We are adjusting... again. From one kid, to three, back to two. Madi had a hard time and was very moppy on Saturday... and then today displayed a lot of bad behaviors, and temper tantrums. Hoping tomorrow she can get back to some of that good behavior we have seen from her in the last 2 weeks. I was really thinking it was the begining of the end of the "Nasties" from her. The hissing, growling, yelling, screaming, frustrated jumping... we call that her "nasties". Heres to praying that tomorrow will be better than today!!!
And tomorrow is court for Bubba and Dee Dee. Dee's new foster dad is bringing her, so we will get to see her.. YAY! :o) We are praying that the KIDS best interests are first and foremost thought about... and not the parents. That the suspension of visits would stand and that they would somehow prove some of these s*xual abuse claims.
The kids county never asks kids to come to court, but Dee has to come, so we are really praying for her.. and for her not to have to answer any questions... especially so soon after moving into a new home!!
Thanks for the extra prayers!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dee Dee is Gone
Well, after a whirlwind week of CRAZINESS.... Dee has left our home and family and went to live with a new family.
Things change everyday and sometimes a couple times a day all week with what was going to happen to her and Bubba. But the final decision was made on Thursday morning for her to leave that night. Thank GOD, He knew that just wasnt going to be best. Thursday at school she had the first seizure we have seen. It was a "staring" seizure, or an absence seizure, and last until the EMT gave her some meds in an IV. (Yea, they called the ambulance, and me and Dee Dee got our first ever ride in once!!!). We spent most of the afternoon/evening in the ER, so the county said with all that, she can stay until tomorrow. So we got to tell the girls last night.
Madi is a very happy, chipper, alLllllllllways "up" child. She doesnt like to show emotions, except anger, and usually cant name her emotions. Well, last night, a dam broke lose in her soul and she SOBBED and cried for a LONG time, for the first time EVER. She could hardly speak last night and this morning after it. She was simply devasted that she was losing yet another sister.
Dee Dee also cried and said she didnt want to go. She was scared and said she would miss us a lot. But we had a very nice talk and helped her to feel ok about it.
We are VERY sad that Dee will not be staying in this school too... her teachers and staff have been AMAZING to both girls. Today, we took Dee into school to say goodbye to everyone, and they reallllly showered her with love!!! Her teacher is one of the most amazing women I have ever seen. She loaded Dee up with books, erasers and stickers, and gave her a nice clifford dog. She also gave alex a clifford, and madi a clifford book. Since Dee Dee loves pretzels and wants them everyday at school for snack, she gave a GIANT bag of pretzels too!!!! Then, she did something so above and beyond, it truly made Mike and I speechless. She wrote us a $200 check to buy Dee and the other two some things. Amazing woman. Truly!!! She said she wanted to go buy Dee new sneakers, becuase Dee HATES the sneaker we bought her... they are too bulky for her and she got very angry at them when she tripped, but her teacher didnt have time, since it was kind of sudden! There were so many people who came to the office to shower her with love. If I had a medal for best school ever... it would go to this one.
So shes not with us. And it realllllly hurts. But God is in control. He's got this. So, with a bit of a heavy heart, I said goodbye to a kid who has potential to do great and big things, knowing that God loves her more than I ever, ever could!!
Things change everyday and sometimes a couple times a day all week with what was going to happen to her and Bubba. But the final decision was made on Thursday morning for her to leave that night. Thank GOD, He knew that just wasnt going to be best. Thursday at school she had the first seizure we have seen. It was a "staring" seizure, or an absence seizure, and last until the EMT gave her some meds in an IV. (Yea, they called the ambulance, and me and Dee Dee got our first ever ride in once!!!). We spent most of the afternoon/evening in the ER, so the county said with all that, she can stay until tomorrow. So we got to tell the girls last night.
Madi is a very happy, chipper, alLllllllllways "up" child. She doesnt like to show emotions, except anger, and usually cant name her emotions. Well, last night, a dam broke lose in her soul and she SOBBED and cried for a LONG time, for the first time EVER. She could hardly speak last night and this morning after it. She was simply devasted that she was losing yet another sister.
Dee Dee also cried and said she didnt want to go. She was scared and said she would miss us a lot. But we had a very nice talk and helped her to feel ok about it.
