NW Family In UT

IVF Canceled

2012-01-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Our IVF cycle was canceled on day 9. My overies just don't respond to the drugs and my eggs weren't maturing.

Weight Loss

2012-01-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

I started exercising and eating better (less carbs more veggies) the END of September. So far I've lost 15 lbs. That is 7% of my body weight. YAY! Today I weight 5 lbs less then I did this time last year. (yes that means I gained 10 lbs last year). I haven't been perfect, November and December weren't great dieting months. Even still I have had steady loss of 1 pound a week!!!!

fun: Pampered Chef Party

2011-12-29T19:25:00.001-07:00

*We won't close the show until the end of January. IF you decide to order that is when your CC will be charged.

I know what all of you who are far away are thinking, BUT this is a catalog party and you can order online and have it shipped to you! How great is that?! Here is a link to my super cool consultant's page. All you have to do is enter my name and SHOP!

I wanted to share some of my favorite, affordable, can't live without, Pampered Chef products.

Can Strainer $5.00

It is great for all kinds of foods. I need a second one because it is ALWAYS in my dishwasher. I use it most on olives, tuna, and beans. If you get only ONE item I'd recommend this one.

Mix and Chop $10.50

This is great for mashed potatoes, ground meat, making guacamole... anything really! I just got this at my last pampered chef party and I AM IN LOVE! How did I live so long without it?

Mini Spatula $5.50

This little spatula is just the right size for getting brownies out of the pan and cookies off the cookie sheet. It is the ultimate dessert spatula.

Microplane $27.00

I really love this microplane. It has a guard on it and it folds up small for my TINY kitchen. I love that it can stand on it's own so I can grate hard cheeses like Parm. It's also great for ginger, garlic and zesting fruits.

Small Spreader $5.50 and Large Spreader $9.50

This is something I use anytime I need something smooth. I uses this for frosting cakes and cup cakes and this makes 7 layer bean dip a breeze to make (shhhhh).

Small $14.50 Medium $15.50 Large $16.50 Scoops

I have all three. I use them all the time for cookies, muffins, chicken salad sandwiches, and pancakes.

And if you made it to the end of this post I'll tell you a secret. Order with a friend and split the shipping!!

Craft: Christmas Ornaments

2011-12-18T13:53:00.003-07:00

I have done so much Christmas crafting this season, but by far my favorite are these bird ornaments. I was inspired by two sites. First Charcoal and Crayons post about Scrappy Sparrows (download and use the template), and Second Sister's Little Cher Ami post.

I found sheet music for "I Know My Redeemer Lives" at the thrift store and used it to create these birdies. I loved finding my favorite phrases and showcasing them on my tree.

2011-12-14T08:49:00.001-07:00

Just a little catch up. Things for us are pretty mellow.

IVF

Our December cycle was also canceled. Although not the news we were hoping for, it is not devistating. I've been focusing on having the healthiest body I can so, hopefully, we can have a healthy pregnancy. This cycle, some of my numbers were high, and that brought adoption back into the picture. We'll have to see what happens. Surprisingly, I'm not stressing over this. It has been a long, hard road and I know that there are blessings in store, no matter which way we go.

Other News

Ok there really isn't other news. I've been keeping busy watching friends' children and Christmas crafting. We had a quiet Thanksgiving with Holy, Grace, and Garrison (aka G and Little G's family). We are so blessed with their friendship and love. The twins turned 2 this month and sadly we missed them on their birthday.

Christmas shopping is DONE and all our presents have been mailed. YAY! I'm just enjoying my time with friends this Christmas season. J is busy: work is stressful, church and other meetings take up a couple of nights a week, and the scouts have monthly trips. I feel like we have 3 good evenings a week and I'm happy with it.

To our family and friends, I hope this Christmas season finds you well and happy!

fertility: IVF Canceled

2011-11-14T16:46:00.002-07:00

This IVF cycle has been canceled. We'll try again next cycle or maybe the cycle after that....

fertility: 4th cycle

2011-09-26T12:21:00.002-06:00

Warning-This is a technical post. If you are not interested in the Why of our infertility then feel free to skip this. It also was written the beginning of September. We are currently in the middle of our 5th cycle since starting to see our fertility doctor.

This is my fourth cycle since we started seeing our fertility specialist. I think we may have a good idea of what my body is doing. The mucinex worked this cycle and we are excited that one hurtle is out of the way.

Unfortunately we still have many problems with my ovary and fallopian tube on the left side of my body. My ovary is partially (or totally) covered with scar tissue and tissue from the organ it has attached to. The doctor explained that this tissue is a problem because an egg can become stuck in it. =( My left fallopian tube is also blocked, not allowing an egg to travel to the uterus.

We were hoping that I would ovulate one month on my left side and one month on my right side.

I had marked my calendar with little L's (for left side), and R's (for right side) on alternating cycles to "know" which cycles I would be most fertile. It was my way of controlling SOMETHING. This month was supposed to be an R and I was excited at the thought that this could be THE cycle. Looking back now this was overly optimistic and a little foolish. I went in for an ultrasound on day 14 of my cycle and found out I had ovulated on the left side. We've gone left, right, left, LEFT. Tears.

We are still hopeful that we will be able to conceive naturally but we know this is unlikely. As I look at the sacrifices we have made and those we are expecting to make in the near future I have found peace. I know that the Lord will bless us with what we need.

family: Year Seven

2011-09-02T09:52:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow we celebrate seven great years together. I've been so lucky to spend these years with J. We've accomplished so much and come so far. Here's a peak at the fun we've had over the last seven years.

Year 0

LDS Temple, Portland, Oregon

Year 1

Aialik Bay, Alaska

Year 2

We bought our house!

Year 3

Haceta Head, Oregon

Year 4

Happy 30th sweety

Ensenada, Mexico

Year 5

Level Edwards Stadium, Provo

Year 6

M&M Factory, Las Vegas

Year 7
Images of U

fertility: Mucinex

2011-08-12T10:18:00.002-06:00

We did our last diagnostic test - a post coital test. It looks at J's sperm as it moves through the cervical mucus. Mine was like a brick wall - No passage. The prescription? Over the counter mucinex. It'll help thin the cervical mucus.

This finally explains why, when I was a fit young 20 trying to conceive, we had problems. That was before my hormones crashed the party and made everything more difficult.

Things have improved on metformin. I have to eat regularly and make sure I take my pills with food. Taking supplemental vitamins, especially B vitamins has increased my energy and helped with my overall sense of well-being. When I have too much sugar in the afternoon (like a soda or sweets) I crash fast- low energy, nausea, light headed.... I have to be careful what I eat and when.

Overall things have improved. My sister has inspired me to loose weight, and J and I are talking about a "Babymoon"(one last vacation before it becomes more difficult to get away). For the first time in our almost 7 years of marriage I'm hopeful that we have the tools to start our growing family.

fertility: Metformin

2011-07-14T10:17:00.001-06:00

I've been taking Metformin for my insulin resistance. When the nurse told me it might make me sick I brushed it off. I rarely experience side effects, so imagine my surprise when I experienced almost EVERY side effect - nauseous, vomiting, (gas), light headed, dizzy, tired, headaches. Today I double my dose and just want to cry. How do people live their lives while feeling so sick???

NOTE: SEA BANDS are the answer. 110% better with sea band help today. Choked down my pills today and put sea bands on right away. I'm still light headed and dizzy-especially when I go too long without food-BUT I'm not throwing up and am able to work on projects today!!!!

fertility: Results

2011-07-01T10:20:00.002-06:00

Ok for the record - HSG's aren't that bad! At our last appointment the nurse at the office asked if I wanted a lortab for the HSG. I wasn't sure. How much pain was I going to be in? I went home asking myself, "when was the last time I was in pain?" "How high is my pain tolerance?" I don't know. I stressed over this for a week. I talked about it to everyone who had a background in medicine and friends who have had an HSG. I decided I could probably handle it. In hindsight, I could TOTALLY handle it. I feels a lot like menstrual cramps. Mostly it was uncomfortable. Sometimes it HURT but the pain didn't last long. After the appointment I could do everything I had planned for the day. I know my experience isn't everyone's experience. The thing I know is, trust your instinct.

The HSG revealed that I'll need surgery to have my left side work properly. We still have tests to do and cost analysis to weigh.

Blood work revealed some deficiencies. Low Thyroid, and pre-diabetes (thanks Dad). I'm on medications for those.

I've had people ask me ALOT- "If it's something easy to fix are you going to be sad/mad you didn't do this sooner." Until yesterday, these comments caused me to second guess myself. Now I know the answer is no. I knew that something was wrong, I knew it wasn't going to be an easy fix. Again let's call it INSTINCT. If we had had the word surgery come up 3 years ago I would have been completely overwhelmed. And, if I can have a child with hormone correcting medications and only my right side working that's ok, too. I know our road has been long and often painful and we still have a long way to go, but THIS is the time for us to do it. It's not just knowing we can pay for it, it's a feeling that this is the right time. Who knows why we've needed to wait so long? I read someone's comment recently on a blog (sorry I don't know which one) talking about infertility. It gave me peace. She said: "the older my son gets I realize it wasn't about me-It was ABOUT HIM. His friends, his experiences, his life." So I choose to believe that this trial isn't about me. It's about my child. The things he/she need to experience and accomplish have time tables. How grateful I am for the time I was born, the good friends that carried me though my youth, and the experiences I've had BECAUSE of when I was born.

fertility: Going to the DR.

2011-06-25T10:09:00.004-06:00

Receptionist: So when do you want to come in?

Me: What day in my cycle would the DR. like to see me?

Rec: Day 3.

Me: (nervous giggle)- He WANTS to see me on my period?

So, there I was, on day 3 and laying on the exam table. The news is good. No PCOS, and very little endometriosis.

