And Then There Were 4.....: March 2008

My name is Sheila and I am 45 years old. I married my High school sweetheart at the tender age of 17. We had our first son 9 months later. 14 months after that son number two was born. 22 months later we had our little girl. So there I was, 22 years old, with three wonderful children and the love of my life.I loved being a Mom and I enjoyed it more than I ever thought possible. I would hold them and watch them sleep never wanting to put them down. Clint and I were very young and I'm sure some thought we were crazy, but I wouldn't trade it!As my children grew and we bought our land and built our home I began to miss having a little one. My babies weren't babies anymore. I decided it would be fun to have little ones around and approached my husband, then the kiddos about becoming a foster family. I thought it sounded like a great idea and it would be wonderful for the kids to be involved in helping those that needed us. Everyone agreed, I made some phone calls, and we began our journey.....We went to foster parent training and did our paper work, back ground checks, home visits and then we waited. I was a little surprised that we didn't get a child immediately. Then it happened on March 18, 1998 while I was shopping with my friend Chris I received the phone call that would change my life forever. The social worker wanted to know if we would take a little boy who was 18 months old and his 3 month old baby sister. I was so excited I couldn't wait to get home.Richard and Katy came into our lives that very evening. They were beautiful but they didn't smell so pretty! My daughter Ashley and I gave them baths and fed them. Ashley read Richard a story while I rocked Katy. They stayed with us for 15 months and then the dreaded phone call came. Richard and Katy were going home. I know I am supposed to be happy and that the goal from the very beginning was reunification. I had watched the parents with Richard and Katy and I truly felt in my heart that they were not ready for the responsibility. Katy was so frail when she came to us she was failing to thrive, she spit up all the time, had frequent diarrhea and many ear infections. She was just beginning to blossom. I feared for her safety. There was nothing I could do but pray to God to watch over these children and keep them safe. I was not prepared for how difficult it would be to let go. I loved these children and I didn't know if I would ever see them again. With a broken heart and tears streaming down my face I stood next to Clint as we said our goodbyes. I will never forget the looks on their faces. I felt as if they were asking me why they had to go away.Three weeks had passed since our sweet little babies had gone away. My heart ached and I thought of them constantly. The second week in July I received a phone call from D.H.S asking me if I minded speaking with Katy's doctor. The worker informed me that Katy had been found unconscious in her crib and rushed to the hospital. She had suffered a metabolic crises and because of a lack of oxygen she had brain damage. When she awoke from the coma she was unable to speak, sit up, stand or walk. The doctors needed to speak to someone that knew when Katy had attained each milestone such as walking and how well she talked. They had nothing to compare her current condition with. I asked if we could come to the hospital and be with her. When we saw her tiny little body in that big hospital bed with all the tubes coming out of her I couldn't believe it was the same child. I stayed with her night and day. I took her to the play room and coaxed her into taking tiny little steps with help. I got her to take small bites of food. I bathed her and brushed her tangled hair.The doctors explained that Katy had a rare metabolic disorder called Medium Chain acyl CoA Dehydrogenase. Medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, or 'MCAD,' is a disorder in which your body is unable to breakdown fats to make energy. Normally, fat is broken down into energy by "enzymes." This energy keeps your body running whenever it runs out of its main source of energy, a sugar called 'glucose.' In MCAD, a very important enzyme for breaking down fat, the medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase enzyme (MCAD) is missing or does not work correctly. This means that people with MCAD can't break down fat for energy when they run out of glucose. When people with MCAD fast, they can experience a range of serious life threatening symptoms or even death. Persons with MCAD cannot use this fat to make energy, consequently, the body begins to fail and malfunction once the food the person has eaten runs out. The main treatment is to avoid going without food for very long periods. Children should eat high carbohydrate meals like sugar-containing drinks, cereals, and pastas when they are ill. Children with MCAD should follow a low fat diet. If not detected and treated appropriately, MCAD can result in death. Untreated MCAD can lead to mental retardation and death.Katy was released from the hospital into our care. Richard went to another foster home due to all the therapies and constant care Katy needed at this time. Richard never made it back to us. He was adopted by a family that fell in love with him while we helped Katy with her long journey back. We spent everyday working with Katy encouraging her to walk and talk.On April 27, 2001 when she was 3 1/2 years old Kaitlin Elizabeth Kimble became our daughter. She was officially ours. When the Judge announced her new name and put her in my arms I felt the same joy I felt when my biological children were born. The same feelings overwhelmed me and I knew that God had brought us to Katy and that she was supposed to be with us and never have to say good bye again.Now it is December 2, 2007 and Katy will be 10 years old on the 24th. She is in the third grade. She is truly a gift from God. She brings us so much joy. I will admit though that it isn't always easy. Katy has developmental delays and ADHD do to the metobolic crises. She goes to speech, occupational and physical therapy twice a week. She has a Para professional that helps her because Katy has not learned to read. She needs constant supervision as she does not think things through. She is very revved up and is on medication to help her sleep. I was very much against giving her any medication in the beginning but after being up until 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning trying to get her to sleep and regularly being late for school, I soon realized that this was a good choice for Katy. It slows her down enough to be able to go to sleep and she is able to wake up in the morning feeling rested and ready to go to school.Katy has three older siblings Chris her oldest brother is 27. Randy her brother is 26 and her sister Ashley is 24. She has a niece Brooklynn who is 6 and a nephew Hayden that is 3. She has another nephew Peyton that is 3 1/2. Join me as you peek into my life and all that it entails as a Mom to three grown children and Katy a 10 year old who keeps me on my toes. I'm Nana to three beautiful grandchildren and wife to the love of my life. The journey continues......

