Foster2Forever

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My Son and People of Walmart – Funny Story

I am so proud of my son, JD! No, really, I am. But sometimes I just want to crawl into a hole. Last night, again, JD said what was on his mind, just a little too loud.

To make a short story long, JD has had a rough week.
Tuesday morning was H-E-double L!
He was NOT happy about waking up – that is an understatement! He woke up as a possessed, angry devil child. He was totally out of control. Instead of losing it with him, I chose to leave him naked on the bathroom floor, go lock myself in the baby’s room and get him dressed before dealing any more with Damien JD.

Damien JD followed me and was outside the baby’s room, screaming and banging on the door – the whole while, I’m saying, “I want nice JD, not mean JD!”

I guess it worked because as soon as I opened the bedroom door to come out, nice JD jumped up, smiled at me and said, “Hi, Mommy!”

JD has not been much better at day care this week. (He went to the “principal’s office” twice – he’s only 3 years old!) So for an incentive, Wednesday night before bed and all Thursday morning, I told him that if he’s a good boy, he can go to “Mall-Mart” and get candy.

“If you wake up from nap before your friends, are you going to kick them to get up or are you going to lay on your mat and be a good boy so you can go to Wal-Mart?”

“I be a good boy, Mommy.”

And would you believe that it worked! His teachers were “Hallelujah!” They were amazed that he remained laying on his cot, while other classmates were telling him to get up. Hallelujah for Wal-Mart!

As we were leaving Wal-Mart, a heavy-set woman rode by wearing a tube top.
“MOMMY, HER HAS NO SHIRT ON!”

This is NOT what he saw, but go to www.peopleofwalmart.com for more funny pics.

Tonight, if JD is a good boy, he’s going to a football game with Daddy!  Sure hope it works!

Have a GREAT weekend!

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2 Funny Friday – Abe Vigoda goes into a clinic…

Have you ever had one of those embarrassing moments that you just didn’t know what in the world to do??  Thanks to Stinkpot, this week, I had a VERY embarrassing moment that left me dumbfounded and speechless.
This week started off with 2 sick kids with fever – – ear infections – – AGAIN!
(The next set will be Stinkpot’s THIRD set of tubes!)

I had to take off Monday to take a 3-year-old and 1-year-old to their respective doctors on opposite parts of town. I was able to make an afternoon appointment at Stinkpot’s ear, nose and throat specialist. However, I didn’t bother to make an appointment that morning for Lil Bit’s community clinic.  I was going to risk it: a walk-in!

I frazzledly walked into the clinic carrying my 23-pound foster baby, Lil Bit, on one hip, balancing the overstuffed diaper bag across the opposite shoulder, all while I was herding hyperactive Stinkpot through the clinic doors. There was only one other patient in the waiting room!!!  In a corner of the waiting room, an elderly man was slumped over in his wheelchair looking as though we were awakening him. He was a heavy man and sadly too ill to bother with shaving.  He reminded me of a dark-skinned Abe Vigoda.

Note: Stinkpot does not have an “inside voice”.  His voice will wake the dead.  Stinkpot became very excited, enthusiastically jumping up and down.  He was pointing at the elderly man!

Pointing and waving at the man,
Stinkpot began exclaiming,
“Mommy, Mommy!
Look!
It’s a monkey! It’s a monkey!
Hi, monkey! Hi, monkey!”

 

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Stinkiness, Boot Camp, and Friday Night Lights – and some Adoption News

I HEART OUR STRONG-WILLED PRESCHOOLER, STINKPOT…

Stinkpot concentrates on riding his tricycle – see that tongue!

  • Strong-willed is an understatement!
  • At 3 years old, thinks using the potty is for sissies
  • Hopeless fan of Houston Astros and Texas Rangers
  • Addicted to baseball, football, basketball, softball, tennis, soccer, hockey, wrestling, etc.
  • Loves attending church
  • Way too charming for his own good and juggles too many girlfriends to count
  • Likes to act silly
  • Independent – demanding to do things by himself
  • Future first round draft pick for the Houston Astros in 2025

He is such a blessing in our lives, but, wow!, what a challenge!

I HEART THE EVENTUAL ADOPTION OF OUR FOSTER BABY…
He is OURS!!! Not officially, of course, but we are now, over the largest hurdle of adopting our 1-year-old baby boy, Lil Bit — the birthmother has voluntarily signed relinquishment papers to terminate her parental rights!