We are VERY sad that Dee will not be staying in this school too... her teachers and staff have been AMAZING to both girls. Today, we took Dee into school to say goodbye to everyone, and they reallllly showered her with love!!! Her teacher is one of the most amazing women I have ever seen. She loaded Dee up with books, erasers and stickers, and gave her a nice clifford dog. She also gave alex a clifford, and madi a clifford book. Since Dee Dee loves pretzels and wants them everyday at school for snack, she gave a GIANT bag of pretzels too!!!! Then, she did something so above and beyond, it truly made Mike and I speechless. She wrote us a $200 check to buy Dee and the other two some things. Amazing woman. Truly!!! She said she wanted to go buy Dee new sneakers, becuase Dee HATES the sneaker we bought her... they are too bulky for her and she got very angry at them when she tripped, but her teacher didnt have time, since it was kind of sudden! There were so many people who came to the office to shower her with love. If I had a medal for best school ever... it would go to this one.
So shes not with us. And it realllllly hurts. But God is in control. He's got this. So, with a bit of a heavy heart, I said goodbye to a kid who has potential to do great and big things, knowing that God loves her more than I ever, ever could!!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
How powerful is your worship?
Tonight, at bible school, I was super challanged by Lamar Boschman's teaching on worship. He was teaching on how to be a rue worshipper. Not just someone who worships during a church service only, but someone who worships through it ALLLLL.
I havent been that. I think I used to be. I used to be the girl who praise God through it all. And Mike and I have been through it all. Deaths of relatives, deaths of our unborn children, loss of jobs, major illnesses, loss of friends, just LOSS. A lot. And through all of that, I praised God.
When did I stop doing that on a regular basis!??!
Where did I turn away from thanking Him for everything!??!
Tonight, I made a decision to be that girl again... but better. I had to repent to the Lord! Ive been walking around, and when people ask me how I am, I have been like "eh. ive been better" or something not so positive. And no, Im not doing ok. Yes, I am scared, yes, I am worried and stressed and sad, and mad, and confused, and a whole bunch more. BUT, the Lord is my strength, my rock, my shelter. He is my joy and if I were to tap into that joy, I could honestly answer people with something positive and be a light. I havent been a light this week. I thought about today, when Madi's therapist asked how I was, I could have shone brightly and told her that, this situation is bad, but we are beleiving that Jesus is gonna work it out and we are just knowing God is in control. But I didnt. And the same thing when I dropped Madi off at school, her principal asked how I was. I missed two GREAT opportunities to show Jesus!!
But thank you FATHER, thank you, that you will let me have other opportunities. And Please please Father, allow me to be more positive. Give me the strength to praise you!!
Here is some steps to take to become a consistant worshipper:
1. Make a DECISION to praise Him, whether you feel like it or not. Becuase worship needs to be an act of our WILL, not out emotions!!
2. Give thanks everyday. All day. No matter what. No food in the cupboards? Praise Him. No money? Praise Him. No job? Praise Him. Just simply and wholeheartedly praise Him and be thankful for Him and to Him!!
3. BLESS the Lord at all times. Through the stress and stuggles, the good and the bad, BLESS the LORD!!
4. Praise Him in PRIVATE!!! Psalm 149:5 says to worship Him in our beds. This is that lifestyle thing... praise Him when NO ONE is listening. Praise Him when your alone!! It creates such an intamacy with the Lord and helps you to develop that never ending conversation with the Lord!
5. Praise Him in PUBLIC!! When someone asks you how you are, use your answer to praise Him!! Praise Him in song, or humming or just in thought as you are walking through the grocery store. If every christian truly praised the Lord in public, imagine the impact we could have??
Im going to start doing these things. I need to get back into this lifestyle of worship and praise Him through it all. To bless Him through it all. And to Thank Him through it all!!!
Lamar said that our worship is only as powerful as our lives. If we have POWERFUL worship.. then that means we have a powerful life. And a powerful chirstian life will change many many other peoples lives!
So, one question.....
I havent been that. I think I used to be. I used to be the girl who praise God through it all. And Mike and I have been through it all. Deaths of relatives, deaths of our unborn children, loss of jobs, major illnesses, loss of friends, just LOSS. A lot. And through all of that, I praised God.
When did I stop doing that on a regular basis!??!
Where did I turn away from thanking Him for everything!??!
Tonight, I made a decision to be that girl again... but better. I had to repent to the Lord! Ive been walking around, and when people ask me how I am, I have been like "eh. ive been better" or something not so positive. And no, Im not doing ok. Yes, I am scared, yes, I am worried and stressed and sad, and mad, and confused, and a whole bunch more. BUT, the Lord is my strength, my rock, my shelter. He is my joy and if I were to tap into that joy, I could honestly answer people with something positive and be a light. I havent been a light this week. I thought about today, when Madi's therapist asked how I was, I could have shone brightly and told her that, this situation is bad, but we are beleiving that Jesus is gonna work it out and we are just knowing God is in control. But I didnt. And the same thing when I dropped Madi off at school, her principal asked how I was. I missed two GREAT opportunities to show Jesus!!
