I'm Still Here

 

I'm adjusting to being a mom of six.  Sometimes when someone asks me how many children I have I still mentally count them off.

Noah is a very content baby.  He eats, sleeps, and smiles.  His siblings are loving him to pieces.  Sugar Pea tries to sit on him and lick him and all sorts of other ridiculous things--he just grins at her.

We are preparing for Christmas around here.  Our celebrations will be very low-key this year, but that's my favorite way to celebrate the season.

We are beginning paperwork to finalize Sugar Pea's adoption.  If all goes well it should be done in several months.

I'm hoping to blog a little more regularly now that my life is settling into a new normal.

Soaking Up The Sweetness

He's Here!

Noah Eli  arrived safely

October 23, 2013

At 11:04 am

He weighed 7 lb 9 oz

He is 20 inches long

More info to come.

Overdue

No baby yet.......

Apparently he has no desire to leave his cozy warm home.

Yes, I'm relaxed.....I'm ready.......all the baby clothes are washed.........the bassinet is set up..........the car

seat is clean.

Oh, and no, I'm not on purpose trying to frustrate all the dear people who call me almost daily to see if the

baby was born, and I forgot to tell them.

I'm pretty sure he will come when he is ready.

In the meantime I'm being entertained by all the advice I've been getting on how to "jumpstart" labor

 naturally.

Some of it coming from strangers on the street.

Eat spicy food.

Drink castor oil.

Go for a loooong walk.

Relax.....if you just would relax I'm sure he would come tonight. 

Jump rope.

Wash your kitchen floor on your hands and knees.

The list goes on and on, some of these ideas I've tried, {I'm not going to divulge which ones} but so far none

 of them have worked.

Don't worry though.........I won't forget to tell you when he comes.

Dear Sugar Pea

Dear Sugar Pea,


When we started this journey that is your life over 15 months ago.....


I'm so glad I didn't know everything.


I didn't know how many times I would have to watch your body struggle to gain the ground that wasn't gained prenatally.


I didn't know how many birth parent visits I would hold you after.


As your little body shook from sobs of confusion and fear.


I didn't know that one of your birth parents would threaten to hurt my family.


I didn't know that the judge in charge of your case would let it drag out this long.


(DHS was hoping to have it closed in six months.)


I didn't know that when I picked you up at the hospital I would have a police escort out of the building.


See, if I had known I might have tried to foster you on my own--with sheer determination--all these things that took me by surprise forced me to ask for help from the One who always heard my cries.


It's almost over now........the last TPR hearing is next week.


That doesn't mean I'm done asking for help to be your mamma though.


I'm pretty sure I'll be doing that for the rest of my life.


Love, Mamma

Favorite Quote

Updates

I keep thinking I need to update you on foster parenting, and pregnancy, but I'm too lazy to do two separate posts.

Sugar Pea's case is finally moving again.  Birth dad has a termination of parental rights trial coming up in about four weeks!!!!  The miracle that we had been praying for.  In the meantime he hasn't been showing up for his visits which means less trauma for Sugar Pea, and less trauma for me. :)

I'm still pregnant.  Someone told me early on in this pregnancy that you don't really get much bigger the last month or two.....well......they were WRONG.  Suffice it to say that I now walk a little like an overweight goose.

I feel good though--a little tired--but really fairly good.

I have about three more weeks to my official due date.

I looked at the mountain range of ripening tomatoes on my porch last night, and I cried.  Hubby caught me at it, and said I should just give them away.  I stubbornly set my jaw, and shook my head.  Sometimes I think I'm addicted to canning.........

So, there you have it--all the pertinent news around our house.  And probably one or two things that weren't all that pertinent.

Things I'm Happy For This Saturday 7

Flash from the past.......remember these Saturday posts?

Saturdays--Starting back to school makes me appreciate this day of the week for "catching up"

Produce from the garden--I'm trying to remember that all this bounty that I'm canning will be worth the pinched nerve in my back--this winter.

An Industrious 10 year old--Mopped my bathroom, cleaned my laundry room, and swept out several dusty corners all in the last half hour.

Bloggy Friends--I enjoy your comments, and interaction here on my blog so much.  I often lack adult conversation, and you help fill that gap in my life.

Toddlers Playing Together Happily--Peace is reigning for the moment, and I'm basking in it. 

What is making you smile today?

Can You Guess...

.......what I canned today?

It's not tomato juice, spaghetti sauce, or salsa.

Update.....

You all made really good guesses....well most of you. 

But, none of you were right.

It's ketchup!

