Thanks

to all of you for being so interested and encouraging. I don't think I've ever been point blank told, "Do not blog pictures of your foster children." And I actually did post them for awhile. Till I got a site meter and realized how many people I did not know that were reading. At that point, I felt if safer to not put pictures, particularly close ups or their faces, just so ensure their privacy and their families' privacy. That's also why I use fake names for all the girls. I didn't want anyone to be able to google any name of our family members and pull up my blog. I know you'd love to see a good picture of my new little one. And I'd love nothing more than to show you just how beautiful her eyes are. Oh, those eyes!

But, for now, this will have to suffice. That's my 8 yr. old holding her. Can you tell how little she is? She's a grunter. Like I seriously would call her Miss Piggy for her bloggy name. But somehow, I can't justify that when all the other's are sweet names. She's still so teeny tiny to us. I know she's not at fragile as she seems, but I'm not nearly as laid back with her as I have been with the other babies. It's probably both her size and her preemie status that has my guard up. She did horribly last night!!!! Ack! I'm guessing there is no difference in night and day at the hospital, and so it will take her some time to learn that 1 to 4 is not time to party! ;)

She's here!

And she's beautiful.

And chocolate. (oh, how we wanted chocolate! ;)

And TEENY!!!!!!

The only thing I really know now, that I didn't before, is that she was born at 34 weeks. I don't even know how much she weighs now (or at birth), but I'm guessing a high 4 pounds or low 5. There was a time I was VERY good at guessing the weight of a baby by sight, but I haven't worked in labor and delivery for 4 years, now. The little girls were already in bed, but the oldest 2 are plum giddy and silly. We can't take our eyes off her!

Camp

For all of those wondering, we do not a baby girl yet. I did not get a confirmation call, however I wasn't holding my breath, either. Last time we received an infant for placement I was supposed to get a phone call first, too, but they just showed up at the door. So, I still have no idea whether she's coming or not. She was not scheduled to be discharged from the hospital until today, though, and the case worker had already said she would not be able to go and get her until later this afternoon/evening. So I may not know for some time, still.

On to more news. We will be traveling out of state for a week long camp by LeeAnn's Horses for Attachment!!!! I can not even begin to accurately articulate to you all this means for our family or how thrilled I am. First of all, we don't typically have a few thousand dollars laying around to fund such an adventure. I'm not usually one to talk money, but just so you understand what kind of miracle this is, you need to know that we have been living on $300 per week for several months. And we do have both a house payment and one car payment. So, the ability alone to go is miraculous. We home school, which allows my entire family to attend and be a part of the camp. This is not necessary, but recommended, and I'm excited that the siblings of our RADish will be having some time with and now adult sibling who completely understands what that position in such a family is like. The week will be full of training sessions for my husband and I as parents, trust building activities and games for our entire family, sessions/crafts for both our RADling and all her siblings. There will be chores and work, but lots of family time to promote attachment. After talking to the director over the telephone for more than an hour, I am very excited about not only the parenting methods (Nancy Thomas often directs these camps, though she will not actually be present at this one) that we'll come home educated about, but just the atmosphere of the week should provide lots of fun as well as learning about developing conscience and promoting attachment. So, we leave in just 2 weeks, and I have even cleared taking the new little one along if she's here. Can you imagine making a 500 mile trip with 6 kids, 4 of which are 4 and under? I giggle thinking about it. We made a trip to Florida this past summer, it actually wasn't as hard as I had anticipated, but I thought if I had to sing, "The Wheels on the Bus go round and round" one more time, I would die. Really. Faint dead away! ;)

Here's to another thousand times singing that silly song!!!!

Family Growing?

We should get an absolute confirmation call sometime today. The case worker isn't 100% positive just yet, but she already feels fairly confident.... but on Monday, if all goes as she is planning right now, she will be bringing me a new little baby girl right from the hospital! As always, we don't know how long she'll be with us. Could be anywhere from 5 days, to 6 weeks, to a year. I anticipate mom working hard and being able to care for her eventually, she is currently breastfeeding and planning to send milk for us to use. That alone speaks well of her.

