Prayers for my best friend and her family

My best friend, Racheal, called me today. She was crying and I asked her what was wrong. She said her Dad was attacked by bees today and died. He never had any problems being stung before so they don't know if he was swarmed or what happened. She was on the way home from her sister's house 3 hours away when it happened. Her brother found him outside all blue and they rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. I feel horrible for her and wish I could be there with her. I was stunned and didn't know what to say at the time other than I was sorry and I would pray for her. She knew if anyone understood what she felt and what she was going through it was me (I lost my real mom at the age of 8). She told me she'd call me next week after things settled down, but she just wanted to ask for prayers for their family. Her Mom has been going through a lot of emotional stuff and having some isssues already so she's worried how she's going to deal with this on top of everything else. I feel horrible for her and really wish I could be there with her. We finished talking and she told each other that we loved each other and I started to cry for her. I was trying to hold it together for her sake until we got off the phone though. If you don't mind, please say a prayer for her and her family.

Abba, I pray for Racheal and her family. I pray that you are with her family and with her Mom, Michelle, as they grieve for the loss of their father and husband. I pray for Racheal's girls as well as they grieve over losing their Grandpa. Be with them during this difficult time and help them through their pain and grief and always show them that You are there to see them through. I'll always remember Racheal's Dad...he nicknamed me "Giggles" from back when we were in junior high together and we would laugh and laugh all night long whenever I stayed at their house. He was a good man and I know he will be missed.

I'm struggling with the guilt of not being able to be there with her. I'd give anything to give her a hug and to hug her Mom. I know the best thing that I can do is to pray and hold them in my thoughts and prayers and to be here to listen...but we've been friends forever (since 7th grade) and her family was like a 2nd family to me and I just hurt for them. Losing a parent is so hard and something you never truly get over. I just truly want to be there for her and I feel guilty being so far away.

Baby J

I used the Baby Boy Mini Kit by Sara Rache for this one and the giraffe is from the sweet baby boy kit by by Jolqa.

Deidra's 1st Day of 2nd Grade

I honestly can't believe she's old enough to be in 2nd grade. I brought her in this morning to figure out which teacher she had and to walk her to class. The school's got everything all messed up (she transferred to a new school since we moved and they were no longer approving school requests so she had to transfer to the school our neighborhood kids went to even though the other school she went to last year is literally a 2-minute drive and the new one is about a 20-minute drive). Anyway, this is her this morning getting ready to go (excuse the wet hair). She insisted on wearing one of her new JC Penney shirts. We got in the van to drive to school and I was teary-eyed and she thought it was funny that I cried when she went off to kindergarten and I cried when I brought her to first grade and now I was about ready to cry again. I told her one day when she was a mom she would understand. But, I am proud of her. I know she's anxious about not knowing anyone at her new school, so I found on the roster that a boy she went to kindergarten with was in the classroom next to her. Her teacher seems awfully nice as well. And I couldn't help but overhear when we walked in (we got her to class about a half an hour late because of the school mess up) that the boy at her table said "ooh, she's cute." Did I mention that I totally am not ready for this boy stuff and that Andy is REALLY NOT READY for this boy stuff??

I can't wait until it's time to go get her and hear all about her day.

Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary--Day 1

O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially ...I pray that our marriage stays strong and that we always remember to put Jesus first and that we always make time for one another as well and that we don't take each other for granted. I pray for job security for Andy always and I ask for blessings for him as he continues to provide for his family and that he will always be a good husband and father with a good heart. I pray that you will always provide me with patience and love as I strive to be the wife and mother that God intended for me to be, I pray for Deidra as she starts 2nd grade that she always remains safe and protected at school and that she always enjoys learning and that good values and morals will always be instilled in her and that she will always respect her parents and have a love for God. I pray for Baby J as we start our preschool curriculum and that he enjoys learning as well and I pray that we are able to adopt him when we go back to court in October. I pray for Little E and Baby T that they will have peace and comfort adjusting to our home and that we can teach them love, kindness, and patience and meet all their needs while they are here. I pray that our family will always stay strong and put Jesus first. I ask for your blessings and prayers for our family, dear Mother. Always keep us close to your heart. I pray for Baby E, Baby D and Little J, Little A and Baby L also dear Mother, that you will always keep them close to your heart in prayer for safety and a loving home always.

We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever.
Amen.

