I wanted to write some enjoyable things down that have happened the last few days with all the kids...
Austin is potty training - heavily. We have tried on and off but things have come up and I have quit... So we decided just to work on it with straight underwear. We bought Thomas the Tank Engine underwear, and while he still doesn't fully understand when he needs to go, he is doing well overall... He was in the bathroom earlier and wanted some toilet paper (even though I know boys don't use it :). He told me that he was "brushing" himself instead of wiping :). He has become a lot more independent in wanting to try to dress and undress himself too... I know some of you probably don't care about these potty training stories, but as such, they are part of my life right now, so...
Our baby is cutting his first tooth. And he is so pleasant. He smiles and giggles even though he feels a bit warm and is probably in pain. He has the biggest poochy lip ever! It is almost too funny for words. I tell him no and that lip comes out so fast. He is ten months old today already! We bought him a jumper that he can sit in and jump and it has toys on it. He is quite happy in there and it puts him on the other kids levels!
Our daughter is showing signs of really settling in and doing much better. I have instituted a marble system for good behavior. If they are good, they get marbles (that are in a glass jar so they can see them) and when the jar gets filled up, then they get to choose dinner, or dessert, or something fun to do as a family. Her jar got filled last night. She was so very excited! We had chicken for lunch at her request! (And rice krispie treats at Austins since his jar was full too)
On a note about foster care - please do pray if you read this. There is quite a large situation occurring and we need prayer regarding what happens. We have gotten the world's most wonderful social worker. She is new and really honestly cares about kids. We haven't found that too much. I guess you see so many bad things, it is easy to get jaded and just do your job without feeling. We are thankful for her though and how helpful she has been. We just need prayer in the days ahead.
We went to Walmart today with all three kids! It was almost comical. We got two carts so each kid could ride somewhere and we ended up putting quite a bit in both carts. Three kids makes for way more clothing needs, groceries, diapers, ect.
It is true that you take far more pictures with your first child than with the rest. We haven't taken nearly as many this time around. So I am working on that. I want to remember these days and capture the memories. While I have been rather overwhelmed, I am so thankful for the blessing of my children. And I know that they will be grown in the blink of an eye. So I want to remember all these fun moments from their childhoods.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
A Bit Overwhelmed
Today is my first day at home with all three kids by myself... It has been interesting. I am struggling with utter exhaustion. Some of it is normal for me, but adding two kids to my mix and still trying to work full time and missing a lot of sleep from traveling this week has made me really lacking in the sleep area. I am also being tested for a specific autoimmune disease that might explain the extra fatigue that I am feeling.
Having a baby again is very enjoyable, but it does add another dimension to my life... I really do love babies. And Jeremiah is such a good baby. He really only cries when he is hungry or tired... And he loves to play on the floor even by himself! He is teething and I wouldn't have even known it except that the tooth popped through.
Our daughter is doing well... We got a new social worker which has been very, very nice. She has been very helpful and has listened to all my concerns. It is so hard to be attached and know she has to leave. I have such mixed feelings about her leaving. I love her. And I am worried that the next placement isn't the best thing for her even though I really don't have a say in it. But I also realize that maybe having only two kids is best for me right now, my state of mind, and honestly my health situation.
Working full time adds a whole different dimension to having children. I don't know how people work outside of their homes. I am so blessed to be able to work at home and even at night if and when I need to.
Austin is doing ok. He is missing life the way it was. But that is normal. I think he likes the idea of being an older brother. But he isn't so sure about this small new creature in his space using his things and even wearing his old clothes. Austin is a social person though, he loves people. So I think he will adjust really, really well in time. I am concerned with how he will react if our daughter has to leave. I think he might actually miss her
Children are a blessing from God no matter how little time you have with them. It is just very hard to have to give them up... But they are God's and He loves even a sparrow that falls. So I know He will care for my kids whether they are in my home or somewhere else.
Having a baby again is very enjoyable, but it does add another dimension to my life... I really do love babies. And Jeremiah is such a good baby. He really only cries when he is hungry or tired... And he loves to play on the floor even by himself! He is teething and I wouldn't have even known it except that the tooth popped through.
