Another Delay...SURPRISE!

Our disclosure meeting scheduled for today, was rescheduled due to an emergency surgery for the GAL.
I am sorry that she needs surgery, whatever it is, but am pissed that we have had another delay.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I have started a "life book" for our family. To give to Carrot Top before transitioning occurs. The social worker recommended this. To show him his room. His family. His pets. Things of that sort.

I have given each child a page, one for Andy and I, one for pets, one for family fun, and two pages for carrot top "stuff". Any suggestions to make this great fun for a 5 year old?

I feel as though the summer is whizzing by, and I am not blogging much. I miss catching up with you all. Hope you are well!

Away we go....

We had our first disclosure meeting with Carrot Tops social worker. IT WENT GREAT.
Got a lot more info, and found out that we are the only family that is being pursued for him.
WOO HOO!

One thing...
I am terrified.

I want to do what is right for him. For my littles at home. For our teenagers.
I want to be the best mommy and advocate.
What if I fall short of what this boy needs.
What if my bio babies get the shaft. Will they feel that they "weren't enough"?

I have revised our budget.
Scheduled alone time for each child. One on One time per week. And date night (one a month) for Andy and I.
I have hired extra help at daycare. So I can be away.
Be with the littles. Be with the big's.
Volunteer at Carrot Top's school (or bitch, watever is needed).

Is this normal to panic?
I just want to do a good job. These are my precious'. My most importants.
Whatta ya think?

Still crazy!

I haven't blogged in a while, so now must "catch you up".

It is, again, back to one.

The state awarded custody of "M" to his bio Aunt and Uncle. They are implementing a ton of services for them, and having a worker drop in almost everyday. They are in hopes that the bio fam will admit that they cannot care for "M", and it would be in his best interest to be adopted by another family. The grind of the 24/7 is supposed to help them reach this decision on their own. Grrrrrrr!!!!

I feel like it is setting "M" up to fail. But, whom am I?

We have a disclosure meeting with carrot tops case worker and therapist Thursday. I am super excited! At least things seem to be progressing in a positive way. My fingers are crossed (and toes).

We have been camping the past two weekends. It is nice to be able to spend time together as a family. Before you know it, our oldest will be graduating. We then start the process of loosing them. To adulthood. Pursuing their own dreams.

I posted a couple of camping pictures. Of the family.

ENJOY!

UGH! It's over.

Vacation is over.

UGH!

Where did the time go? Have you ever noticed that when you want time to pass quickly, it creeps. When you want it to go slow, it whizzes right by you.

We had a great time. Didn't get to do all that we had hoped, due to rain and finances, but still a great time.

So it begins again tomorrow. Cherubs arrive at 6:00 am. I will be back on the phone with social workers. Paying bills. Laundry. Lunches...blah blah blah.

I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with the littlest Turners and Andy-the-great. Not much relaxing, but the kiddos I was chasing were all my own.

"CT" or "M"

Monday I received a call from "M's" social worker.
Remember, "M"? He was the child that set off this journey to adopt. "M" is the child that was placed with the bio-family, even though they expected it not to be a good placement.

Well, DUH!!!
They emailed us Monday, to tell us they they are contemplating removing him. They wanted to know if we were still interested.
Again, DUH!!!
Of course we are.

The catch?

We are also in the running, as you know, for Carrot Top.
So, we have fought to have one match. Now there may be two possibilities.
What do we do now?

We are continuing the process with both. We have been worked over far to many times, to trust in one working out. We feel an overwhelming obligation to "M". His quest for permanency seems to have been a long tough road. A few foster homes, and placed twice with the bio aunt. Never once to have worked out. However, with CT...Something happened in my heart when I saw him. That has not happened before. Could it be the months of lessons learned? The constant ebbs and flows. I don't know.

I guess time will tell. Again, WISH US LUCK!

He Did It!

This is our coop, almost complete. It is now attached to the barn's side, and a lovely plank was erected. the girls are in their glory!

Lay me some eggs gals!

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

Vacation fun! In the summertime...

You remember that Connie Francis tune. Well, I am singin' it baby!

My vacation officially started on Friday at 5:15. So far, rain.

We went to Mt. Blue State Park yesterday. Tried to salvage a beach day. RAIN!

We enjoyed a cook out at Andy's folks camp site instead. The littles thought it was great, just the same. We bought morning glory's at our local market. For Gabrielle's 4th of July fireworks. We forgot to use 'em.

That's Ok. We will do it tonight. She won't know the difference.

Today I have taken advantage of the partly sunny skies, and hung out 3 loads of wash. I also washed the hard wood floors in the living room, and the floor in the kitchen. This will ease the guilt I will be feeling, when I slack the next two days.

Tomorrow, the Maine Wildlife Park. Tuesday, Range Pond (or Bowling if it rains). Wednesday, cleaning and Gabrielle's riding lesson. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...CAMPING IN CONWAY, NH!!!

Root-toot-toot for V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!!!!

Still creeping along!

This morning, I spoke with carrot top's (CT) social worker. Her supervisor happens to be on vacation this week, so we will have our interview scheduled next week.

Apparently what happens now, is this:

* Both potential families are interviewed. We meet with caseworkers and foster parents. Teachers and therapists. We then have the opportunity to decline or proceed. If we proceed...

* Both families strengths and weaknesses will be outlined, discussed, and a family selected.

* We are then notified, and transitioning is outlined and begun.

I was told that from interview to selection, is about a week. This is so families aren't waiting in limbo.
*Sigh*

We are in limbo.

I am anxious to interview.

People tend to look at us as just another "large" family. We Do have 6 children, that is true. I look at it as an asset. We have a ton of experience. All of our children have extremely different personalities, and individual needs. We are adept at handling many issues. Advocating for needs.
3 of our kiddos are teen-agers, one graduates this fall. One is 12. They are independent. They also spend 3 days a week with the "other" parent.

I/we are on vacation next week. We have many things planned. This will keep our minds busy. The kids will have fun, we will have some family time. All will be grand!

Moving on with it!

IT ARRIVED!!
We received carrot tops detailed information packet. After wading through the mounds of documents, researching things we didn't understand, and asking questions...we decided to move forward with the process.

WISH US LUCK!!!