<font color="purple">Just needed to be where I know pple can relate.... Finally have some time to myself after three weeks of trying to adjust to our new family member...

I want to continue doing what I feel is the right thing to do and hang in there for the long haul in this sitaution but I just dont know if I can handle it mentally or emitionally anymore....

Pple already have stated that they see a positive change in her since she has been with us.... But I am starting to feel like I lost myself... My mind is yelling at me in so many directions, tones, and volumes that I can't make sense of it...

I believe she may be bipolar but b/c I do not have legal custody of her I cannot participate in her counseling that she attends and her dad lives thousand miles away.... We did get her into school and she has her own insurance, all under the homeless program, Its confusing b/c she is a minor that has not been emancipated, but conisdered head of her household yet cant make her own medical judgments... She is 17 BTW...

Anyway, her mood swings is an eye opener as to what my family deals with with me, but hers are starting to affect mine... I am exhausted... Her background is one you see in Lifetime movie of the week. She got herself into a hardcore street life...

But she is changing and doing pretty well... Still has many tweaks , but doing great.... Has a job, goes to school, and with the program she is in can graduate this year.... even tho she only has an 8th grade education....

I know its been an adjustment for her to live here and share attention with 4 other kids... They get along for the most part, again have typical "sibling" type issues....

I am drained... Maria, probably my strongest other, has been stepping up for me.... My husband Paul, God Bless him... He is being the typical "dad"... I just keep telling myself its only been three weeks... I prayed and believe that God really wants this, and that we are the match for her...

good thoughts and prayers would be great.... </font>