Our first taste of snow.

Today Albuquerque got its first real taste of snow this year. We don't get tons of snow but just enough to remind me of the single thing I do not miss about living in Logan, Utah.

I remember winters when Iw as in school as I walked the short distance from the parking lot to the art building and it being so cold my nose would run and my eyes would cry - then it would freeze! Oh, there is nothing fun about that!

But isn't it a beautiful city?

Today...

my sweet friend Carrie taught me how to make Chocolate covered cherries! Yum! It was very fun, except I don't think I was very good company, I wasn't feeling so great. But it was fun for me! It would be fun to insert a photo here, they came out very pretty. I need to get going on other fun Christmas treats. Makayla makes a fabulous caramel. I'd like to make those but am not sure how serious I am about them and since you age several years while making them...haha...we'll see.

How about that?

Hmmm. Well, perhaps CYFD does do the right thing occasionally. (Nothing about this thought is intended to mean that children should not be removed from abusive or neglectful homes.) These two kids that got here Friday night went home to their dad today. Although CYFD says all (most) kids come in on a 48 hour hold I have not heard of any that went home that quickly until now. The mother was the one who was drunk driving, but stopped to brawl in the street wtih her sister. So pleasant. This 6 year old said her dad was at home, I wondered why she was not jsut taken home to her dad to begin with. Apparently the mother was so drunk she couldn't even tell them her husband was at home and could care for the children. Anyway, she was sooo excited when I told her she was goign to be with her dad. (She also said her mom was really mean but her dad was nice, he even lets her watch tv first and he will watch it second, after they watch their shows. lol)

Anyway, I have been really irritated with CYFD in days of recent so it is nice to see something work like it ought to.

And now I know I can handle 3 babies...you know if I ever had triplets or something.

One more thing

or two more things.

Allori: Angela?

Angela: Yeah?

Allori: I love you.

Allori always tells her friends (Like Andrew, Don and Isaiah) that she loves them. It is so stinking cute. Theya re all little and generally they tell her that they love her back and it is a moment of pure Heaven for me every time I hear her. It makes me proud that she is so sweet. It makes me proud that she is so loving. And it makes me proud that she is my daughter.

Today Allori and Angela were in the back yard and she comes bookin it into the house and hurriedly says, "Mom! You know the green house? Taya (one of our dogs) jumped high...high...HIGH (hand motions showing me high, high and higher-she is a hand talker which I LOVE about her) and jumped right over the fence to nino's house!" The fence happens to be like 8 feet tall so surely the dog did not jump over this fence, right? Nino is the little boy who is particularly --well I think mostly he's not social...due to lack of opportunity? That's my guess-- who lives int he house behind ours. Our back yards touch. As an example he wills tand at the back fence and try to talk with us, in Spanish (That's why Allori things his name is Nino, because when he talks with us, his family comes out and tell him to get in the house that we are monsters. Ha! Bet they woudl be embarrassed if they knew Wayne wpoke Spanish and knew they called him a monster. Hehehe. Funny to us though, cause Wayne is so friendly looking, dont' you think? Anyway...) and I will always talk with him but I dont' go up the fnce close, I guess I don't see much of a point in it. But he can sometimes lure a child over there. Sounds friendly for him to want tot alk with us right? Well one of our experiences..he lured Jena over tot alk with him. I believe he was buck naked. And Jena went up to him (after she ran in to tell me he was naked of course) and then he POKED poor unsespecting Jena right in the eye. Yes! Through the chainlink fence he stuck his finger through and poked her eye. One time he grabbed her fingerand wouldn't let go. Anyway, it's a tiny bit funny to me.

Back to our previously scheduled story. So both Wayne and I hop up and head out to see if our dog truly jumped the fence. Sure enough Taya was over in Nino's yard. Huh. How did that happen? And how do we get her back? LOL

Wayne went closer to inspect and found that she had dug her way through...right under the fence. I called her (from the back door) and she tried to get back into our yard. Wayne had to help her a bit to squeeze through and then he blocked the hole temporarily. Crazy mutt.