Next week, I go in for an HSG and blood work.

fertility: I Think I Will thankyouverymuch

2011-06-21T09:46:00.005-06:00

While helping a friend shop for blanket fabric for her unborn child I came across some I LOVED. She was sweet and encouraged me to pick it up for myself. I of course resisted unsure if I would ever have an infant. Next time I think I will, Second Sister Suaviloquy gave me permission.

foster: Update

2011-06-21T09:33:00.004-06:00

Looking over our sidebar I was stuck on our placements. Could we really have fostered 13 children over the last 2 1/2 years? Really?! That is a TON. When we were training we were told the AVERAGE child's stay in foster care is 15-18 months. We are defiantly below the average.

Angel and Iron Man went home at the beginning of the month. The last 2 weeks of that placement could have gone better. But one thing I realized, it's not my job to be universally liked.

So here we are childless and taking a break. I think it will be a very long break. It's time to focus on J and me. No one else's drama aloud.

foster: Twins Update

2010-11-29T07:37:00.005-07:00

We are so excited to watch the girls Monday and Wednesday night for just a few hours. We think they are just dolls. Iron Man and Angel look forward to their visit and we are all sad when they have to go. They are super busy and so grown up as they reach 1 year this week. Can you believe it?!

I sincerely wish their parents the best. When they are struggling, like they are now, it's hard for me to watch. We love our little S and A!

foster: Update

2010-11-20T14:22:00.004-07:00

Hhmmm. where to start. Sleeping Beauty went back to her parent while we were on vacation the end of October. Iron Man (13) and Angel (5) came to stay with us for the weekend before we left on vacation. They're still here and they'll be with us through Christmas, but recent developments makes me think they will be with us longer than that.

project: Curtains

2010-09-28T08:26:00.003-06:00

I found a fabulous deal on fabric so I revamped the "nursery" curtains.

Before:

After:

Simple rod pocket curtains that say GIRL! I don't mind switching them out if our next placement is a boy. Check out the cost breakdown.

Cost Breakdown
Fabric $12

foster: Money Breakdown

2010-09-25T11:58:00.007-06:00

I mentioned in my last post that we spend more than we get to have foster children in our home. As foster parents in Utah we just got a pay cut to $14 a day for children under 12. That's about $420 a month. We do not have to pay for the child's health care, and are reimbursed for millage to and from case activity, and yes if the child meets age requirements we can sign up for WIC. Here's how the money breaks down in our home:

$90 For regular food in our house ($3/person/day including fruit/veggies/milk/WHOLE grain, of which we get the recommended amount for daily. NO malnourishment here thanks to home canning and food storage!) This, btw, is less then families receiving food stamps get per person/month. Many foster families are probably spending double on groceries and not eating rice and beans several times each month.
$30Extra for goldfish, juice, fruit leather ect.
$42 Mandatory spending on new clothes
$60 Diapers
$15 Wipes
$20 Toys
$50 Baby sitting, for dates, foster care training, court, family and team meetings

$307 Total

That leaves $113 to split between non case activity miles, entertainment, saving for birthday parties, Christmas, Easter baskets…. I know that the last few aren't necessary spending. BUT childhood is about going swimming, picking out pumpkins, and sledding in the snow. It's about waking up to an overflowing stocking on Christmas morning, hunting for Easter eggs, dressing up for Halloween, and having balloons and friends at your birthday party. Oh just for a minute, let's say we didn’t drive the child to anything other then visits and DR. appointments. Oh and we didn't do any of the other fun things associated with childhood, including Christmas presents, Halloween costumes or birthday parties. That means $113 is what the Giffords are getting "paid" to take care of someone elses child. Less then $4.00 a day. So, to those who complain that foster parents "do it for the money", here's the breakdown. What do you think? Is this what you expected, or are you surprised? How much will you pay someone to take care of your child when you go out with your handsome hubby or wonderful wife tonight?

Personally, I think the work foster parents do is pretty important. It's not about the money, or lack thereof. Right now it's about Sleeping Beauty, her health and well being. It's about her feeling safe and secure and stable. Someday I hope she can feel all of those things at home with her parents. But until then I'll provide her with every opportunity I can afford.

food: Beans and Rice

2010-09-24T10:19:00.007-06:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. As I type my house smells like a Mexican Fiesta and I thought I'd share our penny pinching recipe.

As many of you know we are trying super hard to get out of debt so we can afford to have children sent to our family. We are putting every extra cent I can squeeze out of J's paycheck towards debt and we are soooo close! (In theory foster care should help with this but at the end of the day we spend her reimbursement check plus some of our surplus to have SB in the house.) Our food budget is about $3.00/person/day. This recipes costs about $1.50 for the WHOLE HUGE POT. That's mega nice for our budget.

1 lb of dried beans (we like pinto, black or red beans)
6 cups of water

The night before, usually after dinner while little ones are in the bath, I wash the beans and add them to a BIG pot with 6 cups of water. Soak overnight. Rinse the beans in the morning. While the beans are in the strainer add the following ingredients to the pot.

1 TBS olive oil
1 onion chopped
2-3 garlic cloves minced
2-3 stalks celery

Cook 3 to 4 minutes and add:

1 t salt
1/2 t garlic powder
3/4 t paprika
1/2 t black pepper
1/2 t onion powder
1 t Cayenne pepper
1/4 t oregano
1/4 t sage
1 t thyme
Red pepper flakes

Toast spices and then add the beans back to the pot with 6 cups of water. Simmer 2 1/2 hours. Drain off some of the liquid. Add finally chopped spinach to the beans and let wilt and become almost invisible (Always trying to bump up the nutrition.)

Night one:
Brown rice and beans with a little hot sauce and vinegar

Night Two:
Rice and bean burritos with lots of cheese and salsa

10 Lunches:
Rice and Bean burritos with lots of cheese, frozen and wrapped individually for quick grab and go.

We make this recipe at least 2x a month YUM!

foster: Update

2010-09-14T12:53:00.003-06:00

Where to start? Cinderella left Monday, August 30th. Sleeping Beauty came Tuesday, August 31st, and has been with us for 2 weeks. They have one more kinship option to explore this week. She looks like I did as a child and except for her pale eyes could easily fit into my sisters' families. She's excitable, super friendly, and anything but shy (the exact opposite of me as a child). Sleeping Beauty turned 2 this summer and is so smart. Really she's a little Parrot that just talks and talks and talks and NEVER takes a break.

project: Stripes

2010-08-29T19:36:00.005-06:00

Well, Cinderella will probably be leaving this week. She's a timid little girl and keeps to herself. BUT when the rare thing gets her excited she SQUEALS and flashes a full smile.

I finished the stripes just hours before Cinderella came.

Before

During
After

Cost break down:

$4 for frog tape.
Laser Level- We had hiding in the basement
Paint- left over SW paint pot from some random project

Total: $4

foster: New Placement

2010-08-27T07:51:00.003-06:00

I was expecting 6 children and got 1 child yesterday. I've never done 1 before. Little girl, we'll call her Cinderella, is 18 months, and came with some creepy crawlies. We had a rough night tackling head lice. I don't think she likes me for taking away all her stuff to wash and smearing stinky stuff on her head. Poor girl. I'll make it up to her today.

Project: Stripes?

2010-08-21T12:02:00.005-06:00

I'm thinking about adding some stripes to my house. Specifically horizontal stripes to one wall in my front room. Maybe some down the hallway too. Here's some inspiration.

Young House Love

Coastal Living

Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson

What do you think?

project: SO MANY PROJECTS

2010-08-03T17:47:00.006-06:00

We got a call late yesterday afternoon that sent us scrabbling. 6 kids were coming into care at 10:00 this morning and they needed somewhere to land. I spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening calling for bunk beds, calling for benches (so we could squeeze 8 around our 4 person table), making grocery lists, worrying about car arrangements, and so on. Today, after their court hearing, the Judge gave the parents 3 more weeks to work on things WITHOUT taking the kids into custody.

Big exhale....

3 weeks to iron out the details of our lives before the possibility comes up again. This call brought to the forefront all of the projects I've been ignoring while we get out of debt. Parts of our house are a disaster. BIG. EMBARRASSING. DISASTERS. Things that could not be ignored if our house swelled to 8. Things like: the broken dishwasher, the leaking pipe under the sink in the basement bathroom, the missing tiles in the up stairs bathroom, the BACKYARD JUNGLE, and the list goes on and on and on. So my question is, can I tackle any of these with a couple of twenties? Any resources about plumbing, replacing sub floors, drywalling, tiling, etc that you have found helpful? Things I, E, can do myself - cause, let's face it, J is way too busy to help me figure these things out. AND projects that take no more then $50. Is this POSSIBLE?

project: Free Table

2010-07-31T10:16:00.005-06:00

I found this table for FREE in the online classifieds. HURRAY!

A quick coat of red spay paint and it's sittin' pretty in my kitchen.

project: Bed Makeover

2010-07-19T13:31:00.003-06:00

J found this headboard and foot board on KSL this winter. We had the girls with us and they were MAD when we went to look at it. After a QUICK look we decided to go for it and handed over our $20. You can't tell in our bad cell phone photos but it was pretty beat up. Here's the transformation

Primer

Krylon Bauhaus Gold. With black glaze. This was not pretty and not our style. WAY too orange.

Rustoleum Strawflower nice soft buttery yellow.

foster: Update

2010-07-06T10:26:00.004-06:00

We are so lucky to be able to have continued contact with all 3 placements. We saw the twins a few weeks ago and they look so good, and BIG. For 6 1/2 month olds the are huge! I thought that they would be so different, but they're still "my girls". I was so happy to see S starting to push herself backwards. I really worried that the girls wouldn't get tummy time or the attention they needed because Mom C was trying to do so much by herself. To see S reach a developmental milestone gave me peace of mind that Mom and Dad can do this! Their permanency hearing is at the beginning of August.

Little Boy and Little Girl's permanency hearing has been pushed back. They are so attached to their foster parents and it's so good to see, especially Little Girl who was so resistant in our home. I hope the judge lets them stay where they are!

