You are currently browsing the archives for February, 2007.
The Case of the Missing UnderwearÂ
We’ve all suffered attacks from sock thieves. I lose more sock for Carter and Gracey and end up buying new ones more often than I care to admit. I think the dryer eats them, but one can’t be sure. But seriously, my UNDERWEAR? Why can’t I find them?
I’ve done several loads of laundry the past few days but I still can’t find clean underwear. Not to worry, I’m not wearing dirty underwear, just down to the old ones in the back of the drawer that no one likes to wear. So where has my underwear gone? I KNOW I’ve washed it. But it is nowhere to be found. I understand why the kids’ socks get lost – they’re so tiny. But come on people, it’s not like my underwear is SMALL. Finding my underwear in a stack of laundry ought to be as easy as hitting the broad side of a barn. So where has it gone?
No, really, tell me.
Happy Heart Day
Posted February 14th, 2007 at 8:02 am. Add a comment
I can’t wait to talk to daddy-o today. While he was in the shower last night, I snuck out to his truck and put valentine day confetti just inside his air conditioner vents and set the knob to high so they’d blow out at him when he started his truck. 
 I also put some of the same confetti in his work box and within some of his paperwork. I don’t know if he has a meeting today, but I’m hoping he’ll pull out one of his folders in front of someone and little heart shaped confetti will pop out. That would be funny.
I did also leave him a nice card and a HUGE bag of M&M’s ……I also put a little M&M figure thing in his truck, left it stuck to the window with these little suction cup things. I think he’ll get a kick out of it.
Though, when I tried to call him this morning he didn’t answer his phone. ha ha ha
Carter had a Valentine cup cake for breakfast. I was going to make heart shaped pancakes, but once he saw the cupcakes daddy left for him, that’s all he wanted. I know, not very nutritious but we already know I’m not winning any Mother of the Year contest.
My autobiography
Posted February 12th, 2007 at 10:04 pm. 4 comments
I can’t believe we’ve had the kids for a year. I can’t believe that in just a couple of weeks, everything will be final. What will I blog about?
I suppose as one chapter closes another will open, right? Although it is the end of our adoption process, it is the beginning of the rest of our lives. A new chapter. If I were writing a book, I think the chapter titles would go something like this:
Chapter 1: When I was Seven
Chapter 2: Seventh Grade
Chapter 3: High School and why it sucked
Chapter 4: College and the Prodigal Son
Chapter 5: The Wasteland
Chapter 6: And then I met you
Chapter 7: The Wedding Planner
Chapter 8: I married an axe murderer
Chapter 9: Graceypty Womb, Hopeful Heart
Chapter 10: Jeremiah 29:11
And that would bring us to termination of parental rights. I think Chapter 11 would be called “Surviving Toddlers”.
Who knows what Chapter 12 will be about. Maybe one day I’ll elaborate on those chapters which probably mean nothing to anyone but me.
I hope to continue writing daily again but lately I’m just feeling a bit uninspired. Maybe I should start revisiting some of those chapters now. Better yet, maybe I’ll start those chapters on another blog and not reveal it to my family. Then I can tell you our deepest, darkest secrets. I could also include the chapter called “Family….” see, I can’t even type the rest of the title I thought of because ….well, just because. I adore my family, idiosyncrasies and all. But let’s face it, no autobiography is complete without a good chapter on family. And I’d have plenty to say – all good, of course, especially about my incredible mother and my amazing sister. And no, I didn’t write that just because you are reading this.
ANyway, I’m sure most of you have stopped reading by now. For those of you waiting for this to get interesting, I’ll leave you with Carter’s latest revelation:
driving down the street, out of nowhere, Carter pops out with, “My mommy FARTS!”
I can just see him yelling that out in court. Nice.
Protected: Protected: Gracey Slideshow
Posted February 9th, 2007 at 10:28 pm. 5 comments
Whatever Wednesday
Posted February 7th, 2007 at 9:21 am. 3 comments
I’m going ahead with training to become a child advocate. I’m a little uneasy about it, but there is a HUGE need for volunteers and I think I’ll do a good job. We’ll see.
Still planning a big party to celebrate the adoption for the 4th of March but I’m starting to get a little stressed about it. REthinking the “huge” part and considering turning it into an “open house” type deal. Guess I better hurry and make up my mind!
We are going to be temporarily relocating to a smaller suburb. It’s for daddy-o’s job and the company has offered to rent us a house since it is about an hour away and two during peak traffic. Daddy-o will be working long hours and we’d never see him if he had to commute. So we’re packing up and moving out. Sort of. I sure hope I can get high speed internet over there. Don’t know for sure when we’re leaving, but probably within the next month and half.
