the final buzzer...

I dont even know where to begin with this blog. I cant seem to update my status, which if you know me at all know that I do that often, so I thought (unfourtantly for you) I would come blog.

First, its our 8th "anniversary" (we started dating 8 years ago today) tonight and he decided to go scout an upcoming team tonight with a fellow coach.. and I think he forgot. It wouldnt normally be that big of a deal except on our 4 year wedding annivesary, in August, guess where he was, with the same coach playing golf!

Next, I am feel a bit depressed here in the lonely small town. I cant quite get into the swing of things or soemthing.. I am not real sure. I think I have just about met everyone there is to meet and since theres nothing to do it makes it kinda hard to "hang out". I had several best friends in Stephenville and then we had several couple friends. We were always, cooking out, having game nights, going out to eat with everyone, shopping in Fort Worth, now its me and the boys at home all day, Jeremy goes to work, comes home, bed and then we do it all over again the next day. We have 2 resturants here, a grocery store, school, church, and post office, litterally thats about all. We dont even have a park for me to take the kids too! I would call it the ideal place if you aren't a homebody.

What else, I am still struggling with the fact that we will not be able to concieve and carry a child to full term. Most of the time I am ok with it, my boys are the only things that keep me going, but there are days like today, I just want to give up, crawl in my bed and sleep for days, weeks, months. (Then someone writes on the wall and that dream is quickly over) I feel an empty place in my heart. I feel like I am not invested in anything and that is so hard for me. In Stephenville, I was either volunteering, taken the kids somewhere, organizing an event, doing a fundraiser, doing something at church...here nothing, theres nothing to do other than support Jeremy, which we obviously do. I hope that I can be content again one day, soon. I hope that our last child comes to us in a way so perfectly designed and organized by God that His light will shine through that child.

Next, this kinda goes along with the previous paragraph...Menard, oh Menard, how I dont like thee right now! I have been wearing a smile for the last (almost) 6 months, "loving" Menard. Sometimes I do really love it here, other times I want to move so far away I cant even think straight! Jeremy's boss isnt the nicest of nice guys, well not even close! He treats Jeremy awful and its so hard to sit back and not say anything, to watch his self esteem go down the drain, to hear how he doesnt want to go to work because "he [Jeremy] is the worst f****** coach" (yes said by someone on the coaching staff). Jeremy is a great coach and I cant wait for him to show everyone [coaching staff] what he is worth! I just know my husband is better than to be treated like that!


period.

Been in OT for a month..so it seems!

Well as my previous post stated we were jumping back on the foster parent band wagon. The new agency had not contacted us in almost two months, that sent a red flag up for us, especially since the foster care industry is a 24/7 job.

In the time that we were waiting we found out we were pregnant again, September 12th, a day of mixed emotions. We were pregnant but how would the next 9 months be? Would it end like the time before or would we have a healthy baby in 9 months? We celebrated week 5, then 6, 7, 8, even 9 and then once again our lives stopped right before us once again. We miscarried our second baby on October 20th. I had an inpatient surgery on Monday, October 24th and I am now home recovering. This time has been different, living with the fear of miscarrying our baby for almost 9 weeks was horrible, I was depressed and not happy to be pregnant at all. Please don't get me wrong, we are so extremely hurt, sad, lost, confused about our baby that was made for heaven and not Earth. We have our moments of "losing it" and my husband is right there as soon as I need him. God has blessed me so much by giving me Jeremy! He is so perfect, perfect just for me!

We had planned on still getting our foster licenses even after we found out we were pregnant, (just in case) so we are now on the road to fostering again. I called another agency yesterday that we are familiar with and the were available to meet with us today. We turned alot of our paperwork in and I can not tell you how happy and excited we are. Maybe its part of the healing process for us, maybe not. I do know without a shadow of a doubt we are supposed to be foster and/or adoptive parents. I feel normal again. I feel like I have a purpose and I am fulfilling that purpose. We know we are going to receive criticism and we pray that God will prepare our hearts for that and that we will be able to handle it in a way that is pleasing to God.

