Today Might Just Be the Day...

What happens in the daily life of the family.. the drama of foster care, the adventures of parenting, & pictures to share with everyone!

Yummy!

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I ate a pear this morning that was amazing. Reminds me of the movie City of Angels… It was just great. I wasn’t going to have one, but Ms. Bean took one bite out of it and was going to throw it away. I’m so glad that I decided to have it instead.

The (much) more interesting part of this is where said pear came from. I woke myself up at 6:30 (on a weekend! Even the kids weren’t awake…) to go to a park to pick up a basket full of produce. One of my good friends has been using a food co-op for awhile & she’s told me about it more than a few times. So, I decided to check them out. And, so far, I’m happy with it. The idea behind it is simple, buying in bulk. So, they buy a ton of produce & you purchase your share of it. It’s all volunteer ran & the prices are very affordable. There’s no choice in what you get, but I found that I’ll use everything that was in my basket.. I received strawberries, bananas, apples, pears, spinach, celery, red peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. I’m sure there was something else in there, but I can’t remember now. I also bought an add on of produce to make guacamole… if you’re coming to our party tomorrow you’ll get to eat some!

Anyhow, just wanted to share a little bit of love with them.. if you’re interested, go check them out here. They’re not just in Arizona either. They’re in several different states.

(And just for the record, I know that a lot of bloggers get paid or trade or whatnot for sharing this type of thing.. I didn’t. Just did it to spread the word.. 🙂 )

Pancakes, Presents, Pics…

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See, I told you I’d post photos….

Aren't they goofy? This is from the first day at the new school....

And here are a couple, photos just because B has a new camera and was playing around. Besides, don’t you come to my blog to see photos of my beautiful kiddos? We all know you don’t come here to read what I babble on and on about…

 

So, as I said in my update… we’ve had 2 birthdays here in the last week. V turned 5 and d turned 8… On each boy’s birthday I let them pick the menu. Well, sort of, d wanted McDonald’s for both breakfast and dinner and that was not going to happen! V asked for pancakes for breakfast, but then changed his mind to doughnuts. So, I took some inspiration from him and we had pancakes for lunch instead. Only, as a family tradition on my side, birthday pancakes need to be special. So, with my sous-chef d by my side, we whipped up some out of the ordinary pancakes… And then the kids had a ton of fun decorating them and enjoying their works of art…

 

And, because child cannot live on pancakes alone.. We did a cake as well…

Now, if you were “wishing” (get it, wishing? While they blow out the candles.. hehehe..) for photos of our new place. Well, rest assured that I *am* working on it. I’ve taken photos of a couple rooms. And this weekend we’re hosting another party so I’ll have another excuse to clean up and take the rest of them. 🙂 I do want to share! And I am also planning on getting back into my blogging routine. I’ve had some rough days as far as my depression and getting sick has definitely taken a toll. But, I am feeling better today and am looking forward to continuing on the path to health!

Very Quick Update!

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So, I *should* be leaving to take V to school, but he’s still eating.. so, I’ll take time to update.

I no longer have kids aged 4, 4, 7 & 8.. now they’re 4, 5, 8 & 8.

We rocked out at the Monster Truck Jam for V’s birthday, but haven’t planned little D’s party.

Currently half of the people who live in our house have some sort of disease.. and are on antibiotics. As of tomorrow we’ll be out of the contagious phase. Wish luck to the three who remain healthy.

One of my best friends has moved away. And even though we didn’t see each other every day, I know I will miss her every day.

We are going to Florida in March.

Oh, and I know that I owe you a million photos…

I promise, I will share some soon (maybe even later today!).

OK, time to go!

Loss

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I taught a foster parenting class for just over 4 years. I love(d) doing it. It has been a chance for me to have adult time. It’s given me a chance to feel like I’m really giving back and helping more kids than just the ones that we take into our home. And I’ve met some wonderful foster and adoptive parents.

This week one of my former students passed away.

She was a very kind and generous woman who loved each of her foster children with all of her heart. As a retired nurse, she brought knowledge and experience that some of our kiddos desperately need. She had planned on taking on medically fragile children, but after taking on her first placement, a Native American little boy, she fell head over heels in love with him and didn’t take on another placement wanting to give all of her time and attention to just that little guy. When he left, it was very hard for her… as it is for all foster parents. But, she opened her home to another little girl. A baby who’d been shaken. The shaking has left permanent damage. That sweet little baby was left blind and has a myriad of other physical and mental issues that will be with her for life. And, now, she’s lost the only mom that she’s ever known. They were lucky enough to be together for over a year.

I’ve been sharing their story on the various chat boards that I frequent. I really am asking for thoughts, prayers, whatever you believe in for both the family of this mom & the sweet little one who is now with another foster family.

Ouch.