If you're interested here is the recipe.

8 quarts tomato juice

1 1/2 quart vinegar

6 cups white sugar

1/2 cup salt

2 onions chopped

3/4 teaspoon ginger

3/4 teaspoon nutmeg ( I omitted this)

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon red pepper

Mix together all ingredients and boil rapidly for 2 hours.  Cool until you can safely blend in the blender.  After you blend it put it back on the stove and bring to a simmer, and add 1 3/4 cups of Clear-Jell that has been blended with about 1 cup of water.  Simmer until thickened.  Process in pressure canner for 10 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

Sugar Pea

I'll confess that lately my impulse has been to scream.

Not because the roller coaster is going too fast.

Because it feels like it's stalled on the tracks.

Birth Dad has been a source of extreme frustration.

He does just enough toward his goals to be annoying.

But not enough to make much progress.

He shows up for Sugar Pea's visits about 1/3 of the time.

When he doesn't show up--he calls and claims he is running late.

Which means I have to wait 30 minutes for him.

Sitting in a van with five restless children for 30 minutes is not my idea of a good time.

The next court date is in about two weeks.

Praying for a miracle!!!!!

Impulse Purchase

I went to a local roadside farm market yesterday to get some tomatoes for fresh eating--since mine are refusing to ripen.

I saw these giant cheerful sunflowers, and couldn't resist.

Makes my kitchen seem brighter somehow.

Jesus Loves The Little Children....

My two year old's version of the song.......

"Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Black and blue and red and white

They are "preshus" in-is-sight"

I've corrected him over and over, but he still sings it this way, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. :)

Talking To My Tomato Plants

I've been talking to my tomato plants lately.  

They are LOADED with lovely green tomatoes.

But, none of them are turning red.

Unlike my "ever-ripening" middle they seem content to stay little and green.

I've told them I have a baby coming in about two months.

And that I want to start canning tomatoes soon.

I feel this urgency in the very center of my being that the clock is ticking.

I have this list that I'm trying to check off "before baby."

But my tomato plants apparently aren't listening. 

Picking Beans

I'm working on green beans today.

I picked about half of the six rows that I planted so unwisely this spring.

My sweet husband picked the other half.

As I was picking I started thinking about how cranky it makes me to do this.

I like to garden......but I have this problem in my mind.

When I'm planting my garden it always seems urgent to plant LARGE amounts of green beans.

Those rows don't look long at all when I'm placing the seeds in the soft soil.

They don't even look long when the baby bean plants start poking their innocent little heads out of the ground.

But, oh, when the beans are hanging thick, and the sun is hot...........

I try to think about all the people in other countries who don't have enough to eat, and how much they would appreciate my beans.

But the only feeling I can conjure up is a vague wish that those far away people would come pick my beans for me.

I know my family will enjoy the green beans this winter, and I'm grateful for them.

But if any of you are around next spring when I'm planting my garden...............

Please remind me to not plant so many green beans.

The Home Stretch

I've officially entered the third trimester of this pregnancy, and so far it has been pretty uneventful.

I'm getting larger, and more off-balance--I feel a little like Humpty Dumpty.

My emotions have been a little more out of control lately--so if you see me sniffling don't be worried.

The weird thing is I laugh at stuff almost as much as I cry--something will strike me funny, and my family sits and stares at me like I'm slipping over the edge of sanity.

Heartburn is almost a daily occurrence for me, and my bottle of Tums is my constant companion.

I have a fairly good supply of energy, and feel pretty good most of the time.

So, I'm curious, if you have ever been pregnant, or currently are pregnant, what do you remember about your third trimester?  (Besides labor and delivery.)

Feet

I never wear shoes if I can help it.

Even in the winter--I go barefoot inside.

I think part of the reason for this is that very few shoes feel truly comfortable to me.

(Especially not dress shoes.)

Sometimes I think that shoe company's make them that way on purpose. :)

Do you like to go barefoot?

Dan

Growing up I had a number of cousins that lived only a mile or two from us, and we spent countless hours playing, and spending days at Grandma's house.

Dan was one of my favorites, he was about 10 years older than I, and stood at least two feet above my tiny frame.  I remember thinking that he didn't use many words when he talked, but I always knew what he meant, and words are unnecessary when you are little.

He loved baseball, and played countless games in which he was the pitcher, batter, umpire, and fans all in one.  I didn't know much about sports, but I liked to watch him--he was so animated, and happy.  One time I stood too close to his back-swing and received a knot on the head.  I ran to my mom crying, but through my tears told her "Dan didn't mean to--I stood where he couldn't see me."