Wow that was a full post, hopefully the next post is alot more fun with some Halloween and Biscuits 2nd Birthday pictures!!!

Friday Night Lights

My Coach! I am so proud of him for accomplishing his dream. He has waited so long for this day, been through so much and still came out on top! Way to go, Jeremy!

Review the play!

Its been a little while since I posted here last, I really do want to get better at this. I have discovered a new addiction! www.pinterest.com Its amazing, I cook something off of there almost every night and I hope to link up some recipes to my blog so you can try them too! I also have found a couple of new friends via blogging, pininterest and real life friends here in Menard. We are settling in really well. The cooler weather has been nice but Biscuit's allergies are going crazy with the change. I am going to start him back on breathing treatments tonight and in the mornings.

Well for the big news we are going to start forstering again. Before you jump to conclusions and think how crazy we must be and look down on us for fostering, please let me explain. (Both sets of parents flipped when we told them, one said "Dont you have enough already?", the other one said "I wish you wouldnt think about that and just focus on getting pregnant!"-this explains my forewarning) We are so excited but nervous at the same time that our families won't accept them because of their reactions, however if they do choose to treat my kids (foster, adopt, or bio) differently than the others that is their own fault and will ultimatley be their loss in the long run. How could you possibly look down on someone (not just us) for taking in an innocent child that needs a loving home. Anyways, enough venting--time for the happy stuff! We have prayed alot about deciding to open our home again. Jeremy never wanted to close in the first place but I told him I didnt want to deal with all the inspections and everything while we moved, however fostering hasn't left my heart. We continued to pray and seek God's will and we firmly believe this is God's will, I mean He practically wrote me a Facebook message! hehe! We are going to keep trying for another baby and accept any age foster kids 0-18 boys and girls (preferably boys, since I am a boy mom, lol) but if a girl comes with a sibling set I would be happy to accept them too! I hope we do get a sibling set, I love siblings! We are actually turning in our application to a new agency today and then it will take about 4-5 weeks to get us on the open list. We are going to do some respite in the mean time to get back in the swing of things. We're so excited to add some kiddos onto our roster!

Well I have to go start some snacks for the junior high football team today! It's our first game and I am pretty excited that Coach will actually be on the field instead of in the pressbox (like Friday nights). I'll try to post again soon! Blog at ya later! :)

Down, Set, Hut!

Today has been one of those days! I just sat down for a breather and need to vent, so hold on and here goes nothing!

Well were less than 14 days away from our first football game and it's Homecoming!!! I am so excited and anxious. School is officially in full swing now and we're getting the bedtime routine down. I wish I had to word to describe just how proud I am of Jeremy. He is a Coach, a head varsity baseball coach, assistant football coach, and assistant basketball coach! I am so proud of him. When I think about going to the games every Friday night (for football season) I get goosebumps thinking about looking down and seeing him coach, mentor, shape, teach and love all of those boys...it just makes my heart melt! He has accomplished his dream. As for me I couldn't be more happier, well Icould be a little more happier, I'll explain later, I get to stay home with our three amazing boys everyday and watch them grow up! Jonathan aka Jay has started kindergarten and his first day was great! Michael, well he is just Michael, and Biscuit he talks up a storm now!


When I said I could be a lit bit happier--well I could--I have overcome losing our baby but I want another one so bad now. All the books/article I have read said this is normal! :) I was finally content-so much for that! All the feelings I have had the last 4 years about being pregnant, carrying, and delivering a health baby has resurfaced. I have a hard time when my friends get pregnant, when I see a baby, when I see a pregnant lady, when I see baby clothes, anything that involves a baby, well it upset me. I hope that I dont have to wait another 4 years to get pregnant with Baby #2. I just pray that if God gave me a small taste of what it is like to grow His child inside of me that He will give me another chance to carry and deliver a healthy precious miracle! Since Jay is already 5 I hope baby #2 comes very soon! We will keep praying for God's plan and hope that it is revealed soon along with peace about the situation.

Hut, Hut...were going to keep on playing and hopefully end up with an extra player soon!

Our season has changed..add one more to the roster!

