Miracles

This is my outlet when life is nuts!
Today I write happiness!
Our little 8 month old, Addison is getting into everything. This child was malnourished and alien looking when she arrived. She now is a chunky monkey or butterball that gets into everything! If it is less than 12" from floor, it is hers!

Now let's talk about our 2 yr old Hannah. Very scarred, scared child at arrival. Now very happy and learning to play and interact with others! Her smile melts the heart of the hardened. We continue to pray bc she still has a lot to overcome and may never be at "normal" functioning level, but we love her just how she is! She makes us a better stronger family!

Oh Keegan! Oh dear Jesus did you forget about me? Is my prayer some days! The kid is bright! He is catching on like a whiz! Think about 2 1/2 yrs of survival and then getting it all handed to you. That is our son!

Avery & Braden are catching on to the facts that these guys are here to stay, we hope! No they can't understand "we hope". But one day, they will!
We are talking about our family and how it has changed but it is a good change that God instructed.
I live by He only allows kids that we need to learn from and that need us! Sometimes, I wish I wasn't so stubborn bc some of our kids have stumbled me beyond words! We are thankful for each and miss some more than others.

Haden, he is just oblivious to the craziness! This is the only thing he has known for 29 of his 31 months of life! This is HIS home and NOTHING will change that.
The older boys are adjusting.
Cb is finding out his place in the world and J is just testing every patience bar there is. Cb is too, now that I think about it! There are days I would just send them to boarding school if there was one near! Other days, they are the most considerate boys on The planet!

Ex. Last week, we went to dinner. An elder complimented us on our children. It always helps my short coming spirit to have an elder point out that I am guiding my children to the path of fruitfulness.

We did get the news this week that a special child is getting a potential forever home and it is not us. Sad but good for that little girl. They know her and work with her daily. It is what is best for her.
We will keep being open to the Lord filling that space for a bit longer. Patience never has been my strongest attribute!

Enjoy this festive season! Remember that Jesus is what makes it possible. Not so much His birth, but His death allowed us life! His birth gave us physical example of how to live selflessly! His death gave us chances when we don't necessarily deserve them.

Mixed blessings!

It has been a whirl wind of a week! :}
Kids are really struggling since Friday's birth family visit.
On Monday we had great news of Addison is an official crawler AND she is already high kneeling! Ahhhhh were did my baby go? Today, she went from tummy to sit without falling or wobbling. Had been wobbly and falling...NOT any more!
She is into everything at her level now. GO ADDI!
They had a birth family visit yesterday and it has been AWFUL. Hitting, bitting, screaming, spitting...u name it, it has probably gone on! The digestive issues are really bad! Feeding my 7 month old French fries, really?!

Then my dear son decides to slam against a curb and ruin a rim! Really?! Guess that privilege is gone for a season!

Crazy days ahead as we train a temp nanny and survive CHRISTmas break.

Till then, enjoy those babes! They think they should grow up?

Holidays

Yes, it is that time of year!
We were blessed to celebrate 2 of our 4 girls birthdays last week! It was so good to have our oldest and her friend home for the weekend.

It is such a blessing to see the gifts we have that we need to be thankful for daily! NOT JUST 1/365 days in a yr!

We were blessed with cup cakes from www.sugarscupcakes.com
Go check them out! They were the best cupcakes I have EVER had!

We recovered from that awesome visit and got out the tree & put it up on regular turkey day. I must admit, I DONOT like the hassle of a tree and small children. Casey does, so it is all on him!
I did decorate the porch and FINALLY finished painting all the chairs the same color.
Neighbors rejoiced! JK. It did take me 8 months to commit to a color that wasn't painful to the passerby!

Now I am in the process of brainstorming ( no one panic, I only have pen and paper!) my own creation of "25 days of Christmas story with fun projects to do with each #. Goal to start Saturday morning and do with all the littles daily as part of their school. Hope to post regularly in case someone else needs ideas?
I can't stand Santa and I know that even though they go to a baptist preschool, Santa is there! Grrrrr
Another days soapbox!
For today, I will only attempt to control what I can HERE at our home. SANTA NOT WELCOME HERE!!! :)
May you all enjoy this season however you celebrate it!

Life in the fast lane! 

It has been a crazy 10 days!  We made it through illness and birthdays and Thanksgiving!

Let's start back on the 12th, Hannah's birthday.

