Time flies...

How time flies when we're having fun. Today Sydney is 5 months old. She's grown so much since coming to live with us. She is now eating regularly. She likes Rice cereal, is getting used to oatmeal, loves sweet potatoes, prunes (yes, prunes), apples (not applesauce so much), and pears. She's not really fond of peas and/or green beans but we're still working on that.

She giggles out loud and is doing everything she can to roll from her back to her tummy. She is full of smiles, especially when someone she loves is talking to her. She can blow raspberries, pick up her toys when they're close by and has recently learned to put her pacified in her mouth unassisted. She also loves to sit where she can see what is going on. Since she was 5 weeks old, she's loved to be in the middle of the mix.

The boys still absolutely love her and spend as much time as they can with her. Yes, believe it or not, they even feed her and change diapers. So funny to think that when we started this adventure a few years ago, there are so many things that they WOULD NOT do, and now they do them all and more.

She is such a blessing to have in our life and we relish in her smiles and giggles each and every day that we have with her.

The boys are growing so quickly and will soon be out of the house. They're both ready for school to be out so they can get into summer baseball. I guess that they just grow up too soon!

What a life...

Well, I have always had a strong belief in God and I know that it's that belief that is getting me through each day right now.

Being a foster parent is probably one of the hardest things that I've ever done in my life. You bring a child or children into your home to care for and love and keep safe, all the while knowing that you could have to let them go. Knowing that they're going to a good, safe, loving home can make it easiser to deal with. However, it's not always sunshine and roses and you wonder why. There was a reason that the child/children were removed and when we haven't lived that life, we wonder how someone...anyone, can't put their children first.

Being blessed enough to watch them grow and reach the heights that you know they can reach is amazing. We have been blessed to have this precious little one for three and a half months and she's thriving. Only time will tell what is to happen.

To think that I almost gave up after we lost Brianna...God knew what he was doing and was directing me all along to just wait it out and see what was to come. He wanted me to put my faith in His hands knowing that He knew when the time would be right for us to take in another child. Trust can be so hard, but when we put our trust in Him....all things fall into place.

Time marches on...

Well, time seems to still march on....regardless of whether we want it to or not.

2010 has not started out the best. 4BCT has lost several soldiers already, one of them a good friend of ours. They all hurt, but when it hits this close to home, it just takes your breath away.

The good news is that we have been asked to accept the placement of a 6-week old baby girl. She will be our foster child and we will take care of her and love her as if she were our own for all the time we have her. This is going to be a challenge as it has been almost 13 years since I had a baby in the house. But, I think that the boys and I are up to it...

more to come.

Lonely days & nights

I hate to complain, but deployments get so tiring. The boys keep me busy which is so nice because it helps to pass the time more quickly. However, I didn't initially marry a soldier and the longer this haul goes on, the harder it seems to be to take. I LOVE MYSOLDIER and support what he is doing 100% but I really want to be with him and it seems like since we moved we haven't really lived together.

There have also been so many things that have happened in our life the past six months that have taken us to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows that I'm probably just trying to adjust to life as "normal" since football is over.

OK - I'll quit and stop the pity party!!!

God Bless ALL of our soldiers, past and present who have interrupted their lives and that of their families as well as those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Life with a 3-year old

Life is sooo good right now! Brianna has brought a new ray of sunshine into our house. We don't do much other than play with her and tend to her needs, but that's OK. I can't imagine what it was like for her at 2 1/2 to be taken from everything that she knows - regardless of the circumstances. We are doing our best to fulfill the promise that we made to God to take care of whatever child (or children) was brought into our house for the time that we have her. However, if she ever comes available for adoption...we will jump at the chance. :-)

Crazy weather

We're having some crazy weather right now. I can't wait for Spring to actually arrive! Kenny is gone again and the kids are off to play basketball at the clubhouse so I'm all alone with Molly. We're just sitting here looking out on the cloudy day and channel flipping.

Looking forward to Easter and having some family time, just wishing that we were back home as everyone gets together to celebrate. I want the warmer weather to come so I can continue to walk outside and enjoy our surroundings while losing some weight.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend despite the weather across the country!

What to say?

Well...the past week has been a whirlwind of emotions. We were lifted up and then dropped after 72 hours. Bio mom changed her mind, which she is 100% entitled to do. However, we were told that she was not getting her regardless due to the underlying circumstances. So, Friday we were told that an "aunt" was getting her temporarily, pending the outcome of an indepth 30-day investigation, but that "grandma" was coming up from TX to discourage this arrangement. Well, here we sit a week later and NOTHING! No news, no baby, just "please hang in there with us." Well, we really don't know what that means or what to expect so we're just here...trying to get back to normal and waiting for more information that may or may not ever come.