Well were in a new season in our lives. A new season at school and most importantly new FOOTBALL SEASON!!!


Since my last post we have adopted our third son! Jonathan Drake is officially a Kirk as of July 13, 2011! If you have followed my blog we lost J last December and he came back to live with us in April. He is now with us forever. J is 5 years old and entered into foster care on July 13, 2006 and 5 years later he entered into his forever home. We are so blessed and happy that J is here with us forever! When we went to court for his adoption it was actually a permancy conference and we prayed that the judge would grant his adoption that day, because we would be moving at the end of the week and was not goin to be able to take him with us. Our attorney was amazing and the judge said yes and we finalized by the end of the day! He had a bumpy start but hopefully we will be smooth sailing for the next few months until the transistion is over. We love you, J!

Just four short days after we finalized J's adoption we would be moving to Menard, Texas. A very small west Texas town, population 1470! Jeremy has accepted his first coaching job as the Varsity Head Baseball, assisant football, and Head JH Basketball! It's official we are a coaching family! We moved to Menard and we are now settled in our new home. It a change of lifestyle but we are loving the small town feel and the courtesy of the people here! We had our first scrimmage Friday and the boys, the football team, did great! Can't wait till our first game!!! Go Yellow Jackets!

uPsiDe Down..

Well I haven't posted on here in a long time and a lot has happened since my last post.

Our lives have been an emotional roller coaster the past month. We know with a lot of faith and God we can get through it and we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. On June 13 Jeremy and I came home from a couples retreat to find out that I was pregnant! 4 kids under 5, it was about to get exciting! The joy only lasted 7 short days when the following Sunday God received a precious new baby to hold. If you have never been through a miscarriage it is one of the hardest things I think I will ever have to go through. You wonder what they wouldve looked like, what you could've done differently, why did God give you this miracle against everything doctors said and then take it away. Lots of what if's but slowly I am learning that we can not ask all the what if's, we just have to have faith that God took her little life early for a reason and one day I will see her again. This time was extremely hard considering we were going to be finalizing the boys adoption very soon.

On a happy note we have added 2 new sets of messy hands to the Kirk family! Michael Douglas and Mason Davis officially became Kirks' on June 20, 2011. It was such a sense of relief to know that they will be with us forever. June 20th was also mine and Jeremy's birthday. I turned 23 and Jeremy turned 25. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present! Two little boys gave me the best present ever and they didn't even know it!


The day of the boys adoption Jeremy had an interview in Menard for a coach/teacher position at 11 am (the adoption was at 3 pm), we just trusted and had faith that he would be able to make it back in time, as you can see, he did! On Tuesday the school called and asked for more references and Tuesday night they called to offer Jeremy the job. We went and signed housing and job contracts on Thursday, June 23rd and we will be moving July 18th. Its a bittersweet move, we are very excited about starting our new life but at the same time we have been in Stephenville for 7 years and we are going to be leaving everyone we know and the "family" that we have here. We will be Menard Yellowjackets for the 2011-2012 school year. Menard is a VERY small town, population 1400, the closest Wal Mart is 40 miles away, needless to say this is going to be a great opportunity for our new family to bond as one.

We took our youth to camp for the last time this year. It was a great church camp. I would recommend it to anyone, they had a great time and one of the sponsor came through with God's calling to take over the position as youth pastor when Jeremy leaves. I am totally confidant that our time in Stephenville is done and the only thing I was worried about was the youth group, now that God has taken care of that, we are prepared to move on with God's work. We will miss GCBC youth but were excited about what they will be doing this next year with Steven.

We we got back from camp we got news that J's adoption will be final in July, which is a huge blessing considering we can't move until his adoption is final. Jeremy was going to move and me and the boys move after his adoption is final. Well on Friday, July 8 I got a call from our agency and the adoption placement will be on Monday (tomorrow) at 1:00 PM, Monday just happens to J's 5th birthday! An adoption placement just means that we complete all the paper work so that we can have the adoption as soon as the attorney and judge sets a date, we can also call him by his new name, Jonathan "J" Drake Kirk, after tomorrow. J already has a placement review (court date) set for Tuesday July 12, so I called the attorney to see if we could do his adoption in place of a placement review and he said he doesn't see why not, so were hoping to finalize his adoption on Tuesday! :)


Over the weekend we had to put our dog down so that has been tough on the whole family but he was in a lot of pain, old (14), blind and deaf. So the boys are just now getting used to the fact that Ponch is going to be coming back from the dog hospital. Please say a prayer for the boys that they will understand he is better now.

