This week...

This week is going to be very busy for us. We have several doctor appointments and a trip to Springfield and Heather is turning 16.

Alyssa and Joshua go back to the doctor to talk about how the meds have been working or not working. Alyssa's sleeping meds work great! The ADHD meds made her tummy hurt all the time so she wont take them. I hope we can find something because even though her tummy hurts she does better with the meds. We are working on catching up on school, attitude, following directions, and putting others first(I know that can be a hard one for some adults).

Joshua's sleeping meds DON'T WORK!!! He is still up every night until 12 or 2. This makes for long days and nights for mom. The other meds seem to work for the most part but if we have plans in the evening the meds have worn off and it is hard for him to be calm. I know what some of you are thinking, more discipline or just spank them but that is not the problem or the solution. Spanking them just makes his anger issue that much worse. Joshua has been acting out a lot lately and we are hoping to get this under control before he gets worse. If you have any ideas we would love to hear them. Here is what we are working on.....
* using the toilet, not just going anywhere you want.
* lying is a big problem and the scary thing is he's good at it
* temper tantrums (I usually get hit, scratched and he also throws things)
* just plan listening and following directions. He will run out right in front of a car and see nothing wrong with it.
* going on the roof
* back talking

Brendyn is working on listening, following directions and communicating more. Brendyn acts like a 2-3 year old. He has to be watched at all times and gets into everything. Another scary thing is he still doesn't understand cause and effect. I hope we can learn that soon.

Miranda is doing well and getting ready to finish the 9th grade. Next year she will be home schooled and I think is getting used to the idea. Right now she is thinking about a summer job, turning 17 in August and enjoying hanging out with friends and having mom time.

Nobody ever tells you parenting would be this much fun! I love my kids and wouldn't trade them for anything. If you can't think of ways to help the best one is prayer!!!

This Thursday is Heathers birthday and we will be spending it in Springfield. Her caseworker needs her to do a short video for an adoption film. She doesn't know what it is for because with her special needs we don't want her to get upset if they don't find her a family to adopt her. Well I wouldn't want any child knowing because they have so much going on in their lives they don't need one more disappointment. This is not their fault! Teens are much harder to get adopted especially if they have special needs. We know God is in control but its hard to explain that to a child who wants a forever family. ( one of the down side of being a foster parent) So we are going to see my best friend Lori and her kids (hopefully Ryan also) and hang out for the day. We are looking forward to it. Heather can't wait for her birthday. She has been talking about it for months.

This weekend...

This weekend Miranda was in another school play. This one was called Peter Pan, it was a mixture of Peter Pan and Hook. (Two of the boys at school wrote the play) Miranda played one of the lost boys and had several lines. The little ones really enjoyed seeing their big sister on stage. She did a wonderful job. Unfortunately, it was a 3 hour play and by 9:30 I had a little one falling asleep (little Anthony) on my lap and Joshua could no longer sit still(surprised?!). We ended up leaving but got to see Miranda's part before we did. My camera is broken so I don't have pictures now but the school will have some at a later date.

This weekend I also got to keep my grandson Little Anthony. Again my camera is broken so no pictures. I enjoyed having him and getting to play with him. He did really well at the play (better than Joshua) and at one point saw Miranda and screamed really loud, it was cute and people laughed. Saturday night we went to rent movies and pizza (well we didn't rent the pizza) and on the way back it was pouring down rain. So I took all the stuff in first and went back outside (in the pouring rain!) to get little Anthony. Well he thought it was funny to go from one side of the car to the other and watch mema(that's me) get wet. He was laughing and had the biggest grin on his face! I finally got him out and was pretty wet by this point. Aren't kids fun?!?!

This weekend (Friday late afternoon) I was doing Alyssa's hair and noticed blood coming from her ear (and a really bad smell). So I asked her if she had put something in there or had been scratching it. She replied "I felt something in there and scratched it". So I got a cue tip (don't worry I didn't go in her ear) and cleaned up the blood. Well more kept coming out so I called the doctor and they got us right in. There was to much blood and blood clots they couldn't see all the way down but they believed she has busted her ear drum, again. Poor girl!! She has a very high pain tolerance and when it comes to her ears she usually will not tell us if they do hurt. So she is on meds and will see her EMT doctor Tuesday. I hope and pray that it is just that her tube got stuck again and caused an infection. She already has hearing lose in that ear and a busted ear drum would just make that worse. My kids have the worst luck with their ears, they get this from James (really they do, he had really bad ears to as a child and sometimes as an adult).

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your rainy weekend!

Painting Rooms Again

Joshua's room

Brendyn's wall (he was so proud of himself)

Brendyn's ceiling

Well this last week we had nothing planned. That is amazing for us. I was so excited and got things done around the house and enjoyed extra time with the kids. The little ones wanted me to repaint their rooms so Monday and Tuesday I painted Alyssa and Heather's room and Tuesday Joshua's room. (Pictures later after I get everything hung up) They picked the same colors they had already but different shades. So I told them this will have to last a while. I get tired of painting, but I am getting really good at it (and fast).

When I was all finished Tuesday evening Kelly invited us to play at McDonald's. So I asked Miranda to watch the kids while I took a quick shower. Miranda did and off we were to play. Well when we got home and I was putting the kids to bed I walk into Brendyn's room and there on his wall and ceiling is blue paint. Great job watching the kids Miranda! For some reason Brendyn feels his ceiling should be blue. He also painted a little line in Joshua's room. I know have one more room to paint (brendyn's) then I am going to paint the hallway. It needs it soo bad. I also need to paint the school room and Dining room. If you are in the area and would like to help please feel free to stop by!

My New Hair

Well, on Thursday I decided I wanted a hair cut. I had to return something to JC penny's and remembered they had a salon. So I went upstairs and made an appointment. The stylists name was, Tessa. I really liked her. I didn't know what I wanted so she talked me through some books and I showed her what I liked and she took it from there. This was the first time I let someone kind of pick my hair cut. Usually I say this is what I want, but this time I just let her do her thing. I like it and it is easy to care for and off my neck. I think I will really like it when it is about an inch longer but all in all I like it. I fell like such a grown up now.