I'm sorry I haven't updated in a few days. It's been a busy week for me. I will probably be back up and running again on Monday and I'll fill you all in.
I hope you've all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you got to spend your Thanksgiving with all the ones you love.
Have a good weekend!
Hugs, sandy
Just stopping by to say, "Hi!"
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine went well. I didn't do much ,because we had Bay and usually when we have her, we just set everything aside to play and pretty much that is all we've done. Bay's mom has been at the hospital with her mom the last few days so we've kept Bay to help her out. Please keep Bay's grandmother in your prayers. She has carbon monoxide poisoning and pneumonia. So she has really been sick ,but she is doing better.
Bailey is getting so big and talking alot now. Her new favorite words are "get up" and "moan" (come on). Put the two together and you'll know what I've done the last few days. Every time I'd set down for a second, she would want me to get up and she would try to pull me up and then she would take my hand and lead me to the kitchen and point at the cereal or crackers, etc She ate and ate and ate:) I told her mom she probably gained 2 pounds or more these last few days:) She is so precious:) We always have so much fun with her.
Yesterday, we had our dfcs worker come out for a home visit... that went well. I asked her once more when will my fosters be moving home and she said she would like them to stay four or five more months. I really don't understand why so long...obviously, they know something I don't. Anyhow, I'm glad to have that over and done.
As for the rest of the weekend, I'm gonna be working around my house ,since I don't have as many kids around. The kids are wanting to decorate for Christmas right after Thanksgiving, but I do not like decorating until my house is all the way clean. So I'm trying to get my house in order and I'm hoping to paint the bathroom and hall because it really needs it and wash all my curtains, etc
Also, I hope to get some shopping done. I'm soooooooooooooooooooo behind. Hubby and I have gone shopping a couple of times and we've got most of the little kids shopping out of the way, but not the teens, family, or friends. So I have soooooooooooooooo much left to do. I use to have all my shopping done before Thanksgiving...not anymore.
It's so hard to buy for older people. Little kids are easy and fun. I asked the older kids to make me a wish list and so they did and that gave me some ideas for them, but as far as family goes... I'm stuck. I have nooooo idea, especially people you never even see ,but once or twice a year...grrrr Plus, this hasn't been a good year for us with Brent sick and out of work so much, but it's all gonna work out.
I wish we could all put away all the hustle ,bustle, and even the gift exchanging ,and get our focus back on the true meaning of Christmas and just be thankful to be alive and able to get together, eat, and spend time with our families. I've tried to talk my mom's side into just getting togetherto eat with no gift swapping , because I know her and nanny have both been sick and no one on that side has alot of money to blow on gifts and buying even small gifts for my family really adds up, because my family is so large, but every time I suggest ihat they not buy for us, they don't want to do that. So we keep it the way it is. However, I get tired of hearing all the grumbling and complaining about the cost of everything, etc... It makes me feel bad and really it's not just mt mom's side..it's every where this year. It seems everyone we know is out of a job or working shorter hours, etc Anyhow, enough on that.
Jacob wants to make Cinnamon rolls this morning. He has been begging me since Friday and I've put it off. He has waited long enough, so let me go do that for him.
Have a good day!
Hugs, Sandy
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to update you on my father-in-law. He is doing better. He is slowly re-gaining the use of his right side. He is also talking better. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. I believe he will be in the hospital a couple of weeks, but they are expecting a full recovery.
Thank you for all your prayers.
Hugs, sandy
Hey prayer buddies,
I have a prayer request that I need you to help me with. Hubby's dad had a stroke yesterday and had to be air lifted to Birmingham Alabama. He is in the ICU there. He lost use of the right side of his body, but he may regain it with time. Any of you that know him, know that he is the most active man you'll ever meet and has always been a healthy man, seldom sick with anything. He is up before daylight working on something everyday. He retired a few years ago from lockheed and has been on the go ever since. He enjoys being busy. So please pray that he will re-gain all use of that side of his body.
Thank you for your prayers.
