18 months ago our lives changed when we became foster parents for our nieces and nephew and we was scared. Skip and I may not of shown it but we was terrfied. We had no idea what we was getting ourselves into and had no idea how we was going to parent six children. We was already raising our two children one that is severely handicap and adding four children with severe emoctional problems and 3 of them children with severe learning problems.It was scary.
It was a task one we knew would be the right thing to do but the right thing is not always the easy thing to do. Our son Dylan was so very angry. Angry at his biological mother angry at everyone that abused him and angry at every woman on the face of the earth. He was wise beyond his years in many ways and in many ways just a little boy. Today our son is almost 16 years old ( this month!!) and doing so good. We no longer argue with him and he no longer hates weman. Everyday I am honered to get a hug and a kiss right when he gets home. He tells me he loves me many times during the day and is no longer on a very low level in school. He is now around 6th and 7th grade level and doing so good. He still struggles a great deal with making and keeping friends but he has came such a long way. We could not be more proud of him. By the way.. When they say Teens can eat you out of house and home? that's true HA HA!
Our daughter Alexandrea ohh sweet Alexandrea. She came here throwing the biggest the longest fits I have ever seen a child throw. She was convinced she HAD to have a boy friend and had to be so much more grown then her age. Although she had no problem in her grades and is on level and even in advanced math she struggled with making the correct friends. Alexandrea has a very strong will and at times would make fun and belittle the other children. She was our primadoa . Today Alexandrea is 11 years old and so much more loving and caring to others. She is eager to help others and making a lot better choices for friends. She does awsome in school! Alexandrea is turning into such a wonderful young lady and we are very proud of her!
Our sweet twins. Sherilynn and Cayleann. When we first got the twins we had no idea which way was up! Cayleann is the oldest twin and thought Sherilynn had to agree with everything she said. If we asked a question she would answer for them both not allowing her sister to answer. She is our" mothering child" and loves to help others. Although some would think this is great however she was not putting herself first but always putting others first. Both of the twins was severely behind in schooling and emoctionally years and years behind. Sherilynn had a eatting problem when we first got her. She would not eat as she had unfortunally learned food was not something she had often. She was very underweight and very small for her age. She was shy and getting her to speak was a hard task. Today both Cayleann and Sherilynn both have their own voice and they are very much different from each other. Cayleann now does not answer for her sister and Sherilynn has found her own voice ( even thought it is very quiet!) That's not always a bad thing! Sherilynn eats a lot better and sometimes will even ask for seconds! Although she still does not eat as well as we would like she is soo getting there! School wise they are doing GREAT! Our twins are not so little anymore and we are so proud of them.They are now 10 years old and emoctionally almost right on track.
Adopting the four children this past June was a big change not only for our adoptive children but also for Andrianna and Dallas. I could not be more proud of both of them. Andrianna has accepted and welcomed the children as her sisters and brother with open arms. She is so very loving to them all. They do argue like sisters and brothers do but she is so giving to them. She is understanding when they are having a bad day and cheers them up anytime she can. We was really worried for awhile about how this would effect Andrianna and Dallas but it has worked out really nice. I Know life is not the same now as it was then but I have to say althought we don't have some of the things we used to have and may never do some of the things we once thought we could that our life our home our family is such a happy thing for us. We are blessed beyond blessings. All the children are soooooooooooooooooooo good to Dallas! Dylan and Dallas are best friends! The girls love to help with Dallas and they are all so very protective of him. Dallas just loves spending time with all of them and with pride says he loves his sissys and bubba.
This is still a learning experiance for us and yes we still have hard times and we are still learning what it takes to raise six children. The children are far from healed but we work on it everyday. Some days are bad and some days are good then we have some GREAT days. The stress on Skip and I has been pretty bad at times but it seems everyday the stress goes away a little by little. i can tell you right now our stress level is sooo much lower then it was just a year ago. Skip and I are learning to spend time with each other and learning to juggle our life as parents of six. I can honestly say I am falling in love with my husband all over again. He is such a wonderful man to me and our children.
