Pumpkin patch??

Okay, so it has been an eternity since I last posted. Better late then never! So much has been going on around here lately. On Friday Kyler had surery on 2 hernia's, one was an umbilical hernia and the other was an inguinal hernia. The umbilical hernia is causing him some pain so we have been taking it easy (or at least trying to). He has been on codeine- and has been such a sweetheart!! He had a very funny conversation with Julie while he was doped up...and claims she promised him a trip to a pumpkin patch, which she did not, lol. He continues to insist that she did, lol!! Terry and I laid out a stone walkway in the front yard yesterday and today I am feeling it!! My back, thighs, hands...ouch! It looks great though, we just need the driveway poured to meet up with it. There hasnt been a driveway since we moved in being that we are out in the country we just drive up a gravel driveway and park where ever. There are so many projects we want to get completed that I do not know where to start. I am doing the kitchen in this really cute wallpaper, but have let Terry step in and complete it realizing after I started that my fear of heights does not help when standing on a six foot ladder, lol. We have been working on a 'prim-country' look for the inside of the house. It fits us and is really cute and kinda timeless so we dont have to keep changing our themes. Terry also has some stone at work that we are going to be putting around the inset of our front door...I cannot wait! I will probably finish up the little projects this week with the kids out of school for Thanksgiving break. This has been great for Kyler's recovery as well, he only had to miss 2 days of school! Cannot wait to post the pictures once the projects are done!!

This weekend is the weekend that we have all of the kids home, although stressful, I thoroughly enjoy this time with the older kids all together! As the older kids become teenagers, I cannot get over how close we have all become. As family, or course. More so as friends though. I am past the age that I have to worry about messes and 'get your hand out of that, get off of that!!' Now we actually communicate. They have extremely interesting lives and I have to say that I am proud of who they are becoming. I am really lucky, I have 6 nice young 'Men'. I am very proud of the decisions I watch them make. I have to say, I couldnt have planned this better! We're about to have some big household changes in the near future (something I will blog about later on), so having everyone together is a blessing! We dont really have any major plans other than the same ol' same ol' . I love the job that I have although they have been extremely slow lately, I guess the economy is hitting every industry hard. I applied today for a position with the company that I adopted my daughter through. I had a very good relationship with the people there, so I feel good about the possibilities! Even though it is likely part time, that is perfect. I really want to hold onto my job that I am presently at. I really enjoy being a private investigator, just want to be able to work more hours. Plu the people I work with rock! Kyler stayed home from school today and is feeling pretty good right now, so I decided to have him clean his wreck of a bedroom! Well, I guess that I should have monitored his progress, as he chose to clean out his fish tank. Wow...Gravel and water EVERYWHERE! But on a brighter note...the fish survived! LOL. This poor fish has had it rough over the past couple of months! First Elizabeth took it on the swingset...lol...And now this! Forget cats...Goldfish have 9 lives!!

I am off and have just been putting around the house getting stuff done and got the urge to look up an old friend, Beckie...I found her! She is doing great! Has 2 small children! So nice talking to old friends! So of course my housework was totally neglected...Anthony is on his way home and we are going to get his Learners Permit today, so he is ecstatic! I guess I will get back to the house work tonight...or maybe tomorrow...or maybe not at all!! LOL

phew!

Over the past few months I have noticed my energy level not just slowing down, but coming to a complete halt. The last week or so I have slept considerably more than I have been awake. I know I must be terribly anemic as I really dont follow the most nutritious of diets. So yesterday I started taking vitamins. I actually took one in the morning and one at lunch (2x the prescribed amount) in an attempt to nip this in the bud. I was pleasantly suprised that even just the small amount I took I felt slightly better. I know I must be miserably malnourished. I eat, I just eat crap. So heres my turning point! Today I woke up and got ready and when I dropped everyone off at school I refused to go home! I went to Wal-Mart and walked around (didnt buy anything...lol),got together with my Mom, did lunch and then went to Macy's and Belk's and hit a magnificient sale! Found the cutest plaid shorts for around 5 bucks a pair!! After I dropped her back off I was spent! I took a short nap and then forced myself up when the kids got home. I am still tired, but I am seeing that forcing myself up and the vitamins might be the trick. This afternoon we went by Donna's house and learned that she, as of this morning, stopped feeling dizzy. This is great! Since her strokes she hasnt been able to keep both eyes open for an extended period of time. Still cannot stand for any length of time, but there is progress! Prayers being answered slowly but surely. I really wanted to go to church tonight, but still need to do homework, etc. so I may have to wait until Sunday. I am wanting to try this church by our house that a few of our boys have started going to. Since the fall of our church, I just havent had the urge to go. I really need to just get back into the swing of it, it has always done measures for our family when we go. Well I guess
I am off to do homework!

