suzyt

Sorry I've been quiet for a couple days. I went and had lunch at the school yesterday. Of course, Gia asked me if she could come home then and not wait until the end of the day. Nope. You were out of school yesterday. After I picked her up in the afternoon, I was so sleepy and fell asleep for a two hour nap. She fell asleep before I did and napped for a while too. Today that's all I have done is sleep. I think I must have gotten overwhelmed with all that is going on. I hope I can do this for the long haul. I am trying to tell myself that every step in the right direction is good and I cannot fix everything in one day. Apparently, Gia was quite destructive at her house, but since she hasn't exhibited any of those behaviors here, I think it must have been the anger over being ignored and trying to get attention any way possible. DSS is finding her a therapist which I am very glad to hear! I really appreciate all your support while I figure out how to be a mom with not much notice!! No, Tracy, I don't have any other kids unless cats count!!

Yes, Tracy, I will allow her to take the kitten -- she belongs to Gia. Whether another foster family would let her bring it is another issue... :sad: But we do not have to think about that for a while -- I expect that she will be here at least a year. The social worker did ask me yesterday to think about if I would want to be a guardian if her dad doesn't want her back -- which I don't think he does. Sad, huh?!

Heather -- thanks for the words of wisdom. I am hoping the rebelling doesn't get too bad. But you and others have reminded me that it may come..... It is gorgeous here this afternoon!! 70' and sunny. Windows open for now, the low is supposed to be mid-30s tonight.

I haven't seen too many kids with make-up. I really think this is the sister's influence. Although she said one of the boys said he thought she looked better with eyeliner. She told him that her foster mom wouldn't let her wear it. Speaking of which I am ticked at the sister. I have called and left two messages on the dad's phone for this sister to call and check on Gia -- nothing!! GRRRR!! The kitten will stay here with me if she cannot go with Gia. I can tell you though that if it comes to it, I would adopt her. Yikes!! 5 days and I'm saying I would adopt... Everyone have a good day! Michelle - hugs!!

Yeah, for the most part house rules are yours to make. I had to ask her dad if she had a particular doctor and if she could get her ears pierced, but on the day to day stuff I make the call. She and the kitten are in bed, but she's still talking to her. Hopefully she'll calm down soon and sleep. The kitten is very cute and laid back.

I was miffed Friday night to discover at 12:45 am Gia had closed her door and was watching TV. I told her that I wanted her door open at all times and to turn the TV off and go to bed. (I'd fallen asleep around 11pm). So then I was thinking what to do? I decided that bedtime is now 10 pm on school nights and 11 pm on weekend nights and that means lights out, no TV, nothing! She hadn't had any bedtime at all before so I was testing out 10 pm -- thought I would have less of a revolt on my hands. She slept until 8 am this morning after telling me that she always wakes up at 6 am. I think she may have stayed up later and gotten up earlier because of a noisy house with 5 other people!! We had a good day Saturday!! We celebrated our birthdays. We got up, had cinnamon rolls (well, one each), went to the mall, got Gia's ears pierced, got some accessories to help with the looking like a girl thing, got some stick-on decorations to put on her wall so it is her room not all my decorations, got home met some neighbor kids, ate lunch, had neighbors over for birthday cake, played with neighbor kids, I cooked dinner (was very rare before Gia, will have to be a daily activity now) and we both loved it! I modeled it after a meal I've had at the Olive Garden. Breaded chicken patty, gnocchi pasta, fettuccini sauce and broccoli. Went for a walk around the neighborhood and then just chilled. I came upstairs at 11 pm to tell Gia that it was bedtime and she was snoring with the TV on -- turned it off, laughing to myself. She was not happy with the new bedtimes but I told her that she was a young person and needed lots of sleep. And then she falls asleep early!! Ha, ha! We got her stuff from her dad's house today, the social worker went to get it. She's glad to have her PSP again. I'm glad 'cause maybe it will keep her off the internet. I know it's still a game, but she cannot chat or find things she shouldn't on it..... I have blocked the internet on her login, but I still worry she's gonna find stuff she shouldn't. We went to look at the kittens at Petsmart today and while Gia was in playing with the kittens, the volunteer from the pet shelter said "Your daughter listens to you really well. And she really likes those kittens! I said that she was a foster daughter that had just arrived at my house this week. The lady said that she thought she needed a pet of her own and that she would pay the adoption fee of $150. She also gave me $40 for the food, litter box, food bowl, bed, etc. So we now have a 9 month old kitten (Cali soon to be Cookie) in addition to my two cats (Bailey and Wesley) that will be 7 years old next week. I am crazy -- certifiable!! We never made it to Sports Authority to see what bike she might like in a few months. Maybe we should have gone there to see if there was a fairy godmother to pay for bicycles!! We just got home from visiting a friend that we saw a movie with Friday night. Valerie was in my foster parent class and Essence is a girl they are thinking of adopting. She and her brother live in different foster homes right now, but they would be adopted together. Essy is 10 and she and Gia had fun, so I called to see if they would want to play some board games. And so as soon as we got home, Gia played with Cali for a little while -- she's thinking the kitten should be getting used to her new home a little faster than she is......the poor thing pooed and peed all over when we first got her here. I'm not sure if the ride or just nerves upset her. She seems better now. But now Gia asked to go see the neighbor girl, Emma who is 8. I am really liking that she likes to play with younger kids. As opposed to kids her sister's age (17). She had eyeliner in the box that we got from her dad. She needs a pencil sharpener to sharpen it back up and I keep telling her I don't have one. She does not need eyeliner at 12!!!

