Friday Night Lights

Well.... Blaine had his first Varsity football game this last week. It was an out of town game, so we loaded up the "littles", put the dvd player in the car so B could watch "Cars" and off we went. Almost 2 hours away, in the rain.

We got there, pulled into the stadium parking lot and B starts yelling "football, football, I want to watch football". It was precious! The baby had never been to a football game until coming to live with us. He doesn't really watch the games, but he obviously loves going! And I am so glad!

So we get in the stadium about the time the Varsity guys come out. They have the big "bulldog" head blow up thingy that they fill up with smoke and the guys run out. It was about that time that I got teary eyed. My BABY'S first Varsity game! The sounds of the band, seeing the drill team, the cheerleaders. I just got all sentimental.

Blaine didn't get to play much, which is to be expected for his first Varsity game. But he did get to play 6 or 7 plays, and did great. The last play of the game, he smeared the guy with the ball and I was so proud! :0)

We did our photo shoot, and headed back home. We didn't get home until after midnight. Blaine didn't get home until after 1:00. But it sure was fun!!!!

Blaine trying to look "mean".... he just looks like a teenager with a 'tude! :0)

Foster care funk....

Haven't blogged in a while, haven't had much good to say. While I LOVE the kids we are fostering and cherish every moment with them (good and bad), the IDIOTS working for the government make fostering soooooooo hard.

Thursday, B comes home from daycare with diarrhea. The WHOLE class has it.

Last Friday, this is what happened.... I get a call from the kids Dr. that the state assigned a Dr. in ABILENE (3 or so hours away) as the kids PCP. Until I can get that changed, they can't see LMRB for her appointment this week. Then I go to pick B up from daycare and am met at the door by the Asst. Director. The state is no longer paying for daycare and I can't bring B back to school on Tuesday. The Director/Owners are old Church friends of ours, but they are on a cruise and she can't authorize me to bring B back. Then I get home to a letter from CPS that they are inspecting our home. You know, the kind of inspection where they check your pantry for expired food, check your ceiling fans for dust, check your medicine for expired meds, totally nitpick everything, etc. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but do they HAVE to pick football season, the busiest time of the year to do this? Yep, they do. Which reminds me the dogs need their rabies shots updated, I need to get our fire extinguishers serviced and we are due for our Fire and Environmental safety checks. UGH. More appointments.

Saturday, B's diarrhea is so bad... he has NINE diarrhea diapers. I am about to take him to the ER. Robert is mowing yards and working a side job. So Blaine (bless his heart) goes to the store and gets us stocked up on pedialyte.

Sunday, more diarrhea. But he is starting to perk up.

Monday, B is MUCH better. We take all 4 kids to the park. Robert took B fishing. We fed the ducks. The big kids played with B on the playground equipment. (might I say, I LOVE seeing my teenagers act like kids, and not be too "cool" to play with B and entertain him). Garrett chased B around the park, running and screaming. We had a bawl. We also talk to the Director and the Owners, and they will let us bring B back on Tuesday (THANK GOD!).


Tuesday I spend over 2 hours on the phone trying to get the Dr. situation fixed. I made SEVEN phone calls before it was all said and done. Twice I had to put the insurance people on hold, while I called the Dr. to confirm they would receive the fax confirmation of the correct Dr. being listed for the kids. Really???? They friggin' asked for the information. Nope, they have to have confirmation they will receive the confirmation. Oi vey..... And in those phone calls, they scold me for not having taken LMRB to the dentist yet. WTH, she is SIX months old! I also find out that not only does our government pay for illegals to have free insurance, but they also HAVE PAID EMPLOYEES TO GO TO THE DR WITH THEM TO FRIGGIN' TRANSLATE. When does it stop? Oh yea, and they will give gas money for them to get to their appointments as well.

Wednesday, I FINALLY get confirmation faxed on the right kid, so we can go to the Dr. on Thursday. Then I get a call that B is throwing up, come get him. My Lord..... I am about to lose it! Since I am working part-time, I hated to leave work. So Robert picked him up. The kid was FINE. He ate 3 plates of spaghetti that night for dinner.

Thursday, I keep B home with me, just in case. Can I say the boy was an ANGEL. Like I've never seen before. A...N...G...E...L... We take LMRB to the Dr. for her 6 month shots. He is still an angel. Y'all, I was in tears at how well behaved he was that day. I am hopeful for more of those to come, as he learns to trust us, and settles in more and feels comfortable with us. So we are at the Dr. The Nurse is giving LMRB her shots (one oral, 3 shots in the legs and a finger prick). The baby is SCREAMING. B runs up, hits the Nurse on the leg and yells "STOP ITTTTTTT". I don't condone hitting, especially a lady, an adult, a stranger. But it was so precious that he was trying to protect his sister. He has only known her for 2 months, but that bond is amazing. B continues being helpful, sweet, loving, just amazing all day. Robert takes B to Garrett's football game here in town and I take LMRB with me to Blaine's football game out of town. FOUR hours in the car to not get to watch my son play football, with a fussy baby from her shots, and in the pouring down rain. I left my debit card in my purse at home and needed gas, my phone hadn't charged in 3 days and the directions to the stadium were on my phone that was going dead. Yea.... I soooooo do not do good living on the edge! But we made it, LMRB wasn't *that* bad, it was just a stressful day. I did have a credit card with me, not sure if I put us over the limit, but I got my gas.

