Crazy week

Nothing super exciting, just very busy.

We found out bio Mom was served papers monday letting her know that 13 yo was in foster car in her state, and that we were again granted full, legal, permant custody of the younger 2.
So she called screaming to her Mother that she was going to kill herself. And that she is never getting her "babies" back. This coming from someone who has yet to make any contact with her "babies" in over a year. And I was pretty shocked to hear she just now realizes that she is not getting them back. But then I guess she decided to spend that afternoon pharmacy hopping to buy sudifed to make more meth. Sadly her clock is ticking. 2 things can only happen, well 3. She can get clean and get her life together, which we have always hoped for her, but she has been an addict for over 10 years. 2 she is going to get caught and go to prision, or last, either the drugs, or the violence in her home will kill her. Its a sad, sad situation. I am just glad we are able to raise these sweet children away from it.

This is Paige

Sitting quietly in a chair while we were camping, reading Mother Earth news.
Lucky for you I do not have a picture, or better yet a video of Paige from today.

See, Paige doesnt sleep well. Sometimes not at all, but normally wakes up about every 2 to 3 hours. She has autism, and hypertonia. Which mean she is set up to not sleep well from the autism, and the hypertonia makes her legs hurts so bad that she wakes up, and I have to massage them.

Last night was a rough one on both of us. Which means today Paige is very tired. Which also means she is in full meltdown mode.

Today is a loooonnnnngggggg day for Paige and I.

More new family members

So Adam and I went by the stock shop to get feed.

And in the huge "tub o babies" they had 1 polish, and a few frizzles. Chickens I have wanted for some time but they never had. So I grabbed the polish and a frizzle, then Adam grabbed a duck. LOL

The kids LOVE the duck. Not so hot on the polish ( which I promised them will get cuter) and think the frizzle is alright. But the duck is a hit!

The duck is "Emma" the other are yet to be named. I sure hope the duck is a girl :)

Great day and it is only 10am :)

Layna is having a rough day, but I think after a brief time out on her bed, she will be back on track.

But onto the good day stuff. Last year Emily and Corey played soccer on a special needs team. LOVED IT! But it was REALLY far. Like a 45 min drive each way, and on Wed nights. Which is the night the youth have activities at Church. So that left our older kids to get rides. And know that Adam has been called to work with the young men he wants to be there on Wed nights with them.

So I did some googling, and some emailing. And found another special needs team that is right by us, AND meets Sat mornings. WOO HOO! The kids will be so excited :) And Layna is old enough this year to play.( They also take kids with "emotional disturbances" so she qualifies) So we will have 3 soccer players!

This is followed by a phone call letting me know that Paige has been approved for long term health care through the state. Which means they will cover all her therapies 100%! So SUPER YAY on that one! So she can get music therapy, physical therapy, respite, and hab. Plus anything else like speech, OT, and we can even use horse therapy for her PT!

Plus the lady on the phone was super nice. She asked how I was, which I answered fine, and asked back how she was. She said " NO, really how are you?" and tells me she is always worried about the parents. So I had a great conversation with her about being the parent of special needs children. How I already threw my big old pity party a loooonnnggggg time ago, and got over it, and moved on. My life is what it is, and even in the darkest moments I wouldn't change my life.

This past year has been ROUGH. Probably the roughest of my entire life. having a mentally ill child in your home, abusing your kids brings upon a darkness unlike anything I have even witnessed. I have spent more time on my knees in prayer then I can count. But never in that time, did I ask Heavenly father to remove any burdens. Just to help me through them. I always thought that odd, but felt strongly to just pray for guidance and wisdom. Then Tuesday night a friend was telling me about a woman who was having a lot of struggles. She prayed to have her burden lifted. Her 2 year old passed away soon after. The story sent chills up my spine, and brought tears to my eyes. How easy it is to want to "wish" all our trials away And although I do not love trials, I do know how much I grow and learn from them. And how much stronger they truly make me.

