I had a lovely visit with my brother, his wife and my nephew.  I'll write about everything another day but everything is good and I'm thankful for that.

Penticton is a beautiful place but hot as hell.  I walked a couple of days on this trail and enjoyed it very much.  The trail runs along the lake and through vineyards.

On the drive home yesterday I got a message from Jack's grandma.  She had left Jack with Gracie for one night, because they switched nights.  When she called in the morning to say she was on her way to pick up Jack, Gracie sounded off.  Grandma raced over there; nobody would answer the phone, to buzz her into the bulding.  Somebody finally let her into the building, when they were either coming or going.  She knocked on the apartment door but nobody would answer.  She finally told Jack, through the door, that it was her, and he let her in.  Jack had a tablet that he was playing on, and his mom and her drug buddy were passed out on a bed.  The phone was smashed.  She took Jack with her and then contacted me.  Jack is not going back there for weekends, and grandma and auntie are in agreement with this.  I'll have to contact our lawyer on Monday because we'll have to go back to court.

And Jack, he's kind of withdrawn today and cries easily.  Last night he was doing his blinking thing, which is his tell that he's stressed.  We're being gentle with him and he goes back to the psychologist in a few weeks.  Hubby and I are angry and stressed.  I'm exhausted and my shoulders are tight as hell, but this will pass.  I'm going to ask our lawyer about terminating Gracie's parental rights; I would never stop him from visiting her but it seems unlikely that she will ever be in a place where she can raise him.  

I guess we'll see what happens.  Gracie did phone her mom and wanted to know when she was dropping Jack off for this weekend.  Her mom told her, that is not happening, so good for grandma.  It took awhile but it seems she is fully on team Jack.  

To be honest, we knew this would happen eventually.  Gracie usually goes off the rails around this time of year, every year.  She still doesn't have job, and she no longer gets any child benefits for Jack because they have been transferred to me.  When I asked her if she had a job, back in July, she told me that she had a boyfriend who supports her.  I'm guessing he's out of the picture if she's passed out in bed with her old drug buddy, the one who lives with his mom.  So, no money and no boyfriend now.

Sigh.  I need a walk.