I was miffed Friday night to discover at 12:45 am Gia had closed her door and was watching TV. I told her that I wanted her door open at all times and to turn the TV off and go to bed. (I'd fallen asleep around 11pm). So then I was thinking what to do? I decided that bedtime is now 10 pm on school nights and 11 pm on weekend nights and that means lights out, no TV, nothing! She hadn't had any bedtime at all before so I was testing out 10 pm -- thought I would have less of a revolt on my hands. She slept until 8 am this morning after telling me that she always wakes up at 6 am. I think she may have stayed up later and gotten up earlier because of a noisy house with 5 other people!! We had a good day Saturday!! We celebrated our birthdays. We got up, had cinnamon rolls (well, one each), went to the mall, got Gia's ears pierced, got some accessories to help with the looking like a girl thing, got some stick-on decorations to put on her wall so it is her room not all my decorations, got home met some neighbor kids, ate lunch, had neighbors over for birthday cake, played with neighbor kids, I cooked dinner (was very rare before Gia, will have to be a daily activity now) and we both loved it! I modeled it after a meal I've had at the Olive Garden. Breaded chicken patty, gnocchi Pasta, Fettuccini sauce and broccoli. Went for a walk around the neighborhood and then just chilled. I came upstairs at 11 pm to tell Gia that it was bedtime and she was snoring with the TV on -- turned it off, laughing to myself. She was not happy with the new bedtimes but I told her that she was a young person and needed lots of sleep. And then she falls asleep early!! Ha, ha! We got her stuff from her dad's house today, the social worker went to get it. She's glad to have her PSP again. I'm glad 'cause maybe it will keep her off the internet. I know it's still a game, but she cannot chat or find things she shouldn't on it..... I have blocked the internet on her login, but I still worry she's gonna find stuff she shouldn't. We went to look at the kittens at Petsmart today and while Gia was in playing with the kittens, the volunteer from the pet shelter said "Your daughter listens to you really well. And she really likes those kittens! I said that she was a foster daughter that had just arrived at my house this week. The lady said that she thought she needed a pet of her own and that she would pay the adoption fee of $150. She also gave me $40 for the food, litter box, food bowl, bed, etc. So we now have a 9 month old kitten (Cali soon to be Cookie) in addition to my two cats (Bailey and Wesley) that will be 7 years old next week. I am crazy -- certifiable!! We never made it to Sports Authority to see what bike she might like in a few months. Maybe we should have gone there to see if there was a fairy godmother to pay for bicycles!! We just got home from visiting a friend that we saw a movie with Friday night. Valerie was in my foster parent class and Essence is a girl they are thinking of adopting. She and her brother live in different foster homes right now, but they would be adopted together. Essy is 10 and she and Gia had fun, so I called to see if they would want to play some board games. And so as soon as we got home, Gia played with Cali for a little while -- she's thinking the kitten should be getting used to her new home a little faster than she is......the poor thing pooed and peed all over when we first got her here. I'm not sure if the ride or just nerves upset her. She seems better now. But now Gia asked to go see the neighbor girl, Emma who is 8. I am really liking that she likes to play with younger kids. As opposed to kids her sister's age (17). She had eyeliner in the box that we got from her dad. She needs a pencil sharpener to sharpen it back up and I keep telling her I don't have one. She does not need eyeliner at 12!!! Isn’t that really wrong??