The girls have been eating me out of house and home...

I cannot get over the fact that these girls eat as much as they do. They went in for their physicals yesterday and everything went well. They're big girls for their ages. Little E was 34 lbs and Baby T is right behind her at 30 lbs. I asked about how much they've been eating and the doctor said they're not overweight and to just feed them. They've been asking for 2-3 helpings of food and no sooner is the meal overwith they're complaining that they're hungry again. They have a snack between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner. I've been having them drink a bunch of water too. Anyway, I made them Ants on a Log for snacks today and they LOVED them. They kept asking for more. It was too funny. The only thing that I'm worried about a bit is that they have had diarrhea since they came here off and on. The doctor said it may be the change in diet as I'm trying to feed them as nutritiously as I can. If I don't see it getting better over the next few days though, I'll be putting in another call to the doctor.

Hi. My name is Jessica and I am addicted to fast food...

I told Andy that I needed to start getting back to having cash for my allowance as opposed to just using our debit card. It was getting to the point where I'd just need to get out of the house so I'd go start driving around with the kids (I love to drive and it relieves stress for me to drive around and listen to my music. Anyway, we'd go through the drive-thru just intending to get something to drink but then the kids would want some snacks and I'd decide that something sounded good too. Well, I've really discovered that I'm a lot less careful with cash...not that I go way overboard with the debit card either, but I told Deidra it's time to start making more stuff at home and if they want snacks or ice cream...we have an ice cream maker at home and we can always start buying it at the store. It's time to get back to doing more at home...not to mention it's cheaper to do it that way and we can have fun making it together.

I also have discovered Menu-Planning Monday and I think I'm going to start doing it. We need to start eating a bit healthier and knowing what we're going to have for dinner each night will help. There's a lot of times we eat on the run, but I think I'll just have simple meals ready for those nights. Like tonight, I'm making beef stew and biscuits for dinner. But, I am determined to get this family back on track. We've gotten too used to being in a hurry or busy with the kids and we just go run and grab something for dinner. Well, not anymore. I will get my family back to having more organization and I'll be doing my best to get dinner on the table by the time Andy is home from work at 6.

Think I got myself another spider bite...

I went walking through some long grass the other day by a parking lot and when I went to bed that night my toe was hurting a bit, nothing major, I just figured I scratched it and never really looked. I woke up the next morning and my toe was really sore. I saw a couple red scratches when I looked down at my foot and thought "yup, I must have scratched it when I went walking through the long grass." I'm always in flip-flops. Anyway, we were laying on the couch watching the Olympics and I had my feet in Andy's lap. He did something and he just lightly touched that toe and I let out an "ouch." He looked at it and said "umm, that doesn't look like 2 scratches honey, that looks like you got bit by yet another spider." I went to bed last night and now they are full of puss. Ewww! It's not nearly as sore as it was yesterday though...it still hurts a bit when I walk. But, I think I'm going to keep a closer eye on them and clean my toe in some peroxide. Yuck!

A night out with Mom and Jimmie...

