A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. --Forest E. Witcraft

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Pretty in Pink

Precious is sporting a hot pink cast on her leg.  She will have it for three weeks.  Apparently her bone should completely heal by then, four weeks total.  The doctor said that she will then walk funny for up to two weeks due to being in the cast.  After that, she should be good as new.  She seems to be doing just fine!  Here's hoping and praying all goes exactly as planned!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Jumping Queen

Sweets told me today that she had won an award.  Two of them, actually.  It seems that her school was having jump rope competitions in each class as part of their Red Ribbon Week, themed "A Healthy Me is Drug Free".

Each class had three jump rope competitions: single (yourself turning and jumping), long rope (you jump while two others turn), and double dutch.  Sweets won the first TWO!

She said she jumped for 15 minutes in single, longer than anyone else.  She then went last in long rope, and the teacher told her she could stop after 5 minutes because she had beaten all her classmates again.  By the time her double dutch turn started, she said she was so tired, she messed up after only a couple minutes.

Note that Sweets does not jump rope on a regular basis.  In fact, she is not a fan of too much exercise, other than swimming in the summer.  This is huge, and a big boost in her self-esteem.

I'm really proud of her and let her know.  Congratulations, Sweets!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Arrow of Light

Buddy received his Arrow of Light award in Cub Scouts tonight.
This is the highest honor a Cub Scout can achieve. 

He only joined Cub Scouts in August of last year.

They had an awesome outdoor ceremony 
given by the Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts.

Congratulations, Buddy!

Monday, October 21, 2013

First Time

I've been a foster parent for almost twenty years.

It has never happened before.

I knew it was only a matter of time.

We have our first broken bone.

Poor baby.

Unfortunately, Precious is the recipient.

Her right tibia has a clean break but is still aligned.

She and BB crashed into each other on the trampoline.

Pretty sure it could have happened in the living room.

For now, she has a splint.

I just love doctor's appointments!

Dare I say that I am happy she is adopted and not a foster child?
Too much paperwork!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Early Start

BB is having fun with old costumes.


Here he has declared himself a witch.


The wig is the final touch!

Monday, October 14, 2013

ENOUGH

Today was one of those days.

From the minute I walked in the door about 4:30pm until the little ones went to sleep, there was crying, fussing, screaming, fighting, whining, and attitude.

Enough already!

We made it.  Everyone is in bed.  I talked with each of the big kids before they went to bed.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Finally, It Made It!

Miracle's case has finally been transferred
to the adoptions unit!

We have the same adoption case manager
that we had for Precious' case.

YEAH!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Change and Adjustment

We are attempting to settle into a new normal around here. Nine months ago I thought this year would be a little easier, calmer, and that more would get done (all those pesky piles and projects that keep building up). Well, this year hasn't turned out that way at all.

First, I've had some health issues that have slowed me down. I'm fine for now, but I just can't move as quickly as I used to. Unfortunately, this culminated a few weeks ago when I pushed it and seriously pulled a muscle in my side. It hurt even to breathe. I had to call in reinforcements and begged my parents to please come help. Thankfully, they are awesome and came as soon as they could. My mom has been here ever since, helping wherever she can. I'm doing much better but have to constantly remind myself not to push things.  This is HARD.

Second, we added our precious Miracle to our family. I wouldn't change this for the world. She is truly the easiest baby ever, but another child, especially an infant, is more work. The other kids have had to adjust too. The big ones help quite a bit, but there is also some whining and complaining associated. The little ones have to be watched to make sure they don't smother their little sister with love!

Third, our wonderful nanny of over five years, Miss M, let me know in the spring that she would be leaving later this year. This was a hard decision for her to pursue other avenues in her life. I spent hours and hours on the computer researching and looking for a new nanny, as well as sending out feelers in every direction I could. After many interviews and a couple of dead ends, we finally found a super new nanny with all the right experience. She has been helping us out for about a month and has now assumed the full-time nanny position.

Fourth, the school situation has changed this fall.  BB now attends developmental preschool three mornings a week and goes to daycare those afternoons. He and Precious and Miracle have therapy the other two mornings and stay home for naps in the afternoon. Buddy switched to the elementary school campus of the Christian school where May has attended junior high for the last two years, and May started high school on the junior/senior high campus. They both ride the school bus for over thirty minutes each way, but so far that is working out fine.

Fifth, we added a dog, Daisy, to our family about a month ago. She is a perfect fit! She is well trained, mellow, but still likes to play. Daisy is about four years old and lived at a rescue shelter for four months before we found her.

Finally, Sweets' dad is both more and less of a challenge to deal with than in the past. More because he is unpredictable and avoids talking directly to me whenever possible. He talks through Sweets but plays her as a pawn along the way. Less because he is less involved most of the time. Since bio mom moved in last spring, he seems to be gone most of the waking hours, but he still insists upon control and decision making (as in bio mom can't make any decision that has an effect longer than bedtime). So, most of the time I just tell him when I will pick Sweets up and bring her home. Sometimes though, he gets upset with her and tells her she can't go anymore because she has been gone too much. Usually that fades before the following weekend but just upsets her in between. The never ending saga!