Sandy
Well, we tried another family visit for the foster kids yesterday. This time it went much better than last week did. I had to pick Trin up early from school ,because they had his visit set for 2:30, so I picked him up and as we were walking back to the van, he said Mrs Sandy, my ear is better this week and look I didn't even cut my clothes or anything. I just smiled and told him "Thank you". We got there and he went right to his parents and did sooooooooooooooo much better...which makes it so much easier on me. They wanted him to visit for 2 hours, so I had to kill some time. Samantha had wanted me to come up to her job and visit, so I figured what better time. So I went up there and ate with her. It was just a good day...a busy one, but a good one.
After that, we came home. Anna and Corey came over for the night...actually they are staying the next three nights, because Anna is closer to work here and Hubby and Corey are doing the 3 day hunt they have here in our county and it's easier for Corey ,because they live so far away and he has to get up so early to go with hubby.I enjoy having them!
Now back to yesterday, when I got home Anna had cooked some homemade chicken noodle soup, so everyone ate and then we all set down and watched Jingle All The way...which was a nice way to calm all the hustle and bustle of the day and Jacob and Trin loved the movie.
Today, well it's back to the same routine. Housework and school.
Well, let me go get started on that. Have a great weekend!
Hugs, Sandy
I know I haven't really posted an update lately on all the kids...so here I go:)
Corey & Anna are still floating on cloud nine over the news that they are gonna have a new baby in July.They both work during the week, so we don't see them much except on weekends. However, they are coming over to spend the night tonight, so that Corey can go hunting with hubby tomorrow.
Katie just got her learners today. She is sooooooooooooooo excited!! She has been practicing. She stays pretty busy with school(She is in 11th). And on weekends she pretty much hang outs at the house with Dylan:)
Ashley has been helping me alot with the kids, so has Katie. I pay them both $50 a week to help me out,so that I have more free time to work with Jon and Jacob. Ashley is in the 10th and she is doing really good this year.
She is sooooo ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She has been playing christmas music for weeks... She is just like her mom:)
Jon, he has been working some with our neighbors. It has taught him so much. By the time he is grown, he will know all about plumbing,septic systems, etc He enjoys working with them. However, he has to double up on school work most days, just so that he won't fall behind. He is growing up so fast. He finally has his first "real" girlfriend Savanna. So that has been keeping him pretty busy:)
Jacob has just been being Jacob...lol He has been watching all the Christmas movies we bought and he is so excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas. He can't wait until we can go see Santa. He is doing really good in school. He does the virtual public school. The first of the year he was struggling with reading, but now he is doing sooooooooooo much better. We've been spending alot of time on phonics and his reading level has gone up at least one level in 2 months...yay Jacob!!!!
Samantha was working two jobs and was worn out. She was working almost every single day, but last week she gave up her second job. It had just gotten to be to much on her. However, she still works all the time. She has settled down in her new apartment and she is planning to get married to Lee sometime next Spring. Over all, she is doing wonderful!!!!!!
Trin is doing really good. He has been on "A" honor roll all year. He is in public school. All foster kids have to go to public school. His behavior is doing so much better than it was when we first got him. He has adjusted well here.
Amber is doing good. We took her and got her ears pierced the other day, and she didn't even cry. She is rough and tough just like a little boy. I think it is from being around Jacob and Trin all the time. She is climbing on everything and she is a dare devil. She loves to test her limits:) She is for sure a little bugger.
Bay is doing good too. We get her every other weekend now, but that is just not nearly enough *tears*. She is still so little, but she can say anything now. She is no longer walking...she runs. She has a sweet little personality and she loves to love on you. She is 100% girl. She is at a stage that she just watches everything you do and then she tries to copy you.
We are getting her this weekend and I can't wait. Her and Amberly are adjusting well to each other. They finally can play together now that Bailey is walking better.
All is well around here:) I've been working on my Christmas site. It's been cold here these last few days. It actually dipped down to freezing yesterday. I cooked a big pot of soup with cornbread...which is one of my favorites on a cold night. Besides that, I've just been trying to keep my house in order,working on my Christmas shopping , running kids to appointments,going to meetings...speaking of that I have one in about an hour, so I guess I should get on my way. Anyhow, that's it for now. Have a great day!
