More Summertime Fun-- Water Park!

Meeting the *statue* of the guy the park is named after....

J & his sister (and a few other kids) climbing the stairs to get on the slide

Yep! That's J in that big splash!

Climbing out so he could go back on it again (and again, and again!)

A few weeks ago, J's sister's foster parents invited us to go with them to their company picnic today. It was at a local water park. To be honest, I have lived here for 11 yrs and never have been here before... It's nice but, I am afraid of heights so, not very exciting to me since most things are BIG, TALL slides.... I did enjoy the wave pool (kinda as J had a tight grip on me) and walked the kids around the lazy river a few times (they didn't want to float themselves so, I had to *push* them around... No so lazy for me! Then we went to the *kiddie* pool where they could play and go down a slide themselves.... There is where I relaxed! We could just let them loose and kick back! They had fun but, J got tired out easily and wanted to go home, so we did... It was fun (especially since it was free for us too!) and I am glad we went.... He fell asleep really quick tonight and it really tired him out! I got some really cute pics of J & his sister coming down the slide but, can't show them b/c their faces are in them.... Trust me though-- I did a great job catching them in mid-slide! I am going to print the ones out of his sister and give them to her and her foster parents.

This past Monday (August 23rd) was the 10 mo *anniversary* of J coming to stay with us. Last week I was one of 3 foster parents on a panel for the newbies in our county who are finishing their PRIDE classes. I was a bit nervous and didn't think I had much to contribute but, the case workers that run the class know our lil guy and situation and guided me on some topics and how much I could or couldn't say.... The newbies had lots of questions for me... Afterward I felt really, really good! I told them the good, the bad & the ugly.... I told them my story of how J was supposed to be with us *for a weekend* and has now been here 10 mos and as of now no end in sight...

Less than 2 mos til we go to court again.... I am anxious to see what happens then... When we go to court we will be 3 days away from our 1 yr anniversary w/ J in our lives.....

Time flies.....

Missing MK.....

I went to your house tonight... It's the same house but, it's not the same.... I miss you so much and thought I could do it and although I did make it through; I couldn't help but really, really miss you....

*She* is nice but, she is not my dear friend.... I try to make small talk but, inside my head all I have are thoughts of you.....

I wonder what kind of advice or guidance you would give me with my lil guy and our situation.... You loved kids so much and I know he would've loved to meet you..... I miss our talks, our laughs and playing games....

Sometimes still I think you will call or stop by... Then I remember the only way I can see you now is to think of you or look at your picture......

It's been almost 19 mos since you left us but, sometimes it still feels like yesterday that I found out my dear friend was gone....

You will always be in my thoughts, in my memory-- in my heart.... I miss you so much!

****** I know this blog is about my TTC/Adoption journey but, thank you for letting me remember MK from time to time to get my thoughts out-- tonight has just been a hard night!*****

More Summer Fun..... Carnival!

J & his sister on the carousel

My future firefighter driving his engine!

End of the night treats-- ice cream and a Cars balloon!

Tonight we met J's sister and her foster parents at the local carnival. It was a pretty good night.... I now wonder why they don't open until 7pm when it's almost the little ones bed time! We had to end the night *early* because it was past both their bed times and they were a little grumpy.... It would be nice (at least one night a week) if the carnival would open a little early so the lil ones could have a good time without being sleepy....

But, it was nice to spend time with them and let the J and his sister have some time together too.

Pool Party!

J testing out the waters @ our friend's pool....

On the diving board....

Getting ready to jump!

Relaxing on the float.....

Today we attended the first pool party at our friend's new house.... I already knew J loved pools since he asks daily to go to the Y so we can swim.... I try to take him as much as I can because it's something we both enjoy.... We had a great day! This pool has a good shallow end so, J could stand up in it and didn't need his floaty.... Usually it's just J & I at the Y pool and I have to be in there with him, so this is the first time I got pics to share of him enjoying the pool.... My hubby who isn't a pool person even got in and joined us.... It was so much fun enjoying this day as a *family*.... We have this group of friends who would always get together and hang out but, we all have children and the get togethers are not as often but, it was nice to see very one (there were a few families not in attendance) and enjoy a family activity/day... It was the first time J met most of these friends and everyone complimented him on how well he was!

Speaking of that, J has had 3 wonderful weeks with us! It has been so fun getting to enjoy him more and not having the tantrums or angry times.... He is such a fun, loving and funny lil man!

I am exhausted because it's been a long, but, wonderful day! I love this little boy and I love my *family*......

J starts Kindergarten in a few weeks and I am excited to start preparing for that! Wow, where is the summer going????

*5*

5 years ago this month my hubby and I made a decision.... No more birth control-- Lets start our family..... 5 years of hope, frustration, sadness, diagnoses, procedures, doctor appts, classes, interviews, inspections.... All in the hopes of creating a family.....

My hubby and I were together 5 yrs and 2 days before we got married... I always joke that he was on the *5 yr plan* with our relationship..... We are foster parents.... we have a foster son.... Will our 5th yr of trying to build our family bring us the *forever* child we long for so much? Guess we will just have to see.....

J was 5 months old when we made our decision to try to have our family... I have always loved the numbers 11 & 13 because they are numbers very important to my hubby and I's relationship (met on 11/11/99, engaged on 10/13/03 & married on 11/13/04) but, I might just start having to love the number 5.....

Wow! 5 years!

9 months.....

9 months ago today J came to live with us.... We were going to keep him for a *weekend*.... This has been the longest weekend I have ever had!

Things have been going very well with J lately.... 3 months til we go to court again and I am anxiously wondering what will happen then.....

I can't believe it's been 9 months already...... Time flies so much faster now with a child in our life.....

J's new wheels.....

J trying out his new *ride*

Taking a break to make some adjustments....

And he's off!

We got J a bike today... We have been thinking about it for a while and decided to finally get it.... We took him tonight after work/daycare.... He loves it! He rode around the block while I walked with him..... I can tell I will be getting a lot of exercise! [trust me I need it too!] Nothing like a 5 yr old to motivate you!

J had his 5 yr well check last week... He is a *well 5 yr toddler* [that is what his form said that I have to get filled out for DSS when we visit the Dr]... I lucked out and J was all up to date on his shots so, we didn't have to go through that trauma!

J has been doing well the past couple of weeks.... He is back to being his funny, cute & loving self... He has been calling us Mommy & Daddy more... But, he still goes back and forth.... He is definitely settling in again.... Friday will be 9 mos J has been with us.... I can't believe it! Tomorrow is a year since I started my job.... I tell ya having a child in the house makes time fly by so fast and I thought time flew before!

We will soon be getting ready for our re-certification for Foster Care. I realized we were short 2 CEU's and called the resource worker to see what trainings are being offered to get them in before September.... As luck would have it, there are none coming up.... But, she did ask me to come to the last PRIDE class next month and be part of the panel of current/former foster/adoptive parents to speak to/ answer questions to the newbies..... I get credit for that and will get all the CEUs needed.... Plus, I think it will be a fun experience! Wow! I can't believe we have been licensed for 10 mos and will soon be celebrating a year being Foster Parents!

Although J loves his new bike, we did have 2 *accidents* while on our trip around the block... J wanted to throw the helmet away but, I told him we can try again tomorrow! So, we will see how that goes.....