Monday, January 23, 2012
First Tornado of 2012
The first tornado(s) of the year came in the wee hours of the morning today. For many years I ignored the sirens with the thoughts that if it were to come and take us then there wouldn't be much point. After the devastation that devoured our state last year in April, I think I may still be correct but I now have a deep-seated fear. After watching all the heart ache of the families sifting through their belongings last year my heart just hurts. We heard the siren go off around 3am this morning. I literally leaped from the bed. As we watched the storm track on Fox6 I cried. I knew it wasn't tracking for us, but it makes my heart hurt to watch it. Didn't our state get enough last year? At the least it's just too early in the year! Tornado season shouldn't begin until late March to April... My other thoughts were for our boys. While we're in no way in a protective bubble, we are blessed not to live in an area where the storms track often. As the tears streamed I asked my hubby, why are our boys never here when storms come? They were safe in their mom's basement, but I just wished they were at our home safe with us. We were blessed yet again this round and didn't suffer any damage or losses in our family. I'm praying for those who the storm touched this morning.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Our first doctor visit
Today was our first doctor visit. Baby Girl has been with us for nearly 3 weeks! She will turn 1 month old this week. I can't believe it's been that long already! The doctor says she's doing very well. She's still a little small, but is otherwise in very good health. The doctor seems to think she'll catch up over time which was encouraging. She has gained almost 3 lbs! I was shocked and excited! My little tiny princess has outgrown her preemie clothes and is now filling out new born sizes. At this rate we'll soon be growing into the 0-3mth size!
Today I was able to meet Baby Girl's social worker. She seems nice but had literally just been handed the file so didn't know much about the case yet. We have a home visit set up for next Monday morning. Baby Girl has a very busy social calendar that I have to keep up with now! haha
We've been so blessed by our friends of late with help caring for Baby Girl and one of my girlfriends has loaded us up with tiny baby girl stuff! Her daughter is 15mths old and she has tons of stuff. Being a "new mommy" this has been great since I'm still not completely sure what to buy when out on my own haha. I love that she's bringing stuff she knows I need. I have used everything she's shared from clothing and blankets to swing. Thank God for Erin :)
My boys are still in love with their new "little sister" and I have never seen my wonderful hubby so smitten. It's a really beautiful time in our home and we're cherishing every moment of it. We're still aware things could change at any time. We're still praying for what's best for our Baby Girl and for the strength for whatever that may be.
I have been cooking and baking like crazy lately. This week alone I've made pasta carbonara with roasted vegetables, huevos rancheros, and 3 cheese stuffed manicotti with fresh spinach and roasted vegetables. Sunday night I roasted a large pan of mixed veggies in the oven. I've made 2 entrees and 3 different lunches out of them. So healthy, easy, and delicious! I used a trio of bell peppers, purple onion, carrots, celery, squash and zuccini. I roasted them with garlic, olive oil, and sea salt on 350F for about an hour. The lunches made with the roasted veggies were quick and easy mini pizzas on open faced english muffins, quesadillas which I added black beans also used in the huevos rancheros, and an AMAZING pita pocket stuffed with red pepper hummus, fresh spinach, sauteed mushrooms and of course the veggies! I'm pretty proud of the use of ingredients and elimination of waste in doing all these dishes. I'm also proud that I was able to get veggies into so many meals!
That's all the happenings on the home front today. I am so blessed. I love my growing family and gosh I love to cook. And wow don't I love it when my kids are in the kitchen with me. I think that may be one of my favorite things. =]
Today I was able to meet Baby Girl's social worker. She seems nice but had literally just been handed the file so didn't know much about the case yet. We have a home visit set up for next Monday morning. Baby Girl has a very busy social calendar that I have to keep up with now! haha
We've been so blessed by our friends of late with help caring for Baby Girl and one of my girlfriends has loaded us up with tiny baby girl stuff! Her daughter is 15mths old and she has tons of stuff. Being a "new mommy" this has been great since I'm still not completely sure what to buy when out on my own haha. I love that she's bringing stuff she knows I need. I have used everything she's shared from clothing and blankets to swing. Thank God for Erin :)
My boys are still in love with their new "little sister" and I have never seen my wonderful hubby so smitten. It's a really beautiful time in our home and we're cherishing every moment of it. We're still aware things could change at any time. We're still praying for what's best for our Baby Girl and for the strength for whatever that may be.
I have been cooking and baking like crazy lately. This week alone I've made pasta carbonara with roasted vegetables, huevos rancheros, and 3 cheese stuffed manicotti with fresh spinach and roasted vegetables. Sunday night I roasted a large pan of mixed veggies in the oven. I've made 2 entrees and 3 different lunches out of them. So healthy, easy, and delicious! I used a trio of bell peppers, purple onion, carrots, celery, squash and zuccini. I roasted them with garlic, olive oil, and sea salt on 350F for about an hour. The lunches made with the roasted veggies were quick and easy mini pizzas on open faced english muffins, quesadillas which I added black beans also used in the huevos rancheros, and an AMAZING pita pocket stuffed with red pepper hummus, fresh spinach, sauteed mushrooms and of course the veggies! I'm pretty proud of the use of ingredients and elimination of waste in doing all these dishes. I'm also proud that I was able to get veggies into so many meals!