Well that's about all I can think of right now, I am going to close up this blog, because I have got to get packing for the move! Maybe I'll have time to post again after J's court hearing! :)

Here's the video from the boys adoption party and then the video from adoption day! Hope you enjoy! Just click on the link and it should bring a new page and the video should start!

Video Scrapbook of the boys lives with us so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_NTUZwOoik


Video Scrapbook of their adoption day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmbZyoqkpXA

Heart was broken and mended...in a matter of hours.

Today has been a whirlwind of emotions so this entry may be a little hectic! I went to work after a very tiring weekend on a very blah Monday morning. Just as I was leaving for lunch I checked my email and it read something like this "... the judge isnt going to be available on the date we have planned the next possible adoption date will be in July, if even then..." CRUSHED! I know it may not seem like a big deal to most and its just a piece of paper but its so much more than that to us, to me, to Michael and Biscuit. We had a party planned, our first family vacation, we would be moving. All our plans come to a complete hault! The party needs to be cancelled, training and permission before we can take them on vaction, and moving-well Daddy would have to go without us. People were praying for us and for me. My grandma said "God can handle it, youll be ok."

After crying for over an hour, being sent home from work because I couldn't even get my mind to focus on anything else our attorney FINALLY calls. After sharing with him the bad news he said "It's ok, thats my job not the adoption workers, I have yalls adoption date for June 20th, with another judge!" Thank you Lord and man was that fast! June 20th is mine and Jeremy's birthday so we had are heart set on that date. When he told us, it would be on the 20th I was so relieved I cried some more! I am so grateful to have him on our side, when it seems like no one else is. Now there's still some glitch and of course there's a Negative Nancy on the case too, but were squeezing in all the pre adoption visits between Thursday and next Monday. Hopefully we will be good to go for June 20th. Glad I didn't cancel the party.

Prayer-it's a powerful thing!

Sitting on the bench for the first game..

http://www.netplaces.com/parenting-kids-with-anxiety/create-your-own-toolbox/using-logical-and-natural-consequences.htm

Well Jonathan had a sub today at school. EVERYTIME there is a sub he acts out of control and defiant. I knew leaving the school today he would have a bad day. He didnt go to school yesterday because his morning was so bad. He spit on the other kids, yelled at the babysitter, hit his brother and tons of other stuff. It was cowboy day at school and he was very upset that he didnt get to go, but I KNEW he would have a bad day. Well I guess I should have kept him home today too. He had a great morning and we made his teacher a coffee/candy bouquet (but she wasnt there) for teacher appreciation day. 2 hours into the day the sub called and asked if I could come get him because he was having a bad meltdown. I went right away to get him. When I got to the school I looked in the nurses office through the window and he was kicking and hitting the teacher, oh my, TOTAL meltdown mode. I feel so bad for him. I dont know what to do to make it better or him successful. It is so frustrating because he is good for me, but ONLY me! I know what he is capable of and his poor attitude and explosions are not it! I am working on logical consequences with him, ie. he throws his shoes when he has a tantrum he doesnt get them back the rest of the day. If he rips his shirt off because he is mad he doesnt get it back. Everyday that he has baseball practice I draw a baseball on his hand to remind him to be good at school. Bad day at school=no baseball. Tonight was his first game, he had a bad day-he gets to sit on the bench! I am so sad, we love baseball and we were so excited to get to see him play tonight and he had a tantrum and now he doesnt get to play. Logical consequence is often much harder on me than him, but it is making a difference in his behaviors. He has good days and he has really bad ones, like today! I added a link that explains it a little better than I can, if your interested.

Isaiah Story

Why in the world would you get a child from another country, when there's plenty in the US?!