I'm sad we don't have a placement this summer. Last summer we were so busy with G and Lil G, and I really miss it. We are still waiting for the right call. This is the longest we've gone without a placement. We've received 2 calls from the adoption committee but neither were right for our family. It did cause a little crisis of faith in my abilities. I couldn't let go of the feeling of selfishness.

After our experience with Little Boy and Little Girl, I discovered how important it is for me to follow my instincts. I had to convince myself to take Little Boy and Little Girl and we eventually had them moved. I won't do that again. When I receive calls for children who have been severely abused, I know my capacity and skills will not be enough. When I say no, I instantly feel guilty. If I can't help abused children why am I doing foster care? Really, I don't know. I have to believe that there are more situations like G and Lil G or the twins where my capacity and skills can help, both the children and the parents. I do know that I love foster care. I love the children who have been in my home and I love the parents they have gone back to. I hope that I will have the opportunity to do it again. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

project: Bedroom

2010-07-04T17:15:00.006-06:00

Well, I promised I wouldn't share any more bad cell phone pictures, but our good friend Anna couldn't wait. So here's our new, to us, bedroom.

I painted the walls Puritan Gray by Benjamin Moore, and our $20 headboard and foot board Strawflower by Rustoleum. I also hung our revamped nightstands above the bed for storage.

I found a chandelier perusing the free section of the classifieds and painted it black. Along with some $12 shades from JC Penny it works nicely above our bed. I LOVE our black and white "black out" curtains. They were a must have with the twins!

(I THINK the weird shadows on the walls are coming from the chandelier)

Last spring I painted our dresser black. I pulled the chair from the basement. Although, I'm thinking I may try to finish this one and put it up here instead. Unfortunately we couldn't squeeze a new TV into the budget, so we mounted a computer monitor and use a laptop to watch movies.

We're not done. I need to cover the cords, touch up paint, and find some fun art for the walls. Our room is small and cozy but for less then $100 I'm pretty happy with it.

foster: Responsible

2010-06-23T10:10:00.005-06:00

I've subscribed to the blog Mama's On Call, and it's AWESOME! Loved the article "What Exactly IS A 'Responsible Parent" by Ellen Schrier. From it I gained this great guideline, "To be responsible means to respond appropriately." Here are some scenarios from her article.

What if … your 3-year-old has gotten hold of the pinking shears and is attempting to give her baby brother a hair cut? Should you let her? If you consider it for even a second you’ll realize that in order to respond appropriately you must say no and take away the sharp scissors before anyone gets hurt. She is unaware of the danger (or her limitations) and it’s your job to keep everyone safe.

What if … your eight-year-old is never hungry at dinner time because he likes to snack from the fridge throughout the day? It started years ago and has now become a habit. He seems to be growing okay and you hate to argue with him. Are you being responsible in letting the unsupervised grazing continue at the expense of eating a meal at the table with the family?

Well, just think: Is it part of your job as parent to make sure he gets his nutritional needs met? Yes, of course. Is it part of your job to teach him social skills and customs? Yes, again. So given your job description, what would the appropriate response be? It’s pretty obvious that you have to figure out a way to break the bad habit that has been established, right? That would be the responsible (appropriate, given your role as parent) thing to do.

What if … your seventh grader tells you that his science project is due tomorrow? He needs to get all the supplies and the project will take several hours to complete. He was given the assignment a couple weeks ago but ignored it. Now he is begging for your help. You know that his grade in science is hinging on whether he does well on this project. Should you cancel your own plans, roll up your sleeves, and get busy?

Well, consider for a moment — is it your job as parent to do your child’s work for him in order to keep moving things along or is it your job to help him learn about planning, making choices, managing his time and facing consequences even when they hurt? Once you make that determination you can figure out what kind of a response would be appropriate (and responsible), given your role.

Helpful right? This logic provides a formula I can use when working with Bio-Parents.

1. What is my role/job?
2. Based on my role/job what is the appropriate response.

The more I understand my role, the better I can respond in uncomfortable, even heated, situations.

This one liner is going in my repertoire.

To be responsible means to respond appropriately.

Tatertots and Jello Giveaway

2010-06-22T10:51:00.002-06:00

I'm obsessed with Silhouettes. It was the first craft cutter I ever used and I instantly fell in LOVE! Unfortunately the $300 price tag has failed to fit into our budget and I continue to wait and want. Well, Tatertots and Jello is giving away a Silhouette. Go check it out and enter for your chance to win. You're going to LOVE the machine. Don't wait-GO!

project: Empty Space Utilized

2010-06-21T10:21:00.014-06:00

My house does not lend itself to a mud room and I have grieved that loss the 4 years we've lived here. I told my friend Wednesday that I wanted to put some hooks behind my front door to hang my ~~crap~~ stuff. Stuff like a purse, maybe a cute coat or two, or a church bag. The kids rooms have hooks for those things already, so this would be just for me. I've seen board and batten done here and knew I wanted to use that. Check out these other cute ladies who had the same thought process.

Frugal Home Design

Recaptured Charm

Both used a small space of wall between doors to make a mudroom type space. I'm in LOVE!

Knowing what to do I started right away. I used graph paper printed from here to sketch my ideas and triple check my math.

Then we headed off to Home Depot. I found my wood (Primed MDF) and pushed the button for the guy to come make 8 cuts for me. While I'm waiting, what to my wondering eye should appear? THE CUT DISCARD PILE! A few seconds of searching and I found pieces that could be used for my vertical strips. COST $.50 for all my vertical pieces, TOTAL! I'm walking out of there spending only $6.00 ($5.50 of that for my horizontal pieces) and I'm soaring on my fabulous deal. I get home and PANIC! All of the sudden I worry that my vertical pieces are too BIG. But, hey, for $.50 I have to make it work, right?????

I primed and painted the wall and my pieces of discarded $.50 MDF.

I attached the MDF to the wall using liquid nails, a couple finishing nails and blue painters tape. I let that dry (or is the proper word cure?) for 24 hours.

(I know bad cell phone pictures, SORRY!)

Caulked ($2) and put on my final coat of paint Saturday.

I headed out for IKEA knowing they have the best price for wall hooks. The AS IS section had a grouping of 5 hooks for $2.99 TOTAL. Bringing my final bill for this project to $11

DID I MENTION LOVE!

project: Hard Water Stains

2010-06-18T09:00:00.001-06:00

Ok so I have to tell you the best secret to window washing in Utah. We have hard water and my windows were all gunked up from the sprinklers hitting them. They were filmy and BAD. This spring I saw somewhere (maybe STUDIO 5?) to put jet dry, liquid dish soap and vinegar together in a squirt bottle and go at it. IT IS FABULOUS! I've used vinegar alone before but it never got the hard water stains off. This mixture is the BOMB. Plus, the jet dry works like it does in your dishwasher and the water just sheets off you windows. You want my version of the recipe? Here it is!

1 TBS liquid dish soap
4 TBS Vinegar
1 TSP Jet Dry or equivalent product
1 Liter of water

You may need to adjust the amounts to your needs.

Dump it all in a squirt bottle shake it up and start washing.

is it just me?

2010-06-17T11:04:00.002-06:00

Is it just me, or does it take anyone else 6 months to write the correct date on your checks? Today I wrote 2010 without even thinking about it. First time all year. I'm so proud.

poject: MORE Inspiration

2010-06-11T12:17:00.005-06:00

Well, my bedroom is mostly done. You wanna see it? I wanna show it to you. BUT J says I can't post cell phone pictures anymore, and I think he might be right. SOOOO until I can get a camera I'll just have to show you some more inspiration.

I didn't jump on the bird band wagon right away. Actually I didn't like the bird trend AT ALL, until the trend included bird cages. I've always loved bird cages. Now I want some cute little birdies for my bedroom with or without cages. I saw these in my Ballard Catalog. My favorite is the little baby birdie at the bottom. Isn't he soooo CUTE?!

Ballard $49 each

Ballard $119

foster: Did You Know?

2010-06-08T09:24:00.001-06:00

Do you know about Eyes Open Wider? She's a social working blogger. LOVE it! I've been reading her on and off for about a year. Did you know she has links to lots of foster family blogs?

fun: Big Bubbles

2010-06-07T10:34:00.003-06:00

(Pictures Published with Permission form Mom H)

Have you made Gigantic bubbles before?

Here's what you'll need:

Plastic cup with a hole in the bottom (We just shoved our scissors through the bottom)
1/4 cup good dish soup
1 cup water
2 TBS corn syrup (optional)
pie dish

Mix a little water with dish soap and corn syrup in a pie dish. Dip you cup into the mixture and BLOW

Check out this blog for HUMONGOUS bubbles.

2010-06-06T15:21:00.009-06:00

Wanda Martin Wilson 1925-2010

This is my Grandmother. She died May 17th 2010. I was lucky enough to go home May 15th and be with my mother until Grandma's funeral on May 24. I've thought a lot about what I'd like to post. It's no secret that Grandma and I didn't get along very well. I always attributed it to us being so very much alike- stubborn. But ACTUALLY SPEAKING it may be because she lived with me as a high schooler - I'm sure that was no BOWL OF ICE CREAM!

I've been thinking a lot of legacies. The legacies passed down to us from our ancestors. Those we know/knew and those we only know through family history. It seems to me that I come from a family who is called upon to endure trials. There are many women in my family history who have endured harsh trials, both because of some one's use of agency and because of circumstances they lived in. My Grandmother was one of these women. I am so proud of the legacy she gave me of not being afraid of the darkness life sometimes offers. Some things I love to share about my Grandma are:

She stopped smoking after 50 years because Oregon raised the taxes on cigarettes and that ticked her off.

She went back to school after the early death of her husband and obtained not only her GED but a degree in bookkeeping/accounting.

She could make up her mind about something and you could not argue with her about it.

She was so worried I put too much product in my hair she asked her hair dresser about it.