We can't wait to get our hands on her! I had not planned on telling the kids until we knew for sure, but Grace asked about Little Boy Blue last night, who went home in July after a 6 week stay with us. She was not at all upset, but asked if we could go get him for a little stay. I took that opportunity to go ahead and tell her that no, we couldn't see him, but that we might be taking care of another little baby while her mom gets better. She was excited about that! She asked a thousand questions I don't yet know the answer to: "What's her name? How little is she? Is she chocolate?" Obviously the last question cracks me up. All my born of the body kids have wanted a "chocolate" baby. As a matter of fact, Hope desperately wanted Grace to be chocolate. While I was pregnant (she was 4) she tried to place her order. Like I had control over what kind of baby was growing in my belly. "I want boys, momma. 2 of them. Chocolate." All matter of fact like she was sure that's what was in my protruding belly. I really worried she wouldn't accept her GIRL sister, only 1, "manilla". Not even 1 factor what she wanted. hahahaha!

This baby is biracial, (I wonder if that is chocolate enough?) and I'm sure the other girls will inspect every inch of her as soon as she gets here. Just like they have with every other baby that comes to our home. Whether staying or just visiting. What is that about kids (and some adults - me)? I even find myself asking other moms if I can take their baby's socks off. And I really would completely undress them if it wasn't so dang inappropriate! Upon entering the room to see Grace for the first time, Faith (then 6) immediately loosened the burrito wrap, pulled the socks, and then pulled her diaper tabs and took a peek. Bwahahahahahahahaha!

Fair Night

Every year, the kids get armbands for one night at the fair. You know, a little paper bracelet that allows them to ride any ride as many times as they want from 6 to 10. Feeling very brave, because you can't take any kids without expecting the full day to be crazy with distractions and fits and over stimulation, I purchased the arm bands knowing the fun they'd bring along with all the melting down. So, after packing a back pack with sippie cups and light jackets and crackers and extra clothes for my pee-not-in-potty kid, we headed out to the fair. We were just a little before 6, so we rounded the exhibits and the animals (such fun!). I thought Blessing was never going to leave the pig. He was snorting away and she thought that was the funniest thing ever. I'm racking my brain, thinking, surely she's has seen a pig before. But I guess maybe she really hasn't.... other than the pictures in the books we read. She snorted and squealed and turned circles, oh how I wish I'd had a video camera!

I can't believe how big the kids are getting. Even my 2 4-yr olds jumped on rides that just seemed way too big for them. The big swings. The Ferris Wheel (with their siblings, not with their parents.... we didn't have armbands). The Tilt-a-Whirl. Which, by the way, I'm SO old! I could ride anything I wanted over and over again at one time in my life, now I can't even watch my kids go round and round without being queasy. The Tilt-a-Whirl was their favorite, I think. At least they rode it a thousand times. I wish I had brought my camera so that you could see how little they looked! They squealed and laughed and ran from ride to ride. Blessing clung to my neck after quickly jumping on a ride, then realizing she didn't like it, cried the whole ride, and then wouldn't try another one for quite some time. There was one slide, though, that she slid on a hundred times. The guy in the gate just stopped making her go out the exit like all the other kids, she was free to go right from the bottom back to the ladder again.