Our daughter is doing well... We got a new social worker which has been very, very nice. She has been very helpful and has listened to all my concerns. It is so hard to be attached and know she has to leave. I have such mixed feelings about her leaving. I love her. And I am worried that the next placement isn't the best thing for her even though I really don't have a say in it. But I also realize that maybe having only two kids is best for me right now, my state of mind, and honestly my health situation.
Working full time adds a whole different dimension to having children. I don't know how people work outside of their homes. I am so blessed to be able to work at home and even at night if and when I need to.
Austin is doing ok. He is missing life the way it was. But that is normal. I think he likes the idea of being an older brother. But he isn't so sure about this small new creature in his space using his things and even wearing his old clothes. Austin is a social person though, he loves people. So I think he will adjust really, really well in time. I am concerned with how he will react if our daughter has to leave. I think he might actually miss her
Children are a blessing from God no matter how little time you have with them. It is just very hard to have to give them up... But they are God's and He loves even a sparrow that falls. So I know He will care for my kids whether they are in my home or somewhere else.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Adjustments
We spent the last week and a half in Ohio with my family. It was such a wonderful time for me. I always enjoy spending time with family, but this time having help with three little ones was very nice as well! At least the adults outnumbered the kids for a while.
We drove all day and most of the night last night to get back home. We got in about 2:30 am and our baby was up at 6:30 am ready for his day!
It is an adjustment for me to have a baby again. When we got Austin, he was eating mostly table food and sleeping all through the night. This baby is still very much on formula and wakes up some in the night. But he is such a wonderful happy baby!
We did find out today that our daughter will most likely leave us within the next two weeks. I am sitting here having really mixed feelings about that news. It has been a difficult time both with her and with working with the agency. I think for us, it is better to be able to just have kids that we can raise as our own, with our values and our own ways of disciplining. Having people in and out of your home, never really telling you anything yet expecting you to parent, ect. just isn't a very easy way to live.
It looks like the next two weeks will be full of adjustments, one to having a baby, and to possibly dealing with the feelings of loss for another child. You worry about your kids no matter how long you have had them. You worry how they will be treated, will they get the help they need, will their new families teach them about Jesus - which is the most important question.
But God knows what is best for us and for her. So I just have to rely on Him fully. It is interesting realizing that change is coming, you find yourself trying to prepare emotionally for it, and that is a rather difficult thing to do in reality.
We drove all day and most of the night last night to get back home. We got in about 2:30 am and our baby was up at 6:30 am ready for his day!
It is an adjustment for me to have a baby again. When we got Austin, he was eating mostly table food and sleeping all through the night. This baby is still very much on formula and wakes up some in the night. But he is such a wonderful happy baby!
We did find out today that our daughter will most likely leave us within the next two weeks. I am sitting here having really mixed feelings about that news. It has been a difficult time both with her and with working with the agency. I think for us, it is better to be able to just have kids that we can raise as our own, with our values and our own ways of disciplining. Having people in and out of your home, never really telling you anything yet expecting you to parent, ect. just isn't a very easy way to live.
It looks like the next two weeks will be full of adjustments, one to having a baby, and to possibly dealing with the feelings of loss for another child. You worry about your kids no matter how long you have had them. You worry how they will be treated, will they get the help they need, will their new families teach them about Jesus - which is the most important question.
But God knows what is best for us and for her. So I just have to rely on Him fully. It is interesting realizing that change is coming, you find yourself trying to prepare emotionally for it, and that is a rather difficult thing to do in reality.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Mommy to Three for a time
I am finding out that being a mommy to three kids is kind of crazy! Literally - especially when they are all three years old and under... I am beginning to see the wisdom in spacing your kids out a bit LOL!
We have been so blessed to have had help from my family for the first full week of having three kids. It helps to have adults outnumber children - since generally with two parents and three kids that isn't the case.
We plan on leaving Ohio in the next couple days though, so we will be back to being on our own. We are not sure how long we will remain a family of five though. It seems that we may be changing back into a family of four.
For those who are wondering, that comes with mixed feelings. Being a foster family, you are aware that you could only have children for a time. So it doesn't come as a shock, but there are definitely feelings of concern for the next stops in the children's lives, how they will grow and develop, will anyone keep teaching them about Jesus, ect.
Honestly, I think that having some time as a mommy of two kids before number three comes along might be a better plan for me. I am truthfully a bit overwhelmed with three tiny ones to care for. But I really do love being a mommy, and I am thankful for the children God has entrusted to us, even if it is for a very short time.
