I am pink.

So this morning on our way to Israel's visit with his dad and sister I was singingwith Allori:

Jesus loves the little children
all the children of the world
red and yellow, black and white
they are precious in his site
Jesus loves the little children of the world

I wanted to see what she would say since J is African American so I asked, "Allori do we have any one in our family that is a different color?"

"Well......I am pink."

hahahahaha. She is a good girl. Yes she is pink. And beautiful. I love her so much!

Our Josiah

So thus far Josiah's mother cannot be located. They haven't seen one another since he was 2 weeks old when she dropped him at a friend's never to return. She raised, er.... had him, until a week before his first birthday when he was removed from her home for neglect. This was quite apparent when we got him. She sent a stroller with him. This was odd because she sent nothing else, no clothes, toys, etc. This is par for foster care, but odd that she sent the stroller. It soon became apparent shy she sent it. When this baby cried he would crawl up into his stroller. It didn't even occur to him to look for a person to console him. As soon as we realized this we put it away in the garage so we could teach him to come to a person for comfort. At first he was so confused...he would just crumble on the ground when he cried, at which point I woudl get him and love on him. It only took him a few days to realize he liked being loved. He easily learned to come to us when he needed to be comforted.

According to this lady, and his birth certificate and CYFD's investigative work, there were two possible father's. Both were contacted and we did a DNA test to get the results of...dun dun dun...dun....niether. So, no mom and no dad. CYFD just located his maternal grandmother who is raising 3 of Josiah's siblings. This was surely a surprise--he has siblings! And surely she woudl want to see him, have visits, etc. right? She had a little info for the social worker. Firstly, there is another sibling that has been adopted....younger than the 3 she has but older than J. Secondly she hasn't heard from nor does she expect toe ver hear from J's mother again. Thirdly she said somethgin like, "Oh, he is with a family who loves him and wants to adopt him? Great. Good luck to them all." No questions..no inquiries about him...no request for visits....I just can't imagine. This little boy is adorable. He is so smart and loving and fun. He is also fiesty and stubborn and sometimes he throws tantrums. I have tried not to get my hopes up-you jsut can't when youa re doing foster care. Thats not what it's about. It's jsut abtou helping where we can, when we can. But I wonder if he was sent to our family....for now...forever.

We love him so much and he loves us. He adores Allori and we are mom and dad. I can't imagine not knowing him, now that I do. I hope we get to keep him...that he gets to keep us.

They still have to look for him mother for a while and CYFD does everything slowly.

I am thankful for the blessing he is to our family. It feels like he is my baby.

This mornign at CYFD, a mother who was there visiting her baby asked, "Who are his parents." I answered, "He doesn't have any." Another foster mom who Josiah had been playing with said, "Yes she does, he has you."

And now I am IT!

Tag, I'm it!

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago...
1.) Tracting
2.) Serving
3.) Teaching
4.) Learning
5.) Learning!!!
(I was on my mission)

5 Things on my "To-Do" list today...
1.) Take Dinner to Kristine :)
2.) Mail box to Brian
3.) Wrap Jena's birthday gifts
4.) Finish the laundry
5.) Make Mushroom Fajitas for Wayne


5 Snacks I enjoy...
1.) Smoothie
2.) Fruit! (almost any kind)
3.) Hummus and Pita Chips
4.) Beef Jerky
5.) Toasted French Bread w/butter

5 Things I'd do if I were a Millionaire...
1.) Pay off debt
2.) Buy a house for my parents
3.) Buy a house for Desiree
4.) Go to Rome
5.) Get a massage

5 Places I've Lived...
1.) All over California-seriously all over.
2.) Kentucky (Hopkinsville)
3.) Tennessee (all over)
4.) Utah (Logan and Blanding)
5.) Albuquerque, NM

5 Jobs I've Had
1.) Tele-stinkin-marketer (the armpit of all jobs)
2.) cashier, photo girl, manager-Wal mart
3.) AP/AR, Hubwest
4.) Teacher, Utah State & The Art Institute of California
5.) Assistant Manger, Vons
(not in order)

5 People I tag
1.) Michelle
2.) Makayla
3.) Natalie
4.) Natalie
5.) Brenda


Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you’ve answered the questions on your blog.

A few funnies...

Ok, I babysit a little 3 year old boy from my ward and he said some stinking funny things yesterday. He and Allori say the greatest things. Anyway at one point he said, "I am Allori's boy sister, huh?" Um...not quite but I am glad you know you're a boy. He used to be a little obsessed with wearing Allori's shoes-funny. And much better as long as he he is confidant in his boyhood. hehe.

