A Good Conversation

Yesterday, the kids had a visit with their mom.  Since the whole 'accusation' and CPS situation, I have wanted to keep my conversation with their mom brief, to the point and only talk about the kids.  However, yesterday, when the social worker who supervises the visits left, their mom, whom I'll call Shayla, and I talked for nearly 35 minutes.

Mostly, we talked about the kids and how they are doing, and she talked to them while they were buckled in their car seats. Shayla told me that she never made an accusation against us, and when she saw that it was recorded in court documents that she did, she was shocked and upset.  I don't know if I really believe that, but it's water under the bridge at this point.

We touched on their alleged father and what may happen with him as far as visitation goes.  She was more at ease about the kids going with us on vacation and asked if they needed anything for the trip.  Again she thanked us for taking care of them and that she could see they were doing well. Shayla actually gave me a hug and wished me a nice vacation.

We will call her while we're away so that she can talk to the kids and get an update from us.  She'll give me a disposable camera to take pictures of the twins.  She mentioned something about her needing to grow up, and I thought, "Well, we're all working on something."  Maybe I'll tell her that next time.  Like my mom said recently, "But for the grace of God go I."

Good Explanation

I haven't posted anything on RC for a while.  I read this explanation of what "consecrated virgin" is according to Canon 604.  How women are 'consecrated' in Regnum Christi is different and can be misleading when RC and LC explain what they define as 'consecrated life.' 

As always, I'm open to discussion about this topic.  I think some members have not wanted to even bring up the subject with me, but that seems to just continue the confusion and lack of transparency, and that's not healthy.

My prayers go up for those young women 'consecrated' in RC--that they'll be protected.

7 Quick Takes

Happy Friday!
1.) The kids had their first visit to the dentist yesterday.  They did great, although Thumbelina cried and screamed while she was in the chair.  No cavities and all looked good!

2.)  Their mom said she was grateful that the kids are with us because she knows "they could be with weirdos." She said this after she told me that she would not fight the court motion happening on Monday for the kids to go on vacation with us.  Please pray that we'll have a safe trip and that their mom will not be so terribly worried that her kids are going on a long road trip out of state. 

3.) John is almost finished with his first clinical. Wow! He'll have the month of September off which means that the house will be clean and the yard will once again look good.

4.) My company picnic is today, and that means a half day of work. It is being held at a coworker's amazing gorgeous home on the water.  That's the nice thing about working for a small company--we can all fit at her incredible home, and I can play with her boxer, "Skeeter."  Really, you should see this house and the yard.  It is on a bay of Puget Sound and a few minutes from work. So nice....

5.) We'll plan out the road trip to Montana over the weekend, I'll get lists together.  I'm a list person. Thank goodness for the many tips on websites about roadtrips with 2 year olds. St. Christopher, pray for us!

6.) Thumbelina is up 3 or 4 pounds since she came to us 8 weeks ago! Maybe I won't be able to call her Thumbelina anymore. :)  She is seriously a monkey--climbing up me and flipping over.  Running and jumping and being crazy and hilarious.  She is not the same child she was 2 months ago that I had to keep pulling out from under the table as she stared into space and sucked her fingers.

7.) Cherub had a "phenomenal" week at daycare according to his teachers.  He's talking so much more, signing "please" and putting himself down for his nap at school.  These children make me want to be a better person. 

Prayer Buddy

For the last six weeks, I have been praying for Joy Beyond the Cross.  Since coming across her blog a couple of months ago, I have been impressed by her insights into suffering and joy in light of the Cross.  Even though I don't post about infertility much, if at all, I have experienced or am experiencing what these good bloggers are going through.  So, it is not only comforting to read her blog, but it inspires and motivates me to continue the journey.

It was an honor to pray for you, JBTC! God bless you.

Busy Thursday

Several things are running through my mind, but I can't devote a whole post to each one right now.  We have 2 foster care meetings today: one this morning about services for the kids.  The second one is about questions the mom had.  All of our incident reports from the day care coincide with what the mother questions, so things will be fine.  However, I let the social workers know that my conversation with the mother will be minimal and to the point.  The social worker told me that unfortunately, this happens sometimes because the parents feel like nothing is in their control and this is their way of having control. 

In other news, John is finishing up his second week of his first clinical assignment.  He's doing great and learning a lot.  I am so proud of him and the great work he's doing with the patients.  I am also grateful that I can take advantage of getting PT help from him. Last week, he put together a fitness program for me.

To my prayer buddy--I'm offering up tonight's CPS meeting for your intentions! Even though the social worker told me that it will be easy and painless, I'll still be a bit nervous, so this is for you! :)

On an unrelated note--do any of you have a favorite tradition to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption? Please comment if you do!

On a note related to the Assumption, Cherub likes to touch our eyes, nose, mouth and ears and hair and say the names of them.  When we were in the back yard last week, I saw him climb up to the statue of Our Lady.  He started gently touching her eyes, nose, mouth, ears and hair. Then he went back to playing.  I wish I had the camera. It was so sweet and cute.  Surely, his heavenly mother is pleased with this little boy.

Sheep Meadow

This is the dress I chose. Thanks, John, for your help in choosing!

I Won!!!!

I won a Shabby Apple dress in Betty Beguiles give away!!!   Today brought some foster care news that was unexpected and unwelcome, so this bright spot in the day is most appreciated.

Check out Ms. Beguile's blog as well as Shabby Apple.  Still need to figure out what dress I'll pick.

Woo-hooooo!!!!!!!!!!

The bathroom

The bathroom is finally finished (minus hanging the vintage Hawaiian postcards).  I will post photos this week of the transformation.  As far as redecorating goes, it's not a huge project, but it did take us (John) more time to do it because of lack of time and buying things when we had cash.  That being said, it was worth the wait!

Dear Little Man,

I dreamed about you.  Somewhere between the tossings of early morning sleep and the alarm clock, you were back in my life again.  It was one of those dreams where everything and nothing made sense.  We were moving into an old friend's house for some reason.   As I drove onto her backyard grass, our car started sliding ever so slowly down the gentle slope of her yard and the brakes didn’t work. I pressed on the brakes to try to stop, but it was out of my control to get the car to stop moving--just as your leaving was out of my control.  With a soft thud, we came to a stop and got out.

 

You and I were cleaning up the back yard, and you were talking a lot and using sentences!  The big brown eyes were looking around the yard as you gave your opinion about various things.  I held you on my lap and felt that straight, short black head of hair against my face and breathed deeply in it, taking in the scent of little boy and baby shampoo. Too soon, the dream ended when I awoke with a start and realized that I had overslept.

 

Thoughts of you permeated my day, and I often wonder how you are back in your young mom's home country---a place you've never been to.  We worry about you and speak of you often.  We know that you won't remember us, but we hope that somehow you will know that you are loved by so many people, especially us. 

 

Que Dios te bendiga, amor, y que suenas con los angeles.

Love,

Mommy

Nuggle?

Most nights I give the twins their bath.  One of the bath time traditions we have is "Snuggle."  When I take Thumbelina out of the tub, I dry her off and wrap her up into the delicious burrito that she is, scoop her up and squeeze her and rock her saying, "Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle!!" She loves it and laughs her gruff laugh.  Then, we all march off to their room to get dressed.  They look like mini-naked royalty with towel capes.

A few nights ago, at some random part of the evening, Thumbelina came up to me and said in her little voice, "Nuggle?"  I was busy doing who knows what, but her question made me stop and pick her up to squeeze her and kiss her.  There will be a time coming soon when she and Cherub will not be in the house for me to scoop up.

So, tonight and each night, we'll get our nuggle on.