My RADling? Not a hitch. And we're talking a public place!!!!!! I think she was so excited about the rides that charming everyone around her was too far back in her brain! She had a couple of whines about not getting to go to the exact ride she wanted to right at the moment, but no fits or aggression when corrected and explained to that we have to do what others want to do, too. Very good night for her. There was one incident of pushing a sibling, but she paid her consequence without too much of a fuss, and even allowed me to comfort her afterwards right in the middle of all that noise and crowd and lights. I couldn't believe it. She also was nurturing towards a friend's baby while sitting out a ride because of the pushing. Ok, for those of you who can't appreciate this...... I'm saying she pushed, yes, but when dished the consequence of sitting out for a ride, she cried. Usually it would be met with screaming and fitting. Very loud, obnoxious crying that isn't genuine. These were real tears, yes it was only because she didn't get to ride, but that would be any kid's response. The fact is, it was genuine. And, after a few minutes of turning her back to me, she turned back around and held up her arms for me to hold her. I then explained what she did, what she should have done, and that she would get to ride again when the other kids got off that one ride. She stopped crying, smiled and talked to ME about OTHER things while we waited. No more whining. No more blaming. And, she even focused her attention to a nearby baby, which she lovingly patted on the back and talked to softly. Where did this kid come from? Wooo-hooooo!!!!

I had 2 kids that didn't last till 10. I brought them home at about 9 (after getting our 12 passenger stuck in the field and being pulled out by about 6 guys, including one with a 4 wheel drive and a chain....another post for another day). I'll bet you can't guess which 2! It wasn't my RADical darling, or my fraidy cat (Grace)...who was riding everything there...go figure. One was Hope... who loves to ride and is much less cautious about what she'll ride than her older sibling, unfortunately for her she gets motion sickness. So, looking very green she finally agreed home sounded good, and I brought Blessing along with me. Blessing wasn't convinced she was done, but she was beginning to wilt. So I pulled the "I'm the mommy" card and made her come home, too. But no one was actually in bed until after 10. They did stay in bed a little longer than normal this morning....we'll see what today holds! No matter what, it was very worth the trouble! Lots of fun and hopefully some great family memories!

Good Friends

I'd love to write an extremely poetic, beautiful post about friendship. The kind that makes you smile, and cry, and laugh all at once, about all the blessings and carrying and loving and kindness that true friendships bring... the kind that leaves you warm and fuzzy. But, I'm still too tired for all that thinking and constructing sentences. The truth is, chickadee is just that kind of friend. One worthy of such a fuss. But what actually made me suddenly consider the evolution of our friendship (we've only known each other for about 3 years) was something she said about a week ago. And I'm laughing at the thought of her opening my post to find her own picture and a post about her! I'd have a fit if it was me she broadcasted on her blog. But that's the whole point of the post.....we are officially at a point in our friendship that I can do it and she'll still love me whether she likes it or not. I think. **evilish grin**

I was having a terrible day. Really. It was the day after (or 2? I can't remember) being up all night with a violently throwing up baby. Ok, so she's 4. But I can call her baby if I want. Just try and stop me. Might I remind you I am a martial artist. Anyway, the house was a wreck. Complete with dishes still out on the bar, blankets and toys and colors strewn through the living room. I had fully intended to attend our home school group's meeting that afternoon, but by 11 when one kid had peed in about 5 pair of panties and another was relentless in her barking/yelling orders at everyone I changed my mind. Keep in mind, outings seem to shift my RADling into high gear with the indiscriminate affection and charming that everyone else seems to love but drives me crazy. Yes, I like run-on sentences. It's my blog, thank you. Take into account that I had already dressed everyone, fixed their hair and put shoes on them only for them to look like orphans and needing to do it all over again before we left, and well, I just figured it would be easier to stay at home. My friend called, and pushed me to go. I finally outed (with a whine I'm sure equal to the kind I've been complaining about from my kids) to her that, "I've got one that can't pee on the potty, and one that won't stop screaming!" Without so much as a second to contemplate, my friend laughed at me. She lovingly (kind of) said, "Well, I can fix that, I'll bring a diaper and some tape!"

Despite her ability to fix all my problems, I still insisted on staying on my couch. So, she came and picked up my older two girls and toted them all around town to their art lessons and the group meeting, and even stopped and got them some ice cream. While I and the little ones napped. Isn't that sweet? But she ruined it when she came in my house and didn't just ignore the mess. "Good grief." She said. "The kids need to play orphan at your house like they do at mine, and clean this place up." And that sealed it for me. Because you see, it wasn't really a slam (right?) .... no one but a true friend is that brave. Only true friends can say that kind of thing to each other. Or maybe it's just cause she's pregnant.

