Easter

Just thought I would add some pictures from the wonderful day we had today at Mark and Jennifer's. Happy Easter

Happy Birthday Caitlyn

My baby girl is 2! I was reading in a journal I sporadically keep and I found several entries from March and April of 2007 right before Caitlyn was born and one on the day she was born. These past two years have flown by. She is my darling, funny, girly-girl. She loves her baby dolls and pretty dresses and yet anything her brother can do, she thinks she can do too. She is daring and naughty and can throw a pretty good temper tantrum. She has no problem letting you know when she's displeased or when she wants something. She loves her Nana best of all, sometimes more than mommy(especially when trying to outrun mommy at bedtime) I'm pretty sure she is my last baby/adoption and she has been such a blessing to our family. I love you sugar pie!

MUD

We went to a birthday party yesterday for my friend Kim's daughter Katy. She is 4. We had a fun, although cold and windy, time at the park. When we got home, I had to take Caitlyn to promt care because earlier in the day I found a LOT of blood in her ear. She has a ruptured eardrum and is now on oral antibiotics and ear drops. While we were gone (for 3 hours) Amanda was playing outside with the dogs and generally making a mess. When Nana called out the window to her, I gues she was startled because she slipped in the mess she made and fell on her face in the mud. I haven't decided if the clothes are worth trying to salvage.

Therapy

Amanda has been in therapy of almost 2 years now. We've been through 4 therapists now and I feel like we've moved forward 1 step and back about 20. I admit it, with this child I am in over my head. She has been diagnosed with ADHD and takes meds daily. I guess they are working because her grades are getting better and she is participating in class which is more than she used to do. However, now the real behavior problems have begun. I guess that goes along with the ODD diagnosis. I won't go into too many details, but let's just say if this keeps up she may be suspended from the 4th grade. Her new therapist seems to be pretty good at communicating with her in terms that are on her level, so I am hopeful the we may see some sort of improvement. My friend Kristin is babysitting for Ben and Caitlyn this weekend so I can have some time alone with just Amanda. I am hoping that it helps adjust her attitude when she has some one on one time with me. We'll see.....

Conversations with Ben....

I was coming out of the bedroom where I had been putting away clothes and I see Ben sitting on the arm of the couch wearing only his shirt and socks.

Me: "Ben! Where are your underwear?"
Ben: "In the garbage"
Me: "Why are they in the garbarge?"
Ben: "I don't know. Mommy, I love stawberries"
Me: "uh, ok... go get your underwear out of the garbage."

later that afternoon, Ben is dragging the beanbag onto the couch:

Me: "Ben be careful"
Ben: "Mommy, I love to jump"
Me: "Ben, don't...."

too late he jumped off the back of the couch onto the beanbag. I guess it could have been worse, he could have jumed off the back and hit the floor.

my very favorite:

Ben: "Mommy! I'm poopin." this is said as he is running toward the bathroom holding his hand over his little bottom.
Me: "You know where the bathroom is"
Ben: "You come with me." fun for me huh?

Chaos reigns....

Well, I have survived two days with 5 kids. I will find out tomorrow a little more about the length of stay the two "new guys" as Ben calls them will have here. My new friend Michelle, who runs the In His Hands Orphan and Adoption Ministry, brought by some clothes tonight for the boys. The really don't have much to speak of so every little bit helps. Poor little guys had a visit today with Mom and sibs and then cried for her all night. Amanda has been amazing with them. She has been so kind and talked to them and calmed them down and played with them. She has been such a helper too, helping get breakfast ready and cleaning up. She has really shown an amazing amount of responsibility the past two days. Ben and Cait just act like they have always been here. There hasn't been any jealousy on their part. They play well together and of course we have enough trains an matchox cars for 10 kids.I am going to have to get a bit more organized if they stay very much longer because things could really snowball and I could be overwhelmed in no time.

I had a procedure done at the plastic surgeon, he removed a mole, on Monday so i have been all swollen and crusty on my nose. The little kids keep looking at me and saying "boo boo" ? Caitlyn wants to touch it. Still too sore for that. I am going in for carpal tunnel surgery on March 25 and during that time the Dr. is going to remove the other mole on my nose and the very tender cyst on my head. I asked if he was going to have to shave any part of my hair because if he was I wasn't going to do it. I have a thing about my hair.

Well, the day is done and I believe all the little ones are finally asleep. Thank you Lord! I leave you with this picture to make you all smile.

What was I thinking

Last week, I talked to Becky at Catholic Charities for a variety of reaons. I had some ideas I wanted to run by her about helping recruit foster parents and some licensing questions. I also told her I would be willing to consider another placement, not a permanent one, but we had room for 1 more.

I should be careful what I ask for! I now have two new little additions to the house. M and P are 2 and 4 and about the cutest little men I have ever seen, after my Benny of course. I am not sure how long I will have them and they have two siblings living in another foster home aged 1 and 5. Yikes. They were super good tonight but I am going to have a lot of laundry to do and work getting beds set up for them this weekend. I have been praying about this and I really don't know if I am done taking foster children. I don't want to adopt any more but there are children who need a safe place to go. I guess I had better go to bed early as I now have five childrent to get ready in the morning!