Oh, Michelle, I am soo sorry to hear about your mother in law. There's not much else to say....... HUGS!!

Oh Janie!! Good luck today.... Pamela -- KEYS!! Yippee!! Judy -- hope Jen, Joe and Ethan are doing better!! Michelle -- is Mo still ok? Hope MIL is doing better. Glad your husband went to visit. Laura -- any news on the day care? Haydee -- breathe!! Sounds like you have been busy! Hi Heather! Sorry if I missed anyone.

Well, I feel like Gia and I are settling in a little. She had a great day at school yesterday. We went and had dinner with a friend of mine last night so that was nice. She is testing me a little -- more at night than in the morning before school. Last night she asked if she could wear eyeshadow to school. I said no. She didn't bring it up this morning. She wanted to wear her favorite shorts to school and grabbed them this morning, but I told her she probably should wear long pants because it was cold this morning 32'. She put the jeans on without argument. We go to court on Tuesday and she wants to go with me. Her dad will be there for the hearing as well. This is the inital hearing to discuss if Mark will be doing anything to get her back. I don't think she wants to go back, but we'll see. Then Mark and I will talk without Gia (it's a shared parenting meeting) to see what he can tell me about what works with parenting her. Not sure that what he was doing was working, since she is scared to death of him and is living here..... The social workers will be there as well. I told her we would celebrate her birthday and mine tomorrow. Hers was in January and mine in February. She wants to get her ears re-pierced -- they grew back together and her dad said she could. So that's one of the birthday presents. I think I'm going to get her some drawing paper and pencils. She mentioned last night that she likes to draw. My hair person cannot see her until next weekend, but she seemed ok with that. Her step mother had cut her hair very short and truthfully, she looks like a boy. :smile2: It really bothers her. Her hair has been like this for a little while though so another week won't kill her. The earrings will help her look a little more like a girl too. Gotta work on the bedtime routine, she was still awake at 11:45 last night. I told her from now on no more caffeine after dinner. And I'm going to have to channel SuperNanny or something. She does not like to go to bed. Off to call a recruiter about a job. He called late yesterday afternoon after we left to meet my friend. Have a great day!! Suz

Well, I feel like Gia and I are settling in a little. She had a great day at school yesterday. We went and had dinner with a friend of mine last night so that was nice. She is testing me a little -- more at night than in the morning before school. Last night she asked if she could wear eyeshadow to school. I said no. She didn't bring it up this morning. She wanted to wear her favorite shorts to school and grabbed them this morning, but I told her she probably should wear long pants because it was cold this morning 32'. She put the jeans on without argument. We go to court on Tuesday and she wants to go with me. Her dad will be there for the hearing as well. This is the inital hearing to discuss if Mark will be doing anything to get her back. I don't think she wants to go back, but we'll see. Then Mark and I will talk without Gia (it's a shared parenting meeting) to see what he can tell me about what works with parenting her. Not sure that what he was doing was working, since she is scared to death of him and is living here..... The social workers will be there as well. I told her we would Celebrate her birthday and mine tomorrow. Hers was in January and mine in February. She wants to get her ears re-pierced -- they grew back together and her dad said she could. So that's one of the birthday presents. I think I'm going to get her some drawing paper and pencils. She mentioned last night that she likes to draw. My hair person cannot see her until next weekend, but she seemed ok with that. Her step mother had cut her hair very short and truthfully, she looks like a boy. :smile2: It really bothers her. Her hair has been like this for a little while though so another week won't kill her. The earrings will help her look a little more like a girl too. Gotta work on the bedtime routine, she was still awake at 11:45 last night. I told her from now on no more caffeine after dinner. And I'm going to have to channel SuperNanny or something. She does not like to go to bed. Off to call a recruiter about a job. He called late yesterday afternoon after we left to meet my friend. Have a great day!! Suz

