Glue is not for Faces!

So we officially only have #2 left and she is doing great. After an incident at the hospital #1 had to go to a therapeutic home.

This morning we had an incident that was blog worthy. I instructed #2 to go play because she was body slamming my bedroom door. Several times I peeked out because it sounded like she was getting into our new desk. The desk has nothing in it yet but I don't want peeking in the drawers to become a habit. About 30 minutes into the morning after we had put panties on her I hear her washing her hands. Seeing white all over them and her face I assume she has been "brushing" her teeth. Thinking the big white streak on her cheek is toothpaste I go to wipe it off...this is the point when I realized that she had tried eating/playing with the super glue. The only thing in the desk! A little concerned about what the glue was currently gluing I made #2 start searching for it. We looked all over. Finally I turned to her and said, "Where did you play with it at? Show me." She started to walk to her room and thats when I saw it. The little squirter of glue was glued to her Pajamas. Haha Too funny! Currently she is still trying to rub the glue off of her hands. She doesn't understand what the word SUPER means. I am looking forward to the rest of this fun filled day given its only 9 AM.:)

CCGC

On Saturday Mike and I made a trip to Dallas to my friend Ashley Mazza's funeral (killed by a drunk driver). During this time our friends Bethany and George were responsible for the munchkins. #1 thought this was so awesome that she put them through hell. In the words of Bethany, "I did not realize the bad behavior was relentless." Honestly, I expected the girls to be better then that since they are usually exceptionally bad for Mike and I.:) A big thanks to the Azaleteys!

The weekend and Monday morning were very difficult. This is why God made two parents because one can't always maintain patience! Come Monday morning #1 had therapy and I brought my Mom to watch the girl in the waiting room while I discussed the situation at hand with the therapist. Therapist informed me that the behavior was more then she could fix and she was recommending a specialist. She felt 100% sure that #1 suffered from full blown Reactive Attachment Disorder. In a way I was relived to hear her thoughts on #1, but at the same time finding a specialist could take months and Reactive Attachment Disorder in #1's case is going to take years of specialized structure and equipping ourselves with bizarre rules and routines.

While I was in the office with Shawn, #1 approached a male stranger in the waiting room and propositioned herself to him. To be more specific she put on her "sexy" face as Mike and I like to call it and her exact words were,"Hey babe, you want to get it on?" Yes, this is our 3 year old. I think my mom was in utter disbelief that phrase actually rolled of the tongue as easily as it did. #1 was disciplined and then had therapy. Once arriving home on Monday our new Case Manager came by to check on the girls. #1 was still out of control and I ended up having to put her in timeout where she continued to act up and laugh hysterically about it. Finally I broke down and started to cry to the old and new Case Managers. We put #1 in emergency respite care for the night (thanks Jessica). On the way to respite #1 intentionally peed in her car seat and she peed again in her pants for the respite family when she was in trouble.

I believe respite went well and I picked her up on Tuesday to go to her Psychiatrists office. After discussing the problems of #1'2 hysteria and hyper-sexuality with the Doctor. She decided that #1 was having a Manic reaction to the Prozac she was on (due to her suicidal behaviors and thoughts) At this point she made the decision to send and admit #1 to Clarity which is a children's Psychiatric hospital in San Antonio.

#1 has been in the hospital officially 2 days and continues to have thoughts of suicide behavior and is having a hard time respecting other children's boundaries. She has a staff member with her at all times because of her age and the reasons that she is there.

On the top of all of this craziness, yesterday we were asked to make a decision to keep the girls or to send them to a therapeutic home were #1 might be better served for her mental instabilities. There are 4 levels of care in the foster system and #1 is already on level 2 and this is the highest level Mike and I are licensed for. Bumping #1 up another level would require the children to be removed from our home and placed in a more advance home. As heartbroken as Mike and I were we knew that this might be the best decision for #1. Not wanting to "abandon and further traumatize" the girls we left the decision up to STARRY. (It was really their decision to begin with) After lots of prayer, phone calls and a group meeting the verdict was made to keep the girls at our house and to evaluate some new techniques for #1. She will soon be starting therapeutic preschool, will be on medication, will have more visits from case managers, two therapies a week, and a weekly visit with the psychiatrist and possible in home respite care for me (I am hoping that this works out).