Today

We've been finding some good Christmas movies on tv. I guess I generally don't look for them. Until this year. I would definitely recommend Silver Bells being shown on WE and The Christmas Choir showing on The Hallmark Channel. Today we found one that wasn't a Christmas movie but seemed watch worthy. It was titled Front of the Class on a local channel. It was quite good. I cried like 6 times. Ok, maybe 3, I'm not sure really...the last 4 times kind of ran together covering the last 1/2 hour. Horomones? Yeah I think so too. Then I was reading blogs and as I was reading my friends blog I called Wayne over to show him the feature pictures. Nearly right after that, I messaged my dad that I loved him and the tear ducks opened again making way for the flood. I don't know why. I pointed out to Wayne that I was obviously on the weepy part of my cycle. He looks over and says, "Are you crying cause Rasband shot a deer?" It sounded so ridiculous that I laughed hysterically...and yes...more tears. Happy ones this time! but tears none the less.


Trisha: Um someone named their blog (xxxx). [I found it interesting, name left out to protect the guilty-not Kristine, thought I would mention that since her blog is referenced above.]

Wayne: What is the name of your blog?

Trisha: These days...

Wayne: [From kitchen] That was the best you could come up with?

Trisha: Ummmm, yeah I guess so. [squinty eyes at his inquiry]

Wayne: [silence, though not an unusual response from Wayno]

Trisha: What would you have called it? [If he can judge, he can add imput. lol]

Wayne: Wayne's blog.

Trisha: Good idea but in order to have your name in the title, you might actually have to have something to do with it....like reading it. [Thinking I am clever cause to my knowledge he has never read it. I have asked if he wanted the address once and he declined. lol]

Wayne: [silence again but since he returned to the livingroom, I scould see his incriminating smile]

Trisha: [Stunned] You've read it?.....when did you read it? How did you find it?

Wayne: [Silence and silly smirk]

Trisha: [Lots of questions, still feeling stunned] You read it?

Wayne: I've read it.

Trisha: huh. Well good thing I don't talk bad about you.

Wayne: Except that one time.

Trisha: [wondering if he really ever reads it although as you know I don't talk poorly of him...on here...hehe. kidding. Hmm.]

Today at church it was a little bit crazy. Three babies 17 months and under missing their naps makes for grumpy babies. Because our babies are all too young to attend nursery on their own and taking three babies to sunday school with only four arms between us isn't a great idea we will go to nursery and just stay there and help out a bit. Anyway today we were having singing time lead by my sweet friend Kristine (who's blog was referenced above) and we were singing lots of fun kid songs.

Now I know the song, "Where is Thumbkin." I sung it as a child and know all of the words...I thought. I had NO idea it had 5 verses. I only knew one. Unfortunately in the middle of Church Singing time for small children (under 4) I was struck with a sudden bout of juvenile humor. Now I have a few friends who I haven't seen in a while but who, when we hung out, juvenile humor was rampant. So when we started to sing verse two, "Where is pointer..." I was surious and interested...this was all new to me. I followed along pretty well. But then verse three started. "Where is tall man..." I just could not contain my laughter. I don't know ok. I obviously am not in control of my emotions (when am I?) and I laughed...out loud...several times. No one laughed with me. LOL. Still though, funny, right? I thought it was good times and hey, now I know. Wayne and I just sang a round of verse three. He apparently enjoyed it as well. As did the kids in the video. So they are 8....good times, right?

By the way, I do not flip people off...even when I am driving. I just thought it was funny that we were all waving our "tall men" around and singing. My friend Cammie-her dad used to say that I was simple. He's right. I am. And I am glad. I hope to find joy in simple everyday things more often.

Better get to bed soon...tomorrow Wayne leaves at 7:00am. He has his ultrasound on his hurting gut at 8:00 which means it will be my first day alone with five kids. Angela is in Kindergarten but she doesn't know what school she goes to and CYFD hasn't figured it out yet. So no school tomorrow. Might be interesting loading 5 kids up early enoguh to get her tos chool everyday. I wonder how thats going to work. I have gotten pretty good at having 2 babies on my hips (which are plentiful..ahhahahahah) at the same time. I don't think though that there is room for another one. I did however hold all three of them on (or near) my lap my lap duirng Sacrament. There was a lack of young men to pass the Sacrament so they asked Wayne (among a handful of other men) to pass it. He looked at me with a cute questioning smile. I gave him the go-ahead nod with the wish-me-luck look on my face. Josiah and Issy are jealous and generally want to be held when the other is being held, etc. And Leland wants to be held every waking moment. And that is no exageration. He cries constantly unless I am holding him or he is asleep. That's not really going to work well. Hopefully time will help.