Then we were driving home after a meeting I had and I was headed to his house and I said something like, "Oh boy buddy, we'll have to keep our eyes peeled to find your road. It's dark and a little hard to see."

"You can't see it?"

"Well it's dark and I can't see the landmarks that normally help me find it."

"Well I can see it, it's the black stuff right there," pointing to the road directly in front of us..that we were driving on!!!!

Yeah, a little mis-communication....hahahahah

Love Note

When I got up this morning, I found this love note on my computer:

Dub-ya Luvs ya. (smiley face)

He is cute. I love him too!

More Stubborn....

I don't need any more stubborn from Allori but that's just too darn bad because she has plenty to offer. So at her Doctor's appointment they asked right in the beginning for her to pee in a cup. I had a hunch it wouldn't go well so I took her into the bathroom and with expectation in my voice asked her to please pee in the cup. Well it was unfortunate that this was at the beginning of the Doctor's visit because my stubborn little daughter-well it pissed her right off. I didn't force her, I simply asked her a few times and tried to talk her into it-but finally just came out and told the nurse I didn't know how to make her pee in the cup. Only it was too late-she was already mad. So the rest of the visit was a total nightmare. No she wouldn't look in the vision screening machine, and not only no but H*** no she wasn't taking her clothes off. Well she had to take her clothes off because she was getting 2 shots. So I put her on the table and took her shirt off without her permission. She screamed like I was molesting her. That wasn't embarrassing. I gave up at the pants. The Dr. came in and he was actually able to make her smile, he's much more patient than I am. But as he left he said she did need the pants to come off for her shots and as he left the room he said to the nurse is a pleasant but understanding tone with a hint of sarcasm-the man knows children, "Dawn, YOU try to get her pants off." Ha! He did say it in a way that I knew he was not judging or blaming but simply understood a stubborn child. Well when the nurse came in I had to remove the pants. all the while she is screaming at the top of her lungs. You know the one-the ear piercing lungs that go into overdrive when one is not getting her way. She is VERY loud. This is a conundrum to me considering her state of shyness. Ok, finally the end of the visit was near and we received a pee cup to take home (yeah that ought to fun) and instructions to do a "scotch tape" test on her rump and a blood test at the lab. The universe is against me.

I hate being embarrassed. I mean I know everyone does but it makes me sick to my stomach. I hate it. Just about worse than anything. And we left the office with a mortified mother and pissed off daughter.

So, Monday, six days after the said doctor's incident, I took her for her blood test. I needed a few days to recover. She screamed but actually did alright. She was apparently proud of herself, "Mom, didn't I do good? I screamed and screamed but I didn't kick my feet like at the doctor's." Yes thank you for that. Ok, one of three tests done.

For the scotch tape test I had to wait til she woke up crying in the night and lucky me last night was the night. This is horrifying in itself. The whole idea, but we need to figure out what is wrong. She screamed like a banshee and I had to wake Wayne up to help hold her. She felt like she was being molested. Who can blame her? That's done but we have to do a second tape test tomorrow morning. I am really looking forward to it.

Lastly the pee in the cup test. At the blood test I asked for the little hat thing that you place in the toilet and all she has to do is pee normally and I can pour it into the cup. Easy enough right? No, because she is stubborn as a pissed off mule. She holds it until I am not paying attention then takes the "hat" out of the toilet, pees and replaces it. *sigh*

Tomorrow I am going to have to get serious. I guess I will have to take something away...treats, her shows...whatever. She's got to pee in that darn cup. I hate pee today and I hate cups. Again, I have no idea where she gets her stubborn streak from. :)

Personalities?

Ok, my daughter has multiple personalities. I am sure of it. She absolutely refuses to speak to people. I mean refuses. And if she happens to be upset in the situation in public she won't even talk to me. However, at home, she will not shut up. Will not shut up. Sometimes it is not so cute. Some days one needs a little quiet..not a lot, just a little. And seriously, I think she has said, "mom..." like 300 times today. Honestly. I didn't count but if I had a ticker to count, I am sure it would have been close. I love that girl more than anyone in the world, but one cannot listen constantly...one must have some quiet time. Just a little...here and there... I may lose my mind. I know she needs to talk and I want her to talk to me...but for the love of all things holy, every breath is not to speak with! I am sure it would help if she spoke to someone besides me. But alas, she refuses. I have no idea where she gets her stubborn streak from. ;)

funny friendship....

