Vacation

We had a great four day vacation to San Diego! We spent a day at Lego*land and another day at the beach and in the pool.  We visited good friends and the kids all played together fabulously!  More details to come...

Diving

Sweets and Buddy both went to diving practice at the YMCA tonight.  This is Buddy's third practice, but Sweets' first this year.  The instructor is the same one they had two years ago.  We skipped diving last summer.  Sweets was so excited to see her!

Both kids did amazingly well.  Sweets has always been my little daredevil.  She first went off the high dive at age 4.  Buddy, on the other hand, is very cautious, but tonight he was all in.  He did a running front flip off the diving board, multiple times!  Sweets jumped off the high dive backwards!  This is going to be a fun season.

I picked Sweets up after school today, because we are leaving in the morning for a long weekend vacation.  She missed our spring break trip, but she is very excited about this vacation!  Her dad was fine with letting her go - no hassle at all this time.  Southern California, here we come!

Update on BB

BB is now 14 months old.  I can't believe time has flown so fast!

He is toddling around quite well.  He loves to carry things, especially anything with batteries, buttons, or a handle!  He is definitely getting a mind of his own and will do what you want and then turn around and do the opposite, like reopening a cupboard door after you get him to close it.

BB has seven teeth now, although I think the eighth one is coming in soon.  He has struggled with eating recently, but as of now, I'm blaming it on teething, because he ate very well today. 

He is making all kinds of sounds and babbles a lot, but he has no words.  He does not repeat sounds on demand, but he seems to be able to make all the age appropriate sounds on his terms.  We now have a referral for a hearing eval and a speech eval.  I have the first scheduled, but I'm still waiting on a call back for the second.

The adoption case manager visited yesterday.  We jointly decided to wait to file the adoption petition with the court until after these evaluations are done.  It's a paperwork decision so things won't have to get filed, updated, or approved twice.  Plus she is on vacation for three weeks starting tomorrow, so not much would get done in the next month anyway.

Bottom line, BB is where he will stay.  It is just a matter of time before all the legalities catch up!

Such a Difference

Last night was the kids' second and final Children's Chorus concert this season.  Again, it was awesome except for the inconsiderate person who left their cell phone on somewhere in the theater! 

Here are my kiddos after the concert last night:

May's bio dad purchased a ticket and spent two hours on public transportation to come to the concert.  He made the Christmas performance too.  Last spring he purchased tickets but ended up missing the concert, only because he ended up in the ER that day.  He totally enjoyed this concert and bragged on all three of my kids, not just his daughter!

Sweets' bio dad didn't buy a ticket, and I wasn't about to buy another one for him after he didn't come to the Christmas concert.  He lives only about five miles from this theater, and his vehicle is currently in working order.  He just got paid on Thursday, but for some reason, he chose not to come to the concert.  When I took Sweets home last night after the concert (her school is still in session), he was sleeping.

Does anyone see a problem with this picture?

Side note: Prior to the concert, I helped check uniforms backstage and discovered, as I tried to sew on buttons missing from a couple of the boys' suit coats, that I can't see well enough to thread a needle even with my contacts. Arghh!

Awesome Concert!

May, Sweets, and Buddy are in the middle of their spring concert weekend for Children's Chorus.  Last night was a 2 1/2 hour rehearsal to stage Sunday's concert at the theater in a performing arts center (about 40 miles from home).  This afternoon was the dress rehearsal at a church for the other concert (about 60 miles away).  Today they rehearsed for almost 2 hours in uniform, had a short break, and at 7pm started the concert which lasted over 2 hours.  It was AWESOME! 

Almost 300 kids, ages 7 to 17, grouped in four different choirs performed.  Sweets and Buddy are in the first choir; May is in the second; the third and fourth choirs are touring choirs that go on a trip in June to perform somewhere in world (different every year).  In the spring concert, each choir sings about four pieces, plus they sang two combined numbers with all of the choirs.  Again, it was AWESOME! 