Dan taught me how to play Uno.  He would patiently deal the cards and then show me which card to play when it was my turn.  I think I was only about five, and didn't understand much of the strategy of the game until later.

 I was about 7 or 8 when I realized that Dan was different than I.  Things that I couldn't put my finger on felt a little off somehow.  I suppose it was around this same age that some children at my school used the word "retard" to label a child who struggled with academics, and I was outraged.

For a rather shy student I spoke out angrily at the teasing.  I gave a 2nd grade lecture, complete with hands on my hips, to the other children on being kind, and the virtues of recognizing different talents than academics.  They gave me a blank stare--but for the first time I realized that Dan and other people like him needed someone to speak up for them.

 I could do that--Dan may not communicate well, or be able to think exactly like I could, but I could speak out for him.  So I did!  When my friends would meet him for the first time I tried to point out his talents, and later explained his differences.

 I didn't realize it, but Dan affected how I looked at the world around me in a profound way.

I see him about once a year now.  He's in his forty's and he still loves baseball.  He talks less than he used to, but I can still make him smile.

Last year when Sugar Pea was a tiny baby I saw him at a family picnic.  He peeked into my arms at her tiny form and wrinkled face, and grinned and gave me thumbs up.  He may not understand foster parenting, or where this little baby came from, but he approved, and that made me smile.

Sugar Pea

From the top of my curly head.

To the bottom of my chubby feet.