She left home at 18 and traveled the almost 1,000 miles to work in San Diego. She did the electrical on airplanes during World War II-

She's our very own Rosie Riveter!

We have the picture below in our home of Grandma Wanda on her wedding day. It is gathered with other pictures of our parents and grandparents and is one of the first things you see as you enter our home.

I hope that I can share with my children the determined spirit my grandmother shares with me.

Project: Box Shelves

2010-06-05T14:06:00.007-06:00

House to Home

Have you seen this post by Apartment Therapy almost a year ago? LOVE it! I think I'm obsessed with box shelves.

I decided I had to have some and started looking online. Wow these puppies are EXPENSIVE! J suggested we modified our current nightstands. GENIUS!

Do you remember going off to collage and buying these babies?

Image from KMART

Yeah we still have ours. I scrubbed them up, took out the shelves and added one to the end. Made sure to paint the unsightly particle board. I can't wait to see them over our bed!

foster: Update

2010-06-02T15:09:00.004-06:00

We are now 79 days through the twins' 90 day trial home placement and have heard great things about Mom C's progress in the last 3 weeks. It is such a relief to know that things are going well.

Yesterday we told our RFC we were ready to be considered for placements again.

projects: Inspiration

2010-06-02T13:52:00.006-06:00

I've been inspired-AND that means lots of work for my husband.

I really LOVE Jane Lockheart on HGTV. And this was my first bedroom inspiration. I LOVE the color on the wall-

Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray.

I had it mixed at Home Depot this weekend making the gallon just over $15 rather than the $40 at ACE.

And this was my second inspiration - found at ALL THINGS THRIFTY.

LOVE the yellow on the furniture.

Hopefully this will all come together this weekend and you can see what I've been working on!

foster: Introductions

2010-05-26T12:41:00.010-06:00

We'd like to introduce you to Grace and Garrison (aka G and Lil G). In March of 2009 these two were our first placement. They went home to their loving parent August 13, 2009. Last week Gracie turned 9 and next week Gar Gar will be 3. I can hardly believe how time flies!

Gracie is so thoughtful and mature for her age. She acts like a little adult and has superb social awareness. I know that she will impact many people throughout her life and will be able to do so many things because of the wonderful gifts she has to share.

Garrison is all boy. He is obsessed with motorcycles. Even as a 20 months all he could talk about was Motorcycles Fas(t). He lights up a room with his ready smile and is eager to entertain a crowd.

(of course I don't have a picture of his smile-ugh)

We sure LOVE our G and Lil G!

All pictures posted with permision of Mom H.

foster: G and Lil G update

2010-05-14T20:38:00.002-06:00

May is an incredibly hard month for me. I'm so glad I have little rays of sunshine (G and Lil G) born in May! They are such amazing kids and I really do admire their Mom H.

We sent G and Lil G birthday cards early this week. I was so surprised Thursday to get a call from Mom H thanking us for the cards and inviting us to Lunch Saturday afternoon. I'm so impressed with the challenges Mom H overcame and the success she has found.

G and Lil G sound so happy and healthy-living the childhood I hoped for them. It was so nice to talk to them I didn't even mind missing the last 15 minutes of BONES. We're sooo EXCITED to see them!

foster: The Easy Way?

2010-05-14T13:13:00.009-06:00

I remember the first couple of Sundays we brought the girls to church we had SEVERAL people tell us "congratulations" and "it looks like you took the easy way." I'm assuming they thought we adopted. We kinda laughed and said "yeah the easy way-UNTIL we give them back" Someone please tell me what is easy about adoption? And if adoption isn't what they meant, someone please tell me what is so "easy" about fostering - twins? It really makes me think about school age kids. Nobody ever said things THAT STUPID when we had G and Lil G. BUTTTTT I know it's best to keep our options open....

foster: Countdown

2010-05-13T09:52:00.008-06:00

For those of you wondering what's going on with foster care and our family-WE'RE ON HOLD. And holding stinks. We are 59 days through the twins 90 day trial home placement. 1 more month and and we can be active on the list again. In the mean time we've done some respite (over-night baby sitting for other foster families). It was great to see Little Boy and Little Girl for 3 days last month. Although we were happy when they went back to their foster (soon to be forever) family. We're taking a 6 year old and 8 year old tomorrow night and a 2 year old and 4 year old next weekend for 3 nights. That's the update! 31 days until we can have another placement.

Oh and the caseworker did help me find the addresses I needed. It took just 3 business days.

craft: Lamp Revamp

2010-05-11T10:55:00.007-06:00

First I have to apologize for our bad photos. All we have are camera phones. Jason thinks I've gone a little crazy with the aqua paint I used on this mirror.

I wanted to establish the color in our room by repeating it 3 times. So I started with my hand me down lamp. Thinking I had a picture of the lamp I foolishly painted it without a before picture. Here's the after!

I'm still not sure I love it. BUT I AM in love with the Rustoleum Extra Cover spray paint . I was able to do both projects and still have paint left over.

foster: Pictures for the Mail

2010-05-10T10:39:00.005-06:00

Today I'm getting pictures ready to send to the twins' parents. I can't believe they've been gone for almost 2 months! I'll be slaving away labeling the 30 decent pictures we decided to send to each parent. Any guess on how long it will take the caseworker to get me addresses?

craft: Adding Fabric to Mats

2010-05-08T18:31:00.005-06:00

I wanted to add some of the color from my mirror through out the room. I've done this in several ways but today I'm only sharing my picture frames! I had 1/8 of a yard of cute fabric cut right before or right after G and Lil G came to stay with us. It's been floating around for a long while. Should I use it for this project or that project.... I decided to add it to 2 of my favorite pictures.

Our wedding photo.

My Mom's graduation picture. Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!

I love that the fabric sets these pictures apart form all of the other pictures we have in our front room-yes we have a lot!

craft: Painting A Mirror

2010-05-07T13:14:00.004-06:00

I had this old mirror hanging out in the basement for the last 6 months. It's got this really bad plastic frame and I almost go rid of it. I'm so glad I didn't!

I taped it off using blue painter's tape and gave it a really good sand with fine grit sand paper.

Then I added a black garbage bag to protect the glass. (why I had to choose the largest bag in the house I don't know!)

Next I added a bright aqua blue to the frame.

After 2 coats and an hour of dry time I covered the frame with brown glaze.
I wiped the glaze off with damp paper towels. My glaze was super old and way thick which made wiping it down HARD. In the end it's a little more rustic then I was going for. I'm not sure I love it. I'm usually more of a gray blue and navy blue girl what do you think?

Should I start over with another color?

project: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

2010-05-05T11:50:00.007-06:00

Yesterday I had a much needed long talk with my mom. Afterwards I actually got something done. I did 4 loads of current dirty laundry and folded 5 loads of clean clothes abandoned on the basement couch during our Little Boy and Little Girl days. Now my living room looks like this

Lisa did say "the good, the bad, and the UGLY!"

2010-05-05T11:46:00.002-06:00

Well it's been a month of PJ's and tears and I think it's time I get to my new normal. I'll try to blog about my good days and my bad days. Hey that's what a blog is for!

fun: VEGAS!!!

2010-04-28T15:00:00.003-06:00

Ok we're playing some catch up. We had so much fun on our March vacation to Vegas. I loved being there with Mom and Dad G! I have been to Vegas before and never really enjoyed it. But now I can't wait to go back. Some secrets to this trips success?

Planning! I like to have fun, see new things, and spend time with good company, but I don't like crowds, inappropriate behavior, and making conversation with strangers. So some tips for others like me. Visit Vegas on weekdays. There is less beer on the street, more girls wearing more clothes and fewer people all around-Plus shows have more availability through half price tickets 4 tonight.

Some things we experienced to make this a fab trip (in order of fabulousness):

The Secret Garden at Mandalay Bay-$15 a person and we got to see lions tigers and dolphins. (oh MY!) So fun and so worth it!

The Blue Man Group at the Venetian (1/2 price tickets 4 tonight)-Fun and educational.

WE also had a blast on the gondola ride at the Venetian.

The M and M factory Yumm!

Free fountain shows at the Bellagio and Mandalay Bay (skip the one at Cesar's Palace-Unless your down there for the Cheese Cake Factory)
ESPN zone and New York New York-I loved our food and it is J's one must have.

Flamingo Habitat at the Flamingo-Great place to take pictures with *fake* nature

Ethel M Chocolate Factory-a little drive but I was surprised to know that it's the same founders as the company Mars (you know M and M's, sinckers, twix....). Call ahead and see when they are producing candy. We showed up around lunch time. Not much to see.

and much much more. Vegas.com was invaluable in planning our trip! Love it!

Did You Know...

2010-04-28T09:58:00.007-06:00

Did you know this week in National Infertility Awareness Week? There are some amazing gems on the internet this week as so many families talk about their struggle to start or add to a family. I spent an hour here yesterday crying over the women who reflected my fears in their comments.

Comments like:

"What IF I am only able to mother children who already have a mother?"
"What IF this hole in my heart never goes away"
"What IF we can't ever come up with the funds to adopt and we don't get pregnant?"
"What IF children are still years away for us? Can I make it that long?"

I wanted to share a gem from LDS General Conference I've found comfort in. Below are some of the most powerful excerpts from Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk Continue in Patience.

"Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter....

[P}atience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed....

Every one of us is called to wait in our own way. We wait for answers to prayers. We wait for things which at the time may appear so right and so good to us that we can’t possibly imagine why Heavenly Father would delay the answer....

Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness."

I love where he says "bearing hardships with fortitude, even when the desires of our harts are delayed." dictionary.com defines fortitude as "strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage." I'm striving (meaning I'm not there yet) to endure pain and adversity with more courage and less fear.

We've been quiet

2010-03-11T11:47:00.004-07:00

I know we've been quiet lately but not much has changed. The girls are being transitioned back home and it's been a roller coaster. It seems things change almost daily (I've packed and unpacked them 3 times). We're expecting them to be gone early next week and don't anticipate any more delays. We'll see how things go and where the future takes us next.