Monday, March 31, 2008

Spring

The grass is turning green flower’s are blooming and tree’s are budding. I love it!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Special Olympics March 29 2008

The day started out cold but gradually warmed up. Katy placed second in the softball throw and second in the 50 yard dash. She had a great time and did a very good job!
We had lunch at Mcdonalds with Ashley and Peyton then went to the YMCA for Brooklynn's Birthday party. We enjoyed cake and ice cream and swimming. After the Birthday party we had to have a cold drink especially since it was happy hour at Sonic! We returned home about 5:00 after leaving out at 7:30 in the morning. Foster baby, Katy and Mom slept well!

Brooklynn's 6th Birthday!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Sweet Baby

Foster Baby is so sweet. She is sitting up now! She is so good. She is sleeping all night. She is a little butterball. At six months she weighs 18 pounds. Katy is having so much fun helping me with her. She loves to be talked to and she giggles and coos!

Easter and more

I am behind on blogging. I will try and catch up. I spent the entire day Friday shopping with my daughter (Ashley) and daughter in law (Ashley) we left out at 8:00 in the morning and got home around 9:00 that afternoon. We had a blast! We went to the mall, Target, Old Navy, Toysrus, Children’s Orchard and more. Did I mention that we had four children in tow? I brought my grandson Peyton home with me to spend the night with us. I picked up pizza to bring home as I was too tired to cook and it is Peyton’s favorite. Saturday we had Easter at Memaws (Rita, Clint’s Mom) after we ate we attended the Easter egg hunt in town and as soon as we finished there we went to an Easter egg hunt put on by Clint’s job. We met back at Memaws for another egg hunt, visited and ate again! Sunday we attended church and went to my Mom and Dads for another big Easter egg hunt. The kiddo’s had so much fun! Mom put out 350 eggs! Monday I took our little foster baby to visit her Mom. Brooklynn (our grand daughter) rode the bus home with Katy because Ashley had class until 4:00. Randy, Ashley and Hayden came out later in the evening to get her and had supper with us. Tuesday I drove 50 miles to a consignment sale and came back empty handed. I did not find one thing! Today I did laundry and ironed then went to Christ Kids. I took pictures of foster baby to give to her Mom at the next visit. Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

I'm A Gentle Mother Hen!

Ashley asked me to take this test.
What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

Over Night Guests!!!

Brooklynn and Hayden spent the night at Poppa and Nana's! We rented the Bee movie and camped out on the hide a bed. After breakfast and baths we ate lunch at McDonalds then we were off to the park! It seems everyone had the same idea as we met three other people from school at the park. It was warm enough but it was windy. We are used to the wind in Oklahoma so we adapted. Here are a few pictures from our day.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Looking Back

Give Away on my Daughters Blog

Check out my daughter's blog. Ashley is giving away this bible. Just go visit and leave a comment for a chance to win this neat Bible. If you want to be entered twice post this give away on your blog. Be sure and let Ashley know so she can be sure to enter you twice!!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Another Party!

It's time for the Mommies United Mega Launch Party! Join the Party to meet new blogger friends and a chance to win prizes!
Here is a list of some of the prizes
Natural Pod is offering a house play pack, with various items for imaginative house play to the value of $150.00

ImagiPLAY is giving 3 wooden puzzles to three winners

Alli's Originals is giving a $35 gift certificate

More to come!

