Today went great. We woke up late (after 7!) and had breakfast, medicine, baths, and then played. We took a trip to Wal-Mart and grabbed lunch to bring home.
We watched movies, played, and had a good time. It's not all roses, and they are definitely trying to test us in little ways, but nothing bad. J tried to only eat sweets today, but once he found out there was no ice cream until an HOUR after dinner, he went ahead and ate the spaghetti.
T has been really emotional, clingy, and wanting to be picked up A LOT. After two back surgeries I am willing to tell her OK a few times, but definitely not all the time.
I have watched too much PBS and Noggin today... :-)
After dinner, Matthew and I made another movie night with the Little Mermaid, and the kids cuddled up and we all laughed at the funny parts. The grown ups even did a little singing!
Tonight's bedtime was a little harder, as T was not in any mood to be happy about having her own room, and cried for a solid half hour about her desire to sleep on the couch. I finally convinced her to lay down and I would come check on her in two minutes to see how good she was doing. I waited about 5 minutes and she was fast asleep, a good 30 minutes before I had hoped they would be asleep! J gives us no problems as long as he can play his game, which I am OK with since he is on vacation from school.
Tomorrow is 2009! I can't believe it! Matthew has to work and I am not sure that we will be doing more than what we did today, since I am coming down with a mega-sore throat.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
It's Official!
Well, today was THE DAY.
I took the day off from work and ran all of my errands. We went and watched my nephew's basketball practice last night and brought my sister home to spend the night. So, I had her to go around with me today and do all of my little things.
We went to J & T's foster family and picked up a carload of stuff.. with much more (I'm told) left to bring over. We unloaded, sorted, put away all of the clothes and toys. It was so exciting.. and I was so nervous. I cleaned the house... again.. and it did make me feel better.
When Matthew came home we picked them up from daycare and got to talk to the lady there for a while, which was nice.
T wanted to be held, and whispered to me "we are going to be your parents now", which was the most precious thing ever! J said he was coming to live with us now. What joy!
We ate a quick and easy dinner at McDonald's (yes, we are awful.. but they have been begging to go since we met them!) and they got out a lot of energy on the playground. We came home and played with all of the toys, some old, some new, and some T kept saying.. "I have this at my house!", to which I replied, "yes, that's exactly where I found it!" I guess she was still a little confused about it all.
We did her breathing treatment and Matthew and J hung out and had ice cream while me and T headed to the grocery store. We even made a song for the occasion:
We're going to the grocery store, doo dah, doo dah
We're going to the grocery store, oh the doo dah day!
When we got home and unloaded the car it was PJ and toothbrush time, and then off to their rooms. It was still only a little after eight, so I told them to play in their rooms and then go to bed when they were sleepy.
After only one round of "we need water" they were silently playing away by themselves, in their own rooms.
I checked in at nine and T had climbed into bed and was already fast asleep. J was in the bed with his light off, but was still playing with his little handheld v-smile game. I could not have asked for a better first day!
I took the day off from work and ran all of my errands. We went and watched my nephew's basketball practice last night and brought my sister home to spend the night. So, I had her to go around with me today and do all of my little things.
We went to J & T's foster family and picked up a carload of stuff.. with much more (I'm told) left to bring over. We unloaded, sorted, put away all of the clothes and toys. It was so exciting.. and I was so nervous. I cleaned the house... again.. and it did make me feel better.
When Matthew came home we picked them up from daycare and got to talk to the lady there for a while, which was nice.
T wanted to be held, and whispered to me "we are going to be your parents now", which was the most precious thing ever! J said he was coming to live with us now. What joy!
We ate a quick and easy dinner at McDonald's (yes, we are awful.. but they have been begging to go since we met them!) and they got out a lot of energy on the playground. We came home and played with all of the toys, some old, some new, and some T kept saying.. "I have this at my house!", to which I replied, "yes, that's exactly where I found it!" I guess she was still a little confused about it all.
We did her breathing treatment and Matthew and J hung out and had ice cream while me and T headed to the grocery store. We even made a song for the occasion:
We're going to the grocery store, doo dah, doo dah
We're going to the grocery store, oh the doo dah day!
When we got home and unloaded the car it was PJ and toothbrush time, and then off to their rooms. It was still only a little after eight, so I told them to play in their rooms and then go to bed when they were sleepy.
After only one round of "we need water" they were silently playing away by themselves, in their own rooms.
I checked in at nine and T had climbed into bed and was already fast asleep. J was in the bed with his light off, but was still playing with his little handheld v-smile game. I could not have asked for a better first day!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Never-ending ground beef.
We had a really fantastic day today. Slept in, had breakfast, playtime, watched cartoons, bathed, went out to lunch to Chik-fil-A, played at a playground, and then came home. Matthew and J went out for ice cream and some groceries, we all settled in to watch Lilo & Stitch and had popcorn. It was way too good to be true...
We had homemade tacos for dinner tonight. I've now seen the meal twice.
We were doing so good tonight! The kids were in their beds by 7:30 and asleep a little before 8.. and no one was asleep on the couch, or crying.. a feat!
So, after chores and watching some non-cartoon TV, Matthew and I headed for bed around 8:30.
Poor J could not stop coughing. We had two little sick kids this weekend, and the chest congestion was just not getting better, and they were being medicated routinely.
So, when I heard a "Miss Samantha!" from across the hall, I knew I was in for trouble. I am just very thankful that Matthew had not fell asleep yet. J had vomit billowing out of his mouth like the scene in the horror movie where bugs or something creepy fly out of someone. Up his nose, in his ears, and with his poor little head resting in a pool of yuck. It touched every piece of bedding, and every piece of clothing.
