Open with Caution

Beware -
This blog entry is very random.
It may be dangerous to the
Type A
Organized
Categorized
Connected
Mind.
(Which I apparently no longer have or can maintain.)

**************************

Problem 1.
I hate feet.
Problem 2.
I hate stinky feet.
Problem 3.
Ms. O has stinky feet.

Ms. O has really stinky feet.

So
Finally
I can't stand it anymore
We talk
I tell her she needs to wash her feet each night
When we get home

(I can't wait for nighttime showers)

So
She goes in the bathroom
I hear water
I assume all is well
Until I find that she is sitting on the bathroom counter
WITH HER FEET IN THE BATHROOM SINK!

Picture me
Grossing out
******************************

You know those dolls
The ones with the string you could pull from the back
And they would talk?

(I'm really too young to have had one myself

Honest

But I saw pictures

I heard tales.)

Well,
Anyway
Miss M
Is that doll
Except the string never runs out sometimes
And
I know that I didn't pull the string to make her start
But she goes
And goes
And goes

Heaven help me.
I love the child.
But, I miss my silent time in my head at times.
*******************************
I am THAT woman
The one who takes candy from the kids'
Halloween baskets
When they are asleep

(They may be running low on

Snack size 

Snickers

Twix

And Peanut M&M's.

I was even desperate enough to try a Butterfingers a night ago

(Still not impressed.)

Just sayin.)

I do confess my sin of stealing in the morning
And I do make sure I am fair and always take the same amount of each child
(I don't play favorites around here.)
*********************************
Friday night
I am having a kid-free night out
The school was offering a 6:00 - 9:30
Game Night
At one of the elementary schools
Dinner is provided
And I decided to pay the money
And sign them up
And then I contacted friends
And this girl is GOING OUT!
Bring on the frozen margaritas

(Yes, that was plural!)

Bring on an adult movie

(No animation, thank you very much!)

Now just pray that I can stay up that late on a Friday night!
*********************************
While Miss M was taking her shower tonight
Ms. O and I were going over her homework
And I was looking through some notes/flyers
And talking about some plans
Ms. O opened up.
Now - we have a good relationship
But it's a relationship built on trust in the here and now
She doesn't share much about before
Or what's to come

(Not like her sister - she's the exact opposite.)

Ms. O says
"I'm still not used to this."

"Used to what?"

"You checking over my homework
You reading through my papers
You telling me what we might try to do this weekend
You helping me."

"What do you mean not used to it?"

"No one's ever done that before."

"How do you feel about it now?"

"I like it.
I'm just not used to it.
Well, maybe I'm getting used to it,
But I don't want to get too used to it
Because it probably won't be that way later."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Mommy is awesome.
Isn't she awesome?"

"Yeah, your mommy is awesome."

"See - I told you she was awesome.
But she was always busy with work
Or Baby G
Or things going on
And I'm not used to someone
Checking this stuff."

She pauses.

"And Mommy is doing really well
And she's really kind
But I don't think that part will change when we get back together
Because then she'll be busy with a new job
And busy caring for all of us..."

"What do you think will change
Or has already changed?"

"Lots -
But the best is that before we didn't always pray
And now we always pray together
And that's a good thing."

Sigh.
I love this kiddo.
She's strong.
She's funny.
She's resilient.
But
I wish
I could take off the load,
The silent load
The invisible load
The habitual load
Off her shoulders
And help her be a kid
And not feel the pressure
But
It's not that easy
But
She's prayed for
She's loved
And she is HIS.
************************************
One of the girls says to me tonight
"I'm becoming a gorilla."

"Say what?"

"I'm growing hair all over my legs.
I think you are going to have to shave them for me."

Sigh.

"Okay - well, let's run that past your mom this weekend and
Get her thoughts and then we'll talk."

(I am already grossed out,

Beyond words,

When I help you clear your ears

And

Cut your toe nails.

I am already freaked out,

Beyond words,

When I help you trim your fingernails

And

Clean under those fingernails.

Now...

Shaving your legs

Or even teaching you how to shave your legs...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!)

These are not things they prepared me for in my foster training.
***********************************************
Praise Reports:
Three day weekend this weekend!  Bring on the bike rides, game time, movie watching, and catch-up time.  So grateful for this small little break coming our way.

Prayer Request:
Last Saturday the girls did not have their visit with their mom or brother because CPS messed up for the second week in a row with transportation.  Please pray that the paperwork, phone calls, and connections were actually followed through with this week and that the taxi picks up the girls' mom so they can all be together for their weekly visit.