Have totally neglected this blog!

Oh how our lives have changed since I posted to this blog nearly a year ago. Brodie is two and a half and the most wonderful little guy. He was placed with us full time as foster child 11/30/09 and we have enjoyed every single minute since then. He adjusted very fast to my entire family & they are as much in love with him as Gary and I are. August 20th we signed the Adoption Placement Agreement meaning that he is no longer a foster child but our adoptive child. At this point we can legally start calling him Brodie, which we have been doing for the past year anyway. The next step in the process is to meet with our adoption attorney and sign the Petition for Adoption that has to be filed with the court system. I'm patiently waiting for a packet of paperwork to arrive from the attorney. Once the attorney files it there is a mandatory 30 day waiting period before a court date can be set for the adoption hearing.

Happy Thanksgiving

Lovin our little guy!

We are having so much fun with Brodie! Here are a few pictures from this weekend, boxes are so much fun!

We have him on Monday's-Wednesday's 5-8 pm and Thursday's at 5pm until Sunday's at 8pm. This schedule is a little crazy because by the time we pick him up from daycare, cook supper and bath time it's time to load up and take him back to Cindy's (foster Mom), it really doesn't give us much play time. It's so much easier when we have him for overnight visits, the routine just flows and so much less bouncing here and there. The schedule is made out until the end of November. We met with our Foster Care Worker on Thursday and she was not aware that we were having visits seven days per week. She asked if we are ready for a full time placement and my answer was YES!!

This is the most awesome time of my life! There is nothing better than a smiling face and open arms when he wakes up from his nap. Oh yeah and the only thing that tops that are all of the hugs and kisses he freely gives out.

We are so blessed to be part of his life.

Happy Halloween 2009

Our first Halloween with Brodie!

First Visit/Respite Care

This is such an exciting weekend for me. I am providing respite care for the little guy that we are going to adopt! Unfortunately Gary is out of town for his monthly military obligation so they still have not yet met.


Yesterday at noon I picked him up from his foster mom's day care center. Before this time I had only met him once on July 31st for a couple of hours while he was still having visits with his bio-mom. When it was time for us to leave he started crying as she put him in my car, actually foster mom got a little misty eyed too. I talked to him and tried to comfort him on the way home and by the time we got to our house he was just softly whimpering. Then as soon as he seen our dogs he just lit up and there hasn't been any crying since. After he checked out our house and got aquaninted with the dogs we went our our first field trip to Wal-Mart to stock up on toddler snacks, buys some toys and find the right kind of sippy cups. (I really had no idea they make forty-thousand different kids of sippy cups) Gary and I had been to Wal-Mart the night before to buy this stuff but without knowing his developmental level we were totally lost and left the store empty handed.


When we got back home from Wal-Mart it was nap time and I had no idea how this was going to go. Although we have been going through the process of becoming foster to adopt parents for months I have refused to convert our spare bedroom into a child's room until we had a license in hand. I guess this way of thinking may have come from all of the disappointments involved in fertility treatments. Anyway, since we received our license last week we have not had time to do anything with the bedroom so we only have a queen size bed. I rocked him for maybe five minutes and he fell asleep and I put him in the big bed with pillows protecting the edge and he slept for three hours. He was the happiest little boy when he woke up considering that he was in a strange bed (he normally sleeps in a crib), strange house with a strange woman.



Later that evening we went to a local pumpkin patch with Shelly a long time friend, her husband Bill and their daughter Reese. It extremely windy (even for Kansas) and chilly so we didn't stay long but we got some really nice pumpkins and had fun. After that we went to meet my family, (mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, nephew & niece) at a restaurant for dinner. I hadn't expected to do so much on the first day for fear that I would totally overload him but in my life nothing ever goes according to plans. He was pretty apprehensive about all of the new people and really clung to me at first. My family is very understanding of his situation and that everyone/everything is new and different for him so they let him lead the way.


