Spring Has Sprung!

I suppose it is time for an update.  I now have a 6 and 8 year old!  How the time is flying.  

Makayla is hitting puberty.  I helped her shave her underarms and the bottom of her legs since it is summer like weather here.  Some days she makes me go "?@&$(%)@_!?!" with her actions, but I'm so impressed with their recent self-awareness.  MK has noticed some traits that she doesn't like about herself.  Most are personality traits.  She's a little more aware of her impulsiveness.  She recognizes when she needs to stop talking or doing something repetitive.  With that though, she is learning to embrace things as well.  She really LOVES spending time with her dad.  Being in the garage with him is the #1 thing she likes to do.  She enjoys taking things apart and figuring out how things work, which makes her totally compatible with my husband!  She's growing up so fast, her body and her mind just can't keep up with one another.  She's such a sweet and caring little girl though. 

Layla is as silly as ever.  She is doing phenomenal in Kindergarten.  She can read and write now.  I'm so impressed by her intelligence.  She's had a few struggles lately with her feelings, but her ability to voice what she feels and come up with ideas on how she can fix how she's feeling or how we can help her is proving to be a huge help!   She's more of a mama's girl, but she also enjoys time with her dad doing little projects or playing a game.  She's the most loving little girl.  She just wants to hug and cling to us most of the time... which does get annoying... but it's nice to feel like at least one of the girls is still "little". 

We are doing well though and I'm really happy with all of the progress we're making as a family.

We took some spring pictures for family and friends, and I thought I would share a couple here on the blog for my followers. 

11 Random Facts

My in-real-life friend Carly from CandC Family Blog tagged me, and I am finally getting around to this.  I realize I am supposed to tag 11 people, but most of those who I follow already have something similar to this on their blog... so forgive me for not continuing the chain on this. 

There are some rules:

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in the post you were tagged in
4. Create 11 new questions for your tagees to answer
5. Tag them on Twitter, Facebook or your blog

Eleven random things about me:

1.  As a child/teen/adult I did a parody TV show.  It was called "Funny Stuff" and aired on cable access in my town.  Once we ended that show we started a scripted "mock-umentary" in the style of "The Office" about a gospel radio station that was changed to a pop station yet kept the same quirky, religious staff.  I filmed up until I moved to NC, but make guest appearances from time to time.

2.  I have a radio show that airs in Virginia.  It's a show about random stuff regarding the entertainment world, mostly TV.  I record it via Skype now with my best childhood friend.  It's an hour a week for me to have fun and talk about funny things. 

3.  I love really off beat music.  Most of my favorite songs haven't ever been on the radio.  In fact due to the editing required some of them wouldn't even be the same song if they aired on the radio.

4.  My favorite movie of all time is "Mermaids" starring Cher, Wynona Rider, and Christina Ricci.  I just love it.  I will watch it any time it is on TV, and was lucky enough to find it on DVD about 2 years ago for $5 at Big Lots. 

5.  I have a tendency to get REALLY into something and then lose interest rather quickly.  For that reason I have many things I start and don't finish, and many hobbies that lay by the wayside after a short period of time.  I usually pick them back up again eventually.

6.  I REALLY love doing home improvement stuff.  I especially love anything that gives me an instant result.  Painting is a good example.

7.  Although I grew up in a Christian family, my grandparents have a gospel group, and my best friend's dad is a pastor, we are a non-religious family.  We do encourage our kids to learn about several religions though so that they are informed. 

8.  My nick-name in middle school was "Giraffe".  I was super tall, long neck, and very lanky.  It was fitting for sure. 

9.  I wear flip-flops year round.  I do own some "real" shoes, but they just collect dust.  I invest in pedicures instead of shoes.

10.  My husband is my rock, I would be lost without him.  I don't think there is anything he doesn't know about me.  We have a great marriage and I only wish every child and wife had a person like him to depend on. 

11.  Of all of the places in the world to live, I really like where I live now!  Raleigh is so great for families, I've made amazing friends here, and our family fits into the community and was welcomed with open arms.  We're a few hours from the mountains and the beach. 

Eleven questions from Carly:

1. What’s your favorite meal of the day?  Dinner

2. Who do you talk to most in your extended family? My sister

3. What was your last New Years Resolution?  I wanted to get healthier.

4. What is your favorite pet?  My dogs

5. Have you ever travelled outside of the country?  Only to Canada and the Bahamas.

6. Ideal Vacation?  I'd really love to go places we've never been and learn about other cultures.  I feel very niave sometimes about places around the world. 

7. If you have kids, do you regret the names you chose for them?  Thankfully, I like my girl's names.  Layla chose her name, and Makayla came to us with her's but I liked it.  Layla's name before was Alayaze (Alize) like the liquor beverage... so we're happy she chose to change it.

8. What kind of music do you listen to?  I love weird music, but country is probably the most mainstream I get these days. 

9. Favorite drink?  Sweet Tea... although I am off of it now since I started weight watchers. 

10. What kind of books do you read?  LOL... parenting books usually.  Otherwise they are audio books. 

11. Hobby? If so, what?  Crafting with my friends. 

18 Months

The girls have officially been home 18 months today!  It's crazy to even think it has been that long, but at the same time, it just feels like they've always been here. 

We're all in a really good space right now.  We've been working hard on our new house (we closed on the end of January).  The girls have new rooms that are what THEY wanted, not what we had already done prior to their arrival, or working around the rental home. 

We changed schools, and that is going well so far.   Layla is READING!  How crazy is that?  She came to us barely counting and with a distorted version of the ABC's.   MK is doing larger math equations and working at building up her reading stamina.  Both girls got straight A's (or 3's here in Wake County) on their report cards.  I am just so stinkin' proud of them.

We are still in therapy, and will be for some time.  We have the right medications and strengths right now, so that is a huge factor in our stability.  