I am completely Chubalicious!

~~~~~~~~

Yes, that’s the toilet—yuck!

Yes, the picture is blurry—because I rarely hold still.

Feeling Bulky

Note; if you prayed Wednesday thank you!  There was some positive progress--no real action was taken, but the judge is making a ruling in ten days.  


Pregnancy is starting to feel a little more normal to me.


Sleeping with four pillows, and bumping into things with my belly is an every day experience.


I'm sleeping better at night, and feeling more energetic during the day.


I feel like I have my own personal built-in heater.  We've had a few rather cool nights lately, but I'm warm as toast--probably not something I'll appreciate in July, but for now I'm enjoying it.


I'm drinking coffee again--limiting myself to one cup a day, and also enjoying most foods--what am I saying--I'm enjoying all foods.  My hubby jokes that he has to hurry and clean his plate, or I start eyeing it hungrily.


The baby's movements have changed from feeling like flutters to some slightly alarming flopping, and flipping.
I never get tired of feeling him move though.


I have two friends who are pregnant--one is six weeks ahead of me, and the other is six weeks behind me.  We didn't plan this obviously, but it is a lot of fun to compare notes, and encourage each other.

I left you a hint in this post--did you catch it?

Fostering Update

Sugar Pea has a permanency planning hearing coming up on Wednesday.

There are basically three different ways this could go.

The judge could determine that the birth parents are following their case plan and move toward reunification with them.  He could begin the process of terminating both of their parental rights, or he could grant a three month extension, and make a decision then.

This judge tends to be very very cautious in making any decision toward termination of parental rights.  I appreciate his point of view, but from my angle it can get a little frustrating.

The birth parents aren't doing anything toward getting their child back except for showing up for their visits......some of the time.

I'm trying to have the right attitude in all of this--you know--neutral foster parent.  I'm not doing a very good job.

My reason for sharing all of this is to ask you to please, please, pray for this hearing.  There are so many more details that I can't share, but suffice it to say that this case has burned me out.

I'll give you a pregnancy update in a day or two.

Halfway There

I'm currently at the 20 week mark which makes this pregnancy officially half over.

My brain is in a rather frightful state.  I've never been so absentminded and forgetful in my life.  If I say something rude or thoughtless to you please forgive me---I didn't mean it.  I'm hoping things will get back to normal sometime in the early fall.  :)

We planted part of our garden on Saturday, and it made me feel so good to work outside.  Sometimes I think I'll work outside when my inside work is done, and unfortunately it's rarely completely done.

I'm feeling a lot of activity going on inside me right now.  This little person is busy!

When all the other children are being noisy and active the baby gets really active too.  Apparently it doesn't want to miss out on all the fun. :)

We had an ultrasound on Friday of last week, and decided we wanted to find out the gender of the baby.

What I'm wondering is..........

would all of you like to know, or should I just keep it to myself?  :)

Happy Mothers Day

My Point of View...and Hers

Lately I've been reflecting on how different pregnancy is for me--a very blessed, well cared for, mamma  and what it's like for many birth mothers whose children end up in foster care.


When I found out I was pregnant I immediately scheduled my first prenatal visit with a doctor--she often has no prenatal care at all.


When pregnancy hormones overwhelm me I turn to my friends and family for support--she turns to drugs, or alcohol.


I have a large variety of fresh healthy food options in my refrigerator to ease my food cravings--she is doing good to have something....anything to eat.


My husband supports me, and helps me through every high and low of being pregnant--her significant other berates her, and beats her depending on how the mood hits him.


I have new clothes that are comfortable, and expand with my belly--she is forced to borrow her boyfriends clothes, or wear pajamas because she can't afford anything new.


Maybe these things seem minor to you, but they make me realize why many mothers make poor choices in their pregnancies and in their parenting.

 Think about it.  

If you know a single pregnant mother help her, support her, pray for her.  You may be the only person in her life who cares!

Hello on a Monday

Hello to anyone who still reads this blog in spite of my spotty posting.

I'm feeling quite a bit better than I did for a while--still have some nauseous moments, but they are rare.

My two oldest are on their last week of school-- we schedule our year this way to avoid home schooling during my oldest son's worst allergy season.

My three year old is developing a stubborn streak that is a little alarming.  Probably just a stage.

My two year old is on the verge of being potty trained--I'm hoping to work on it a little harder as soon as school is done

Sugar Pea has either a cold or allergies, her runny nose and crankiness make it hard for us to get a good night's sleep.

Hubby's work is picking up for the summer.  We are thankful for the work, but it's always a little hard to have him gone more.

What's new with all of you?

Good Friday

Hungry

We are finally on the recovery side of the flu.

I've been so hungry!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure if it's from being sick, or possibly from being pregnant.

But what I'm craving is sandwiches.

Yesterday I ate a dinner roll spread with apple butter, and topped with cheese.

Does that sound weird to you?

It tasted ridiculously yummy to me.

I was perusing the web for pictures of sandwiches, and the one above made me drool.

Except I think it needs a slice of sharp cheddar cheese slipped in there with the lettuce, tomato, and ham.

What do you think?

Sickness

I think one of the hardest parts of being mom is when your family is sick.

Cause in the middle of the night when they throw up all over their bed, and the floor and everywhere........

they don't yell "Daaaaddy"

They call for momma.

Funny how I took that for granted when I was the one calling.

My mom was always there, and she never seemed too tired.

Amazing.

She must have been a super mom.

Or perhaps my memory is a little faulty. :)

We are in our second week of yucky gastrointestinal flu.

I am so tired.

And so done with bodily fluids.

But I keep going.

Grasping at a Hand that is stronger than mine.

I'm so thankful that He doesn't get tired.

Dr. Who?

I don't particularly enjoy going to the doctor.

What I like even less is going to a doctor that I've never met before.

I've had the same family doctor for about 7 years.

He has a good sense of humor.

He acts like you are the only patient he has to see all day.

And I'm comfortable with him.

However........

he doesn't deliver babies anymore.

Apparently he doesn't like crawling out of his comfy bed in the middle of the night, or whenever a baby decides to appear.

I can't really blame him. :)

This means that I have to go to a new doctor for this pregnancy.

I'll call her Dr. M.

She is very nice, and reminds me a little of one of my favorite aunts.

But, she is still not my doctor.

I guess this sounds a little petty........

I'm curious, do any of you mind going to a new doctor, or midwife?

Progress.....sort of

Yesterday's hearing was frustrating.

I'm glad that I wasn't there.

Somehow it's easier to deal with that stuff from the comfort of my home. :)

There was some small progress though.

Small enough you almost need a magnifying glass to see it.

But, I'm thankful for what did happen.

And I'm thankful for your prayers.

Prayer Request

Sugar Pea has a court hearing today.

The judge who is assigned to her case so far has been very hesitant to take any action one way or the other.

I can't share a lot of details, but the birth parents choices are continuing to spiral downward.

Please, please, pray that there will be some progress today.

Announcement

Ok, so I promised that I would tell you about the one small thing that has been keeping me from my blog.

I've been so tired--I mean fall asleep in my chair with my children playing around me tired.

I started feeling nauseous a couple weeks ago, and thought I had the stomach flu.

Then I thought maybe I was going through early menopause. ( sorry, I really did )

But the truth is that I'm pregnant!

You can stop laughing now. :)

After fifteen plus years of marriage, and several doctors telling us that it was "extremely unlikely" that I would ever conceive.

I'll try to keep all of you updated--for now the news is this.

I can't drink coffee--it makes me feel ill.

I feel tired--did I mention that already?

Reading things on the computer makes my nausea worse--hence my absence on my blog.

I got to see it's little heart beating yesterday via ultrasound--made me feel so happy!!!!

A Good Reason

I just realized that I haven't posted on here for over a month---sorry!

I've been busy

homeschooling

cooking

taking Sugar Pea to her parenting visits

and a lot of other things.

However........

I have one very small, and yet very important reason for not blogging.

.....but I think I'll wait a few more days before I tell you what it is. hee hee

Do you want to guess?

Looking Back

Now that I'm on the other side of adoption through foster care I've been looking back and many things are in  a sharper perspective.

I was recently talking to another foster mom, and she was struggling a little with how long a certain part of the process was taking.

 I told her that adoption, and foster care is a lot of "hurry up and wait."

 You really have very little control over the legal proceedings, cooperation of birth parents, motivation of case workers, and lots of other factors in the process.

It can be VERY FRUSTRATING!

I have concluded that really the only thing I have control over in foster parenting is me!

Not all that profound, but oh so true.

I can control how respectful I am of my foster children's birth parents--whether they deserve it or not.

I can control how well I work with my case worker--whether I agree with her decisions or not.

I can control my attitude toward the whole process--even when I feel frustrated with the "unfairness" of it all.

Don't get me wrong I think one of the keys to being a good foster parent is having someone who you can confide in, and vent some of your feelings to.

But doing your part in the whole process can make a big difference.

Just a few thoughts from my perspective in looking back.

Dishwasher Duty

"I'm pretty sure there is something important in here--everyone else is always messing around this box."

Think About It

The other day I was talking about some of the different blogs that I read and why I enjoy them.

Today I have something for you to think about.

Adoption is important to our family.

Actually, I'm the only one in our family who isn't adopted--my parents were stuck with me without a choice.

However, I understand that not everyone is called to adopt.

I do think that everyone is called to support adoption in one way or another.

Think about it!

Pray about it!

Then go read about this beautiful family who is adopting.

http://www.lifewithapersonalgod.org/2013/01/support-our-ugandan-adoption-plan.html

What Blogs Do You Read

B  L  O  G  S