When we got home it was bath time and found out he loves taking a bath. He never even flinched when I poured the water on his head to rinse out the shampoo. As I had him bundled up in the towel he kept opening his mouth wide showing me his teeth. I finally figured it out that he is used to having his teeth brushed before pajama time. So all bundled up in his towel I sat on the edge of the tub and he leaned back with his mouth wide open and let me thoroughly brush his teeth.



After getting ready for bed and playing for about 10 minutes he crawled up in the rocking chair with me and fell asleep with me holding him. He slept the entire night from 8:45 p.m. until 8:15 the next morning. I don't know how many times I got up to look in on him but I know he got WAY more rest than I did.



Today we have played, went to Wal-Mart (again) and played with Reese and after nap time we are going to my parents house to help make scarecrows to decorate for fall/Halloween.



He is such an even tempered little boy and is absolutely adorable and I'm already dreading him going home tomorrow night. I don't know what the future has in store for us regarding visitations and transitioning him into our home but I will keep everyone updated.

I'm addicted to a podcast

http://fosterpodcast.com/



I found a pod cast on i-tunes when I searched for foster parents. Since then I have been addicted and committed to listening to all 60 pod casts. Wendy and Tim have documented their journey from becoming foster parents through the entire process of adopting two little girls. They have been through a lot of rough times but each pod cast is very motivational and they put it in black and white that the process is not easy or painless but the end result is worth every minute of heartache.

Preparing my car for a child

Oh my what a process it is to find a car seat that is safe and fits in my car. I drive a 2008 Ford Escape so I never though anything about it. I bought a Evenflo - Triumph Advance Convertible Car Seat and it was huge there would have no way for it to work in my car. So back to Wal-Mart I go in search for another car seat.

I decided on a Safety 1st - Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat and it fits in my car wonderfully, easy to install and easy to use.

Foster Care Home Study...we are LICENSED!

We are licensed for two children birth to six years of ago! Finally!

We had our foster care home study and passed it with flying colors. I was SO nervous that I was making myself sick worrying about it and trying not clean like a mad woman. I had read and reread the rules and regulations. The lady who did the inspection was very nice and very courteous of our privacy. For some reason I thought she would go through all of our drawers, cabinets, etc. Thank goodness this wasn't the case.

So now we will be able to start having visits with our little guy. After the foster care worker left his foster mom called to congratulate us. I am still unsure how all of this will take place but my wishes are to gradually start having him in our home a little more each time he visits.

We have so much stuff to do to prepare for a toddler to be in our home. Our spare bedroom is fully furnished with adult furniture and is in no way toddler friendly. I use the dressers and closets for my stuff so I'm going to have to find a spot for all of my stuff in the master bedroom, this means Gary is going to have to clean out the walk-in closet for me. Guess this might be a good time to unload a bunch of clothing that I don't wear, time to downsize AGAIN!

We need to purchase car seats and all of the stuff that it takes to have small kids in your home...oh like a plastic cup and plate would be a great place to start. LOL

LOST: Weight Loss & Exercise Motivation, please return ASAP!

OMG I have officially fallen off the exercise wagon! Well I let me rephrase that I FELL off the wagon into a deep dark hole while on our honeymoon and have not found my way back yet. I don't know why I make this such a big thing in my life. Exercise makes me feel so much better about myself, it helps my clothes fit, fights PMS & SAD (Season Affective Disorder) and it makes me feel proud of myself. So why do I let something so good for me come and go? I don't stop permanently taking medications because I forget to take it on occassion. For me exercise and diet are an all or nothing deal! I have to learn to give myself permission to be happy working out three days per week.....it's a hell of a lot better than the ZERO times per week I have been doing! The thing is once I'm on the wagon I'm on, so my goal for this week is to work out 30 minutes TWO times before next Sunday!

WORKOUT GOAL for next week: Two 30 minute cardio sessions

Last Wednesday and Thursday I was in training for my new job at the American Red Cross in Wichita. I learned a lot but still have tons more to learn and don't think the learned will ever slow down in this job. I will keep updating as I learn more about the position.

