Almost Easter!

J getting a little help from my sis dying his eggs

J Checking on the eggs

Some of our finished products.... Don't they look beautiful?

J enjoying his work :0)

Tonight my sister and I dyed Easter eggs with J.... He did a great job and was very gentle with them! We love dying eggs and it was fun to share the joy of doing that with a little one this year! He had fun too! He loved seeing the water 'magically' turn into the beautiful colors!

He is so excited for the Easter Bunny to come... We went to visit Mr. Bunny this past Saturday but, my 'back of the head' pic is stuck on the internal memory on my camera and I can't download it off right now (I misplaced the cord) :0( His pics came out so cute! I wish I could post them... But trust me-- they are adorable!

The Easter Bunny is almost ready for our house... Just a few little things and everything will be ready.... I can't wait to see J's expression that morning.... He will be here for the morning then go to his normal Sunday visit w/ his family for the rest of the day....

J's behavior has been sliding back at home lately.... Last night was a particularly rough night but, then tonight was so fun doing the eggs.... Chutes & Ladders I tell ya!

Stay tuned-- We have an exciting weekend.... My sister, J and I are going to the Circus on Saturday! I haven't been to the Circus since I was a kid and I am looking forward to it... I haven't really told J yet because his perception of time isn't good (like all kids his age) and something we did 5 months ago (yes, J has been here 5 months now and actually the 23rd of this month is 6 mos he will be with us!) was 'yesterday'.... I will tell him tomorrow night.... We saw a commercial for it and he pointed it out and I asked him if he would like to go and he said 'Sure-- I never been to the Circus before' (he says that about a lot of stuff)

Happy Spring!

My sister & I picked this shirt out for J a couple weeks ago.... He always says 'Hey Girrrlll' when he sees girls-- especially pretty ones (of all ages!)

We went to the park/zoo to enjoy this beautiful first day of Spring! (yeah, I now realize I set the wrong date on the camera when I put the batteries in this morning)

We met my friends and their daughter there.... J & J playing in the sand.....

J and his new 'girl' J walking in the zoo..... He wanted to hold her hand but, she didn't have time for that ;0)

Today was the first day of Spring... It was beautiful out so my friends invited J and I to meet them at the park..... J had never met their daughter J yet.... He didn't really seem interested in her at first because in his eyes she is still a 'baby' (she is 2 1/2) and he is a big boy.... But, as the afternoon went on he started showing interest and trying to get her to play with him but, then she was too busy to care.... Isn't that the way it goes in life? One party is interested and the other isn't then when party #1 is interested party #2 isn't.... They learn early don't they? The park & zoo are right next to each other so, after they played we walked through the zoo.... Both places were packed... After all the 'snow days' our area had this winter I think everyone wanted to enjoy the day...... J played in the sand box the most while we were at the park so, I think we are going to invest in one for him at home because he loves to create stuff...

After the zoo we drove by Rita's to get a treat... It was packed (they give out free stuff on the first day of spring) and so I didn't think J would wait in that line so, we went down the road to Baskin Robbins and he enjoyed a treat from there.... After enjoying our treat we went home to throw the football around and blow bubbles until J decided he didn't like the bugs and wanted to go inside.... It was a good day! I was so proud of J doing such a good job at taking turns with the toys at the sand box and waiting his turn for the slides..... He can be impatient sometimes so, I was a proud 'Mama' to see that!

We finished the night off by watching Scooby Doo... He loves that movie and I can't believe I had never watched them before now.... The actual 'movie' ones not the cartoons... Don't get me wrong the cartoons are cool too but, the movies they made several years ago are so funny! I enjoy them just as much as J I think!

While we were at the park, I saw someone who I had not seen in years.... She said hi and asked who J was.... I quietly said 'He is our foster son' (didn't want the whole park to hear) and she said 'Oh, he's cute.... How long do you get to keep him?' I told her we don't know and that he had been with us since October... She said 'Is he local?' and I said yes.... Then I said something that let her know his family gets visits (sorry can't remember because her next comment shocked me-- kinda) and she said 'So, they just want someone else to raise their kids?' I don't know this didn't sit with me very well.... I just left it by telling her his family is working to get him back.... Then I changed the subject by asking about her daughter and she introduced me to her 20 mo old son I had never seen (she is more an old friend of my hubby than mine so, we don't really see each other much)...

