May 2007
May 2008
May 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
They change so fast!
It is amazing to me the changes in my kids over the years. Here's a little retrospective through the last three May's.
May 2008
May 2009
May 2008 May 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
graphics for moms
I found some fun graphics for foster and adoptive parents. Just click on the image above and it will take you to the page. There are some really neat ones!
Hope you all have a good Mother's Day!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Need to make changes
Hello readers! I know, it's been forever and a day since I have posted anything. I thought I better do a quick update before I post any more entries though. I have decided to make this blog a little more private, but I don't want to shut out anyone who has been a long time reader. So, in one week, I'm going to switch this blog over to invited readers only. If you have been a reader of mine, and want to stay connected, please leave me a comment with a request to be added. I will need your e-mail address, so you can probably go to my profile and e-mail me that. I may not get any responses to this - who knows! It wouldn't surprise me, since I haven't posted in ages. But if anyone is still out there, and wants to stay connected, let me know!
Hope you all had a great Easter!
Hope you all had a great Easter!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
Usually, we get a photo with our mall Easter Bunny each year. Unfortunately this year, Austin was the only one who would get close to the Easter Bunny! So instead, we went around to the backside of the Easter set-up and just plopped the kids into the decorated area and snapped a photo. It was free, and no one was scared, and the photo actually turned out kind of cute! Here they are:
Monday, November 24, 2008
God is Good!
So, the month of November didn't quite start out how I intended. Let's see - Monday November 3 - spent the day doing normal SAHM stuff - basically, busy all day. It was my hubby's first day back at work after a month off. I spent the morning at the eye doctor with Daniel - what should have been no more than an hour appointment lasted two hours! Then I picked up the other two kids from my Gram's and all four of us headed to a friend's house for a craft project. Then it was back home for lunch, naps, cleaning, etc. We got the computer table and computer stuff all moved into the new office. Busy, busy day.
Fast forward to 11:30 pm. I'm in my jammies, crawling into bed. Hubby has been sleeping for a couple of hours already. Suddenly my head explodes - the worst headache I've ever gotten, and it came on out of nowhere. I was seeing stars, and circles, and blood was pulsing through my head. The pain was horrendous. I even woke James, and said "something is not right here". But we both decided I had probably done too much that day, and pulled a neck muscle, and in a couple of days I would be ok.
However, the headache wouldn't go away. Tuesday I was so sick from it, couldn't keep anything down. Wednesday I went to the chiropractor, thinking he could snap my neck back into place and I would be fine. Thursday I still couldn't get rid of it, so called my family doctor for an appointment. He didn't like the sound of how the headache had come on, so he booked me an MRI/MRA appointment for 3:30 that afternoon. Friday, I still had not heard the results, so I called my doctor's office. I went to my foster parent/adoptive parent Donation Station event, and had stopped at my church first to drop off the items for our Silent Auction that night. My gram was watching the kids until 3 pm, when hubby was to get home, and I would be gone all day at two different events.
However, at 11:30 my doctor's office called, and gave me some not great news. The MRI showed two brain aneurysms, and the one behind my left eye had burst, which was why I was in so much pain that week. I was to go to the ER of the hospital ASAP, and the neurosurgeon would be waiting for me. I was in shock, and scared to death. I took care of things at Donation Station, had a friend drive me across the street to my church to tell them I wouldn't be able to run the auction that night, and hubby met me there to take me to the hospital. I made a dozen phone calls on the way down - family, friends - to let them know what was up.
I got to the hospital, and you know your case is important when they rush you past the 20 people in the waiting room to start preparing you for surgery. I was just so dumbfounded - apparently, the death rate for burst aneurysms is 85%, and the neurosurgeon was pretty amazed that I was functioning as highly as I was on Friday. He said my case was already pretty miraculous, but you know, I serve a Big God, and He must have some pretty Big Plans for me, because He kept me very protected!