Matthew got him into the shower, I got started on the massive pile of laundry. Thank goodness for the vinyl mattress protectors I had bought at Wal-Mart.
Our nice big front loading washer is crappy on a tiny twin comforter! I was so dismayed at the lack of cleaning it did! I had to wash that booger twice!
Another load for the pajamas, sheets & pillowcases. Two more loads for the pillows. 5 loads to do! I am waiting on my 4th right now.
We moved J to the couch, where he could get elevated. We sat together for a while when I was changing over the loads and watched Mr. Magorium. He fell asleep, then T woke up and came in there and woke him up.. ick. For once she goes to sleep in her own bed, and then gets upset to find J on the couch (where she wanted to be). So, I put her back (yes, there were tears) and I lay down on the bed beside her, and it only took about 3 minutes until she was out and I could go back to doing chores.
There were little pieces of yucked-up taco-ground-beef all over the tub, the bathroom floor, the laundry room floor, the inside of the washing machine, the inside of the dryer, the lint trap.. goodness! How could two tiny tacos from dinner find their way into so many places?!?! I've been picking up yuck-ed up food for over an hour.. tiny, microscopic pieces of beef.
Finally, everyone is asleep. The disadvantage of having a tee-tiny house is that every time you breathe, you run the risk of waking someone up!
But, these sheets don't wash themselves.
We had homemade tacos for dinner tonight. I've now seen the meal twice.
We were doing so good tonight! The kids were in their beds by 7:30 and asleep a little before 8.. and no one was asleep on the couch, or crying.. a feat!
So, after chores and watching some non-cartoon TV, Matthew and I headed for bed around 8:30.
Poor J could not stop coughing. We had two little sick kids this weekend, and the chest congestion was just not getting better, and they were being medicated routinely.
So, when I heard a "Miss Samantha!" from across the hall, I knew I was in for trouble. I am just very thankful that Matthew had not fell asleep yet. J had vomit billowing out of his mouth like the scene in the horror movie where bugs or something creepy fly out of someone. Up his nose, in his ears, and with his poor little head resting in a pool of yuck. It touched every piece of bedding, and every piece of clothing.
Matthew got him into the shower, I got started on the massive pile of laundry. Thank goodness for the vinyl mattress protectors I had bought at Wal-Mart.
Our nice big front loading washer is crappy on a tiny twin comforter! I was so dismayed at the lack of cleaning it did! I had to wash that booger twice!
Another load for the pajamas, sheets & pillowcases. Two more loads for the pillows. 5 loads to do! I am waiting on my 4th right now.
We moved J to the couch, where he could get elevated. We sat together for a while when I was changing over the loads and watched Mr. Magorium. He fell asleep, then T woke up and came in there and woke him up.. ick. For once she goes to sleep in her own bed, and then gets upset to find J on the couch (where she wanted to be). So, I put her back (yes, there were tears) and I lay down on the bed beside her, and it only took about 3 minutes until she was out and I could go back to doing chores.
There were little pieces of yucked-up taco-ground-beef all over the tub, the bathroom floor, the laundry room floor, the inside of the washing machine, the inside of the dryer, the lint trap.. goodness! How could two tiny tacos from dinner find their way into so many places?!?! I've been picking up yuck-ed up food for over an hour.. tiny, microscopic pieces of beef.
Finally, everyone is asleep. The disadvantage of having a tee-tiny house is that every time you breathe, you run the risk of waking someone up!
But, these sheets don't wash themselves.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Weekend visit!
We've been able to arrange a longer visit this weekend, and we will have the kids until Sunday after lunch... WooHoo!
I am so happy :-)
I am so happy :-)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
presents!
We had a wonderful time with Matthew's parents, exchanging gifts, and snacking on good food :-)
Matthew got a ladder, suspenders, a wooden rosary, and the most awesome croc work shoes ever! We both got a heater blanket, and it is great.
I was given three bracelets! A handmade beaded bracelet from my Mother-in-law, and a Holy Family Rosary bracelet, and a Pandora bracelet (ooooh, aaaaah, I'm already addicted!). I am now all bling-ed out!
I also got some books on adoption, and an adoption pendant, neat-o!
Here is me bragging on my bracelets:
Merry Christmas!
Midnight Mass was excellent, and we are so happy to have gone! It will probably be our last for a couple of years, since this was our official "last Christmas without kids"! 2009 will bring two new members into our family, and we are so blessed! How exciting...
For the longest the two kid's bedrooms remained closed, and now it is so wonderful to walk through the house and have the light pouring through their windows and lighting up the rest of the house.
Matthew left out early to find a store open. I needed to stay here and take care of things, and we still needed a few things. He is so sweet. Can you believe everything was shut down? I thought for sure there would be some store open. Oh well, we will pick things up in TN as we go to do Christmas with his parents.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Overnight
Tuesday after work I went and picked up our kids (J & T) at daycare. It was so great to see them so soon after our last visit and know that this whole transition thing is moving right along. They are so awesome!
We came home and played, colored, watched Stuart Little, ate, took medicine, read one book six times (at their request, and with J reading the entire book each time.. so smart!), and decided on bed arrangements (which changed over the course of the night). They stayed up a little later than I had planned (10:00!), but everything was still kind of new and they could not stop talking :-)Have I mentioned how great these kids are? I stayed up and did laundry, dishes, and straightened up.
At 3:30 a.m. I heard some talking and went to the kitchen to find both of them sitting very happily at the kitchen table, coloring in their coloring books. They said they were not sleepy and wondered what was for breakfast! I told them they could color for 5 minutes, and then back to bed, which they did without question. Ten minutes later and they were once again in dreamland.