So praise God that we get to keep the girls! That is the latest from the Whitson house we will keep updating! Please pray for #1 as she remains in the hospital this week and she will be having her tonsils removed next week.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4

Poop and Tampons

So Leading up to our family vacation in New Mexico we started potty training #2. This is absolutely the worst part of being a parent. I think Mike has recovered from his mild poop phobia but mine continues to grow, here is why... One day after breakfast #2 tells me she has to go potty. Great! I tell her to go upstairs to her own potty(we keep all the kid nastiness in one bathroom). Running upstairs she goes into her bathroom and goes potty..or so I thought. A few minutes later I go up to check on her and what I find I should have taken pictures of because I can't do it justice with my words. There was poop everywhere.. She had diarrhea all over everything. In the potty, on the potty, on the walls, on the cabinets, the tub, the stool, everything had poop on it. She shows me her hands which are covered in poop and says, "Look mom." All I could say was DON'T MOVE! It was sick and made me sick. Currently I am recovering from mild viral meningitis. This poop episode is probably the cause.

A few days later I took the girls to the fabulous WALMART which I really just hate, but somethings are just cheaper. I went to get the girls new car seats because they were growing out of their current ones. I finally invested in the deluxe baby seats which look way more comfy then my seat. Not able to fit 2 GIANT seats in the basket I had to put #2 in the child carrier and #1 had to walk. One seat was in the basket and the other in the double child extender part of the basket. Since #2 was in the actual child seat of the basket she was wedged between the two seats and out of my view. After checking out I gave her the one bag of stuff to hold. Rushing to grab #1's hand I turn around to find #2 with an open box of tampons and one up the nose. I stopped her just before she could plug both sides with tampons. Oh yes this did happen at the entrance of the store. I am pretty sure that the girls could not bring anymore excitement to our lives.



Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.

Yay for Nap time

So it has been a while since our last update. We have been so worn out trying to keep the girls under control. #1 requires so much energy. We have seen some improvements but over all the fits have gotten worse. Every Wednesday after visitation with biological mom the girls have fits or sleepless nights.

#1 has had strep throat many times...and given it to everyone many times but finally after waiting a month to get into the ENT she is going to be getting her tonsils and adenoids removed. I am actually more concerned about my well being after the surgery. I hope that she can not drive us all crazy with her behavior.:)

Today we found out that #1 has ODD and PTSD not really that surprising. However, Mike and I will now need more training hours. When our case manager came over today #1 had to show off her bad attitude and throw a fit. It lasted about 30-45 minutes. It started off with her being upset she had to use her own potty (a real toilet with a small removable seat on top). She insisted on using the other restroom. We do not allow this because until small children can learn not to pee all over the seat I would prefer for only one toilet in our house to be unusable. This fit continued all the way until the case manager left our house. Awesome! I mean I am sad #1 acts this way but at the same time she finally showed it off to someone important.:)

#2 is the happy child. She is so go with the flow. She listens for the most part and tries to please you. Life just wouldn't be fun if the girls were both perfect but it sure would be easy.:) Last Sunday when we went to my mom an dads she had a diarrhea explosion... My parents kept feeding her plums off the plum tree while she was swimming and then we came inside. After dinner I went to pick her up and got diarrhea alllllll over my hand. YUCK! I have never seen anything like it. When she used the bathroom it hit the bottom of the diaper and launched up her back into the air and onto my parents floor. SICK!SICK!SICK! I was in shock but I guess the lesson here is one plum is enough.:)

A few days ago I was vacuuming and the kids once again FREAKED out. I could have not been more amused. It is so ridiculous that I still laugh thinking about it. The kids start screaming and crying. It sure gets them to pick up their toys quickly. #1 shoved them under the coffee table because she was so desperate. Mike and I have started to use the Vacuum as a threat. Like today when I put the girls down for naps I told them I would have to clean house with the vacuum if they got up and this was the first time ever that #1 has willingly taken a nap. I cannot even believe that talking about the Vacuum works.:)