Hugs, sandy
Well, I took Katie back today to try to get her learners license and she passed this time!!!! Way to go Katie!!!!!
I can't believe how fast my kids are growing up. Katie will be 17 in February. It seems just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. Gosh, time flies!
Just had a few minutes and wanted to stop by and say" Hello".
Finally, everyone is well around here. Hubby was able to return to work today...yay!!!! He went back to both doctors and they released him:) He is healing up well and pretty much getting back to his old self:) and he has been able to sleep laying down...yay!!!! This is what we couldn't wait to see if he could do, and he has been able to so far:) Things are looking up! However, he can't throw up...I know that sounds gross, but he will never be able to throw up again. He learned that when he went back to the doctor and after he had the tummy bug this past weekend. He kept thinking if he could throw up that he would feel so much better, but the doc said he will never be able to throw up again because of the surgery. But, that's much better than throwing up all the time like he has done for the last year or so.
It's been chilly here these last few days and that's the way I like it around the Holidays:) The kids are all getting excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas. I know the next few weeks are gonna be busy ones for me .
The Holidays are so much fun with a house full of kids. We've already started listening to all of our favorite Holiday music and watching Christmas movies:) It is hard to believe that the Holidays are so close. Ashley always shows me the little Christmas ticker/countdown and she reminds me of all we have to do...which is still so much, but now that Hubby is feeling better I hope to get all my stuff done.
Corey and Anna are so excited about their first Christmas together as a couple, that they already decorated their tree and house:) Anna is doing well and feeling very good. So far she hasn't had any morning sickness...yay!!!! I've prayed that God will bless her with an easy time and healthy pregnancy. She is so funny, because she can't wait to find out what her baby will be and she keeps looking up all the gender prediction sites and they all keeping saying "It's a boy", so I guess we will just have to wait and see if they are right:) It really doesn't matter what they have as long as it is healthy. At this time, they only want one baby,but who knows, that may change as they get older. I hope all of my kids have one of each:) So I guess we will just have to wait to see if it will be PINK or BLUE:) I'm trying to find them an ornament that says "Parents-to-be" 2008 for their tree. It's still just so hard to believe:)
I just like to celebrate one Holiday at a time, so I don't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, and usually we decorate on Anna's birthday(Dec 2), but I think I'm going to do it the weekend after Thanksgiving this year:) I'm kinda worried about decorating with all the babies in the house. I know they are gonna pick at my tree and want to play with all the decorations. They aren't gonna understand that the balls aren't toys and neither are the rest of my decorations. I don't even know where I'll put my Christmas village to keep it out of their reach. However, I look forward to having the babies at Christmas. We are even getting Bailey for Christmas Eve and I'm so excited!!! I can't believe we are getting her that day. Her mom told Brent the other day when he went to get her, that it was fine if we got her that day....yay!!!! Also, DFCS said that Trin and Amber will also still be with us . I really thought they would be in transition home, but they won't be. So we will have a house full of little ones this year:)
Well, that's it I guess. I hope you are all having a good week.
Hugs, Sandy
Well ,the weekend didn't turn out very good:(
The tummy bug hit our house Friday night....grrrr I set up all night with Jacob Friday night and then I came down with it Saturday...grrr I don't think I've been that sick in a loooooong time and poor Jacob was just pitiful. He is already so pale as it is, but he was really pale and dark under his eyes. He had a really hard time with it. Each time after he got sick, he'd say"Mama I think I'm better this time. I feel like a new man" and I just couldn't help but laugh...it was just so sweet. However, so far the other two little ones haven't came down with it. The older girls and Corey(my son-in-law) all stepped up to the plate and took care of the other kids and took care of us sick ones. The whole house smells like bleach and lysol...yuck! However, I hope that will keep everyone else from getting sick.
It just wasn't a good weekend and not just that it's just been wet and cold too...grrrr just one yucky weekend.
Maybe tomorrow will be a better day...I hope.