Elizabeth updates...

I will tell you what, I surely do miss Elizabeth....however look at the smile on her Mama's face, it's priceless. She has really fought to keep her family together and I am truely proud of her! Elizabeth got a haircut and got her bangs done...I love it!! They look adorable!!

Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie...

My child has an extremely bizarre sense of humor...I went to use my cell phone and this was the wallpaper on my phone...Welcome to my world! LOL.

Of all days for my kids to behave like angels...

Okay so here goes...Today is my day that I have designated to clean...ewww. Not just clean, but organize, unclutter, etc. Then why on earth am I blogging?? answer-because my Stacker hasnt kicked in yet...lol. That is sad, but I do have one heck of a job ahead of me. I am starting with my truck. I love my truck and we almost live in it! Therefore, we have toys, clothes and I am sure a chicken nugget or two...This is the job I dread the most because it is so hot outside. The kids have been so good lately...usually this job is designated for the smart allec that crosses my path on a day like this. Damn, why do my kids have to be so well behaved, lol?? I will have to sugar them up after school! JK, I guess I need to get on it...Have a nice day!

Bye-Bye to Our Beautiful Elizabeth!

Well last week Elizabeth's family had their court hearing and she is officially back with her family in North Carolina. It is bitter-sweet for me. There is a part of me that wanted to keep her forever...But the expression on her Mama's face when she came to get her was priceless! I would do it over in a hearbeat! Elizabeth was very excited to be with her Mommy. Even though I miss her I am happy for the turnout. The family has let me talk to her several times to say hello and she sounds so happy!!! They have also invited us to come visit her whenever we like. I let them know that if ever down the road they needed us to keep her, that there will always be an open door. Amazing how something that can bring tears to your eyes can also be the same thing to put a smile on your face.

Newfound Family

Anyone who knows me knows the story of my first love, Bobby Killeen, well finally I have the happy ending, I am thrilled!!...But to those that dont know the story here goes from the beginning...

Bobby was my first love in high school. We dated for my first year and a half of high school untill he was taken by social services to live in a group home in North Florida. With my family living in South Florida it was next to impossible for us to keep in touch. Especially with neither of us having a car or way of contacting eachother. Both of us moved on with our lives and the year I got married to Dominick and had Vinnie he contacted me and told me he was happy for our new family, but that if I ever needed anything I could call on him. I told him likewise. That was our LAST conversation. I married at 18. When I was 25 years old I had a dream that he knocked on my front door and was telling me about the son he had and that he felt like he let him down. In this dream he asked me to check on his boy. When I woke up the next morning I couldnt get past the dream. Everytime I attempted to proceed with my day I would start thinking about the dream. I called my first husband at work and he encouraged me to try to find him on the internet (something that was brand new to us back in the 90's), so I did. Funny enough, I found a phone number by the same name that lived on the same street Bobby did growing up...I believed that he moved back to that street to raise his family, which of course I thought was sweet. I called the number and spoke with a man that told me he was also Bob Killeen, just not the one I was looking for. He paused for a moment and told me that he hated to be the bearer of bad news but because they had the same name it caught his attention that in the newspaper was a Bob Killen that was found dead from an Overdose. Stunned of course at the line of coincidences...I rushed down to south florida (I live in Central Florida now) to try to find his family. I found his mother and she told me that he had in fact died and...get this...he had a son! I couldnt believe it!! Could all of that had been conincidences? or was I somehow contacted by him?? Well, at that point his mother gave me what she had left of his ashes and asked me to try to find Tyler (his son) when he got older and tell him about the times when Bobby had it together. Which was all I knew of him. So for the last 10 years I have searched high and low for this little boy and his mother. Last week......I FOUND THEM!!! On myspace! I got together with them and was instantly drawn into them! They are an adorable family! This little boy needed closure, he has no memory of his father and was like a sponge when it came to learning about him. I gave him his fathers ashes and he was very happy. I also had pictures of Tyler when he was a baby...with his dad that I gave him. He in return gave me some wonderful pictures of himself and one of his Dad at 12 years old. Everyone has their opingion as to what happens to us after we die. After this happened to me, I have a very hard time believing that there isnt an afterlife. Pictured above is Bobby when he was a teenager and also Tyler his beautiful son!!

