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We've Moved

2009-03-21T02:23:00Z

Moving with a small child who picked that week to learn how to crawl was no picnic. We're mostly unpacked, much closer to work and school and very happy with our new home overall. Getting used to being renters instead of owners.

Count Your Blessings!!!

2008-11-21T05:30:00Z

It's almost Thanksgiving, so take some time to consider all the many blessings we have to be Thankful for!
And God, to whom the Thanks are due for providing us with said blessings.
Hallelujah!
I thank God for: Sequoia, Tim, Nitya, Ishan, Libby, David, Robbie, Courtney, Brittany, Tori, Joey, Zachary, Corey, Laurel, Harmony, Wilda, Vern, Josh, Tamara, Ruth, Andy, Baruch, CJ and her David, Wilda Grace, Sheila, Sean, Patrick and many more......

Okay, so it's been a while

2008-11-10T05:07:00Z

I've been real busy with the boys, Zachary is now here as a placement (as opposed to a visitor) for almost a month and things have gone very smoothly. We've had his Early Start Planning Meeting to update his IFSP ( Individualized Family Service Plan) since he's living with a new family in a new county. Most of his services (OT, PT, school) start this week. He also goes in for his 18-month well-child checkup to meet his new pediatrician this week. I'm glad Tuesday is a Holiday!
On that note, my 2nd son Tim is a USMC Veteran and I'd like to encourage all of you to take some time to remember what Veteran's Day is about, honoring those who've given of their lives in service to the rest of us in this country. God Bless the USA!

My Grandma's kitchen

2008-10-19T05:11:00Z

I don't know the Original Poet, but my Grandma Wilma Dane had this hanging in her kitchen and I've had it hanging in mine:

Thank God for Dirty Dishes, they have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry, we're eating very well.
With home and health and happiness,
We shouldn't want to fuss...
By the Stack of evidence,
God's been very Good to Us!

and this one too!

The Dishes and Dusting can wait for Tommorrow;
For Babies grow up, as we've learned to our sorrow;
So settle down Cobwebs and Dust go to Sleep;
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!

What to write, what to write...

2008-10-10T05:29:00Z

Work is settling down now, and I'm taking the next two weeks off, just going to stay home and relax and play with boys. I have a new baby coming tomorrow, pretty much to stay, he may have one more overnight visit with his prior Foster Family, and then hopefully home with us to stay!
As we're transitioning him in, we're transitioning out the 4 1/2 year old boy who was here for 6 weeks, he just turned out not to be a good fit for our family. It's odd to me to be in a position with any say about which kids you'll raise, since, if you birth them, you take what you get and are hopefully happy about it. Since beginning Foster Care. this is only the 2nd time we've asked for a placement to be moved earlier than the social workers intended.

Work, work, work...

2008-09-26T04:31:00Z

It's been so very busy at work, but hopefully another nurse will be joining me on Monday to help share the workload... At home my daughter Libby certainly bears the largest share of the load of looking after the kids since she's the one home with them all day. And she does an excellent job at it too!. She's a better housekeeper than I ever was with small kids at home, and she has the energy and creative drive to find fun things for them to do. I'm the Mom, but more in the traditional "Dad" role since I work all day outside the home and have the final say on authoritarian matters. Frankly, I'd much rather cut my work week in half and stay home to play and cuddle with the kids.

Hospitals and children

2008-09-18T03:17:00Z

I had some minor outpatient procedures done at the local hospital today and when my daughter came to pick me up, the kids (age 3 & 4) insisted on coming inside. We had told them I was going to get a "shot" to help me feel better and they wanted to check this hospital place out for themselves.

With one of my own daughters and the variety of Foster kids we've cared for, our local hospital's ER is a very familiar place to me, and I did part of my nurses training there on the med-surg unit, so it never occurred to me before that they would be interested.

We do have videos and books about visits to the doctor's office for check-ups, but these particular kids hadn't been to the hospital, at least within their memories. They have a play Check-Up kit and an old stethescope of mine they use, and I look in their ears myself if concerned about infections before making an appointment with their doctor. But Shots are something kids tend to focus on because they hurt and are a frequent part of well-child check-ups at their age. I always try to reassure them that the only hurt for a very short while and help keep us healthy for a very long time.

The Nurses in the Pain Clinic were wonderful, they answered questions and let the two boys help wheel me out to the car. I guess I'll be looking for a Pre-school/Kindergarten book/movie that explains more about the many functions Hospitals perform.