Too Tired....

.....to construct complete sentences, so, how about random thoughts in the form of bullet points?

- I now have sprayed enough deet on my children to keep a small army from getting a mosquito bite.

- It still doesn't work. My kids look no different than the abused ones I've seen as a nurse/foster parent and I talk bad about their mothers for letting their kids get so eaten up by bugs.

- RAD is still alive and kicking. I'm as stubborn as it is, though.

- Stocking up on enough sprite and saltine crackers to nurse a mega family during an outbreak of stomach virus might keep everyone else from getting it. Did I really get through that with only one child falling prey?

- We got in a great day of school, even included some fun stuff for the first day of fall. Fun stuff. Good stuff. I feel great about what we accomplished.

- School, by the way, for 3 different grades and 4 different children and chasing/meals/chores in between took from 9 till 5.

- A sense of accomplishment does not erase weariness. Lots of colors, glue sticks, leaves, reading lessons, math lessons, potty breaks, and running after one kid who might as well be the poster child for ritilin (Blessing, in case you're wondering) has taken it's toll. I'm pooped.

- It's worth it. I'm pouring my cup completely out, but He keeps overflowing it. It all comes out in the wash.

- The family bed idea was not meant for a 7 member family. Must have major discussion with children. Before tonight.


Ok, so this one can't be a bullet point because I feel the need to explain. I've never been one of those moms who thought the TV came straight from hell. But I've never really cared for it, either. I happen to think there are some great shows out there, but the commercials ruin it. It seems if my kids watch much at all they're suddenly whining about all these things they want that they don't have. Attitudes just seem to crash and burn much quicker and much more often if TV has been in the diet. Today, though, after cleaning about 3 tons of pillow stuffing (how in the world did all of that ever fit in that pillow to begin with?) after 4 loads of laundry, school, 3 meals and 3 clean ups, too many phone calls and too many melt downs; I think about 5 episodes of Dora are in order. I deserve it. So do they.

All's right with the world

There are 5 children under there, somewhere. Tent building has always been a favorite with my kids, but lately they've hit it full force, and I've folded more blankets in the last 5 days than anyone should have to in an entire lifetime.

While it isn't quite as cool as I would like, at least a wave of heat doesn't steal your breath when you walk outside. The kids are all running in and out of the house, and I hear squeals of laughter (and some of I-didn't-get-my-way squeals occasionally are heard, too) and the sounds of happy kids enjoying the lazy day and a break from draining heat. I couldn't care less about watching football myself, but I love this time of year when a game can regularly be heard in the background in our home. Only today, it isn't so "background". And apparently, it's an interactive ball game. Arkansas must not be doing so well, as my husband is jumping around the living room complaining about the incompetent players, and telling, er, I mean yelling, out the way it should be done. Because, you know, he knows better than any of them. That's why they are begging him to come and coach the team. I wish. But the truth is, I love that about him. What fun is someone who JUST watches?

I know I haven't posted as often lately, but I figure most of you are tired of reading about RAD. It's all consuming right now, as I am gathering every scrape of information I can find. Christine has shared some great links, and Annie sent me several books in the mail. Little else has come to mind to post about. My most recent reading has brought much needed hope. There is substantial research that says prognosis for RAD is not the very dim, psychopath outcome that was once suggested. In fact, new research, with more understanding and newer therapeutic methods, is finding that disoriented/disorganized attachment patterns can be resolved.

We ventured out to our school's football game last night, made a trip to the park today for a game of kickball ( I LOVE that our family is big enough we can actually have teams and everything!) and some swinging/sliding. We lounged the day away, after a huge breakfast the kids have just been snacking through the day. This kind of day, especially after a late night away (I did no cleaning after the ball game last night and having guest for supper) means the house was a WRECK! But each kid took a zone in the house and we had it looking pretty decent in about an hour. So now, we'll have some popcorn and a movie. If only everyday could be this way!

