One on one time...

Billy and I have talked about spending time with each of the boys on their own but it just doesn't seem like time allows it. Well tonight I had to go get a new windshield wiper and I took "K"with me. Now I must tell you, it was Billy's idea to take him along for a ride. I was excited about the thought of going to the store alone. Quiet time is very hard to come by lately and we both jump at it when we get the chance. I am very glad Billy was able to convince me to take a buddy along for a ride. We went to Sam's Club, Hobby Lobby and Walmart. We also stopped off at McDonald's for a quick bit to eat. While at McDonalds, I was being silly and "K" said to the lady at the counter "Look at my Mommy, she is being silly!" I loved hearing that! We had a great time talking about kindergarten and preschool. We discussed how you can't get married until you are a lot bigger, like 100 years old! I had a shopping cart pushed into my ankle because the little man wants to push the cart. We looked at things that we want to ask Santa for, which included pretty much anything in the toy department. 

While sitting at McDonald's, we were talking about things that "K" is learning at school. I know they are talking about pilgrims and Thanksgiving this week at school. While we were talking about it, I began to think how different this holiday season is going to be for us and for Diane and Grover. We get to enjoy having the boys at our home for Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time. On the flip side, Diane and Grover will be spending their first holidays without the boys in three years. I also started thinking about how much their biological parents have missed out on. Sitting talking to "K" today I just looked at him with this look of amazement at this neat little boy sitting across from me. What neat little men they missed out on. It makes me sad to think that someone could be selfish enough to care more about their own life rather then the life of a person who can't take care of themselves. As I was talking to Billy about my thoughts, we both said that the boys may not be who they are today if they had stayed with the parents who gave birth to them. Like we have said so many times before, the screw up of someone else's life has been a HUGE gain for Billy and I. We feel very, very luck to have the boys sleeping in the next room and to call home here!  

One month later...

Well one month ago today our boys moved into our home. WOW! A month has gone by really quickly at times but feels like forever at others. This weekend Billy said it feels like we have had the boys from birth. I would have to agree with him. It doesn't really seem like just a month and a day ago we were just two! November is the official start of our 6 month waiting period to apply for adoption. Until then, the boys are just placed in a pre-adoptive foster home. 6 months sounds like a long time but considering the speed of the past month, April will be here before we know it. 

This past weekend, Billy and I took the boys to The Great Wolf Lodge with Cara, Doug and Hannah. We had a good time celebrating the adoption of such a special little girl. The kids loved the water. I definitely think the favorite part were the 4 kid water slides. By the end of the night, the slides had three little butt marks from the many trips they took. Hannah took the cake on the water intake though. She was too funny when she would purposely fall into the water. It still amazes me that just a year ago, she was newly "sprung" from an orphanage. Watching her walking around the hotel halls and room just makes me smile. 

The boys are excited about meeting Aunt Susan this weekend. I know that it will be a week of craziness around here. Both boys are going to have a blast playing with and getting to know Susan. I know there will be a great deal of love all around. 

Well I suppose that is all from our happy home. We got some snow today. Nothing major but enough to make me remember I dislike winter greatly!! Oh well....Summer will be here soon. 

A great Friday and a special visit make two happy boys

Friday night we went out to dinner with Aunt Cara and Hannah. The boys just love Hannah and Aunt Cara. Billy and Jeremiah went to a chorus concert afterwards and the boys and I went to Hannah's to play. It was a great time. The boys were excited to see Hannah's house since they have been asking about going their for days now. 

Yesterday the boys went to spend the afternoon at their first home with their special family. Their special family misses the boys so much considering they have had them for 3 years. "J" asks about mommy and daddy a lot so we all thought it would be good for them to go "home" and see that everyone is still where they should be. We were right! The boys and I went to watch their "sister" cheerlead" in a competition then the boys went home with the Temples. The boys came home around 8:30 and their sister played with them for a while. Goodbyes were said, a few quick tears were shed but all in all, everyone seemed happy. We made plans to go to Burger King with the playground on Wednesday. 

This morning the boys are up and ready to go. The weather isn't so great today, a bit cloudy and cold but nothing a few layers and gloves can't overcome. Outside they will go to run off some of their extra energy! We love having 7 acres for their little feet to run around on! 

Exhaustion!

That is the feeling that we have lately...completely exhausted! It's amazing how just overnight you can feel like you haven't gotten enough rest in quite a long time! I know it is all for a great reason, two little guys who are so much fun, but just a little more sleep would be wonderful. We, Billy and I both, got over being ill last week and luckily the boys didn't get it. Friday night, Halloween, we went trick or treating which was a blast! The boys had a good time getting candy and we had fun watching them. Afterwards we went to McDonald's with our friends, Cara and Doug and their daughter Hannah. Then it was back to our house to play for a while. The boys just love Hannah and Hannah seems to think they are pretty okay too. 

Sunday evening we went to Mom's for dinner. It is fun to see my parents interact with them boys. "J" knows that he has Karen wrapped already and plays into it so well. "K" likes to get Ray's expertise on road and building construction since "K" really enjoys playing with the same blocks that Susan and I played with for hours as little kids. Meal time is always an adventure since neither boy really enjoys waiting for anything. There are so many little things that Billy and I feel like we need to work on but we know baby steps are the best way to go. 