Matthew had to work today so he was gone at 6:40 a.m. and the kids were up and at the table by 7:15. We ate a good-sized breakfast, Apple Jacks, eggs, and bologna (just J). Baths, clothes, medicine, teeth brushing, and out the door! We went to Chick-fil-A and played at their indoor playground, (which they loved) to kill some time, and then they had to go home again.
I cannot wait until Friday night when we get them again! Poor Matthew had to leave so early this morning he missed out on a lot of the fun, although he told me this morning he was excited to help more on Friday/Saturday. It's getting harder now to fill the time in between visits... :-( I guess we are just getting attached, it's so very easy with them.
I am not certain about what the next few weeks will hold. Right now we are still letting the kids get comfortable with knowing us and the house, pets, etc. They think we are just babysitting, which it best for now.
Please join us in praying for them and for the family they will be leaving. I know that we will be keeping in contact with them for their sake, since they have a biological sister staying behind, but it is going to be really rough on our two.
(I did ask around and apparently it is OK to put pics of foster kids on blogs, with precautions, YaY! - but they are down due to request)
We came home and played, colored, watched Stuart Little, ate, took medicine, read one book six times (at their request, and with J reading the entire book each time.. so smart!), and decided on bed arrangements (which changed over the course of the night). They stayed up a little later than I had planned (10:00!), but everything was still kind of new and they could not stop talking :-)Have I mentioned how great these kids are? I stayed up and did laundry, dishes, and straightened up.
At 3:30 a.m. I heard some talking and went to the kitchen to find both of them sitting very happily at the kitchen table, coloring in their coloring books. They said they were not sleepy and wondered what was for breakfast! I told them they could color for 5 minutes, and then back to bed, which they did without question. Ten minutes later and they were once again in dreamland.
Matthew had to work today so he was gone at 6:40 a.m. and the kids were up and at the table by 7:15. We ate a good-sized breakfast, Apple Jacks, eggs, and bologna (just J). Baths, clothes, medicine, teeth brushing, and out the door! We went to Chick-fil-A and played at their indoor playground, (which they loved) to kill some time, and then they had to go home again.
I cannot wait until Friday night when we get them again! Poor Matthew had to leave so early this morning he missed out on a lot of the fun, although he told me this morning he was excited to help more on Friday/Saturday. It's getting harder now to fill the time in between visits... :-( I guess we are just getting attached, it's so very easy with them.
I am not certain about what the next few weeks will hold. Right now we are still letting the kids get comfortable with knowing us and the house, pets, etc. They think we are just babysitting, which it best for now.
Please join us in praying for them and for the family they will be leaving. I know that we will be keeping in contact with them for their sake, since they have a biological sister staying behind, but it is going to be really rough on our two.
(I did ask around and apparently it is OK to put pics of foster kids on blogs, with precautions, YaY! - but they are down due to request)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Fun at Work
My favorite Christmas present is this little game given to me by my Nephew. It is my favorite game when we played the Wii Carnival games. He was so thoughtful to buy it for my desk, and I have been amusing myself for days!
Monday, December 22, 2008
You know you're getting old when...
You know you're getting old when...
you try on 20 pairs of shoes and end up buying a pair of easy spirits!
Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
gift bags.. simple, easy. but for kids, paper.. because it is fun!
2. Real tree or Artificial?
fake tree!
3. When do you put up the tree?
shortly into December
4. When do you take the tree down?
after Epiphany
5. Do you like eggnog?
Not me, Matthew does though.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
NKOTB stuff.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Whoever's name I draw at work.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Family.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. I didn't dig it out this year though.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mailed.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
can't remember.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Home Alone
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Whenever I find something!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Duh, yep..shhh...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
those white choc. covered oreos.
16. Lights on the tree; colored or white?
either
17. Favorite Christmas song?
it was o come, o come, Emmanuel, but not now! (long story)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
family home(s)
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes, from the song.
20. Angel on the tree top of tree or a star?
either.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
eve!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
i like my ceramic birds from belk, but they did not make it to the tree this year.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
dressing.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
energy!
26. Who is most likely to respond to this?
hmm.. Niki?
gift bags.. simple, easy. but for kids, paper.. because it is fun!
2. Real tree or Artificial?
fake tree!
3. When do you put up the tree?
shortly into December
4. When do you take the tree down?
after Epiphany
5. Do you like eggnog?
Not me, Matthew does though.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
NKOTB stuff.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Whoever's name I draw at work.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Family.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. I didn't dig it out this year though.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mailed.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
can't remember.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Home Alone
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Whenever I find something!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Duh, yep..shhh...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
those white choc. covered oreos.
16. Lights on the tree; colored or white?
either
17. Favorite Christmas song?
it was o come, o come, Emmanuel, but not now! (long story)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
family home(s)
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes, from the song.
20. Angel on the tree top of tree or a star?
either.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
eve!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
i like my ceramic birds from belk, but they did not make it to the tree this year.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
dressing.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
energy!
26. Who is most likely to respond to this?
hmm.. Niki?
Time with the kids
Friday we went and met the kids, and their current foster parents. We were very impressed, they were all so nice and made us feel really comfortable in a situation that could have been very awkward.
Saturday we slept in, cleaned the house, and had the evening with Matthew's parents. It was a great day, and I finally got to see Mamma Mia.
Sunday we went to Mass, came home and changed quickly, and went to pick up the kids.
Right now, they were told that we were going to "babysit" them, since they don't know us. I am fine with that, because it will let us get to know them without them being upset right away about the move.
