New Home Slideshow

New Home

Here's an outside shot of our new house. Inside before and after picks to come soon. It's a 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 3-car garage, bonus room, bank repo home in a neighborhood with a pool, elementary school 6 houses to the right, 2 parks, a soccer field and basketball court. We got a screaming deal and should have all the repairs done and be moved in by mid-July.

Swimming Lessons

For the next two weeks, Sam is taking swimming lessons. He loves to splash the other kids and drink the pool water (yuck). But for the adventurous little guy he is, he will not jump off the diving board with other kids. I even tried bribing him with candy. Oh well. He's no dumbee. Noelle starts a mommy and me class in two weeks.

Why I Cried All Day Today ... Please Read

So, I am currently serving as the communications specialist for the Boise Chapter for Families Supporting Adoption. Part of my role is updating the Blog with events and opportunities. That includes "Wednesday's Child" (children in the foster care system who need to be adopted). Last week was a 10-year old boy with Asbergers, cleft palate, and hearing loss from abuse. This week is Alex, a boy with severe autism. Please read below--maybe you know someone who could provide what he needs. We are all here to help Heavenly Father's children return to Him.

Alex

Age: 9

Alex is a special boy who loves to play with his collection of play horses. In his imaginary world, the horses line up in a daytime and nighttime routine that is safe, orderly and dependable. As they enter the stable, they know what to expect and depend on their owner to make them safe. That’s just what Alex needs in an adoptive or guardian family--safety and a dependable routine in which he can achieve his greatest degree of independence. Alex also needs a family that’s familiar with autism or one that is willing to learn. Are you ready to step into what will be both a rewarding and exacting lifetime role?

Alex needs a patient single parent or dedicated couple that’s able to maintain structure and consistency. Caring for him might mean monthly team meetings with his school and a service coordinator to help access services such as Intensive Behavior Intervention. The Department of Health and Welfare will help his family acclimate to needed services before and during a pre-adoptive placement period of at least six months. SSI payments are available to Alex’s family to assist with his care.

Though Alex may never be able to live completely on his own, as an adult, he may be able to maintain an apartment with regular assistance services.

Currently, Alex has mastered some verbal skills. He still needs assistance with many daily living tasks such as bathing, feeding and dressing. Alex has no awareness of strangers or of concerns in the community (streets, stop lights, looking both ways, not talking to strangers.) He needs a vigilant family that will watch out for safety concerns and at the same time help him learn and do all that he can for himself.

Alex likes to read and watch television. He likes tigers as well and enjoys looking at National Geographic magazines. If Alex is over stimulated, going to his room and playing with his large collection of horses is very calming for him.

Alex can get overwhelmed by a lot of people and chaos. He would do well with a peaceful parent who tells him what is going to happen during the day when he first wakes up and then reminds him of those activities consistently. If his routine is going to change, he needs to be told in advance. Alex’s caregivers currently provide a time chart. Corresponding times show scheduled activities; for instance, a picture of a sandwich shows lunchtime and a drawing of a bed shows when it’s time to go to sleep.

Alex is ok around other children. He has no boundaries, so he may take another child’s toys, walk through a group, or may not sit still or raise his hand very often. The kids at his school are very patient with him, both in the resource room and when he transitions to the regular classroom for 30 minutes each day. He does quite well in an accepting environment.

Alex is very good with animals, especially with supervision. He doesn’t understand boundaries very well so he may get down on their level when they are eating. His caregivers and social worker say he is the sweetest boy and extremely funny. When he gets up in the morning he says “good morning everyone.”

Alex has grandparents he needs to stay in touch with, as well as a mentor couple who visit him regularly in his group home. He is also very attached to the staff.

The family that adopts this sweet boy must be knowledgeable and ready to help Alex transition as smoothly as possible from a group home to a residential environment. The Department and group home staff could help with this transition. Like the imaginary herd of horses galloping into the safety of Alex’s play world, this special boy deserves the love and triumphs a family could provide as he learns to make sense of his world. A loving single parent or couple that accepts the challenges ahead could make such a difference in this boy’s life!

Don't Mess Around With A Girl In Shades

Noelle has been begging me for a pair of sunglasses for a while now. Seriously. Sam earned a backpack from filling up his obedience bean jar, so Noelle got a prize too. Only fair since she is a perfect angel all the time.

Boy we train them young.

"I'll have to call you back."

A Moment Like This

No big deal. I've just waited my whole life for this very moment: Dang cutest little girl, chubby baby thighs you just want to squeeze, peaches and cream face, little pigtails all walking toward me wrapped in a 18-month old swimsuit. OK, that doesn't adequately describe what my heart and brain are doing. More like something like this: EEeh, Aaaah, ya ya ya ya dkjgfkajhgdjgbdkajbgvdmvdsjfgvdksnf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exhibitionists

This is how Sam records his music. This apparently is how Dave Gahan also records his music. For those who do not know, Dave Gahan is the lead singer for Depeche Mode and the song "Somebody" (one of my favorites) was recorded in this similar fashion (or lack thereof) as it befittingly helped him "bare" his soul.

A couple days ago I was in the kitchen cooking dinner. Sam was watching Thomas. Noelle does not watch TV (good for her). Chad was working on his computer. I hear Noelle clicking and clacking and making all sorts of noises. I comment to Chad, "Sounds like our little girl wants attention." We both look at the same moment as Sam exlaims, "I can't see, Noelle!" And before our view is Noelle, in front of the TV, dress hiked up over her face, dancing and singing a little ditty. Yes, I'm pretty positive she wanted attention. Attention was promptly given.

Me Mateys

Our friends whom we cruised with came to visit for a week. Here are just a couple pictures of our time with them. It was way more radical than these two photos indicate, but that would just blow your minds.

Avast! There be pirates on the loose.

This photo, alone, would have made the entire visit. Seriously, open it up by itself and take a gander at Nash's photogenic quality. Priceless.