,
and was told he was tested for "everything" and all was negative. I thought everything
included CP.  I was mistaken.  Her nearly ex said to me, "He went through all those
tests for nothing."  I replied back, "Just because those tests are negative doesn't mean
there isn't something wrong with him."  He needed help, and my daughter and I knew
it, but she was scared of him.  Until things got so bad that she was afraid for her life
and the life of her son--then she took out papers and left him.

About 2  weeks after we moved in the Bird House, my daughter  and grandson
moved in also.  The way this  house is laid out, it works well for a blended
household while providing privacy for each family.  My daughter has one
entire end of the house--complete with hallway, large bathroom with linen
closet, and bedrooms which are spacious, with large closets.  Next is the
living room on one side of hallway.  On the other side is the kitchen and dining
area.  Off of dining area is the sunroom.  Then there is short hallway that
leads to the master bedroom, 2 large closets and the master bathroom.  In
the short hallway is the door to the already remodeled basement, my partner's
mancave and escape from the blended household.  Everyone has their own
TV--my grandson and I both have 32 " TV.  My daughter has a flat screen,
my partner has a huge HDTV in his mancave.  This way no one will drive
anyone nuts with too many cartoons, sports, or NCIS reruns (that would
be me--I have crush on Jethro).

The room everyone hangs out in is the sunroom.  And because of no TV in
that room, there are actual (faint) conversations, communication.  My grandson
has a curious mind and a fantastic memory--there are books about birds,
trees, plants, and his favorite, a book on Science and History. That book I
read to Bailey. 1-2 pages per day--if he wants me too.  We started with
solar energy.  I carefully broke down larger words and explained them to him.
He is fascinated by the ideas and facts within that book.  He really loved
the laser keyboard concept.

The sunroom is also the Nature  Center of the house. Though all the windows
have good views,  the views from the sunroom are more panaramic--and
yield more bird watching opportunities.