Deidra and I went to church yesterday morning and Mom had some stuff to do for church after mass and she asked if she could stop by after she was done. I told her that was fine. She came over and met the girls and sat and talked when the phone rang. It was my brother, Jimmie, and we thought he wanted Mom. Imagine my surprise when the phone gets handed back to me and Mom says to me "he wants his sister." So, I talked to him and he wanted me to convince Mom that we needed to go to Cedar Hill. I asked him who "we" was? He wanted me and Mom and him to go. So, I tell Mom and I ask Andy if he minds if I go and he says no. So, I quick through Baby L's laundry in the washer and asked him to switch it to the dryer when it was done as we didn't know quite for sure when he was leaving to go to his Dad's this week and I just wanted to be prepared. So, we head to Mom's (she's 20 minutes from me). She had some expensive car repairs over the past week so she didn't know what was up Jimmie's sleeve. He wanted to go to Sports Authority to get some new football gear and he finally twisted her arm enough to say we could go. So, we piled into her Suburban and we were off. She wanted me to go into Half-Priced books with her, but Jimmie wanted me to go with him. So, he told me he was only going to be a few minutes and so I went with him first. An hour later as I'm bored out of my mind, we finally left. He bought a new t-shirt over new football gear and I told him if he got in trouble by Mom (she gave him some of the last cash she had). The cashier asked him for his phone number and I cracked up laughing until I realized she needed it for the register. Oops! We walked over to Circuit City where we met the oldest looking security guard that had us busting up as I told Jimmie that I think even I could overpower him. We just laughed and laughed. Then, we walked over to Half-Priced Books to find Mom. Jimmie had me go withhim to look at records and movies and I found some Rush albums that made me think of Andy and so I call Andy at home. I am talking to him and I hear some weird noise. I ask him what the noise is and he says it's the fan. I'm thinking to myself...we don't have a fan. Then, I was like "in the kitchen?" (thinking it was the fan over the stove). He says "no, in the laundry room." I was like "oh, htat's loud." Then, I flip up the next record that I get to and it's Biff Rose and I just busted up laughing. I had to hang up with Andy as I was laughing so hard. My brother started cracking up too and then I tripped over a box that was on the floor and as I turned around there was a big dog in there. I was going to reach out to pet it and then I was like "oh, I probably shouldn't as it's probably a service dog." We go laughing back to find my Mom and we meet up with one of the co-workers and my brother says "oh my gosh, that guy is wearing leather pants that are skin tight." and we start laughing again. Finally, it dawns on me that I'm acting silly because I need to eat and so I tell Mom that I need to eat. She says "yeah, I was thinking about getting something too, where do you want to go?" I said "Mom, I NEED to eat." She says "ok, lets go, if anything happens I don't know what to do with you." So, we head off to Red Robins where we all ate scrummy yummy burgert (well, I had the bruschetta chicken burger)and I felt myself come out of it right away. My silliness subsided and I felt normal again. I haven't had that happen in quite awhile. Anyway, we go to leave adn Mom says "lets head somewhere else to see where you guys are going to embarrass me." We head out and someone asks us to take a picture of their family and so I do and we go to get in the car and Mom's car alarm goes off. She is trying and trying to get it to quit and it won't. Apparently because there are so many antennaes in that area it can interfere with your car key buttons and so forth. Anyway, I say "umm...Mom we didn't have to go far to get embarrassed but it's not Jimmie and I this time." We laughed. I was waiting for a police car to show up or something. We saw the family that I stopped to take their picture coming to go to their car and all I could think of was "man, they're probably glad I didn't try to run off with their camera or something." Finally, we pulled out her manual and she was able to get it to quit. We wound up going to a new mall in Cedar Hill and I think I'm going to take the kids back to play (it's all outside but it's dinosaur-themed and they have a little spray park and a little dinosaur area where they can crawl and climb all over). It was closed, but the restaurants were still open and we just walked around to see what all was there. Then, we headed back to Mom's and stopped at the grocery store. We go to check out and Jimmie and I were making wise cracks at each other. The cashier went to hand us our receipt and she slipped and yells "oh fu**" and my Mom says "whaaat?" The cashier immediately says "oh, sorry, I almost fell." We go to leave and Mom looks at me and says "did she just say oh fu**?" That made it all the more funnier and I could barely breath I was laughing so hard. She doesn't swear anymore and just the way she said it just totally was hilarious. We got back to her house and we were still all laughing about it. She says "well, when was the last time you were sworn at by the help somewhere or heard them swearing?" She just couldn't get over that, but my goodness it was hillarious. I need nights like that once in awhile to laugh and relieve stress. You gotta love her...

We said good-bye to Baby L today :-(

We got the call this morning that they were moving him to his Dad's this morning. Deidra said her good-bye to him before I dropped her off at Montessori this morning. I'm glad that I was able to get some really cute pictures of them last night. He's really taken to her over the last couple of days and she's been doting on him a lot. He just smiles away at her and giggles at her. She had been starting to hold him more and more. Anyway, she didn't want him to leave, but she did ok with telling him good-bye. She asked me when she left if he'd still be here when she got home and I told her no. I came home and gave him a bath and snuggled with him for a bit before I had to run around like a whirlwind to get all of his stuff back together. I got teary-eyed and I knew that I was going to lose it. I tried to distract myself with the other kids while I finished. Andy came home to take lunch to say his good-byes and I started crying when he was telling him to be a good buddy and grow big and strong. He had just started to sit up by himself if we helped him and he'd balance for a few seconds to a minute before he'd lose his balance. He's done so much in the 2 months that he was here and what a happy and content baby he is. He was totally a joy to have around. They came at 11 to get him and I made myself hold it together. She was asking me some questions about any medical info and his schedule and all I could say was "I wrote it down." I knew if I tried to say anymore I was going to fall apart. The kids all gave him a hug and kiss and they took him and I started crying once the door shut. I had to run to Walgreens to get some medicine for Baby J and I cried all the way there. I came home and Andy just hugged me. I absolutely hate good-byes. I get so attached to them while we have them. God bless you, Baby L! I hope you have a wonderful life to come and we love you! I'll always hold you in my heart and prayers.