Some of the big decisions we have to make are:
Foster care?
E gets a job?

foster: Baby Must Haves

2010-03-02T13:15:00.022-07:00

I've wanted to post something like this for a long time. I know that this list is very personal, but as a first time mom of twins I would have wanted to review a few lists like this.

First my requirements for the products I buy:

-They must be inexpensive. We are on a budget yes, but realistically we are foster parents and we never know how long a child will be in our home. It just doesn't make sense to buy the biggest or the best. I'll let you know which products we bought that I would buy again for my own children and which I would avoid.

-They must be fast and easy to use. With Twins this is a no brainier. I've got to be locked and loaded at all times to handle whatever comes my way because things can get out of control fast with 2 infants.

Ok, on to the products.

1st a baby bath pad. I love this product found in stores at Target. It's a yellow foam pad for less then $10. The pad has a built in heat sticker to tell you when the water is too hot. It has a rim for the baby's head so it's supported. It is fast and easy to use. I liked bathing them in the tub. Maybe it's just me but my kitchen is never clean, with or without kids, but add in twins and the last place I wanted to clean them was my kitchen sink. With this product I didn't worry about supporting their head and trying to wash a slippery baby. There are so many baby baths out there and many parents prefer the sink. I'm not saying it's the best, I just really liked it.

2nd Car seat Canopies. We didn't have these to start but I LOVE them. It keeps the girls out of the rain, and snow and keeps them nice and warm. With babies every one like to take a peek and with twins the girls get soooo much attention when we are in public. I love these to keep them safe from germy lookers. I spent $25 for 2 (of course I made mine but you can buy them for $25+ each on etsy)

3rd. Twin Baby Trend Snap and Go Stroller. A MUST HAVE! you can spend a lot of money on car seats and strollers, but really I LOVED THIS! It made doctor appointments, parent visits, elevators, and shopping sooo nice. It's easy to get the girls in and out of and it's really easy to fold up and put in the car. Plus you can find them used for only $50. (I'm selling mine if you want to buy it!)

4th A nice BIG diaper bag. I got mine at Toys R US for $30. A diaper bag for a mom of twins has to be hands free and organized! You cannot have a cute diaper bag that sits on your shoulder. It must either go over your shoulder and across your body, or be a back pack. I wish they had more readily available at a decent price. I liked this one because of all of it's pockets. I could keep the bottles cold with ice packs. I could hold my massive wallet, keys, phone, gum ext in the outside pockets. Plus the strap, which you can't see here, adjusts. I could make it fit around the handle of the grocery cart, the girls' stroller, anything. It was nice because the bag didn't take up any more space in the cart and wasn't under the girls in the stroller. It really was perfectly functional for twins. I just wish it was cuter!!!

5th 2 swings or bouncers. I have my favorite. It's an Aquarium Take Along Swing I actually didn't buy it, a friend lent it to me. I ignored it in the stores because I thought it was ugly, and I remembered it from when my 15 year old nephew was a baby. But I really really liked it. It's small and easy to move. The girls loved when they were younger because it really moved. Plus it has bright lights that flicker at them and music that is not annoying to listen to. Now that they are bigger I/they like to be able to "sit" up and look at things. I like it better then my pretty fancy Papasan Cradle Butterfly Swing.

6th a toy jungle. I really don't care which one. The girls love it. and have loved it since 6 weeks. It is a MUST have!

7th The SOOTHIE bottles. LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! find a kit at Walmart for $16.

8th home made baby legs. Check out this tutorial here.

Ok, things I didn't like.

1st. Stupid Cheap Car Seats . These came with the girls and I HATE them. They are hard to adjust, they are hard to put in the car, the canopy is flimsy and doesn't protect the girls from the sun, rain, snow. Every baby needs a car seat and that means there needs to be a car seat at every price point. BUT there are some really obsessive compulsive Mom's out there that I wouldn't mind buying a car seat from. You can get a better product for the same price. HERE"S SOME TIPS IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A CAR SEAT USED:
1. Car seats should not be in service after 5 years. Regulations change and IMPROVE. Make the best choice for your child. I would never buy a car seat more then 12 months old.
2. Make sure it's clean upon first inspection, then take it apart and disinfect it.
3. Do your research and find out what the best car seats were in the past 2 years and buy whichever one of those fits in your budget.
4. Always ask if the car seat has been in an accident. NEVER buy a car seat that has survived and accident.
(After all of that I still would buy a new high quality car seat for my children. It is a matter of safety. I want all the warranties in place and valid. Before these girls got here I bought 2 Chicco seats. They are a Consumer Reports Best Buy.)

2nd A traditional baby bath. I had one and hated it.

3rd My Papasan Baby Swing. I thought I'd love it because it can swing side to side and forward and back and it played nice music and had the pretty butterfly mobile. I like it, but it's so BIG. To be truthful, with twins I needed the swing to distract and entertain one while I fed or diapered the other one. I liked the Aquarium Swing SOOOOOO much better. A lot a parents love this swing because it's a great "go to sleep" swing. It is a matter of what you want the swing to do.

Now my "I wish I'd hads":

1st Twin feeding pillow. As a foster parent I obviously was not breast feeding these girls, but I really think this would be nice for breast or bottle feeding moms.

2nd A Baby Trend, Expedition, Double Jogging Stroller. All that money I saved using a snap and go stroller could go towards a double jogging stroller that I desperately want. If I knew that I was going to have these girls for even 6 months I would have bought it. I' wanted one when I had toddlers and didn't buy it, now I really want one with the twins, but they are leaving.

3rd An infant carrier like the Moby Wrap. I have a cuddle bug and it would've been nice to have her close and have a hand or 2 free to do other things.

4th a bumbo- The girls are getting just big enough now that I really want a bumbo ( got a bumbo last weekend and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! The girls love looking at eachother. The coo and smile at eachother. This is way worth it!)

foster: Permanent

2010-02-25T13:37:00.015-07:00

I love this song. I love David Cook's inspiration for this song and I cry every time I think of his loss.

But for me, this song is played over and over in my car, in my home, and in my head every time we start transitioning kids back home. I want to be able to tell them that I am permanent, I will be there to hold their hand, and that I won't go away. I want to take away all the pain and suffering they have experienced.

I think of their fear when someone took them away from home and everything they knew and loved. And, with these little ones, I think of their fear as they are taken from my home where they are safe, known, and loved to face the unknown. What I really want is for their parents to become permanent in their lives. I want them to say "I won't disappear again," and "I will be there to hold your hand, you're not alone." I want each child to know the stability of a parent willing to leave other distractions behind and be permanently there-mentally, physically, emotionally.

For me, today, I'll hold them and say "Everything, it will surely change, even if I tell you I won't go away today. Will you think that you`re all alone when [I'm] not there to hold your hand, and all you know seems so far away, and everything is temporary - Rest your head."

Permanent by DAVID COOK:
From David Cook's album, David Cook

Is this the moment where
I look you in the eye'
Forgive my
broken promise that you`ll never see me cry
And everything
It will surely change
Even if I tell you I won`t go away today

Will you think that you`re all alone
When no one`s there to hold your hand'
And all you know seems so far away
And everything is temporary
Rest your head
I`m Permanent

I know he`s living in hell
Every single day
And so I ask, oh God
Is there some way for me to take his place'
And when they say it`s all touch and go

I wish I could make it go away
But still you say
Will you think that you`re all alone
When no one`s there to hold your hand'

When all you know seems so far away
And everything is temporary
Rest your head
I`m permanent
I`m permanent

Is the moment where I look you in the eye'
Forgive my promise that you`ll never see me cry...

Create

2010-02-18T15:26:00.002-07:00

I remember this.

I love this.

For a woman who hasn't been able to create life, to know creating beauty and love is still a Godly pursuit.

Secret

2010-02-03T09:02:00.004-07:00

My blog has a secret. If you look in past posts you may see a post you have never seen before, like this one. It's a list of projects I would rather do then clean my house. My time is pretty precious these days and when I get a crying, feeding, pooping free moment I: 1st take a shower, 2nd CRAFT. Take a little peak at my list and links, you may want to start keeping secrets yourself.

food: Cheesecake Brownies

2010-01-31T16:26:00.007-07:00

This post is mostly for my sisters. Growing up my mom would make Black Bottom Cupcakes and it was a family favorite. I had some left over cream cheese and was craving BBCs. I modified the recipes to create THESE!

( yes that is a whole in the middle of the pan. The inside in the best!)

Cheesecake Brownies!

Recipe:

1 box brownie mix

1/2 c apple sauce

1/4 c water

3 egg whites

Cheesecake filling

1 8 oz package cream cheese

1 egg

1/4 c sugar

1/4 t vanilla

Directions:

Cream, sugar, cream cheese, and egg until smooth.

Mix brownie mix, apple sauce, water, and egg whites until fully combined.

Pour brownies into 9x9 greased pan

Place large spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture over brownies and swirl with knife.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

YUMM!

craft: Butterfly Mobile

2010-01-24T18:29:00.009-07:00

We have adjusted to being parents of twins and now I'm back to crafting. I've wanted a mobile for the nursery FOREVER but with our family situation ALWAYS changing I couldn't bite the bullet and buy one. So, I MADE my own mobile using this:

It's perfect for us because I can make one for boy or girl. I don't have to find a one style fits all. Loving that I don't have to be gender neutral in everything! Here's my version:

(this of course is not our nursery. I don't have a hooks placed yet, but one will hang above each crib)

Tips and tricks:

I bought a butterfly punch from the local craft store using a 40% off coupon-making the punch 9 dollars

You will probably only need 3 12x12 pieces of paper and 4 pieces of velum

I used both the inside and the outside of a an embroidery ring to make 2

When hanging the butterfly's make sure you use the LIGHTEST weight fishing line you can find. I used 6LBS weight.