She is a whooping 25# & 32" long! Growing nicely!  We have gotten various referrals to start the education process on her true needs. She has started water therapy. She was very apprehensive and warmed up quickly to the water.  She slept like a rock that night! Next month geneticist, January for those roaming eyes

We welcomed a new pup home 2 weeks ago. I know, WTH was I thinking? His name is Solomom, bc I want him to be "king" of my yard.  Our neighborhood is still not selling many homes, only renting and the current season is a bit to handle without some barkers!

Britney is 19 today!!!!

  Today, our baby girl turned 19! She has been an adventure since the moment we found out she was coming!

She has taught me how to be a mom. There have been days I could only hope we all would survive! I could not plead for the morning joy enough!!!!

Then, there are the days like the day she announced she asked Jesus into her heart! Oh, how the angels gathered to sing that day!!!

I was blessed to have her home with me for 6yrs. of schooling. We watched the fruit of those yrs. of learning independence when she walked the stage this last summer.

She now is living in apartment working full time, deciding what her path will be in life. Praying she chooses quickly! ;)

I can think of many times she had me tears because she was growing up  TOO FAST and many times I questioned "will you ever grow up!"?

It is so amazing to watch God's grace & mercy on ALL His children! The day I got that precious bundle of joy, I had no clue what I was doing but I did know...she had my heart! She came so helpless and dependent. Now she is fierce and independent! Did I mention she came at 3:07AM via c-section? No, we couldn't make our appearance easy! ;)

I wouldn't trade one moment with that precious girl for anything!!! 

In a week or so, she will come home for Thanksgiving and birthday celebrations. Yes, I know Thanksgiving is still 2 wks away,but we work around the days our family can be together.  NOT necessarily a calendar. She needs to work to survive and we want to spend time with her, OUR thanksgiving will be when she can be here.  After all, shouldn't we be thankful to God daily??!! And year round?!

Almost 4 yrs ago, we got a glimpse of God's sacrifice of His dear son Jesus. It was when we laid our battle down and gave her our blessing to do what she felt she needed to do. It was the closest to crazy, I have ever been. Now, I look back knowing "it was all a part of His plan".  (A line from one of my favorite songs.) I had known from the day she was born, that she one day would leave. I never dreamed it would have been so early, yet I did and did not want to live in reality.

Now, I am very proud of the young lady that I often refer to as "our baby girl", because in my heart, she still is our baby girl!

One sad, yet happy momma this day!

Adventures!

It has been a whirlwind chaotic week! Made it home from Six Flags!
Addison was sick and missed school all week. Brandon got one cast cut off, another put right back on. Should be healed and cleared the Monday after Thanksgiving?
Now Addi's little virus has struck 3 others! :(. Just praying it moves fast and we get clear before Brit visits!
We start birthday celebrations this week!
Our oldest baby girl will turn 19! It seems like yesterday she was screaming from her room, "I need ice!".
Life was so simple & not complicated back then!
Now we are intwined with constant dr runs and various therapists. As much as I don't love the chaos, I wouldn't trade my kids!!! They are worth every moment of adventure!
This week is somewhat calm.
I did get some work done in the office yesterday and hope to finish tomorrow?!
Goal: be intentional with older kids school!!! And to get my studying done for my next test! Got to get started on school for me!
Have a great week!

Six Flags Over Texas weekend

Our family ventured to Fright Fest this weekend.
All 9 of my kids made it along with a child that is like my "bonus" child for a season or 4? He's a great kid and treats our daughter well!

The older ones enjoyed the scare houses and littles enjoyed a few rides.
Saturday dear'ole dad splurged on a Flash Pass to shorten the wait times on us all.
We have never been to this particular park when they had signs of "no re-entry after 5pm".
Saturday night was a bit nuts!
There were people everywhere!
It is amazing to me how so many people will just run over a buggy FULL of children!
Remember, I have 6 children ranging 6months -4yrs. None weigh 30#! They are small little people, yet large people run right over them!!! Like they will really get where they are going that much faster?!
Then, I was with my darlings and in a "no smoking" section of the park..a guy walks up beside us and starts smoking...really!!! That is my biggest peeve with amusement parks...people smoking in NON designated areas!!!
One of my older kids REALLY reacts to smokers! Ughhhh

Yes, I was the crazy lady that starting getting a kick out of people and their reactions! They would ask, "are these all yours?" In a very concerned tone.
I would respond, "yes & I have 4 more in line at the giant!" They would usually just be floored! :)) I would just smile!!!!
Truth is sometimes shocking!!!
Some people understood the way our family was formed. One guy was sweet! He asked, I replied. He instantly said "foster to adopt". I just smiled and shook my head. What gave it away??? My 3 kids that have textbook signs of FAS?

