Calendar for Tots!

I have found that the kids do SO much better if they know what is on the schedule for the day! I found myself constantly answering "mom what are we gonna do today?" and constantly warning them that so-in-so is about to come, so that they would know what to do. We have so many social workers and therapist coming through the week and with Karate, and Gymnastics and church it can get a bit too much to try and explain to little guys.

So I began to think what could I do to help them. I am not real crafty. I seem to be able to think up the idea, but the execution leaves SO much to be desired. But the beauty of it is, that my kids are little and don't know any different, so they love it, even if mom knows someone else with more talent could do SO much more with the idea!

I got myself a poster board, wrote out the days of the week, bought some velcro and started printing out pictures from the net. And here you have it. Nothing special or pretty or "crafty" but it works for us!

I printed out pics of "dad" with and without a brief case. So they know which days daddy goes to work and which ones he stays home! I made a yellow star, so the kids could move it to the day that it is and know what day we are on! Printed out pics that represent social workers, therapist, karate, gym, church, the doctor, the babysitter, grandparents (for when they are coming to visit, or if the kids will be going to grandparents house for a visit), and a heart for the Valentines day that is coming up. I like this Calendar because all I have to do is print it out and I can add things on with ease and change them each week too.

I can see this done with magnets, and pretty paper and fancy writing and all that jazz. But I know that I live in reality and I needed something fast and cheap. It is working so great for the kids! B and H can read the days of the week and every time they ask "mom what are we doing today?" all I have to say is "check your calendar!"

They seem at ease with knowing who is coming over and what is going on that day, because they are prepared for it. I am really loving how well it is working!

Gotcha Day!!!

This is H's "GOTCHA" day! The day this little tiny bundle of joy entered our family!

She was full of spunk and strength!

Watching her grow has been a blessing to us each day!

Her smile and energy keeps me going!

I can't believe how much she has changed, how much she has grown,

how much she has changed my life... and how much I LOVE HER!

Happy "GOTCHA" day to my girl!

" I Don't Know" But I am still "MOM"

The other day I finished with all the registration forms for Ben to start school next year. We have registered for a few schools, since Ben may not get in for a district transfer. We are praying about it and now it is in the Lord's hands and I am not going to stress about it any more!

I have wondered what the kids starting school might bring up with them being adopted. I am constantly trying to "look ahead" and try to get prepared for what might come up and what the kids may face concerning their adoption. I want to have ready answers for them that are positive and helpful.

I was filling out the paperwork and came to the health page. There was a whole section on how the birth was. Did the baby cry immediately, was the baby alert and active, was there complications, was it a c-section birth and so on and so on.

Perhaps this seems like no big deal to most. But for me, adopting through foster care, you have to FIGHT for your children. This to me is the "labor" part. The fighting in court, the fighting for their rights, fighting for their safety and health (since they come from less than healthy situations), and fighting to be the "MOM". The feeling of waiting and waiting and waiting for a judge to call you "mom", even though for years you have been doing the "work" and the "loving" of a mom.

These three children who are in this house are MY children. I AM their MOM! But the state only recognizes TWO of them as such. It feels like I am fighting for my position, to be what is automatic for mothers who give birth. But in my heart and my actions I am the mom. I could not be MORE the mom, if I had given birth to them! So when something like these questions on the forms come up, it reminds me. I... don't... know the answers to these questions. I only have limited information about their birth. And for one I have NO information about the birth. BUT I am the "mom"! I am suppose to know these things. It is a weird, sad, feeling. Nothing that gets me depressed for weeks or anything like that. But right there in the moment, I wished I knew the answers.

When I was turning the papers in, I told the lady at the desk that some of the questions were not answered on the health part. I explained that he was adopted and we did not have a whole lot of birth information. She of course was fine with that and said no problem.

I wonder what things will come up when he starts school. When he gets questions from other kids. I pray that we will be able to make sure they are confident in themselves and how God has chosen to place them in a family.

So even though I may not know all the details that most moms know, it does not matter because.... I am still "the mom".