Stinky Solutions (Daxism)

I really hate snotty noses. I always try to keep the kids faces cleared of snot and noses clear of big nasty boogers so that I don't have to see them. So....while 'picking' Dax's nose this happens:

Me: Dude, that's a bog 'ol nasty booger up there, get it out of there.
(time elapses with me and him both trying to get this nasty thing out of his nose)
Dax (Calm and coolly): It's probably hard to get out because it's the rock I put up my nose.
Me: What? You put a rock up your nose.
Dax: Yep.
Me: Uhm, why would you do that?
Dax: Because it was stinky outside and I didn't want to smell it anymore. So, I plugged up the smell with a rock.
Me (laughing): Are you serious?!

Yep, there was indeed a rock in his nose...my recurring thought: how does a rock smell better than something???? * loud laughs*

Happy Halloween

May the odds be ever in your favor! Effie Trinket (Hunger Games)

Seneca Crane (Hunger Games)

Lady Bug Picnic

Eye, Eye Captain!

 

Fireproof! 

 

 

Cowboy Rawhide! (Trunk or Treat)

 

Old Pumpkin Navy (Trick or Treating)

 

 

Way more loot than we needed! Thank Heaven's for the Great Pumpkin! Sadly, I didn't get a photo of them claiming their prizes...but trust me it was precious!

*****Note to self: You have more photos of 2 beautiful girls that can't make the social media cut...make sure and add them to your publishing.**** It's too bad you guys couldn't see them, they are stinkin' adorable! There's one with Little Miss and Dax hugging...so precious!!!

Negligent

I have missed my blog lately. I have only vaguely missed it over the past several months as my life had taken me by whirlwind and not yet dropped me. I haven’t hardly noticed that many events have transpired that are completely amiss from this cyber place. I have gone about my days without the slightest consideration that I am leaving my memories unrecorded and my end of the year published books will be full of empty pages. So that’s just it, I have been going about my days only surviving barely making it from one day to the next. I have no idea what happened yesterday and certainly no concept of what tomorrow will bring. This does not work out well for scheduling purposes.

This great absence from life has been the direct result of adding 2 children to our family in 2 months time. Most cases you at least get a 9 month warning or acclimation period. But in the world of foster you’re lucky to get 9 hours. And so it is, we have 6 children. Little miss 1 came in August and her sister joined us 2 weeks ago. We have stretched the walls of our little home and opened our hearts to 6 and 7 year old sisters. We are now a large family. We, as a family, can not fit into one car at one time. All family outings require at least 2 cars now…making traveling on vacation quite an unwelcome desire.

There are so many changes at my house, so many more demands on me emotionally and physically. Foster children also require more appointments…CPS visits, agency visits, psychological visits, doctor visits…so my normal play dates and outings with friends have been trumped with random errands and visitations. Don’t get me wrong they are all very nice people to visit with and they certainly are helpful in feeling I have a support system for foster but I have missed my friends. I have missed the life I once knew that revolved a little more around ‘normal’ social interactions. I am calming crying fits all too often. I am creating drama by forcing homework upon girls who have never been expected to do anything that might even remotely be hard.  I am worrying about the welfare of children that have been under extreme circumstances that no one should understand. I am hoping that my own children understand and can love these girls that embark into their territory and create a little havoc. I hope that my own kids gain a sense of love and compassion on others less fortunate even though in our house they appear to be more fortunate with my time. I have 3 first graders who all have different teachers and different assignments…adding to my scheduling conflicts. I am overly busy.  

And when the number of children in your home increases so does the amount of illness that seeps into the cracks of the walls. I haven’t been able to explore the great abyss also known as the outside world because I have contagious children that should not be exposed to the elements of normal existence. Navy was in the hospital a few weeks ago, unable to breath…I was certain that this lifeless child might not pull through this horrible attack on his lungs. Since then, we have gone through each child having some crazy illness that doesn’t allow for adulthood to settle in my life. UTI’s, colds, fevers, flus, diarrhea, exhaustion…all have plagued my existence. And there seems to be no relenting.

I just feel overwhelmed. I feel lost in the world of transition. And my blog has lost extreme priority…but today, I feel like it might have to reinstate some level of precedence. Maybe that’s because Chal stayed home from work today so I have a little reprieve, maybe it’s because I slept well last night, again because Chal took care of the kids. Maybe it’s because I can be locked in my room uninterrupted for more than 5 minutes. Maybe this will be the last post for the next 6 months…because Chal will surely now be sick next week and I’ll have to start over with him. But lately, I am realizing what a great place it is to record and recognize that there are always good days. Hopefully this will get me moving into the 100 posts I need to make to get caught up…but then again, the holidays are about to trump all extracurricular thinking I might have.

Are You Calling Me Fat?

Dax said at the pool today: Mom, how do you lose weight? Because you need to lose weight.
Me: Really? Why? You think I need to lose weight?
Dax: Well *long pause* yes. And you need to lose it by the next time we come to the pool. I want both of us to fit standing up in this intertube.

Future Evidence

Kyron was worried today what would happen if mom and dad left and there was no babysitter. I told him I would never leave him without a babysitter. He was satisfied but then I added, in a few  years I won't get a babysitter because Adley will be the babysitter. (a thought I don't typical care to endulge!) And Adley responds was "yeah, I'll watch you guys and be the babysitter." After which she looked directly at me and said, "But mom, you won't have to pay me to babysit. Just those other people will have to pay me but not you."
I am so glad that she understands that's exactly how that works out....this is my proof that she said it and offered it to me first!