Have I said that I love KSL! Here's a link to the video and instructions.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T16:26:00.002-07:00

I hope you have a happy holiday! We are thinking of you, I promise. I thought this was the year for us to actually get Christmas cards out, and to have neighbor gifts delivered early. Well neither of those things are going to happen this year, so I'm Wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS here on my blog. I'm sorry it's impersonal but please forgive me. To our parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and neighbors who keep up with us at NW family in UT, WE LOVE YOU, and may God "bless all the dear children in thy tender care." (Away in a Manger)

Love,

E and J

foster: First Week of Twins

2009-12-23T16:12:00.002-07:00

140 Bottles
150 Diapers
35 Hours of missed sleep
140 Miles of driving to appointments
6 Trips to Walmart

Today the girls are 3 weeks old and very sweet.

foster: OH MY GOSH!

2009-12-15T11:56:00.001-07:00

Oh my gosh NEWBORN TWINS!

craft: Christmas

2009-12-15T09:09:00.004-07:00

I have been working on many projects in my free time and this is DONE and in the mail to some lucky family in Oregon. I thought all of you other Duck fans may want a sneak peak.

I made a double fleece blanket quilted with an Oregon O. It's far from perfect (and those who know me know how much that drives me nuts!) but it's fun and WARM!

I've also been working on these projects:
Key Chains
Etched Glass
Slip covering my front room chair

new site: Heidi Claire

2009-12-10T09:34:00.003-07:00

Have you seen Heidi Claire? I love the images she finds-SO INSPIRING! It makes me want to drop all my projects and start new decorating crafts, like a fabric headboard-(which is NEXT!).

foster: Memories

2009-12-09T13:28:00.006-07:00

Our first year as foster parents is done. We're up for relicensing this month and busy prepping for our home inspection next week. This has been a really hard and AMAZING year. The last 4 months have made it to my top 3 hardest things I have ever experienced, and I am so glad that they are OVER and Jason and I can start to heal.

We’ve fostered 4 children over 8 months of this year. Some days, I feel sad and lonely that they're gone, and some days, I feel full and joyful for all I've experienced.

Today I was thinking of Lil G. He was learning so much and wanted to show me everything he was learning and doing. About 2 weeks before they left, we were playing outside. Lil G found something and sat down right next to me the back door steps. He’d sit on the very top step but his legs were too short to rest on the next step. As the rubber of his shoes struck the cement riser his little feet were projected forward in aultranating rhythm. He looked up at me and smiled. Then showed me whatever had sparked his interest. He jabbered about it for a minute then looked at me and said, "MaMa."

Lil G had called me MaMa for the majority of the 5 months we had them but this time, this time I knew he was going home soon, this time he broke of a piece of my heart and tucked in into his pocket with whatever trinket he'd found in the yard. I looked at his eyes and said "G, I'm not your MaMa, you have a MaMa who loves you very much." He just smiled and I cried.

Today I think about relicensing and I wonder, will we ever have another G and Lil G? I've been told we've had the best and the worst parents the department has seen in 10 years, and everyone I talk to tries to convince me that most cases lay somewhere in the middle. But I'm fearful of what will come next. Will I be strong enough to handle it? Am I strong enough to handle the behavior, the tantrums, the PARENTS, the insults, the commentary on our parenting, and the leaving? I’m not sure, but I think I'd like to try.

football: Loving the player sites

2009-10-30T10:37:00.003-06:00

I'm loving these past BYU player blogs.

Jonny Harline

Gooch, Staffieri, and Criddle

foster: Update...for those of you who know what I'm talking about

2009-10-26T08:55:00.007-06:00

We spent only a week at PCMC and then another 10 days at home. It was great being home. No more yucky hospital couch beds and clean clothes. But then there was the terrible fear of infection. Which was perpetuated by our friends experience here.

While home J or I or our Magic Helper had to be home with little boy. If Little Girl went out I was insistent that she wore a mask and used insane amounts of hand sanitizer. We were lucky our Magic Helper was here our first week home and allowed J and I to get out at least daily. Nothing like medical house arrest to make you think of all the things you would like to be doing. Little Girl still had appointments to get to and we had lots of help getting her there. THANK YOU! Wednesday we were told to go back to school! Whooo Hooo!!!!

We are so grateful for little boys quick recovery and hope he continues to heal quickly. We are also so grateful to J's employer for being so flexible with us during this crazy time.

Here's what we did with Little Boy to keep him down and happy (besides an obscene amount of TV):

File folder games
Books
Play dough
Bed forts
Puzzles
Starfall.com
Sock puppets
Face masks out of paper plates

What do you do with your little ones to keep them happy in bed?

craft: File Forder Fun

2009-10-05T10:22:00.007-06:00

Update: I LOVE this site also for file folder games. Child Care Land is a great educational resource.

I've been inspired by the IDEA ROOM to make file folders games. I liked Mormon Chic's free games the best and have printed the Black and White copies to color during our 14 day "vacation" at:

stressed with a capital S!

2009-09-27T20:36:00.004-06:00

We are mighty stressed at our house these days. I really can't share ANYTHING but I will update when I do have info I can share. In the mean time I'll be MIA the next 4-6 weeks (not like I was really keeping up with the action!) unless something changes in our family situation. Something PLEASE, PLEASE, change!

craft: Neck pillows

2009-09-22T08:27:00.010-06:00

I wanted to buy this for little boy:
But both Targets were out. So I used this as inspiration and insturction. I made one for little boy AND one for little girl.

It cost me $14 for 2 but you more experianced Moms probably have everything at home already. For each I used:

1 recieving blanket

1 stuffed animal

1/4 of an old pillow

1 pair of sharp Sissors

Coridinating thread

Sewing Machine

The best part is, it was a FAST project. 1 hour for both.

With all our upcoming trips to the hospital these next couple of weeks I have a feeling we're going to use these A LOT.

Thank you Infarrantly Creative, and UCreate

#9??!!!!

2009-09-08T10:18:00.001-06:00

Wow. Wow. Wow. #9 here and #12 here. Don't get freaked out Cougs!

E

project: Alternative Paint for Counters

2009-09-01T08:09:00.003-06:00

Sooo If you don't like the look of mine but still what to do your counters I recently found this site. I think it may be a good option!

project: Counters Done!

2009-08-30T19:05:00.019-06:00

Ok sooo I DID IT! I refinished my counter tops (doesn't that sound better then "I painted my counter tops"?). Over all I am REALLY pleased. I mean it couldn't be worse then this? Right?

Here's the new and improved product.

I learned a lot and if I were doing it over again I would do several things differently. Here's my story.

Materials

1 roll Painters tape
1 roll Painter's paper
Caulk
5 cans Black Metallic Spray Paint
1 can Black Metallic Spray Paint
2 Gallons EnviorTex Lite (40% off 1 item at Roberts so make 2 trips)
1 Propane Torch (for bubbles in EnviorTex).

My Process

1. I spent a lot of time researching the look I wanted. I always thought I wanted absolute black granite in my kitchen so when I was looking at faux finishing my counters that is the look I gravitated towards. I practiced with a number of spray paints on old pieces of cardboard until I made a decision.

2. I found that I'd have to special order the paint I wanted so I did that 10 days in advance. (Rustoleum Black Granite)

3. I really cleaned my counters. I used TSP and a scrub brush. Did you notice how nasty they were AFTER a good, hard cleaning? I took the time to fix some problems and Oh BOY am I glad I did. I had some large chips missing that that I filled in with drywall compound, and multiple cracks I caulked. Make sure you follow manufactures dry times.

4. Tape Tape Tape. Tape everything. If you use spray paint tape off your floors, your cabinets, your back splash, your entries into the room. I failed to do that last part and I found dust particles in the basement. EVERYTHING in my house needed a good cleaning. Do a good job taping because the EnviroTex is an oooie gooie mess and will seep through everything. Notice how I taped off the sink using a black garbage bag. I should have taken a picture before I started painting. =)

5. I painted 2 base coats of Rustoleum's Black Metallic paint. It's sparkles and is so pretty. I let my counters dry over night. I mentioned I would do some things over. I would have primed the counters with dark primer so I could use less spray paint. Not only would that have been cheaper it would have saved my finger a lot of pain.

6. Next spray lightly the Black Granite Stone paint. I held it up about 12 inches and just did little spurts. I only used half a can on my 15 linear feet of counters. (that was one expensive half can see here.) I let that dry for 4 hours.

7. My downfall, EnviroTex. It's a good product I am just inexperienced and impatient. I followed instructions and mixed well then I poured liberally onto my counters. Again following instructions I smoothed it out and let it self level. It works GREAT on flat surfaces. Unfortunately, I have a "back splash" built into my counters. Getting the EnviroTex to cover my back splash and my edges was not easy. A lot of it ended up on the floor and I had to use LOTS of rubbing alcohol and a dish scraper to get it up.

Also I didn't have enough EnviroTex and had to run to the store at the last minute. Not fun and my counter by the fridge is not pretty. (I'll sand and redo it later, much later.) I didn't use a knife to remove some tape and.... Notice the white spot on the counter.

8. As it's setting up make sure you use the torch to get out bubbles. NEVER leave the torch in one place for long. I'll get little "pot holes" or divots in you finish. So just keep it moving and on low flame.

Over all I'm pleased. and I would recommend you do it if you dislike your counters. The final total... $200. $130 of that is EnviroTex (3 gallons, including the one I'll use to fix my screw ups) and $35 is my 6 cans of special order paint (of which I only used 1/2 can).

Lean From My Mistakes

1. Make sure you have enough EnviroTex. Get 1 gallon more than you think you’ll use. ( you can always return it)

2. Take the tape off as soon as it gels enough to stop dripping.

3.Use a square painter’s sponge on the back splash. I didn’t and I wish I had.

4.Tape Tape Tape Tape. Tape off EVERYTHING well.

5.Wear rubber gloves and have a back up pair, or 2, if you have to take them off before you’re done (you know, bathroom, kids, going to the store for EnviroTex).