When we decided to adopt the children I wondered if I could love them as much as I loved Andrianna and Dallas. I can honestly say I do! We both do! It does not even cross my mind most of the time that they are adopted because they are equal in our eyes.
We have learned so much this last 18 months. We have learned when you are pushed to the limits all you need to do is have faith in yourself . We have learned when things seem bad good days are right around the block. Although we still worry at times I am happier right now then I have been in a very long time and I am so greatful for our six little blessings.
Thank you all for being here for my family these last few years. You have all helped me when I've had bad days and been there to celebrate the good days. I love you all hope you know you all have a special place in my heart and in my family.
We are still alive, Update
Just very busy! We got the kids Birth certificates in!! With their new names and US US US US US as parents!! SO exciting! All of the children are doing so very well right now. We are all getting ready for the big winter storm which we are totally not excited about. Hubby and I are going shopping for supplies as soon as he gets home.
On to more exciting news Dallas has learned his finger can go up his nose LOL and today he put his shoe on all by himself!! Dylan has tested 6th grade in his reading !!!! and the Twins are almost on age level now! Alexandrea is doing great in school and Andrianna has her first crush "boy friend" .
Life is starting to settle in and we can see the end of the tunel now!! Hubby and I are going on vacation to mexico this summer just me and him ( OH MY GOSH!) I am excited!! We will be staying at a adult only resort(no kids for a week wowser!) and we just can't wait!!
I guess thats it from us for now. Hoping everyone is doing good!
On to more exciting news Dallas has learned his finger can go up his nose LOL and today he put his shoe on all by himself!! Dylan has tested 6th grade in his reading !!!! and the Twins are almost on age level now! Alexandrea is doing great in school and Andrianna has her first crush "boy friend" .
Life is starting to settle in and we can see the end of the tunel now!! Hubby and I are going on vacation to mexico this summer just me and him ( OH MY GOSH!) I am excited!! We will be staying at a adult only resort(no kids for a week wowser!) and we just can't wait!!
I guess thats it from us for now. Hoping everyone is doing good!
Dallas said
Last night when putting Dallas to sleep he sad goodnight MOMMY I love you MOMMY sleep good MOMMY . He said it ALL AT ONCE us Prompting him. I got so excited I said say it again Dallas. and he repeated goodnight MOMMY I love you MOMMY sleep good MOMMY I bet I asked him to say it 5 times before he finally said. Good night Mommy Mommy say good night Dallas. LOL!! We always tell him Good night Dallas I love you sleep good Dallas. can you tell us good night Dallas? and sometimes he'll say good night mommy I love you Dallas sleep well Dallas. but this time it was goodnight MOMMY I love you MOMMY sleep good MOMMY and we did not even have to ask him to tell us. We just told him it was time to get ready for bed and he said it!
His daddy asked him to tell him and he had went back to " Good night Dallas I love you Dallas sleep good Dallas" Poor skip he was so hoping for the DADDY or DA DA But this is a big step and we are happy and we know it will be DADDY and DA DA soon!! IT was so coooll to hear it we just kept asking him to say it again until (opps) he got annoyed lol and said say good night Dallas LOL
Anyways I thought I'd share and yes it was totally worth the 10 year wait. Magical.
His daddy asked him to tell him and he had went back to " Good night Dallas I love you Dallas sleep good Dallas" Poor skip he was so hoping for the DADDY or DA DA But this is a big step and we are happy and we know it will be DADDY and DA DA soon!! IT was so coooll to hear it we just kept asking him to say it again until (opps) he got annoyed lol and said say good night Dallas LOL
Anyways I thought I'd share and yes it was totally worth the 10 year wait. Magical.