Shopping, Shopping, and MORE shopping!

Last night, I took Deidra to dinner at Applebee's and then we went to Wal-mart to get her school supplies. $59 later, we left with just 2 things we couldn't find that we found that they were out of...manilla paper and construction paper. I'll have to see if I can go to Office Max or Depot whatever it is and see if they have them. She goes on Thursday to drop off her school supplies and meet her teacher.

Then...Man, oh, man have we been running around today. We got up and out the door about 10 and we just got back now (just about 5 pm). We ran to Arlington to go to Babies 'R Us to buy yet another crib mattress (we now are the owners of 3)and more mattress protectors. Then, we went to lunch at Q'Doba (you wouldn't believe the stares that we got because we had 5 kids with us...I just smile as they look and make comments). The girls all polished off their cheese quesadillas and tortilla chips. Then, we came home to drop off the mattress and then we went up to Wal-mart to do some clothes shopping for Little E, Baby T, and Baby J and Deidra found a couple shirts and a pair of jeans that she wanted for school. Then, we ran to JC Penney's and picked up a few more shirts for her. We just got home and I sent Andy back out as we forgot to go to Home Depot to get blinds for the girls' room when we were out.

My sweet little girl...

Deidra was helping me do some cleaning and so forth yesterday and she was helping to keep the girls occupied off and on while I did some things with the other kids. I kept telling her she didn't have to, but she insisted that she wanted to help. When I put the younger ones down for a nap, it was just Deidra, Little E, and I that were up. Little E went to play in the play room and I sat down to check some email from my caseworker. Deidra went in the kitchen to get a snack and she came out with a glass of diet coke for me. She said "here, Mommy, you've been taking care of us all day, I thought someone needed to help take care of you." My jaw could have hit the floor and I instantly got teary eyed. I just hugged her. What a sweet daughter I have!

However, she did inform my Mom last night that she didn't want kids of her own one day. I asked her why and she said "Mom, they are SO much work." lol Last week she wanted 2 kids and that was it. So, I guess time will tell!

Decorating the girls' room...

I went to pull out some of Deidra's old clothes so the girls would have something to wear since they didn't come with much. I found all of her old Pooh bedding and so I pulled out the set for the toddler bed and I pulled out one of the crib sets and I got to thinking that I could hang some Pooh pictures and wall art and that room would be so easy to finish up for them. So, I went and ordered some Pooh appliques,



and a plush wall hanging for their room.



and I think after we get blinds for that room this weekend, I'm going to go ahead and order the valence for their room.



I think it will be cute once it's all done.

The girls are doing well...

My caseworker came over for about an hour to talk to me about the whole adoption process and we talking about some other stuff with the rest of the kids too. I found out a few things that I didn't know about Little E and Baby T's Mom as well.

Anyway, I told her that the girls are doing well. Little E is sweet and has started babbling away. She is enjoying playing and will tell me when the kids are doing something they're not supposed to. She listens very well and loves to try and help with Baby L. They have an 11-month old baby brother, so I'm sure that's where that comes from. She is potty-trained and has just taken to Deidra.

Baby T is quiet and I have only heard her say a handful of words (she'll be 2 next month) and I talked to the speech therapist about getting her an evaluation. She also will start crying when I walk out of her sight and she wants to be held all the time. Both girls are asking for 2-3 extra helpings at each meal and once they finish, a few minutes later they want another snack. They've been drinking a ton too. They don't look like they've been deprived of food so that's surprising to me. So it may be just learning to trust us here too...we'll see how they do over the next couple of days and see if it levels off any. Sharing is a big issue right now as well among the 3,2, and 1 year old. They pull stuff out of each others hands and the others start screaming...so that'll be the big thing to work on.