Okay so a little time has gone by since I last posted...So now I need to fill in the time gap...The past week or so has been eventful, both happy and sad...I cannot wait to share...

Well...Here it is the day we find out if Lizzy will stay with us or go to North Carolina with her Grandma. I am on the fence with this one. I sure do love this little girl, but at the same time, she needs time to bond with her family. I knew this day was coming, just wasnt sure when. I know if she leaves it will be the greater good... But man am I gonna miss her. Pray for the best outcome possible!

Very sweet, yes, Very messy, Yes

The picture says it all, LOL! (Condoms...They're just the first thing that breaks)Yesterday was a teacher workday for school and boy an interesting day I had!! Of course this was also the day my body decides that it is going to be all PMS'ey! Upon waking up (after sleeping in) I woke up to, well, hell. Kyler - mr resourceful- decided to make him and I Cinnamon toast...With LOTS of sugar. Very sweet, yes, Very messy, Yes. He even served me in bed. Very sweet, yes, Very messy, Yes. Somehow I managed to get a grain of sugar stuck in my laptop during this and now My L key is being a pain the butt! Upon walking into the kitchen was the real gift though, lol...I can laugh or cry...I guess I will laugh, right? For the most part I just took it easy for the afternoon, and I am paying for it today. I woke up and after taking the kids to school, I went grocery shopping, ran a couple of loads of laundry, dishes and now I am ready to put my feet up and watch some Ti-Vo'd Desperate Housewives.

Already 15!

So today is my baby's birthday. Anthony that is...he is 15 today!! I cannot believe it! He was just born! I think we are going to have a pool party for him on Saturday at my Mom's complex. I have encouraged him to jump on the Driver's license exam, but he doesnt seem to be in any rush. Funny, because Vinnie wasnt either...Not now though. I cannot keep him off the roads! I worked this morning but it was close, that was great! Tomorrow is at the same place. I will actually be home when the kids get off the bus! I think after tomorrow I will be off for the rest of the week! I think I am gonna attempt to try to tackle the wallpaper I started the week Elizabeth moved in (July 12)...Talk about procrastinating! If there was ever gonna be a time to do it, this week would be it! Next mission: The laundry room (ewwww...). Although the kids have Wednesday off of school for a teacher workday. Anywho...Pray for my Anthony to have a wonderful 15th year!!

Preparing for a late day...

Well, Today is gonna be a long one...I am doing surveillance late in the day into the night. The job itself is an easy one, but I will be away from home tonight. Thats always a tough one for me. This weekend is our off weekend so if we can find a sitter for the little ones maybe Terry can come meet me after work and we can be together. I will be in Orlando, so maybe when I am done we can catch dinner or movie or something. That is IF we can find a sitter. Everyone is dragging this morning, especially me. It is very cloudy this morning and feels earlier than it really is. I wish we could all just crawl back into bed! I am concerned about my doggie, she is not being herself. Yesterday I was hungry and drove to Wendy's to grab a burger...I brought her with me and got her a bacon cheeseburger...lol. I laid it in front of her (the meat part) and she wouldnt eat it. She ate it many hours later at home though. But for a dog to pass up bacon and hamburger?? she is also being super lazy, I will have to keep an eye on her. Wish me luck for a good surveillance!! Pictured above is my dog Happy!