6.We used a Sheet on our floor. It has always been our drop cloth. Use something heavier. The EnvrioTex seeped right through it and attached to our floor.

7.Have Lots of rubbing alcohol available for drips on floors cabinets or sinks.

8.If you have a bathroom vanity, practice there first. I wish I had.

Good Luck and contact me if you have any questions!

foster: Protocol

2009-08-25T11:17:00.017-06:00

Update: I guess I was a little too angry when I wrote this. Nothing has happened but our information has been compromised. There will be changes coming, partly because someone, probably unknowingly, said some things they shouldn't have. It's not like we're super hard to find but....

As members of the community you are bound to know families who choose to make the sacrifice to foster children. Please, Please, Please, respect their privacy. Never give their full name or address to ANYONE no matter how well you think you know the person requesting information. And NEVER give their name and address to a parent of a child in their care. It puts the family and the children in their care at GREAT RISK. As a member of the community, a family member or friend you do not have full disclosures. You may be unaware of a biological parent's background, mental illness, drug history or a myriad of other pertinent information the State has used to assess the safety of the children in it's custody. Weather you think the removal is fair or not, right or not, or even legal does not give you the right to disclose the location of a foster family caring for children in State custody. The foster family did not make the decision to remove the children and will not make the decision to return children to their biological parents.

Can you tell I'm a little angry? =)

Craft ideas

2009-08-25T09:05:00.010-06:00

crochet patterns-Really cute Crocheted hat patters for sale in her Etsey store

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7075162

Car Seat Canopy Instructions- I'm working on this one today. Look for pictures!

http://while-they-sleep.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-good-friend-beth.html

Leg Warmers-As soon as I can make it to the store I'm making these with women's socks. I know some of you have already done this. I LOVE these girls in dresses and these puppies will make dresses possible more often.

http://everythingyourmamamade.com/2008/01/21/make-your-own-baby-leg-warmers/

Fabric Shoes- You kiddidng? I can't afford shoes for twins at $5.00 a pair. I'm hoping I make it around to these shoes before they go home.

http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/blog/cloth_shoe.pdf

Scarf -Love Love Love this scaf

http://vermillionrules.blogspot.com/2010/01/t-shirt-ruffle-scarf-tutorial.html

I've been dying to make a drum shade for my bedroom. Here are some sites that will help me on my way.

http://lakeslampshades.com/blog/2009/02/everything-drum-shades.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Barrel_Drum_Lamp_Shade/

http://www.lampshop.com/

Love these little face plates! Can't wait to do that!

Have you seen this? I can't wait to have a child to decorate for! Love the fabric on the walls!

Adore this alternative to wallpaper

craft: Picture Schedule

2009-08-21T20:26:00.012-06:00

Alright. I figure it's time for some pictures. We are super busy with appointments. I mean crazy busy. SOooo, to give the kids a sence of control I wanted to do a picture schedule. I have done this with other kids using these black boards, but these kids are so scheduled I didn't want to be erasing it all the time. This is what I came up with.

I started with an Ikea magnet board and sanded it.

Using some spray paint I made it match my house.

Next came the hard part. Using clipart, I found images to match our life style. Things like Potty, wash hands, doctor, car seats, sleep, you get the idea.
I printed them on card stock, then protected the card stock with clear contact paper.

Next came the easiest part! 2 sided tape holds the magnents to the back of my cards. You can buy the rolls of magnets with tape already on them if you like but I wanted a stronger magnet.

Ikea also has littl magnetic boxes for like $3. They are perfect to hold all my cards in. Everything I need is in one easy place. Love It!

If you decided to do this project I'd love to know what some of you images are. I'm always in the market for new ideas!

foster: Questions Answered

2009-08-21T20:07:00.011-06:00

I received an email from a good friend requesting more details regarding our new situation. I realized many of you may have the same questions. (Or maybe I just flatter myself.) So, Megan, I hope you don’t mind if I respond publicly to your email.

1. Did you have notice that G and Lil G would be going home or did it happen suddenly? Yes and No. The caseworker gave me a heads up about 2 weeks prior to the court date. DCFS can make recommendations but the Judge is the one who makes decisions. Once the Judge gave us the proverbial “green light” we had 1 weekend (Saturday, Sunday) to pack up and say goodbye. The transition from our home to their home was nightmarish but we survived.

2. How are you feeling?
Mostly sad about the G’s. I found one of Lil G’s socks between the washer and dryer. I cried. School started yesterday. I thought of G. I cried. But over all I’m really REALLY busy.

3. How quick was the transition?
Quick. I got a call mid morning Tuesday. (The Gs went home early Monday) I almost said NO. I had so many projects I was really excited about and I knew these kids would need extra effort. But, the more I talked to the caseworker the better I felt. I met them around lunch time on Wednesday and they were dropped off 2 hours later.

4. How has this experience been different so far?
This is a good question for a private conversation. I will say it has been different in almost every way, except diapers. Both kids fit into Lil G’s diapers.

5. How has this experience changed your life? ( I took this to mean Foster Care on a whole)
Oh boy. There’s the normal parent stuff. No more eating on the couch. No privacy, even showers are interrupted. It’s now normal for me to stand up after Sacrament Meeting and make sure no Cheerios are sticking to my backside.

Today I cleaned poop off the toilet, bathroom floor and out of the bathtub, as my first attempt to potty train 2 children simultaneously ended with, me throwing up (several times), and Alyssa coming to my rescue.

But also my love for my husband has increased. My trust in my Heavenly Father tried and strengthened. My capacity for Love, Kindness, PATIENCE, and Understanding has been enlarged. Things I thought I could never do I have done. Most of the time I come off conqueror, sometimes I come off conquered (refer to earlier poop incident). I must say I am SOOO lucky to be surrounded by so many resources and AMAZING people.

Update: most people wonder if we'll be able to stay in contact with the 2 Gs. The answer is- Maybe. it's up to Mom but we remain hopeful!

foster: Post

2009-08-17T14:12:00.005-06:00

I loved this post from Another Small Adventure. I just thought this was so beautiful I had to share it.

"Many times I hear people say how they can't do foster care because they can't bear to let go. Letting go is hard....but the Lord is there to help you through it. You are not left empty or alone.....you are filled with the knowledge that what you did was good and the Lord is happy with your service to HIS child. He will not let you suffer...He will bless you with a greater capacity to understand and to love. No loss goes unnoticed or uncounted.
There will come a day when you will reap the benefits of being counted among those who would love a child of God.

I share these things with you out of love....love truly makes little things grow. My heart has grown through little things...little tiny people who needed someone....little moments that are only known between me, a special child and God...moments when I was mothering someone who really needed a mother. And then there are those little moments when the Lord has whispered to me that He is pleased with me and that I am loved. In those little moments my heart changed and will never be the same!
The great thing about this is that these little moments don't just happen to me...they can happen to you too.
Are you ready?"~ ANOTHER SMALL ADVENTURE

Do You Have New Cheese?

2009-08-17T08:19:00.003-06:00

Have you read this book? LOVE it! Quick read of about 1 hour and, it is a great book for work, family, social, well just about anything!

With a new family situation we are constantly refering to our "New Cheese" and in some cases still looking for it!

Did you know?

2009-08-16T15:17:00.002-06:00

Did you know Toothpaste can get permanent marker out? Even out of the floor or TV? Yep, we now know that.

foster

2009-08-14T22:26:00.004-06:00

On hard days like today it's nice to remember this conversation with G.

E: Did you have a good visit with the caseworker?
G: Yes, she asked some hard questions.
E: She did?
G: Yeah, she asked what my favorite part about your house was.
E: oh yeah?
G: Yeah, I told her "I don't know"
E: Hmmm what about crafts? you like crafts. Or friends?
G: No, I know, my favorite part is YOU!

I miss those 2 little Gs.

foster: Shout Out

2009-08-12T19:44:00.006-06:00

I just wanted to give a shout out to Megan, Traci and Rachael for all their help. You probably don't think you have done a lot but these children came to us with very little. I was able to go to my basement and pick out 4 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, a set of PJ's and a blanket for each child. That, supplemented with what I was able to get before they came, makes a full week of clothes! Thank you for your donations! You 3 are AMAZING!

foster: Here We Go Again

2009-08-12T13:29:00.002-06:00

I had some time to prepare myself for this one. I did a LOT of research and met the kids today. I did a LOT of shopping in advance so no late night scramble to Walmart. They'll be here in 30 minutes and I'm so excited!

foster: New Kids

2009-08-11T20:58:00.005-06:00

We got a call today... After talking to our Resource Family Consultant (RFC) and the case worker we decided to take on a new challenge. And this will be a challenge. Two children a boy almost 4 and girl almost 3. One of the children has some special needs. We're hoping to meet them tomorrow. We'll see!

foster: Home

2009-08-10T18:27:00.002-06:00

Letting the children go was like breaking-up. Letting someone you love leave, for what you hope is a better life, is bitter, bitter sweet. (2 bitters because it’s more bitter then sweet.) I am so grateful for the relationships in my life that aren’t temporary. My relationship with my wonderful husband is eternal and everlasting through sacred covenants made in a Temple of God. The Lord teaches me the importance of this relationship so often. I am so grateful for the truth that Families are Forever.

foster: Going Home

2009-08-07T15:14:00.005-06:00

Some of you may be wondering why I've been so hyped up on crafts this last week. Today we had court and the two G's will be leaving us Monday morning. I've been trying to prep myself for dealing with lots of free time. I noticed on days they had long overnight visits I would get down. I don't want to be that person! Soooooo, my coping strategy is to stay busy! Wish me luck!

problem

2009-08-06T11:20:00.010-06:00

Does anyone else want to do their counters with me. I'm set on this black granite look from Rustoleum. The problem is I'd have to special order it. It comes in cases of 6 and my tiny kitchen will only need 1 or 2 cans. I'd love to split the cost with you if you wanna. We're coming to Oregon for Thanksgiving so don't let distance stop you!