They were both sweet, well behaved, personable, and we could not get over them! Each one is such an interesting little person. We played games, watched a movie, played outside, and went out to eat. We really had a good time together.. I am so excited!
Saturday we slept in, cleaned the house, and had the evening with Matthew's parents. It was a great day, and I finally got to see Mamma Mia.
Sunday we went to Mass, came home and changed quickly, and went to pick up the kids.
Right now, they were told that we were going to "babysit" them, since they don't know us. I am fine with that, because it will let us get to know them without them being upset right away about the move.
They were both sweet, well behaved, personable, and we could not get over them! Each one is such an interesting little person. We played games, watched a movie, played outside, and went out to eat. We really had a good time together.. I am so excited!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Everything went great.
Met the foster parents (who are really cool), and the kids (who are really wonderful). It wasn't nearly as awkward as I had imagined!
Everything went great, we were given a ton of information from big to small, and get to have them for awhile on Sunday!
YaY!!
Everything went great, we were given a ton of information from big to small, and get to have them for awhile on Sunday!
YaY!!
Here comes the Lord..
showing me the way.
After my afternoon rant yesterday about being blindsided, I found this article on the front page of FoxNews website this a.m., right there staring at me when the page loaded...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,469928,00.html
He proved my point. Catholic priests can't tell people's confessions... but every other church can!
God does have a way of letting you know how you are doing, doesn't he?
After my afternoon rant yesterday about being blindsided, I found this article on the front page of FoxNews website this a.m., right there staring at me when the page loaded...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,469928,00.html
He proved my point. Catholic priests can't tell people's confessions... but every other church can!
God does have a way of letting you know how you are doing, doesn't he?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Getting Kids!
The caseworker is handing off the info. on us and the current foster mom (so we can contact each other independently), and we now have a tentative schedule to work with.
It all starts this weekend! Fingers crossed!
We also know that the oldest has Asperger's, so I am trying to read-up and get ready!
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/conditions/asperger.html
It all starts this weekend! Fingers crossed!
We also know that the oldest has Asperger's, so I am trying to read-up and get ready!
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/conditions/asperger.html
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Prayer intentions for a busy week
This week has already been rough, and it is only Tuesday.
The gutter people (the same ones who missed our last appointment months ago) called last week to apologize, wanting to give us another appointment, and a good discount for our put-out-ed-ness. With the economy and jobs the way they are, I said "OK" because people need their jobs, even the guys who drive out to do an estimate.
So, yesterday evening I waited. The appointment came and went. Matthew went to RCIA at church, and I addressed more Christmas cards. They never came or called to explain why... second and final time I will humor any of these companies.
Not that I was even thinking about buying a roof or gutters from these people, but I know that the estimate was free, and I was curious.
Also, with this crazy economy, the last thing a business wants to do is fail to show, and they did.
Tonight we do Christmas with my family.
Wednesday night is church and house cleaning.
Thursday night we have company and Matthew is cooking (a ton of)food for his work.
Whew.
I'm not even going to imagine what this weekend will bring, but hopefully some news about the kids!
Yesterday I talked to my sister and my nephew still had a really bad double ear infection, which has been going on for a long time now. He has to go to a specialist and may get tubes in his ears (at 11!). Poor guy.
This morning I talked to Mom, and my sister had to go back to the ER again. She had damaged her chest wall from the coughing, and was in an insane amount of pain and immobility. She got another shot, more meds. Please pray for my family, and also A Thorn, who lost her babies.
The gutter people (the same ones who missed our last appointment months ago) called last week to apologize, wanting to give us another appointment, and a good discount for our put-out-ed-ness. With the economy and jobs the way they are, I said "OK" because people need their jobs, even the guys who drive out to do an estimate.
So, yesterday evening I waited. The appointment came and went. Matthew went to RCIA at church, and I addressed more Christmas cards. They never came or called to explain why... second and final time I will humor any of these companies.
Not that I was even thinking about buying a roof or gutters from these people, but I know that the estimate was free, and I was curious.
Also, with this crazy economy, the last thing a business wants to do is fail to show, and they did.
Tonight we do Christmas with my family.
Wednesday night is church and house cleaning.
Thursday night we have company and Matthew is cooking (a ton of)food for his work.
Whew.
I'm not even going to imagine what this weekend will bring, but hopefully some news about the kids!
Yesterday I talked to my sister and my nephew still had a really bad double ear infection, which has been going on for a long time now. He has to go to a specialist and may get tubes in his ears (at 11!). Poor guy.
This morning I talked to Mom, and my sister had to go back to the ER again. She had damaged her chest wall from the coughing, and was in an insane amount of pain and immobility. She got another shot, more meds. Please pray for my family, and also A Thorn, who lost her babies.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Weekend pains
Friday I came home from work and had our phones sitting on the front steps waiting! I am so super happy to be having a new phone! Matthew is excited too, and we spent Friday evening having dinner with Matthew's parents, and figuring out our new gadgets.
Saturday morning my car door was frozen solid :-(
I made it to the women's prayer group promptly at 8 a.m., but I had to do a little passenger seat acrobatics to climb over into the driver's side. Those type of things don't come too easily when your back has been as messed up as mine.
After church I cam home and cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, sorted out the toys, made the beds and "recovered" from Thursday night.
Matthew spent the day with his parents, helping them with a project. I did enjoy having some time to myself, enjoy the quietness, and catch up on some TV.
Sunday morning we inadvertently slept too late, ugh. We spent all day watching TV, eating, and playing with the animals.
