My Life in Pictures.
Ok, since I disappeared for awhile here are some pictures of the recent going-ons.
I made two twirly skirts for fun.
Twirly skirt in action. Chautona taught me how to sew via an Internet class she posted at the Wood Shed and I just can’t stop now!!
Jenna’s first sewing project she finished on her own. :) Today she also made her own pair of pajama bottoms. I barely did anything. Had to help with the elastic in the casing that is it. She literally pulled out a pattern, material and scissors and aside from asking me a few questions did it al on her own!!
Uh-huh. Not sure.
John and Rat Dog….errr… I mean Xury.
This is my favorite way to carry Jonah now. Got this wrap at Jenn’s site.
Oh ya, we are cool! :)
Also made these cute little blankets. The girls are a butterfly, a mouse and a green bug. :)
And the back. :)
Other stuff that has been going on.
Jeff talked to foster-dad for Jerusha and explained some things about how the “system” works. Jason then asked him “Why are you trying to steal my baby sister?” Jason had been asking us why they were fighting for Jerusha and we were just as perplexed as to why they suddenly changed their minds about her so we told Jason to ask foster dad directly. Well apparently that made foster dad uncomfortable and I received a phone call from foster mom telling me “Tell your husband not to make comments to my husband anymore. And there is no need for Jason to be there to pick up Jerusha.” Uh-huh. Someone is feeling guilty. She did back down as soon as I said “You don’t want Jason to go with Jeff to pick up his baby sister?” I chatted with foster mom for quite awhile. I’ll spare you the details except to say I’m still quite confused about their motivation being anything other than pure selfishness on their part. Well I guess a HUGE part of it is they have never adopted before and they really have no clue what can of worms they are opening by wanting to split up this sibling group. Yes I tried to explain but she is smitten by Jerusha (rightly so) and not thinking straight.
Nothing was resolved. She made some threats and I called my lawyer to be reassured and we moved on. The visit today was glorious. Jerusha is just a ball of cuteness and I spent the time with her tickling, chasing and squeezing on her. She is entranced by Jonah and it is so cute to watch her put the binky in his mouth and pat his head. At one point I laid both the babies on the floor and took turns eating their tummies to which they both belly laughed making each other laugh even when it was not their turn to be attacked. I also got the sweetest picture of Jerusha smiling right after I had mauled her. I am looking at her and she is looking at the camera with a big grin on her face.
We are still waiting on the adoptions court to decide if they are going to hear this case. They have 15 working days from February 7th to decide so we are only about half way through the wait. But in a total God coincidence there have been new developments in the foster care world that are making our case even stronger. The first one is that licensing is granting exceptions left and right to families so they can take more little kids. The rules state right now that you can only have 4 children ages 5 and under in your home per adult. That also is not to exceed 2 children under the age of two.
While Jeff and I have not exceeded that number because we are both home, there have been some that have said that Jeff’s presence does not count due to his employment. I mean, how can you help and supervise children if you have a business you have to attend to? We actually had one worker tell us that since Jeff had to leave the room to answer an e-mail that he was not allowed to then be counted as being home. Eh-hem, we all go potty sometime!! Jeff does most of his work at nap time and after bed. He can do that!! Amazing!!
Anyway, there is a new push (due to threatened lawsuit against the state of AZ by a foster child advocacy group) to keep kids under the age of 4 out of shelters (American Orphanages) so the licensing people are making all kinds of new exceptions. They are now saying that you can have 4 children under the age of 2! And I am not sure about the other ratio issues as the kids get older but it makes our situation look not so weird if they are allowing these types of placements. This trend will continue until there is an accident or abuse in a foster home and then the cry will go out that shelters are safer and the tide will shift back to placing kids there. I will admit that shelters are far easier for the case managers. But boy oh boy do they like to medicate kids in those shelters!!
The other great news is that there is a bill in the legislature that specifies that when placing children in pre-adoptive homes that preference needs to be given to biological family members. The way it is written implies that the biological family member would be the one adopting the child but it is a short jump to take this bill and say “Well the intent is that biology is important when considering placement.” DES does have an unwritten policy of keeping siblings together but nothing in writing as of yet. We have an e-mail into the representatives (all Republicans, btw) that are supporting this bill to find out when they vote on it. Our lawyer, who still impresses me, is pretty excited about it for us.
