Day three...

Whew! Today was a long day!
A few changes in atmosphere.
J + D are calling Karl and I mommy and daddy.
J is getting much more comfortable and is really testing boundaries and rules.
D refused a nap again today, keeping her brother up too.
We all went to the library for creative play time, with the help of my dad - and that was fun.
J decided he knew best, and tried to run where ever he pleased, the boy needs a leash!
He also got so in to his computer game that he had an accident (pee), and we had to make an emergency evacuation.
D is getting much more comfortable with the dogs - she is petting them and giving them kisses.
J is still relatively terrified and goes in to a huge fit if they start play fighting, bark, or get to close to him with out warning.
It's crazy how 50 something hours with two kids, and they already feel like mine, and like they've been here much longer than that!
I'll tell you this though, 2 is much easier than 4!

Not that I didn't know that already, but I didn't expect to be this tired!
Hopefully when I adjust to getting up at 6:30AM and to bed by 10PM I'll be able to get along a little better through out the day.
Tomorrow is pizza, popcorn, movie night - only if the kids take their nap.
That's right, I'm bribing a nap out of them - I need one too!

Day two...

Whew - taking all four kiddos out to Once Upon A Child and lunch really takes it out of you!
We had to get bathing suits for Ethan and J. We're hoping to go to Justin and Nana's pool Saturday.
J. + D. are getting very comfortable here already, even after just 1 day.
J. needs a lot of redirection, and reminders - and D. is so submissive I don't foresee many issues with her.

Their Adoptive Parents are going to be so blessed with these two - but oh so very busy.
D. has gotten over her fear of the dogs, and actually gave Bailey a kiss today! But, J. is still very scared.
I was really excited about them taking a 2 hour nap after shopping and lunch, and J. went down really well - but D. wasn't having it. She ended up cuddling on the couch with me for an hour - and I could just love on her forever.
I'll be sad to see them both go.
Karl is off to D-groups tonight, and I'm home alone with all four and bedtime. This should be interesting.

Day one...

Whew day one is done, and we're all heading to bed.
We had a lot of visitors today. These little ones are probably weary that everyday will be as busy as today.
Luckily it wont.
We had my mom, dad, sister, brother, Kasey, Si, and Amelia all over.
Add that to me, karl, ethan, evie, J, and D and you get 13 people!
Whew.
J is a doll, he is a little Daddy to every one. and D is so quiet and sweet.
They're both terrified of dogs and cats - so that should make things a little interesting.
But, we're hanging in there.
I'm currently waiting out the next 10 or so minutes to see if they actually stay in bed :)
Things went really well.
Smoother than expected.
But, I think this is the first time I've been ready to go to sleep at 9 in a long time.

Respite

I am starting to get anxious for tomorrow. I feel like I could clean and clean and clean, and add a million things to my 'to-do' list to try and be more prepared.
It's so similar to having your first baby.
You don't know what to expect, you don't know what they're going to be like, you don't know just how you're going to "do it"...
I am going to go nurse Evelyn, take a few benadryl, and take a shower.
Hopefully I will get a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to meet D, age 2, and J, age 3.
They were brought in to care about a year and a half ago, and have been with their current foster mom the whole time.
She is going to be on vacation for her daughters wedding for two weeks, hence why the kids will be with us for two weeks.

They are going to be meeting their adoptive parents as soon as their foster mother returns home.
I anticipate that they are just as nervous and anxious as we are about meeting them.
All we know that J is very protective about D and has been known to curse when stressed out.

I am so happy that the Lord has provided a "trial run" for us in the form of respite care for our first placement.
But, part of me is sad that they're only going to be here for two weeks.
None the less, we are going to try and make the best out of the next two weeks for everybody.
We have a pizza, popcorn, movie night and swimming night planned for this week.
Next week I think we're going to go roller skating.

I am anxious to see how Ethan and Evelyn react to sharing their mommy, and how Karl and I are going to react to being foster parents to 4 under 3! Even more so, I'm curious to know how these children are going to react, and how these next two weeks are going to unfold.

I'm anxious!
But I must be off to bed!

Birthdays and other things...

Ethan's 2nd birthday:
Ethan wasn't too sure about the cake - he doesn't get it often, and was a bit weary.

He did warm up to it though, and decided to try the candle.

He quickly learned that the candle didn't taste that well...

but that the cake was much better.

He got a few books and a fisher price car toy from Karl's parents, a potty book, and a walking dragon from my parents, and a veggie tales movie from us.
Ethan was terrified of the dragon, but Evelyn loved it.

Earlier this week, I wanted to make cookies with Ethan - but if you have spent much time with Ethan, you'd know he hates dirty hands.
So, I mostly made them while he watched, and we talked about what I was doing, and when we would eat them. Never mind that the frosting was from an old halloween kit!

Evelyn sat watching and babbling from her chair

She was in such a good mood.

Here is ethan trying to pick up just the black frosting... my crazy boy

I snapped this picture the other day because Evelyn totally conked out in the middle of eating a cracker.
I guess she was more tired than either of us thought.

My little momma - I could eat her up!

I ressurected an old shirt of Karl's, he wore in high school, and then I wore it, and now I made it Ethan size.
I wanted to take a picture of it - and this is what I got... I thought it it as too funny.
My little drama king.


I could slap myself for not taking pictures the other night - Collin, Ciara, Justin, Nana, Lance, KP, Karl, and I were all together! We had a little party here at our house, and it was so fun. I wish so much that we all lived in the same town, so we could experience such fun and fellowship all the time.

Karl and I went to IKEA saturday, picked up some things to prepare for foster care. Today we painted the foster room, set up the toddler bed and the crib, and put everything in its place for Tuesday. I will try and take some pictures tomorrow.
I am so excited to start fostering.
I feel like we've been preparing for this moment, well because we have, since last june. That's almost as long as a pregnancy! So, you can imagine the anticipation.
I'm afraid the second the kids walk in the door I'm going to jump on them and love them straight to death... haha.

She's moving!

Evelyn decided today was a nice day to start frog-swimming across the floor!

We got our first call for respite care!
We will be trying our hand at being foster parents Jan 20 - Feb 1
to a sibling set of two, boy and girl, ages 2 and 3.
So excited!!!!!

(Respite care is like being a really long term baby sitter for another foster mom)