An Honor to be Nominated

2008-09-12T05:39:00Z

Evidently I was named Foster Parent of the Year at a Foster Family Agency, It's quite a surprise, because I don't think I really do anything special, just love kids and try to help them become all that they can be. It's true that because of my education and experience as a Public Health Nurse I know a little more about the various systems and agencies that kids with special needs obtain services from, but I'm sure that I'm like the majority of Foster Parents, getting up each day and dealing with what it brings, good or bad. At the end of the day, if you put them to bed; safe, warm, fed and feeling loved, it's a good day.

Life is short

2008-09-09T03:48:00Z

I found out this morning that a friend and co-worker had died over the weekend. She was in her early 50's and fairly healthy until this spring. Saw her doctor regularly and had all the recommended preventative screenings. Take care of yourselves... she left behind 2 young teenagers....

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God

2008-09-06T05:06:00Z

Sometimes it's hard to keep our eyes on the Goal.... it's easy to get bogged down in the day to day matters, and they are important too, it's necessary to feed, clothe and play with the kids; to go to work and labor a fair days' labor, etc.
As a Sabbatarian, I feel very blessed to have the gift of the Sabbath to rest, to solidify relationships with both my physical and spiritual family; to remember the Greatness and Goodness of Almighty God. {1 John 3}

My life at work...

2008-09-03T02:54:00Z

I work as a Nurse Consultant, there are only two of us in our county that perform my job and the other nurse is moving to a different position/department next Monday...and today when I got to work I found out he's not coming in until Thursday to boot! Very busy day with many more to follow I am sure. Any PHN's out there interested in a desk job????

Boys R Us

2008-08-27T04:16:00Z

Now we have 2 boys full-time, ages 3 & 4, and are considering adding a 15 month old infant too. There is so much more available to choose from when shopping for clothes and toys than there were when my own 2 boys were little. (They are now 26 & 28). We even had a 3-mmonth old boy here last night. My grandson Ishan , age 20-months, is obviously a boy; and yesterday my best friend Wilda became a Grandma for the first time (Hooray!) to, you guessed it, a healthy baby boy!

2 down...

2008-08-21T10:26:00Z

Two of my daughters, Courtney and Victoria, moved over to Chico to attend the University there this fall. But we also have a 4 year-old boy visiting who may move in, so it's not exactly an empty nest.

Choosing kids

2008-08-18T04:16:00Z

Kids are definitely a priority in my life. I was a stay at home Mom for the first 11 years, until my youngest was 2, then I was a student 2-3 days a week for another 5, then another year at home for health reasons, before I began working full-time as a Nurse, the past 10 years as a single Mom, and now a Foster Mom and Grandma. I've even taken adoption classes as I feel that's what God is leading me to do, to provide a loving home for a child or children who wouldn't otherwise have one. I do consider myself pretty conservative in politics and religion, and agree that a 2-parent home is best, however, that is NOT a realistic option for many kids and I believe it's an excuse used by some to help them feel better about their inaction. Yes, it's hard to love a child and "give him back", hard to take last minute calls, to meet kids at the ER, to listen to them cry for their Mom or Dad and not be able to give them what they want. I made a choice to concentrate on infants and toddlers and let me assure you, they know who is their Mom, and who is not... and that's why I tell them to call me Grandma Colleen. Funny thing is, they usually call my daughter Libby Mom anyway. Seems kids need one....

It's more fun on TV!

2008-08-14T02:30:00Z

I put my house up for sale in June. Lots of lookers, but so far no offers. I've been looking at houses closer to where I work as that would save me over $200 a month in gasoline costs. I love to watch HGTV , House Hunters, Designed to Sell, etc. I was getting pretty discouraged about my options when a house came on the market that looks custom made for our wish list. {Please pray about it for us} We can't move anywhere until my house sells, and I don't want to look at any more either. It's tough to live with half our stuff in storage, especially for my 3 year-old foster son. Hard to keep the house semi-decent for showings too, though my daughters do most of the housework. School will be starting up soon and I was hoping to be moved by then.....

Watching Olympics with Toddlers

2008-08-12T00:58:00Z

Last night we watched diving, swimming and gymnastic events with a very bright 2-year old girl and 2 3-year old boys. I wonder if there is an increase in kid injuries during the Olympics from kids trying to do the maneuvers they see on TV?

Living the Life

2008-08-11T02:58:00Z

Hi, I'm Grandma Colleen... I'm also a Christian, a Mom of 6 grown kids (David, Tim, Libby, Courtney, Brittany and Victoria), a Public Health Nurse, a grandmother to Ishan (born 12/13/2006), 3rd Grandma to Harmony (born 6-2-2004), and a Foster Mom.

I hope you enjoy reading my Blog... it will contain some of my thoughts and experiences along the journey of life.

Welcome

2008-08-10T02:40:58Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.