Have you ever had one of those days that you wake up and it is nice and calm and before the day is over ,the bottom falls out ,and you end up in a lake of chaos????? Well that was yesterday for me. Let me tell you about my day....
It started off pretty normal. Brent got up, I got up, Trin got up, Jon got up...and soooo on. At 10:30, I took Jon to the orthodontist. The roads were crazy and police were everywhere, so I drove a little slower and ended up 10 minutes late to his appointment...grrrr But ,they did see him:) After that, we were coming home, and as soon as I pulled out of the ortho office the GSP got behind me. They followed me all the way....every curve, every lane change, ever exit, all the way ...to almost my house....grrrr Of course, I drove just as I should and tried to do everything right, because I sure didn't want a ticket.
Well, as soon as I got home, I had about an hour to cram as much school in and to grab a quick lunch, before I had to leave again.
Brent pulled up in the middle of my mess with a little ray of sunshine "Bailey". He had went to get her. However, I had so much going on that I felt sad that I didn't have much time to spend with Bailey.
I had to be up at the school to check Trin out for a family visit at DFCS. So I did, However, I was late...grrrrr...boy it was one of those days. I didn't think they were gonna let me check him out ,because buses were already lined up ,and I had to park next door to the school and walk. Well, finally after forever, he gets to the office. He is dirty and his clothes had holes...this did not look like the kid that left my house that morning. I don't know how he got so dirty, and he couldn't remember how he got holes in his clothes...grrrr Well, after getting my not so happy face, he confessed to cutting holes in his brand new levis and shirt....grrrr
Well, I was totally embarrassed to take him into DFCS looking like that, but because it took so very long for him to get to the office, we had no choice ,but to go straight to the DFCS office.
Well, as soon as Trin got in my van and buckled up, he started screaming....at the top of his lungs. I said, "What is wrong with you?" He said his head hurt. Then he said his ear hurt...and on and on. He screamed all the way to the office approx 20 minutes. Well, we got there, and I went in and told the lady at the desk that we had arrived. However, we set 40 minutes(with Trin crying). Finally, a case worker walked out and I explained to her that he was sick and had just gotten that way in the last hour. Well, the family was late, and after the case worker questioned Trin, she told us to go ahead and leave...so we did. On my way out of the office, an older lady followed me out the door. She said,"Mam, are you not gonna take that child to the doctor?". Then she went on to tell me how dangerous fevers are and how he is in alot of pain and that she knows how he feels and he needed medical care now and that I should take him right now...and on and on and yes she was really rude. I said, Mam, this is my foster child and yes If he continues this way then I will be taking him to the doctor. No, I can't take him to urgent care because they don't see foster children, but if he needed it I would be taking him to the ER. She finally walked away and back in the dfcs office. I stopped off to buy some meds, etc for him and headed home. However, he never felt like he had a fever and he stopped crying.
When we got home, he jumped out of the van ,and was ready to play. He had faked his sickness...grrrrr . I was really aggravated ,because not only had I waisted my time (and time I could have spent with Bailey)and gas, but now I had to re- schedule for another day....grrrrr So I told him since he was so sick, he was not playing. Needless to say, he was not happy and neither was I. By the time I got in good, we had a house full of company and I do mean a house full. My neighbor came over and she made the comment that she thought our house was a zoo, but now she knows it is...lol So she joined in the chaos.
Well Brent decided he wanted to get out of the house. So we went to walmart to pick up a few things and then went to zorbas because the doctor said Brent could eat soft fish and he loves Zorba's fish. So we did that and then afterwards took Bay home.
We got home to find out that Our other neighbors house had caught on fire and the man had called to tell my son and my son-in-law to go down there to check on his wife,because he was not close to home and had got a call that his house was on fire. Well, everybody went down there to check on her, leaving our house empty, which is rare. Well, during all of this, Samantha had called 911 to tell them, but 911 thought it was prank, because of the name of our road. Luckily, all that had burned was around the stove and somehow the fire went out on it's on...God is good. What had happened was that our neighbor(she is young and just got married) had been cooking and had a grease fire. She didn't know not to throw water on a grease fire, and when she did it got huge and out of control.