I worked backstage for tonight's performance.  For the last two years, I have helped with uniforms, especially checking them right before the performances.  This time I did that plus stayed with one of the choirs and escorted them back and forth from their holding room to the stage.  Luckily there were several parents, but that was hard work, especially the part trying to keep them quiet while they wait in the wings!  They all did AWESOME! 

The kids came home tonight, had a snack, and crashed!  It has been a very busy weekend, but this group is such a wonderful and educational experience for them.  I am really looking forward to sitting in the audience and enjoying tomorrow's concert! 

School's Out!

At least for May and Buddy, school is out.  The school ended the year with a pool party at the YMCA this morning.  I can't believe I now have a 7th grader and a 3rd grader!  How fast time goes by.

Nieces and Nephews

Tonight we went out for dinner with my good friend and my sister.  Buddy told my sister that if we adopt more kids after BB, she would have LOTS of nieces and nephews.  My sister replied that she thought we were done adopting.  Quickly Buddy corrected her, saying that we can't be done because BB is not adopted yet.  My sister rephrased her statement and said we were done adopting after BB was adopted.  Buddy's answer: Only mom can make that decision!  :-)

Lunch

Today we met May's bio dad for lunch.  He's come a long way in the last 10+ years.  He has always loved his daughter but has never been in a position to raise her.  May and he have been building a relationship over the last few years since he has gotten his life together. 

We see her dad a few times a year.  When May was little, we would go to a movie or a pizza place with games.  Usually now we go to a restaurant where we can talk more.  Her dad came to her Chorus concert in December and got tickets from me today for the big concert next week. 

Sometimes just May and I go meet him, but usually it is all of us like today.  He includes the other kids in his conversations and accepts us all as May's family.  He is very gracious and appreciative of the life May leads.  He continually thanks me and is very proud of her.  I'm grateful he is part of our life!

Class of 2011

Most of my law school friends graduated today.  Congratulations!  I wish you all the best and I don't envy the bar preparation that will consume you for the next 2+ months.

Had I not decided to cut back to half time, I would have graduated too.  I don't regret my decision.  Every day when I love on BB, I reaffirm my decision.  Class of 2013 anyone?

My Day

• Took kids to school; ate breakfast on the way.
• Rushed to work and read mountain of email that piled up after I left yesterday.
• Juggled work and making phone calls necessary for school assignment.
• Found someone else to handle appointment at school this afternoon so I could stay at work.
• Skipped lunch.
• Scheduled appointment to get van evaluated at repair shop.
• Rushed out of work to pick kids up from school.
• Finalized meeting with May's bio dad for this weekend.
• Talked with May's teacher about finals and next year.
• Brought Buddy home; said hello to BB.
• Took May to doctor's appointment.
• Drove Buddy and May to swimming lessons.
• Completed enrollment for May, Buddy, and Sweets in Children's Chorus for next year.
• Coordinated ride for Sweets to Chorus.
• Brought dinner home.
• Gave BB a bath and settled him in bed.
• Put Buddy to bed.
• Cleaned up kitchen.
• Monitored May's homework as she studied for her math final tomorrow.
• Set up a ride home from school tomorrow for May and Buddy.
• Ushered May to bed.
• Folded laundry; threw a load of towels in the washer.
• Caught up on the computer and updated blog.

Can I go to bed now?

Please Call ASAP

Receiving a voice mail from anyone regarding my kids that says, "Please call me back as soon as you can" always gives me anxiety.  Today it was justified.

Miss M called me about 3pm.  Luckily, I picked up the message at work about ten minutes later.  I could tell from her voice that she was stressed.  I called her back right away.  Someone had rear-ended her and BB in the van while she was stopped at a traffic light on the way to pick up the kids from school. 