We are fixing to leave to go eat dinner out.. and grocery shopping afterwards.. how romantic! Haha
Saturday morning my car door was frozen solid :-(
I made it to the women's prayer group promptly at 8 a.m., but I had to do a little passenger seat acrobatics to climb over into the driver's side. Those type of things don't come too easily when your back has been as messed up as mine.
After church I cam home and cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, sorted out the toys, made the beds and "recovered" from Thursday night.
Matthew spent the day with his parents, helping them with a project. I did enjoy having some time to myself, enjoy the quietness, and catch up on some TV.
Sunday morning we inadvertently slept too late, ugh. We spent all day watching TV, eating, and playing with the animals.
We are fixing to leave to go eat dinner out.. and grocery shopping afterwards.. how romantic! Haha
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sleepy Me
The morning went really well. I changed and had T2's clothes on her before she even woke up. T1 woke up whiny and a little bit of "where am I?". Matthew set T2 up with sprite and T1 with Lucky Charms, which she requested last night. I think she ate one spoonful.
Her leg still hurt, and I carried her out to the car. They were sleepy (of course) on the way to the daycare, and T1 told me she wanted to come back to our house to play with Play-Doh again.
All in all, we went through about 14 hours of two kids in various states of confusion and illness.
I called Mommy J this morning and told her about T1's leg aches. Turns out T1 has some sort of skeletal problem and has special shoes (and I didn't notice them).
Which reminds me that to be prepared next time, we will have to stock our medicine shelf with children's medicine, because we have none.
I made it to breakfast with my co-worker and am completely sleepy today.
:-}
Oh, and all day I was humming these notes.. after lunch it dawned on me to write them down, then I kept working out the timing, and realized I was humming the bass part of a favorite song of mine.... I found the tabs online, how funny.
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------2---2---2----
E---2---2---0---2---2---0---5---5---5---------------0
Her leg still hurt, and I carried her out to the car. They were sleepy (of course) on the way to the daycare, and T1 told me she wanted to come back to our house to play with Play-Doh again.
All in all, we went through about 14 hours of two kids in various states of confusion and illness.
I called Mommy J this morning and told her about T1's leg aches. Turns out T1 has some sort of skeletal problem and has special shoes (and I didn't notice them).
Which reminds me that to be prepared next time, we will have to stock our medicine shelf with children's medicine, because we have none.
I made it to breakfast with my co-worker and am completely sleepy today.
:-}
Oh, and all day I was humming these notes.. after lunch it dawned on me to write them down, then I kept working out the timing, and realized I was humming the bass part of a favorite song of mine.... I found the tabs online, how funny.
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------2---2---2----
E---2---2---0---2---2---0---5---5---5---------------0
It's 4:25
... and since T2 went down at 11:25.. she has had one 5 minute session of sleep-crying, and at 4:00 a major need-to-walk-around-the house-and-cry session.
At midnight I put T2 in the toddler bed, and slept in the twin.
... both of them are now back in the big bed... and I am going to get the last 15 minutes of my night sleeping on the twin..
;-/
At midnight I put T2 in the toddler bed, and slept in the twin.
... both of them are now back in the big bed... and I am going to get the last 15 minutes of my night sleeping on the twin..
;-/
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Asleep
Well, our first venture into fostering was trying, but not spirit crushing.
I picked T1 up at the daycare (really nice, btw) and the car seat and diaper bags, etc. She didn't know that I was I coming for her. In fact, this 4 yr. old only met me and knew I was taking her away in my car. Yikes! There were a lot of tears on the way home, to say the least.
When I told her that I had a husband, his name was Matthew, and he would be cooking dinner for us, her reply was "I am scared of him".
Once we pulled into the drive and he met us with a grin, she piped up from the backseat "I'm not scared of him!" Good, I thought.
She loved the room, the toys, and pretty soon Mommy J was there delivering T2. We had a good chat, (this woman is going through so much with 5 toddlers and 1 in the hospital, please pray for them all) and T1 showed Mommy J our place. She was happy, I was proud, and I was glad to let Mommy J know they could come over again.
T2 was in a horrible amount of pain. She was delivered to us straight from the Dr.'s office and had an ear infection with, well... pooping issues. She was a crying, congested mess.
I sent Matthew to the store, I had forgotten to buy another gallon of milk.. darn it. T2 settled down a little, but I got my first diaper changing experience quickly over with and realized there was not enough diaper ointment in the world to relieve that type of child-related-poop-rash pain, oh and no baby wipes were sent.. so Matthew had to go back to the store. T2 was also not to eat any food. That was rough. He picked up some Gatorade, she liked it.
T1 was fine, and good about playing with the toys, eating dinner, and generally wanting to talk about the next day and when she would see Mommy J again. Mommy J had already told me how both of them are frightened of abandonment... and here they were left in my house and did not know me from anything or anyone.
The night was filled with innumerable reassurances that tomorrow would bring them back to their normal routine, and Mommy J.
T2 finally found a small snow globe and the ever-so-interested kitties, and got past her constant wailing.
By bedtime, pajamas were on, a very quick wash-off, and they were playing confined to the bedroom. Matthew and I played for a long time with them in their room, and then we told them goodnight. T1 said she was scared (and I would have been too!) and T2 just wailed and wailed.
This was a little after 8:30. I read them a book, took T1 to the potty, and had them back in their beds.
No sleep. Just crying. I kept peeking in to make sure bed assignments were being obeyed, and at 10:00 I looked in and found T2 wedged in between the wall and T1's bed. "Sisser stuck" said T1. Matthew came in and rescued dear, lungs-which-have-no-end T2.
I brought her into our bedroom and did another massive diaper change,tried to rock, bounce, and dance her to sleep. It worked.. for a few minutes. Basically, in the end I laid her down on the big bed and just let her cry it out. She was asleep by 10:18. Hard asleep.