My college classes are going well, passing everything...even algebra.

I really don't like waiting

Our foster care paperwork was sent to the state but a couple things were returned, somehow Gary didn't sign his fingerprints and another form was missing a signature, so we have them fixed and back in the mail. Our railings for our porch have been built and are in the process of being painted and will be installed soon. I have been bitching and whining about having to installing a handrail down the 3 stairs to the landing for our side door. Well we installed it last week and I LOVE it. I would have never thought it would be so nice...can't believe we lived without it for this long.

I still need to install more safety locks in the kitchen. The good ol' safety latches will not work for the foster care regulations. Anything with a "keep out the reach of children" must be kept under lock and key. Luckily I found these awesome magnetic locks that you do not have to drill into the cabinets to install. They are pricey but are super easy to install and can be switched off when not in use, like now when we have no kids in the house.

My new job as branch manager for the American Red Cross has been going good so far, it's just an adjustment getting back into the swing of things of managing my time. I work Monday 9-4, Wednesday 9-4 and Friday 9-3....I know very nice work hours. Actually I wish I could go to work at 8:00 a.m. but my office is inside of a bank and the lobby doesn't open until 9:00. I NEED to get back to the gym and what a perfect time to do it before I go to work in the mornings. Next week I will be in Wichita doing disaster training so that will be exciting.

My college classes are going fine so far, with the exception of algebra. I don't having to study my ass off just to keep up but that's what it's taking. We took a pop quiz this morning in class and I did very well so my perseverance might pay off. I really like the freedom of my other online classes.

Angels=Braxton & Hayley

My new princess Hayley. This is my brother's little girl.



My darling Braxton wearing his footed snowmen PJ's in mid August. They were his older brothers so he thought that was really neat. He is my sister's boy.

Posing for the camera

I suck at algebra

I totally suck at algebra! I'm not good at any kind of math and I have never been since my horrible teacher in 7th grade. This past week I have had SO much homework and have spent hours trying to Relearn all the stuff I must have purged from my hard drive (my brain). So far I have not been impressed with the instructor she hasn't used the board or overhead to teach us anything.

On the other hand my other three online classes, psychology, sociology and English started Monday. The first week is the intro week so there aren't any assignments. Hopefully I will get my books sometime this week, they are being shipped to me from the Ft. Riley campus. I like to read ahead just to get a little jump start so I don't feel totally clueless. Most of my classmates are Army soldiers stationed around the world. They use all the military lingo in our chat rooms so I have to ask Gary to decipher it for me, I swear the Army speaks an entire different language.

I kind of started my new job yesterday at the Red Cross. The Great Bend office is under the Wichita chapter so they are my bosses. Well everyone that knows anything about me starting is 1. having major medical issues, 2. death of father out of state, 3. very ill spouse, so I'm not even showing up on the radar. I figure when they all get back into the office and get my training planned they will let me know, until then I'm enjoying more time off!

Application submitted

Today our foster care application was submitted to the state of Kansas. Our foster care worker is hoping that the temporary license will be expedited because we are wanting to adopt Little Man out of foster care and his bio mom has already relinquished her rights. The bio dad's rights are currently in the process of being terminated. As soon as we get the temporary license we will be able to spend time with him and we can get to know each other.

Exciting phone call

Little Man's foster mom called to ask how our foster care licensing process is coming along and if we thought we would have our temporary license by Labor Day. Their family won tickets to a baseball game in Kansas City and if we had our temporary license Little Man could stay with us for the weekend. Unfortunately our paperwork has not even been submitted to the State yet because we are waiting on Gary to get back from National Guard annual training. This is what we are waiting for: fingerprints, Gary health assessment form signed, Gary copy of CPR/First Aid cards, copy of his drivers license and pay stub. It seems like such petty stuff but the agency makes sure every I is dotted and T is crossed. Hopefully Monday we will get our application to become foster parents sent to the state and then it takes about a month to get the temporary license. Once we have the temp license for our home we will be able to start providing respite care for Little Man. Meaning that if his foster family wants to go out of town or just wants a break he cam come to our home. His Foster Mom has never had one of her foster kids be adopted so this will be a new process for both of us.