This summer we have a few things we are doing. Around the 4th of July we are going to New Mexico to see Mikes family. I know that we are excited to go on vacation but looking at the 12 hour drive with 2 kids and 2 dogs it makes it hard for us to comprehend actually doing this. I am sure I will have plenty to blog about when we get home from that trip. We also have a few weddings we are going to. I know that the one the girls get to go too they will be ecstatic. All #1 talks about is getting married. She is going to have the time of her life. The other wedding is a no kids allowed wedding which is hard because there are only a few family's who can watch the girls while we go out of town. This does make it hard for us to RSVP not knowing if we are going to have care for the kids.

Mike and I had our 1st wedding anniversary a few weekends back. We found respite care for the girls so we could go to Dallas. It took some asking around but finally someone said they could watch them! In Dallas we ended up going to Six Flags all day Saturday. It was so fun. Mike had never been so he was excited. We ended up doing almost all the rides. Since I haven't been in a few years they had changed somethings. First, they now have lockers for you to put your stuff in. We brought water and sunscreen in a backpack. So for any roller coaster you have to rent a locker for it. This was a pain in the butt! Every time you rent a locker it costs a dollar and then the locker expires after 120 minutes. What a crappy way to steal peoples money. Second, six flags now has this thing called the flash pass. It costs $30 extra per ticket but bumps you to the front of the line on rides. This is the worst system ever. Just because you can afford to spend more money does not mean that everyone else should have to wait while you go ahead of them! Other then those two things..which I am outraged by Six Flags was fun! Any my favorite thing about this whole trip was that for a few days we were not parents.:)

Ever since the Children have come along I have packed on the pounds! I think that #1 stresses me out so much that my metabolism has changed. So now not only do I go to the gym everyday (well I try too) but, Mike and I also run around the neighborhood every night. Whoo this running thing is hard, I do not know how I did it in high school or college. We have slowly seen my awesome running ability improve. The girls cheer me on while they get pushed in the jogging stroller. We heard someone ask us how it was to bike jog and so now we condensed that to bogging. So we now bog and the girls yell "run faster run faster." This is quite the fun family affair. My favorite part is when we stop at the park half way through. Ironically that is the kids favorite part of the bog as well!

Last night we skipped the exercise and instead packed on some more pounds at the yummy restaurant Red Robbin. We got invited for free meal night while they trained their employees. It was awesome and for the first time it was like we had normal children! We all got one free entree, drink, and a milk shake. The kids had no earth shaking fits and were happy to be on a "date" with mommy and daddy. #1 is obsessed with dates and the thought of them, so when we go out to eat we make her think that we are on a date.


So those are the things that have been happening in the Whitson house the past two months. Hopefully I will keep up with the blogging more! Maybe if #1 takes a nap everyday...




And this is why we do this...

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has appointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” Isaiah 61:1

Whitson's Gone Wild!

Ok so as crazy as my last post was... I think we have stepped it up a notch.:) This week #2 gave Mike a bloody nose. Yay! I'm not glad that he got hurt but I am a little happy that I am not the only one who is being physically abused by our new children.:) This happened on Easter Sunday and sadly I have yet to wash the blood off of the sheets because we have so much laundry now. I swear everyday I am doing laundry. I use to think that you could just do laundry once a week. My reality of this has changed. With #1 potty training and both of the kids bathing themselves daily in the dog bowl outside we are constantly having wet smelly clothes! Lately we have been trying to teach the 2 year old not to drink out of the dog bowl and to not strip and run around naked because she dumps the bowl on her head. I don't feel like that is appropriate even in our own back yard. You just never know who's watching.

So the dogs have become very comfortable with the kids and the kids with them. #1 was quite mortified when Roari stole a carrot out of her hand one day at dinner. Recently the kids have learned to guard there food by yelling NO NO NO! #2 always sticks her pointer finger in the air when she talks (like I have an idea) its really funny because she can not talk in sentences yet.