Quarantine

I spent the entire night last night grabbing the trash can and sticking it under Grace's mouth, holding back hair, filling sprite cups, washing bed clothes and towels in HOT water (like, 4 loads), and calculating how long it would take for such a virus to run it's course through 5 kids. Also, hoping it will spare the 2 adults. Since, you know, we can't afford for one not to work, and it's kind of hard to hold down the fort with your head in the toilet. So far today, my patience is low from the lack of sleep, and more patience is required because no sleep for Grace means she's extra whiney, and is melting down over every little oh-so-unfair act by her siblings. You know, since they breathe her air and they're watching her movie, too.

Despite last night's battle (and what I'm assuming will be a week long battle as everyone else falls victim to the virus), we've been doing extremely well. Our RADilicous baby (Charity) has had some marked improvement (at least at home, but not in public, yet). She tends to take 2 steps forward, then regress again for a few weeks, but once a new (good) behavior is there, we can usually see it take root more and more often over time. What we've seen, that we had previously not, is affection. I mean, she has been more than capable of wrapping her arms around strangers, extended family, climbing all over them in a ridiculous manner. In fact, that is often accompanied with "evil eyes" from her towards us as she overly affectionately hugs and kisses those around us. Rest assured, I AM NOT trying to make her out to be a monster. The opposite is true. More and more we are seeing that she is an amazing little girl, and we love her more each day. It's just that what we see at home is most often (some of our church family is beginning to see it and understand it - after keeping her for our Life groups and hanging out with our family for extended periods of time) much different than what the outside world sees. But I do want you to understand what this RAD can be like to live with.

Back to the affection for us. Before last week, true, relaxed, genuine affection without some agenda has been rare, if not completely inexistent. Eye contact had been extremely slim, unless she's lying, of course, and attempts by us to hold her were not pushed away exactly, but you could feel the tension in her little body, and if I scooped her in my arms and placed her in my lap, she would only remain for a few seconds before hopping down. Lately, however, she's sat in my lap contentedly. Looking me in the eyes and talking about all kinds of things. Once, after discipline, she even hung on to me while crying. THIS IS HUGE, PEOPLE! The only other time I think I saw sincere crying from her was only for a few minutes the day her brother left our home. And that day, she would not allow me to comfort her. She walked away, and cried for about 2 minutes with her back turned to us. Then, you could visibly see her shake her little body, as if to shake herself back into control. She shook her head, stopped the crying like she had a sudden revelation, held her chin high and then walked back to where we were standing. That's it. That's the only time I've felt her crying was sincere until the other day after a very extended time-out session and stand off between the two of us. There was one other time when one of the kids pushed her in the pool, and she clung to me from fear, and allowed me to comfort her. Even needed me for comfort. But 2 times in 8 months for a 4 year old? This kid has not had an adult to trust. No adult has convinced her that he/she is not going away. No adult has consistently met her needs and not disappeared shortly. It's amazing what this kid has survived. It blows me away. She's been with us for 8 months....that's longer than she's ever stayed anywhere.

So I just read back over the post, and it seems depressing. That was not what I intended. I wanted it to be a celebration of her life. I wanted the love we have for her to shine through the words. I wanted the joy of being a part of her life to be clear. We didn't just end up with her. And we aren't somehow frustrated that we're now dealing with a horrific disorder. We wanted her. We still want her (though that is still to be determined by DHS). We delight in her. And we are thankful that we get to be a part of her life....and just hope that she continues to be less and less guarded, fearful, and controlling, and that her spirit will be more and more free to enjoy the life God gave her. Oh, she could change the world one day! She's incredibly smart, discerning and methodical. Just you wait, world!

Not Shawn Johnson

But not bad for 30. Faith took my picture while I was showing the little ones their momma is sick!