Well, I made it through my first morning as a mom. Got Gia up, she got ready for school wearing the shorts (it's 26' outside) she loves, ate breakfast, played on the computer for a few minutes, asked me if it was time to leave for school, I said maybe we should take one pair of the jeans just in case the school says you cannot wear the shorts (she had told me last night that she cannot wear them to school). Ok, I think I'll just change clothes. Cool!! The teachers were so happy to see her -- she hasn't been there at all the two weeks she was at the shelter. I spoke to a couple of them (teachers) and the principal and asst. principal. On the way home, I stopped and got groceries we didn't have time to get yesterday. A few errands to run and then back to school at 2:30.

I'm getting a 12 yr old girl today. Her dad called DSS and asked them to take her. She's been in a shelter for 2 weeks. It's crazy. Gia (the 12 yo) was living with her dad, an older brother @18 and an older sister @17. The dad has a GF with a son @19. The GF's son and the dad's daughter are sharing a bedroom, as are the dad and GF of course. The GF cut Gia's hair all off. Dad called DSS because 'if she doesn't leave she will get hurt (physically)'. Nice. Her Grandma (dad's mom) will be contacted to see if she will take custody and as of yet doesn't know the situation. She was here for Christmas, but they had the daughter sleep elsewhere during that time. But Grandma lives in Arizona and arrangements can take 6+ months now that she is in the system and they have to approve the Grandma. The social worker says Gia is a good kid but is left to her own devices too much because everyone else is self sufficient. This will be an adjustment for us both -- I have never had kids and to jump in at 12. Yikes!!

Hey ladies -- some of you know me: Kat, Michelle, Tracy, Suzanne, Jenn..... Michelle, you said you wanted to know when I got a foster child. I'm getting a 12 yr old girl today. Her dad called DSS and asked them to take her. She's been in a shelter for 2 weeks. It's crazy. Gia (the 12 yo) was living with her dad, an older brother @18 and an older sister @17. The dad has a GF with a son @19. The GF's son and the dad's daughter are sharing a bedroom, as are the dad and GF of course. The GF cut Gia's hair all off. Dad called DSS because 'if she doesn't leave she will get hurt (physically)'. Nice. Her Grandma (dad's mom) will be contacted to see if she will take custody and as of yet doesn't know the situation. She was here for Christmas, but they had the daughter sleep elsewhere during that time. But Grandma lives in Arizona and arrangements can take 6+ months now that she is in the system and they have to approve the Grandma. The social worker says Gia is a good kid but is left to her own devices too much because everyone else is self sufficient. This will be an adjustment for us both -- I have never had kids and to jump in at 12. Yikes!!

OMG -- I might get a foster child tomorrow. HELP!! Gia, she's a 12 year old and her father called CPS and said get her out of here, it's not safe here for her. No mom in the home. Not quite sure what that means 'not safe for her here'. Apparently she's been caught with cigs, booze and porn. Great!!

Morning All!! I am up (have been since 4 am -- thanks, cat!!) and working on a friend's business and personal taxes. And her sister's personal taxes -- the sister (and niece) lives with her and does NOTHING -- no job (habitually), perfectly healthy, and the niece dropped out of school so has only 8th grade education. Nice. Off to see what I can find for breakfast......

I am very proud of myself -- two days in a row to the gym!! Now if I can just keep talking myself into going every day.... Slept late. So far just some grapefruit sections and a double protein shake.