Less then perfect
My husband and I have been struggling in the relationship department during the last year.The stress of everything has really gotten to us. We love each other so much but sometimes we just go to bed in tears.The children have been such a giant blessing for us but it's been really stressful at times. Disowning my sister has been one of the hardest thing i've ever did in my life. I can't and won't have her around our children.( and no mistaken they are OUR children now)
I know it was the right thing to do. Adopting the children was the right thing to do and neither one of us will ever regret it but it was a long road leading up to adopting them.I worry about my sister sometimes it keeps me up at night with worry and tears. Is she out there alone? Can she kick the drug problem? Does she miss her birth children? Then we get a call that she has been beaten up by yet another boy friend and there is nothing we can do. I cant and won't bring her here. We offer for a taxi to take her to a battered Shelter but she refuses.Offer to find a way to get her into Drug rehab and she refuses. I know I can no longer help her but it hurts.
She gets upset when I tell her to no longer call us and she gets mad because she can not speak to her birth children but they are OUR children and if they spoke to her it would harm them and push back everything we have worked so hard at this last year and half. They have told the counselor and told us they don't want to speak to her as she scares them and has hurt them so badly in everyway she could. She refused a goodbye visit with them before her rights was taken away , she was told them by the judge and the workers she wouldnt get another chance and she has not and won't. I won't risk OUR children for her. She has threatened me to other people saying she is going to get me but I know it's the meth talking. I just miss who she was when she was younger so very badly. I miss it with every inch of my body. I lost my sister and it hurts.
My husband is my personal hero. He did not have to marry me and provide me with a better chance at life. What would I of been with out him? Just another Foster child that aged out of the system? another failure? Would I of been like my biological sister? He saved me and he saved my sisters birth children when we adopted them. He has helped me break the cycle of child abuse in my biological family that was decades long. How will I ever thank him? He says he is not a hero that he didnt do this alone but with out him I couldnt of did this. He makes me strong and keeps me going and shows me the good in people.
I have spent my whole life trying to help people and save people and sometimes I forget to slow down and spend a little time on myself. I think both me and my husband has forgotten this in the last year and half , We have been so focused on the six children that we forget ourself sometimes.
I try to blog against child abuse but it seems no one cares so why bother. I try to help people only to be stepped on. I do have a Dr. I talk to about these things but it just hurts sometimes. She says we went threw something traumatic and it will take time to heal. Some day and some weeks heck some months are great and then some days and some nights after the children go to bed my husband and I just sit and talk and I just worry I couldn't save my sister and for that I feel like a failure. I don't even know why I am posting this. Please don't think it is to get pitty as we dont need or want pitty or for anyone to feel sorry for us. We are blessed beyond blessings. I guess I am posting to say hey see I failed my sister I am not perfect or a miracle worker. I am human and far from perfect
I know it was the right thing to do. Adopting the children was the right thing to do and neither one of us will ever regret it but it was a long road leading up to adopting them.I worry about my sister sometimes it keeps me up at night with worry and tears. Is she out there alone? Can she kick the drug problem? Does she miss her birth children? Then we get a call that she has been beaten up by yet another boy friend and there is nothing we can do. I cant and won't bring her here. We offer for a taxi to take her to a battered Shelter but she refuses.Offer to find a way to get her into Drug rehab and she refuses. I know I can no longer help her but it hurts.
She gets upset when I tell her to no longer call us and she gets mad because she can not speak to her birth children but they are OUR children and if they spoke to her it would harm them and push back everything we have worked so hard at this last year and half. They have told the counselor and told us they don't want to speak to her as she scares them and has hurt them so badly in everyway she could. She refused a goodbye visit with them before her rights was taken away , she was told them by the judge and the workers she wouldnt get another chance and she has not and won't. I won't risk OUR children for her. She has threatened me to other people saying she is going to get me but I know it's the meth talking. I just miss who she was when she was younger so very badly. I miss it with every inch of my body. I lost my sister and it hurts.