We also have been approached by an independent film maker regarding making a documentary on our fight for Jerusha. Since Jeff is into all this video stuff he is making friends that are also into all the video stuff. This guy would like to make a documentary and submit it to the Independent Christian Film Festival held in October in San Antonio. We are very excited about this opportunity. I mean who wouldn’t want their own private “Adoption Story”? Also with this case making Arizona history it will be nice. Plus how special will Jerusha feel when she can watch this when she is older? Anyway, whether it gets made and done completely is yet untold but the possibilities are exciting.
It is now midnight. Jeff bought Yahtzee today and we just had a Yahtzee marathon until 11pm with the 4 oldest kids. All I can say is I am too old to be sitting on the floor for long periods of time anymore. :) I lost, btw. Although the kids don’t say it that way. They prefer to say I came in 5th place! LOL Jenna came in 6th place which also happens to be LAST but I guess here in the Bettendorf house our fragile egos can’t handle being labeled a LOSER! LOL
The reason I have been absent from blogging is because last week I made a commitment to stick to our schedule. What that means is that I am continually interacting and directing the kids (and sometimes Jeff if he asks me to) all day. Talk about feeling like the CEO or manager of my home! But boy we got so much done last week! Monday we mostly followed our schedule but I was in a funk. Today I put off the schedule because we were focusing on Home Economics and Jerusha was in such a good mood (she power napped on the way here this morning) that I just played with the babies all morning and then we ate lunch and napped. We took such a long nap (in other words I slept a long time) that we could stay up late for the game marathon.
My point is that I liked last week when the kids and I were like this one big mass of people moving from project to project and no one got into any trouble while we were split up. So tomorrow we are back at it. J This means less blog time and more kid time. Less computer, cleaner house. Less chatting on IM and more compliments from my children. I guess I can handle it after all. :) Plus I did promise my friend Kristina that I would make her skirts. So in my “spare” time I’ll be working on that. If things get quiet here for a bit you will know I am off living a real life for a little bit. I’ll absolutely be back to post about important stuff when it happens.
Comments
Feb. 22, 2006 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Leigh2
Come back and post when you have a moment! I love reading your blog (not to mention your hilarious comments on mine!). Since we are hoping to enter the foster/adopt thing by the end of this year, I am finding all of the blogs of foster parents that I can. I think I’m trying to reassure myself that we can do this!
Feb. 22, 2006 – God
Posted by Jn1512
I really enjoyed this post. I don’t know much about adoption/foster homes.
I praise God for putting this purpose on your heart. You and Jeff are giving these children a home and LOVE. God will surely bless the extra time and interaction you’re giving the children. :))
Feb. 22, 2006 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Rene
Katie, thanks for the update. It’s frustrating to read, I can’t imagine being in the middle of it. My prayers are with ya’ll.
Did you use a pattern for the twirl skirts? I’d like to make them for the girls, so let me know. Thx!
Feb. 23, 2006 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Kg
What great pics!
Sounds like you have SOOOOO much going on. Hope you get to star in that movie!
Feb. 23, 2006 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Dell
You’ve been busy! I was glad to read the updates on the children, and it was fun to see the sewing projects too.
-Dell (Who has also benefited from Chautona’s sewing tips! *grin*)
Feb. 25, 2006 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Titus2woman
I was thinking about you today and am glad to check in at the perfect time for an update! WHEW! You have lots going on! Sitting at the feet of the LORD on your behalf…. (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Mar. 1, 2006 – Hey!
Posted by sagerats
I was thinking today, "Katie hasn’t been posting. I wonder if her blog blocked me out again?" No, it hasn’t but for some reason I haven’t been seeing your posts. I had quite a bit of catching up to do on them!
Amazing isn’t the word for the system. Asinine could be used, but it’s still not a real accurate picture.
What I find very fascinating is the ratio of conservative Christian foster parents to conservative Christian social workers. This may sound like a stereo type but in my experience and of those I’ve read about, most social workers tend to be liberal agnostics at best while most foster parents are conservative Christians.
With a contrast like that you are bound to have problems. I’m praying your problems will be over soon!
Abiding in the Vine!
Mar. 3, 2006 – Untitled Comment
Posted by OreoSouza
Heya! Your comment on my Peter entry just totally excited me and I feel motivated to really run this thing with him. I tried emailing you, but apparently you are off doing the real life thing (good for you) and your mailbox is full I’ll keep sending it till your box empties a bit.
Waiting for an update on Jerusha and all the happenings around her. You must be one tough cookie to be hanging in there for her. This is a very exciting story.
Would you care to share how you made those twirly skirts? I wanted to make one but couldn’t find a "pattern" so ended up making circle skirts instead. They were cute, but not what I was looking for.
Great photos, btw. Loved them all.
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