Little E and Baby J are totally having fun playing together...now if I can just get Baby J to be gentle. They were playing peek-a-boo with each other and Little E went in our coat closet and Baby J was standing outside the door. He went to close the door just as she decided to come out and totally got her in the face with the door and now she's supporting a bruise on her cheekbone from that. Hadn't even been here 24 hours and she's already got a bruise. She fell out of the chair in the dining room, somersaulted, and hit her head on our lineoleum as well. I still can't figure out how she managed to do that. I was standing nearby when I saw her start to fall and I tried to get over there as quick as I could before she hit the ground, but I didn't quite make it. I think I'll be going to the store today to get another booster seat as I don't want that to happen again.

But they are doing well...I think our big thing to work on is going to be sharing as the girls do not understand that concept and Baby J needs to totally work on that too. We're working on pick-up time as well. They totally had every toy in our playroom out and scattered all over yesterday. I told them it was pick-up time and Deidra went in to help and they all wanted to just sit and watch her. So, I went in and showed them what to do and directed them and they did pretty well. Andy came home from work and was like "whoa, did a tornado hit in here?" I told them they'd pick up and they did. I think I may try if you get something out, you have to put something away first today and see if that works better.

Getting 2 new placements today!

We're getting 2 little girls today. They are 3 and 1 (she'll be turning 2 soon). I'm so excited to get 2 little girls. All my littles so far have been boys other than Little J and Little A. I'm going to dig out Deidra's old clothes and get them washed up so that we have clothes for them to wear. I'm so excited!

Weekend

On Saturday, we got up and went to Waco to go to the Dr. Pepper museum. We enjoyed looking around and then we went and got some original Dr. Pepper from their soda fountain (you can really taste the difference) and Deidra and I also got some ice cream. We went to the outlet malls in Hillsboro after that and got Deidra some new school clothes at Gymboree. She got some really cute things. We're going to take her out again next weekend to finish up school shopping since it's tax-free weekend. We drove back home and went to Ryan's for their buffet and once we came home I decided I was going out myself to treat myself to a movie. So, I went to see Mama Mia. What a cute, playful, and totally fun movie! I told Andy that I want to see the actual musical for my birthday when I got home. We watched some Olympics and then went to bed. I had a few instances of sharp needle pain in my lower spine throughout the day that had me freaked out. Andy thinks I have nerve damage. I really don't know what to think, but it hurts when it happens. I'm going to keep an eye on it and if it continues I'll be making a doctor's appt.

Saturday I was up several times with Baby L. He came down with a cold and is congested and coughing and he didn't sleep all that well. Sunday morning, I was drained and my back was bothering me so I stayed home from church. I laid on the couch for a bit and then I ran to Wal-mart for a couple things we ran out of and more baby food for Baby L and I was looking for some back pain meds which I couldn't find. Later on in the afternoon, since I still had one free movie pass I asked Andy if he minded if I went to go see The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and he said it was fine. What a great movie. I really found myself connecting with Bridget when she went to her Grandma's in search of info about her Mom who had died a few years back and trying to get some answers about some things. It brought tears to my eyes and just thinking about it makes me tear up. You lose a parent at a young age, and it really does affect so many things about your life. You struggle with so many things. My own Mom died in 1985 and it's just been relatively recently that I've come to peace with a lot of things. Other things I think I'll probably struggle with for the rest of my life until we meet again. I just really found myself relating to Bridget during the movie.

I came home to watch more Olympics with Deidra and Andy and I found myself teary eyed watching them on a couple of occasions. Oh well...it's good to have the American spirit right?

Sent in an inquiry on these girls today...

Deidra and I were looking at the TARE site yesterday and these girls just jumped out at us. I talked to Andy about them as well and today we submitted our inquiry in on them. Even our caseworker thought they were really cute. God, I put this into Your Hands and I pray that we'll have a true chance to have them come to us.

Novena to St. Jude -- Day 1

I have a friend who has a sister that is newly married and has been in the hospital for over a month now that the doctor's can't find out what is wrong with her. I decided to pray a novena to St. Jude on her behalf. She needs to get better.



Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness, Christy, who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen.

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for Christy, She feels so helpless and alone.
Intercede with God for Christy that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to her assistance in this great need that she may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all her necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly -

I pray for Tracy's sister, Christy, in that God guides the doctors to what is wrong wtih her and that she can be treated easily and I pray for God's healing for her. She is newly married and her family is very worried about her. Please give her the grace to be healed so that she can get back home to her new husband and be with her sisters and family again.