So since the dogs love meal time so much now the insist on being in the house during breakfast. This is not allowed since the last time I let them remain in Buddy took his morning pee on the upstairs carpet. As though I don't have enough pee to clean up in the mornings! So now the dogs sit outside and look at us through the window. Roari has taken it as far to climb up on a plastic table and chairs we have sitting outside. Needless to say the table is now in the trash because it was not build to hold over a hundred pounds of fur.

So two days ago #2 had a fever of 103.3. This was pretty alarming since she is so little and she had no symptoms. I made an emergency run with her to the doctor and unfortunately when there are no symptoms the Doctor could not tell us much. So she had been on fever reducer and so far we have not had a spike back up in the fever.

Lately #1 had been doing her raunchy dance when we get her out of the bath tub. It makes Mike pretty uncomfortable. The kids do a lot of uncomfortable things, but I guess it is to be expected since they have been exposed to way more then a normal 2 and 3 year old would be.

#1's fits have slowly been settling down. We have started using "Over correction" this is were you make the child repeat their bad behavior until they are tired of it and don't want to anymore. Since nighttime fits were becoming so terrible and destructive we started using this when #1 throws an unnecessary fit. We would bring her downstairs during the fit and tell her to scream. Over and over and over again. On day three she finally got it. The second I said scream she said I'm done mommy. She then went to bed with no problems. Since then we have had one scream session, I figured she would forget at some point. We also had one at Lowes. Overall the over correction has been amazing! (Thanks Ashly!)

Easter was the most recent holiday. #1's big question was if the Easter bunny drives a car? If anyone knows the answer feel free to let her know.;) This was the first time the kids had every gone to church and hunted eggs. Friday we did a pre-egg hunt with some friends and then on Sunday we did a family egg hunt. Since we were at my moms house the "new grandparents" thought they could let #1 cut her food with a Knife and #2 have several pieces of cake. The girls had a blast. At one point #1 was licking the knife with her tongue and holding up a toy gun in her other hand. I wish I would have gotten a picture. However, my dad has now started the trend of #1 asking for a knife every time she eats anything. I guess we should buy some plastic knifes...

So this is week 3 and we are surviving! Week 4 starts on Friday. Every week is seeming to get easier but if anyone ever stops by our house or calls its pretty chaotic. Between the dogs running up and down the stairs chasing the kids and the kids getting into the Refrigerator and hiding food under the couch we are making it. (Yes the Fridge is locked now):}

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”- Galatians 2:20

Girls first party/Moms first bloody lip

Ok so it has been a while since our last blog update. Munchkin #1 behavior is outrageous! Wednesday is therapy and I don't know if I can make it till then. Tonight she hit me in the face and busted my lip. I looked like Dracula so much blood was pooring out of my mouth. After ice and a big bowl of rocky road ice cream I am feeling better. I think it was the ice cream that helped, but now I am drinking a glass of white wine and hoping tomorrow will be better.

So the most recent behavior is the stripping of clothes and throwing of shoes in time out. Also she insists that she wants to stay in time out all day and she does things to get her there. I did not know that it could be so fun! We are about to start having time-ins where she sits with mom. However, after tonights bloody lip I do not know if this will work.

Today the her screaming was soooo loud that I am surprised my crazy neighbor did not call the police and report me for child abuse. She screams about everything. Literally even when she gets what she wants there is a problem. This better be one good therapist we are going to. I'm going to need my own session after the past few days!

So Munchkin #2 has a double ear infection which makes life easier for all of us. Now we had to bust out the refrigerator lock box to lock up her new meds. Its a cash box with a key but I swear it takes up its own shelf. Lately #2 has become very needy at home. She needs to be strapped to me or she is crying. I am hoping that this is the ear infection affecting her and not some sort of attachment issue. Today when I left her upstairs the poor thing thought she had been abandoned. We are going to the gym tomorrow and so I hope she is fine in kids club without me.

Saturday Mike mowed the grass. Both girls started crying. It was waterworks city. I had to hold onto both girls while reassuring them that the loud machine called the lawn mower was not going to hurt daddy. I tried to help them understand that the grass was getting cut but after a thorough inspection by #1 I was told that the grass was not cut....