One thing I forgot to mention the last time I posted, was a cute thing J said a few weeks ago... We were eating pizza at my in-laws house and someone called him 'Darling' and he said "I am not a darling, I am the foster son!' I tell you-- the things kids say.... He has heard me call him my foster son and he is conflicted that I am doing 'Mommy' things but, I am not his Mommy. I told him Mr. T and I are substitute parents like when his teacher is out he has a substitute in school.... But to hear him come out with this so matter of factly cracked us up inside... We didn't want him to think we were laughing at him....

Well, I am exhausted from our busy day... I have been going non stop (almost I did watch most of Scooby Doo w/ J) since I got up this morning... Happy Spring everyone!

Bad Blogger......

Hello there! I have been a bad blogger lately and I am sorry.... Every time I say I am going to sit down and write, something happens and I don't get too....

Unsupervised visits have been mixed up lately for J. He has had 2 overnight weekend visits and some day visits. Shortly after the first overnight visit, J has been having some behavior issues at school. DSS, the school and I are working to get him back on track.... They are going to get back on a 'regular' schedule so, hopefully it will help J.

It's getting really hard to balance work and appointments for J. I have only been at my current job 8 months and I am nervous to push my luck at work. The caseworkers don't seem to understand sometimes.... They don't stress the 'it's your job as a foster parent' thing when it comes to appointments in my opinion when you are taking the classes.... I am don't know if it truly is, but, they make you feel like it.... I try to do the best I can and my co-worker and supervisor have been really understanding... But, what if they stop? I cannot jeopardize my job. I try to voice this and they say they understand but, I don't think they really do. I understand they have a lot of children to 'watch over' too but, I just don't know what to do.

J's behavior has been better at home... He is listening to us better... That's a plus! I am so glad spring is almost here... We have had some nice weather the last few days..... I can't wait til it stays warm and we can go out and do things with J again.... I want to take him to a local minor league baseball game, the beach and the park....

That's about it for now..... Again I apologize for being a 'bad blogger'... I will try to do better :0)

Happy 5th Birthday J!

J's Batman birthday balloon!

J's birthday cake (my sis made it) and decorations

Opening presents! He wanted to open 'the big one' first and this was it!

Playing with his new SpongeBob video game!

Today was J's 5th birthday. He was at a family visit this weekend and got home this evening so we had a quick little birthday celebration when he got home. I asked him a few weeks ago what he wanted his birthday theme to be and he chose Batman. It was fun to buy decorations and 'plan' it. He was excited when he came in and saw the presents and cake! It was just my hubby, my sister and me but, it was a nice little celebration.

The transition back here went pretty smoothly tonight. I don't know if it's because it was his birthday and he was excited to open presents and show us what his family go him but, at least it went pretty good.

I sure did miss him and I am glad he is back! I had a pretty productive weekend and got to relax a bit, but it was weird not to have 'my little buddy' (that's what I call him sometimes)running around here for 2 days after having him here for the past 17 weeks. We didn't get much time to spend together before it was bedtime but, we will tomorrow night after work/school.

Happy 5th birthday little buddy! I love you!

Quiet house.....

Valentines Day 2010 breakfast for my 2 valentines T & J!

Today J went to visit his family for the weekend for the first time since he came to live with us 17 weeks ago... When I dropped him off at daycare this morning I gave him extra hugs and told him I would see him in 2 days. He was excited to be going to stay with them.... I got through work ok but, as I headed to my car to leave, I got a little sad knowing I wasn't going to be going to pick up my lil buddy. Yes, we have had some hard times with J but, the last couple weeks have been pretty good... He is becoming more loving, listening better and bonding more and more.... I cried today while leaving work because I was missing him already... I worry about him and I can't wait to see him on Sunday. Sunday is his birthday too. So, I hope having cake and presents will make it easier for him to come back... He said he understood he had to come back and that it was 'ok' but, only time will tell how he actually feels... DSS says this could be the pattern for a while... being with us during the week and family on the weekends.... So, we will see how it goes....