And for all of you over 30's, "sick" is the new cool.

"Cool" is not.






I'm so glad I still have toddlers that being able to turn back flips on the trampoline impresses. Apparently it was good that it was school hours for Faith and Hope's friends, and I was not seen making a fool of myself. Humph.

Fun Friday

I know, I know. It's Monday. I've been a little busy. Gee, I can't imagine why!

I try to reserve Fridays for lots of fun. We still do school, but it's the fun stuff. Last Friday we painted flower pots and will be planting some seeds for our botany lessons, played in the rain again, spent some time in the kitchen making rice krispie treats and pizza, did a little reading and squeezed in a couple of not so fun math lessons in between. We also listened to some of our new favorite audio series, The Pond radio show, and Jonathan Park radio drama.


Yes, Blessing is naked. Well, all except for the diaper that I swore I would never again put on her about 2 or 3 months ago. 6 pair of panties per day later, I caved. I'm frustrated about that, both at myself and her, and not sure what the next step is. She's 3, people. 3 and though slightly developmentally delayed, not enough that makes me think she is not capable of potty training. In fact, she has had as much as a week at a time with no accident. Then suddenly, 6 panties in one day again. every. day. arg. And as far as the nakedness, well, neurologically she tolerates clothes just fine. But one speck of wet, dirt, paint, or if the seams aren't just right, off they come.


And then there's Charity. Who after 2 seconds of pretty colors and paint brushes decided that madly banging and franticly rubbing the paint all over the page worked much better. She's one of those if-I-can't-do-it-perfectly-then-I-freak personalities. You're not the only one, darling. Definitely not the only one.


I know it's a terrible picture, and it's hard to tell, but it's raining. And that is a tree "swing" the older girls rigged. Look close and you can see those stinky red sparkly shoes on Grace. With her pajamas. Do you still think I'm a good mom?


And last, but not least, my oldest girls. They slipped and slid and enjoyed the rain, too!

Wordless Wednesday

Battle Fatigue

After several email conversations, Annie suggested this book about disorganized and disoriented attachment disorders. Hungry for information, but finding very little, I dove head first into the book. It's the first (I hope of many) books I've opened on the subject, and my working information previous to it was limited to a few articles sent to me by a friend who is a psychologist, websites, and a few blogs by moms of kids with RAD. The book did not disappoint, at least not the first half of it.

The first half was perfect for me on MANY levels. You see, we do not have a diagnosis of RAD. Or any diagnosis for that matter. Actually, she did receive a diagnosis before she was placed with us, at the tender age of 2, with adjustment disorder with anxious mood. But the mental health services she's received once placed with us only entail one visit with one counselor that lasted about 20 minutes. I wrote about that here. I may be jumping extremely quickly to extremely ridiculous assumptions, but based on our first meeting I have little confidence in her competence to help my daughter with healing or adequately diagnose/teach us to deal with this disorder. If you are able to understand my ramblings, and are still interested, my point is that there has been basically NO understanding, no pointing in any direction, no support, and no affirmation. The book most certainly answered any lingering doubts about the disorder. No, I'm not a psychiatrist, but much of the book might as well be titled with my little girl's name. It was as if they studied her and then wrote the symptoms. I can not begin to tell you how much relief that alone has brought. Self doubt has certainly been a way of life for much longer than I care to admit. But there it was, in text, things I thought I might just have made up.

It completely disassembled the behaviors, the reasons behind them, and therefore furthered my understanding of the disorder (and thus my understanding of my little girl). I almost feel as if I know her better just because I have gained a little more insight into her behaviors. Because she has such a flat affect on big things, while blowing very small things entirely out of proportion, it's been hard to connect with her. Love her, yes, but know her? Not yet. She's quite skilled at keeping us at arms length. She may need us, and therefore she'll string us along, but only for her own agenda. Not really letting us in on her life just yet. I still believe it will come, though.

