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Makes My Heart Smile

Middle Boy and Younger Boy came into my room after about 15 minutes and apologized for not listening.  They both wanted to hold my hand and ...

Nervous

Middle Boy can't sleep.  I went in their room to talk to him.  We sat on the floor and talked about life.  He is nervous about school to...

I've Had It

Tonight I had it.  We had youth group.  It is Wednesday night.  Our typical routine on Wednesday night is to grab something to eat at a rest...

It Has to Stop

Older Boy called me FOURTEEN times today.  He also texted me TWELVE times.  All after 2:30pm when he got out of school and 5pm when I left w...

New Foster Parents

In the past few days I have found myself with the opportunity to speak to people who are considering or are in the process of becoming foste...

In Her Shoes

I went to a foster care support group tonight.  There were three of us there.  It is hard for me to believe that there are only three foster...

Sick Kid

Today I stayed home all day with Middle Boy who was vomiting part of the day.  I am not sure if he was anxious or actually sick.  Either way...

What?

Older Boy volunteers as a student manager for his middle school's football team.  He helps them out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday....

Random Dates

Here are some random dates I would love to have prayer for: October 26, 2011 - Check Hearing for Older Boy and Younger Boy December 15, 2011...

Decisions and Prayers

Today was a family team meeting for Older Boy and Younger Boy.  The question about permanency comes up quite regularly now at every single f...

I'm Sorry

Younger Boy had one of those days today where he was really struggling with following directions.  He was choosing over and over again not t...

Family Therapy

I really like Therapist A, Middle Boy's therapist. We had our second family therapy session today.  She is sensitive to the amount of ti...

Boy's Room

Okay...so by State Law I could technically have FOUR boys in my second bedroom.  Each child only needs 35 square foot of space and my second...

Behaviors

Since we have cell phones I have seen a LARGE increase in cooperation.  The boys are still really excited about the phones and they are all ...

I've Created Monsters

Today for whatever reason I believed it was a good idea to buy cell phones...for everyone. Now I am about to go crazy. I did get parental co...

Fines for Workers

I just saw this online and I think it is interesting.  It makes me wonder how many times it will apply in the State.  I think the decision i...

Progress Report

Today I got the progress report for Younger Boy.  NOT GOOD. We are going to really have to work hard to turn it around to even be remotely a...

Registration

Middle Boy registered in his school today.  It is SIGNIFICANTLY nicer than Older Boy's school. It is the magnet school for technology.  ...

Good-Bye Lunch

I went to lunch with Middle Boy and his former foster mom.  It was kind of an interesting transition. Middle Boy didn't seem too emotion...

Wasting Time

This morning was a complete waste of time.  Older Boy was supposed to have his psychiatric evaluation this morning.  We went to the psychiat...

No One

Older Boy asked if he had to start going to the "behavior school".  He knew they were going to call this afternoon to let me know ...

Accountability

Therapist J worked on accountability with Older Boy tonight.  They worked on accepting responsibility for your actions. Older Boy was able t...

Evaluation

We did the evaluation this afternoon for the partial program and Older Boy is NOT a candidate for their program. I asked what made them say ...

Thirty Families Thirty Days

A local Christian radio station is doing a segment during the month of September called "30 Families 30 Days".  The goal is to inc...

Sign This

Tonight after youth group Older Boy brought me the permission slip for the lock-in and told me we have to get it filled out and turned in. I...

Appointment

Today after court Older Boy had a psychiatric appointment.  The entire time he acted COMPLETELY age inappropriate.  He flapped his arms.  He...

Continuation

So...I think I feel pretty good about what happened at court today.  I went into a dialog about the behaviors we have here with both boys.  ...

Homework...Revisited

So, this morning I got an email from Younger Boy's teacher. He had a social studies project that was due Monday morning.  He was suppose...

Hi...this is Middle Boy

Tonight I got a call from Middle Boy.  He wanted to tell me about his football game.  Over the weekend I had teased him about how horrible h...

Open House

Tonight was Older Boy's school open house.  I read everything about it and decided we would go a little later since Older Boy doesn'...

Quiet Questions

Older Boy had a lot of questions for me when I picked him up from daycare today. At the hospital on Sunday they had told him there was the p...

Now I Know...

...God will give me the strength to get through anything. ...how much God loves us and what unconditional love means. ...when things are not...

Just Checking

Younger Boy woke me up in the middle of the night and wanted a hug.  I asked if he had a nightmare.  He said no.  He just wanted to make sur...