We are learning a lot about parenting. It seems when you have one child, you can let a lot of discipline issues go because they don't affect you as much as they do when more kids are in the picture. So we are beefing up our teaching on immediate obedience especially. But we have been blessed with wonderful kids who really respond well to training.
We are thinking for now, if we go back down to two kids that we are going to stay that way for a while. When our foster license comes up for renewal, we may go ahead and renew just for legal risk adoption. We aren't sure that we want to foster anymore - unless the children are far smaller than Austin. We have realized that it is very important to monitor the possible things that enter your home that can have a profound effect on your present children.
We think that maybe when our kids are grown, we will invest in spending our lives with foster children. We will have the experience and the time. Right now, we have neither. We are hoping for more children in the future, but it seems fine with me to only have two for the present - if things change. And we don't want to spend the money for a mini-van just yet ;)
We have been so blessed to have had help from my family for the first full week of having three kids. It helps to have adults outnumber children - since generally with two parents and three kids that isn't the case.
We plan on leaving Ohio in the next couple days though, so we will be back to being on our own. We are not sure how long we will remain a family of five though. It seems that we may be changing back into a family of four.
For those who are wondering, that comes with mixed feelings. Being a foster family, you are aware that you could only have children for a time. So it doesn't come as a shock, but there are definitely feelings of concern for the next stops in the children's lives, how they will grow and develop, will anyone keep teaching them about Jesus, ect.
Honestly, I think that having some time as a mommy of two kids before number three comes along might be a better plan for me. I am truthfully a bit overwhelmed with three tiny ones to care for. But I really do love being a mommy, and I am thankful for the children God has entrusted to us, even if it is for a very short time.
We are learning a lot about parenting. It seems when you have one child, you can let a lot of discipline issues go because they don't affect you as much as they do when more kids are in the picture. So we are beefing up our teaching on immediate obedience especially. But we have been blessed with wonderful kids who really respond well to training.
We are thinking for now, if we go back down to two kids that we are going to stay that way for a while. When our foster license comes up for renewal, we may go ahead and renew just for legal risk adoption. We aren't sure that we want to foster anymore - unless the children are far smaller than Austin. We have realized that it is very important to monitor the possible things that enter your home that can have a profound effect on your present children.
We think that maybe when our kids are grown, we will invest in spending our lives with foster children. We will have the experience and the time. Right now, we have neither. We are hoping for more children in the future, but it seems fine with me to only have two for the present - if things change. And we don't want to spend the money for a mini-van just yet ;)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Baby Update
Thought for those of you who look for these that I would give an update on our newest little blessing. He is such a joyful child. Honestly, Austin was a wonderful baby, but he has a very outgoing sometimes loud personality. The new baby is a very calm, quiet child. He has transitioned so well. He only really cries when he is hungry and a bit if super tired. Other than that, he has totally done perfectly.
We have really been blessed with this child. We wouldn't ever change Austin's personality, but we admit that we are not sad that this child is quieter :) Opposites attract people always say. And we appear to have opposites. Maybe things will change in time once the baby is more comfortable with us. But he seems just fine with changing homes and families.
The life of having three children is an interesting one. We are feeling though that if God takes our daughter away for any number of reasons, that our stint in foster care might be over for the time being. There is amazing blessing to being able to raise your children from babies and instill your own values into their lives, to be able to discipline as you see fit, to have them grow up without horrible memories of past lives, ect. Please pray for us as some decisions have to be made in our near future on this front. Our relicensing process comes up again soon and we have to decide how we feel the Lord leading in this regard.
We have really been blessed with this child. We wouldn't ever change Austin's personality, but we admit that we are not sad that this child is quieter :) Opposites attract people always say. And we appear to have opposites. Maybe things will change in time once the baby is more comfortable with us. But he seems just fine with changing homes and families.
The life of having three children is an interesting one. We are feeling though that if God takes our daughter away for any number of reasons, that our stint in foster care might be over for the time being. There is amazing blessing to being able to raise your children from babies and instill your own values into their lives, to be able to discipline as you see fit, to have them grow up without horrible memories of past lives, ect. Please pray for us as some decisions have to be made in our near future on this front. Our relicensing process comes up again soon and we have to decide how we feel the Lord leading in this regard.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Our baby boy!