We also went to a birthday party on Saturday. #1 was so excited. She found out we were going on Monday and everyday until Saturday she asked us about it. When I let the girls pick out a present they insisted we get a dancing pink dinosaur that sings "Please don't stop the music" Once we got to the party #1 helped unwrapped all the gifts for the birthday girl, including the pink dinosaur. She turned it on and did the raunchiest dance in front of everyone. I have never seen a 3 year old in a bikini dance like that before. She had her hands over her head and was doing a slow shake of the hips. As funny as it was...we really should teach her a new dance.:)

That is how the past couple days have gone but as for tonight bed time was terrible!!! I laid #2 down a 6:30 yes I know 630! That is so early but she is so sick and tired. She fell right asleep. So around 730 I laid #1 down. Earlier then usual, but due to all the whining, screaming, and lack of nap she needed it. (After all she is 3) So I thought all was well. I had locked up every stuffed animal, toy, extra pillow, the lights were off, music was on, and I went downstairs to help Mike and my parents with the flowerbed we are making. I was gone about 20 minutes, I thought surely they are both asleep. I came back upstairs to check and what do I find? #1 on top of #2 examining her ears, mouth, and nose with a flashlight. I was not happy. After all we have had to add locks to the closet in order to lock up everything so they can go to sleep. I asked her where she got the flashlight and she showed me all of the toys she had hidden before dinner. (no wonder she was little miss cheerful at dinner, she thought she was going to play all night) So I had to take all of the toys away and lock them up once again. Of coarse there was serious screaming going on which was frustrating because baby sister was sleeping! So I laid #1 back in bed and went back downstairs. I felt for sure she would be able to sleep now. After mom and dad went home Mike and I went back up to check on the girls and what did we find this time? Oh yes, our 3 year old had stripped her bed of all of her blankets moved the kid table to turn on the lights and was getting naked. Having to deal with these fits all day I went outside and let Mike handle it. Finally once all of the screaming and destruction had subsided Mike put her back in bed. Thinking that she was just to frustrated and wound up to go to sleep I went up to lay in bed with her (did I mention she now sleeps on a mattress on the floor for her own safety, she forced us to get rid of the bed frame). So laying down with her I thought I could comfort her. She usually lets me at nap time and will fall asleep if I put an arm around her. So I tried this technique and all she could say was how bad she was. All of a sudden she started thrashing and telling me to not touch her. She wacked me in the lip and then it was all over. That is how I got my bloody lip...:(


Deuteronomy 11:18-19

18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Quick the Vacuum is going to eat you!

So It has been a few days since I have blogged. I found out that pictures and names are not allowed for privacy so the younger will be #2 and the oldest will be #1. If you would like pictures please email me;) Right now it is day number 6. The girls were in bed and not fussing but then the thunderstorm started. #1 came down and said she was scared. There was a noise in her bedroom. We said yes it is called thunder...Mike walked her back up stairs and found out it was Roari hiding under #1's bed.

Today was hard!!! I thought things were getting better, but #1 has started biting #2 and drawing blood. Today it was the ear, yesterday the arm, and the day before the cheek. #2 has bite marks all over her! If anyone has any advice let me know. We are really only allowed to use timeout for discipline but that is not working for this situation.

#1 throws the worst fits I have ever seen a 3 year old have. I am blown away but given her situation I can understand where she learned this behavior. I never thought it would be so difficult to reprogram a child.

#2 is doing great she is the best eater and the sweetest little thing. Yesterday she lost her brand new shoe at Cosco.

So far the past few days the girls have had some firsts. Mashed potatoes, apple sauce, oatmeal, pancakes, and grilled cheese sandwiches. I didn't know it was possible for a kid to have never tried these foods by age 3! Also I vacuumed the other day and the girls jumped back scared. I had to explain to them what it was. #1 got up on her bed and told #2 she better hurry up because it was going to eat her.:)

Today we had some serious fits. #1 refused to put her shoes on and we were going to the park. She learned a hard lesson. She couldn't play at the park without shoes. It was a hard day :( I ended up letting her play after about 10 minutes of sitting in the stroller. She hopefully learned her lesson because in the afternoon she told me that if we needed to go somewhere she could put her shoes on.