There isn't much more to update on.  I should write more often, I realize that, but for the most part things feel pretty "normal" kid and less "trauma" kid these days, so I forget to blog about the silly kid stuff. 

Hope everyone is well! 

Happy New Year!

This new year brought an emotional rant from MK.  Yesterday we caught her in a lie.  She went into "drama mode" and let her dad have it in a verbal rant.  I must say, as dad's go, my husband is an awesome one!  He handles MK so well when she looses it.  

During her rant she explained that she didn't feel we were very good parents because we choose not to do the things she wants us to do.  She said she wasn't choosing for us to blame her for the lie, we were choosing that!

She is sick and tired of us.  When my husband asked her why, she said because of all of the stuff we do, and she isn't making it up, it is true.  She told my husband he knows what we're doing wrong and she wasn't going to tell us again!  Apparently, nothing we do is working for her, like when we explain things she is confused.   She asked, "What do I have to do to make you happy?"  and he told her "You make me feel happy all of the time" and she said, "Well obviously it's not enough!".  

Bless her heart.  She is so mature sometimes, so emotionally immature sometimes, and so funny it hurts almost all of the time!

She went on for some time until she curled up in her dad's arms crying.  She's so dramatic, it's almost unbelievable that she is only 7... she really sounds 14.

Outside of that, they started back to school today, and boy what a relief for all of us.  Having them home all of December was tough! 

In March, Layla is going to Horse Camp during the day, and MK is going to spend some quality one-on-one time at home with me. 

I love these girls.  There isn't ever a dull moment in this family!

 

The Holidays

Wow...  I can't believe it has been two months since I last blogged here about how well things were going.  Overall, from day to day, things are still fine.  It's just those small moments within the day that all parents have where you want to pull your hair out. 

The girls are out of school for the entire month of December.  This is one of the perks of having a year-round schedule.  This is also one of the pitfalls.  Our girls trauma flags don't really wave high around the holidays... THANK GOODNESS!   We don't have those terrible feelings of worthlessness like many kids have. 

This year we opted for experiencing things instead of gifting "stuff".  We went to Florida to visit Nana's and Poppy's house for almost two weeks.  This trip we went to Universal Islands of Adventure.  The girls got to meet The Grinch.  They LOVE The Grinch...and anything Dr. Seuss.  Layla has taught herself how to read "Green Eggs and Ham".   It is her FAVORITE book!  She reads it several times a day. 

For Christmas,  Layla is getting a "brown" baby doll that fits newborn clothes, a couple of outfits for the baby, PJs for herself, and a toddler stroller.  I had one I purchased and never used with flowers, so I am wrapping it for the baby doll to have.    MK is going to get a big beautiful jewelry box.  I got it for $35!  I can't believe that deal.  In addition to the jewelry box, she is getting two necklaces, a bracelet, and a ring with her birthstone, and a set of PJs.   Between all of the gifts, I spent about $70 on each of them.  

So that is our update.  They are very excited to have 4 Christmases this year!  Nana's (my mom), our house, Jojo's (my dad), and my in-laws. 

I know they are getting bikes and helmets from my dad... who knows what all else! 

Happy Holidays to You and Yours! 

Backing Off!

It is truly hard to believe that it's been over a year since our girls came home to us.

428 days!

• 36,979,200 seconds
• 616,320 minutes
• 10,272 hours
• 61 weeks (rounded down)

Did I ever think that in 428 days I could have a hand in molding them into two AMAZING little girls?

No... I didn't.   If you look back at my earlier blogs, you will see the struggles, the pain, the sadness I had for my girls... and truly for my family.   It was HARD WORK to get where we are.  We have spent hours in therapy, parenting therapeutically, keeping the girls safe, showing them right from wrong, helping them become honest and upstanding individuals, but most of all LOVING THEM!   I love them with every shred of my soul.   That love wasn't instant, that love was built up over time... but now it's an everlasting type of love that can't be broken, no matter their choices, no matter where life leads us, no matter if I don't LIKE them... I will ALWAYS LOVE my girls.

Things are going really well.  They are incredible little people.  So smart, so funny, so kind-hearted, so accepting of our love for them, and so willing to rise to our expectations because they know they can trust us.
I've started a new fun, light-hearted blog about the girls.  Just a way to chronicle our day to day, but not focus on all of the "foster/adoption" side of things.   I will blog here still when I feel I need to, but it might not be often.   So if you need to ask me something, leave me a comment, I promise to reply!

You can visit the new blog at:  http://whatsquacken.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone for your support over these last 428 days, and I hope that when you are seeking support you can find it here in my previous blog posts, or by sending me a message.

Much love and healing to all of you!
-Christie

What Is Track-in/out?

A reader of my blog asked:


"...What do you mean by "track out of school". Thanks."

In our school district we have two types of schools:

Traditional:  You attend school from August/September to June with breaks for the holidays and then the summer off.

Year Round:  This schedule runs on a track system.  There are 4 different tracks that at any given time may be in session (tracked in) or out of session (tracked out).   Our daughters attend Track 1 for their classes.  This means they start their school year just after the 4th of July, then they are in class until mid-September when they "track out" (have a break) for the rest of September.  They go back to school the first week of October, then they are "tracked in" (in class) until December.   They are "tracked out" the entire month of December, and "track in" after the New Year's holiday.   Then they are back in school until March where they are also off for the first 3 weeks of the month.   Then we go back until June, and they track out the first part of June until July when their new school year will begin.

They also observe typical holidays, like Thanksgiving etc.

Here is a link to a year-round calendar: Track Calendar

We personally LOVE the track schedule.  It allows us to have a little time with the kids throughout the year, plus it provides us with the chance to vacation off-season at places like Orlando, the beach etc.