Brian's Home!

Brian is home at last! He came home about a week before school started. He is doing well, still has his moments when things get overwhelming and he still can get cranky; but he regroups so much faster and does a much better job keeping himself in check. Even in his "off moments", I look at him and am grateful he's at home. He is growing up so fast too. I can't believe he'll be 11. Everyone continue to be praying for him, please. He is a remarkable kid who I know will be a remarkable adult... but he needs everyone around him to be supportive of him and most importantly, to let him know what a great kid he is and how much he is loved.

Faith update

Here is a quick update as I know it: THANK GOD Faith is not going to Florida! That is an answer to prayer! I know that it would have been a major step backward in Faith's progress if that had happened. Things are going pretty well as far as I understand it, and I should be able to post good news here soon. But since it's been a 5 1/2 year soap opera, I am just going to say for now that she isn't going to be traveling to Florida away from the only home and family she has ever known and that's AWESOME. Just keep praying that the road we all think we are on now is really the road we're on, and that it ends at the door I think it's going to. I know, it's cryptic, but like I said, this has been a long, long soap opera and one crazy emotional roller coaster. I know jinxing isn't real; but I have to admit, I am afraid of saying too much because I'm afraid to jinx anything!!!! So I'll fill you in more as I can. But at least I can tell you she's still an Oregonian, and a growing 5 1/2 year old who has a mind of her own! She is quite the little girl! I feel very lucky she is in my life and she is my niece-- even if she is only 5 1/2 and almost as tall as me!!! :-)

Brian

This will be short and sweet. Just wanted to let everyone know to continue to pray for Brian. I hope one day we will understand why God is allowing Brian to suffer this way. I pray every day that God heals Brian and B's anger issues and emotional problems will just disappear. It doesn't seem right that B is suffering because his birth mom took drugs while she was pregnant. So please keep him in your prayers; he isn't at home. I hope he learns to cope with his anger so he can come home soon. I miss him horribly.

Derek

I thought of a funny story to blog. Finally. 'Course, funny is relative. I was bathing my cat, Derek, a couple months ago and saw a dirty spot of poop on him and so I proceeded to concentrate on cleaning that off. I scrubbed and nothing! I got more shampoo and scrubbed some more. The poop was not coming off. Meanwhile, Derek is trying to bite me and just not having it. He was meowing like a crazy cat. After a few unsuccessful attempts to get the poop off his backside, I gave up. Then upon giving up, I promptly saw why Derek was not liking me at that moment: it wasn't poop. I was trying to remove his manhood!!!! Needless to say, Derek is no longer a fan of getting a bath.

Seriously, nothing in particular

I just got done reading Heidi's blog, which made me think how long it had been since I've blogged. I can't decide if the fact that nothing "blog-worthy" has happened is good or bad. Life has kept me busy, mostly with homework and school. I love school. I never used to. But I am really enjoying it and learning something, I hope! I'm watching the Pro-Bowl right now. Adrian Petersen just ran the football in for a touchdown. He is crazy good. Kind of wish I was actually at the game... they are in Hawaii! Come on! I want to go!!!!!! Ok, ok, I'll go before I bore everyone.

I am ANGRY.

Well the adoption committee met today & approved the ONE person they were looking at for adoption for Faith... the single woman who lives in Florida and has an 11 year old challenged boy. I am so angry I want to spit. It is amazing to me DHS is more concerned with saving face and getting a file off their desk than doing the right thing. I can't even process my thoughts right now, I am so angry. I'll keep everyone posted. But for right now, I am too steamed to say anything beyond I am ANGRY!!!! I want to hit something.... Oh my gosh I am sooooo mad!!!!!!!!!!

Test of Faith

Well, as things stand right now, Faith has been selected by "the powers that be" to be adopted by a single woman on the other side of this country. I'm at a loss as to how this can possibly be in the best interest of Faith. Never mind the fact that my family & I love and adore her to pieces. Never mind we've had her in our lives since she came home from the NICU as a baby. Never mind we suffered the loss of her twin brother at 14 months, and she is the other half of him. The fact is she has been with us for 5 years and knows my sister as her mom. She adores my twin sister, and is crying for Andrea as soon as Andrea leaves Faith's side. She is joined to Andrea at the hip. She loves my nephew & niece and thinks of them as her own siblings. She is established in her school, in church, in the neighborhood. She has made such strides since her seizures as a baby. The doctors didn't think she would walk or talk, and look at her now. Talking like crazy; running around. She loves the snow (when it appears), she loved my dog, loves my kitties. She loves Dora, Diego, Wow Wow Wubzy, loves to sing.... She loves my parents so much too. She always runs to my dad when she sees him, and hugs my mom so tight. I am convinced that the love and interactions she gets from my family and from everyone at church and school have only helped her reach these amazing strides. The worst thing that could happen to her would be to rip her from this life she knows and take her across the country to strangers. I don't care if they are sweet people who love kids; they are strangers. And it would be devastating to Faith. I don't know that she is able to understand what is happening. I think she would go backwards and her progress would come to a screeching halt. I am praying so hard that God grants our prayers and a family is found here for her. Please join me in those prayers. I have to trust God on this one; it's really a true test of faith definitely! Thank you!!!!