Expanding our family, hearts, and minds

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Pictures Pictures FL trip Jan

I love this picture!

It was warm enough for the beach!!

Sam and Gianna- oneo f my best friends :)

Baby Weasely- we are fosetring this little guy, and almost lost him to parvo and coccidia, he also has ricketts :( Hes really making a combeack

pictures pictures pictures December!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

hi all...whew its been so long since I posted- so much going on. The holidays were lots of fun, lots of stress, well- not too much but just enough to feel a bit overwhelmed. I got to visit my friend Gianna and my mom/step dad in Fl for new years. I took Gabe and Sam down all on my own. It was lots of fun and we got to actually swim in the beach a few times since it was so warm. Since our trip, and my return back to grad school and teaching after winter break, i have found myself super stressed out. I just feel i need to seek out a new job soon. There are some stressful issues and challenges my school is facing and it seems to be a real "when it rains, it pours" moments. Things just seem to be getting more stressful and unhinged. I love my kids though, for the most part. I actually adore my freshmen this year- this is the first time i have ever said that. They are the best class of freshmen i have had,. There have been hiccups and issues with certain kids but nothing like i have faced before. So i wouldn't want to let them down but having to leave. I also really like a few of my co-workers, and wouldn't want to leave them up the proverbial creek. I have just really faced some issues with professionalism, equity and most recently my out-right safety and the safety of my students. Even John says hes surprised I am still there. Next year i will really need the time to do more research, so working part time is the best for my situation.
SAM- is great and frustrating at times, but mainly wonderful. He is not really making the gains i had hoped in his preschool. He doesn't seem to recognize many letters at all and his English seems somewhat stifled, but still making slow progress. He knows some colors and can identify numbers of objects up til 3 or 4. I wish i could stay home with him more for one on one teaching time (yet something else that tears at my conscious about working). Sam took a big break with his casts but is back in them. Our goal is to get his right foot to neutral and then proceed with an additional surgery on the left. I am having the casts taken off for the weekend of February 11- we are going to Greatwolf Lodge! I am super excited.
Gabe- has been recommended for advanced ELA for next year and is doing well. He has had some issues with a bully at school who tried to fight him/hit him- but Gabe has been able to get past this. The boy who was/is the bully has been suspended. Gabe has been doing more sleepovers with friends and just being an 8 year old :)

I am trying to juggle everything- we are fostering a malnourished, very sickly little pit bull puppy who's bringing me lots of joy. A big part of my heart would love to work with veterinarians again- my first love :) I just feel so torn as to what to really do with my school/work situation. I feel i am not able to be the best teacher i can be with other anxieties from school plaguing my mind, but I am really enjoying my students .

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

stressful crazy

i have been MIA as of late....i am so thankful to be on Xmas break- but it got off to a pretty tragic start. John got off work early on Thursday, picked up Sam and came home to find our house broken into and not only that, our beloved 12 year old Malamute, Scully, was dead. I was devestated. The burglars mainly took the game systems, games and a few presents, plus broke two windows. I am hoping Scully's death was just a horrific coincedence, and hoping she wasnt poisoned or tazzed....i just hope and pray she wasn't in pain. We couldnt afford the $800 autopsy, and have since buried our wonderful doggy. Shde was so gentle and sweet, yet a firecracker- always trying to dig out and run the neighborhood, see her friends and make mischief.

We will miss you so much

Saturday, December 3, 2011

3 months home!

I am not, slack- Just SUPER busy,....my mom came into town on Thursday night- the same night I had a presentation for a grad school class, the same night John had to get both boys over to see my mom, then Friday was swimming at the indorr pool, 3 month post placement visit from social worker AND a dinner party for 4 couples, and kids for my sons's b-day .....so i have had little time to reflect and write a suitable post for Sams 3 months home....4 months in my custody. It seems like its been a year, how well we click. More to come.......

Friday, November 25, 2011

mind swimming

i am trying to keep my head above water- we have been so busy and stressed- work, school, reading/research for final projects, john starting a new job (yay!)- Sam and his treatments, holidays, family visiting, Gabe and his upcoming birthday (the big 08!)
I am also exploring options for next year already, as far as what i need to/want to do workwise since i need to start my research and get more involved with the academic side of my degree. We are so lucky to have john be offered a new job - which he will be able to be more creative with and challenged.
Sam is doing very good at school- he loves his teacher and really seem so happy there. Gabe has been facing some issues, but they are nothing major...he is just needing to be more responsible for getting his homework done and being upfront with me about whats been going on with classwork while at school. Work has been taking its toll on me. Its not anythign specific at work, my school is experiencing some growing pains and issues with achievement- and i so want whats best for my students. I just dont feel i can be there 100% with so many other duties and responsibilities- for grad school, for my family ....its just stressful. Our upstairs home rennovations/repairs are finally 99% done. They are reglazing my 100 year old clawfoot tub (metal tools chipped it all to hell, I just had it reglazed like 2 years ago)....the paint, trim, molding, ceiling, insullation and plaster repairs have all been done...now just new toilet and reglazing the tub. It feels like new ! I am still having to get used to the paint, its a real change.
Our thanksgiving was good- Johns family came to visit- which was great. Sam was not a Thanksgiving cuisine fan, but he really had a great time with the visiting family. I enjoyed cooking a big meal for 8 people- it was lots of fun, but something i only need to do once or twice a year :) How do these super sized families do it? Part of me really wants two more children, but then part of me feels stressed out and overwhelmed with the two full time kids i have and the two "part time" children we get to see every other weekend....maybe if i didnt need to work so much...i would love to be able to stay home with several children and not be stressed about $$, but that just isnt in our cards....i can afford to take a year "off " (just work part time or focus 15 hours on research) but couldnt do it for moree than a year or so....oh how i wish money wasn;t such an issue when it comes to raising our family and focusing on what we have the passion to do.