Remarkable People

I am always impressed by how good people, perfect strangers can be.  I had a mammogram today. My first one. I didn't really know what I was in for. I mean I had a general idea but what my mind created and what reality is were different.

Well, my head thought I could have the little boys there with me. Nothing more than a mere xray, right? We have done those frequently with all the kids present. So I pictured it being similar only a little more invasive and well...personal.

Anyway, the lady that brought me back looked at me, said who's going to watch the kids, they can't go in with you. Oops...but then she proceeded to have me disrobe and get prepped for it anyway. So I assumed it was just annoying but not solvable.

Then the tech came out. She was clear that I could NOT have anyone else in the exam room with me. Uhm, ok, then I need to not do this right now and probably shouldn't have been told to go ahead and change. But I am ok to reschedule and do it at a time that I didn't foolish bring my kids.

But wait, the sweet ladies, sitting in the pre-exam room...also already disrobed themselves and were waiting for their own mammograms...kindly volunteered to play with my kids while I went in. They negotiated with each other and the tech on my behalf to ensure that they would have time to wait for me and the tech would give me the 'speed' service so that we could make it all happen. It was remarkable. Who does that?!?!?! Who helps a complete stranger in such vulnerable state of being. Oh, I know, wonderful, decent, kind human beings that really are concerned and care genuine about being personal about people and not see me as a nuisance with a lot of noise during their exam day. People who don't ignore other people and are willing to be interactive...those people are incredible.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not that trusting of a person. I would normally NEVER leave my kids in someone else's care that I don't know personally. But prior to this all happening, I was in the previous waiting room and they were the most pleasant women and very interactive in a positive way with the kids. They were very warm and kind women who talked greatly about being grandparents and loving the children. I would actually aspire to be that kind of person. And their willingness to help me in a very awkward situation was very thoughtful and generous. And the fact that they both had on gowns and weren't like to get anywhere fast with 2 small children in tow and not raise some serious suspension did help ease any threats.

Today I was greatly blessed by complete strangers and their willingness to help fill a need for a young clueless mother...thanks to a caring God for that sweet gift of love and acknowledgement of His immediate interventions in my life and aligning me with women who love and show a great example of how to treat others. People are good. I am more aware of that. I going to try harder to be good people too!

Not so Sneaky, Sneaky

When you steal the camera to sneak in some photography practice you probably shouldn't use yourself as the subject matter...

Engineer in the Works

...he even has to dress the part!

My Newest Favorite Idea

The dumping grounds for shoes just outside the door to the garage was becoming hazardous to our safety. So randomly I had the idea to have it organized. This makes me VERY happy.

Arts Center

For Spring Break we went to Mesa Arts Center...they were having a free festival. It was actually really quite fun and I think we'll make it out there each year that we can. They had this blow up art structure....with a fancy name that I no longer remember but it was really very cool. And because we were encased in a 'bouncy house' the photos reflect that....fun times with the kids!

O.N.E.

How in the world has a year passed? How in the world did that tiny little baby boy that barely fit in my arms start walking? How in the world did that quiet, peaceful infant become so loud and vocal? How in the world did 365 days pass in just a few hours? How in the world did those dark locks of curls turn so blond and straight? How in the world did this little infant now reach and open the door handles? How in the world do those big rich blue eye still melt my heart each time? How in the world did I get bless with such sweetness and joy? How in the world did Navy turn O.N.E.? Please world....stop!

This is the sweetest exchange with Adley and Navy on his birthday...enjoy some of their laughter:


He's grown up so much! I have loved this past year of being his mother. Learning about him and growing with him. He's an easy going little guy...sometimes a little clingy but almost always happy. He's a little on the serious side but he's delightful. He's recently learned that screaming gets things done for him. And he's learned that he can gain control over his siblings with his teeth...not such a great quality kiddo! He learns so fast and can climb to the top of most things. I just can't believe how lucky I am to be his mom.

I love this man so much and he has changed my life in so many wonderful ways.

Oh, what a party!

Karate

Dax has been taking karate. He loves it. And he is really good at it. He's a small little guy but he can listen and understand what to have his body do! I don't want to ever get in a fight with him! *smiles*

I have really enjoyed seeing him be a part of this sport and seeing him really learning the lessons. His Sensei always makes him say an oath at the end of the class. "I will always respect my parents. I will always respect my teachers. I will never misuse my martial arts." The other night I was holding Dax's wrist and telling him to break loose. He started pulling his arm and then kindly said, "Mom, please let go of my arm, I don't want to misuse my martial arts on you." Oh the sweetness.

I am so proud of Dax and all his hard work to excel in karate. These are his exhibition videos, after his testing. He skipped a belt (a rare feat) because he excelled so much in the semester. He went from a white belt to a yellow/black. There are 2 belts in between that. He's incredible!

Dax totally rocks...he can punch his opponent without even looking at him!



I love how out of sync they all are but still following the commands!


This video is just Dax and the instructor allowing him to 'show off'. This is the kick that allowed Dax to excel passed 2 belts from white to yellow/black. He's so awesome!