This entry is not about the kids, sorry guys! It's about me, you can stop reading now if you want, its ok, I wont be offended! hehe! Well I have been stuck in a rut for several months now. I was really hurt by our church and I haven't recovered. I have tried ignoring the situation, praying for me to be able to forgive and forget, to put a mask on and pretend like I am someone else. None of those things were working, what is it going to take?! Let me add that Jeremy is on staff at our church so most of you are probably thinking, leave and find another church if they hurt you that bad, well thats not an option. Jeremy feels the responsiblity and obligation to the students at our church to persevere and serve at our church. I have tried being supportive at home and prayed for him to continue to do the Lord's work as he has been called to do. I have been blessed by such a great husband. I have also been dealing with alot of family stuff, trying to get the boys back in a routine, starting adoption papers, moving, a new job and preparing for Jeremy's college graduation. Not as if all that is enough, there was just something missing. I just realized what it was last night. Since I have moved to Stephenville, 5 years ago, I have ALWAYS been busy serving or volunteering somewhere. I have been an officer in Christian soriority all throughout college, then I volunteered 3 times a week at the local pregnancy center, have done a couple different Bible Studies, put on a few big events, and now..for the last 5 months I havent done anything. I want to give back, that is where my heart is. I am happier if I am giving or serving someone. I have been praying alot about doing a girls Bible Study for the youth. I am going to start it.

Last night I went to a "Mission Chicks" meeting. Its a group of local ladies that have created this group and they meet local and international needs. They have several different teams consisting of local, international, missions, orphan care, widow care, post adoption support, young/single mother care. I went to the meeting scared, thinking these women have it all together and here I come a mess. I have NEVER been more blessed by a group of total strangers as I was last night. The young/single mom team leader was in charge of the meeting last night and a single mom came and gave her testimony. She said "We want to control everything, the joy I have is not mine its God's, I let God control my joy and I step back and let it shine", this really hit home. We try to control everything and we dont even have the right to control anything, its all God's we should step back every now and then and let God control what's His. I got to share a little bit of the boys story just a little bit after we watched this video that I posted, Isaiah Story. While in the meeting the "Missions" team leader mentioned that they are planning a mission trip to Haiti, my first thought--ABSOLUTLEY NOT! Why does everyone feel like we have to go to some third world country to rescue or help some needy kids?! Wow, how selfish am I? I still believe there are plenty kids here in the US that need help but when some kids don't even have fresh water who am I to say that we should help kids in the US? God really shook me in that meeting and convicted me of being so selfish that I could ever think the way I had been thinking for so long. I was so incredibly blessed last night and I am so ashamed. I prayed alot last night and thanked God for the restoration He gave me in that 2 hours. My heart and eyes were opened up and I want to serve again. I think I will start volunteering at the Pregnancy Care Center again teaching classes for young moms! I want to serve, I want to be like a Mission Chick, I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ! Thank you Mission Chicks for fullfilling God's command.

..last court report...

Well we went to our last court hearing for Michael and Biscuit today. The next hearing will be the adoption. I never thought God would bless us so abundantly. Wow, its very strange knowing there is no going back. Parental rights are officially terminated, appeal period is over, we have hired an attorney, submitted adoption papers and now we hurry up and wait! It is surreal to me. We are requesting that the adoption be consumated on June 20. Our (mine and Jeremy's) birthday is June 20th, yes we have the same birthday, is on a Monday and we should be able to adopt them on that day, that what our attorney said anyway. Hoping for the 20th! Update on Jonathan: Jonathan was moved on Monday to my friend Carmen's house. He is doing great there. He doesnt like going back after being at our house all day but he is getting use to. Everyday get easier but he is definantly ready to be here forever. Michael is so glad he is back, as is all of us. We are hoping that he is moved into our house on Friday or Monday. The sibiling set we have right now will be leaving Wednesday morning and returning back with their family. God was in control of our whole situation. With or without Jonathan the kids would be leaving so God really blessed us by giving Jonthan back to us, giving his home back to him and giving Michael's brother back to Michael. We are hoping to have all three boys adopted by the end of Summer, we are really going to have to push it for Jonathans but maybe they will be willing to get it done fast since he is almost 5 years old! Update on Jeremy: Jeremy still has not had any interviews but we have a couple of leads. We are hoping schools will start calling soon so that we know where we will be living after the end of May. We are just going to keep praying and hope that God will answer our prayers quickly, but it is in His time, not ours so wer also praying for patients! He graduates May 14, and I am so excited and happy for him. He has much more will power than I do and I know I couldve never stayed in school as long as he did, even though it took him 7 years he is finally done and I couldnt be more proud! I love you, Jeremy Kirk!