I am sitting in my living room waiting for our 9 month old precious baby boy to come home - for good! That is such a wonderful, blessed feeling! Yes, I know I am using lots of exclamation points, but they reflect how I am feeling.
We met him for the first time yesterday. He is such a happy baby. He is so adorable with chubby little cheeks and even chubby little feet. He appears a bit small for his age, but I didn't meet Austin this young, so I have nothing to compare it to. He doesn't have any teeth yet. But he is crawling well and even trying to stand a little.
It is an interesting process to meet your child for the first time with a social worker sitting in your living room watching you. We are getting him today for good and I think the time with just our family will be really nice.
It is a bit overwhelming to think of being mommy to 3 children age 3 and under, but God is good and has provided us a wonderful family - just hoping all 3 can stay with us forever. That remains to be seen.
We are packing the car and leaving for Ohio to see my family about 3:30 pm today. I'm a little scared about that, having not had the baby at all to figure out a schedule for him. But we will make it. And being with family will make sure each child feels special during this initial bonding time.
What a blessing to be given a precious baby boy again. I am so thankful for how God works. I have become a mommy to 3 beautiful children in a period of 3 weeks. Crazy how things work out sometimes.
I am so thankful for the support of my husband, and friends and family. We couldn't be doing this without all the support and love that we have.
More to follow about our precious baby as we progress down this new adventure that is our lives!
We met him for the first time yesterday. He is such a happy baby. He is so adorable with chubby little cheeks and even chubby little feet. He appears a bit small for his age, but I didn't meet Austin this young, so I have nothing to compare it to. He doesn't have any teeth yet. But he is crawling well and even trying to stand a little.
It is an interesting process to meet your child for the first time with a social worker sitting in your living room watching you. We are getting him today for good and I think the time with just our family will be really nice.
It is a bit overwhelming to think of being mommy to 3 children age 3 and under, but God is good and has provided us a wonderful family - just hoping all 3 can stay with us forever. That remains to be seen.
We are packing the car and leaving for Ohio to see my family about 3:30 pm today. I'm a little scared about that, having not had the baby at all to figure out a schedule for him. But we will make it. And being with family will make sure each child feels special during this initial bonding time.
What a blessing to be given a precious baby boy again. I am so thankful for how God works. I have become a mommy to 3 beautiful children in a period of 3 weeks. Crazy how things work out sometimes.
I am so thankful for the support of my husband, and friends and family. We couldn't be doing this without all the support and love that we have.
More to follow about our precious baby as we progress down this new adventure that is our lives!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Baby Boy Blessing
I am so excited to be able to announce that we will be adopting an 8 month old baby boy! We have know about him for two very long weeks now. But we didn't find out completely for sure until today that we would actually be getting him.
He is an adorable little boy - at least from his pictures. We get to meet him for the first time tomorrow! The social worker said that he is a very happy baby.
We are excited for this newest blessing from God. It seems a little bit overwhelming to have become a family of 5 within 3 weeks. But God is good. Things are going a lot more smoothly at our home right now. The kids seem fairly excited about a baby... Although I'm not sure Austin really understands. He saw the picture of the baby and said "That's Austin :)"
I will try to update again tomorrow about our special time meeting our newest son. We are so thankful for all the prayers on our behalf and the encouragement that has been given to us.
Adoption is such a blessing! I am glad to have been able to walk this road. And I am so thankful to read all the stories of others touched by adoption in their lives as well - we have many friends walking this road as well
He is an adorable little boy - at least from his pictures. We get to meet him for the first time tomorrow! The social worker said that he is a very happy baby.
We are excited for this newest blessing from God. It seems a little bit overwhelming to have become a family of 5 within 3 weeks. But God is good. Things are going a lot more smoothly at our home right now. The kids seem fairly excited about a baby... Although I'm not sure Austin really understands. He saw the picture of the baby and said "That's Austin :)"
I will try to update again tomorrow about our special time meeting our newest son. We are so thankful for all the prayers on our behalf and the encouragement that has been given to us.
Adoption is such a blessing! I am glad to have been able to walk this road. And I am so thankful to read all the stories of others touched by adoption in their lives as well - we have many friends walking this road as well
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