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Note to others (and, no, this is *not* a note to self, because I will not forget):

When climbing over seats at a hockey game be careful! If your leg should slip and get wedged between the parts of the seat, fight the impulse to just yank. This will cause you to hurt your knee. Also, resist the temptation to just pull as hard as you can in a panic to pull your foot out. This will result in scratches and bruises on both sides of said stuck foot. Instead, remain calm and figure it out.

Thankfully, I can walk normally again today.

Mom Guilt

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My mom used to tell us that, “Sarcasm is a waste of energy.” I find it best to say that phrase with a very pained expression and lethargy in your voice for maximum sarcastic effect.

I adore a good bit of sarcasm.

What I have had more than enough of is guilt.

Enough already!

And, yes, Mom, I *am* talking to you! And all of the moms out there who read this. Let go of the guilt. None of us will do this job perfectly. And even on our best days, we will make mistakes. Put on your big girl panties and let the guilt go! You *will* not have perfect children. And you will never be a perfect mom. Who would want that anyhow?

Mommy, you did a wonderful job. My memories are filled with laughter and fun and games and trips. And, even a few of your “mistakes”. I hope that as you watch me parent my children, you see a little bit of yourself–both the ups and the downs. I’m not a perfect adult and I know that there are things here or there that you wish and dream for me that aren’t happening, but I really do hope that you do feel some pride. You gave me love and support and a great role model.

Thanks for coming to see us… And, hopefully, the next time you read my blog, you’ll get a smile knowing how much we love and adore you.

Am I too late?

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Is it too late to post for the new year?

I swear, before kids, we were never late anywhere. And, I used to be able to just know off the top of my head what I had going on for the week ahead. I never needed to write things down… Well, maybe, that’s just how my memory remembers it. I’m sure that there were times that I was late or off kilter or forgot events. But, it’s way easier just to blame the kids!

Anyhow, we are progressing on our move. My parents are here this week and have helped us. We’ve done the Ikea run, moved some cabinets, unpacked a few more boxes, mounted mirrors and towel rods in the bathrooms… The longer we’re in this house, the more that we are enjoying it. There are still some issues. There’s been a repairman of some sort out here 3 times this week. And I envision more in my near future. But, we are loving the extra space and the park within walking distance. I am still working on getting photos taken of the house to share on here.

But, that’s not where I was going with this post.

I was thinking about goals for this year. I am hoping that having them out here for the world to see will do a few things. First, I hope that it gives me a wee bit of accountability. Second, maybe it’ll allow me to step back and look at them and prioritize. And, third, I’m sure that writing them out will spark my memory of others that have been floating around in my mind for the first week or so of this new year. So, without further ado, here are some of my goals for this year…

  • Get all of our products listed on the Rad Crafts site
  • Get our etsy store going for Rad Crafts
  • Find a few successful venues for our shows
  • Find some organizations that will step up and offer a discount for foster families
  • Help get all of the families at my Head Start site in safe car-seats–this one has been in the back of my mind for a long time
  • Get D caught up or on the right road as far as his math
  • Figure out my darn serger

I think those could keep me busy for a long, long time.

Have you started working on your goals? Do you know where you want to go?

It was much easier to have goals when I was younger and the years were marked by progression in school and moving forward. Now that I’m not working and not schooling, I have to set my own course. Or, I guess I get to. I just hope that this is the right one. 🙂

One photo.. just a taste…

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So, one (of the many) project that I’ve been working on is getting some photos ready to share of our new home. I can’t wait to show it off! We are still unpacking and the garage is very daunting. But, there are definitely getting be pretty areas in our new home!

Our Holiday Mantle

 There will be many more photos to follow!

I also wanted to update, I have started baby-stepping towards one of my goals and have started drafting a letter that I plan on sending out to businesses to pursue more discounts for foster parents. We’ll see how much time and energy I can devote to this, but I do think that it’s one of the things I’m meant to be working on this year.

Getting Ready Again

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One of the odd things about foster care is that it’s not all about being a foster parent. You have to have your home certified. Here, the state comes out every three years do to a safety inspection and the foster agency has to do a monthly inspection and an annual surprise inspection. We’ve been doing this for almost 6 years (yikes!) so you’d think we’d know what we’re doing. But, with this move, it almost feels like we’re starting from scratch.

I compare the licensing process to a pregnancy. When you’re taking your classes and working on your home study, it’s the time to prepare. It’s the time to ready your home and your family for the new addition that is to come. It’s the time when you need to find a day care, find a sitter, figure out if your pediatrician takes the insurance, figure out where toys and books and clothes will live. Well, I thought we had all of that figured out! And most of it we do… But, we are finding out that there’s a lot of work that we still have to do.