Ok, I would like to think I am slightly (and I mean slightly)more sensitive than this but I think it's very humorous and I especially love #1.

1. When you are sad,

I will jump on the person

who made you sad

like a spider monkey

jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!

2. When you are blue,

I will try to dislodge

whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile,

I will know you are

plotting something

that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared,

we will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried,

I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse

it could be until you

quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6. When you are confused,

I will use little words.

7. When you are sick,

Stay away from me

until you are well again.

I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall,

I'll pick you up

and dust you off--

After I laugh my butt off!!

9. This is my oath...

I pledge it to the end.

'Why?' you may ask;

-- because you are my FRIEND!

***********************
Friendship is like peeing your pants,

everyone can see it,

but only YOU

can feel the

true warmth..

Oh Baby!

Yeah! I just got the call from my mom (and then had to call my dad and other Sister of course, cause that's how the phone tree works) that Tawni had her baby! YEAH! No details yet, not even the weight....soon though! YEAH! I am an auntie! (I have been a fictive Auntie but not a blood Auntie until this very moment!)

Fast?

How fast are you? You can check here. I tried 3 times so far and made it to bobbing bobcat. Good luck. I'd like to hear how you do, by the way and how long it took you to get there. :)

baby

My sister just called to say she has been in labor and they at at the hospital and should have the baby tonight! Yeah! She's due on the 21st so its a little early. I am so excited! Our other sister and I are headed out there on the 30th!

I pray everything goes smoothly for mom and baby.....

Blast!

Today is Wayne's birthday and earlier in the week we went to shop for his gifts. We decided to get him new church clothes. I think most of his are all from his mission. I have replaced all of his regular clothes but his church clothes are suffering. He does have some nice ties though. Anyway, we went to Kohl's cause its not attached tot he mall and I tend to avoid malls at nearly all costs. (If you read between the lines, this means I don't love shopping, I am not a window shopper, I go, I get what I need and I am done.)

Well today I took the lovely pants and shirt out to wrap them (we also got him a lovely treat to go with it and add a bit of fun-it seemed kind of dull-A HUGE chocolate covered apple.) Anyway, to my utter horror I have the wrong size pants! AHHHHH! Well, they will fit him around the waist but will be abotu 4 inches to short. Think he will notice?

Dang. Now a second trip to Kohl's is a necessity. Blast!

I don't think I have it in me to go today so I will give him the midget pants (lol) and return them next week. *sigh*

At least I got him good cheesecake and he will like his stroganoff. :)

Good Breeder

So sometimes there are funny conversations. A little background information.

We got a call from a little modeling place about Allori and it kind of caught me by surprise. She is awfully shy and super cute. lol. So I took her to the seminar where they would have her do a little audition and of course they "called her" so then we had a decision to make. Basically they wanted her to be in their classes to learn to act and model, etc. I don't know anything about any of that. It's a reputable company, that's about all I know. (John Robert Powers) I liked them better because not only did a couple of people ask if I was auditioning, but then the director asked if I had been "doing some work?" Upon answering no, she studied my face further and looking stunned and sounding the same way asked, "Why not?" I will forever love the woman. Or at least for the month, until I forget.

True, I put make up on and got myself together a bit. Anyway you shake it, My week was made better. Compliments like those came around in college, but not so much in married life...and this from an obviously straight woman-it wasn't even weird. (lol)

But as some of you know from older posts, Allori does what she wants when she is in lessons. She has done both swim lessons and dance lessons (dance lessons two separate times now) and none of them have gone spectacularly well. She is shy. There is just no getting around it. The classes are quite expensive and I am certain that even though she was offered a partial scholarship, that this isn't the right time for her to do it. These decisions are hard to make. Most people don't decide until later what industry they go into and I just hope hope hope this is the right decision for her. We can always call and take her later. They loved her, even with her shyness.

Anyway, the director just called me and I told her we were going to hold off for a while and she said, "Well, have more babies! She is so beautiful! That's my only regret....I breed so well and I only had 2 babies." hahahaha. It was too funny. Breed well. It didn't sound bad when she said it, just kind of eccentric-sounding.

I like eccentric. I used to be eccentric. Maybe I should be more eccentric. I am happy when I am eccentric.

The director is or was an actress. She just started working for the modeling agency. She just finished a movie with Val Kilmer and mostly was a stunt lady. That's kinda fun, right?

What is or was your dream job that you knew you would never really do but you drempt (sp?) of anyway? (please post)