Thankful November, Day 29

I am thankful for the sun shining, GB being kind, and the real hug Hope gave me before bed last night. I am thankful that MK came with us for Thanksgiving and was a cheerful, helpful part of the family, the whole time. I am thankful for my husband, who did ALL the driving both ways. I am thankful for Garrett, Danae, and Josiah, my sister's three kids. They always leave me feeling appreciated.

The Weekend in Pictures

My sister and the girls work on stuffing.

Danae helps, too.

Danae works on Chinese Dumplings.

Josiah turns the BIG 13!

Danae and her favorite Uncle.

Big kid at play.

Caught with a soda before dinner.

Josiah got Kapla blocks for his birthday.

First project.

Top view.

My sister makes turkey soup.

Lynn and Danae.

Playing Ultimate Frisbee. Grateful no one got hurt.

Hope, GB and Ellie, feeling safe.

MK and Malachi- a great addition to the weekend!

Hope had her locs redone!

The Dad worked a lot over the weekend.

Snowman.

What a good holiday! Hope had some problems, one of my nephews also had one bad day, but both recovered. This weekend, we built tall buildings, played ultimate, kicked around a soccer ball, had two family game nights and watched Santa Paws.

Hope had obviously played before.

Everybody is looking forward to spending Christmas together.

GB always enjoys her cousins.

Black Friday

For the first time in years, my sister and I opted out of shopping on Black Friday. We have been simplifying holidays a little bit at a time for years. The past year has contained so many changes for both of our families, that we agreed it was time to do something completely different. Tonight, we put everybody's name in a hat and everyone drew out a name (MK drew a name for Malachi). Everybody will be responsible for choosing a gift for the person whose name they drew. The kids under 13 will also get  stockings. At least, that's what we are aiming for. Neither J nor MK are thrilled, but if they choose to have Christmas with us, they will have to go along with it.

I am thankful that I still have my sister to share the good times with.

Thanksgiving Day

With all the deaths my family experienced 3 years ago, family holidays have changed and some of those changes are really noticeable. Today is Thanksgiving Day. In my family, Thanksgiving was the first, most important holiday of the year and my Mom’s favorite. I am thankful that with all the changes, it still feels like Thanksgiving has always felt. MK and her baby are here and MK has been as much of this holiday, as when she was little and eagerly waited for Thanksgiving to come. We are staying at my sister’s, instead of my mother’s.  The kids think “cousin” is the best word in our language. Most of our kids contend with various disabilities, but all of them make allowances for each other’s quirks with out consciously thinking about it. They have cheerfully drawn Hope into the crowd, waiting for the tantrums to pass, and then pulling her back into the fun. Nobody cares that GB is now autistic, as we have had two autistic  kids already. Some of the kids are busy making steamed dumplings, the older set is outside playing Ultimate. GB is happily coloring a page with cats, Hope is one of the dumpling makers. The Black Friday circulars are organized, pen waiting, to help plan tomorrow. The kitchen smells great; different then it did when my parents were alive, but still... like Thanksgiving.

Shortly the turkey will hit he oven and the board games will come out. Computers will be off. Phones will go unanswered. After dinner,  we will go for a walk, weather permitting, followed by dessert and more games. The flow and ebb of family goes on around tantrums, meltdowns, and sick children, sweeping everybody with it. In its essence, Thanksgiving Day hasn’t changed since I was a girl.

Thankful November, Day 24

Squishy baby pictures

Today I am thankful for my grandson, Malachi!

Thankful November, Day 22

I am thankful for two things today. MK and her baby are going to Raleigh with us to have Thanksgiving with my sister. The girls are super excited. As far as GB is concerned, there is nothing better than time with cousins.  D has chosen to spend the long weekend 2 1/2 hours away with his biological father. The Dad put him on a train before 7am this morning.

Need prayers- check the other blog.

Thankful November, Day 17

I am thankful for the internet. It existed when I started adopting special needs kids, but it was not user friendly and the information available was limited. Any real research required a university library and a lot of time. The internet is so much apart of my world now,  it is hard to remember that 30 years ago the world ran without it.

Thankful November, Day 16

Today I am thankful for for Hope's amazing day yesterday. She dressed herself independently and for the first time since she came to live with us, there were NO tantrums or rages- not even a time out! She was looking at some pictures her Texas family sent her and that her and I made into a life book. She was crying quietly, but let me pull her into my lap and cuddle her. She was not able to verbalize much, but still, it was an awesome day of progress!

Thankful November, Day 15

Today I am thankful for other bloggers. Not only do they *get it*, but they clarify ideas that I have had, much more elegantly than I can. One such example was Kari's post today.