T1 was still sitting up in her bed looking around the room, so I banished Matthew to the "boy room" and set the girls in our bed, together. They are very sweet together.
T1 stayed up until 11:25! She said her leg hurt too much, and couldn't get comfy... yeah, I know what that's like.
I looked her over and no swelling, bruising, bites, allergic reaction, so I just sat with her until she fell asleep. She said it was the "broke bone" so maybe she has had her leg broken in the past.. who knows.
So, now I have T1 & T2 in the bed, Matthew in the 3rd bedroom, and I guess I will stay up all night.. haha.
What a day!
I picked T1 up at the daycare (really nice, btw) and the car seat and diaper bags, etc. She didn't know that I was I coming for her. In fact, this 4 yr. old only met me and knew I was taking her away in my car. Yikes! There were a lot of tears on the way home, to say the least.
When I told her that I had a husband, his name was Matthew, and he would be cooking dinner for us, her reply was "I am scared of him".
Once we pulled into the drive and he met us with a grin, she piped up from the backseat "I'm not scared of him!" Good, I thought.
She loved the room, the toys, and pretty soon Mommy J was there delivering T2. We had a good chat, (this woman is going through so much with 5 toddlers and 1 in the hospital, please pray for them all) and T1 showed Mommy J our place. She was happy, I was proud, and I was glad to let Mommy J know they could come over again.
T2 was in a horrible amount of pain. She was delivered to us straight from the Dr.'s office and had an ear infection with, well... pooping issues. She was a crying, congested mess.
I sent Matthew to the store, I had forgotten to buy another gallon of milk.. darn it. T2 settled down a little, but I got my first diaper changing experience quickly over with and realized there was not enough diaper ointment in the world to relieve that type of child-related-poop-rash pain, oh and no baby wipes were sent.. so Matthew had to go back to the store. T2 was also not to eat any food. That was rough. He picked up some Gatorade, she liked it.
T1 was fine, and good about playing with the toys, eating dinner, and generally wanting to talk about the next day and when she would see Mommy J again. Mommy J had already told me how both of them are frightened of abandonment... and here they were left in my house and did not know me from anything or anyone.
The night was filled with innumerable reassurances that tomorrow would bring them back to their normal routine, and Mommy J.
T2 finally found a small snow globe and the ever-so-interested kitties, and got past her constant wailing.
By bedtime, pajamas were on, a very quick wash-off, and they were playing confined to the bedroom. Matthew and I played for a long time with them in their room, and then we told them goodnight. T1 said she was scared (and I would have been too!) and T2 just wailed and wailed.
This was a little after 8:30. I read them a book, took T1 to the potty, and had them back in their beds.
No sleep. Just crying. I kept peeking in to make sure bed assignments were being obeyed, and at 10:00 I looked in and found T2 wedged in between the wall and T1's bed. "Sisser stuck" said T1. Matthew came in and rescued dear, lungs-which-have-no-end T2.
I brought her into our bedroom and did another massive diaper change,tried to rock, bounce, and dance her to sleep. It worked.. for a few minutes. Basically, in the end I laid her down on the big bed and just let her cry it out. She was asleep by 10:18. Hard asleep.
T1 was still sitting up in her bed looking around the room, so I banished Matthew to the "boy room" and set the girls in our bed, together. They are very sweet together.
T1 stayed up until 11:25! She said her leg hurt too much, and couldn't get comfy... yeah, I know what that's like.
I looked her over and no swelling, bruising, bites, allergic reaction, so I just sat with her until she fell asleep. She said it was the "broke bone" so maybe she has had her leg broken in the past.. who knows.
So, now I have T1 & T2 in the bed, Matthew in the 3rd bedroom, and I guess I will stay up all night.. haha.
What a day!
Wow-ee Thursd-ee
The GE appliance repairman left, gave me a few suggestions and said to call again if it doesn't fix the problem. He said our vent hose is all squished at the back of the dryer and because our new dryer is SO MUCH SMARTER THAN THE BOTH OF US (haha) it knows that the hose's capacity is small, and will not heat. The fix? A $3 90degree hose thingamajig to plug our existing vent hose into. WOW. And I missed 3 hours of work for that?!
I received a call today that DFCS needed a respite care for tonight for 2 little girls, T1 & T2, aged 4 and 1.
I, of course, said yes. I called Matthew on lunch break and was on board also.
I will pick them up from daycare (meeting one of the foster parents to hand off car seats, diapers), so I am going to leave work a little early, clean out my car, and pick up some age appropriate food. I hear macaroni is all the rage with 1 yr. olds (I had to ask).
Any suggestions?
I received a call today that DFCS needed a respite care for tonight for 2 little girls, T1 & T2, aged 4 and 1.
I, of course, said yes. I called Matthew on lunch break and was on board also.
I will pick them up from daycare (meeting one of the foster parents to hand off car seats, diapers), so I am going to leave work a little early, clean out my car, and pick up some age appropriate food. I hear macaroni is all the rage with 1 yr. olds (I had to ask).
Any suggestions?
Why Comcast isn't the best
MY E-MAIL IS UNRELIABLE.
I tried last week to forward myself something from my comcast e-mail to my work email... twice. Both times Comcast says it sent successfully but I never received it at work.
This morning Matthew had an e-mail from a lady at church, and she also sent it to me. I never got it. My name is clear as day on his e-mail, and I should have gotten it.
I called Comcast to explain, and they had me speak to two people before they wrote me off and said they had to get with someone on the "national level".. like this is some secret spy network.
Ugh!
So, unreliable e-mail sucks!
