7 Quick Takes-Late Edition

1. G-Force left on April 4.  I took him to the CCS office that day.  I cried, kissed him goodbye, and drove home. Or was it back to work? I don't remember.  Since then, things have been ok.  We turned his room into the twins' play room.  I've been in contact a little bit with his mother, but we haven't gotten together yet.

2. The twins turned 4 on April 12!  They had a very fun birthday party with family and friends: PaPa (Mimi was working), Mere Mere, Pere Pere, and Aunt Miriam , Mr. Jason and Miss Erin and their kids, Angelica, Emma, Michaela and Brendan, and our neighbors, Miss Joyce and Mr. Bill.  These kids are so loved, and we thank those family and friends who acknowledged them on their birthday.

3. After 2 years (part time school, part time work) of pre-requisites for grad school, 3 years of graduate school in the Physical Therapy at U Dub, John will be graduating next weekend!!!!  He has worked so very hard these last years to accomplish his much planned out dream and on June 8 will officially be D.PT.  He'll take the boards on July 31 (please pray he passes. I know he will).  On August 13, he'll start his new job where 5 years  ago he worked part time as an aid.

4.  We're going to Maui!!!  This will be the first time we've ever left the twins for days.  Since they came to us, they've never gone to respite care.  We couldn't bear sending them to strangers for a weekend.  Thankfully, we have an awesome family who will care for them and jumped through the hoops to be able to have them stay.  Our parents have done background checks, fingerprints, CPR/First Aid classes, TB tests, and had their driving records sent to CCS.  It will be AWESOME to be able to relax in paradise for a week to reconnect, swim, snorkel, hike, relax and have one or three Tropical Itches.

5.  We go to court regarding the twins' case on August 6.  Your fervent prayers are very needed.  This court date may be extended to August 20, but in any event, it will decide if custody is restored to their mother.  They've been in foster care for 2 years as of June 10.  We fear for their safety and future should they go back to their mother.  Please, please pray.

6.  My sister, her husband and children (a fourth is due October 17) are visiting in August!  We cannot wait to see them!!! They moved to Brazil last September, and they'll be in the States for a family wedding and to visit.  We're planning fun activities but also down time to spend together.  The twins are really excited to finally meet their cousins that they've spoken to on the phone and seen in pictures. I think for them, it will be like meeting Prince William and Kate!

7.  John and I decided to get pretty healthy and eat Paleo.  It hasn't been hard at all.  Actually, it's been rather liberating, as I know exactly what to eat.  It's good stuff, too, and I feel a lot better. The only obstacle has been myself and not working out as I need to.  Since I heart lifting weights, it should be a fun and very challenging journey.  I will be posting some of the recipes we've been using on the Three Sisters blog.

PS-The kids went to a Family Appreciation Day hosted by their dental office. It was awesome! Here is a photo of Thumbelina on her pony "Sunny."

7 Quick Takes

1.) Yesterday, I went to a HUGE consigment sale. If I'd prepared better, I would have been one of the many consigners there, but I'll plan to do that at the October sale.  It's called "Just Between Friends."  After spending about two hours there, I left with tons of spring/summer clothes and shoes for the twins as well as summer clothes for my nieces living in Brazil. They, their little brother and my sister and brother-in-law will visit in August.

2.) On my way back home from the sale, our car broke down.  I got stuck in traffic on the west side of town.  A nice young auto student appeared seemingly out of nowhere right after I hung up with AAA.  The van broke down down the street from the community college auto school, and he said it could be the battery or alternator.  He got it to turn over, and I barely made it to our mechanic just across the bridge.  The whole time I was begging, "Please, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, don't let me break down on the bridge."  As I was nearing the auto shop, the wipers stopped, the lights turned off, and I couldn't really see where the driveway was.  Good news is that the car will be fixed today, and we have an emergency fund to cover the cost.  Grateful!!!

3.) Tonight, a group of moms is coming to our home to discuss the first two chapters of "Th 10 Habits of Happy Mothers."  Before the car broke down, I planned to clean in the afternoon, and make pumpkin muffins.  Instead, I didn't get home till 6:30pm with the twins, and realized too late that I was out of flour.  So, the scone mix from a care package that John's sister and brother-in-law sent us, came to the rescue!

4.) John started his last rotation for PT school. Each morning he takes the 4:50am ferry over to Seattle.  He'll work some weekends, but will have a few days off at a time.  This and his case study presentation are the last hurdles!!

5.) John and I will spend Tuesday with G-Force before he leaves our home on Wednesday for good. It will be strange to have that empty bedroom and still see the crib and the handmade cowboy curtains in the window.  We'll keep the space open for him the next few months in case he needs to come back into care.  In the meantime, it will become the twins' playroom, and the all the toys can go in there.  We had his second birthday party last Sunday and his CASA and first foster family came.  It was wonderful to see them!