Anyhow, after all that the kids came home. Katie went to the back of the house, while everybody else was in the front of the house. Katie heard a noise, and turned and saw what she said was someone running down our stairs. She panicked and went and alerted my son-in-law and he went down and looked and found our basement door standing open. So we believe someone had came in our home through our basement, probably during the time the kids had gone to our neighbors. Nothing was taken from our home thank goodness. However, this person must not know our family very well, because we do have guns, and my husband and son-in-law are not scared to use them. I think they may have came in ,but weren't expecting someone to come back so quickly ,and they were trying to get out .The kids didn't bother calling 911 again, because of the fact they had trouble earlier. However, I am going to call today and complain, because 911 failed to respond as they should have and this is not the first time. Our other neighbors house burned and 911 didn't respond right away, because they thought it was joke. What if someone would have been trapped in that house ?????
Yes, it was a crazy day for sure. But thank God, my kids are alright, my neighbors are alright and still have a home, and nothing was taken from our home.
However, We are taken action to make our home more safe and secure.
It was one crazy day for sure.
When you feel the impulse to be judgmental, let that be a cue for you to first be thankful.
When you discover that you're focusing on what's wrong, use that as a reminder of all the many things that are right.
Immediately upon waking each morning, think of ten things you are grateful for at the moment.
As you fall asleep at the end of the day, fill your thoughts with thankfulness for the good and valuable blessings in your life.
Give the power of your thoughts to the positive influences in your world, and they will become more influential.
Remind yourself often of what works well, and you'll naturally find ways to make many other things work well.
The way to enjoy success is not to study failure. The way to experience success is to extend and expand the success you already know.
Gratitude is so powerful because it makes you so powerful.
Gratitude puts you in a positive frame of reference within which many more positive things can happen.
Begin each day, end each day, and live each day with a sincerely thankful heart.
And as each day passes, you'll have more and more for which to be thankful.
-- R. Marston
Out side my window...it is wet and chilly today
I am thinking...about how crazy my day is gonna be
At the moment,I am thankful...that Hubby is doing better
I am going...to the orthodontist, then to DFCS for a meeting, and then out to dinner and Christmas shopping with hubby. It's gonna be a busy day
I am wearing...jeans and a grey polo
I wish...I didn't have to go to the orthodontist today...grrr I hate that ride.
I am working on...laundry...grrrrr
I am hoping...all goes well with Anna
I am hearing...Lacy talking
Around the house...things are looking up:)
I bet you didn't know...I've gone a whole week without a headache...yay!!!!!!!
One of my favorite ...Holidays is Thanksgiving. It is similar to Christmas ,but without all the hustle and bustle. I just enjoy getting together with family and seeing folks you don't see that often. Sometimes I wonder why we can't just celebrate Thanksgiving 4 times a year, after all we all have soooooooo much to be thankful for.I just love everything about Thanksgiving!
Hey everyone,
I just found a minute and wanted to stop in and say hello! It's been a pretty busy week so far, but it is going pretty fast...this whole year has been flying by for me. Does it seem to you that every year goes faster than the ones before??? Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just getting old...lol
Hubby just left for his check-up to see how well he is doing, and I'm just setting back enjoying this beautiful fall day. It seems in the last two weeks that the tress have really gotten their colors.
Yesterday, Hubby took me Christmas shopping *so sweet*. It was so much fun!!!!! I actually got most of the little kids wish lists filled. Hubby just told me to go and he set on the bench and waited. He said it reminded him of the song Brand Paisley wrote about "Waiting on a Woman". He even bought me 2 Christmas Cds and a christmas dvd collection of 10 Christmas movies. I'm excited about that because we are having a cookie party at out house next month and we are planning a sleep over with movies for the kids.
He also took me out to eat...which was kinda sad considering he can't eat much yet. I think he just wanted to get out of the house. He is still on somewhat of a liquid diet and he starts his puree diet on Monday. He has lost 20 pounds since he had this surgery. He looks really good and he feels alot better.
