My Mother in Law, who was in perfectly OK, (not great, but OK), health last week, went into Hospice yesterday. It’s a long story, but after going in the hospital for a few routine matters, went downhill fast, and now we are keeping vigil. She hasn't eaten in about five days, so it doesn't look good.

K’s two older brothers, (my Hubby’s first children by a previous marriage) are coming up to visit and see their grandmother. We call these children Uncle’s as they are in their thirties, and K is three, and just doesn’t really understand.... more

Like Julie, over on the special needs blog, I feel a bit in overwhelm these days. I have nothing to whine about really, but sometimes all the projects on my desk and in my mind and then the very dirty house and laundry are enough to cause me to retreat into my head.

I used to shuffle tasks well, then I became a mom, and I still am able to get many things done at once – but it is a bit different. Now my major focus is on K’s development and well being – but sometimes... more

Wow. It’s a New Year. I have been a bit incognito over the Holidays. My family came to visit and I was just having too much fun to sit and write, but alas, they are all gone now, so I’m back and ready to research, write, comment and blog for the next few months on foster adoption and older parent adoption.

As blogger Sandra recently wrote, it’s spinning fast. Has anyone else noticed it’s already the middle of the week of the first week of the New Year?

I’ve already shared in my last post about a few of my dreams for 2007 – adopting, traveling, more time with friends and... more

It is almost the New Year and every year I marvel at the speed in which they pass. This year I’ve written, played, cooked and visited family – the same as most other years, yet somehow they just seem to come faster and faster every year.

We aren’t going out, but neighbors are coming over and we still have my parents with us so we’ll be celebrating at midnight along with the rest of the world. In fact we’ll probably celebrate several times as the times zones around the world chime in at twelve.

Last year K was up and dancing as we had a big party.... more

Today marks the third anniversary of K’s arrival into our home. No longer can I imagine life without our daughter. The days of power lunches, bar hopping, late night working are over – and I am so very grateful.

There is a three year old in my home that brings an extra dimension of joy and laughter every day.

I love to remind Hubby that even the bad days are really really good. I laugh more each day now that I used to in a week – or even a month. Laughing is easy when you’ve got a child who cuts her hair, climbs into the fridge, waters the fake Christmas... more

Happy Boxing Day everyone...

I gave all my 'boxes' before Christmas, but today is still a holiday our family sort of celebrates. It's the day we eat leftovers, see a movie, catch up and breathe after the flurry of Christmas.

This year I've been down with a cold, and then a blizzard, so it has been a real rush at the end to get everything done. Actually, I didn't get everything done, but I did manage to get presents to Ricky and to K's Birth Mom last week.

In some previous years I gone to friends who've thrown parties on this day... more

Continued from here.....

I’m trying not to think too much about what the kids were like two years ago when they went home.

The girl would pee everywhere; the boy would lash out at inappropriate times,

These were the children I took screaming naked from the swimming pool and the security guard came to check on us. They were both having meltdowns.

These children lashed out in McDonalds and one of the other mothers eating lunch, called police.

These... more

Life is full of surprises.

I got a call from my ex-foster children’s mom late last night. She is twenty-one years old with three children, the oldest being seven years old,the youngest is four.

She is going into the hospital for induced labor today for her fourth child.

Will I take her other three children overnight?

The first thing I think about is this:

She has known about her labor for, oh, about nine months now, and she is probably knows they were going to induce for a while. Why is she calling me at the last minute?

I... more

K is three today.

My baby is growing up.

This morning, as she was waking I sang,

Happy Birthday!

She mused, "It’s my birthday?"

"I am three! I am three!"

All day she’s been proudly exclaiming "I am three" and "I am a princess" and "It’s my birthday."

She’s also showing her new found independence as can be seen in the photo.

I left the room for a minute and when I came back she’d gotten a stool, opened the fridge, and climbed up.

Geez.

Today... more

It's Thanksgiving and I'm thankful I'm not cooking.

No smell of pumpkin pie or turkey in my home this morning. Just fresh ground coffee and the sound of me typing away on the keyboard.

Hubby and K are watching the Macy parade on TV and its quiet.

In a few hours, we leave for MIL's house. We'll eat in the dining room at the Independent Living facility. We are eating early so the dining room can close and the... more