Today was just a normal day. TGIF! At one point B was playing with LMRB, he leaned down, hugged her and said "awwww, I wuv u". It was PRECIOUS. As hard as the days are, as tired as I am each and every night. That ONE moment makes it all worth it. I just hope we have some more, so I can get over the IDIOTS that work for the government. :0) The bigguns' went to the football game, I put the littles to bed and sat in the recliner and watched Urban Cowboy. Ahhhhh, serenity! A nice way to end a stressful week!

Tomorrow, we have a foster care training class. Fun. NOT!

I know that's a lot of griping. But seriously.... I never in a million kazillion years would have ever thought I'd have FOUR kids (even if it may be temporary). But we are getting in a groove. And I couldn't ask for four more precious, amazing, funny, smart, adorable kids. They keep me hopping, that's for sure. But at the end of the day, when the house is all quiet, I smile and sigh and think to myself, I made it through another day. Thank you God!

Makes ya' wanna' whistle the Andy Griffith tune, doesn't it!





FIVE THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. The rain/thunderstorms that we are having.
2. The four kids God has blessed me with.
3. My Mom. She is AMAZING. I love her and appreciate her so much.
4. My Hubby. For all that he does for us to make ends meet, to make everyone happy around here.
5. My freedom.

Just wanted to post an update on all the kiddos...

Blaine has been painstakingly looking for a job since the beginning of summer. He has applied to 45 places, and run into some real "doozies" that I call human existence. I can not believe how cruel some people can be, and how unprofessional. He is beat down. And as his Mommy, I hate it!!!! He broke up with his girlfriend while he was in Colorado. And he is just hanging out waiting for the phone to ring for a job offer.

Garrett has football camp this week. He has been hanging out with Mammaw and LMRB during the day, sleeping late and playing video games. Ahhhh the life of a teenager.

Super B is settling in. He had a tough time for the first few weeks. So tough that my spirit was broken for him. I went to bible study one night and asked the women to pray for him. I have to say, the boy woke up a different child!!! He has his moments, what two year old doesn't? But he is such a joy to have around. And he keeps me on my toes, that's for sure!

LMRB is growing like a weed, she is now 5 months old. She is sitting up on her own, scoots backwards (trying to crawl), eating cereal, belly laughing at her brother, and screeches and growls like there is no tomorrow. She is blowing spit bubbles as I type. Oh, and she is teething. She is in the "stranger danger" stage too.

Robert is working hard, hating the summer heat. And I am trying to keep up with all the kiddos and get everything ready for school to start in a few weeks.

That's it... the latest on all of us. :-)

The mud bogs

Yesterday we took the kiddos to the mud bogs. (insert rolling eyes here) Ever since B got here, Robert has been DYING to take him to see the trucks "play" in the mud. Robert's brother has 2 trucks that he races, so we occasionally join in on the redneck festivities. B is FASCINATED with anything with wheels. Most boys are. So Robert thought he would really enjoy the mud bogs.

It took a few races before B got into it. But man, when he did, he was alllllll about the mud trucks and the tractors. He LOVED it. And to make it even better, a little boy from his daycare was there, so they got to play in the dirt with their little trucks. It was so cute to watch them play and cheer on the trucks.

And Little Miss Ruffle Bottom enjoyed all the people doting all over her! She is such a trooper.

Here's a pic of B cheering for the trucks. (can't post his face on the 'net, so this is the best I can do). He is the one in blue clapping his little hands off. :0)

Wow, what a month!

I can not believe it has been almost a month since I last BLABBED (I mean blogged!). :-)

A lot has happened in the last month. The boys went to Louisiana with my brother and his girlfriend for a week and had a blast. Blaine left the same day they got home to go to Colorado with his bio-grandma to visit his half brothers. He has been gone over a week now, and will be gone another week or so.

But the biggest change is the addition of Prince B to our family. Prince B is Little Miss Ruffle Bottom's half brother. He is 2, and came to stay with us on July 3.

I am now the proud mom and foster mom to 2 in high school and 2 in diapers.

It has been an adjustment, that is for sure. A 2 year old has a lot more emotion when his world is completely changed than a baby does. Although moving to a new home is traumatic and stressful to both children. We are settling in, getting a routine down, and getting used to each other now. The first few days were rough. He had a lot of anger and did a lot of testing. He is a beautiful child. He is funny, happy (most of the time), energetic, and VERY talkative! (fits right in here!).