But thank you FATHER, thank you, that you will let me have other opportunities. And Please please Father, allow me to be more positive. Give me the strength to praise you!!
Here is some steps to take to become a consistant worshipper:
1. Make a DECISION to praise Him, whether you feel like it or not. Becuase worship needs to be an act of our WILL, not out emotions!!
2. Give thanks everyday. All day. No matter what. No food in the cupboards? Praise Him. No money? Praise Him. No job? Praise Him. Just simply and wholeheartedly praise Him and be thankful for Him and to Him!!
3. BLESS the Lord at all times. Through the stress and stuggles, the good and the bad, BLESS the LORD!!
4. Praise Him in PRIVATE!!! Psalm 149:5 says to worship Him in our beds. This is that lifestyle thing... praise Him when NO ONE is listening. Praise Him when your alone!! It creates such an intamacy with the Lord and helps you to develop that never ending conversation with the Lord!
5. Praise Him in PUBLIC!! When someone asks you how you are, use your answer to praise Him!! Praise Him in song, or humming or just in thought as you are walking through the grocery store. If every christian truly praised the Lord in public, imagine the impact we could have??
Im going to start doing these things. I need to get back into this lifestyle of worship and praise Him through it all. To bless Him through it all. And to Thank Him through it all!!!
Lamar said that our worship is only as powerful as our lives. If we have POWERFUL worship.. then that means we have a powerful life. And a powerful chirstian life will change many many other peoples lives!
So, one question.....
How powerful is YOUR worship?
Update on our Situation
PRAISE GOD!!!
The update from my last post is that Madi's county was asking for Dee Dee's removal, but We convinced them to allow us to keep Dee Dee by changing the sleeping arrangements.
Madi and Dee Dee now have their own rooms, and Bubba is sleeping in MIke and I's room. LOVELY.
Anyone have a 4 bedroom house we can live in!?!?
We are willing to do WHATEVER it takes to keep them. This is a permanant placement... the stuff that happened this week prove that the younger kids bio parents abused them, and when abuse happens, it means they will never go back to the abusers.
These are OUR children now. God has blessed us with them and we are determined to not only keep them, but keep them safe!!!
Thanks for the prayers... we still need them!!!!!
The update from my last post is that Madi's county was asking for Dee Dee's removal, but We convinced them to allow us to keep Dee Dee by changing the sleeping arrangements.
Madi and Dee Dee now have their own rooms, and Bubba is sleeping in MIke and I's room. LOVELY.
Anyone have a 4 bedroom house we can live in!?!?
We are willing to do WHATEVER it takes to keep them. This is a permanant placement... the stuff that happened this week prove that the younger kids bio parents abused them, and when abuse happens, it means they will never go back to the abusers.
These are OUR children now. God has blessed us with them and we are determined to not only keep them, but keep them safe!!!
Thanks for the prayers... we still need them!!!!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Calling EVERYONE to PRAY!!!!
I can not and will not go into details, but basically, Bubba and Dee Dee may be removed from our home due to an incident that happened between the girls that Mike and I did EVERYTHING in our power to avoid.
If the county decides that Dee Dee needs to go, she will. There is almost nothing we can do about it. We love these 2 sooooo much and feel that they are our children as much as Madi!! They have bonded with us and attached to us in a very deep and real way. We also beleive that we may be the best possible people for Dee Dee and we could be the people God has to help her become the woman she was meant to be!
And Bubba... I honestly can not IMAGINE losing him now. He is our SON. Mike and I both sincerely would be broken if he left... Dee Dee too. But with Bubba... we are with him all the time. We spend all day with him. He is my helper, always by my side in the kitchen. He is Mike's monkey.
Dee Dee us our little jokester! Once she learns a joke, she really enjoys re-telling it. She loves to laugh now, and shes learning to love Jesus.
Lil Man says Amen after every prayer now. He loves to dance to worship music and says JiJi for Jesus.
They BOTH have come so far and I can not imagine life with out them. SO please please please please pray!! Please... Not only would MIke and I be devastated, I think Madi would be too.
Thank you all in advance!!!