Laura -- maybe if toward the end you put aluminum foil over the edges to keep them from burning and to let the middle cook some more?? I am Episcopalian and we always had a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Don't ask me what a Shrove is.....

It's snowing again in North Carolina. I moved here to get away from weekly snowstorms..... Nothing like what you have Michelle, but this is the South darn it!!

Michelle -- I know how hard this is....I had a very sick kitty 7 years ago. Go with your gut and talk to Mo. He'll let you know what he wants. HUGS to you and Mo.

I think I'm gonna be glad my band isn't working today -- It's my birthday (43 yikes, can I really be 43) and a friend and I are going for Japanese tonight. I LOVE japanese!! I joined a new gym Planet Fitness and had classes on Tuesday to learn all the machines. My abs are really sore. Does that mean I wasn't getting the workout I thought I was at Curves.... On the other machines I think I had the weight too low because it was kinda easy. The only ones I had trouble with were the abs (I have no muscle strength in my abs) and the shoulder press (the trainer said it was hard forwomen to do the shoulder press and I had it set to 10 pounds). Hope it is nice and sunny where you are -- it is cold here but the sun is bright :thumbup:

Good morning!! The beginning of this week was awful -- Target told me that since I was seasonal, my last day would be next Friday. Was very upset and spent most of Monday in bed. Over the weekend, I had decided to quit Curves because the lady wanted us to do all kinds of stuff on our own time, so was reconsidering that..... Then, on Tuesday on a chance and a prayer, I went to the H&R Block office in my little town to see if they needed help and they said YES!! It's only until April 17th, but she says the next two weeks are the busiest and I can work as much as I want. I have been so bored with not using my brain, so it is good. I will be making more $$ than the state says I can, so they will reduce my unemployment those weeks, but the total will not be less and could very well be more. The recruiters say that things are picking up in the permanent job market too!! What a difference a day makes!!

Rant alert ** I didn't have time to post this yesterday. WTF?? Took my computer to Best Buy to have the virus removed and when I picked it up yesterday the desktop wallpaper had been removed, my home page on Internet Explorer had been changed, favorites not showing, icons on the desktop were put in a folder, a geek squad icon was added, added a calendar, clock and notepad to the desktop, etc, etc. Ummm, isn't this my computer. Put it back the way you found it (minus the virus, of course!!). Rant over. Since the computer has been gone for a week, I guess I'll be upstairs working all weekend. Probably not a bad thing -- it's chilly here in Charlotte too and the third floor of my townhome is the warmest and I'm so cheap right now I turn the heat way down on the main floor during the day. The top floor doesn't have a programmable thermostat so it is constant and the sunshine adds extra warmth to the office and the spare room. The cats love to sleep in the sun while I'm working. Target and Curves have both cut my hours so I am going to have to watch every penny. Hate that!! Years ago my Mom sent me a card that says grapevines (and probably people) have to be pruned back and it sometimes seems very severe, but that it is to make the roots stronger. Ok, kept the card as a great reminder but dang I'm tired of being pruned..... Basta!! (Enough! in Italian) No more whining -- I'm going to get some work done!! Have a good (warm) weekend!!

Ok, got to get to Curves to work this afternoon, but wanted to stop by and say HI!! My laptop has been back at Best Buy for a virus infection, it got infected as I was getting better from my double ear infection from Christmas. I'll catch up on the postings later..... Hugs!! Suzanne

Don't let it be said that I do anything halfway. I went to the doctor this morning -- she started out saying, Adults rarely get ear infections......then she looks in my right ear (the better one) and says, Oh my, that is impressive!! [Not what you want the doc to say about an infection!] Now she moves to the left ear -- We need to get you some Sudafed NOW so that ear doesn't rupture. Great! She says, Go across the street and buy the Sudafed and take while you are in line to pay for it -- I am not kidding. Um, ok. So I got a steroid shot, antibiotics and bought Sudafed. She said if I made it through today without it rupturing, I should be good. How does one 'baby their ears'? I'm thinking no loud noises and napping is a good start...... Crud, I've got that self-study stuff to do.....Maybe that will put me to sleep.