First day back to college

Today was my first day back to college after a very long break. I was pretty worried about dealing with smart ass 18 year old sitting in class texting & being disresceptful. The only class I'm taking on campus is algebra and that is because I HATE math and struggle with it so I'm hoping that have an face to face instructor will help.

Changes, changes, changes

I'm changing the focus of my blog to be more centered about the daily happening of my life. I have so many changes that coming up. I am returning to college next week to pursue a career as a family nurse practitioner. I have had some college but it was more business focused so basically I am starting over in the medical field. Even some of the credits you would think would last forever (English, Algebra, Anatomy & Physiology, etc.) expire after 5 years if you have not graduated. I have a long road ahead of me but it will be worth it in the end!

I also start my new job as a branch manager for the American Red Cross. I'm really looking forward to the position and having the flexibility of not sitting behind a computer screen for 10 hours a day inputting data day in and day out. I miss working with the general public and the satisfaction of helping others in need. My job is only 20 hours per week to that will work great with my classes.

Phone call from birth Mom

Today I got a phone call from CM (Little Man's biomom). She just wanted to update me that she did relinquish her rights on Tuesday. She broke down and told me that she did everything she could do to be his Mom but she just couldn't give him a good life and she knows that we can. This just about broke my heart.

She once again asked me about changing his name and I told her more than likely we would change it. I asked her what she thought about it and she doesn't care if his first name is changed (same name as biodad first name) but she would like to keep his middle name part of his name as she named him after a family member who passed away. She did ask what we planned on changing it to and I told her and she liked it. I explained that it is the baby boy name I have had picked out since I was in high school.

She told me that her "goodbye visit" will be Monday. I told her not to look at it as her last visit, it's only going to be goodbye for awhile because we will allow her to have supervised visits when he comes to our home.

She asked me if I wanted his belonging from her house, bed, high chair, baby gate, toys, etc. I told her I would love to have his stuff, I'm sure it would be comforting for him to.

I got to meet the "Little Guy"

Today was such a special day. I got to met the little guy we want to adopt. CM called and asked if I could like to come to her home and meet him. We had such a nice time and I will cherish that day forever. He was a little hesitant of me but soon enough got into my purse and found my phone so that was a great ice breaker. I sat on the floor and played with him for almost two hours talking to his foster care worker who was monitoring the visit and CM (bio-mom). He is a normal 18 month old, walking and learning to talk and getting into everything. They allowed me to take a few pictures but to respect confidentiality laws I am unable to post them. Unfortunately Gary was not able to go with me to meet him. He has blond hair and big blue eyes and has a small build.

Updating my blog...foster care/adoption here we come!

Through the place I used to work I know a lady (CM) who has an 18 month old boy that is curently in foster care and has been since he was 3 months old. CM mild mental retardation and without agency assistance she is unable to parent him to the best of his needs. She realizes this and wants him to have the best life possible and has asked us to become his parent. She has consistantly followed reunification plan and gets monitored visits for 6 hours per time three days per week. She has followed all of the States requests but is still unable to make it to the next level for her to care for him perenantly. The little guy is very attached to her and has healthy attachment to his foster parents as well as his case manager and social worker.

After our long road of infertility when it was started becoming more of a realitty that CM would actually relinquish her parental rights we decided to do what was necesaary on our part to become "Little Guy's" parents. We started PS-MAAP foster parent classes 4/6/09 and finished them 7/6/09. Now we are waiting to do our final home inspection by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. I'm working on baby proofing our home...quite the task. As soon as we are approved as licensed foster parents we will be able to start gradually taking care of him.

Our honeymoon

Playa Del Carmen Mexico