Update: It's 7 something a can. For all six it'll be $42+.

To achieve this look I plan on the following:

1. Clean counters with TSP
2. 2 coats of KILZ primer
3. 2 coats of black paint
4. LIGHTLY spray spray paint on
5. After completely dry use 2 boxes of EnviroTex Lite to smooth and seal ($20 a 1/2 galon after 40% off at Roberts)
6. Use small propane torch to get rid of bubbles

Planning on not using my kitchen counters for 4 days.

I have the kilz and black paint from past projects. so for me to do this project it'll cost about $65 including 2 cans of spray paint. (I'm hoping to borrow the torch.)

craft: Necklaces

2009-08-06T09:00:00.004-06:00

Love Love Love these Scrabble tile pendents. I made them for our Activity Days girls for about $10. I'll give them away for birthdays this next year. We will have 22 birthdays between now and next December. Can you say WOW!

They say Child of GOD. I wish I had better hand writing but this project is so easy.

adventure: Timp Caves

2009-08-05T07:13:00.009-06:00

We hiked to Timp Caves on Monday. It ... was... a blast. Wait let me catch my breath. It was harder then I remembered it being 7 years ago and 70 lbs lighter. Here are some pictures from our hike.

The caves are AWESOME and have lots of cool formations.

These were my faves. Can you see how they look like coral? The defy gravity to go every which way and I think that's cool!

Here's some tips if you want to go yourselves.

1. Go early
2. Don't being young children
3. Go early
4. Bring lots of water
5. Go early
6. Bring a light coat or sweat shirt, it's cool and damp inside the caves
7. Go early
8. Allow lots of time for the hike. We kinda scoffed at the 1.5 hours they give you to get up there. We used it.
9. Bring your camera
10. Bring a flashlight. there are lights in the cave and your guide will have a flash light. Having your own gives you a chance to explore nicks and crannies. It's way more fun.
11. Did I say go early? Be on the first hike. It's cooler and you are going to work up a sweat. Plus it's not crowded on the trail you can take your time and enjoy it.

I hope some of you go and share your pictures. I LOVED IT again!

fun:JJ's Ceativity

2009-08-04T07:45:00.008-06:00

JJ began designing his own blog. I'm sure he was going to wait for it to be finished and polished before he showed it to anyone, but I'm pretty proud of him for figuring out the code/html stuff.

craft: Counters!

2009-08-02T12:56:00.004-06:00

So I'm doing this. She also did it. This is where they learned how. I'm thinking I'll do it in the next 2 weeks. It can't turn out worse then I already have, can it? No. I'm totally inspired and I CAN do this. RIGHT?????

craft: U CREATE

2009-08-01T07:30:00.004-06:00

I'm back! I haven't been able to find time or the desire to craft but thanks to U Create I've got several projects in the works. Working on this skirt for G. And this bib holder for future placements. Can you say cute? Love these bracelets. Might even make them today!

foster: Child Abuse

2009-07-29T10:12:00.008-06:00

This was posted on KSL yesterday. It is this story about a 21 year old woman abusing her 7 year old daughter into a coma. The really sad part of the story is the child was in DCFS custody just 3 months ago.

How does something like this happen? How does this happen to a child the state has had their hands on? Whose fault is it? What can be done for this little girl? How can we stop it from happening to another child?

The answers are complex and have many facets to them. As I’ve mulled it over the last couple of days I don’t know that I have the answers. I felt a lot of ignorance and self righteousness portrayed in the comments associated with this article. AND THAT MADE ME ANGRY. The fault lies with the mother.

Who else may be feeling residual fault? The foster family that this child recently came from, they may be wondering if they could have said or done anything more to have prevented the child from leaving their home. The case worker who is over worked and underpaid. The therapist that thought the mother was ready. The judge who’s ultimate decision it was to send the 7 year old back home. Undoubtedly investigations will ensue to decide if any of these parties could or should have done more.

What can we do as tax payers, citizens and neighbors? Keep your eyes and ears open. Be aware and be willing to help. If you see a mother struggling, do something about it. Offer to be a safe place for her and her children. If you feel the child’s life is in danger contact DCFS and make them aware of a situation.

Also contact your legislature. Tell them that this is a problem. Tell them that the resent cut to the department is not going to prevent this from happening again. Tell them that social workers in Utah turn over EVERY 3 YEARS. Tell them that children in custody are important and deserve better from US. These children are not a liability. They are precious and important to our future. Look out for them, love them, and do something more to protect them.

YOU can make a difference in one child’s life if you stop making blanket judgments and start seeing individuals. Next time you see a troubled child do more than sequester your own children protectively behind you. Ask a loving Heavenly Father what you can do for that one child who needs more love, commitment, and understanding from us because he or she might not get it anywhere else.

2009-07-10T07:46:00.004-06:00

I love SO You Think You Can Dance. This week's contemporary piece by Mia Michaels was powerful and moving.

Addiction can touch each of us. Its touch is not limited to the person and substance. Parents friends, children, drivers, can all be affected by one person's addiction. Many children are in the foster care system because of a parent's addiction. Their parents struggle to overcome and provide a better life for each child. I think this video posted on So Buttons gives such insight into the struggle many are encountering as they work to conquer their personal demons

Finished!

2009-07-09T17:13:00.002-06:00

Many of you know that I've been completely involved in a huge project at work that ended up having the delivery date slip by over a month. It could be labeled as one of the biggest projects we've ever worked on and to top it off, our department of 2 was at half staff for a good portion of it. My cohort got hit with the swine flu, followed by a vacation. I had a couple sick days myself and barely managed to sneak away for the family reunion.

And even better, Mom and Dad were here for a good portion of that time and I ended up looking like a work-a-holic. I really missed being able to spend time with them and hope they'll come back soon when things aren't so crazy.

Last night, we decided to make the push and just get this project done. It took some effort but we got it out the door and running with minimal interruption and after a full day of monitoring, things seem to be going very smoothly. I can't tell you how glad we are to have it in production and to not be worrying how many other projects would have to slip because of it.

fun: StarFall

2009-07-08T09:51:00.006-06:00

Love Love Love this site for Pre-preschoolers. Lil G will hear the keys typing on the computer and ask for "R, R, R, R." If you have a toddler - 1st grader check it out!

foster: Silence

2009-07-07T21:16:00.007-06:00

I know that there has been a lot of silence on our blog. We've had a busy summer and I have lots of catching up to do- but that's not the reason I haven't posted. I haven't posted b/c I'm afraid of what will come out. There's been a lot of turmoil in my life lately- all centered around foster care.

We have been so blessed with this first placement. These children are sweet and everyone is working SOOOO hard to get them "home." Sometimes I just hurt for me. Sometimes I am just so frustrated. I'm not even old enough to have an 8 year old and here I am parenting an 8 year old who literally acts 12. All she wants in the world is to be home. And I'm here feeling like a high schooler who has been rejected to the big dance, all because G wants to be with her parent?! Come on E! At least 2x a day I say to myself "It's not about me." But there is a lot going on that is about me: my patience, my capacity, my frustration, my anger, my insecurity, my self image, my self worth.

Some days I feel hurt and rejected and some days I feel elated at the progress being made in their case. I ultimately want these children to go home. Why is that so hard to remember?

project: ottoman

2009-06-10T08:02:00.009-06:00

I finally finished the ottoman just after the kids came. It was super easy and for the price tag I love it! I finally found the fabric at Home Fabrics.

1. Frist I laid the fabric over the ottoman right side in towards the ottoman

2. I pinned out my seams. I didn't cut anything. I just pinned the fabric together so it hugged the ottoman closely. I ended up with triangles of excess fabric emanating form the ottoman like spokes. No measuring.

3. Using the sewing machine I sewed along my seams

4. Now you cut out the extra fabric so it has a nice smooth appearance.

5. Using a staple gun, staple to the underside frame working one staple at a time. Alternate sides of the ottoman with each staple. If it was a compass you'd go North then south east then west rotate and repeat.

Here's our finished product.

It's not perfect. It has a little bit of an octogon shape on the top where the seams show. If I were a better seamstress I'd have done a better job on that part. Total project cost, including the ottoman and fabric was under $100.

2009-06-09T22:20:00.006-06:00

I'd like to apologize for the guilt my last post has provided some of you. It was not my intent to make my readers feel guilty. I actually admire and aspire to be like most of you (ok don't read anything into the "most" I really mean ALL of you).

I thought I'd take a minute and play catch up.

Both G and Lil G had birthday's last month. G had a Tinkerbell party at Jump On IT! and it was a blast. We made Tu-Tu's for the girls and they all looked super cute. (plus it was an easy way for me to do a spot count-1 TuTu, 2Tu Tu ...8 Tu Tu whooo we've got everyone) I've got some cute headless pictures on J's phone that I can't wait to post.

Lil G had cupcakes and friends in the park and was pleased as pie with the gifts he got. Especially the books from Grandma and Grandpa.

We've been busy just keeping up with our new schedules. Visits, meetings, doctors, and court dates. It's quite busy and doesn't leave much time for us to be sick. I had the stomach flu or food poisoning yesterday and J is getting sick tonight a fever, and aches. We're actually hoping for the stomach flu and not the S word (you know swine flu SHHHHHH!!!!!). We're keeping him isolated just in case.

foster: To Parents

2009-05-21T13:19:00.005-06:00

Your children LOVE you. They love you even though you have weaknesses. All they want is to feel wanted, loved and needed by you. No matter what you do they will love you. Young children who have been abandoned, neglected, and abused love their parents, want to protect their parents, and just want to be with their parents. So parents become a permanent fixture in your child’s life. Make sure they know you will be there tomorrow. Do what you can do to insure that you will be. Cut out those things in your life that may prevent you from being there- things that may take you away from your children, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Take a minute and spend some time with your children, laughing, talking, playing. One day they will wake up and you will be gone. Leave some memories for them to hang onto. Love your children.