A few weeks ago, we met with CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) and Lil Bit’s case worker to discuss continued contact with the birthfamily (mainly the great-aunt from my understanding). We just had to decide how much contact we would allow.

Last Monday, I received a desperate call from the case worker to meet with our attorney to draw up our agreement with the birthfamily. The next morning, I met with our attorney and discussed terms of the agreement.  He had some really great suggestions, and we decided the normal exchange of photos and updates would cause the least confusion to Lil Bit as he got older.

However, we kept coming back to the question: With whom would the contact be?
The birthmother – whose termination order the agreement would attach???
Or the great-aunt – who CASA is heavily promoting so that Lil Bit can keep his Mexican culture???

After discussing this in our meeting, we had no clue! Over $300 in attorney fees!

A week later, we still have no answer and we’re waiting on either the case worker or birthmother’s attorney to discuss with our attorney….


I DON’T HEART BEING BOOT CAMP DRILL SARGEANT….

Stinkpot was really a challenge last week! Hitting his teachers, his classmates, and toys.  I had to perform some boot camp strategy that is totally “not me”.  At one point, he had struck my last nerve and was being so stubborn while I was trying to care for a sick baby. I finally had enough that I yelled raised my voice to him to do it, NOWWWW!!!! Oy!  — so NOT ME!
(He has since been mocking me by telling Daddy that he wants something NOWWWW!!! – with his signature smirk, no less) But he did straighten up after that…

I HEART FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS…
Additionally, I used a football game as motivation to get him in line. It worked (mostly)!

For being a mostly good boy this week, we went to a high school football game together. 

Giving Stinkpot a kiss under the Friday night lights

We wanted to see my niece perform on the dance team for the first time; however, she performed to the other side…

My beautiful niece before her performance

Maybe next time…

I HEART FACES…
Here’s a photo that my father-in-law took of my hubby as he was learning to ride a tricycle.
I love the story this picture tells! You can see my mother-in-law, always the enthusiastic cheerleader, is so proud of her little boy as he concentrates so intently on completing this milestone.
(I am amazed at how much our adopted Stinkpot resembles his dad!)

Steve learns to ride a tricycle – circa 1961
    I entered this photo in this week’s I Heart Faces “Photojournalism” challenge –
    click the badge for more photos!

     

    Come back Wednesday to hear the next chapter of our love story…
    And on Friday to link up your funny stories with 2 Funny Friday!

    Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

    Mckmama- Not Me Monday

    Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?

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    MISCELLANY MONDAY – Birthdays, Beaches, and Butts

    Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

    OUR FOSTER BABY TURNED ONE YEAR OLD….

    Lil Bit turned one year old this week!  To celebrate, on his birthday, we took he and Stinkpot to Chuck E. Cheese. And then on Saturday, we had a small family gathering at a local park so the kids could play on the splash pad.

    Lil Bit’s birthday cupcakes from Sam’s

    However, due to a massive 48-inch broken water main, the entire city was under a water ban…SO the splash pad was CLOSED. And it was 103 degrees on Saturday!! Oops!

    But the kids still had a good time playing on the playground anyway.

     OUR STRONG-WILLED PRESCHOOLER, STINKPOT…
    We’re thinking of sending Stinkpot to Dr. James Dobson’s house for a week so that he can rewrite his book The Strong-Willed Child. He is really earning his nickname this week:

    • He hit both of his teachers on Friday (they want to meet with us today – and this is daycare!)
    • Saturday morning, we had to send him to his room 3 times before he straightened up to go to the birthday party.
    • Bedtime is always HORRIBLE!
    • Naptime yesterday was worse – he finally crashed in the middle of the dining room floor at 5:30.
    • Last night, he called Aunt Rachel to go live with her.
    • “I don’t want to…” or “I want…” begins every sentence.

    Do they have boot camp for preschoolers? Or better yet, send me!

    I HEART BEACH FUN….

    This year, we did not go to the beach due to the BP oil spill! (Check out that link!)

    Look at Stinkpot’s concentration!

    Did it ruin your beach plans, too?

    Last year, we took a family vacation to Houston/Galveston. I was amazed at how Stinkpot knew exactly how to play in the sand – and he did so in the same spot for nearly 2 hours! That is unheard of for my 2-year-old!