6.)  We're planning a vacation to Maui in June after John graduates.  Eating well and exercise are getting me excited to go and enjoy a new swimsuit.  Can't wait for John to have a break.

7.)  My parents-in-law, for the record, are wonderful. John's mom picked me up so I could get our other car and race up to daycare to get the twins.  John's dad picked him up at 4:30am this morning to get him to the ferry so that we wouldn't have to put the kids in the car at that hour for me to take him. 

7 Quick Takes

1.)  John finished his first week of his last quarter of classes! After this, his third year of PT school is 9 months of internships.  We're entering the home stretch!

2.) I got my plane ticket to DC to visit my sister and her family one last time before they move to Brazil for 3 years.  Looking forward to seeing them, but already dreading the goodbye.  Also, it's been 2.5 years since I was on a plane.

3.)  The twins are doing well and blossoming.  They've had some funny conversations between the two of them, and John and I stifle laughs listening to them.  On June 21, it was the one year anniversary since they were placed with us.

4.)  We're reorganizing the pantry. Yep, we're wild ones. But it makes such a difference to have everything in its place and be able to use what we have.  These have been a great help. We bought a set of 5 at Target. Perhaps I'll post before and after photos. 

5.)  On his week off, John cleaned out the garage and set up a workout area for us.  He's doing P90X and I'm in there for Zumba.  We have our weights, yoga mats and mini bar.  What I do need to get are some simple curtains or blinds for the window and door.  I'd be a little embarrassed if our new neighbors saw me gettin' my Zumba on.

6.) Still need to post a Father's Day note.  There are wonderful men in my life who are great fathers and I'm sorry that I haven't posted about them yet!

7.)  Need your prayers for a special intention.  As things progress, I will post about it.  In the meantime, John and I are on Day 3 of the 54 Day Novena.  Not only is praying the Rosary together something we haven't done for a long time, it is giving us much needed quiet time and reflection as our lives get more hectic.  For those who aren't familiar with this novena, for the first 27 days, you pray special prayers along with a Rosary for your intention.  The next 27 days are in thanksgiving.  Thank you for praying for us!

7 Quick Takes

1.  For the last several weeks, I've felt really awful.  Vomiting, runs, stomach pain, no appetite.  On my second visit to my primary, he ordered a blood draw and stool collection.  This is even less glamorous than it sounds. :)  I wasn't sure what to expect as far as results, but what I DIDN'T expect was the actual result: giardia.  So, after 3 of 10 days on anti-biotics, I'm on the mend.

2.  The twins have had two all day visits with their father. Today they were supposed to have one, but it was switched to tomorrow due to the rain, and the fact that his plan was a park and a picnic. The kids can’t go to his house yet, because the case worker needs to approve it first. This works out well for me that the kids will be gone all day Saturday, since it means I can go into work to catch up a little and then get the house cleaned for Mother’s Day. What stinks is that John has a long drive tomorrow starting at 5:30am for a PT student volunteer day way out in No Man’s Land, Washington.


3.  We’ll have a Mother’s Day Brunch at our house this Sunday. John’s Dad, my dad and John will provide the food. I would like to make cinnamon rolls, since I’ve never made them before.

4.  Cherub is fighting the potty training much less and has actually pee-peed standing up a few times recently. WOO-HOO!! He gets half a cupcake which is a wonderful reward to him. His sister, who uses the big toilet all the time (but is still not fully potty-trained), said she wanted a cupcake. I told her that she needed to do something special on there like #2. I think it fell on deaf ears, but we negotiated down to a little cookie.

5.  Since my sister and her family are moving to Brasilia in August, I am trying to plan a short trip to the DC area to visit them. The last time I got on a plane was 2.5 years ago for my bro’s wedding in Dallas. Not looking forward to the body scan. Hmm, that reminds me that I should bust out the Zumba DVDs.

6.  Our beautiful niece and my goddaughter, Lili, could use your prayers. She has a more serious form of epilepsy than originally thought. She and my sister are spending four days in the hospital to monitor any and all seizures. Right now, my brother and sister-in-law are in Melbourne visiting Kate and her family, and I’m glad they are there for moral support.

7. We had a photo session for the twins in honor of their third birthday! I wish I could post photos which really show their faces, because they are such beautiful children. Our talented and creative friend, Krystal, spent about 2 hours with us at a local park and ran around capturing very active moments and quiet moments of the kids. She did a superb job.

March Madness

Lest March pass with no post, here are a few things going on in our lives.