If the county decides that Dee Dee needs to go, she will. There is almost nothing we can do about it. We love these 2 sooooo much and feel that they are our children as much as Madi!! They have bonded with us and attached to us in a very deep and real way. We also beleive that we may be the best possible people for Dee Dee and we could be the people God has to help her become the woman she was meant to be!
And Bubba... I honestly can not IMAGINE losing him now. He is our SON. Mike and I both sincerely would be broken if he left... Dee Dee too. But with Bubba... we are with him all the time. We spend all day with him. He is my helper, always by my side in the kitchen. He is Mike's monkey.
Dee Dee us our little jokester! Once she learns a joke, she really enjoys re-telling it. She loves to laugh now, and shes learning to love Jesus.
Lil Man says Amen after every prayer now. He loves to dance to worship music and says JiJi for Jesus.
They BOTH have come so far and I can not imagine life with out them. SO please please please please pray!! Please... Not only would MIke and I be devastated, I think Madi would be too.
Thank you all in advance!!!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Dee Dee's Meds
About a month ago, we took Dee Dee off her Adderall and since then we have seen a huge imporvement in her. She is no longer "comatose" for most of her day. She is chattering, and happy, and giggly, and is making jokes and just generally acting more like a 6 yr old.
But, she has also been acting out more, stealing more, and not listening!! So we started on Respiridril (yeah, ok, cant spell that!!) and im seeing some of her negative behaviors lessen, which is good.... but we are still seeing a lot of the defiant behaviors. So... I guess we havent found the right med yet, but this one is TONS better than the Adderall.
Question... what can cause shaking in kids, and a "jerking" motion at random times? She is on clonidine, and depakote, as well as the respiridril. When I called the doctor, he said none of those should be causing a lot of jerking, and we would have to wait until our appt on the 18th to talk about what it could be. So, in the meantime, Im trying to figure out what else, besides meds, can cause it. Its happeneing a lot. Sometimes, I have identified that it happens when she is getting in trouble, or is caught doing something wrong, and sometimes, nothing is happening, its calm and peaceful and she shakes. To clarify, these are not seizure shakes... just a jerking of her hands or a small jerk of her body. Its like when you get a chill or something.
Id love some advice, or any experiences you have had with this!!
Thanks! :o)
But, she has also been acting out more, stealing more, and not listening!! So we started on Respiridril (yeah, ok, cant spell that!!) and im seeing some of her negative behaviors lessen, which is good.... but we are still seeing a lot of the defiant behaviors. So... I guess we havent found the right med yet, but this one is TONS better than the Adderall.
Question... what can cause shaking in kids, and a "jerking" motion at random times? She is on clonidine, and depakote, as well as the respiridril. When I called the doctor, he said none of those should be causing a lot of jerking, and we would have to wait until our appt on the 18th to talk about what it could be. So, in the meantime, Im trying to figure out what else, besides meds, can cause it. Its happeneing a lot. Sometimes, I have identified that it happens when she is getting in trouble, or is caught doing something wrong, and sometimes, nothing is happening, its calm and peaceful and she shakes. To clarify, these are not seizure shakes... just a jerking of her hands or a small jerk of her body. Its like when you get a chill or something.
Id love some advice, or any experiences you have had with this!!
Thanks! :o)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Big Changes On the Horizon
Happy Decemeber!!
Wow....30 more days and we are done with 09.... wow!!!!
I have this crazy feeling 2010 is going to bring some changes to our family. I already know of a big one... but I cant share it yet! :o)
I also cant wait until Christmas. We will be spending Christmas Eve with my family in a cabin at a local lake... my mom aunts said they are going to go "wild" and decorate the inside and outside of the cabin!! The kids will love it! The Christmas day with Mikes fam.
We are hoping that our extended family from Erie (Mike's side) can make it down here with their new lil baby boy. They are such a fun and Godly couple, and we really enjoy spending time with them... and there other 2 kids are sooo cute and fun, and Madi loves them. Cant wait for Dee Dee and Bubba to meet them too! :o)
AND, my sister-in-law is due in the next 2 weeks with a baby boy... and we seriously cant wait to meet him! Good stuff!
God is good to us. He has blessed us with an absolutly amazing family and this great future, and this great ministry of the redemption of kids. Yeah. God Rocks! :o)
As we count down to Christmas, and on to the New Year, my mind cant help but start to get consumed by the presents I need to buy, wrap, and give. The boxes that need put away or moved to the basement, the hall closet that needs cleaned out so when people come, they have places for their coats, the food I need to cook, the sweets that need baked, the cards that need sent, and the family pictures that need taken. And as I sat down last night to make my month of December to do list, I just stopped and realized that on my list, i included nothing about the real meaning of this season!!