Over all, it was a great weekend with all 10 of my kiddos!

4:30A.M. To early!

This day started at 4:30AM, thanks to my 6 month old!
Then it was quiet till 6:47 when the medium girls got up with Hannah being whiny like crazy! She was in an uncooperative mood all day! So much that she only spent 20mins at school!
Casey Brandon got a cast on and boy did the tech pad it! She wanted to make sure that the swelling had plenty if cushion! Verses I had to almost insist that the doctor cast it. He was already reacting to the splint from 23 short hours of wearing! It comes off next Thursday.
Then it was mad dash lunch, 45 mins of quiet time and off to pick up kids and split in 2 vehicles. Five in route back home, 3 in route to doctor because dear Addi has clear pink eyes and is the 3rd one in tow to the doctor today! Them 45 mins later, 6 more X-rays and a whole vial of blood...the 3 with me make our way home!!!
Snacks and bouncy kids make life interesting!
That's why I INSTRUCTED the lovely husband jack o'lantern pizzas were to be picked up on his way home because I still had pharmacy runs to do, shirt & jeans to buy and keys to drop off!
Pharmacy run was a nightmare! Target didn't have Addi's meds & CVS computers were down. So glad we have been at CVS for so many years because when I asked where our pharmacist Gary went...they filled it and told us that they would call tomorrow if any problems.
Now she has her drops and I'm ready for bed! 16 hrs was long enough! Tomorrow we venture to fright fest! Let the good times roll with a family that is "cheaper by the dozen"!
I still won't trade my chaos for anything short of a heaven trumpet! These wonderful kids are entrusted to us only for a season. I will do my best to be a fountain to them and not a drain!

A glimpse of a school morning!

This is what some mornings are like.
This is my jr high students work everywhere and littles and returns.

Today's steal!

I was in Target yesterday, doing what I do best...hunting clearance racks! I came across the razors in a bin. No thy weren't drastically marked down, but with coupons..they were cheap! One was $1.18 & the other was $2.18 and I had a coupon for free shaving cream! (It was worth $2) So in reality, I got 2 razors & shaving cream for $1.36! I also got some unstoppables off the clearance bin! Yes, total of 10$ savings today!!!! From clearance, no clue what regular price savings was?!
If you still have your coupons from this Sunday and last Sundays paper...grab them to see if your target has such great buys!!! Use your target card for some more savings!

Pumpkin preschool

Today we we made precious pumpkins! It was interesting with 9 preschool & toddlers. Add a glue gun and 3 adults...makes an interesting morning. And a case manager to the mix and an infant! It was well worth the memories!!!!!

Crazy are we!

As we get ready for this "fall" season, I am reminded that EVERYthing has a season!
Life is beautiful when we realize AND life the reality that God has the details and we cannot change them!
I sit here while my beautiful 6 month old daughter kicks me drinking a bottle, Dora going in the background and 5 littles wiggling those last few wiggles out before they drift to a much needed dreamland.
It has been an over all good day. Met with our attorney to handle some things regarding our snowflakes, chic kisses and an older child. Overall, it was news we like to hear.
Tomorrow we have friends coming for preschool so that we may decorate pumpkins to kick off "fall". Can't wait to share those photos.
Now it is time for me to do some running for warm jammers and craft adhesive and DIAPERS. A vital tool here for management ! ;)

OH! UM! GEEZE!

          THIS DESCRIBES US AT THIS MOMENT

                OH SO WELL!!!!!!!

We have been going non stop CRAZY since the last week of August!  Dumping the stuff on the world and wearing the bowl on the head,  just seemed to describe our lives so well at the moment!!!

Last week, we were so excited and saddened to receive a call for a beautiful little princess.  We more than gladly accepted her to only find out, the process was a bit jumped ahead.  We continue to pray for little “Gracie” as they (DFPS) make her life decisions.  God will take her, just as He has these 8 precious years of her life.  Hopefully, decisions will be made by weeks end???