My husband is my personal hero. He did not have to marry me and provide me with a better chance at life. What would I of been with out him? Just another Foster child that aged out of the system? another failure? Would I of been like my biological sister? He saved me and he saved my sisters birth children when we adopted them. He has helped me break the cycle of child abuse in my biological family that was decades long. How will I ever thank him? He says he is not a hero that he didnt do this alone but with out him I couldnt of did this. He makes me strong and keeps me going and shows me the good in people.
I have spent my whole life trying to help people and save people and sometimes I forget to slow down and spend a little time on myself. I think both me and my husband has forgotten this in the last year and half , We have been so focused on the six children that we forget ourself sometimes.
I try to blog against child abuse but it seems no one cares so why bother. I try to help people only to be stepped on. I do have a Dr. I talk to about these things but it just hurts sometimes. She says we went threw something traumatic and it will take time to heal. Some day and some weeks heck some months are great and then some days and some nights after the children go to bed my husband and I just sit and talk and I just worry I couldn't save my sister and for that I feel like a failure. I don't even know why I am posting this. Please don't think it is to get pitty as we dont need or want pitty or for anyone to feel sorry for us. We are blessed beyond blessings. I guess I am posting to say hey see I failed my sister I am not perfect or a miracle worker. I am human and far from perfect
Me
Hi! thought I'd share a few pics I took of myself today.See there is a person behind the words lol
Safe Sunday Cyber Bullying Statistics that may Shock You!
What would you do if your teenager was browsing the internet only to find their photo posted on another blog where someone was making fun of them? You would be pretty upset correct? I know I would. But what would you think when you found out that person was not a Teenager as the stats say but yet a Grown adult with a child of her own?
This week I read a blog on momdot where the owner herself made a post from a Airport where she mocked and made fun of not one but two under age children. Can you believe that? Her excuse? she was trying to make people aware of children being over weight. This is why she just HAD to blog on the issue...... That's why she also made fun of the others in her blog that day......... No it's not she was just being plain mean and hurtful..
Being a bully is NOT OK. it is not OK if your doing it in person and it's not OK if your doing it on line.
I remember a story not to long ago where another mother acted like a Teenagers boy friend then broke up with her on my space only for the teenager to kill herself later that night in her room.
When is ENOUGH enough? I Say it is enough already. I am going to post some Stats but remember when you read these stats they are speaking of CHILDREN not grown adults, who would of thunk you would of needed to do the stats on Grown adults? NOT ME.
Bullying is nothing new to school or youth culture. The past several decades in the United States have seen a remarkably consistent pattern, with bullying beginning in the elementary school years, peaking in frequency and intensity during junior high school (grades six through eight) and leveling off (but continuing) through high school.
But the rise of the Internet as a mean of regular communication between our children has opened up new doors for those who wish to bully other children. Chat rooms, My Space, email, instant messaging and other on line tools have all helped create the cyber bullying epidemic
Statistics about cyberbullying
According to the National Crime Prevention Center, over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied on line during the past year.
Girls are more likely than boys to be the target of cyberbullying. Also, there is a direct correlation to the amount of time girls spend on line and the likelihood that they will be bullied.
The National Crime Prevention Center National Crime Prevention Center study found that only 10% of those kids who were bullied told their parents about the incident, and that a mere 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
Only 15% of parents are “in the know” about their kids’ social networking habits, and how these behaviors can lead to cyberbullying.
Currently, the most common virtual locations for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking web sites, email and instant message systems.
Of the technologies above, chat rooms are currently where the most cyberbullying occurs, with various sources finding anywhere between 45% - 57% of all incidents originating there.
Social networking sites such as Face book and My Space are growing fast, and so are the cyberbullying incidents originating from them. Experts believe that they will soon overtake chat rooms as the top source of cyberbullying problems worldwide.
According to a recent study, 58% of 4th through 8th graders reported having mean or cruel things said to them online. 53% said that they have said mean or hurtful things to others while online. 42% of those studied said that they had been “bullied online”, but almost 60% have never told their parents about the incident.
Cell phone cameras and digital cameras are a growing problem in the cyberbullying world. A recent survey found that 10% of 770 young people surveyed were made to feel “threatened, embarrassed or uncomfortable” by a photo taken of them using a cell-phone camera.
