Sharing

My cousin sent me the last post in an email and thanks to yahoo, I couldn't forward it. I felt that it needed to be shared so I did it here. I also have some pictures to share.....

A shot that sorta gives you the idea of how many kids were getting into the groove at the party.

"spooky hollow" and some of the other treats. The mice were the cutest!

Blondie's 'Henry George Bob' Mr's 'haunted house' and Bubba's 'vampire with blood drop'

Chick and 411's unique presentations

When a Soldier Comes Home

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard.......
to listen to his son whine about being bored. ....

to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes....

to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work....

to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night's sleep.....

to be silent when people pray to God for a new car....

to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower....
to be grateful that he fights for the freedom of speech...

to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying....

to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to send their kids off to summer camp....

to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather....
to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold....
to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog....
to be civil to people who complain about their jobs....
to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year....
to be happy for a friend's new hot tub....
to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.....
not to punch a wall when someone says we should pull out immediately
The only thing harder than being a Soldier...
Is loving one.

Further proof

Now I am not a rocket scientist by any stretch, but I think there is some major common sense missing here somewhere.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305458,00.html

This woman is 25, with 8 children , six of which are under 6, and 4 of which tested positive for cocaine. COCAINE people. On the video, it said there were allegations made to CPS in 2002 and again in 2005, apparently both those were unfounded. Cps were called this time because there was 11 people living in a one bedroom apartment. No one was home, they found these babies because one of the 11 month old boys was taken to the hospital with a broken wrist, arm and head trauma. The nurses were suspicious because he wasn't in any pain. Turns out he was high on coke. Sometimes, the idea of having to pass a test to have kids makes a hell of alot of sense.



The Halloween bash is over, I think it went well. We had 114 kids check in , there were a few that missed that step. Next year we are going to split the ages up though, the littler one like the games and the older ones liked the karaoke. 411 said her favorites were Dr. Insane and Mesmerelda. I thought that was cool since she knew all the behind the scenes stuff and was still impressed. When I find my camera, I will post pictures.
Parent teacher conferences are coming up, I am anxious to hear how Mr is doing. His teacher lives in the same apartment building and she says he is so neat to have in class but I will be interested to see what the aide has to say. I am not looking forward to Bubba's, he is still being a butt about getting his work done. He is always looking for ways to get out of it. I have a sneaky suspicion that this is just the tip of the iceberg and it is only going to get worse. I don't have PTC for the teens, that is probably for the best. I am not sure there is enough time in the night to go over their drama.

I love my children

That is my mantra that I am repeating (not so loudly now that they are gone) this morning. I am really glad that someone thinks I am strong enough to handle this daily but I am seriously doubting their judgement today. Everyone rides the big bus this morning since it is Wednesday. SO I have to get 5 ready instead of 4. That must be the reason why it is stressing me out. That or Bubba deciding that olive and yellow (no idea where those came from) wind pants match a bright blue sleeveless muscle shirt and then throwing a fit when I tell him I am not letting him out of the house like that. Or maybe it was 411 who needs her hair done right this second and is tromping around making as much noise as possible. Or Blondie who just glares and tries to intimidate me every morning and then denies it when I tell her I am not in the mood and to knock it off. Or it could be Mr who refuses to get out of bed and get dressed for 20 minutes and then jumps on me and demands that I make his waffles. But I am betting it is Chick who didn't finish the dishes last night (because she didn't start them till 9 even though she was told to do them at 7) and when I tell her she will do them tonight says ok; then starts telling me 'I am NOT washing this or that because that is from today' & (my favorite)' everyone is just making as many dirty dishes as possible because they know I have to do them'. So can you see where my mantra comes in handy? because all of this is happening at the same time within a half hour period.

A Pirates life for me

Not really anything new going on in my corner of the world, I will have to post pictures of the spooktakular we are getting ready for. It is going to be even more fun then last year, and a tad less stressful on the day of. We have it all set up (for the most part), the prizes all ready, the treat bags done, route for the hayrack ride planned. All we have left to do is buy the buns and make our goodies. There is like 4 other things around the area planned for that day BUT the kids were still talking about how cool the Halloween party was at Valentines day. So I am really interested to see how many kids we get.

Sunday, Uncle Ween and Aunt Kaffy took time from visiting Hadleigh to let my heathens pick out pumpkins from their pumpkin patch. It was really sweet of them and my kids were so excited to get to pick out their own. Now I just have to find time to get them carved. ICK!!