Good Day

Older Boy had a good day at school and daycare.  I called Mentor M to check on him last night.  The report was that his day at daycare went ...

Bad Day

Younger Boy is REALLY stressed out. He didn't have a good day at daycare today.  I think school was fine at least it was according to hi...

Next Steps

We have an appointment for an evaluation of Older Boy at the psychiatric day program on Thursday afternoon.  The appointment is anywhere fro...

A Break

Although I am sure Older Boy is viewing it as a reward he is staying with Mentor M and J for a couple of days to give me a break. I started ...

Nightmares

Younger Boy can't sleep.  He is afraid when Older Boy comes home he will be angrier and angrier.  He wakes up and comes to get me, becau...

Waiting Room

J came to the psychiatric waiting room to hang out with me.  She is the wife of Mentor M and a good friend to me. I cried and we talked abou...

Walking Fast

This morning as we were getting ready for church Older Boy asked me to sign his permission slip so he could go to the youth group lock-in.  ...

Cards and Letters

I wrote each of the boys a letter and put it in a card last week.  I dropped them in the mail so they would get them today. Younger Boy want...

Inappropriate Actions

On the way home from the swimming party I asked Older Boy about his actions and whether or not they were appropriate.  He said "they we...

Swimming Party

This afternoon we had a swimming party for all of the campers from Teen Foster Camp.  The day was filled with swimming, fishing, gaga ball, ...

Superhero

This morning Younger Boy had therapy.  I had purchased him a book he wanted called "Dude Diary" and it is a book of random questio...

Evening Out

Tonight I went to a musical so Babysitter J was home with all three boys. I had a great time at the musical....I loved it. The boys did fair...

Timeframe

I feel like we are on a roller coaster at our house.  The status of Older Boy is somewhat in the air.  We received news today that it could ...

Stepping Out in Faith

So...yesterday I stepped out in faith that God would provide.  Middle Boy's move was being delayed, because of school and transportation...

Football

Middle Boy just called to tell me about his football game.  Unfortunately they lost, but he played right guard for the entire game and got t...

Following Directions

Tonight Therapist J was here meeting with Older Boy.  He does a GREAT job with him.  Older Boy was doing great and then Therapist J needed t...

Prayers

Today I got a prayer request from a friend who mentors a girl in the foster care system.  I have no idea what is going on, but please pray a...

Squared Away

We are squared away with Middle Boy.  His official move in date is September 17, 2011.  He will be at my house on the 16th for weekend respi...

Middle Brother Update

Middle Brother is in the hospital again.  This time with pneumonia.  It has a fancier name, because it is actually in his trachea.  I can...

Nosebleeds

Older Boy now gets HORRIBLE nosebleeds every single time he gets stressed out.  He had four at home tonight and three during the day at scho...

"Mom and Dad"

Tonight Mom and Dad J came over for a visit.  They are the adoptive parents of Middle Brother and Younger Sister.  It was good to see them. ...

I Quit

Today I had it with the foster care system.  I actually told Foster Care Specialist I am done...I quit.  She gave me a while and called me t...

Unexpected Friend

I am surprised to find myself becoming really good friends with Middle Boy's current foster mom.  At first I had a preconceived notion t...

Clean Clothes

Apparently clean clothes are hard to come by in our home. Younger Boy has been wearing the same shorts since last Thursday.  I asked him to ...

Daycare and Consequences

Older Boy had a tough time at daycare today.  He was being unsafe when they were on the playground.  He was told to quit once and redirected...

Pleading My Case

Today I plead my case to the school district regarding the school for Middle Boy.  Older Boy and Middle Boy are in the same grade.  Older Bo...

Med Change

Younger Boy had a med check today.  We are going to change things up.  He isn't able to focus during school or at home to do his homewor...

How Are We Going to Do That?

I talked to Older Boy's urologist today.  He is struggling with bedwetting again.  Not sure if it is PTSD or kidney function or what.  W...

Your Story

Middle Boy asked me tonight if I felt like we have a connection between the two of us.  I told him I had a story for him and that I hope it ...

Family Time

After game night the boys and I sat and talked about life.   We talked about what they want to do when they get older and what they hope the...

Game Night

Tonight we had my friend K and her three kids over for game night.  I love that family!! The boys and I were working on what it means to be ...

K S U Wildcats

Today I took all three boys to the KSU football game and for Middle Boy to meet Grandma and Grandpa for the first time. On the way there You...

Really?

I am completely dumbfounded.... This morning I received a message from Middle Boy's Service Coordinator about school transportation.  He...