I ran out of work; the accident was less than three miles away.  The police officer was getting information and writing the report as I pulled up.  Miss M was so worried about BB, but he was just fine.  I called his doctor, who said just to monitor him and look out for extra fussiness over the next couple days.  After Miss M recognized that BB was okay, she realized her back was really sore and getting worse.  No one was hurt in the other vehicle, but the lady was obviously very upset and worried.  The good news - she has current insurance from a reputable company!

Miss M and I managed to get both cars to the school parking lot just down the street.  I went in and picked up May and Buddy from after care.  Then we took Miss M to the ER to get checked out.  I'll worry about picking up my car tomorrow.

The latest report from Miss M is that she will feel worse before she feels better.  She is getting some really good medicine, but she won't be able to drive for a couple of days.  We'll play it by ear tomorrow; I'll make my schedule work to take the kids to/from school.  At least I can flex my schedule this week, as opposed to having a final I must take like most semesters! 

The kids are okay, Miss M will recover (soon, I hope), and the van will get fixed.  Praise God that nothing more serious happened.  I'll just add one more thing to the juggling act!  :-)

To Be a Mom

While in high school, I went on a church retreat where we were partnered up with another youth and asked to talk about our future.  I was asked what my goal was in life.  The expected answer was a career path.  My answer: to be a mom.

Now, many, many, many years later, I am celebrating Mother's Day as a mom once again.  I achieved my goal.  Seventeen children have called me mom; four are here to stay.

By the grace and blessings of God, I have a wonderful family.  This is not what I planned or envisioned back in high school.  It is even BETTER.  I believe God carefully selected my children.  It is not a coincidence that any of them ended up with me.  Each one has enriched my life in ways I could never imagine.  Thank you, God, for Your plan!

Happy Mother's Day

 

I am so blessed to have my mother!

She has been instrumental in me becoming who I am today, and I thank her for raising me and teaching me along the way.

No, we didn't always see eye to eye.
No, we weren't always that close.
No, I didn't like all of her decisions. 
But, she was always well intentioned, striving to make the best decisions possible, and looking out for my well being to a fault! 

My mother showed me...
how to love selflessly,
how to work hard,
how to put others before yourself,
how to do your best,
how to prioritize,
how to care for those in need,
how to keep on going.

Today we are much closer.  I think I stress my mom out with all that I take on, but she supports me anyway!  She is a wonderful grandmother to all of my children (even though some of them leaving has broken her heart).  She still looks out for me and wraps me under her wing.  My mom is the best!

Thank you, Mother!  I love you!

Milestones

BB is fully mobile on his feet now, preferring walking to crawling almost all the time.  He is so cute as he toddles along, arms raised and outstretched.  His face is usually sporting a great big grin!

Tonight at dinner BB impressed us all by drinking water through a straw.  Yes, a kid's cup with lid with a full length straw!  This is huge, since he doesn't do well with most sippy cups.  Maybe we will just skip them!

Awesome Birthday Dinner

I took May out for her birthday dinner to the Melting P*t, a delicious fondue restaurant.  It was just the two of us for a very special evening.  We had a wonderful time and some good conversation.  She is turning in to such a lovely young lady.  I can't believe she is 12 already!  Yet, based on her maturity, sometimes she seems even older.

May will get to celebrate her birthday multiple times over the next week.  She received a nice text message (via my cell phone) from her bio dad this morning and was able to talk with him this afternoon.  Today we also brought a sheet cake to the end-of-the-year church children's choir party to celebrate.  Later she and I went out for dinner.  Tomorrow she'll take donuts to school to celebrate.  Thursday her tutor will likely take her out for a treat.

Next Saturday is her celebration with friends - swimming and birthday party at the YMCA.  The big family event will be next Sunday on Mother's Day.  It seems we have gotten into the mode of celebrating her birthday (which is the week before), my birthday (which is the week after), and Mother's Day at the same time when the family can all get together. 

She seems to be feeling a lot better.  I've heard her laugh more in the last couple days than she has for a while.  Hopefully that is a really good sign.  Let's hope she can make it through without a meltdown when I insist she clean her room again!