    For the beach trip, I took my point-and-shoot camera so the pictures are, well, snapshots.

    Here’s a great realistic pic my hubby took of my flabby old-lady butt. OUCH!

    You can see why I’m doing the twohundredsquats program. 
    I just finished Week 2, but I’m going to repeat it since I’m really sore right now.

    Here’s another photo I took of Stinkpot…

    Straight out of camera

    But don’t you just love the magic of Photoshop?
    I can change that picture to THIS>>>

    Using Coffee Shop Sun Kissed

    I used a free Photoshop action developed by Coffee Shop Rita. You should check out her stuff!

      I entered this photo in this week’s I Heart Faces challenge – click the badge for more “Beach Fun” photos!

       

      Come back Wednesday to hear the next chapter of our love story…
      And on Friday to link up your funny stories with 2 Funny Friday!

      Y’all have a great week!

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      2Funny Video

      Welcome to 2 Funny Friday — go ahead and link up your funny, cute, silly posts in the Linky Tool below!  (Links are open all week!)

      Here is my 2 Funny Friday post for this week!

      This is a special video of Stinkpot singing and dancing along with “I’m in the Lord’s Army” (He definitely has Stephen’s dancing and singing talents) Enjoy!

      Y’all can share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!!!

      Y’all have a good weekend!!
      ~Penelope
      https://foster2forever.com

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      ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!

      “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” 
      ~Colossians 4:2

      Today I am thankful for my incredible husband, FosterDad, on the second anniversary of his 49th birthday!  Happy birthday, sweetheart!  You are my one and only!

      But, also, I am thankful that one year ago today we adopted our Stinkpot!

      For all you Math people – Yep!
      We adopted Stinkpot on my husband’s 50th birthday!  YIKES!

      That was one of the most incredible days of my 44-year-old life!

      Husband putting on Stinkpot’s shoes as Lil Bit tries to help. 8/8/10

      What are y’all thankful for today?

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      BABY FOR FOSTER CARE ONLY…LATER ADOPTED!

      On Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at around 3pm, I received a call from CPS for an 8-month-old baby boy that needed a foster home. “Foster only“, she repeated twice. “Sure!” was my quick response.

      If you recall, that was election day. My husband & I were planning to attend our precinct convention that evening & were excited about the possibility of attending the Texas Republican convention again, this time in a presidential election year.However, this call from CPS changed our focus from that night forward.

      A CPS investigator from an adjacent county arrived at our home at 6:45 that Tuesday evening carrying in her arms the cutest baby boy. His bright eyes lit up as he smiled at us for the first time. His bottom 2 teeth gleaming. He was wearing an olive corduroy jacket over his navy onesie with the cutest navy & white striped pants. He was wearing navy tennis shoes! So adorable!


      I can only rely on my memory as I didn’t have the foresight to grab my camera.
      (A mistake I haven’t made again!)

      As the CPS investigator began telling us the story on this baby, we were thinking “how can anybody neglect a baby that way?” He came with next to nothing & had been kept in his car seat & dirty diapers. What a horrible diaper rash he had! (This is one reason we are having such a difficult time potty-training him now!) He was 8 months old & couldn’t sit up or even roll over! He was also very sick. (Look at those poor little sick eyes!)

      JD’s sick little eyes when he arrived

      That first night was TORTURE! He was so congested that he could only sleep 15 minutes at a time – ALL NIGHT LONG! It was the most exhausting night of my life!

      The next morning I drove 1-1/2 to pick up my mother-in-law to help me. I had no idea how to care for an infant! (When pregnant, you have nearly 8-9 months to prepare.) I was an instant Mommy!
      For the next 2 weeks, we had DAILY trips to Walmart to pick up some type of baby paraphernalia that we needed. I was absolutely, totally FRAZZLED for at least 6 weeks solid – overwhelmed by the incredible responsibility of instant motherhood!
      As time went on, it became more apparent that this baby wouldn’t be going back to his mother. He did have a full brother 2 years older that was living with his paternal grandmother. The baby would have been sent to live with his grandmother, but she was already raising SIX of her other grandchildren!
      Once the mother’s rights were terminated, the grandmother realized that we could provide more for the baby than she could & decided to allow us to adopt him.
      Here he is on the day we adopted him!
      What a handsome little man he is!
      What a blessing he has been to our lives!

      I’m Clever

      Sway