By the way when we adopt Josiah, we will alter his current 4 part name to a 3 part name and will be calling him Porter. We have always called him both Josiah and Porter. I think because I felt right away we might get to adopt him. Nothing is ever certain with CYFD, but we hope to be able to adopt him next year. Porter is part of his four part name and although we will leave Josiah as his first name, we will call him Porter which will be his middle name. There are a couple of reasons we would alter his name. First I would want him to feel like he is our son in every way possible including having a hand in choosing his name. I think Porter is a very strong handsome name and is more unique, like I like. Also, Wayne goes by his middle name, did you know that? All of his brothers and his dad go by their middle names. Even one of his two sisters goes by her middle name. (Not sure why the other sister's name pattern got switched up.) I am not sure that I love the going by your middle name thing but I do see the value in doing special things in making an adopted child feel as much a part of our family as possible. This is something they can share, a similarity.

What do you think about a name change? In theory I think its wierd. But....I think my reasons trump that opinion so that's our plan.

I have a friend who just adopted two of her foster babies. She changed at least one of their names. It was kind of funny to me because she kept calling him by both names to me, for months, and finally I got the idea she was doing that for my benefit so I told her it was fine to call him whatever she wanted.

I get where she was on that though because at home we call Porter, Porter most of the time. But when we are out around others who have been introduced to him as Josiah, we call him that. How do we solve this dilemma? One of Wayne's brother's heard us call him Porter when we were recently in Blanding and asked why. I told him. Basically what I just told you and from then on he and my sister in law called him Porter. I thought it was cool. Cool, meaning I felt he stepped up and was very respectful. I might not have expected that. I know it seems like a simple thing...I guess he saw the value in his name and the value in him being part of OUR family, being part of his family. (I don't find it offensive or anything when others still call him Josiah after hearing our plan by the way, I think its a funny situation.) Anyway, share your thoughts.....

And goodnight. Sleep well....

babies

This is Allori with some of her babies. I think her bed looks big but it is a twin. She sometimes falls off because she gives her babies so much of the bed. She has taken to bringing a few of them with us when we leave. She buckles then so everyone is safe.

Speaking of babies...last night we got a call asking if we would take two more children. We got another baby boy (9 months old) and his 6 year old sister. Today went well. Hope it keeps going that way. :)

A day at the park

When we were in Chicago, we had a family day at the park, amongst 1200 other activities, We packed quite a lot into 5 days. Allori is braving this pole ladder thing. Isn't she beautiful?

Below is the most ridiculous, foolish thing I have done (since being a mom.) They had this HUGE swing. It was like the big chair in that old movie, "Big." Is was soo funny. I was laughing so hard while swinging, I nearly wet.

Above: My handsome brothers Jordan and Jacob. Below: My beautiful Allori.

Frisky

At Jena's birthday party, Juliana wanted to take lots and lots of pictures. she got this one...It kills me every time I see it. Looks like Wayne was trying to get a little bit frisky. hehehe...might have that next baby after all! Hahahaha.......

Happy Birthday Jena!

We recently attended Jena's birthday party. She is three now! It was very fun. We were of course the only white people there and the only people other than Jena, Juliana and one other lady (and their dad a little) who spoke English. EVERYONE was watching us all night...I guess "the foster parents" were intriguing...? Jena's dad went all out. He had invites printed well in advance, had one of those big jumping things, a massive cake, a big traditional Mexican feast, pinata, etc. Jena, however was not interested in a thing. She only wanted Wayne or I which (selfishly) was wonderful, for the entire evening. We were very clear when she was making the transition home that she woudl no longer live with us but would be able to visit. So lots of times when they visit, Juliana also very clearly says, we came to VISIT you. Well at Jena's party she kept saying, "I want to come SLEEP at your house." She put all of her emphasis on SLEEP so I woudl know she didn't want to just come for a visit. I am far...FAR stricter than her dad. Of course they hated it when they were here, but I suppose it's right what they say...children need that stability. One thing I have noticed, being a strict parent, is that it really shows the children that you have expectations of them. most of the biological parents we have worked with have little or no expectations of their children. I think it shows them we lvoe and trust them to be good people when we have expectations of them. Anyway...happy birthday Jena! We miss you! Doesn't Wayne make a great princess? ;)

Allori get her ears pierced.