Yesterday the boys went to get their flu shots. Not a fun task for anyone involved including the two nurses who had the crap beaten out of them by "K"! Someone should have warned me how violent he gets because I would have been better prepared. 

Every time I start to second think this whole process, one of the boys does something that makes me realize that this is just how life is supposed to be! Each day we feel more and more like Mom and Dad rather than just two people the boys stay with! All in all, life is going smoothly around here! 

My oh my!

Well what a crazy few days it has been around here! Friday morning I woke up not feeling so swell but thought that it was really nothing. Boy did I think wrong! My 7:30 I was quite sick with the flu! It was a rough weekend to say the least. Thank goodness for my fantastic husband, wonderful in-laws and Jeremiah. They all were a huge help and took care of everything which allowed me to sleep. As Billy said "it's just what we need to do!" We all went back to our normal lives today and things are much better. "K" has had hives for about 5 days so we went to the doctor yesterday to make sure it wasn't anything major. She wasn't concerned but going to the get medical treatment of any sort with foster kids is tricky. The doctor's office questions who we are and we have to provide proof that we have custody of them. Just little hoops that you don't think about ahead of time. 

Last night was the Children's services skating party. We went with the boys. The boys "other mom and dad" were there. "K" was very happy to see them but just as happy to play with the other kids there. "J" on the other hand was a completely different story. He wanted NOTHING to do with us and followed "Mom" around like her shadow the entire two hours. When it was time to leave, I just had to pick him up, crying 3 year old and all, carry him to the car and try to comfort him as he cries "Mommy....wait....." He calmed down as soon as we got out of the parking lot but it was still heartbreaking. It is so hard to have this little person you love so much be so upset and not be able to help comfort him. 

Today the boys both had great days at school. "J" was happy to be at preschool and happily said "Bye Jennifer" as I walked out the door. "K" has had nothing but great days in Kindergarten. He seems to really enjoy going. That makes things easier in the morning. I noticed tonight that we are seeing a lot more of "J"s personality (at least the one we had seen over the past 5 months) tonight. He was so goofy and giggly tonight. He has the most infectious giggle. "K" had a rougher evening, I think due to over tiredness. He tends to yell at us when he he thinks we aren't doing what he thinks needs to be done. Tonight he went to bed without his desert of cookies because he yelled at me. We are working on things and have seen a lot less of the anger issues with him. 

So that is life here at the house. We are exhausted most of the time but both love the boys so much that we wouldn't trade it! All our love! 

So, that is our life around here. We love it. 

"Mommy's house?"

3:30 AM - I hear "J" fuss a bit through the baby monitor. It gets quiet so I figured he fell back asleep. In a few minutes I hear little footsteps and "Jennifer....juice?" "Nope, "J" bed", "okay". We walk back to bed and the TV is on. "J" says TB off?" and I say "TV off, sleep!" and that was that!

We are getting into the swing of things in the morning. "K" is amazingly able to be more independent each day. He does things alone that we know he can do like put on his shirt and socks. He seems really excited about going to school and has had three great days. We think that maybe just going from full day to half day kindergarten has helped. He goes to preschool in the afternoon, where he gets to rest which he still really needs. 

Today was quite emotional for me. "J" is beginning to catch on that this isn't his normal 2 night visit. This morning he screamed and cried for "mommy" and I was not what he wanted. The whole way to school he continually asked me "Jennifer, mommy's house?" It broke my heart. I know he doesn't understand what is going on and no matter what we tell him he is still so confused. When we dropped him off at school he cried and cried. I left the preschool in tears. All morning I kept thinking "what the hell are we doing?" I know things will get easier and with time we will be the people "J" cries for but right now it is so hard to see this tiny little person so upset.

Tonight was pretty quiet around the house. The boys played outside with the dogs for about an hour then we had dinner, baths and bed. We are exhausted too! Hopefully we will all sleep in a bit on Saturday! 

We survived! (I think...)

Well today was the start of a new beginning. The boys started school at their new locations today. I had to work on getting three people ready in the morning. Boy was the a chore in itself! "J" woke up at 6:30 and wanted his "gogurt". I told him he had to wait. Billy tried to get it for him but "J" screamed "NOOOOO JENNIFER". I woke "K" up around 7 and the first thing he told me was the his belly hurt really bad. We talked about how he would be okay and that we would make it through the day. We had a few meltdowns along the way but made it to school with smiles on our faces. "J" walked into preschool, saw cool toys and forgot all about us. "K" and I left and headed to our school. "K" was nervously excited about seeing his new school and teacher. By 8:50 he was ready to go. It helped knowing that Aunt Cara was across the hall and he got to see his buddy Hannah before school. After Kindergarten, "K" and I headed to preschool for the afternoon. He was happy to spend the afternoon with his brother and rest. I went to pick the boys up at the end of the day and "J" screamed, he didn't want to leave. I suppose that is a good sign. 

All in all, we had a good day. I was nervous all morning as was Billy, my mom, Betty and Diane. We all decided we will do it again tomorrow. Hopefully with a little less stress in the morning!