Just some pics of the kids I love

Taken from the 4th of July. Mostly of Bradley. And Bryleigh, Corey and Elayna. Emily took them so there none of her, and Paige was crabby and on my hip so she is missing also :) The big kids were here but I guess not as excited to photograph for Emily as her younger siblings are.

Random Posting :)

We have had the flu in this house since the night of the 4th of July. It has been AWFUL! Dh who is never sick, and if happens to catch something is better in like 4 hours, ended up in the ER, and then again to the DR office. It seems to finally be gone though! WOO HOO!!

Today is Mr. Brad ( as we call him) 3rd birthday. He has no idea what is going on, and is kinda freaked out by the whole thing. The kids yelled happy birthday to him when he came down this morning for breakfast, and I thought he was going to have a nervous breakdown. So I asked them to just please kinda keep it low key. We will be doing 3 gifts ( He is 3, and they are matchbox cars, which is the only thing he likes. Well he just likes to carry them around in his hand or a bag. He doesnt really play with them) some cupcakes, and maybe a quite version on Happy Birthday. I am sure Bio mom wont call. She didnt for Bryleighs birthday, nor Christmas, nor any other time for that matter.

So here are pics of all the animals around here. In no order they are:
Josie: Bunny
Hannah and Grace: Ugly baby chicks
Faith, Hope, Princess, and Samoa : Big chickens
Muffin: Fluffy dog
Turtlekinz: The turtle
and then there is Huxley, we watch him a lot for our respite worker, so he is pretty much a member of our family.


I hope everyone at your home is well, and no one else has caught this yucky flu!

Happy 6th of July :)

So I am a little behind. Had one heck of a weekend (good and bad)

Friday was busy with re arranging the house. Our oldest dd Christian moved into her own place. Not too far away, so thats good. Her original plan was to move to Utah. And while I understand the wanting to live in Utah, that is just too far to be :)

So we gained a bedroom. Which means I gained my living room back, which had been a make shift bedroom. So I painted, and moved stuff all day. Luckily Adam had the day off and could help.

Sat we had the 4th of July breakfast at Church. A great time was had by all. Our relief society president was blessed to have family in town, and I got to see her beautiful grandbabies. Which just tugged at my heart! I look forward to the days of grandbabies. But at the same time, making sure I enjoy the moments (good and bad) of raising the future parents of my grandchildren.

Then on Sat I left to go pick up Jonas and his friend from Youth Conf. I guess the buses were cheaper if they picked the kids up from a Church building FAR from us, since that was the pick up point. I was blessed to get a ride for them there, but didnt set anything up for the return home. So I ran out at 3pm for the 1/2 hour drive there. ( We were having people over for a BBQ at 5pm) I thought I knew where I was going. HAHAHAHA. Got lost, and then the BEST part. ( Sarcasm dripping) The engine seized while I was lost in the middle of nowhere. Well okay, there ARE houses out there. But NOTHING else. It was like 106, and HUMID. My phone was almost dead. Luckily I was able to not only get service, and keep the phone on long enough to call Adam and tell him how to find me. He arrived at 4:30 to get me. Car is dead, so we cleaned it out, and left a note that we would be back to get it. ( Still trying to figure out how) We pull into the driveway back at home at 5. Just minutes before quests arrived!

Luckily 2 things happened. Christian showed up, and was able to finish up the deviled eggs, and someone else brought Jonas and his friend home. So really I drove out there and blew up the car for nothing!!! Adam insists I did not murder the car, that is was dying anyways. but I still feel bad. He loves that dumb car.

But after that little bit of fun, we had a great night with missionaries and friends over for food and fellowship.

And not to be outdone by the car... Emily decided to get the flu, followed by Elayna, and Bradley. Then myself..... WOOO HOOOO!!! LOL

Luckily everyone is feeling better, and it is the 1st day of a new week. Which means a fresh start!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday!!!