My mom wanted to pierce Allori's ears last year but Wayne didn't think she was quite old enough to make that decision so we held off but he thought she was big enough this year so when we went to Chicago, my mom got her ears pierced for her birthday. She was such a little trooper. Not a single tear did she shed! My mom bought her a second pair as a gift and so she woudl have a gift to open at the tri-bithday party we had for her, my brother Jake and my dad. So she got to pick out her earrings that her ears were pierced with. She chose cute little pink/clear flowers. They are darling. So is she! Also here is a picture (kind of) of Allori with her grandma.

Boys will be boys

So here are some pictures of my boys being....boys. In my house that equates to being naughty. ;)

It's interesting having two because one of them will figure out some naughty thing to do and the moment I tell him to stop the other one decides it looks fun. Hmm!

In the second picture, Josiah kept following Issy fom one side of the couch to the other and dog piling him. Issy didn't think it was so fun, but it was kind of funny.

The final one is the boys helping to unload groceries.

What a week....

Seriously. Wayne being sick has really throw our week off. I feel so bad for the poor guy. He is still out working on the roofs every day. And I have had a migraine for 2 days. That however is the least of my problems. Tonight my Josiah had a seizure and scared the daylights out of me.

He gets this terrible fever (up to 102.9) when he gets immunizations. Both times so far it has lasted for exactly 10 tens. So I talked with his Dr and she talked with the Infectious Disease specialist and they felt it was ok unless the fever spiked to 105 or he had a seizure. Well both times it went about the same so I felt I knew what to expect. Wrong! He has been grumpy, which is par and has the fever. Shots were last Wednesday. Tonight when we got home I put the boys in their highchairs and began to get their dinner when I suddenly noticed him--not sure what specifically caught my attention but I stopped and looked at him and his eyes closed a little and they suddenly started to bounce up and down. It only lasted 10 seconds or so but that was long enough.

He screamed the moment it was done. I grabbed him and ran to the phone. Is tarted to call the nurse hot line...hung up...started to call Wayne...hung up...called 911. (I do very well in emergencies except when they involve my kids. One of the last times Allori fell and got hurt, she screams awful sometimes and then she stops breathing. We can usually give her a small shake and blow in her face and she takes a breath. Well one time we were in Blanding she fell, screamed, no sound comes out, then she stops breathing. I follow protacol and blow in her face and jar her a little, nothing...again...nothing...again...nothing...her body goes limp...I freak...I scream....My sister in law grabs her and puts her on the floor...she starts CPR...I call 911....Chris got her back. I lost several years of my life. Thank Heavens Chris was there. Anyway, I apparently freeze when it's my own kid.)

They think it was due to his high fever and shots. Said it was ok if i just keep a really close eye on him. If it happens again we are so going to the hospital. For now I am nervous to let him out of my sight so he is asleep in my arms. He is a beautiful boy.

I was so afraid. I just kept thinking...what would I do without Josiah? I really feel that he is our baby. Forever....

We were told today that we get a new worker on Issy's case. YEAH! No one will cry about that. I don't know what that guy was getting paid for, he sure didn't seem to do much. We also learned that due to a hitch they found, Issy will not be going to live with his sister. We thought he would go home to her before or around Christmas. Looks like he will be with us for the long haul. That's fine with us. We love our babies!

No change on Wayne's illness. The Dr thinks he has pancreatitis. They should get his blood work back in the next day or so and He has an ultrasound on his gut scheduled for Monday. That will tell them definitively. Poor guy.

God thing I spent a lot of time last week on getting ready for Christmas cause that kind of came to a total hault! That's ok. As my friend and her mama say, "It came to pass, it didnt' come to stay." This too shall pass!