Life has been way too complicated to blog, yet that's what I should have been doing.  After months of progress Hailey has hit a bump.  She's been very med compliant, gone to all of her doctors appointments, addressed the legal problems that were looming (she did spend one night in jail on an outstanding warrant in February) and then Spring came.  If you're familiar with BP you know that changes in weather can mean a change in mood.  Hailey was able to put some pieces together and realize that she's always, "gotten arrested or taken off" during May or June.  About a month ago we started to see some problems with sleeping (BP'ers really need a solid 8 hours of sleep or trouble is brewing!).  Instead of addressing the problem with her psych, she took off to a friends house...and stayed.  So, for quite a few weeks now her med compliance has been iffy, sleep has been non-existent and she's started drinking...heavily.  Normally I'd be drowning in worry, but there's been one huge plus, she's kept in touch.  The pattern is, usually, that she goes off the skids and we don't see or hear from her in months - until things get so horrible that she's in danger.  This time she's talking!  Huge Progress!  When she's not with us she texts or Facebooks me regularly.  It's such a difference to be fearful and know where she is and to be terrified because I know she's in trouble, but don't know where she is or how to get to her. 
So now we have a plan.  We contacted her psych and counselor today and they both agree that fast action is needed.  Luckily she had a psych appointment today and came away with a script for a sleeping pill and an order for drug levels to be drawn - the proof is in the trough level!  We'll see if we can't get her some sleep and find out if she's been taking the meds with any regularity.  Another huge plus is the fact that she's on probation.  Normally, any experience we've had with the justice system has been horribly negative.  Our system does NOT know how to deal with the mentally ill.  The usual punishment/fine/jail time doesn't work when you're dealing with a person that DOES NOT learn from their mistakes.  The whole problem with BP is impulsive behavior.  When you're compelled to do something, and because of faulty brain chemistry, don't understand (at least while you're in the moment) that your actions will cause great harm, how will throwing a fine at you, or placing you in jail teach you anything?  Our courts need to use different methods for dealing with people who have an MI and that change needs to start with empathy...ok, off my soapbox!  So, this time we're using the court to get what we want.  Because she technically breaks her probation if she doesn't comply with her care plan, we're employing the carrot and stick.  Go to your doctor/counselor appointments and life is fine, blow them off and stop taking meds and out comes the stick.  The nice part is that it's out of our hands.  The court will kick in and bring the stick out!  For once, we're not the bad guys. 
All in all, Hailey is becoming more aware.  I never though I'd be typing that back in September!