We went to our bible study and the girls came. #1 finally warmed up at the end and showed everyone how sassy she can be. Mike and I were so tired that I called wipes, "dipes". On the way home Mike wanted the girls to look out the window and to find glowing rabbits. #1 said well I don't see any but I hear them! LOL!

Deuteronomy 4:36

From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.

Our 2yr old has a SMOKING personallity!

Today was the best day so far! We went to church and the kids got to hangout and socialize with other kids their same age. It was a great break for Mike and I! The girls acted nice and afterwards we went to Burger King. I really felt bad about serving them that crap for lunch, Mike and I were soooooo tired in church and just needed the kids to play without us. The playground was great because it was so cold outside. While we were in the play area a man spilled his coke and before we could stop #1 she grabbed an ice cube and ate it. All the parents that saw her do this looked at Mike and I like aren't you gonna make her spit it out? My thoughts were its too late because she already has all the germs in her mouth. Some asian man then parented for us and told her to spit it out. She looked at him and said no and swallowed it. She is one hard headed little girl. Once we got home we made the girls take naps. This was awesome for everyone. We all crawled into our bed and fell asleep for about an hour. Wow! I want to do this everyday. I felt so good after nap time. Finally before dinner we went to IKEA. #2 had a pencil and smoked it like a cigarette. Great she already thinks smoking is a good thing at age 2.:( Bedtime went way better then usual. I am attaching some pictures of #2 riding Roari and #1 playing with her ball.

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The madness continues:)

Day 2-

This morning I work up at 6. We were having a giant thunderstorm and I was concerned the girls were gonna wake up scared. I kept waiting for them to push open our door. Finally, it happened.. Roari busted in and thinking it was the girls scared of the thunderstorm I got up and turned on the light. That was the end of my good night sleep so I got up and took a shower. After getting ready the girls were waking up. It was about 8, but should have been 9 or 10 since they went to bed so late. We went downstairs and the girls got their juice and headed for these low chairs. they rock and allow the kids to sit close to the ground. Still not being wide awake #1 tripped busting her top lip open. (First incident report) We have to fill these out every time there is blood. During breakfast we prayed and talked about Jesus, because we have crosses on our wall and #1 asked what they were. Mike told #1 Jesus is here too and she asked, "Where is he? Is he hiding?" (see verse at bottom) It was funny. Today was the first time the girls had ever had bacon or grilled cheese. They really enjoyed it. After breakfast we went to target to get the girls some shoes and a diaper bag. They loved getting to pick out shoes! Once we got in the car we had a request to go see grandma. Oh yes #1 has made herself right at home..we all have special names just like she is our biological child. At grandmas house we played with toys and colored. I don't think Emery is adjusting well he seems to not want to play with the girls. :) I took a nap while at grandmas house. Thank goodness for the troops..I couldn't do this alone. My nap was well earned! When we left my mom and dad's in the car #1 said, "Daddy I love You" it made me want to cry it was so sweet. When we got home we went upstairs and had a dance party in the kids room for a while. After this we put buddy in his dinosaur suit and the girls laughed so hard! We tried to watch happy feet and eat popcorn but apparently this is not a good movie for longer then 15 min. ;) Once the popcorn was gone the movie was over! haha The girls were worn out today and I will post photos of them snoozing in the car when we went to get a stroller off of craigslist.

Tonight kids were asleep by 830 but it took forever to get them there! If anyone had any advice we would love it. =)

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight. It is by faith here that we see the Lord, though absent from him.

Our First Kiddos!