- and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted Christy by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen


May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen.

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity.

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Theme Song

Your Theme Song is Beautiful Day by U2

"Sky falls, you feel like It's a beautiful day Don't let it get away" You see the beauty in life, especially in ordinary everyday moments. And if you're feeling down, even that seems a little beautiful too.

What's Your Theme Song?

We said good-bye to Little A today!

Today has been a whirlwind. I took Baby L to the doctor for his 9-month well baby check today (failure to thrive diagnosis has been lifted..YEAH...he is up to 17 1/2 lbs now...he gained 3 1/2 lbs in the 7 weeks we've had him) and then we were told that Little A and Baby L were being moved today at 1pm to the friend of Mom's. Noon came and the attorney called and said that they just finished up with court and there were a couple of changes that she needed to make me aware of. I guess Mom went to the bathroom in court and came back saying her water broke so they had to take her to the hospital. The friend of MOm's went with her to the hospital, so they couldn't move the kids until they knew more. I guess she lost one of the twins last week but they didn't want Little A to find out yet. Also, I guess Dad has a chance of getting Baby L again after someone testified on his behalf and so he just has to work a few in-home services. They weren't 100% sure of where they wanted to place Baby L though and so they thought it was best if he stayed here with us for the couple days that they needed to get things figured out. So, the attorney came over and talked with Little A to tell her that she probably wouldn't be moving until Friday. She took the news well. She didn't seem upset or anything. About 15 minutes later, the CPS worker called and said that Mom's friend was back home from the hospital and so they were going to go ahead and move Little A after all today. We had a little going away party for her at McDonald's today and we took pictures and gave hugs and said our good-byes. She was a little disappointed when she found out that Baby L wasn't going with her. She asked the CPS worker where he was going and the worker said he was going to his Dad's in a few days. So, we still have Baby L here with us until Friday or next Monday. He's such a sweet baby too. So, todays been a bit bittersweet. Deidra's been wondering why she can't have brothers and sisters that just stay like everyone else, but I told her that God brings the people into our lives that are meant to be....so it's all in His plan. She seemed to take that ok. I think the good-byes are hard on all of us in our own ways. We gave our cell phone numbers to Little A and told her that she was more than welcome to call us if she wanted to. She was excited that we gave it to her along with some pictures from her stay here. I was disappointed that I didn't have time to make her a scrapbook, but at least I got to send her with pictures.

Baby J at 22 Months Old

I used Filly Design's Dinosaur Stomp kit for this one.

Little A and Baby L are Moving This Week...

They were doing homestudies on a friend of Mom's and on Baby L's Dad. We've known for a bit now that they were going to be moving, we just didn't know when. Well, it looks like Little A is for sure moving this Wednesday to the friend of Mom's and as long as Dad's assessment comes back ok, Baby L will be going with Dad. If it doesn't come back alright, he'll be going with Little A to the friend of Mom's. But, if they get the assessment results by tomorrow he'll be moving on Wednesday as well. If not, he'll be staying a couple of extra days. My heart is hurting, but I knew it was coming. We're back on the placement call list. I need to print off some pictures so that I can get them little books ready to go for the past 2 months that they were here and get all their clothing accounted for. I'm going to go get them little good-bye gifts as well.

I love it when God speaks to me...

I hadn't been to church in about a month due to us being gone over a couple of weekends and sick the other ones. I went to church yesterday morning and prayed for God to fill me with His Spirit.

We had a visiting priest, Fr. Vincent, come in. The Gospel was about Jesus asking the disciples to feed the crowds, but the disciples told him that they only had 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus asked them to bring the food to him and He blessed it and it was then passed out to the crowds and everyone was sattisfied and they picked up the baskets of leftovers among the 5000 men. Fr. Vincent gave the homily. He talked about how one of greatest needs and desires is to be loved. He talked about how a baby learns love by someone feeding him and taking care of them. He talked about how we seek love all during our lives, but that God is the one that can truly love us unconditionally and fill us with the fires of love for Him. He said that God's love will sustain us through anything once we are on fire for Him.