So, what are my hubby and I doing this weekend to ourselves? We went over our very good friends house tonight, tomorrow morning we are getting our taxes done, then tomorrow afternoon I am going to try to do some things around the house that I haven't had time too lately. But, I am hoping to relax a bit too....



Last Sunday was Valentines day and I made heart shaped french toast and scrapple for my 2 valentines! We didn't do much but, we gave J a little bag with some new SpongeBob books and some valentines treats.... He really liked it!



For now, I am trying to get used to a quiet house again for a few days.... I can't believe it was 17 weeks ago today J walked into our lives... We have had some tough times but, lately the good times have been getting more and more and I sure do love him!

Snow, Snow Go AWAY!!!

(A picture of a tree in our backyard during this last storm)

(A picture of a tree in our front yard during last week's storm)

(J trying to play in the snow but, it was so deep and so cold)

We have seen more snow this year in my area than we have seen in several years combined.... I don't like the cold or the snow unless I can stay home and not have to go out in it.... And it's melted by the time I do have to go out.... So, I thought I would be spending endless hours outside w/ J and begging him to go back in and get warmed up.... He hasn't really liked the snow... I think he likes snow but, we have gotten so much lately that it was too deep and too cold for him.... I think part of it too is some of the snow wasn't very good 'snowman' making snow.... So to him it's boring.... Everyday he tells me how he wishes the snow would melt... Me too!

J has been getting closer to us again... More loving and cuddily than he had been lately.... I am enjoying it of course... We have been working with him and listening to us better and things have been up and down still but, more ups than downs.....

J's birthday is less than 2 weeks away now.... We might be having a celebration this weekend but, it's not set in stone yet.... I am excited to have another thing to plan for and celebrate with him.... He is sooo excited to turn 5!

So for now not too much is going on just trying to get though all these snow storms (we might have another one tomorrow night) and preparing to celebrate J's 5th birthday.... I can't wait!

Special Bonds and Family Involvement Meeting

(J is the one holding the bat!)

Lately J has been bonding more with my hubby than I. It's ok. I still have my 'special bonds' with him. Here are some of them:

1- I don't iron. When my clothes are wrinkled, I put them in the dryer and get them unwrinkled (a trick my Mom taught me growing up!) and then put them on. One time shortly after J came to stay with us, his shirt was wrinkled. I put it in the dryer and then put it on him. Now he prefers his clothes to be 'hot' when he puts them on, so I put his clothes in the dryer for a few minutes before getting him dressed. It helps him get dressed fast because he doesn't want them to get 'cold' before he puts them on.

2- I blow dry his hair. He asked me to blow dry his hair one time, so I figured what the heck-- it doesn't hurt anything... He doesn't have very long hair so, he doesn't need it dried but, he likes it and so when he asks me to do it I do.

I was talking to a co-worker about these and she said I should break these habits because when he moves back home they may not do these things for him... I agreed at first but then told her. 'Maybe they won't. Maybe he will ask and they will think I am silly for doing these things for him-- or maybe he will always think about me and how I warmed his clothes for him and blew his hair dry...' She now agrees that it's not so bad. J has been through a lot in his life and I don't think I am hurting him by 'spoiling' him with these little special things I do.

This past Friday we had a Family Involvement Meeting. It included DSS, bio family, both foster families and a mediator. I worried how it would go but, I think it went well.....I signed a paper stating what happens in the meeting is confidential so I can't really give too many details but, I guess I can say that they have decided to keep J with us for now. The other foster family is ok with it and so is DSS and bio family. He will most likely be here for several more months since there is so much that has to happen for he & his sis to return home. We still have our good days and our not so good days with him behavior wise but, we are still just taking it one day at a time. We will be having more interaction with the family so, I hope it continues to go well.

J started his baseball class/clinic last Saturday. I forgot my camera but, took the picture above on my cell & sent it to my computer. He is doing ok.... There are only 2 in the class right now, so I think that is good to get him used to it. He doesn't do well with crowds of 'strange' kids. 2 weeks down & 6 more to go.

Thats about it for now. His birthday is coming up... So, it's exciting to me to think about hosting a birthday celebration... It probably won't be 'big' but, it will be fun anyway!