We got our re licensing review in the mail the other day. We get to keep being foster parents, for another year anyway. I had to giggle because in the review she had made little notations of all kinds of things. My favorite line was 'it is a very large apartment that is busy with a lived in look' . I spose that is an accurate way of summing it up. I am so easily amused sometimes.

Some small good news

I took Mr to the allergist today and he told me that he is pretty sure that Mr will outgrow his peanut allergy, maybe even before kindergarten. They did the skin test on him (that is where they poke him with like 15 different kinds of common allergies) and he reacted very minimally to two of them. They did discover the poor thing has a severe sinus infection. He did really well, it is amazing what a promise of a new car will get out of him.



I have neglected to mention my newest (great?) niece that was born on Oct 12. Her name is Hadleigh and she came into the world at a whopping 4 lbs and 14 ounces. She also has a heart problem and has already had a surgery. She will have to have another one probably within a couple of weeks. I mentioned her impending arrival a few posts ago. My heart goes out to her mommy and daddy, Stacy and Curtis. Last year ago, our nephew's son JJ was born and he had to have a surgery right away too (his was for a blocked intestine I think). And some people we know, Starr and Jeff had a baby that had heart troubles and had to have surgery right away too. It is so scary when it involves surgery but tenfold that when it is a baby, let alone a brand new one. Don't get me wrong, I think it is amazing what doctors can do these days. I am extremely grateful that medicine has advanced so much that these lil people have a fighting chance.

Not really anything new around here. Blondie and Chick are in a competition to see which one can get renamed GRUMPY first. Teens are fun. 411 is still angling for as much attention as she can get. Bubba is realizing that by doing his work, he is getting out of trouble. Mr has got his ornery on. He is so full of energy. Today we are going on a preschool field trip to a farm. That ought to be right up his alley with all the tractors and such.

Mikey got his new one ton paid for. He is on the lookout for a little truck to drive back and forth to work. It kills me, I knew he wouldn't last driving the old van. I am happy with my vehicle, I spose it is only fair that he be happy with his.

Monday Madness

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Mister's contribution to my blog :)

See, it was Monday when I started this entry, time has really gotten away from me. I have been running like mad. I heard a guy on the radio awhile ago on the AM side ( in the old van, that is all I got) that was talking about when he took some time off and stayed home with the kids so his wife could go back to work or school. He then goes on to say how easy it is to be home all day. PISSED ME OFF!! I was so furious. But I have been thinking about this for a while now. It all depends on your definition of easy. If you are talking heavy physical labor, yeah it is easier. If you are talking dress code wise, yep it's easier there too. And if you are talking commute, hands down easiest job ever. BUT if you wanna talk about stressful, underpaid, under appreciated, and flat out frustrating, I can't think easy is an accurate description. There was an article I read somewhere where the average stay at home mom, if paid for every job title she performs, would make like $130,000 a year. Like chef, laundress, chauffeur, seamstress, photographer, event coordinator, tutor, dishwasher, maid, daycare provider, advisor and pharmacist. Daily. The thing I don't' get, when did it become tacky to stay home to raise your kids? Seriously, I am amazed at peoples reactions when they find out I am a stay at home mom. Even people in the foster care system are kinda like 'ohhhh why?'

ANYWAY, hopping off the soapbox now. Did ya'll see that guy they arrested for raping a three year old girl on videotape. I won't rant and rave. All I am going to say is that I pray they "accidentally" put him in general population in whatever prison he goes to. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing too evil for him.

Ok, that was depressing, let's see, what has been going on? Hmmmm, appointments, meetings, more appointments, another meeting, yet another appointment. And tomorrow, guess what? Another appointment. This one is with the allergist, they are finally doing the skin test on Mr to see if he is allergic to anything else. I am crossing my fingers that he grows out of the peanut allergy. At my moms today, I asked him if he wanted some peanuts. He told me no. I asked him whynot? he told me, I am 'lergic. I am so relieved that he understands that he can't have peanuts and he is starting to ask before he eats stuff. Used to be he would ask halfway through something.

I had to get my first oil change in the new van today. I am just excited to go 'yeah, that shiny new red one, that's mine' Now I just have to find a crystal for the mirror......