So this morning, after a lot of thought and prayer, I added a few extras to my list.
1. Find a daily game/activity to do with the kids as a countdown to Christmas that tells the story of Jesus. (Dee Dee and Bubba dont have a lot of experience with Jesus and Dee Dee doesnt know the Xmas story!)
2. Go Caroling (this may not happen, but I'd LOOOVE to do this and I think that the kids would love this!)
3. Make a BIG meal and take it to a local Childrens Home/Residental Treatment Facillity for some foster kids... and give those kids some love!
4. Teach the kids a really lovely Christmas song to sing for the family at Christmas Eve. The girls both love music so much, I think this would be so cute for them!
5. Take a bath. Just one. Just for me. No hurried shower that day.... just a nice relaxing bath!!
6. Read the kids lots and lots of stories.
7. Have the kids HELP me bake....trying to find ways to spend time with them while I get all this stuff done!
8. The girls are going to help us wrap Alex's presents! :o)
9. Spend and extra bit of time everyday praying. I need to keep Jesus front and center and not let my time with Him fall on the back burner becuase my list is huge!!
10. ENJOY THE SEASON!!!! This is such a GREAT time of year!! The lights, the presents (i love presents), the family time, the MEANING of the season, the Joy, the Peace, and the Love.... they all should be celebrated and enjoyed. Especially the meaning! SO I plan on enjoying this season to its fullest!
Christmas with 3 kids... that will be such a new and wonderful thing... I cant wait for the insanity! lol!! :o)
Wow....30 more days and we are done with 09.... wow!!!!
I have this crazy feeling 2010 is going to bring some changes to our family. I already know of a big one... but I cant share it yet! :o)
I also cant wait until Christmas. We will be spending Christmas Eve with my family in a cabin at a local lake... my mom aunts said they are going to go "wild" and decorate the inside and outside of the cabin!! The kids will love it! The Christmas day with Mikes fam.
We are hoping that our extended family from Erie (Mike's side) can make it down here with their new lil baby boy. They are such a fun and Godly couple, and we really enjoy spending time with them... and there other 2 kids are sooo cute and fun, and Madi loves them. Cant wait for Dee Dee and Bubba to meet them too! :o)
AND, my sister-in-law is due in the next 2 weeks with a baby boy... and we seriously cant wait to meet him! Good stuff!
God is good to us. He has blessed us with an absolutly amazing family and this great future, and this great ministry of the redemption of kids. Yeah. God Rocks! :o)
As we count down to Christmas, and on to the New Year, my mind cant help but start to get consumed by the presents I need to buy, wrap, and give. The boxes that need put away or moved to the basement, the hall closet that needs cleaned out so when people come, they have places for their coats, the food I need to cook, the sweets that need baked, the cards that need sent, and the family pictures that need taken. And as I sat down last night to make my month of December to do list, I just stopped and realized that on my list, i included nothing about the real meaning of this season!!
So this morning, after a lot of thought and prayer, I added a few extras to my list.
1. Find a daily game/activity to do with the kids as a countdown to Christmas that tells the story of Jesus. (Dee Dee and Bubba dont have a lot of experience with Jesus and Dee Dee doesnt know the Xmas story!)
2. Go Caroling (this may not happen, but I'd LOOOVE to do this and I think that the kids would love this!)
3. Make a BIG meal and take it to a local Childrens Home/Residental Treatment Facillity for some foster kids... and give those kids some love!
4. Teach the kids a really lovely Christmas song to sing for the family at Christmas Eve. The girls both love music so much, I think this would be so cute for them!
5. Take a bath. Just one. Just for me. No hurried shower that day.... just a nice relaxing bath!!
6. Read the kids lots and lots of stories.
7. Have the kids HELP me bake....trying to find ways to spend time with them while I get all this stuff done!
8. The girls are going to help us wrap Alex's presents! :o)
9. Spend and extra bit of time everyday praying. I need to keep Jesus front and center and not let my time with Him fall on the back burner becuase my list is huge!!
10. ENJOY THE SEASON!!!! This is such a GREAT time of year!! The lights, the presents (i love presents), the family time, the MEANING of the season, the Joy, the Peace, and the Love.... they all should be celebrated and enjoyed. Especially the meaning! SO I plan on enjoying this season to its fullest!
Christmas with 3 kids... that will be such a new and wonderful thing... I cant wait for the insanity! lol!! :o)
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