I had a CAT scan and cerebral angiogram on Friday, then consulted with two surgeons about the best way to take care of my issue. I had one aneurysm behind my left eye that had burst, and a second one elsewhere in my brain that had not done anything yet. After hearing our two options - clipping or coiling - we chose the clipping. Even thought it was more invasive - they would have to cut through my skull - it had a higher success rate and more control during the surgery. I had the surgery Saturday morning, and pretty much don't remember from late Friday night until I think Monday afternoon. I was in ICU from the 7th to the 14th, then in a regular hospital room until the 17th.
I have some amazing family and friends - they really took care of my kids and husband while I was in the hospital. My MOMS Club made and delivered lunches and dinners for the entire time I was in the hospital. Friends and family came and stayed at the house with the kids so hubby could be in the hospital with me. Family, friends and pastoral staff came to the hospital to pray and visit. I have received three deliveries of flowers at the house, two beautiful Christmas Cactuses while in the hospital, gift baskets and numerous cards and notes. I have never felt so blessed and loved!
And now, I am home. I'm tired, and I seem to have caught a little cold bug that had been in the house. But I'm glad to be here, home from hospital, and alive and kicking! The only real problem I'm having is going to sleep at night - I have this fear that if I go to sleep, I won't wake up. I'm praying against that fear, but it lingers.
So to those that helped our family out during this time - thank you! And for those that prayed - thank you! You are all such a blessing to me!
Here are some photos from the ordeal:
On Thursday, before my second angiogram to check the surgery.
Lovely bruising from the surgery.
At one point, my whole left eye was swollen shut.
The stitches that go halfway across my head.
My lovely welcome home signs from my kids!
Fast forward to 11:30 pm. I'm in my jammies, crawling into bed. Hubby has been sleeping for a couple of hours already. Suddenly my head explodes - the worst headache I've ever gotten, and it came on out of nowhere. I was seeing stars, and circles, and blood was pulsing through my head. The pain was horrendous. I even woke James, and said "something is not right here". But we both decided I had probably done too much that day, and pulled a neck muscle, and in a couple of days I would be ok.
However, the headache wouldn't go away. Tuesday I was so sick from it, couldn't keep anything down. Wednesday I went to the chiropractor, thinking he could snap my neck back into place and I would be fine. Thursday I still couldn't get rid of it, so called my family doctor for an appointment. He didn't like the sound of how the headache had come on, so he booked me an MRI/MRA appointment for 3:30 that afternoon. Friday, I still had not heard the results, so I called my doctor's office. I went to my foster parent/adoptive parent Donation Station event, and had stopped at my church first to drop off the items for our Silent Auction that night. My gram was watching the kids until 3 pm, when hubby was to get home, and I would be gone all day at two different events.
However, at 11:30 my doctor's office called, and gave me some not great news. The MRI showed two brain aneurysms, and the one behind my left eye had burst, which was why I was in so much pain that week. I was to go to the ER of the hospital ASAP, and the neurosurgeon would be waiting for me. I was in shock, and scared to death. I took care of things at Donation Station, had a friend drive me across the street to my church to tell them I wouldn't be able to run the auction that night, and hubby met me there to take me to the hospital. I made a dozen phone calls on the way down - family, friends - to let them know what was up.
I got to the hospital, and you know your case is important when they rush you past the 20 people in the waiting room to start preparing you for surgery. I was just so dumbfounded - apparently, the death rate for burst aneurysms is 85%, and the neurosurgeon was pretty amazed that I was functioning as highly as I was on Friday. He said my case was already pretty miraculous, but you know, I serve a Big God, and He must have some pretty Big Plans for me, because He kept me very protected!