That's all the happenings on the home front today. I am so blessed. I love my growing family and gosh I love to cook. And wow don't I love it when my kids are in the kitchen with me. I think that may be one of my favorite things. =]
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Our Oldest is 11!
I don't know when exactly he got so big, but our oldest turned 11! His birthday was 12/30. I am fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule that allowed me to spend the morning with him on his birthday. Hubby, Birthday Boy, and I all went to breakfast at Waffle House; this was his request for the 2nd year in a row. After breakfast Hubby went to work and the kiddo and I spent the day together. We had a bike ride in the neighborhood, he played some video games, then we went to the bookstore and lunch at Little Island Cafe. I really enjoyed getting to spend the time with him. I know that evening his mom did a special dinner and took him to the movies. I think he had a pretty good birthday.
As is tradition we had his big family birthday party Sunday afternoon. I imagine these big parties will stop soon with the onset of the teenage era, but for now I think they still enjoy having all sides of their family come together to celebrate these milestones. Here are some pics from the festivities:
As is tradition we had his big family birthday party Sunday afternoon. I imagine these big parties will stop soon with the onset of the teenage era, but for now I think they still enjoy having all sides of their family come together to celebrate these milestones. Here are some pics from the festivities:
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| Skateboard cake made by Birthday Boy's Mom! |
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| My parents, boys, and new Baby Girl |
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| Wonder what he wished for? Girls? HAHA |
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| My Dad sure is handsome |
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| Upside down w/ the birthday boy! |
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| Cousin C enjoying cake! |
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| Presents! |
Monday, January 9, 2012
2012 brought us a baby!
I just read my last post and it closed with what will 2012 bring? 2011 ended with our first foster care placement. Beautiful "Baby Girl" came to us on Friday 12/30 around 6pm. She's so very special and so very loved already. She was born on my dad's birthday and came to live with us on my oldest son's birthday straight from the hospital. She was born 4lbs. 14oz. and was 18" long. She is tiny and simply beautiful. Our house is already very different and all for the better. She is exactly what I knew we were missing here.
We are praying for God's will for what's best for Baby Girl. Her next court date is the end of January, but unless something develops in the next week or so it seems she'll be with us for some time. We love her so much and are thankful for the prospect of her staying with us for some time. At the same time I feel sad for her because she is so perfect and wonderful I wonder where her bio family is... Sometimes I'm overcome from the sheer joy of having her here, at other times with fear for our family as we go through this process with her, and still at others with sadness for her at the loss she's already experienced just days in this world. I have promised her that I'll be as strong as I can, that I'll love her with my whole heart, and that I will do my very best to advocate for her.
The goal of foster care is to reunite families. At this time we don't know anything about her family. We are the only family she knows. I was concerned about our boys and their initial reception of her. It only took moments of seeing her small person for them to welcome her into their arms and hearts. Our oldest has named her "Little Sister". I keep telling them that things can change, that she will move to her family when they're found, but I also tell them she's now part of us forever. I'm praying for my boys too.
Our families love her, our friend's who've met her love her, and we adore her. We have a host of prayers going up on our behalf and we are so thankful for all of you praying us through this journey. One of my dear friends told me "God won't bring you to it unless he brings you through it." I'm trusting in that. I'm trusting in His plan for us all. She has changed our lives forever and I think we're providing her a great foundation for whatever may come next.
Jeremiah 29:11 "I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out; plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." That is her verse, but it is also a promise for us on this journey we're just beginning.
2012 was broken in with my favorite people. My wonderful hubby, our two boys, and new Baby Girl all toasted sparkling grape juice at midnight. Happy New Year, Everyone!
We are praying for God's will for what's best for Baby Girl. Her next court date is the end of January, but unless something develops in the next week or so it seems she'll be with us for some time. We love her so much and are thankful for the prospect of her staying with us for some time. At the same time I feel sad for her because she is so perfect and wonderful I wonder where her bio family is... Sometimes I'm overcome from the sheer joy of having her here, at other times with fear for our family as we go through this process with her, and still at others with sadness for her at the loss she's already experienced just days in this world. I have promised her that I'll be as strong as I can, that I'll love her with my whole heart, and that I will do my very best to advocate for her.
The goal of foster care is to reunite families. At this time we don't know anything about her family. We are the only family she knows. I was concerned about our boys and their initial reception of her. It only took moments of seeing her small person for them to welcome her into their arms and hearts. Our oldest has named her "Little Sister". I keep telling them that things can change, that she will move to her family when they're found, but I also tell them she's now part of us forever. I'm praying for my boys too.
Our families love her, our friend's who've met her love her, and we adore her. We have a host of prayers going up on our behalf and we are so thankful for all of you praying us through this journey. One of my dear friends told me "God won't bring you to it unless he brings you through it." I'm trusting in that. I'm trusting in His plan for us all. She has changed our lives forever and I think we're providing her a great foundation for whatever may come next.
Jeremiah 29:11 "I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out; plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." That is her verse, but it is also a promise for us on this journey we're just beginning.
2012 was broken in with my favorite people. My wonderful hubby, our two boys, and new Baby Girl all toasted sparkling grape juice at midnight. Happy New Year, Everyone!
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