Good Morning

This is how my day starts. I get Bubba up, I get 411 and Blondie up, I get Chick up. I go back to Bubba's room and wake him up again, I go back to Chick's room and wake her up again. I start the first of 15 loads of laundry. I tell 411 she is NOT wearing that, to go change. I make Bubba get out of bed and put clothes on. I yell down the hall to make sure Chick isn't still laying in bed. By this time the 20 questions from 411 has started. I tell her I don't know where her tennis shoes are since I don't wear them. Then Chick comes stomping out telling me that she can't find a bra. I tell her that she knows how to operate the washer, and maybe she should use that knowledge (which, by the way, she did when she wanted a towel for the pregnant stray). Off she huffs to her room. Blondie is up and dressed and staring off into space, until I leave the room, then she follows me. Tell Bubba that he has to wear his tennis shoes. And socks. Try not to laugh at the anguish on his face. Remind myself that 411 is trying new looks and she won't always look like a homeless child. Give Chick her meds, give Blondie her meds. I go to open the curtains in the living room and return to see Chick getting a bowl for cereal. I tell her that the last of the milk got used this morning. She gets all pissy because 'gawd, I only got 1 bowl of cereal yesterday' I explain there are 5 kids who want cereal, and apologize for not getting more milk. I go into the dining room to get the table straightened up since no one else seems to understand that seeing the top of the table isn't a special occasion. Chick decides to get waffles and has trouble with the toaster, to which she mumbles something under her breath about it not being plugged in. Blondie looks over and says 'hey, its not plugged in' . Just trying to be helpful. Next thing I know, Chick is bringing out the entire ugly attitude. I told her she needs to stop being so hateful, Blondie was just trying to help. To which Chick says, no, she was being really snotty to me. UMM, no, I was standing right here and she wasn't giving off any vibe of rudeness at all. So then Chick goes (this is my favorite part) "you are not hearing her right" .Are you serious right now? For pete's sake. I hope she gets over herself and has a good day but I am sure I will get the whole list of who did her wrong when she gets home from school.

People Piss me off

There is a person, A, who knows that a situation is not going to happen. There is no way it will be possible. So let's get the kids all excited about it and let them try to make it happen and when it doesn't, A can sit back and go, Gee, I really wanted it to work, I don't understand why it didn't. So then everyone else gets to look like the bad guy. It is bad enough that people in this world are manipulative, deceitful users but to drag the kids in on it is totally inexcusable. And if it was just this one person, maybe it would be different but I have seen this happen time and again. This is just the episode that blew steam out of my ears. I wish I could just stand by my old favorite, stupid should hurt. This incident wasn't stupidity though, this was calculation. Ok, I vented, much better now.

How I spent my weekend

Saturday we went and bought my new van. And I must mention that our sales guy, Chas Terry at Rhoden, was AWESOME. He made us feel like valued customers and that is not something you see everyday. I had to give him props. Anyway, on Sunday me and the girls went shopping for the Halloween Spooktacular with Dudette, Kizzie, Megs, Deanne, Whimpy and Cindy. After the first stop we decided that lunch was in order so we all went to the Olive Garden. This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Mikey hates it so I haven't been for years and years. Anyway, I was really impressed with all the girls behavior. They were very respectful and used their manners while we were eating. After lunch we went to Nobbies. That was a madhouse, kinda like a week before Christmas at Walmart. Then Cindy got sick and Wendy took her home. I have to give her kudos for facing Nobbies not feeling good. Deanne, the girls, Dudette and I then went to a dollar store to get the last little bit of odds and ends that we needed. Then we decided to stop by a thrift store to find prom dresses for Chelle's teens. Megs, Kizzie and Blondie are all going as prom queens/princesses. Chick didn't want to do it and is going as a roman goddess. 411 is going the opposite, she is goth. Complete with piercings, black make up and hair. It was a really quick stop, we found a beautiful dress for each of the girls that is similar in color to Blondies, so they will look like triplets. After this adventure, it was off to walmart. I am afraid to say this is where I pretty much left Deanne and Dudette to their own devices as far as finishing up the shopping. I thought they did awesome, they got all the decorations, candy and toys, and supplies for the games and still had about $100 left in the Halloween account. Hot dogs and pumpkins are all we have left to get. Now we just got to get the garages cleaned. That is a big PPBBBFFFFTTTTTT.



Here are the triplets, showing off their dresses..















and lil miss 411 in her 'tude.