He graduates from the seminary next June 2009 and he came over from Nigeria to attend school here in 2000. He said he should have only had 2 more years to get his masters, but after arriving here and going to school, he found that his credits didn't transfer and he had to start all over. He said he was greatly discouraged and debated going into another career and living the American Dream, but he also knew he had to be true to his heart and to what God was calling him to do. So, he started all over again and next year will be ordained as a priest. There was something about his spirit and his actions while I watched him celebrate mass, that I just completely burst into tears. I cried all through communion. When Mass ended, Mom took my hand and led me over to the bench outside and asked me what the matter was. I couldn't put it into words. I told her "does God ever speak to your heart?" I've felt so lonely and empty lately and unloved and taken for granted. That homily that Fr. Vincent did was beautiful, but it also made me realize that while my husband does love the Lord, he doesn't have the same love of the Lord that I do. I've known that for awhile...it's something I keep praying about. I told her that I've missed conversations that I used to have with a co-worker that I had that also went to the same church that we did...He fed me a bit everytime we talked. I could share God with him and he with me. It's not like God never comes up among Andy and I, but we don't talk about Him or our faith a whole lot. Granted, Andy has come a long way...there used to be a time that all we did was fight about God and what church to go to and so forth. And Andy will go to church with me and so forth...I just miss being able to share my faith and talk about God with someone that completley understands where I'm coming from at times. All I can do is keep praying for my husband and hopefully one day we can share Him together in the same depths and so forth.

My Mom said that she completley understood where I was coming from as her and my Dad were never equally yoked either. She said that she never believed our priest from back then, Father Batory, when he would tell the kids of the parish and the unmarried not to get involved with someone who didn't share your faith or celebrate in the same way as it would make you unequally yoked and cause problems. She said that only now does she see what he was talking about. I told her that I understood after seeing some of the problems that Andy and I have had with figuring out where to go to church, if we should go, how to raise Deidra, and so forth...that was a huge thing for me shortly after we got married. It took a couple years we didn't go at all or talk much about it or we would get in a huge fight. Finally, I prayed about it and prayed about it and Andy agreed to go through the Catholic catechism classes (RCIA) and see if he wanted to convert or not. He went through it and agreed to convert. We went to church together as a family and things were good. Until we moved back to MI, and couldn't find a church that we agreed on...and we didn't go for those two years but maybe a handful of times. Once we moved to TX, we knew where we would go...we enjoyed my Mom's little church...it's hard with fostering though as it's hard to get all the kids to sit for that hour so that we can be fed spiritually. So, Andy doesn't go with me a whole lot anymore. We did start bringing the kids back and Deidra makes her first communion this year and so we'll be there more this year. But, I need to pray that it sticks this time and we're able to keep continuing to go to church so that God can spiritually feed us and renew our spirits.

Pirate

I used a Treasure Gold plopper from DSP for this one.

My Birthday Song

1976 - 2007

Year Age Artist - Title Weeks at number one
1976 -- Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music 3
1977 1 Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything 4
1978 2 Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie 3
1979 3 Knack - My Sharona 6
1980 4 Diana Ross - Upside Down 4
1981 5 Diana Ross and Lionel Richie - Endless Love 9
1982 6 Chicago - Hard to Say I'm Sorry 2
1983 7 Michael Sembello - Maniac 2
1984 8 John Waite - Missing You 1
1985 9 Dire Straits - Money for Nothing 3
1986 10 Huey Lewis and the News - Stuck With You 3
1987 11 Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You 1
1988 12 Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child o' Mine 2
1989 13 Gloria Estefan - Don't Wanna Lose You 1
1990 14 Wilson Phillips - Release Me 2
1991 15 Color Me Badd - I Adore Mi Amore 2
1992 16 Boyz II Men - End of the Road 13
1993 17 Mariah Carey - Dreamlover 8
1994 18 Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love to You 14
1995 19 Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise 3
1996 20 Los Del Rio - Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) 14
1997 21 Mariah Carey - Honey 3
1998 22 Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing 4
1999 23 TLC - Unpretty 3
2000 24 Madonna - Music 4
2001 25 Jennifer Lopez - I'm Real 5
2002 26 Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma 10
2003 27 Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee - Shake Ya Tailfeather 4
2004 28 Ciara feat. Petey Pablo - Goodies 7
2005 29 Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger 10
2006 30 Justin Timberlake - SexyBack 7
2007 31 Soulja Boy - Crank That (Soulja Boy) 7

Happy Easter

I used the Easter Essentials kit from Scrapbook Flair for this one.

We had a surprise last night...