As for the rest of the week, I don't have much planned as of yet.
Except for Friday, I promised my friend's little girls that I would do something with them . So we are putting together a girls night out:) and I'm gonna try to make time for my mom this weekend.
BTW my mom is doing so much better!!! She looks better and feels better than she has in years. She actually has even gotten color back in her face. For a while now she has been looking really pale ,but dark under her eyes. But, when I saw her at the hospital(when she came to see Brent) she looked so good.I know it's from all the prayers...God is so good!!!!!!
Well, I guess I'll get off. I'll update you all when hubby gets here. Have a great hump day.
Hugs, sandy
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to update you on my hubby. He is healing up wonderfully. He has actually done better than I ever dreamed. He will be going back to the doctor tomorrow for a check-up. If all goes well, he will be able to return to his job next week.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for him.
Hugs, Sandy
TODAY's DEVOTION I received in an email:
The Wise Woman
"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own
hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1
How do you build your house?
We all have a mental picture of how we want our
"house" to be: in other words how our kids should
behave, how our husband will respond to our needs,
how orderly our lives are, etc. Did you know that
even though our goals may be right, our labor may
be in vain?
For example, we may want to build a close family,
but instead of nurturing those relationships with
patience and understanding, we tear them down with
judgment and criticism. Although we desire to enjoy
our children, we schedule ourselves crazy toting
them around to so may events, games and practices
that we fall into bed exhausted at night and wake
up one morning wondering where 18 years and our
children went.
God created us women to be the "suitable helper"
- the completer - of our husband. But instead of
building him up to be all God made him to be,
we get too busy trying to fix him! Instead of
trusting God to grow him up spiritually we try
to be his Holy Spirit. Instead of exhorting him
to be the leader of the family God called him to be,
we insist on controlling or manipulating him.
Have you been building your house with love and
encouragement? Are you like warm sunshine when
your kids find you after a long day? When your
hubby comes home, weary from slaying dragons all
day, are you like a breath of fresh air for him?
Build your house like the wise woman: Bite your
tongue more, smile more. Slow down. Laugh more.
Listen lots more. Become their biggest fan.
Encourage often. Then your house will go up brick
by beautiful brick, The peaceful, happy place
your family wants to come home to.
Remember the three little pigs? The one who built
his house with bricks was wise: although the wolf
huffed and puffed, his house stood strong. Yours
will too - for generations to come - if you don't
tear it down first.
~Sandra
Hey everyone,
We are home. I just haven't had time to update you all...I'm sorry.
Brent is doing good. However, we aren't getting along at all, because he is not listening and sticking to what the doctor says...grrrr He hates when I tell him what to do and I've been fussing with him ever since we came home. He doesn't like being on the liquid diet at all. So he keeps trying to sneak and eat...grrr Men! They are worst than kids....grrrr I'm afraid he is over doing it and I can't do anything about it....grrrr He is so stubborn.
Other than that, I've just been trying to catch up in the house. It amazes me how in three days, a house can get so messed up.
During all of this, my van quit on me at the hospital and then to top it off, I broke my key off in it (when it rains it pours around here). But, I got it fixed and I've finally got it home, thanks to brent's friends. I can't even thank them enough for coming up there and working on it. I didn't tell Brent ,because I knew it would worry him and that he would try to get up and go fix it.
Well, that is about it. I'm waiting on a plumber to get here to fix a leak...grrr
Have a great day! Hugs, sandy
Brent had his surgery yesterday. The surgery appears to be successful. He did have a small amount of fluid that they think he might have aspirated in the back of his esophagus, so to be safe they kept in his breathing tubes and put him in the ICU ,instead of on the floor so that they could monitor him a little more closely.They are also keeping him sedated so that he doesn't fight with the tubes. Well, that is it for now. I'll post again as soon as I have an update.
Thank you all your thoughts & prayers for him.
Hugs, sandy
Hey prayer buddies,
Please keep my hubby "Brent" in your prayers today. He will be having the surgery done today on his esophagus and stomach. I will keep you all updated.
Thank you all so much, Sandy