My beautiful boys Anthony and Nicholas...gotta love em!

It's A Boy!!

I just found out that Mitchell and Alyssa (my baby brother and sister in law) are expecting a baby boy in January!! I am very excited for them!! She really wanted a boy! I think my brother was good with either a boy or girl, but it is awesome because he is naming him after his late father. His name will be Andrew Mitchell. Alyssa has made it very clear that we are to call him Andrew...Not Andy or Drew she said, lol. So Andrew it is! I wish my Step-father could've lived to see this day!! My Mom is thrilled to have another baby in the family...especially by her 'baby'. Mitchell has always been the family favorite...not just by my Mom and Step-father...but by me and my sister as well. He was much younger than my sister and I so we always loved to fuss over him...Still do, lol. We play around and call him by his baby name "Mitchie Mouse", and it is funny because he is like well over 6 foot tall...and a big, bad Marine. He is so happy now, he has found the love of his life, expecting his first child, and doing well in his Military career. I am very proud of him! I think he is looking forward to getting out of the service and moving back home with his new family. We are excited to have them all close again. My boys really look up to him and to see him do so well with himself really sets a great example for my boys. Pictured above is My brother Mitchell and his beautiful wife Alyssa. Below is baby Andrew due in January!

Today Terry and I both had off from work. It was wonderful! We got the kids dressed for school, and
Terry drove them while I slept in a few more minutes...boy that was nice! We went out to lunch together, ALONE!!! In the afternoon hours we were over at Donna's and managed to talk her into letting us take her to Wal-Mart. We brought a wheelchair for her and although she was just pushed around she thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the house. While we were shopping she bought both Kyler and Lizzie toys and then Happy Meals at McDonalds. They were thrilled! I could see by the time we got home she was completely wore out. She at this point cannot walk by herself, get up or even keep her eyes open for very long due to motion sickness. So a trip to the store was definately a brave move for her. She seems determined to get better. I spoke with my step-mom Julie and learned that my Dad is still not doing so hot. He has RA. They were cutting back his meds in hopes that he was getting better; however his body isnt ready just yet as he was having inflammation again. We pray for him everynight, I cannot imagine what he is going through. He is the strongest person I know and to see him not diving into life the way he always has makes me realize how terrible this disease actually is. They live in South Florida and it is about 3.5 hours from us. Julie really has her hands full with my Dad and her mother has cancer as well. I am concerned for her health in a different way. There's only so much stress one person can endure and she has passed that a long time ago. She still manages to balance things out and still hasnt totally lost it! Better than I couldve done, I'll tell you that! To boot, she still carries herself with grace and is a trip to be around...she's always happy, or at least she carries herself that way, even in rough times. I believe that is a gift that she inherited from her Mom. She is the exact same way. Her needs ALWAYS fall behind everyone elses, and is happy to do it. She has been my step mother since I was 5 and I tell you what, she is the ONLY person that could give my Dad the attention he needs right now...She is type A to the core and will only have the best for my father. For that I am truely greatful. Being so far away, theres not really much support I can offer her...But anything I can is hers for the taking : )

Pictured above is my Dad and Julie (I told you she always looks happy) and then Elizabeth and Kyler on our trip to Wal-Mart today

Fishie...MIA

A funny incident happened today that I couldn't let go without a post...This afternoon Caitlin came screaming down the hallway "MOM!!!!! MY FISH ARE MISSING!!!" What did she mean, fish are missing?? Apparently Elizabeth had decided to feed Caitlin's fish during her nap time, and fed the fish an entire can of food, then took them out to play...out of the 3 fish...We only have 1 and a half left...half meaning it is about gone. This is horrible yet, I have not been able to help myself by laughing about it. Elizabeth has been describing her adventures with the fish, yet we have not been able to find the last one. ..lol. I am sure if it is still in the house, well find it in the next day or two. Ewww...She claims that when we went outside she took it on the swingset, Don't know how I managed to overlook her carrying around a goldfish?? In her little mind she must believe we are being cruel to the poor little fishie by keeping it in a tank all day, she was just giving them a little freedom, lol.