I'll just deal with him....

Not very uplifting title I know but those words are taunting me over and over again. Monday morning (3/28) I received a phone call from Jonathans aunt. If you remember Jonathan was our foster child last year for 8 months and while we were waiting on TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) we were making plans to adopt him. On December 2nd, 2010 Jonathan moved in with a relative that wanted to adopt him. CPS's goal is reunification with biological parents, however if that is not an option the next best thing (to them) is family. We were heart broken, devestated, and we weren't for sure if we wanted to keeping fostering. We continued. Back to the phone call. I could sense the frustration in her voice when she was explaining how out of control Jonathan is acting, throwing tantrums, kicking her 8.5 month pregnant stomach, screaming "LEAVE ME ALONE", getting into fights at school-half way through her spill about Jonathan I interrupted and said "You knew all of this before you decided to take him from his life with us and try to adopt him", her respone "I know but I thought we could handle it" So needless to say she asked if we could take him back because she knew at one point that we wanted to adopt him. Of course we said YES! Here's the sticky part...As you know we have 5 kids, all under 4. The state only allows you to keep 5 kids total if you have 2 infants (18 mo and younger). Bret is 8 months and Biscuit turned 17 months on Wednesday. One month short and we could have Jonathan. I have never prayed to keep a child in my home, bring him back or take him away. I have always prayed for God to do His will and let me be at peace with it. I think God decided to test us. There had to be a way to have Jonathan back, there just had to be! I got on the phone and made close to 50 phone calls in a matter of 5 days..ok so maybe more that 50! We decided to give a 30 day request for removal for our current sibling set of three. They are possibly going back to live with their grandma on the 7th (thats been the plan all along). CPS has 30 days to find the sibling set a new home if they do not go live with their grandmother. I know, it may seem harsh but what would you do for YOUR child?! Back to Big Bro J, Jonathan's aunt was so ready to have him removed from her house she called me Thursday and asked if we could come get him and that her husband was about to call CPS and have him moved immediantly. I told her I would be there to pick him up in the morning (today), she said to me well if you cant "I'll just deal with him". Wow. Just deal with him. This morning I got up, got the kids dressed, and we gassed up the mini and drove 2 hours to pick Jonathan up from school. When I finally got there and we saw each other I stretched my arms out as wide as I could and said "Jonathan, I've missed you so much" ...now mental image..you got that?, he runs towards me, and right passed me. Michael was standing about 15 feet behind me. He reaches out his arms, Michael comes running and they have been inseperable ever since. The are brothers at heart. He has done great his first night here. He has asked to go to his aunts house once when it was time for bed. We are going to get to spend the weekend with Jonathan and I have to take him back on Sunday. He is going to be moved on Monday to one of my closest best friends, Carmen's house. She is also a foster parent here in Stephenville and knows Jonathan very well. He is excited about going to stay with her and he will get to stay there until the three children I have are moved to another home. Then he will get to come home for good! In the meantime, I am going to get him enrolled in school, soccer and maybe tball, if he can handle all of that. I can not begin to express my gratitude for Carmen. God brought us together because we sold her our car when we became foster parents to get a bigger one. Wow, did God have a plan?!. Not only has she been there every step of the way through our foster journey but God is using her to make us Jonathans forever family. She is ALWAYS there when I need her for something as little as donuts on Friday mornings to take in my child so that we can give him what he deserves. I am a little teary eyed. Theres nothing that could repay her for what she is doing for us. I do not have the words to say to say thank you to her. Thank you God for bring me a friend like Carmen. Saying "I love you" is not enough. Thank you Carmen and thank you God! I'll post updated pictures tomorrow or Sunday! :) Hope you enjoyed this VERY long post!