I had a CAT scan and cerebral angiogram on Friday, then consulted with two surgeons about the best way to take care of my issue. I had one aneurysm behind my left eye that had burst, and a second one elsewhere in my brain that had not done anything yet. After hearing our two options - clipping or coiling - we chose the clipping. Even thought it was more invasive - they would have to cut through my skull - it had a higher success rate and more control during the surgery. I had the surgery Saturday morning, and pretty much don't remember from late Friday night until I think Monday afternoon. I was in ICU from the 7th to the 14th, then in a regular hospital room until the 17th.
I have some amazing family and friends - they really took care of my kids and husband while I was in the hospital. My MOMS Club made and delivered lunches and dinners for the entire time I was in the hospital. Friends and family came and stayed at the house with the kids so hubby could be in the hospital with me. Family, friends and pastoral staff came to the hospital to pray and visit. I have received three deliveries of flowers at the house, two beautiful Christmas Cactuses while in the hospital, gift baskets and numerous cards and notes. I have never felt so blessed and loved!
And now, I am home. I'm tired, and I seem to have caught a little cold bug that had been in the house. But I'm glad to be here, home from hospital, and alive and kicking! The only real problem I'm having is going to sleep at night - I have this fear that if I go to sleep, I won't wake up. I'm praying against that fear, but it lingers.
So to those that helped our family out during this time - thank you! And for those that prayed - thank you! You are all such a blessing to me!
Here are some photos from the ordeal:
On Thursday, before my second angiogram to check the surgery.
Lovely bruising from the surgery.
At one point, my whole left eye was swollen shut.
The stitches that go halfway across my head.
My lovely welcome home signs from my kids!
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Official Family!!!
It is official - all our children are now really ours!! We completed the adoption today, and it's just amazing! So many years of waiting, and now Austin, Daniel, and Gretchen are really our children legally. Even though the proceedings went very quickly, it was a joyous occassion, and tearful too. Here are some photos of the fun event!
The Courtroom Scene
With the judge
With our Lawyer
The Future Lawyer!
Gretchen & Mommy
Daniel & Mommy
With Grandpa & Grandma
The Official Family!
With Grandpa, Grandma & Great Grandma (Gram)
Celebrating in the Ball Pit!
With the judge
With our Lawyer
The Future Lawyer!
Gretchen & Mommy
Daniel & Mommy
With Grandpa & Grandma
The Official Family!
With Grandpa, Grandma & Great Grandma (Gram)
Celebrating in the Ball Pit!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
We finally got our court date!!!
Our attorney called us Friday afternoon, and he has our paperwork on his desk waiting for our signature and has a court date for the adoption of all three kids! September 22 at 3pm is going to be our Adoption Finalization!!! We are so excited!!! We were praying to be done by October 1, and God has really answered our prayer!
Here is a photo of the three kids on Austin's first day of Preschool. Of course, Daniel thought he should go too, so both boys are wearing backpacks. Poor Daniel cried and cried when I dropped Austin off and Daniel had to stay with me. He asks every day if he can go with Austin, and I have to keep telling him to wait one more year.
Here is a photo of the three kids on Austin's first day of Preschool. Of course, Daniel thought he should go too, so both boys are wearing backpacks. Poor Daniel cried and cried when I dropped Austin off and Daniel had to stay with me. He asks every day if he can go with Austin, and I have to keep telling him to wait one more year.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Oh, the waiting game!
Well, we've got everything done on our end that we can get done. Our adoption support paperwork is in the hands of our social worker's office, and we are just waiting for the adoption support team to call us to go over the fine print. And then we will be assigned a court date for the finalization of the adoptions. I remember back in March, when we first started talking to our adoption caseworker. She said, oh, we'll have these kids adopted by June, July at the latest. We just nodded our heads and said, yea, right - we've heard that before. And don't you know, here it is almost September, and they are still not officially ours. Did we call it or what?
And in the meantime, since they are still technically foster children, we have no open beds, and cannot take any more in, even for respite care. So we wait, and wait, and wait some more. At this point, it looks like we probably won't have any new kiddos in our home until after the holidays. Which, according to my hubby, is just fine!