Our Newest addition

Look what I got today!! We traded in the ugly truck and the Kia and I got a 2007 Grand Caravan. I am so loving the radio working, the seatbelts all working, the windshield not leaking, the smell. Mikey is taking over the other van as a work car. He is already talking about getting the windshield fixed, the radio fixed and fixing the air before summer. Yeah, I don't see it lasting that long, I will lay money he has a new work vehicle before then, any takers? :)

Zippidee do dah

Well, never let it be said that I don't give Mikey props when he deserves it. I have been teasing him about never doing anything for my birthday and I just knew he would blow off our 10th anniversary. I knew it. Stuff like that is just beyond his scope of important. All on his own, he arranged for Chelle to take all the kids and for us to have an evening out. I thought it was great that he was willing to go out to dinner on a work night and not even complain about being tired (not a lot anyway ) :) Nothing spectacular but then it has never been about that, just acknowledgement of some kind. Some no kid time was really good. Of course we spent a lot of the time out looking at stuff for the kids but hey, they weren't there driving me nuts. Speaking of looking at stuff, we checked out the new 08 Grand caravan's. I am so in love. I liked the Uplanders but I LOVE the caravan. Dianne had one and it finally died around 250,000 miles. That is just nuts. So I am hoping that maybe, just possibly, I can convince the gods that I really need one and I'll be able to get one. Soon.

Doing better today. Yesterday Chick and I spent the day together and met up with Chelle for lunch and a quick trip to the local dollar tree for some Halloween Spooktacular supplies. We spent 3 hours looking for shoes. 3 hours. We went to every store that sells shoes. We even went to the Buckle, which by the way, I wouldn't recommend unless you like being followed around and shown merchandise at every pause. That is not my preferred way to shop. After we finally found a pair of shoes that was way to expensive but by that time I just wanted to be done, Chelle came and we had lunch. After our adventures to the middle of Omaha, she brought us back to our Kia. Yeah, let me tell you about that damned thing. It is a gutless little thing normally but at least it doesn't smell, doesn't leak and all the seat belts work not to mention the radio and air conditioning. So Chick and I braved Walmart and then made another stop real quick to get gas. When we went to pull out of the gas station onto Broadway (the main drive in Council Bluffs), it wouldn't go. It rolled far enough into traffic that people were stopping to let us out but it wouldn't go any farther. Then I couldn't get it to go backwards either. Did I mention that this is at 5 pm or so? Really fun. I called Mike, he couldn't leave right that second but he was on his way as soon as he could. I called my mom who had driven down to stay with Mr after he got home from school to let her know I was going to be a little later. I tried to move it again, I got it to scoot back (after 5 full minutes of trying) 10 feet or so, so I was at least out of traffic's way. I called Mike again, called my mother again, and vented a little to Chick. I decided to try it again, and I noticed that the air was on. I turned that off and the little P.O.S. took right off like there had never been a problem. Made it all the way to Mike's shop without a problem. Then I had to go get Chinese because I didn't feel like cooking. :) Chick didn't want anything and Blondie doesn't like Chinese and it still cost me $40. It is nuts how expensive it is but damn is it good. I should have then been prepared for Chick coming into my room in the middle of the night to tell me she puked. She LOVES Chinese and something must have been bothering her pretty bad to miss out on it.
Mr was very good for my mom. Of course, she is convinced that he is Damien reincarnated. She never has sugar coated things for me and sometimes that hurts but I know when she says that my kids were good for her it is the truth. I always worry that people tell you that your kids were good and then go 'damn, I am glad they are gone' when you leave. Not that anyone would ever do that. ;)

I am sad.

Yesterday, Chick wrote me a letter. In this letter she tells me that I don't listen to her, I don't know what I am talking about when I make suggestions, and that I am comparing her to Blondie. It broke my heart. I have made a point of listening to everything she has to say since she learned to talk. I have worked really hard to make sure that we had what I thought was a good relationship. I have made jokes about my daughter thinks I am stupid because she is a teen. But she really does think I have no clue. How can she not know how proud of her I am? How does she not see that I think her individuality is amazing? I don't understand how she could possibly think that I would want her to be just like someone else. I thought I have made my opinions clear. Yes, I get mad at her behavior. That is because she is not perfect, no one on this planet is. Her and I are taking a mental health/mommy&daughter day tomorrow .
I am proud of her for writing it out for me and having the courage to tell me. That says something of our relationship, right?
I know that everyone with daughters has/will go through something like this but it truly, deeply hurts.