Baby Shower

We have one more baby, Owen who is due early October. We had a baby shower to prepare for. We had no budget for the shower and Tasha wanted an Owl theme so Larissa and I raided the garage and made decorations.

For homeschooling Larissa wants to learn clothing design. So I showed her to make a pattern and sew her own owl. Sometimes when you sew you don't think about all the little steps involved. I will show her how to sew with a pattern but I thought this would be a simple enough project for her to develop her own pattern for. Most of the time I do not use patterns as most of my sewing is creative in nature.

She had to learn how to iron, not her favorite thing!

She picked all her own fabrics, I have a lot!

We went through two sewing machines! It is so frustrating when you spend too much time fighting the machine.

Finally I pulled out the big machine and it went much more smoothly.

Pretty good for her first beginning to end project.

I sewed a few more owls.

Sarah baked a lot of cupcakes of various flavors. She is a great baker.

And no pictures of the baby shower. I ended up getting a migraine that day. Thanks to migraine medications it was manageable during the shower but I wasn't feeling the best. It took all day for the headache to finally go away. In spite of that, the party was great and the weather was nice for swimming. Lots of friends and babies came.

Back to School

The kids have gone back to school here. Anthony has started high school! Time sure has sped by. Michelle is in the 8th grade and Emma is in the 5th grade.

Newest addition is in the 5th grade as well. He has a different teacher than Emma and she has been given notice about bullying.

Larissa started 7th grade. I went to her room around 9 to see if she was ready to get started and by simply entering her room she went into a seizure. I left and let her sleep more. She had an orthodontist appointment so we didn't get a lot accomplished yesterday. We basically set up and discussed any special interests she had for this year. She said she wants to learn more about Egypt and sew. I was surprised by Egypt.

Have your kids started back?

Picture Time

Larissa had a photo session at her agency. She was told to wear a bright solid colored top. We had a hard time finding anything that fit her. Finally we found something, a girls size 7 dress. Just a little improvising.

They did make-up, not much. A little mascara and eye brow shaping.

Larissa had a great time. She is really enjoying the experience.

It was a little different than her experience at youth on Wednesday. She went dressed generic and was bullied by several boys. She told herself that she wasn't going to let them bother her! Yay, she is slowly learning to not give them power.

Disclosure

One of my concerns with foster care is a lack of disclosure. When we said yes to our last placement of two brothers we were told that they were coming from a foster home that only takes short term up to ten days placements so they were trying to find another home for them and they had no behavior concerns. They only needed a placement for two weeks. Well, I already knew full well that it may not be two weeks because rarely is it as short term as they say.

However, it quickly became apparent to me that the younger child had some behavior issues. Issues that escalated. At one point I spoke with someone and was given a clue that they were moved for behavior problems. When the escalation went to the point of getting kitchen knives it went beyond my abilities to keep everyone safe. Now, I know that in my home I reported his behaviors. The ER stated he needed to be in a therapeutic home.

Surprise, he was not sent to a therapeutic home. As a matter of fact, his behaviors were not given to the new foster home. Already there is talk that he probably won't be there much longer. I recently had a GAL visit. She thinks it will be fine because the new home is well disciplined. Uh, we are too and that was the problem. As he didn't get his way he escalated. I told her that he would escalate when he didn't get his way. Apparently his behaviors are where they were at week two in my home. I can already see what will happen next week. They are talking of therapy but that won't happen quickly. He will have another move.

I can't even ask why they don't tell us of these behaviors because I know why, because they are only interested in finding a placement. I have seen that they don't care what danger they could be putting the new home into. At this point I am leery to take a child from another foster home. I assume that they are getting moved for behavior problems and I am not a therapeutic home.

Any other foster parents out there who feel that information was withheld from you?

Ava

 Baby Ava has arrived. Both she and Kassi are doing great. 

She has a head full of hair and already has dad wrapped around her finger. She is adorable and came out screaming and ready to eat after peeing (and pooping) on her mom.

Birth is totally exhausting!

The Pretty Place

Visiting the Pretty Place has long been on my bucket list of places to see. We did a side trip on the way home to stop off there. It is a beautiful place.

I am glad we made the trip. Some of my kids got a bit sick on the very curvy roads!

Do you have a place on your bucket list that isn't really too far? If so, go for it!

Deep Creek final

During our trip to the mountains we pretty much just relaxed.

We had nightly fires and smores.

Flaming smores are the best.

We did a lot of tubing

Early morning coffee at the creek, the creek was out our front door.

Played in the creek

Built rock structures

Searched for skipping rock (and painting rocks)

Took pregnancy photos

More rock sculptures

Took photos (too many) 

More tubing (we drop off at Deep Creek and float to our cabin)

More rock fun

Took naps

Went to Bryson City for ice cream

Played

Someone found Tasha's make-up

Hammock time

Tubing again. Benjamin got his own tube for the first time this trip. I have pictures on my water camera wherever that is. May share those pictures later.

Played in the creek

Last night we told ghost stories and had last of our smores.

Hopefully we will get to do it all again next summer.