And in the meantime, since they are still technically foster children, we have no open beds, and cannot take any more in, even for respite care. So we wait, and wait, and wait some more. At this point, it looks like we probably won't have any new kiddos in our home until after the holidays. Which, according to my hubby, is just fine!
Monday, June 09, 2008
It's been a while!
Hi all! Wow! It's been way too long since I posted anything to this blog. Can you tell that life has gotten crazy busy!!
Now that all three kids are legally free - Yippee! - we are just waiting for all the final paperwork to be done and our adoption court date to be set. We received a large box full of paperwork to read on Daniel & Gretchen. Five volumes, each about 2" thick. It is ours to keep, and there is lots of info in it. Some heart breaking stuff, but important nonetheless. Now we are waiting to get Austin's file. Since he has been in the system longer, I'm imagining that his paperwork will probably fill two if not three boxes. Yikes! All the homestudy stuff is done, and once Austin's paperwork gets delivered, we can then start negotiating the adoption support. And once that is done, it's time to set a court date. We are thinking that it will be sometime in July. At least, that is what we are praying for, and what our adoption worker seems to think will happen.
Other than that, life in the foster care world has been quiet. We are not taking in any new kiddos until we can get our three adopted officially, and even then, we may wait for just a while. We will probably start out with emergency short-term care, but as most of you foster parents know, "short-term" to the state usually means "long-term" to the foster parents. The child that comes "only for a week or two" ends up being a six-month placement, and you fall in love! If we are not careful, we'll have adopted a dozen kids before you can blink. Something my husband is not all that cool with! I would like at least six, but he thinks I'm nuts! But I have this funny feeling we are not stopping with three. Who knows what God has planned for us!
So there's the latest. I'll try and back date some posts with pictures to let you know what we've been up to for the last couple of months, but I don't promise how long it will take. Right now, all three kids are down for naps, but I don't guarantee that will last long, since Gretchen went down half an hour before the boys!
Hope you are all having a good day! Happy Monday! I'd love to hear how you are doing!!
Now that all three kids are legally free - Yippee! - we are just waiting for all the final paperwork to be done and our adoption court date to be set. We received a large box full of paperwork to read on Daniel & Gretchen. Five volumes, each about 2" thick. It is ours to keep, and there is lots of info in it. Some heart breaking stuff, but important nonetheless. Now we are waiting to get Austin's file. Since he has been in the system longer, I'm imagining that his paperwork will probably fill two if not three boxes. Yikes! All the homestudy stuff is done, and once Austin's paperwork gets delivered, we can then start negotiating the adoption support. And once that is done, it's time to set a court date. We are thinking that it will be sometime in July. At least, that is what we are praying for, and what our adoption worker seems to think will happen.
Other than that, life in the foster care world has been quiet. We are not taking in any new kiddos until we can get our three adopted officially, and even then, we may wait for just a while. We will probably start out with emergency short-term care, but as most of you foster parents know, "short-term" to the state usually means "long-term" to the foster parents. The child that comes "only for a week or two" ends up being a six-month placement, and you fall in love! If we are not careful, we'll have adopted a dozen kids before you can blink. Something my husband is not all that cool with! I would like at least six, but he thinks I'm nuts! But I have this funny feeling we are not stopping with three. Who knows what God has planned for us!
So there's the latest. I'll try and back date some posts with pictures to let you know what we've been up to for the last couple of months, but I don't promise how long it will take. Right now, all three kids are down for naps, but I don't guarantee that will last long, since Gretchen went down half an hour before the boys!
Hope you are all having a good day! Happy Monday! I'd love to hear how you are doing!!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
When Love Takes You In
This is a great video, and a really touching story about adoption. If you are not familiar with Steven Curtis Chapman, he is a Christian musican/singer and is both a biological father and an adoptive father. He has an organization that helps people adopt children. My friend dedicated this song to our family, and I thought I'd share it with you.
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