Not only did it solidify my growing belief that she has this disorder, but it even pegged my own feelings as if they'd prodded my very soul and wrote what they saw. More relief. My reaction may not always be right, but it's not abnormal. It's understandable, and apparently predictable. I know I've written the word relief way too many times already in this post, but I just can't think of a better way to describe the weight that lifts when you can see plainly that others have traveled this path, felt the same way, acted the same way, and that my family is not alone.

Where I felt the book came up short, though, was the area of what I can actually apply. First of all, it is directed to therapists who will be implementing corrective attachment therapy. It's process includes 2 weeks of 3 hours of therapy per day. Therapists. Not parents. And strongly urges unqualified individuals from employing the process. It did include case examples and very specific dialogue, but no child under 7 was used. My little RADling is only 4. And while it clearly states this order takes root in VERY young infants/toddlers who might not even remember their abuse/neglect/trauma, the dialogue in every case study it uses as an example is with children who do remember. Again, doesn't apply to us.

So, it's now my life mission to find out everything I possibly can about this disorder, and becoming an expert on every therapeutic method out there. I'm not interested in any re-birthing or other insane method, though I can certainly see how a mom would be willing to try it. Right now, while I find more information to read, I'm just concentrating on lots of eye contact, appropriate touch and holding. I've heard some moms make mention of things like letting kids put stickers on their face (promoting touch and eye contact) and popping sweet candy into their mouths while looking into their eyes (connecting pleasant with eye contact and touch), so I'm wondering where they got that type of applicable information? I'm asking, since, you know, you guys are experts in this disorder, right? Actually, Annie does read, and she's fighting this battle, too. And sounds as though Dean might be an excellent source as well.

And if you aren't sleeping by now or if I haven't put you into a boredom coma, you can pray that the battle fatigue that has consumed my husband and I lately (and includes many other aspects of our lives other than helping our little girl heal) will fade. We know Whose we are, and we have not mistakenly put our trust in Him. But walking the walk minute after minute becomes exhausting and frustrating at times. We just need a little boost and will take it in the form of your prayers, please. We reciprocate, by the way. And do not hesitate to fall to our knees on your behalf. In fact, I can think of several of you that we are currently interceding for. You, and You, and You(and family), and You......

Why, yes

As a matter of fact, those are my children. In a mix of their underwear and dress-up clothes and pajamas.


In the rain.


In the POURING DOWN rain.


And, we spent HOURS in the dark.


Gustav made a name for himself in our home. Not a very nice name, either. He robbed us of electricity. I really thought it was about 5 days of no lights, but, turns out, when I counted it up, it was only 3. It sure felt longer, though. Because our home is all electric, he also robbed us of hot baths and warm meals. He stole our hard wood floor. Completely ruined. And our home reeks of wet stink. I gave up trying to wait on electricity about the 2nd day in, and loaded up our van and headed to my mom's.

Thank God for mothers.

The girls spent a couple of days baking cookies with their great grandmother, following in the steps of their Papa through the woods and all over the yard, putting together a kajillion puzzles with their Nana, and other fantastic fun only wonderful grandparents can provide. It was the perfect safe haven for a couple of days. If you don't count that my RADish is not at her best when her normal life is uprooted and there are extra people to show out for. By the way, I'll fill you in on what I think about the book in an upcoming post.

I missed you all, and hope to catch up, soon! ;)

Hide and Seek

Much to my dismay (I don't like my shoes being trampled on in the closet or all the blankets unfolded to become covering) this game is a favorite with all my kids. My little ones love it, too, of course. Blessing, however, has not figured out yet that being good at the game requires being quiet and still. 5 seconds after "Ready or not, here I come!", the giggles start. You need only follow the noise. Not to mention her little eyes just have to peep out and see where you are. And as for being still, well.... Are you kidding me? That's just an impossible task for this little darling. No can do.





But she just might have the best eye for good spots! She did that all on her own. Did I mention she's a monkey, too?