My Mom, Lizzie and I at swimming at her pool!!

Me and my little ones after a great day in the pool!!

Tami saves the day!!

Dont you just love when a day that you anticipate as being cruddy ends up being a blast!! Yesterday I had surveillance in the morning and early afternoon...blah, blah...and planned to clean house, do laundry etc. Instead after my surveillance I headed over to my Mimi's (grandma's) house and enjoyed an amazing lunch with my Mim, Aunti 'm' and my mama. We had such a good time just enjoying each other's company! It was also Mimi's birthday! Afterwards I headed home and spent some time resting with Elizabeth and then we headed over to my mother's complex and went to a pool party! It was a blast, Bar-B-Q, kids playing in the pool, my family, and new friends! This day was much needed. Since school started we have been rolling a mile a minute! Between school, work and taking care of Donna...Homework, bedtimes, swim practice, etc. We havent really had any down time. At the pool we had an incident...Kyler had brough his 'Incredible Hulk' action figure, which he adores, to the pool. He had let a few of the little kids play with it and then a while later he couldn't find it...A much older boy on the other end of the pool claimed that he also had the exact same action figure that he had received at church and that it was his. Of course Kyler was crushed!! To be honest, I didnt know for sure if that was in fact Kyler's toy. When Tami (my sister) caught word of it (my sister who is known for her straight forward, in-your-face personality), she walked over to the boy and demanded to speak with his mother to verify that it was his toy...Needless to say he handed back the toy and walked away with his tail between his legs. Why the heck didnt I think of that?? She was awesome! This was a middle school aged boy, and my son is only 6...so her intervention was much needed! On a brighter note...Caitlin got Lizzie over her fear of swimming in the pool with her floaties on! Now if we could just get her swimming we would be great!! When I woke up this morning and was doing my daily myspace monitoring and came across Vinnie's page and learned that he had a rough night with his girlfriend. I am anxious to speak to him this morning to make sure he is okay. I will let him sleep in, knowing how he is I am sure that he didnt sleep much last night. Other than that it was a great day!!

Pictured above is my brut of a sister Tami...lol! with her daughter Ashlynn!

Foster system frustration!!

Today I had a conversation with Elizabeth's social worker that really...well ticked me off. The system is so screwed up. No wonder there are so few foster parents! If I wasnt so in love with this little girl, I think I wouldve told them where to put their policies. I normally do not get so bent out of shape about stuff like this. I do feel that they are taking advantage of a group of caregivers (our family included) referred to as 'non-relative caregivers'. I think that tomorrow I will need to make some calls, something has to change. Any person that has been in the 'non-relative caregiver position is aware of the issues that I am talking about. A non-relative caregiver is essentially a foster parent that receives no subsidy to cover the childs expenses. Not that I (or any other parent) goes into this for money, however to not be given any help at all financially , is very frustrating. As a 'relative caregiver' you are given a small subsidy...but if you are not related to the child, even if your long term situation is not to adopt, they offer no financial help as a non relative caregiver. That is just, well, wrong. Got that off my chest...whew!

Tropical Storm Faye

Well, I just woke up this morning to find out that the tropical storm has made landfall and that it will be slowing down shortly. We will be getting tons of rainy weather! Schools are closed here today and tomorrow, my hubby has today off! From what the forecast says, our county (Polk) is supposed to catch the brunt of the storm. Somehow even though we are inland we get rough weather with these storms. I live about 20 west of Lake Wales and they are the ones that got it bad during the Charley, Jeanne hurricane issues. We were left without power for a week during Jeanne. I pray for limited destruction, keeping our power, but mostly a cozy, rainy day with my honies!

What a weekend!!