And if any of you have been waiting on an e-mail from me, a continuing conversation, and I haven't responded.. I probably have.. but who knows if you've gotten it!
The dryer repair man is here... YaY!
I tried last week to forward myself something from my comcast e-mail to my work email... twice. Both times Comcast says it sent successfully but I never received it at work.
This morning Matthew had an e-mail from a lady at church, and she also sent it to me. I never got it. My name is clear as day on his e-mail, and I should have gotten it.
I called Comcast to explain, and they had me speak to two people before they wrote me off and said they had to get with someone on the "national level".. like this is some secret spy network.
Ugh!
So, unreliable e-mail sucks!
And if any of you have been waiting on an e-mail from me, a continuing conversation, and I haven't responded.. I probably have.. but who knows if you've gotten it!
The dryer repair man is here... YaY!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
trying to listen today.
Isaiah 40: 25 - 31
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25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hid from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Daily Readings
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25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hid from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Daily Readings
Plans for the kiddos
Finally, I spoke with the kid's caseworker this morning. We will be set up with a meeting soon just with the current foster parents. We will get "question and answer" session, without the kids. That is what we are waiting on right now. The caseworker will be e-mailing me at work the details.
She did want to ask that we keep the kindergarten-er in his school for the year. That's fine.. he will be going through enough changes to have to deal with changing schools midstream. So, he goes to Battlefield. We will have to get buddy-buddy with someone (I'm going to start searching for someone at church) who will take him in the mornings. I read the school website and there is no before-school care. They will not let any kids in the building prior to 7:15. And here Matthew and I have to leave no later than 7. Oh well, here is where we will begin trusting the Lord to help out on all of the minute details. We will definitely be forming new relationships with other parents, teachers, and hopefully finding some trustworthy friends to help us grow our support system.
She attends a day care that picks him up from school and then we would just pick both of them up from day care.. sounds easy enough.. I hope it remains so!
What the caseworker told us to expect is a really fast, yet slow, transition. Which means we will get to meet them, spend increasingly longer time with them, do overnight stays, and then become fully responsible for them before school starts again in the spring.. that is January 7th!
Okay, all I know for now.
She did want to ask that we keep the kindergarten-er in his school for the year. That's fine.. he will be going through enough changes to have to deal with changing schools midstream. So, he goes to Battlefield. We will have to get buddy-buddy with someone (I'm going to start searching for someone at church) who will take him in the mornings. I read the school website and there is no before-school care. They will not let any kids in the building prior to 7:15. And here Matthew and I have to leave no later than 7. Oh well, here is where we will begin trusting the Lord to help out on all of the minute details. We will definitely be forming new relationships with other parents, teachers, and hopefully finding some trustworthy friends to help us grow our support system.
She attends a day care that picks him up from school and then we would just pick both of them up from day care.. sounds easy enough.. I hope it remains so!
What the caseworker told us to expect is a really fast, yet slow, transition. Which means we will get to meet them, spend increasingly longer time with them, do overnight stays, and then become fully responsible for them before school starts again in the spring.. that is January 7th!
Okay, all I know for now.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Because I needed a good smile
Baby, you've been going so crazy,
Lately nothing seems to be going right.
So low, why do you have to get so low?
You're so...
You've been waiting in the sun too long.
Cheer up!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Water Leak, Emergency Room, and Pot Luck Dinner
Friday I came home to a puddle in the kitchen. The ice maker supply line had failed (3rd time! Matthew found a tiny little puncture.. who knows where that came from..) so off we went to Lowe's for a metal hose (pricier, but I was promised no more puddles.)
Friday night I get a call from Mom to go to the ER, my Sister had gotten really ill at work. So, a little after 10:45 I was at the ER. Everything was OK, and I was home by 1. I saw an honest-to-goodness coyote on the way home, though. It scared me because it was in the middle of the road and I slowed down thinking it was a doggie. Nope, just a wild animal looking for small domestic animals to feed on.
Saturday (see below post) was great, but tiring.
Sunday we went to Mass and then the parish pot-luck dinner. It was so good and Matthew made a cornbread.. yummy. We sat with a lady from the ProLife group and her family and another couple we just met and had an excellent time.
After that we came home and cleaned up a few areas and left for Sale Creek. We spent time playing Jenga on the Wii with my nephew (it is so HARD!)and eating leftovers, and making a trip to Dayton.
It was a good weekend, but too short.
Friday night I get a call from Mom to go to the ER, my Sister had gotten really ill at work. So, a little after 10:45 I was at the ER. Everything was OK, and I was home by 1. I saw an honest-to-goodness coyote on the way home, though. It scared me because it was in the middle of the road and I slowed down thinking it was a doggie. Nope, just a wild animal looking for small domestic animals to feed on.
Saturday (see below post) was great, but tiring.
Sunday we went to Mass and then the parish pot-luck dinner. It was so good and Matthew made a cornbread.. yummy. We sat with a lady from the ProLife group and her family and another couple we just met and had an excellent time.
After that we came home and cleaned up a few areas and left for Sale Creek. We spent time playing Jenga on the Wii with my nephew (it is so HARD!)and eating leftovers, and making a trip to Dayton.
It was a good weekend, but too short.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Tree is up.
It is up, after all. Matthew did 95% of the decorating today because I had the worst pain all afternoon.
Everything looks really nice, and he even decorated the outside landing. I will post pics of that tomorrow night if I remember.
This morning we had a great time at church meeting with the Pro-Life group and had a wonderful speaker from the archdiocese. We are so excited about this ministry and all of the possibilities. We also enjoyed a great lunch and fellowship with really wonderful people.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Approved, at last
... and now we wait to hear back from the kids' case worker.
and in my mind their case worker is Juno from Beetlejuice...
and in my mind their case worker is Juno from Beetlejuice...