Some people really bug me. Like the guy who sat next to me during orientation yesterday. When he introduced himself, this is pretty much what he said, “I’m interested in being a translator because I am fluent in both English and Spanish. And I have a lot of free time because I’ve been disabled for the past few years. I am bipolar and haven’t been able to work – but on the days that I can get myself out of bed I think I’d be really good at this. I mean, I’m on medication and it’s mostly under control but I still have bad days.”  OKAY. Thanks for sharing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking anyone who suffers from bipolor disorder, i’m knocking people who share too much and make everyone else feel awkward. He should have stopped after the word “Spanish”.
It’s 9:20am and I am still in my pajamas. But i’ve gotten more accomplished this morning than I sometimes do all day. Go me.
Last night, we went to eat Mexican food. Before we left I actually changed my pants so that I could eat more. That’s pretty sick, isn’t it? I was wearing blue jeans and changed into my fat pants. What is WRONG with me?
How is it that laundry seems to multiply in the basket? What’s up with that?
We’re getting Carter a little suit for our court date and for the baptism. I tried a sports coat on him the other day and he looked just adorable!
Advocating for Foster Children
Posted February 6th, 2007 at 8:20 am. 3 comments
It was a several years ago when I first heard about Child Advocates. I gave it some thought but decided I wasn’t ready to really commit to it.
I’m ready now. Or at least I think I am. Children in foster care have a very special place in my heart, for obvious reasons. We’re not ready to take in more foster children at this point, but this is a great alternative for people who really want to make a difference.
“Volunteers serve children involved in the juvenile court system once appointed to a child’s case by a juvenile court judge. This means that our volunteers have the legal status of “guardians ad litem”, giving them the power to affect real change in the life of a child. Once appointed by a juvenile court judge, our Court Appointed Advocate volunteers begin a process of information gathering with the goal of guiding abused children out of the foster care system, identifying the child’s needs and ensuring rehabilitative services. They act as a communications link between the child and the juvenile courts. Volunteers gather all the pertinent information about their child’s case and make recommendations to the judge based on that information. “
This is what I’m talking about. Where case workers are generally assigned anywhere from 20-60 cases at any given time, it’s my understanding that CASA workers are only assigned one or two at a time, allowing the opportunity to really focus on the child at hand.
I’m going to an orientation meeting today and hoping that I will be as excited about it when I get home.
Thus, a new journey begins.
Yesterday and today Carter has really been pushing the limits. He’s got a little cold and I guess that makes it difficult for him to hear what I’m saying or something. After correcting him for what seemed like the millionth time this afternoon, I thought to myself that life would be easier if he would just blindly obey me.
If only he would always do exactly as I say, when I say it, not only would my life be eaiser, but his would, too. In fact, while it may seem to him that I am restricting him, if he would obey me completely, he’d actually have a lot more freedom. Afterall, I’m implementing rules and regulations just to torture him, everything is for a reason – either safety, basic life skill training or even character building, but it is all for a purpose. Why doesn’t an almost 3 year old get that?
Hmmmm
Why can’t I get that? I mean, my Father wants me to obey Him blindly. I even understand and know that I will have more freedom if I do. Yet, still, I don’t always listen and obey. He’s not out to get me anymore than I’m out to get Carter.
Funny how I can feel so exasperated with his behavior at times, but he’s only 2 (almost 3) years old. Imagine how exasperating it must be for our Father?
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Conversation with Carter after reading a todler Bible story:
Me: The best gift God gave us is Jesus. Carter, what is the best present you’ve ever gotten?
Carter: Mommy
Me: Mommy? I’m the best present you ever got?
Carter: Nooooo
Me: Okay, so what is the best present you’ve gotten?
Carter: Mommy!
And before reading one of our favorite books, “Happy Adoption Day”
Me: Carter, what does ‘adoption’ mean?
Carter: JUDGE!
Me: What will the judge say?
Carter: Happy Family DAY!!!!! YAY!!!!
Protected: One year ago today (slideshow)
Posted February 4th, 2007 at 10:56 pm. 6 comments
On February 5, 2006, we met Carter and brought him home for the first time. Wearing only a t-shirt and a diaper, he came into our home and hearts and has been growing ever since. I’m hoping what words can’t describe can somehow be captured through pictures. Carter’s transformation over the last year is truly a picture of God’s Grace.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXHrwQh6ShE]
Enjoy the slideshow, I’m warning you up front that it’s long. (about 4 minutes)
Peek-a-Boo Gracey
Posted February 2nd, 2007 at 7:55 pm. 2 comments
Gracey started playing peek-a-boo today. It was the first time she would hold something in front of her face and wait for you to say, “Where’d Gracey go?” It was really cute.
And she accomplished this when she was running a high fever. Go figure. The girl has fever of 103.5 and she’s still smiling and laughing like nothing is wrong. You gotta love it.