Finally school started today!! Whew, was I ready!! All the kids were so excited last night getting all their things together. I think Caitlin was the most excited. This year she officially gets to use her new name (since she was adopted). She also has a couple of her best friends in the class with her. Kyler said his teacher rocks!! Then I got the news...no school for the next 2 days!! Damn hurricane Faye, lol. I worked today in the office which was nice. The people there are a lot of fun and it's a nice change of pace. I will probably be off tomorrow as well. Over the weekend Caitlin had a great visit with her biological sister and came home a bright and cheery kid. SO happy to have spent time with Deborah. Two of my boys went to Miami to go to a Baptism and it seemed that everyone made plans around here. The weekend was relatively uneventful. Donna is still in the hospital and hoping to leave tomorrow, but I am not sure with the weather what they are going to do. I have to admit, I LOVE hurricane weather!! I do not like the destruction, but I LOVE the weather! My son Vinnie loves it equally. I was reading his myspace and he has his mood set as 'Yay, hurricane Faye'. Go figure, he's a twisted little bugger like his mother. He fared out well today in school. He got his favorite teacher as his homeroom teacher. I cannot believe that he's a Junior already, I feel like he was just born. Anthony started high school today and says the day went smoothly, he is a very type 'A' personality...and was very anxious at orientation. He said that he found all of his classes but was having a hard time finding his drafting class. But his drafting teacher was really cool about it. He said so far he got great teachers. He is in all honors classes, and very proud of that. Where the heck did he come from?? LOL!! Pictured above is Vinnie.

To-to's and ballerina slippers...

Today I left for work at 4:00 a.m. I had surveillance on a guy in Daytona. I got home late afternoon and we headed over to see Donna at the hospital. Come to find out since she has been in the hospital she has had a second stroke. Lord, I pray she pulls through this okay! She is really the 'rock' of Terry's family. On a brighter note, I picked Lizzie up a to-to at Wal-Mart (and some little ballerina slippers) and she has been strutting it all over the house since I brought it home. My husband commented on her beautiful to-to and she looked at him like he was crazy, (she calls her female parts her to-to, lol), she probably thought he was some kinda perv, lol. She even wore it to the hospital, she got lots of attention from the nurses!!One even gave her ice cream. I will have to make sure to get lots of pictures of that!! We are trying to get everything dialed in for school Monday. Some of the kids are really excited, most are not...lol. Mainly the older kids! I am ready for a hint of normalcy. Tomorrow Caitlin is having an overnight at her biological sister's house. She was recently adopted by a family in a neighboring town. Caitlin was also in that family's home at one time. She is very excited as she doesnt get to see Deborah very often. She also has a biological brother that we need to set up a visit with. He lives fairly close, but we keep missing eachother. I work in Daytona again tomorrow and have Sunday off : )
I want to do nothing but spend quality time with my family!! Bye for now!

Things have been crazy!!

Wow, it has been a few days since I have last posted mainly because we are running around like a chicken with its head cut off! Well, Terry's sister is again, back in the hospital...getting the run around as to what is the matter with her. She is really becoming depressed.We are concerned for her, that is not like her. We are headed back up to the hospital tonight after the 'sitter' gets here. Today was orientation at ALL the schools today. In one 4 hour block we needed to hit 4 seperate schools, with the middle and high school kids having seven class each. I felt terrible because we thought that one of the middle school's had an evening orientation as well as a morning....and they didnt. Dustin was not able to go see his teachers, although we made it in time for him to get his schedule. ALL the schools had afternoon orientations! The one we chose to visit in the afternoon, doesn't! He was amazingly cool about it though. Last night I had to work (I am a private Investigator) at a club doing surveillance on a guy that is in a lawsuit, clearly not injured as he claims BTW... and my husband and I took advantage of this time to spend quality time. As we showed up to the 'club' we found the guy, found a great seat near him to get video and just hung out together. This should've been a great time! We were bored stiff...lol. Guess we are not 'club' people? Most of the people there were much older than us, and the band was awful. I never understood how people fall into this lifestyle. All I could think about was my kids at home. My husband and I had a chance to be alone and that was nice. Not too much converstion though, it was pretty loud (and smokey). We have been struggeling a bit lately with our marriage. We both have very strong views of what we want out of life, and both are quite different. Hopefully overtime we will be able to compromise and come to a happy medium. The love is DEFINATELY there. Pray for us...

Not again??

