Where did the summer go?

I swear I meant to write more. :) I can't believe the last time I wrote I was running my first half of the year and graduating! The summer FLEW by!!

Let's catch up, shall we?

So, I still have 3 fosters in the house, in addition to my best Lil M. S has been with us for over 15 months now. She will be 8 next month! Babykins is 11 months now, can you believe it?? She'll be 1 this month! It's been a crazy ride, for sure.

S and I go to counseling together now. She does have a therapeutic Social Worker, but I just don't think it is enough. So, I found someone else. He will also test her for memory and ADHD and I'll know sometime next month how all that turns out.

S had a good summer. She had the opportunity to do a program at her school for the last month before school started and she loved it. She also continued her Martial Arts program this summer and leveled up two times! She's quite proud of that.

Gosh, I have SO much to share... this is ridiculous!

The teen failed two semesters and is on her last-leg, as they say. We'll see how she does this semester. As I type, she's walking to school... so far, she's not skipped any this semester. Please pray for her, and for my sanity.

Baby Milestones for the summer,
* She has 4 teeth now (still coming in, but getting there!)
* She has been scooting... she doesn't crawl, but, boy, can she SCOOT!! :) The loves to pull up and stand in her crib/playpen. 

Lil M turned 7, yes 7, a week ago!! She, like S, started 2nd grade this fall, too. Lil M's doing well in school and her reading. She's been happily reading the Wizard of Oz to me...which is great, because reading isn't her favorite subject... Math definitely is, though. And we're working on times tables. She also likes spelling. :)

Lil M had a great summer at the Y camp. She is now a 'yellow band' in swimming and is quite proud of that!! When she was a baby and toddler she hated water in her face and it took until she was 5 to get her take a shower. Now, she's a little pro. :) Lil M also had a GREAT time at her Olympic Day this year. She did fantastic in her routines... She did floor, beam, and bars.

We do not know what the future holds, but TPR (termination of parental rights) could happen in the case of my two littles. Pray for us, for the Judge and the biological family, please... While S and I have had our struggles, I do want what is best for them and can't imagine them going back to the situation they came from. Well, I should say where S came from. The baby only knows ME. That's a biggie right there. This could make for a rough next few months, or could go smoothly. I'm praying for more smooth than rough.

We are settling into the school routine and I'm feeling very blessed. Something I have to keep learning and re-learning is that other people do not see our family as a 'real' family... but, I assure you, we are as REAL as it gets.

I have had the opportunity to spend time with Torrie and Gabe this summer, as well as Alea. I took Alea to her college orientation in Frankfort and then Lil M and I moved her down to her dorm at the beginning of the semester. My point is that we are still in relationship with the fosters who have left us... we're not perfect, but we do try to be there.

My prayer for all of us is that we know what family truly means throughout this foster journey. And that we can help others to see the real family (love) we have.

I'll post pics separately... but here's one of after Lil M did a 10K, Alea and S did the 5K and I did the half marathon this summer... we rocked it!! I am so proud of my girls for doing races with me... which has also been pretty new. They usually do the 5K's, but this day, Lil M wanted to do the 10K with Ellen (who was also with us, obviously, but is taking the pic below!). She was the YOUNGEST 10k'er out there that day!! Woot! :)

As for me, I've gotten back into running and back into shape this summer. I started with the program called "Insanity" and then did the half marathon in May. After that, I've done 3 more half marathons and feel better than I have in awhile! 

Peace.