Yay! Yesterday afternoon at 1:30 we received two little girls. They are 2&3 and cute little blondes. Leading up to "delivery" I was so nervous! Yes, I have babysat and nannied for many children..many good and bad behaved children. However, this was different- foster kids have been neglected and abused and have the behavior to prove it. As much as I thought we had child proofed our home and as many of inspections that we had, our house was torn to pieces in about 15 minutes. Everything I had not thought of was what these kids thought of first! As I signed papers with the case worker and cps worker my new "children" enjoyed themselves in the house I thought was "Childproof" they drew with chalk on our cabinet's, scotch taped a wall, scattered every toy we got for them through out the house, they took one bite out of about 7 apples, tried on every piece of clothing in their closet, poured the dog bowl with water in it all over the floor, kicked my dogs and call me a retard. Once Starry and CPS left I was in over my head and ready for the kids to be picked back up. Somehow... I collected myself and called in my mom. We fled to the park and hung out until she came to rescue me! Once I got home we slowly put the house back together and the kids once again took a bath in the dog bowl(This time outside). Once Mike got home at 5 I was exhausted. Up until then I asked Jesus for patients and grace about every 10 minutes.(see verse at bottom) Mike finally got home and let #1 make macaroni and cheese for dinner. (I told her she could help) Mike does not have much experience with toddlers and therefore the macaroni never got stirred by an adult. (It tasted like chalk) Since life was so chaotic we went hungry until 10pm when we could finally relax. After dinner number 1 we took the kids to play with bubbles in the backyard and over to mom and dads. Once we were at mom and dads #1 played in the dirt and #2 wanted to take a bath in the swimming pool. In the middle of playing it the dirt #1 informed Mike she needed to go potty. Since she had dirt all over her he carried her inside. She told him "I need to take a poop but nothings coming out." After that fun experience we decided to come home. Once we got home I let Mike change #2's Diaper and he got poop on his hand. Freaking out he left #2 on the changing table to wash his hands. I was in the room, but regardless that is not safe! (I jumped up and rescued her while frustrated at mike..) Poor guy now he has a poop phobia. However, Checking the "diaper job" Mike had put the diaper on backwards and so we had to have diapering 1o1. Finally after bath time it was time for bed. This took about 3 hours. Oh boy, what a day! We were exhausted...kids have never made me so tired. #1 told me it was the best day of her life and it was so rewarding to see her playing with all the toys. "Oh my god" was the most used word of the day. As much as I don't think she should use this, it was good to hear and I know the girls love it here.

for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
—Proverbs 24:16

Becoming a Foster Parent

A lot of people have asked me why Mike and I would become foster parents. We have had many comments about why we shouldn't and should. Some of these negative comment include, you are too young, you do not know what you are doing, why don't you just have your own kids, why don't y'all just focus on your marriage right now, its seems like just too much work. On a more positive note we have had comments like, i'm so proud of you, that is going to make such a big difference in kids lives, y'all are going to be great parents, this is very unselfish and people your age don't usually have the maturity to do something like this. So all in all everyone has an opinion, but ultimately I would like to set the record straight with why we have chosen to become foster parents. I also will include all of our exciting adventures as new parents.

Deciding to Foster-

Back in December of 2009 Mike and I committed ourselves to go to China over spring break. We were planning a mission trip with another couple from church and were very excited. The trip was gonna be a week long and was going to be very physically and emotionally demanding. After creating a letter of support and preparing a list of friends and family to send it to we found out we couldn't go. Mikes manager had originally said having time off that week would be no problem. Suddenly it was a problem leaving us and our team no longer going to China. As disappointed as everyone was we knew that if God had wanted us to be in China and helping further the kingdom we would have been. We also were so thankful for not having already mailed our support letters.

Since the trip was now canceled, we decided we should reconsider what we were going to do to really make a difference and share the love of Christ with others. We decided that Foster Care was where God was leading our hearts. Building up to our China trip I had already had on my heart the need to want to help helpless children. Working with children has its rewards but children who live in normal "American" society are very blessed and take it for granted. I no longer wanted to babysit kids or coach. I wanted to take care of kids who really needed me. God used many different paths for us to see that fostering was the road we needed to be on. Through meeting foster moms, sermons at church, and watching my crazy aunts kids over the summer. Here we are!

Ultimately we decided to foster and not because we were dying to give up our life as young people.:)

Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.