just WOW!

Since I last posted, there have been so many changes in our family. Positive changes, but changes all the same.

We now have Bradley in our home permanently. We will be able to adopt he and Timothy as early as March 2012! Something happened with the home he was living at while he was here visiting us, so they decided to go ahead with his placement with us and he was placed immediately!

This made for more changes in our family, of course. We definitely knew that we didn't want him in public school, but until the adoption is final, we are not allowed to homeschool the foster/adopt children.

We applied for an exception for Timothy, so that he could attend the school at STS (where Gregory attends), due to his major Asperger's Syndrome. We got approval for that last Thursday. Just in the nick of time for school to start. This school's specialty is children with special needs (autism, Aspergers, CP etc)

We decided to enroll Bradley in St. Mary's Cathedral School (the parochial school at the Catholic church where we are attend.) With this, Felicity asked if she could attend St. Mary's, too. We couldn't tell her no.

St. Mary's had two half days of school last week, but just for "getting acquainted", etc. Both kids loved it!

Today was the first day of school for everyone. It went pretty smoothly this morning getting everyone ready, especially considering we have gone from two children to four children in less than 60 days, AND getting all of them up, fed and ready for school. I prepared 5 lunches, for Mike and each of the kids. We were only 3 minutes late getting out the door. Pretty good, I say.

Since Felicity is now attending school, I have no children at home during the day. This is a complete new experience for me. No work (outside the home or my own business), no kids, no homeschooling. Very strange for me - but I know I will adjust. I will love being able to keep the house tidy and clean, the laundry caught up and have some quiet time. Volunteer time at both schools will also occupy some of my time.

I've got many things I want to share on here, just haven't had time. I will be back soon with lots of posts. Just need to get the house squared away and take a deep breath. See you soon!

And then there were three

Boys, that is.

We picked up our 2nd prospective foster-to-adopt son on Wednesday night. This will be his second extended visit with us to evaluate how all of the children do together.

I won't say that it is easy with four children, two of which are special needs; but we feel that things are going quite well. Mike and I do have our *days* but that is to be expected.

Sure, there is bickering and arguing, but it is manageable.

I will call this little guy Bradley here on the blog until the adoption is complete and I can use his real name.

Bradley, from what we can tell and know so far, is neuro-typical (non-special needs), with the exception of an ADHD diagnosis from over a year ago. He has his new psychological eval scheduled for next week, so then we will have a true and up-to-date diagnosis.

Bradley adores Felicity and she him. Bradley is patient with Gregory, but does argue and boss Timothy some (as does Felicity). Due to Timothy's Aspergers, he is definitely more annoying to the NT children (Felicity and Bradley) than is Gregory. They have a much more difficult time understanding that Timothy is not *normal* because he talks, looks like and generally behaves like a typical 7yo boy. BUT then there are the aspy traits that come out and they just don't *get it*.

Gregory gets along with everyone, so he just goes with the flow.

Mr. Quite Contrary

Mr Quite Contrary - How does your garden grow?

With crying and whining and broken rules; and consequences all in a row.

Timothy is still with us. He will be with us forever, unless there is something that changes drastically. We hope that this never happens.

I won't say that this has been a cake walk with him. It definitely has not. But we have a definite diagnosis now and are moving forward more easily with what is needed for him.

Aspergers and ADHD. Exactly as Mike and I initially concluded before ever meeting Timothy.

Now we know exactly what we are working with and where to go from here. We have asked for an exception to allow Timothy to attend Hands on Achievement where Gregory goes. CPS has told us they see no problem in getting it approved. It's what is best for him.

We are not farmers after all

I have the best family; but we are not farmers.

Mike and Felicity have only supported the goats and my little venture into turning our family into a farming, self-sufficient family because it was what I wanted. I knew that Mike helped out as much as he could to help me, but Felicity finally "fessed up" that she has never really liked dealing with so much work with the goats and chickens but wouldn't say so because she didn't want to hurt my feelings.

So, after a long couple of weeks, we have come to the conclusion that we are not farmers.

Thank you to everyone that left suggestions for names for our farm, but we will not be needing them after all.

After this weekend, we will no longer have any goats and the chickens will be very few.

We decided that with bringing in new children and all the activities that lie ahead of us once the school year starts, farming is just too much for us.

Our dogs and cats will be thrilled to be the center of our pet universe again. We are also keeping my beloved Seramas. As far as I'm concerned, I will have Seramas indefinitely. The whole family enjoys them and their sweet, unique personalities too much to be without them.