The Great Outdoors

Jeremy and I decided we would invest in an RV!! We were going to take the kids on a big vacation this summer but then changed our minds and decided why not get an RV and take lots of vacations all summer long. We looked and looked and looked and looked and did some more looking. We have a mini van and an Explorer so we had to get something small. We opt'd for a pop up camper. It just the right size and easy to pull behind the Explorer. Here is a few pictures from our first outing. It was a learing experience to say the least! First, I lost my wallet on the way there at Wal Mart, then we get there and something is broke on the camper (we got it fixed), then Biscuit fell out of the camper, then a horrible storm came, good news is-it doesn't leak! We are so excited to go on our next trip to JellyStone Park in Louisana. We are going there for the arrival of our niece and to spend some time with Michael and Biscuit for Spring Break.

27 diapers a day...on average!

Where do I begin. It has been almost two months since I have posted last. Theres a lot of updates, so parden my grammer and spelling mistakes! :) It has been a whirl wind of the first of the year! So here goes nothing. Hang on it gets a little bumpy! January 5th, we welcomed three new little ones to our home. The first day is always hectic, crazy, and very emotional but we managed (after we had to meet CPS on I-20 to pick them up because they had a flat). After introductions, paperwork, a snack, and a bath, they were ready for bed and so were we! The first few weeks have been a bit rough. The two younger ones seem to have a few different issues, neurological, developmental, GI, and some other things we are slowly trying to figure out. The oldest one definantly has some attachment issues. I have never delt with attachment issues before so this is new to us. We also have never delt with drug exposed baby and thats been a new experience for us too! Were managing day to day though! With 5 all in diapers we go through alot of diapers, alot of air sanitizer, and Germ-X. We only have one shoe to every pair, never a matching set of clothes, and someone always pulls the stopper out of the spill proof sippy. Life is hectic but we love it, I wouldn't change it for the world. Jeremy is getting ready to graduate (May 14th) and we will be moving on starting a new life. with new town, new people, new church, and many more new things. We are praying that God's hand is in every step we take and that we follow the path He has laid out for us.

Now what you have been waiting for- NOW Introducing: Serenity, shes a 2 1/2 year old bundle of emotions! :) She has her good day and her bad but for the most part shes pretty happy. She doesnt go ANYWHERE without a bow in her hair either!! (per her choice, FYI) She is the big sister.

Braelynn: He is, well, let just say a handful!! When he is happy he is VERY happy and when he is mad he is VERY mad! He is the middle child.

Bret: He is the baby brother! He is 7 months old and soooo very lovable. He is so happy. It took us awhile to figure out his preferred sleeping habbits but once we got them figured out he is all good now and so are we!

So there they are! Hope you enjoyed meeting them! Their permancy goal was recommended to be changed to Termination of Parental Rights by CPS and we go to court on Monday (tomorrow) to see what the judge says. Their parents are a little wild so it makes permancy conference, visits, court hearings very eventful.

Now on to Michael and Biscuit..We go to court for their Final/Termination Hearing on March 14th (7 days and 13 minutes, but who's counting!!) After the rights are terminated the parents and family have 30 days to appeal this decision. An appeal is not likely considering the department does not even have a way of contacting the parents to let them know their rights have been terminated. It is the parent's job to keep in contact with the department. After the 30 days the adoption process will begin, from that point it all depends on how eager the adoption case worker is to finish all the paperwork and get the adoption complete. We are hoping it is complete within the next 2-3 months. Mine and Jeremy's birthday are the same day in June and were thinking that would be one awesome birthday present!

Nesting.

Is it normal for foster parents to "nest"?! This is our first placement that we have not been placed in our home on the same day that we got the phone call for them. We have waited two weeks for these kiddos to come to our home. I am so excited for them to be here I can not sleep! I have "nested" more this time than any other because of all the time we have had to prepare for them. Well I guess I will update another time when there is more fun things to update you on! :)