Please leave a comment so I can visit you too!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Join The Party!

I just joined the party!
The Ultimate Blog Party 2008 Has Started!

This is THE place to be. With over 1,000 mom bloggers partying together all over the world and over 150 prizes to win, you've got to get in!

Click on the image above to join!

Hi I am wife to the love of my life we will be married 28 years in August. I am mom to Chris 26, Randy 25, Ashley 23 and Katy 10. Nana to Brooklynn 6, Peyton 3 and Hayden who will turn 3 in May. I thank God each day for being a part of such a wonderful family. I am blessed beyond measure! I enjoy blogging and reading other blogs. Read my about me for more information and please leave a comment so I can come visit you!

New Life

There truly is something awe inspiring about springtime. Although each season brings its own special beauty spring always seems to be greeted with the most passion. Flowers of many varieties, and shrubs and trees that have been resting during the cold months of winter are slowly coming back to life. Baby calves, puppies, chicks and bunnies are all signs of new life. As you enjoy the new fresh beginnings that spring brings us, let each new bud remind you of the new life God is creating in you.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Friday Fun

We went to see Chris, Ashley and Peyton yesterday. It was good to see them. Peyton was full of energy and showing us his room and toys. He cooked us some play food while Ashley served us real pizza and soft drinks. Clint asked Peyton to come and see him and Peyton said “I’m busy Popa” He was busy playing. Peyton hugged us as we were leaving and he said “Thank you Friends”. You never know what he is going to say. He is such a sweet boy! Ashley called this morning and said we hadn’t been gone 10 minutes when she started throwing up. She was sick all night. She still isn’t feeling well. I called and offered to come get Peyton but she said Chris could handle it. Yesterday was the day DHS brought the little doodle bug. She is so sweet. She has chipmunk cheeks. She slept from 9:30 till 4:30 took a bottle and slept until 8:00 this morning. DHS provided a voucher for some clothing but since she doesn’t really have anything it isn’t going to go very far. I am planning to go to a big consignment sale that is coming up in a couple of weeks. I hope to find some things there. It is a huge sale. Ashley and I usually go together. Hope your feeling better soon Ashley.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

A Little Girl

I was talking to my Mom on the phone yesterday and I told her I needed to get my spare bedroom back in order because I had a feeling DHS would be calling me soon. I have been using the bedroom for storage since a former foster child of four years had left almost a year ago. I was doing my practicum and had decided not to take any foster children for a while. I was still at church when I got the call from DHS needing a placement for a 6 month old baby girl. I couldn't say no. So I am busy getting things ready! They are bringing her friday morning. Katy is so excited she is a mother hen! She is already asking if she can change her diaper and hold her. Did I just say I would take a 6 month old? I wonder if she sleeps through the night?

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Longhorns

Here are some of our Longhorns. They are so beautiful and gentle. They eat right out of our hands.

Our little Chef

Katy loves to help in the kitchen. She wants to pour all the ingredients into a dish and she loves to stir things. She likes to wash dishes too. She is so messy that it is hard for me to allow her to help. Nothing is left dry when she is at the kitchen sink. She stirs as if she were racing to get it mixed up! She can be quite a handful in the kitchen. I realize that she needs to learn these skills even though she is messy and a little uncoordinated. I am trying to allow her more kitchen time. Here are some pictures of Katy making tapioca pudding. She worked so hard that she needed a piece of pizza to hold her over until dinner.

Growing Spurt

Katy is growing like a weed! She has a closet full of clothes but most of them are now too small. She was wearing a pair of jeans one day and the next time she put them on she couldn’t zip them and she looked like she was ready for a flood. She is skinny and tall. I really like the jeans that have the buttons inside the waistband so you can make them smaller in the waist. I need to go to old navy they have long skinny jeans with the buttons in the waistband and they are not to pricey if you can catch them on sale. Katy and I went to town and found this outfit. It looks so springy but its still a little to cool to wear it.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Lets Play!

Brooklynn and Hayden spend time with Poppa, Nana and Katy. We played with the blocks, danced, played out side looked at all the animals and played on the swings. Nana gave Brooklynn and Katy a mini manicure and pedicure. Those fingers and toes look shiny new! We rode bikes and tricycles and ate popcorn and cheese and crackers and anything else they could think of that sounded yummy! We had so much fun! Now to get Peyton here at the same time as Hayden and Brooklynn for an overnight stay of playing with our babies!