Here are some things that we need to do and I think a few of them may surprise you. We are required to have a fire extinguisher on each level of our home–our last place was a ranch style home so I guess I bought one and didn’t give it another thought.. now I have to find a couple more. We have to do a fire escape plan with at least 2 exits for each bedroom and one of those exits has to be directly out of the house. Now, I think this is a good idea for any family. Foster families do fire drills each quarter. But, we have never had a second story so I’m off to try to find a fire ladder. The biggest change for us is the addition of a pool. In Arizona, a pool is pretty much the only thing that allows you to be outside in the summer. We’ve never had one, we’ve always taken full advantage of the public pools and splash pads, but I am very much looking forward to not having to pack up everything anytime we want to cool off. But, along with that pool comes all of the requirements. Our home already has the approved type of fence, but we still have to purchase some extra equipment. I bought a coast guard approved ring the other day… $120!?! I’m still trying to find the shepard’s crook that I am required to have, it’s not exactly pool season so a few of the stores that I’ve checked with were sold out. We also have to have all of our toxins (dryer sheets, dishwasher detergent, paint…) locked up in away that requires a key. We’ve been down this road before so we know what we’re doing, but the locks that look the best are way expensive and kind of a pain to install (thanks, Daddy!). Hmmm.. what am I forgetting. Oh, we need to have a carbon monoxide detector, again, I think these are a good idea for any family. We are still waiting to find out if we’ll need one for each level or only one for the level that’s at risk.

Basically, we’ll be spending a bunch of time and a small fortune to get ready.

And this is what every foster family goes through. But, it’s a little peak at what lies ahead. When you foster a “typical” child in AZ, the going rate for reimbursement is $16.40 a day. It’ll cover the basic living expense for a child, but if you want to be a parent and have your child involved in sports or activities or classes, that’s going to come out of pocket. If you want to travel, that will cost you, too. And, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops as well. Foster parenting isn’t a way to get rich. But, it shouldn’t make you go broke either.

I think that I’ll work this year to share a few of the hints and tricks I’ve found to make fostering more affordable.. If you have any, please let me know so that I can share!

And, if you know a business that might be interested in offering a discount for foster parents, I’d love to know that as well.

In addition to preparing our home, there are other changes afoot in our home. I don’t plan on teaching PS-MAPP for awhile. So, perhaps it’s time to find another outlet for my passion. I truly love being a parent and a foster parent and I want to help others down the same road. I think I might just have stumbled upon the way for me to do that next.

Hope that your day has an epiphany as well! 🙂

Sigh….

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Well, well, well… we’re here! Still hanging in there.

I have to say that I have a masterful blog post that is being held prisoner in my netbook… As soon as I can figure out how to charge said netbook, I will post. For now, you’ll have to deal with this less-than-poetic post.

So, we’ve officially been living in this house for a week and two days.

And they’ve been stressful and sleepless and fun and tiring…

Grandpa David has been working so hard at helping us tackle all sorts of little projects… but, he worked a little too hard and ended up sick. Brian has also been trying to get things set up. Last night he was up until.. well, basically early this morning. I think there were only 2 hours between the time he crashed and I got up.

Grandma Janice, thankfully, worked miracles on Christmas to ensure that we had a wonderful meal… and we are still working on eating leftovers!

As for me, well, I am joining David in the sick bed. I haven’t shared much of this on here, but if you know me in real life, you’ve seen me struggle with sinus issues. I’ve been dealing with them for years and years, but this summer was, by far, the worst they’ve ever been. They got so bad that I actually called a doctor (!). So, I’ve been to an ENT and to an allergist and to my regular PCP. We thought, for a while, that surgery was in the near future, but finally had some luck with steroids. Well, as soon as I stopped the steroids, my infection is back with a vengeance. For some reason, I just can’t do as much when I can’t breathe!  Maybe posting this on here, for the world to see, will inspire me to do the right thing and call my ENT again today.

OK, enough about all of the boring adults…

The kids. Wow. The kids.

They’ve been out of school for f-a-r too long! Ha!

In fact, they were even asking yesterday when they go back. For Christmas, they got more toys than any group of kids could ever need. V’s favorite, so far, is a new Thomas train set. However, I just had them take it down so I can reclaim my living room. It will come back in a few weeks when we’re more settled. Bean’s favorite is a baby monkey and his (or her?) swing. The swing rocks and sings a lullaby with lights and motion.. very cute. Oh, and it has a pacifier, thankfully, it hasn’t been in Bean’s mouth yet… The big boys, well they’re at an age where the toys get smaller and the price tags get larger. Santa bought them each a Nintendo DSiXL. And I think that they’re in love.

In addition to the toys, they’re all enjoying more space! Their new rooms are much larger than before. And they’ve proven quite adept at getting them dirty quickly! It’s good to have skills. They will love the pool. This I am 100% positive about!

The only one who isn’t thrilled about the new place is the dog. Although, she’s coming around now that she’s getting used to the stairs. She isn’t allowed on the couches now, though, and I don’t think that she’s forgiven me for that yet. We did buy her her own plush new bed, but the silly girl is afraid of it.

Well, the laundry is in the washer waiting for me, there are a million things to be put away, and for some unknown reason we were crazy enough to plan a party for tomorrow night.. so I must be off.

But, one of my resolutions for the new year is more blogging! See you all next year!!!