Yesterday the hospital let Donna come home. She was still weak and dizzy but she really wanted to leave the hospital so I believe maybe they let her leave early. Kyler, Lizzy and Terry all made a Welcome home banner for her to return to and I am sure she loved it! We attempted to visit her with Kyler and Lizzy in tow but literally minutes after arriving the kids were bouncing off the walls...So much for a relaxing day at home! Heck, I was about to have a stroke, lol. Needless to say we left as quickly as possible as to not give her any stress. Donna and Kyler are especially close and I guess I thought them seeing eachother would have been a good thing, guess not, lol. Donna and I have had differences in the past but it kills me to see someone with so much life look so depleted. I want to help, just not sure exactly what to do. Anywho, we came home and had just a nice family evening together! We were about to lay down for bed and received a call from Donna's fiance and apparently she had collapsed on her way to the bathroom, she did not become unconscious, just couldn't get up. Jeff (Donna's fiance) called my husband to help get her up and talk her into going back to the hospital. When we arrived she look terrible, white, weak, vomiting and nausious, not really with it at all and couldn't get herself up off the floor. My amazing husband was able to talk her into going...After seeing how bad off she was we opted to call an ambulance to take her back to the hospital. Wouldn't you know that they saw her at the hospital and then sent her home? I am terrified for her health. All the prayers we can possibly get are appreciated!

Prayers for Donna

• Late last night we got a call from Winter Haven hospital letting us know that Terry's sister, Donna, had a mild stroke. So of course first thing this morning we ran up to the hospital! We brought Kyler and Lizzie, both behaved as angels (amazing)! We got home around lunchtime, ate, and I laid Lizzie down for her nap. Terry brought Kyler to go see Wall-E and spend some quality time together. I got to enjoy the house to myself and what do I do...I fell asleep with Lizzie, lol. Although I got to experience waking up on my own. Not with an alarm clock or a kid tugging my shirt, but naturally....wow that was nice! When I awoke I received the news that my mother and a boyfriend that she had recently parted ways with were back together again...I am thrilled! We love this guy! He treats her great, the family great, kids too! Best part is that he was my husband's best friend growing up, lol. We went over to my mother's house and went swimming with Kyler and Lizzie as well as my sister and her fiance. What a great evening it turned out to be. Everything started out so rough and ended so nicely! Things always have a way of getting better. BTW, Terry's sister will be coming home tomorrow. We are going to go decorate her porch with a welcome home banner and balloons. Kyler, who is especially close to Donna, wants to bake her a cake. So to the grocery store we go first thing tomorrow morning! Pictued above is my Mom and Pat, underneath is Kyler our little pistol!

An Early Rise

So this is my first post. I am starting this is a means to share our life with family and friends, as well as vent. I have a blog that I have been following for a few months now that has given me much inspiration, heck, maybe I can do the same for someone else. Today started bright and early when my son Vinnie came home at 4:00a.m. furious and upset. (BTW, he was not coming home late...just extremely early) In a nutshell he had been done wrong by a girl that we have considered part of our family for many years. He was beside himself over her betrayal and I really dont think that at this point she will be part of our lives any longer. Also, we got a call from Elizabeth's social worker that her grandmother's homestudy had been approved and that she may/may not be leaving soon. This was a shock to us as we thought she would at least be around a few months. We have all grown attached to her, even our teenagers that tend to poo-poo the whole foster/adoption thing have grown close to her! I have to say that I am heartbroken, but I know this will be a good opportunity for her biological mother and her to bond. That's good right?? How is it that all the right things have to sting a bit?? This is our off weekend with the older boys. My oldest three go to their dads. His oldest three go to their moms. So it is just the younger ones, which we of course encourage to spend the night with their friends, lol. Although, since Lizzie has been with us we still have her. It is nice to get a breather though. Tomorrow morning we plan to get up early and go yard saling. That is something we enjoy doing when we are low on kids, we get to spend more individual time with whoever is with us and also get out of the house. My hubby likes to shop for tools. I prefer play clothes for the kids and house stuff. Wish us luck! Above pictured is our foster daughter Elizabeth and our daughter Caitlin.