~~~~~~~

I was just wondering.........................................

What kind of blogs do you read?

I have several different categories that most of my favorite blogs fall into.

The first one is "People I Know."  I read two or three blogs that are authored by people that I know in real life--it's so fun to keep in contact that way.

The next one is--you guessed it--"Adoption Blogs"  I LOVE to read about other families who have a heart for the orphan.

The third one is "Cooking Blogs"  I'm always looking for inspiration in the kitchen.

The fourth one is "Organization Blogs"  ummmm, because it lights a fire under me to get busy. 

The fifth one doesn't really have a name, but it's people who I just connect with--when I read their posts I know that they are someone who I would enjoy having a cup of coffee with--they are my online friends.

Last, but not least I like to read "Big Family Blogs" mom's with a lot of little ones are an encouragement to me.

I'm curious, what different kinds of blogs do you read?

Buffalo Chicken Dip

 

Around this time of year I start craving spicy, crunchy, sour, flavors. 

 I think this is due to the blandness of winter foods, or it could be just because I'm a little weird

 I stumbled on this recipe on the back of a bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce, and I tweaked it a little to suit our tastes.

2 1/2 bricks of cream cheese

1/4 cup Hot Sauce ( use your favorite brand )

2 cups cooked and diced chicken

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon parsley flakes

Soften the cream cheese a little in a glass baking dish, and then stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, and serve with crackers, corn chips, or veggies.  This is exceptionally yummy with celery.

We had this last night for Sunday night supper.

What's New

I really didn't fall through the cracks--I just got a little carried away with my Christmas vacation from blogging.

We are back to homeschooling, and our normal routine.

This winter has been a sad disappointment to "snow-loving" me.

Sugar Pea's case is dragging along with an almost depressing lack of action in any direction.

We have been battling colds, and flu-like symptoms off and on since Christmas--currently I am the lucky owner of a sore throat.

Sugar Pea had a well-baby check-up, and her dr. told me that the local version of the flu is lasting a minimum of two weeks.

He also told me--after looking in her ears--that she has a double ear infection.  I was shocked!  She is teething, and fussy, but no fever.

My older boys received snow boards for Christmas, and lucky for them you only need a little skiff of snow to use them.  They have spent a lot of time flying down the hill in our back yard.

That's a little random news from our home...........what's new with all of you?