According to extensive research on middle school age students and teenagers online, the fastest growing problems within the world of cyberbullying are:
Stealing an individual’s name and password to a social networking site, then using their profile to post rumors, gossip or other damaging information.
Altering photographs using PhotoShop or other photo editing software in order to humiliate the individual.
Recording conversations without the individual’s knowledge or consent, then posting the call online.
Creating confrontational and mean-spirited online polls about the individual and posting them on different web sites.
Using web sites and blogs to post hurtful, embarrassing information about another individual
Did you read that? This is exactly what Trisha at Momdot did. She is a Cyber bully. The worse of them actually as she uses her blog to make money there for she is using this teenager girl she posted about as a way to make more views on her blog and in return get more money. unfortunately the Coward has made that blog post password protective but thankfully you can view it here so you can see for yourself exactly what she's like. I have taken out the faces of the innocent children as I don't want to spread it around but it was not taken out in her post. I have also taken all over photo's off of it. I am not going to post a screen shot with her child's face showing her or husbands or the other bloggers. I don't feel it would be right. BTW the young girl ( both of them ) that she made fun of in her post are both beautiful!
Do you think what this mom blogger did is OK? if not can you please sign this petition to show her and to show her Sponsors it is NOT OK and we are not going to stand around while She uses innocent children to make money.
http://www.petitiononline.com/102102/
If you are one of the bloggers that think what she is doing is OK. Please no longer follow my blog as I won't be following yours
This week I read a blog on momdot where the owner herself made a post from a Airport where she mocked and made fun of not one but two under age children. Can you believe that? Her excuse? she was trying to make people aware of children being over weight. This is why she just HAD to blog on the issue...... That's why she also made fun of the others in her blog that day......... No it's not she was just being plain mean and hurtful..
Being a bully is NOT OK. it is not OK if your doing it in person and it's not OK if your doing it on line.
I remember a story not to long ago where another mother acted like a Teenagers boy friend then broke up with her on my space only for the teenager to kill herself later that night in her room.
When is ENOUGH enough? I Say it is enough already. I am going to post some Stats but remember when you read these stats they are speaking of CHILDREN not grown adults, who would of thunk you would of needed to do the stats on Grown adults? NOT ME.
Bullying is nothing new to school or youth culture. The past several decades in the United States have seen a remarkably consistent pattern, with bullying beginning in the elementary school years, peaking in frequency and intensity during junior high school (grades six through eight) and leveling off (but continuing) through high school.
But the rise of the Internet as a mean of regular communication between our children has opened up new doors for those who wish to bully other children. Chat rooms, My Space, email, instant messaging and other on line tools have all helped create the cyber bullying epidemic
Statistics about cyberbullying
According to the National Crime Prevention Center, over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied on line during the past year.
Girls are more likely than boys to be the target of cyberbullying. Also, there is a direct correlation to the amount of time girls spend on line and the likelihood that they will be bullied.
The National Crime Prevention Center National Crime Prevention Center study found that only 10% of those kids who were bullied told their parents about the incident, and that a mere 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
Only 15% of parents are “in the know” about their kids’ social networking habits, and how these behaviors can lead to cyberbullying.
Currently, the most common virtual locations for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking web sites, email and instant message systems.
Of the technologies above, chat rooms are currently where the most cyberbullying occurs, with various sources finding anywhere between 45% - 57% of all incidents originating there.
Social networking sites such as Face book and My Space are growing fast, and so are the cyberbullying incidents originating from them. Experts believe that they will soon overtake chat rooms as the top source of cyberbullying problems worldwide.
According to a recent study, 58% of 4th through 8th graders reported having mean or cruel things said to them online. 53% said that they have said mean or hurtful things to others while online. 42% of those studied said that they had been “bullied online”, but almost 60% have never told their parents about the incident.