Till then, we just wait!    Those of you that know me, know this is VERY HARD!  The kids ask daily if we have answers.  For foster families everywhere, you know there is no “clear” answer till the judges orders are signed!!! :/

My organizing challenge has left me in the dust b/c I have no real pantry space for last week and this week, I am running everywhere with anticipation of a new arrival and this weeks already made appointments.  I should get back on track next week, I hope!

Now for me to prepare to teach my CPR/FA/AED class tonight and my sons skin biopsy tomorrow and then sensory bin class on Friday.  Did I mention our oldest is getting her first apartment next week, among everything else? We WILL make time for some shopping, if she makes it home this weekend!

The blessings of 9 kids and room to welcome 1 more home! 

For in a blink, these days will be gone and it will only be Casey & I.  I will chose to be HAPPY and THANKFUL today!  We are blessed beyond words!!!!

Not bad day in the office, YESTERDAY!

This week in the challenge, it is the garage…since my garage was converted into my office…Here we go!

Absolute chaos!



5 cabinets CONQUERED!3 tan and 2 white.

No I did not get a lot done in the 3 hrs I was in the office, but you can ask K….It will sure make the nanny’s life easier for school!  And the OT’s!

Today, I have worked on the calendar and white board wall during nap…
here is what I have so far!

That crazy frog is driving me CRAZY!!!
With 8 kids, I can’t expect to get everything done in one day!  I just work sporadically as I can!

This was before

Baby Girl’s 1st Apartment

Where on earth did the 18 1/2yrs go??? Our baby girl is setting out on her very own! 

It is bitter sweet! I am so excited for her, yet very sad that my little “brimney” as Haden calls her, is becoming an independent young lady!

Later this month, we will throw her a fantastic house warming party to overflow her kitchen with grub (dad &mom’s got to make sure the staples are there so she doesn’t starve the first month NOR dip into her savings!). Stock the rest of the apartment with homey touches that only family can provide!

 

We went window shopping on Saturday with them and it was “ew pretty”, “did you see that price tag mom?”, “that won’t fit”, “I just don’t know what I want!”.

Gotta love the days of being young!

 

We hope to help her settle into her “new” normal in the coming weeks and then maybe we can talk college again??? Please sweet child of ours!!!! 

First day of preschool for the little darlings

 

Only 1 cried!  They were so excited! Can’t wait to see how their day was in 5 hours!  Till then, I got stuff to purge!

My progress of week 1

May not be much today, but amidst 10 loads of laundry and 8 kids with dad off today….ABSOLUTELY GREAT for us!!!

#2

Cabinet #2! So I am still new at all this blog stuff so I can’t put them in order! LOL  At least I have made it this far today!

#4, forgot to take before…TRUST ME..it WAS AWFUL!  Always thought bottom left was black not white! today, I learned its true color!

Before #1

AFTER#1 the cabinets in a 1950’s home that have those areas of
‘no return”. I had to clean those out today and we didn’t find and dead bodies!!! ALWAYS A PLUS!!

Before #2

After #2

Before #5

AFTER#5

The boy's new TRIPLE toddler bunk bed

The boy's new beds!!!
They were so excited last night when we finally made it to a point they could get in them! They sooo need to touch them, climb on them, smell them!  They had waited 2 days while "super daddy" made them!  They could barely stand the excitement! It still took them an hour to go to sleep after they finally got to get in them!!!! We were all exhausted!!! It was 9:40pm and I was still giving a warning of TIME OUT to the next person I know is talking or moving! SILLY little darlings!  Braden is just now getting to sleep in his for the first time today at nap.  He is my oldest, little boy, yet still needs lots of training!  I will upload that pic later!  He was completely EXCITED for nap today!!!

New Season

Haven't been here in 3 years!
We have been on one of the BIGGEST roller coasters of our lives! Some call it fostering, some call it ministry...we call it life at the moment! LOL
We have been blessed with 27 children in our home over the last 3 years. 3 we got to add to team Jones last March.
We have seen our oldest walk the stage to close one door in her life this last June. For the 1st time in 14years, she did not have to report to school last week!!! :D
We have helped our soon into his first semester of dual credits and all that that brings.
I am now preparing our home for the newest season with a 14 week organizing challenge!
I have gone through and taken pictures of the entire house and plan on sharing as I change those pictures for the better!  Right now, they are REALLY embarrasing!!! LOL
Keep in mind we have 6, age 4 years to 5months and 3 teenagers!  I look forward to blogging this next season as a way for me to keep my sanity!