So, to say things have been crazy around here is an understatement. But in a good way (most days!). I love that LMRB and Prince B are together. I love that LMRB's first belly laugh was to her brother. I love how he kisses her on the forehead goodnight and when we leave for school. I love how he says "awwww baby whassa matter, don't cry" when she is crying. I love when he wants to be held and snuggled on. I love it that he and Grace have become the best of friends (she is such a mother hen dog!). I love it that God has blessed me with more than I could have ever imagined... and I love it that he carries me through the days I don't think I can do one more thing for one more person or dog around here.

So... we aren't sure how long Prince B will be here with us. But we are sure enjoying having him around, and truly thankful that he is here.

FIVE THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:
1. God... his blessings.... his carrying me on days that I need it the most.... his grace and his favor.
2. That the "littles" are in bed, sound asleep so I can blog.
3. Naps... oh I sooooooooo miss my naps.
4. Baby belly laughs and snuggle hugs from a precious little boy.
5. The rain we received last night.

Happy Father's Day

I would like to wish my Hubby a Happy Father's Day!!!

To the man that has done so much for everyone.
To the man that, when we had been seeing each other for 2 weeks, after working 18 straight hours putting out sand during an ice storm, drove 35 miles each way to bring Blaine (who was an infant at the time) some Tylenol and Pedialyte when he was sick.
To the man that, when I was pregnant and had insomnia, would play his guitar for hours at night until I fell asleep.
To the man that, when Garrett was a baby and was fussy, would play his guitar to calm him down.
To the man that, stepped up to be a Daddy to my son when he didn't have to, and treated him fairly and loved him as his own.
To the man that, helped bathe, feed, take care of his children.
To the man that, helped me fulfill my dream of having a daughter.
To the man that, coached soccer, attended every football, baseball, soccer and basketball game, attended awards programs, went to school parties.

To the man that, spent 2 days putting together a swingset for Blaine for his 3rd birthday.

To the man that, worked 3 jobs so I could stay at home with the kids when things were really tough for Blaine.

To the man that, taught my kids to throw a football, throw a baseball, swing a bat.

To the man that, puts the needs of his kids before his own.

To the man that, does so much for his children.

Any man can be a father, but it takes a special man to be a Daddy.

It isn't near what he deserves, but for Robert's Father's Day present he went fishing last weekend. He didn't win any money but he had a good time so that is all that matters. The boys got him some shorts and a hat (lame, I know!) and Princess Ruffle Bottom made him a handyman work apron thingy (or should I say the daycare lady made it). We took him to Razoo's for dinner (his favorite restaurant) and had a blast. We laughed, we talked, we cut up, we acted silly, we ate way too much.... we had a great evening.

Here are some pics...

from dinner (couldn't post the one with Princess in it for privacy foster care reasons)

and Princess Ruffle Bottom's present to her Daddy....

little bit of everything

I haven't blogged in a while. I totally feel like a songwriter or REAL writer these days. When things are good, you just don't have that creative spark to write anything interesting (not that anything I wrote before was interesting! ha). So I wanted to take a minute to update on us....

My Mom is in Maine with my Aunt. I was supposed to go on this trip. I had the flights picked out, prices, waiting on Robert to let me know when I could book the trip... and then we got the news that Ruffle Bottom was coming. Well, I used about all my vacation time when she got here, so I am not in Maine right now. :-( (major pouting going on right now) My Mom sends photos of the beautiful places she's visited... and I pout some more.

Soooo, with my Mom being gone, Ruffle Bottom is in daycare. She is in an in-home daycare that my good friend's daughter is in. The first day was torture... Robert was out of town, so I was here by myself to drop off this precious baby with a stranger. Lord, I don't know HOW I did it with my boys. Oh yea I do.... that is why I spent my lunch break for 6 months visiting Garrett in his daycare next door to my work! :0) Well, back to Ruffle Bottom, she is really enjoying the daycare. But she told me the other day she would rather be in Maine with Mammaw. hehe She has 2 more days of daycare left and Mammaw will be back to report for duty. I miss my Mom so much, it was nice to get to see her every morning and to get to chat with her.

Robert decided he wanted to finish laying the flagstone we bought two years ago under my pergola. He picked today, the hottest day of the year, to start. Ugh. Anyways, the poor man worked for 8 hours in the blazing sun and heat to finish what we started two years ago. Ummmm, the month of March or April comes to mind... Oh well, it is done and it looks great. My Man is wayyyyy sunburned, and I am lathering him down with aloe vera lotion. But anyways, here is a pic of the pergola....picture the grass growing through the sand (eventually) and don't pay attention to the faded stain on the fence please.

So, the boys are doing good. They are both in football conditioning throughout the summer. They are enjoying it. Blaine is still looking for a job. And Garrett is just enjoying being out of school.

FIVE THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. My Hubby that does all the back breaking work around here. I love ya' man!

2. That my kids are happy and healthy.

3. That my Mom will be back in a few days. I miss her!

4. A nice peaceful place to sit and enjoy my back yard.

5. To have a home to do updates to. So many are losing their homes, losing their jobs, I am so thankful that I have a place to call home.