Cell phone cameras and digital cameras are a growing problem in the cyberbullying world. A recent survey found that 10% of 770 young people surveyed were made to feel “threatened, embarrassed or uncomfortable” by a photo taken of them using a cell-phone camera.
According to extensive research on middle school age students and teenagers online, the fastest growing problems within the world of cyberbullying are:
Stealing an individual’s name and password to a social networking site, then using their profile to post rumors, gossip or other damaging information.
Altering photographs using PhotoShop or other photo editing software in order to humiliate the individual.
Recording conversations without the individual’s knowledge or consent, then posting the call online.
Creating confrontational and mean-spirited online polls about the individual and posting them on different web sites.
Using web sites and blogs to post hurtful, embarrassing information about another individual
Did you read that? This is exactly what Trisha at Momdot did. She is a Cyber bully. The worse of them actually as she uses her blog to make money there for she is using this teenager girl she posted about as a way to make more views on her blog and in return get more money. unfortunately the Coward has made that blog post password protective but thankfully you can view it here so you can see for yourself exactly what she's like. I have taken out the faces of the innocent children as I don't want to spread it around but it was not taken out in her post. I have also taken all over photo's off of it. I am not going to post a screen shot with her child's face showing her or husbands or the other bloggers. I don't feel it would be right. BTW the young girl ( both of them ) that she made fun of in her post are both beautiful!
Do you think what this mom blogger did is OK? if not can you please sign this petition to show her and to show her Sponsors it is NOT OK and we are not going to stand around while She uses innocent children to make money.
http://www.petitiononline.com/102102/
If you are one of the bloggers that think what she is doing is OK. Please no longer follow my blog as I won't be following yours
There you go your a Idiot Trina
As you know I am a type 1 Diabetic and when I get sick I do it with style. For the past couple weeks I've been struggling with my blood sugar in secret It had been going up past 600 going to 300 with shots and going back up with out me eating. Well I say in secret I flipped out on my best friend this morning and we was goggling no carb meals for those that *GAG * on meat as in HATE MEAT! lol that would be ME!
Finally I just went to the Dr went I felt like I was going to fall out. After a EKG on my heart, A Xray a blood test and urine test because you know no day is complete without them test!! I found out I had glucose and Ketones in my urine. A few more test and what do you know no wonder I felt like tired and my blood sugar was out of control I have a infection in my lungs causing my blood sugar to go high.
I should know better! Shame on me. Sometimes I forget taking care of me is important also. I knew my blood sugar was out of control but I was eating right and I had a cough and I was wore out I figured I was just tired and needed some extra rest. I need to learn to listen to my own body.
Good news is after IV meds I am feeling a lot better tonight and my blood sugar is down in the 100's! Bad news is I am on instructions to REST REST REST and my DH is going to be cooking the Turkey Thanks Giving! Here is to hoping he learned a few things from me over the years! I am still going to do the dressings for the kids no matter what he says lol Something has to be eatable ha ha! J/k I think he'll do fine!
If you don't hear from me Friday Call for back up!
Finally I just went to the Dr went I felt like I was going to fall out. After a EKG on my heart, A Xray a blood test and urine test because you know no day is complete without them test!! I found out I had glucose and Ketones in my urine. A few more test and what do you know no wonder I felt like tired and my blood sugar was out of control I have a infection in my lungs causing my blood sugar to go high.
I should know better! Shame on me. Sometimes I forget taking care of me is important also. I knew my blood sugar was out of control but I was eating right and I had a cough and I was wore out I figured I was just tired and needed some extra rest. I need to learn to listen to my own body.
Good news is after IV meds I am feeling a lot better tonight and my blood sugar is down in the 100's! Bad news is I am on instructions to REST REST REST and my DH is going to be cooking the Turkey Thanks Giving! Here is to hoping he learned a few things from me over the years! I am still going to do the dressings for the kids no matter what he says lol Something has to be eatable ha ha! J/k I think he'll do fine!
If you don't hear from me Friday Call for back up!