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Just a Thursday
I am going to have to buy The Nativity Story DVD, I watched it last year, and now all I want to do is see it again.
Last night went really well. We went to church, had a good conversation with our friend who is the secretary, turned in a form I have been forgetting about, made Confession, and stayed for Mass. Father cancelled the Eucharistic Adoration, but it is OK because we will have one Monday for the Holy Day and also for pro-life. We met a nice older lady who needed a ride home, and she only lives about a half mile from us.
We are still just completely bummed that everything is moving so slowly at DFCS. Right now we just don't know what all is going on, and when, when, when. At this rate I honestly believe that we won't get to see the kids until after Christmas, so all the gifts we have stowed away in the attic will become birthday presents. :-(
A lady at work was asking me about Netflix. I totally love them! Unfortunately I cancelled ours when Matthew lost his job, and right now I am not wanting to add ANYTHING to our outgoing expenses until we can settle down with a good budget and factor in the kids. But I can not wait to get back to Netflix.
I began a book I bought at McKays, The Intelligencer. It is really fast-paced and although it seems crime-mystery oriented, I am drawn in by the historical context.
I got to talk to Michael last night, who I have not seen since the HS reunion. We are such busy people! Hopefully we can see him and Jennifer tonight, if not this weekend sometime.
I got an e-mail from ticketmaster this morning, both Robin Williams and George Lopez are coming to Atlanta in the Spring and oh how I would just LOVE to go. We will see.
It is rainy today, but not too cold.
This weekend we have a pro-life meeting, and if it is not too rainy and wet we need to mow to chop up all of these leaves on our yard. The neighbors have been raking theirs into the ditch and burning them, but they have to do it every week.. I don't want to spend that much energy on it, so we are waiting until all of our trees have shed their leaves, and then we can get it over with in one day.
I had an interesting drive home yesterday. I ride with my c0-worker and she seems to be a moving target for other people's road rage. We got cut off by this woman in a truck, and almost hit, so my friend honked her horn. This lady slams on her breaks trying to get us to hit her, opens her door and leans out screaming and cussing, and then when the light turned she went very slowly just to make us mad. Some people's behavior is just appalling! What is wrong with society? Of course I'm going to honk at you if you nearly hit me, because apparently you didn't see me in the first place, sheesh! You have to watch out for the crazy drivers.
Matthew is finally getting better, and getting past his crud-flu-cold-sickness. He just has this empty cough now. My poor nephew and sister are still sick, although with pneumonia and respiratory problems, which are certainly painful.
Luckily, having just gotten the stomach bug a month ago and a small sore throat, I have managed to avoid the brunt of it, but as my friend Niki pointed out to me, when we get kids we will be exposed to much more, so I am going to try and be faithful to a vitamin regimen.
My back has been trying to hurt again. Not a backache, but that twinge I get when my disc is beginning to rupture again. Right now it is just momentary, when I make certain moves or walk for long periods. It has not gotten to the point that I can't lift my legs or have any pain down my sciatic nerve.. yet. And I also cannot afford to be out of work nor have another surgery. So, I am taking matters into my own hands and I replaced my roll-y, swivel-y chair at work and traded down for a stationary basic chair that I won't be prone to twist around and roll across the office in. That was where I was hurting the most, pushing away from the desk with my legs, and twisting. So, now I have the ugliest chair, and have to get up a lot more instead of gliding around my office, but it is working. I am also going to try (yet again) to lose some poundage. Last night I had brown rice and tuna fish for dinner.. yummy.
I am ready for snow.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Advent underway
We missed going to Mass Sunday, the beginning of Advent. Matthew was still sick, we both slept in late, and all in all I feel very horrible about missing Mass.
We haven't even bought an advent candle/wreath set for the new house to place on the table... and I really have no excuses other than the fact that I was so looking forward to having children in our home for the start of this beautiful season, and I am a little disappointed.
Tonight, however should be awesome.
We have Confession, Mass, and then an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, which is such a powerful gift.
I have been excited all day!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, what the hail
Today was cold, wet, and dreary.
After work Matthew and I went to GameStop and looked for kid-friendly video games. We picked up a few cheap clearance ones to kind of test out.
Came home, Matthew set up "testing" and I made an Apple crumble.
It began hailing and the dog let me know very quick he was not going outside during that. I sneaked (is snuck not a word?) out and took a pic of the garbage can lid, just because.
Here are some random pics from tonight. Yeah, I re-arranged the living room.
I see you, Toodles!
Icy Trash
Invisible Patchey
Annoyed Nermal
So Intense!
A little rusty, Matthew?
Wader, showing off her peg leg.
Wader is sleepy.
My Mom got me this, ain't it sweet?
Apple Crumb
Recipe Scribbles
Geez these bangs need trimmed!
After work Matthew and I went to GameStop and looked for kid-friendly video games. We picked up a few cheap clearance ones to kind of test out.
Came home, Matthew set up "testing" and I made an Apple crumble.
It began hailing and the dog let me know very quick he was not going outside during that. I sneaked (is snuck not a word?) out and took a pic of the garbage can lid, just because.
Here are some random pics from tonight. Yeah, I re-arranged the living room.
Icy Trash
Invisible Patchey
Annoyed Nermal
So Intense!
A little rusty, Matthew?
Wader, showing off her peg leg.
Wader is sleepy.
My Mom got me this, ain't it sweet?
Apple Crumb
Recipe Scribbles
Geez these bangs need trimmed!
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