1.)   John had a week and a half off between quarters.  That means that the kitchen is clean, weeding has started and the kids get to play “Daddy Monster” with him when we get home from work and school.  He has gotten them ready in the morning for me as well which has been such a big help.  Oh, and he makes me a coffee in a travel mug. I will miss this when he goes back to his school schedule.

2.) Each morning and evening, I put ‘lotion’ on the kids’ cheeks and lips. It’s Vaseline, but they call it wo-shun.  And they tell me where to apply it:  “And on my foah-head? And on the cheek? And on duh uddah cheek? And on my wip?”  This morning, Thumbelina added one, “And on  my boogers?” 

3.) On March 14, we had a permanency plan hearing for the twins.  Along with the caseworkers and the parents’ lawyers,  the kids’ teacher and the director of the center they attend were there.  It was really nice of them to go.  The judge went along with the DSHS plan of ‘return to parent’ in this case the father.  We, along with one of the case workers, have concerns and worries about him being a good choice, but we’ll see. We just don’t want the case be rushed and the kids given to him and then he does something stupid. Prayers, please.

4.) The twins will turn 3 next month! We’re having a little family party, and we’ll take treats to child care and playgroup.  They finish their therapeutic playgroup the week they turn three.  Seeing the progress they’ve made has been amazing.  I really wish I’d videotaped them when they first came to us.  What a difference!  They are so much fun, so funny and drive us crazy at the same time. But we would not trade any of it if it meant never having met them.  Thumbelina has been saying “My Mommy!! My Mommy!” whenever she wants me to hold her or she thinks I’m leaving.  Cherub has been saying, “My two Daddies!” since he has John and bio-dad.  If reminds me of the line, “Rhapsody has two mommies…” from Best in Show.
 

5.) For the first time in 9 months (since the twins arrived), we have been working on the yard again.  The weekend was gorgeous, so we got a lot of weeding done, and I bought some more spring flowers.  The kids picked out a primrose each. Thumbelina chose a red one with a yellow center, and Cherub picked a purply-blue one.  I think it would be nice to plant a primrose for each child who comes to our home.  They are hardy little flowers who bloom under less than ideal circumstances.

6.) We had a surprise visit from the kids’ case worker who lives one street over from us.  She had gotten a phone message from us that Cherub had bonked his nose earlier in the day, so she stopped by to see how he was doing.  The CW has a female pit bull who is very laid back and friendly.  Well, the CW was out walking her when she stopped by the house.  The dog poked her head in the house and we invited the CW in.  Thank God Jill was in the back yard! That could have been an ugly confrontation.  Both dogs are very friendly, but if Jill would have seen a strange dog in her home I think it would not have been good at all.  Long story short, the house was clean, the kitchen spotless (thanks to John) and the kids were happy and getting PJs on.  Nothing like a drop in from a CW to make you thank your lucky stars that the CW saw happy children and a pleasant home.

7.) The twins may be leaving us within 6 months or earlier depending on how things go with their father’s progress.  Most days I don’t want to think about that and just focus on the present.  But we must prepare them and ourselves for it.  We are trying to establish a good relationship with the father as well, and hope that if the kids do go to him that he would allow us to be in their lives in some way.   This Lent is a good time to take a step back and reflect on all of this.  Hope you all are having a good Lent!

7 Quick Takes

1.) John is going on a back packing trip with his brother and dad. John loves backpacking and needs this break in the great outdoors before his life becomes crazy again with commuting to Seattle everyday for school.  It'll be the twins and me.  I'm hoping to see a relative at Mass, because I can't handle both on my own!

2.) I pulled my post on "Favoritism in Families."  I still have it, but I think blogging about it would cause me more problems.  That being said, thank you, Dr. Gianna and Colet for your input! I really appreciate it.

3.) We have lots of apples, and that means baking an apple pie on Sunday and making some applesauce.  Maybe that will be my project when the kids are napping.

4.) We're thinking of asking for a respite weekend.  Since we don't know any fostering families in our county, it will be interesting.  Actually, the only fostering family I have had contact with is the couple who took the twins in for 10 days before we got them.  She was very nice and was really good at assessing the kids and where they were developmentally.  It's a lesbian couple who have 5 other children.  Not what I would necessarily hope for, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to finding someone willing to do respite for us.

5.)  This Saturday is supposed to be really nice.  The kids and I will head to a park to run off their energy.

6.) In the spring I was offered shares in my company.  We could only afford one, and I just got my first dividend check.  There are perks to being an 'owner,' even though I'm a very, very small owner. :)

7.) John's brother and his wife and their five kids are moving to AZ very soon.  It will be so strange to drive past their house (which is in our neighborhood) and know that they're not there.  Maybe we'll have to take a trip to AZ. :)