Thankful November, Day 14

Today I am thankful that weatherman was wrong. We were supposed to have rain all day and instead it is sunny. We can put up our outside Christmas decorations up in reasonable 45 degree weather, and plug them in when we get back from Thanksgiving.

Thankful November, Day 13

Today I am thankful that when I follow God's will, he blesses me with interesting days. I am never bored, and rarely complacent.

Thankful November, Day 12

Today I am thankful for my sister. Today is her birthday and it hit me (again) that we were the only ones left of our original family. I love her unconditionally even though we are almost nothing alike. Maybe because we are nothing alike, her total support of my kids and my choices- ones she would never make- always stood out as a constant, comforting given. Our families spend all major holidays together and always have. We have traditions built up that not only are important to us, but are counted on by our children. She has three biological children, 2 of which are special needs. We currently live 700 miles apart, but our families share a closeness from the years when we lived in neighboring towns. Happy Birthday, Sis!

My sister, Lynn with GB

Thankful November, Day 11

Last night, GB's Godfather came to talk the girls out for fast food. He was trying to be helpful since the Dad is out of town. I was leaning towards keeping Hope home, as she got off the bus and had problems almost immediately. Time out had encouraged her to pull it together somewhat, and both GB and her GF wanted to bring Hope. I let myself be persuaded. BIG mistake. Home came back screeching about some plastic toy she had lost, refused to say "Thank you" to GF, and demanded cookies. I spent the rest of the evening paying for her going out. I managed not to (visablely) react. GB was thrilled that Hope was not cooperating, as she was allowed to watch PBS for a half hour- there is no school tomorrow- and she didn't have to compromise on what show was on. She still needed her Dad's picture to go to sleep.

GF has been friends with the Dad for a long time. Today, I am thankful for good friends who try to make things easier, even if they don't get it. It is the thought that counts.

Thankful November, Day 10

I have been having a lot of trouble with my left hip. I don't walk right, but I didn't know GB had noticed. We recently had this conversation about heaven:

GB: Is Grandma still in heaven?

Me: Yes. That's were she lives now.

GB: How come we left her in that place?

Me: The cemetery?

GB: Yes. Doesn't she need her bones in heaven?

Me: No. When you go to heaven, God gives you a new body that works perfectly.

GB: So Grandma can walk again, maybe even on the beach?

Me: I am sure she can.

GB: We should send you to heaven with Grandma. Then God would give you a new hip and you wouldn't limp any more.

Me: Oh.

GB: That won't work unless I go with you. I guess you will have to limp.



Today I am thankful for a fresh perspective and the child who shared it with me.

Thankful November, Day 9

This morning is cold and rainy, and it seemed like it took hours to get the girls out to the bus. Hubby is in England for the week. I am grateful for the fireplace in the leaving room. I am grateful for my two Maine Coons who stay by my side. I am grateful for a pantry stocked with groceries, so I don't have to go out until we leave for therapy tonight. I am most grateful for GB's Mr. Teacher.  Even though GB had a really hard morning and her thinking processes were faulty, I could send her to school and be sure she was getting the support she needed. I am also sure that if she can't hold it together, Mr. Teacher will call me to pick her up BEFORE there is a problem. How different then last year. Thank you, Jesus.

Winter, Grateful November, Day 8

It is gray and raining, will a little frozen ice mixed in. In five minutes, I have to put the girls on the bus and get ready for a CSE meeting on Hope. After a bad week with Hope, she woke up sunny and cooperative. They are ready for school and there is no bickering. I had 10 extra minutes to post. Hallelujah!

Today I am thankful I live in NY, where there is winter, but winter is not as overwhelming as, say, Michigan or Minnesota. I want winter to come for the holidays, and leave January first. I can dream...

Thankful November, Day 7

Today I am grateful that God created night.

Thankful November, Day 6

Today I am grateful that no matter how bad the day gets (2 physical take downs so far), it WILL end and tomorrow will be a new day. I like the way God set that up!

GB Has a Date! Thankful November

I posted on the other blog a little while ago. I was feeling pretty down and did not know how to find the energy to ask for God's  help. After I posted, I just laid quietly... waiting. After a while, I was calm and my mind was still. I told God I was afraid there was nothing left... The phone rang. It was my lawyer. He had a date. GB will be finalized Tuesday, November 23, 2010, at 9 o'clock in the morning.

Today I am thankful for God, who carries you when you feel like you can't take another step.

Thankful November, Day 4

Today I am thankful for my gifts from God, my children. MK has been great since her rage 2 months ago. Hope woke up with a smile and hug- much better than yesterday :)  GB woke up looking forward to going to school AGAIN (Thank you, Mr. Teacher). D remembered to take out the garbage last night. J is still working at the same job, finishing up his 5th year. Every child is a gift from God. Sometimes I forget that.