We were told that the transporter from CPS was going to be picking up the baby that we were doing respite for to bring her to a visit in the morning. Well, noon came and I hadn't heard from them or anything and so I contacted our worker. No sooner did I do that than the CPS worker called to let me know they were still doing the visit but they were going to come after 6pm. I told her that was fine. Didn't think anymore of it.

The doorbell rings at 6:45 and we open the door to find her biological parents standing at our doorway. Dad spoke very little english and kept asking when he had to have her back by. She's not coming back to us, she's going to her regular foster home on Monday. I told him to contact the CPS worker. They asked me for some formula for her for in the car and they left. But, I was livid that CPS had sent bio parents to our door. They're not supposed to be given that information at all. I called and left a message for the CPS worker on her cell phone and I emailed our foster care director as well. And then I called my own caseworker and we talked about everything for awhile and she was just as angry as I was. Apparently they've had other problems from this CPS worker and she wanted the CPS worker's cell number from me so that she could call and talk to her. I felt horrible that my caseworker was supposed to be on vacation, but here I was calling her over something like this. But, it left me feeling panicky and since it was after hours I needed to talk to someone. I told her that they were nice when they were here, but you never know with birthparents and their history of what they're thinking necessarily. She completley understood where I was coming from and she said that info never should have been given out. Come to find out, she called me back after talking to the CPS worker and Dad doesn't even have a driver's license (he's here illegally) and he was told that he couldn't come...CPS wanted the aunt to come pick her up. Well, nobody bothered to tell me that, so I had no way of knowing. I told my caseworker that I thought it was Mom & Dad that came to pick her up and she then informed me that Mom wasn't supposed to be around the child. I told her that I thought I had heard her call herself Mama to the child, but I could've been wrong. Maybe it was the Aunt. I said that the baby didn't know who to reach for when I held her at the door and she took her finally. All I know is that our addresses are never supposed to be given out for the safety of us and the children and I am so upset that this was given out. I'm hoping that nothing will come of it, but it really leaves a person feeling panicky...especially with what the child was removed for.

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Another page for Baby J's book...

San Antonio Zoo

Another layout for Baby J's book...

I hate spiders!

We've really been having a tough time with wolf spiders in our house. It seems like we find 3-5 during a week lately. I hate them...they're huge and they run fast. I will not touch them at all to try and kill them. And you have to be careful because the mom spiders carry their babies on their backs...so you get one of those and you have little marbles rolling around your floor as well that are actually little baby spiderlings. What fun!

Anyway, I'm sitting on the living room floor today feeding Baby L and I notice something scurrying across the floor and I freak as I realize it's yet another wolf spider. I jump up and put the food on the counter and go to get the vacuum cleaner and the spider stops right in between me and the vacuum almost like he knew what I was going to do. We have a stare down and then he runs under my computer desk. I make my way to the vacuum and wait for him to come out. What does he do...he runs along the wall and into my guest bathroom (the most used bathroom as it's the only one downstairs). I shut the door to the bathroom and figure he can stay there and I'll make my way upstairs to go to the bathroom today until Andy gets home to take care of him. So, the phone rings and I tell Andy that I'm getting pest control out here. I can't handle these things anymore...they give me a heart attack everytime I see one and I've already been bitten once and with the kids around I don't want them getting bit, especially with the babies doing tummy time and such on the floor. He tells me to get a quote and we'd see about one coming out. Then, while I'm talking to him, I let out this huge screech. The spider has come out and is standing in the middle of the hallway to trap me in the kitchen. What do I do? I'm half-way panicking and Andy is laughing at me.

I climbed over the couch (something I'm always telling the kids not to do) to get the vacuum mcleaner and I let Baby J down to do spider patrol (he's alwyas telling us where the bugs are) in case he made a run for it. So, I ran and got the vacuum and spider tries to make it to the staircase, but when I bumped the wall it knocked him down to the floor again and I was able to suck him up. I put the vacuum back and I am half-way expecting him to come lunging out of there after me again. Man, these things really must know that I do not like them! And I really need to teach Baby J that not all bugs are spiders. He scares me half to death when he yells out "spider, Mommy, spider!" Half the time, it's an ant. I can deal with those...although they do bite down here as well...but I'll take an ant bite anytime over dealing with a spider.

I'm waiting for pest control to call me back to get them out today. Spiders be gone!